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McDonald’s Japan renews Samurai Mac, but not everyone will be happy with the new warrior - Japan Today
Back in 2020, McDonald’s caused a stir in Japan when it added a brand new burger called the Samurai Mac to its menu. The thick beef burger turned out to be one of the heftiest on the menu, making it a popular option for customers wanting to fill up fast, but this…
FamilyMart releases new collection of Uji matcha sweets to make green tea lovers swoon - Japan Today
Japan’s top three convenience stores — FamilyMart, Lawson and 7-Eleven — are constantly competing for customers, but FamilyMart is nudging ahead of the pack, with a new “Matcha with Fruit” range. This new collection is part of the chain’s Matcha Fair held annually at this time of year, and there are seven…
Michelin Guide unveils new stars for 68 restaurants in France - Japan Today
The Michelin Guide handed out new stars to 68 restaurants in France on Monday at a ceremony that celebrated emerging young talents and proposed food as a tonic for the world's worries. Two restaurants joined the highest and most coveted three-star category in Michelin's 2025 France guide, namely Christopher Coutanceau…
Tokoyo no Naganakidori redefines everything you thought you knew about yakitori - Japan Today
Tokoyo no Naganakidori, a new yakitori restaurant that recently opened in Tokyo’s Minami-Aoyama district, takes the popular grilled chicken dish to a whole new level. Tokoyo no Naganakidori serves an exquisite yakitori course featuring the Kuro Satsuma chicken, a breed descended from Satsuma Jidori, one of Japan’s three great native…
French chefs anxious as Michelin prepares new guide - Japan Today
Chefs across France are waiting for one of the most exciting and dreaded moments of the year: publication of the new annual guide from Michelin with its highly coveted stars. The famous red bible for gastronomes still makes and breaks cooking careers, despite increasing competition from rival food lists and…
Starbucks Japan’s Snoopy Frappuccino is here - Japan Today
At Starbucks Japan, it’s not really a question of whether or not they’re serving up a special Frappuccino, but what kind. While each special flavor only sticks around for a limited time, there’s a pretty seamless changeover from one to the next, so there’s always something tempting fans of the blended ice…
Wendy’s First Kitchen to sell octopus ball burgers to celebrate Osaka Expo - Japan Today
It’s only a few weeks away from the opening of the 2025 World Expo in the Kansai region of Japan, and in the spirit of that, we’re seeing a bit of an uptick in Osaka-centric goings on. A variety of themed flights are coming into its airports and even the life-sized Gundam has stopped…
As Ramadan ends, a new cookbook sheds light on Pakistan’s varied cuisine - Japan Today
When Maryam Jillani was growing up in Islamabad, the last day of Ramadan was about more than breaking a month-long fast with extended family. A joyous occasion, the Eid al-Fitr holiday also was marked with visits to the market to get new bangles, wearing her best new clothes and getting…
Cafe run by Japanese island's only foreigner aims to be new tourist spot - Japan Today
On a small island in southwestern Japan with a population of only around 1,700, Australian John Widmer, reputed to be the island's only foreign resident, runs a cafe hoping it will serve as a new spot to draw visitors. Those traveling by ferry to Himeshima, an Oita Prefecture island with…
You can take on sumo wrestlers and drink all the whiskey you want at Tokyo’s new sumo restaurant - Japan Today
Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood is the most traditional part of the city, so if you’re spending a day there odds are you want to eat some traditional Japanese food, like sukiyaki or tempura. But what if you want to further immerse yourself in the classical culture of Japan, partaking of Japanese cuisine and…
Mister Donut makes matcha lovers swoon with new Gion Tsujiri collection - Japan Today
As the nation’s top-selling doughnut chain, Mister Donut knows how to keep its fans happy, and one thing customers keep coming back for is matcha doughnuts by esteemed green tea specialists Gion Tsujiri. Gion Tsujiri sources its matcha from Uji, where the company was founded over 150 years ago and which is now the country’s…
In U.S., a pastry chef attempts to crack an egg-free menu - Japan Today
Since avian flu turned eggs into a luxury item, pastry chef Annie Clemmons has spent countless hours in her Maryland workshop, racking her brains about how to replace them in her recipes. "It won't taste like chickpeas!" she told AFP as she poured aquafaba -- the watery byproduct of the…
Godiva’s beautiful sakura chocolate potato chips combine our cravings for fancy and simple snacks - Japan Today
Godiva has built a reputation as a premium chocolatier, the sort of place where you can expect to pay a little more to satisfy your sweet tooth than you would at, say, a convenience store, but where you also get a corresponding bump in elegance and quality. And yet, right now…
Kyoto’s most beautiful parfait cafes add sakura sweets for spring - Japan Today
