It means “secret flavor” but Japanese cooks think of them more like secret agents, Sakai said. “I call them little ninjas.” She sneaks sake, soy sauce and ginger into her Italian Wedding ...

In a delightful twist on the classic Italian Wedding Soup, Sonoko Sakai introduces her take, which marries the best of both worlds. Her approach is deeply rooted in Japanese culinary tradition ...

When Sonoko Sakai's mother snuck a little miso into her lasagna, she wasn't thinking of the kind of Japanese fusion that became an American dining craze in the 1980s. Rather, she was doing what ...

When Sonoko Sakai’s mother snuck a little miso into her lasagna, she wasn’t thinking of the kind of Japanese fusion that became an American dining craze in the 1980s.Rather, she was doing what ...

This cover image released by Knopf shows "Wafu Cooking: Everyday Recipes with Japanese Style," a cookbook by Sonoko Sakai. (Knopf via AP) ...