This is a stunningly beautiful book, I wish you could see it.

The paper is black. On the first page is a purple square. Then there is a red square, that says "Rizzoli, New York". On the verso of that is the copyright material, and on the facing page is a gold square that says "Japan The Beauty of Food". The next three rectos are lavender, yellow and white squares with the names of the people who did the photography, text and introduction.

The text is in black type within grey squares, with the photographs on the facing pages. And the photographs have to be seen to be believed. This has to be some of the best food photography I've ever seen, and the food design itself is exquisite. There are drinking bowls made of dried octopus! And a wedding confection shaped like a pair of cranes, on a gold plate. There is a knife inscribed with the names of the 48 fish for which it is used.