9 Japanese Vegetables You Should Know

Many cuisines are defined as much by their ingredients as they are by their techniques. Japan, being a small island with distinct seasons, a culinary tradition with an emphasis on seasonailty, and many years of seclusion from the outside world is a prime example of this. Whether it's meat, shellfish, herbs and spices, or grain-based products, there are certain ingredients that are inherently linked to the cuisine and culture in my mind.

Peep through the slideshow to take a look at nine vegetables without which Japanese food simply wouldn't be the same.

• Shiso
• Wasabi
• Maitake
• Shishito
• Nameko
• Nagaimo
• Myoga
• Mitsuba
• Daikon