Ghost in the Shell

Oden is truely unique. It's a thin soup, based around primarily different forms of what is known as "fishcake" available at virtually every Asian grocery store.

Now, condensing oden into a recipe is extremely difficult, although this blog makes a valiant effort.

Oden requires only a few basic ingredients, like kombu, and in some form fishcake, but here's a list of things you might want to throw in yours:

kombu - a type of seaweed used in the production of dashi. One leaf will do for a pot of oden

various fishcake - sometimes you can find variety packages that contain multiple kinds

carrots

potatoes

konyaku - a bizarre block of non-calorific stuff, that you blanch for several minutes before adding

one hard boiled egg per person. It has an interesting flavor, or lack thereof perhaps, and a strangely firm texture

daikon - peeled and cut into rounds, daikon is a long, white Japanese radish

You soak the kombu in cold water for 20 minutes, then bring to a boil. Then you add the konyaku and vegetables, and simmer until almost tender. Then you add the fishcake, and simmer until done.