Overview: When Washoku, or Japanese cuisine, became UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013, the flavor called umami became more widely known abroad. And, dashi is the ingredient that produces this umami. Kombu, bonito flakes, and other foodstuffs that were transported to the landlocked capital were combined to concoct this stock. Japanese today less frequently consume traditional foods, so businesses are holding dashi tastings and creating foods for all generations to rediscover the allure of dashi.