While original recipes for shojin ryori are lost to history, the vegetarian cuisine has changed over time, according to Ito. Saikan offers dishes that are slightly different from 30 years ago in ...

shojin ryori, composed strictly of vegetarian dishes and inspired by the diet of Buddhist monks; obanzai (Kyoto home-style cooking); and other popular Japanese fare such as ramen, sushi and udon.

This time, they weather the heat of the summer season with dishes steeped into Buddhist tradition. As they all sorely miss Tama-san, Nobuko is preparing a feast of "shojin ryori" to lift everyone ...