In Japan, the roly-poly god Hotei, who is often identified with Santa Claus, ushers in the new year along with six other gods of good fortune; together, they form the Seven Lucky Gods, or shichi ...

Most Japanese cooks rely on prepared curry bricks to make curry. These are basically blocks of seasoned roux—the shape of a chocolate bar—made of spices (including turmeric, coriander, cumin, and ...

Fukujinzuke (Relish of the Seven Lucky Gods) By Sonoko Sakai Fukujinzuke are tangy and crunchy pickles that match perfectly with Japanese curry but also are delicious with plain rice. This pickle ...

The Seven Gods explores the myth of Shichifukujin (The Seven Lucky Gods), revered figures in Japanese culture believed to bring good fortune. The gods are confronted with an impossible choice when ...

In my column of May 7 I identified a group of ivory figures as the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods and promised to identify them, their attributes and their apotropaic properties.