Japan Eats!

Akiko Katayama hosts Japan Eats!, a show dedicated entirely to Japanese food and food culture, produced by Heritage Radio Network. Akiko is a Japanese native, New York-based food writer, and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, which gives her a dual perspective that bridges Japanese culinary tradition and the international food world. With 389 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from 69 reviews, this is one of the deepest and most authoritative food-focused Japan podcasts available. Each episode zeroes in on a specific dish, ingredient, drink, or food tradition, from the art of making dashi to the 330-year history of a single soy sauce brewery. Guests include chefs, producers, historians, and food writers who bring specialized knowledge to each conversation. The show goes well beyond sushi and ramen, covering izakaya culture, regional specialties like Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, the craft behind Japanese whisky, seasonal ingredients, and the etiquette of formal kaiseki dining. For travelers, this podcast is an outstanding pre-trip resource because understanding Japanese food culture transforms how you eat while visiting. Knowing the difference between types of tofu, how to order at a standing soba shop, or what makes Kobe beef different from other wagyu changes your experience at the table. Monthly episodes mean the catalog grows steadily, and the archive is organized well enough to find episodes about specific foods or regions you plan to visit.