Celebrate holidays in Japan with your favorite Mexican dishes

(Vanessa Quintana)

Living in Japan, there are many times when I miss my mom’s cooking. I dream of the stewed pork and potatoes in red sauce she makes every week, and the perfectly steamed and seasoned Mexican rice to go along with every dish.

The homesickness grows heavier in the winter when I think back to Christmases with my abuelita’s tamales washed down with an ice-cold bottle of Coca-Cola. I dream of the scent of corn dough wafting from the kitchen, of unwrapping a perfect bundle, the steam rising fresh out of the pot and digging into the soft delicacy. Needless to say, replicating this feeling is impossible, however, replicating the flavor is actually somewhat possible while stationed in Japan.

Since some of us aren’t lucky enough to be able to head home for every holiday season, recreating a taste of home abroad is better than nothing. Shopping at the commissary might get you a good selection of some of your staples, but your shopping list might come up short depending on the season and availability. So, where do you get the ingredients you need to match the sweet aromatic Café de Olla or the corn husks to wrap the bundles of heaven we call tamales? The key ingredients integral to the dishes of my childhood and those from other Latin American countries are not easy to find in Japan, but there are many transplants and businesses that are making it a little easier.

The wave of Latinos arriving in Japan and bringing their favorite products is growing, according to Vanessa Quintana, who runs Nippon Viajero, a Mexican gastronomy-focused multimedia company geared on building community in Japan.

The expansion of interest in cooking Mexican and other Latin American dishes means that getting a taste of home is getting easier in Japan. Quintana, through Nippon Viajero’s culinary programs, pop-ups and projects, including a recipe book, is dedicated to demonstrating how to bring your favorites from home with imported ingredients and also ones you can pick up at your local Japanese grocery store.

Nippon Viajero Cookbook: Authentic Mexican Cooking in Japan, is Quintana’s cookbook and is tailored to living in Japan without compromising the taste of Mexico. The book is available for pre-order and features over 50 recipes, a chili pepper guide, a masa guide and a link to a permanent online resource to continue your journey through Mexican gastronomy and beyond.

With the help of Quintana, here is a quick guide on where to obtain the ingredients and items to help you bring your family recipes to life while living in Japan. Warm up your home with the holiday memories made in the kitchen, which, like me, you might be homesick for. While the focus is on a few key Mexican dishes, some of the resources below also offer ingredients for Dominican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, other Latin American dishes, and Filipino dishes.

Happy cooking and happy holidays!