One of the things that would've helped my mom re-create Japanese dishes in America 40+ years ago would've been to know about Kitazawa Seed Co. Kitazawa Seed Co. was founded in 1917, the oldest Asian seed company in America. They sell all sorts of hard-to-find Asian seeds that with a little soil, one could grow. For example, you could grow yomogi, mibuma, akanata mame and more. Luckily, some Asian ingredients are now commonplace (edamame and bok choi leap to mind) so they're available in regular supermarkets but for the more esoteric vegetables, Kitazawa Seed Co. does mail order.

(News bite via Gardenista)