Being the typical middle-American type of guy, I don't know nearly as 
much about Japan as I would like to when I work on my fanfics. My 
question for you all is - what do you use for information? Is there 
any particular source(s) that you prefer? 

Well, I use my ex-roommate Helen, a former student of Japanese studies,
and the evil person who hooked me on anime...  Unfortunately, she's not
widely available... <grin>

Seriously, you can pick up quite a lot from context here -- watch the
various threads, and sooner or later you'll find yourself learning stuff.
I've only been on the ffml for a year or so, but I've seen what I would
call the "median Japanese cultural literacy" here raise significantly in
that time. 

There's also a periodic resource list that gets posted here, every month
or so; you just missed the most recent one, which was a week or two ago.

couple of Japanese dishes (sushi, okonomiyaki(sp?), and ramen are 

Correct spelling on the second.  Good stuff, too -- you can find a couple
recipes for it out on the web, and it's *very* easy to make.

As for other foods, don't forget Beef Bowl (gyudon) -- a stirfry of beef
and vegetables served over rice, and a common Japanese Fast Food. <Bob's
eyes glaze over as he remembers the *perfect* beef bowl he had two years
ago at the Moritake Museum in Palm Beach, FL...> Yakitori, which is
similar to a shishkabob.  Teriyaki (beef, chicken, pork...) -- grilled
meat in a sauce made from pan drippings, soy sauce, sake, sweet sake, and
sugar.  Negimaki -- beef wrapped around scallions with a dark, tasty
sauce.  Tempura -- deep-fried anything in a light, fluffy, crispy batter. 

That's just off the top of my head.

-- Bob