Many Americans are fascinated by Japanese culture. We've found a lot to love about the Japanese culture, especially when it comes to the food. If you want a Japanese flair for your party or you just want a nice Japanese snack for yourself, here are some ideas.

Yakitori - A kabob that makes for a very popular snack or party food. It goes nicely with Japanese beer and Saki, and makes for a good casual dinner accompaniment.

To start with, soak your wooden skewers in water so that they won't burn.

-3 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces -1 teaspoon sugar -2 Tablespoons sake -3 Tablespoons mirin -3 Tablespoons soy sauce

You'll now slide the pieces of chicken on the skewer, then mix together all the other ingredients in a bowl. Using a sauce as a baste, grill the chicken on the skewer.

Edamame - Edamame has become more popular as a Japanese snack food in America in recent years, so it's getting easier to find it in the grocery stores.

It's easy to serve. You can have it out like a bowl of pretzels (complete with beer for football games), or toss it in a bag as if it were trail mix at eat it on the go. It's a good way to get kids to eat more vegetables. (But be careful if you're allergic to soy!)

Wash your edamame thoroughly. Boil a large pot of water. Add a Tablespoon of salt to the boiling water and boil the edamame for three to four minutes. Drain and sprinkle with a little more salt. Cool it and store in an airtight container.

Sunonomo (cucumber and Daikon salad) - This is an excellent side for just about any meal, though it's also great by itself as a refreshing afternoon snack.

-1 daikan radish -1 cucumber -5 Tablespoons rice vinegar -2 Tablespoon sugar -1 teaspoon salt

Peel the radish and slice it thinly. Slice the cucumber just as thinly.

Cover both vegetables in salt and leave them alone for about ten minutes, letting the salt soak in. Wash the slices and then drain them completely. Mix together the sugar and vinegar, then pour the mixture over the vegetables. Let this sit for 15 minutes or so before serving.

With the expansion of the Asian section in most grocery stores, and more and more Asian specialty stores opening up, you are sure to find plenty of ingredients and ideas for Japanese snack foods.