In Japan, there are a number of parks, gardens, and streets that are famous for their cherry blossom trees, drawing visitors to them every spring when the flowers come into bloom. There’s another aspect to the sakura seasonal cycle, though, as certain cafes and sweets shops deliver amazing cherry blossom desserts…
Years of east-west Japan rivalry decided as McDonald’s officially refers to itself as 'Makudo' - Japan Today
Since the dawn of fast food in Japan, a large rift between the population has constantly threatened to tear the country apart. I'm talking, of course, about how people in the eastern Kanto region call McDonald’s Makku whereas people in the western Kansai area give it the nickname Makudo. Personally, as a Kansai…
Is there more to fine dining? For this Mexican chef, it's a path toward his country's roots - Japan Today
Quintonil is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Clients book tables months in advance to celebrate special occasions. The World’s 50 Best list ranked it as the most acclaimed venue in the country in 2024 — and No. 7 worldwide. But once in a while something unexpected happens: food brings guests…
Dinner in the Sky arrives in Tokyo; serves meals with unique view above the city - Japan Today
Back in 2006, a new concept in the culinary world literally rose up in Belgium, giving diners the chance to eat at a “flying” dinner table floating 50 meters above the ground. Called “Dinner in the Sky," the experience soon spread around the world, with locations popping up in over…
Japanese fermented sushi gets remix for younger generation, foreign visitors - Japan Today
An ancient type of sushi called funazushi, considered by many to be the original form of the raw fish dish, is seeing a renaissance aimed at making it more palatable to younger generations and food lovers visiting Japan from abroad. To ensure the survival of traditional narezushi, a salt-cured fish…
Skip the beef this St Patrick’s Day and make corned cauliflower instead - Japan Today
Corned beef, which makes an appearance on many St Patrick’s Day tables, isn't the only food to which “corning,” or salt-curing, can be applied. Corning originally was named for the corn kernel-size pellets of salt used to preserve meat in times before refrigeration, but the method today is used to…
What are ultraprocessed foods? Are they bad for you? - Japan Today
In the Trump administration’s quest to “Make America Healthy Again,” there may be no bigger target than ultraprocessed foods. Robert F Kennedy Jr, the nation’s new health secretary, has cited “highly chemically processed foods” as a chief culprit behind an epidemic of chronic disease in the U.S., including ailments such…
Traditional Japanese mochi dessert inspires McDonald’s newest pie flavor - Japan Today
The key to McDonald’s Japan’s success has been the skillful way its menu both stays true to the chain’s American roots but also takes into considerations local tastes. For example, should you walk into a McDonald’s in Japan this month craving something sweet, the staff will be happy to serve you up…
10 tips for buying organic food in Japan - Japan Today
When I first arrived from New Zealand, I remember feeling extremely lost and disappointed by the lack of organic food and products in Japan. In comparison to back home, where most grocery stores are green and economical, I suddenly found myself surrounded by excess plastic, more plastic, giant chemical fruit,…
Japanese puffed corn snack to be sold for ¥110,000 as work of art - Japan Today
One of the nice things about living in Japan is that there are a handful of snack foods that seem to do everything in their power to keep prices low. Garigari-kun ice candies and Black Thunder chocolates are two famous examples, but arguably the most cost-effective snack to date remains Umaibo. Umaibo are sticks made…
7-Eleven Japan planning to become even more awesome by baking its own bread in-store - Japan Today
The food selection at Japanese convenience stores is already pretty amazing, with all sorts of snacks and meals that make them viable to-go meal options that often rival the selection and quality available at fast food and casual restaurants. Walk into a branch of 7-Eleven, for example, and the tempting offerings…
Burger King Japan is recruiting secret agents for a mystery shopping mission - Japan Today
I have never really understood how James Bond is able to be a secret agent. For a role that is supposed to be discreet, every action he seems to take is counter-intuitive to that very notion. Yet for generations, Bond and other movie spies have fueled children’s fantasies of going…
Starbucks releases a color-changing Frappuccino in Japan - Japan Today
As we head into spring, Starbucks is capturing the joy of blue skies, blossoms, and sunnier days with a brand new limited-edition Frappuccino. Called the Haruzora Milk Coffee Frappuccino, which translates as “Spring Sky Milk Coffee Frappuccino“, this beautifully named beverage is incredibly special as it’s one of the most innovative the chain has ever…
World food prices rose in February on back of sugar rush, FAO says - Japan Today
