A colorful festival. A mystery lunchbox. And a bite that took Sergio’s imagination across the ocean. At the Sakura Matsuri Festival, he tried sushi for the first time and discovered how food can connect us to people, places, and stories far beyond our own. “At that moment, I felt like I was flying. Westward, across the United States… and over the Pacific Ocean… to Japan.” This episode of The Accent Explorer™ is a flavorful adventure into bravery, friendship, and the magic of trying something new.
A colorful festival. A mystery lunchbox. And a bite that took Sergio’s imagination across the ocean. At the Sakura Matsuri Festival, he tried sushi for the first time and discovered how food can connect us to people, places, and stories far beyond our own.
“At that moment, I felt like I was flying. Westward, across the United States… and over the Pacific Ocean… to Japan.”
This episode of The Accent Explorer™ is a flavorful adventure into bravery, friendship, and the magic of trying something new.
SERGIO: Hi there! I’m Sergio. The Accent Explorer. Thank you so much for deciding to continue this journey with me, as we try to learn about the world, and all the special people that live around it.
Now, if you haven’t listened to Episode 1 yet, the one where I met my first Japanese friend Hikaru and our class pet Hideki, pause this right now and go listen. Go ahead. We’ll wait.
All caught up? Then you’re probably wondering: WHAT WAS THAT MAGICAL DISH? The one that made your brain go ZOOOOOM! And transported you all the way across the world to Japan.
Well….buckle up. Now we’re going right back to that moment. Because sometimes, one bite can open up a whole new world. And who knows, this bite might just be the start of your journey, too.
Let me take you back to that special day. A day filled with music…blossoms…and a mysterious little lunch box. My very first cultural festival was the Sakura Matsuri Festival in Washington D.C. Big name, but unforgettable time. And that dish that made me feel like I was flying across the world straight to Japan…it was shrimp sushi. Have you ever tasted sushi, Mimsy?
MIMSY: Yes, I loved it. It was so good. It tasted really squishy to me and it had salmon and a lot of good things.
SERGIO: It was a beautiful, spring morning. My friend Hikaru and I were weaving our way through the buzzing crowd of the Sakura Matsuri Street Festival. The mood was exciting. You could hear the deep beat of taiko drums, the chatter of families, and the flutter of fabric as people wearing kimonos and yukatas passed by. Mimsy, do you know what kimonos and yukatas are?
MIMSY: I have no idea.
SERGIO: They’re traditional Japanese clothing—flowy and full of color. It was like walking through a moving painting.
Lining the street, on both sides, were beautiful, pink cherry blossom trees. The branches were so full, I could barely see the sky above me. I’d never seen anything so magical. Soft pink petals floated and danced through the air like confetti. They were incredible!
Just past the cherry trees, I saw a group of dancers performing something called kabuki—a kind of Japanese play where people wear colorful costumes and tell stories using big movements instead of words. They waved beautiful folded fans through the air, moving slowly and dramatically, like they were dancing in slow motion. The fans opened with a snap and floated like butterflies! It made everything feel magical. If you want to try your own fan moves—slow, big, and swishy—there’s a fun video that will show you how to make your very own on our YouTube page, and a printable version on our website too. Just ask an adult for help. After all that exploring, I realized something... I was hungry. Really hungry.
Hikaru’s mother bought us three bento boxes - those are a little bit like Japanese lunch boxes or food containers. One box looked … mysterious. Bright, colorful, and very, very appetizing. I couldn’t wait to find out what it was. What bright and colorful food do you think that might have been, Mimsy?
MIMSY: A rainbow popsicle!
SERGIO: We couldn’t find a place to sit, so we made our way to the base of a giant cherry blossom tree and sat on its roots like a picnic bench made just for us. Hikaru handed me a box. Was this the one with the mystery colorful food? I opened it slowly and my heart sank a little. Whatever food this was was not colorful. Nor did it look particularly yummy. All it seemed to be was white rice, wrapped in dried seaweed, with a piece of shrimp in the very middle. I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. But now I know…this was the very first time I ever laid eyes…on sushi.
I really wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but curious adventurers like me don’t turn down a new experience. So I picked it up, closed my eyes, and bit into it. The flavors were unlike anything I’d ever tasted. I couldn’t explain exactly what I was tasting, but I knew it was different. A little salty. Totally new. And at that moment, I felt like I was flying. Westward, across the United States…and over the Pacific Ocean…to Japan.
I kept eating and eating until there was nothing left. I looked up at Hikaru. “Got any more?” I asked. He laughed. And shook his head. But then he offered me something else from another box. Three small, rice dumplings in light colors, all lined up on a bamboo stick. The colorful and very appetizing food I had caught a glimpse of earlier! Can you say the name with me? It’s kinda fun. “HANAMI DANGO”
MIMSY: HANAMI DANGO!
SERGIO: I took a bite—and ohhhhh boy. Sweet, soft, chewy, and totally unforgettable. My mouth was singing with delicious flavors that I’d never experienced before. It was the perfect ending to a magical lunch.
That’s the day I realized something. Trying a new food doesn’t just fill your belly. It opens a door and feeds your understanding of a culture and a whole way of life. From that moment on, I made myself a promise. I’m going to taste the world. One bite at a time.
Every culture around the world has their own unique foods and flavors. If you go to Colombia, for example, you’ll be able to try an arepa. That’s a type of savory dish made from corn flour. And if you find one packed with your favourite meats and cheeses, you’re probably eating a Venezuelan arepa. And if you go to Nigeria, you might have suya, which is a meat skewer with a whole bunch of delicious spices cooked in it. The problem is, all these foods sound so yummy, but these places, for most of us at least, are reaallly far away. But don’t worry. I actually have a solution for you. Two, in fact. The first is a “restaurant”. If your mouth hasn’t stopped watering since I told you about that delicious suya with all the spices, there just might be a Nigerian restaurant near you.
Or check out a cultural festival— where families share their traditions through music, dance, and of course, food.These festivals are more than fun—they’re a way for people to celebrate who they are and where they come from. Maybe you and your grown-ups can look up a cultural festival near you! And if there is one close to you, try it out! And then let me know what you think!
And here’s something extra special: sometimes, the best way to learn about a new culture is by getting to know a neighbor or friend whose family comes from somewhere else. You never know what stories—or tasty recipes—they might share with you!
In fact… on this very podcast, I’ll be introducing you to some of my favorite people in Green Ridge who love to cook foods from their cultures. And you’ll get the recipes too. That way, you can explore the world… from your kitchen table.
Hey Mimsy, I’ve got a question for you.
MIMSY: Oh, what is it?
SERGIO: What does a wooden spoon, a headscarf, a piece of sheet music, a roll of film and a rubber ball all have in common? Do you know?
MIMSY: Uhh, a strange lunch?
SERGIO: Good guess! But the real answer?I’ll tell you, and my new explorer friend here, in the very next episode. A story that starts in the quietest corner of my house, and ends with something that changed how I see the world. Curious? You should be. I’ll see you in Episode 3.