Japan’s rich culinary heritage has much to offer on this front: the archipelago is home to one of the world’s longest-lived people and its balanced diet is often considered a major factor in supporting long and healthy lives. Here are five Japanese foods to incorporate into your kitchen.

Sometimes sweet and sometimes spicy, either way we all love sauces. Some foods are difficult to imagine without them; they make our meal taste better and can be fun to experiment and mix together to give an old sauce a new taste. Japanese cuisine is one of the world’s most delicious and these sauces contribute to its excellence.

When I think of the word genki (元気), two images spring to mind. First, the swimmers splashing around Zushi Beach one cold January morning, not a wetsuit in sight. Second, the man striding past me—shoeless—up Mount Fuji. Genki desu (元気です).