Japan: The Cookbook by Nancy Singleton Hachisu
Last updated: 3 October 2026
Japan: The Cookbook is Phaidon's 464-page collection of more than 400 Japanese home recipes, written by the food writer Nancy Singleton Hachisu. It covers Japan's home and regional cooking, with chapters on soups, noodles, rice, pickles, one-pot dishes, vegetables and sweets. On 3 October 2026 Amazon UK had the hardback at £29.19, against Phaidon's list price of £39.95, and in stock.
Buy the book on Amazon UK, £29
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What is in Japan: The Cookbook
The recipes are arranged by course, so you look up a dish by the part of the meal it belongs to. Many come with notes from Hachisu on where a dish comes from or how it is eaten. The recipes are written for home cooks, and Phaidon describes the dishes as simple and elegant.
The book sits in Phaidon's series of national cookbooks, alongside titles such as India: The Cookbook. Like the rest of the series, it works as a reference book for the kitchen shelf.
Who Nancy Singleton Hachisu is
Hachisu is American and moved to Japan in the 1980s. She married into a farming family and has lived on their farm in Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo, ever since. Before this book she wrote Japanese Farm Food and Preserving the Japanese Way, both based on cooking at the farm. Phaidon's page for Japan: The Cookbook describes her as an acclaimed food writer.
Key facts
- Author: Nancy Singleton Hachisu
- Publisher: Phaidon
- Published: 6 April 2018 in the UK
- Format: hardback, 464 pages, 1.68kg
- Recipes: more than 400
- ISBN: 9780714874746
- Price: £29.19 on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026, list price £39.95
- Ratings: 4.7 out of 5 from 1,673 ratings on Amazon UK, checked the same day
Who it suits
- Home cooks who already like Japanese food: it covers home and regional dishes from across Japan.
- Gift buyers: it is a large hardback that looks good on a kitchen shelf, and it fits our gift guide for Japan lovers.
- Readers interested in Japanese culture: the recipe notes explain where many dishes come from and how they are eaten.
The limits
At 1.68kg it is heavy to prop open on a counter. A lot of the recipes rely on Japanese store-cupboard ingredients such as kombu, dried bonito flakes and miso. So you will need an Asian supermarket or an online shop for some of them. Also, on 3 October 2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller called V for VALUE, although Amazon dispatched it. If you would rather buy direct, Phaidon sells it at the full £39.95.
Where to buy it in the UK
Amazon UK had the hardback at £29.19 on 3 October 2026, in stock and dispatched by Amazon.
Japan: The Cookbook on Amazon UK
FAQs
How many recipes are in Japan: The Cookbook?
More than 400, arranged by course, across 464 pages.
Who wrote Japan: The Cookbook?
Nancy Singleton Hachisu, an American-born food writer who has lived on a farm in Saitama, Japan, since the 1980s.
How much does Japan: The Cookbook cost in the UK?
Amazon UK had it at £29.19 on 3 October 2026. Phaidon's list price is £39.95.
Is Japan: The Cookbook good for beginners?
The recipes are written for home cooks rather than chefs. You will still need to buy some Japanese ingredients you may not already have.
Who publishes Japan: The Cookbook?
Phaidon, as part of its series of national cookbooks. The UK edition came out on 6 April 2018.
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