Global food commodity prices rose in February, driven by higher sugar, dairy, and vegetable oil prices, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said on Friday. The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices of globally traded food commodities, averaged 127.1 points last…
Salty pancetta and fermented pepper paste lend deep umami to this meaty pasta dish - Japan Today
Zuppa forte, also known as zuppa di soffritto, is an old-school Neapolitan dish made by slow-cooking meats with garlic and other aromatics, along with tomatoes and preserved chilies, until reduced and concentrated. The rich, spicy paste-like mixture can be spread on crusty bread, though it’s more commonly diluted and used…
We never want to go back after dry frying the popular Japanese potato snack JagaRico - Japan Today
Every other day social media is buzzing with people raving about the latest food hack that promises to blow your mind and change your life forever. Little did we know, when we tried out the latest trend for ourselves, that’s exactly what would happen to one of our reporters. JagaRico is a popular…
UK pie 'n' mash fans seek protected status for Cockney classic - Japan Today
"One and one please love," a regular said, leaning on the counter at a pie and mash shop in London's East End. In seconds, one piping-hot beef pie appeared with a single scoop of mashed potatoes at G Kelly's shop, topped off with parsley sauce known as liquor. Londoners have…
Mister Donut blooms with sakura doughnuts for cherry blossom season - Japan Today
For the past couple of years, Mister Donut has been heralding the start of cherry blossom season in Japan with a special range of doughnuts called Sakura Mochitto. Notable for their mochitto (“chewy”) texture, these are some of the most beautiful doughnuts you’ll find in Japan, and this year they’ve dialed up the chewiness…
A comparison of English-language restaurant reservation sites in Japan - Japan Today
During peak seasons, making dining reservations is borderline essential. Fortunately, there are more ways than ever to book Japan’s sought-after restaurants for a vacation or night out. To make sure you’re finding eateries that best fit your budget, dining style and travel needs, compare the pros and cons of these…
Protein in plants? It's in there – and here's why you should try it - Japan Today
Protein. It's what's for dinner. But many consumers are realizing they don't need a steak on the table for protein. Instead, they're turning their tastes toward plant-based sources. Dr Andrea Glenn, an assistant professor of nutrition at New York University in New York City, said it's as easy to get…
5 differences between Japanese & Western diet approaches - Japan Today
Ever wondered how the Japanese think differently about their diet? Recently, I had the opportunity to ask a large group of foreign women living in Tokyo if they usually research health information in English (or their native language), Japanese or both. It was almost unanimous that they researched health tips in…
Some recommendations for child-friendly Japanese food - Japan Today
When traveling with children, food is always a stress factor. What can my kids eat? Will my kids be willing to try new things? Will I have to eat at McDonald’s every day? I am a firm believer in traveling to eat and during one of our recent visits back…
Pepsi Zero Peach is being released in one area of Japan - Japan Today
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new flavor of Pepsi hit the market in Japan, but that’s all set to change in one region of the country this spring with the release of Pepsi Zero Peach. The new drink has been crafted by Suntory as part of its mission to “unleash…
Nana’s Green Tea releases unique sakura treats for cherry blossom season in Japan - Japan Today
Back in 2001, a cafe chain called Nana’s Green Tea opened in Tokyo’s Jiyugaoka, a neighborhood famous for delicious desserts. Now, over 20 years later, the chain has become so popular it has 68 branches in Japan and 14 in six countries overseas, with customers returning time and time again for the sweet…
People in Japan are eating a lot less fish now than they used to, but why? - Japan Today
Japan is, in many ways, a piscivore’s paradise. As a compact island nation, when you’re in Japan you’re never very far away from the sea, and in addition to the country’s representative cuisine of sushi, Japanese culinary traditions include an abundance of grilled and simmered fish dishes. And yet, these…
Starbucks Japan unveils new matcha cherry blossom Frappuccino for sakura season - Japan Today
As we prepare for this year’s blossoming of the sakura trees, forecast to begin around March 21 in Tokyo, Starbucks is releasing its second cherry blossom Frappuccino of the season: the Matcha and Sakura Warabi Mochi Frappuccino. This stunning pink-and-green beverage is a trifecta of traditional Japanese flavors, with matcha powder added to the milky body of…
ANA to serve U.S.-brewed Dassai on international flights - Japan Today
All Nippon Airways Co will offer the U.S.-brewed version of the popular Japanese sake Dassai to passengers on some international flights, the Japanese airline has said. Dassai Blue, produced in New York by Asahi Shuzo Co, will be available to passengers on business class between March and May as well…