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Greek roasted chicken and potatoes with lemon and oregano: Simple but so homey and satisfying - Japan Today
This recipe for Greek roasted chicken and potatoes with lemon and oregano was crafted by instructor Despina Economou. When Despina was growing up in Greece, it was always considered a Sunday dish, partly because you saved meat for the weekends, and partly because everyone in town had to do their…
Cook like your grandmother with 'The League of Kitchens Cookbook' - Japan Today
When Lisa Kyung Gross first tried to recreate the Korean dishes her grandmother made when she was a child, none of it tasted as good. Things were always slightly off. “I realized that so often there are little nuances, tricks and detailed tips that are left out of cookbooks and…
Healthy Japanese sweets to keep an eye out for - Japan Today
When I first moved to Japan, I was concerned about my weight gain. Desserts are always on my mind, and Japanese cafes and department store food emporiums make them hard to ignore. To my pleasant surprise, I found a variety of healthy Japanese sweets low in calories and fat. The desserts I’ll share with you here do contain sugar (they are desserts, after…
Cheeseburger rice bowls arrive at Japanese beef bowl chain Matsuya, and in our stomach - Japan Today
When it comes to beef, there’s no more broadly beloved dish in Japan than the beef bowl, or gyudon, as it’s called in Japanese. Over on the other side of the Pacific, America’s flagship beefy meal is the hamburger, and by association its evolved form, the cheeseburger. Now gyudon restaurant chain Matsuya is…
Foreign tourists showing appetite for Japan's art of food replicas - Japan Today
At a workshop in Tokyo, a dozen or so tourists watched as green and white wax was poured into warm water. As the liquid turned into a sheet, they were then asked to slowly pull it up and roll it, gasping at its transformation into a lettuce. Hands-on lessons in…
Pull up, warm up at the Niseko Confidential pop-up this winter - Japan Today
Kicking off on December 5th, Niseko Confidential will be popping up this winter season with craft cocktails, curated dining offerings and cozy house party vibes. Just steps from the main ski runs in Hirafu, the bar will start the night as an après ski and dining destination, evolving into a…
Flying 'dango': Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge - Japan Today
There’s a famous saying in Japan, hana yori dango, which literally translates as “dango over flowers” and is used to mean “substance over form." This meaning comes from the fact that dango (sweet glutinous rice balls skewered on a stick) are often eaten at hanami flower-viewing picnics, and while some…
Aprons can evoke memories and spark inspiration for the Thanksgiving cook - Japan Today
Deborah Reinhardt has fond memories of her mother and grandmother cooking in aprons dusted with flour or other signs of that day's meal. And then there were the special occasions. “Grandma, especially, wore the fancier ones with ruffles and silky fabric for serving Thanksgiving dinner,” says Reinhardt, who lives in…
Beautiful Japanese garden green tea crepes waiting in Tokyo’s historical Asakusa neighborhood - Japan Today
Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood boasts one of the densest concentrations of traditional sightseeing spots in the city, starting with the famous Sensoji Temple. Of course, no matter how mentally and emotionally nourishing Asakusa’s cultural attractions may be, eventually your body is going to ask for some sustenance too, and there’s a sweet…
Hokkaido food film goes global in gourmet town of Spain - Japan Today
A documentary film following the daily lives of four Japanese chefs as they create dishes within the rich culinary culture and landscape of Hokkaido was screened at a prestigious international film festival in northern Spain, known as one of the best gourmet cities in the world. "Kita no Syokukei" ("Northern…
Three reasons why these Muji waffles are the perfect size - Japan Today
Japanese housewares and lifestyle brand Mujirushi Ryohin, also known as Mujirushi, and also known as Muji, has a well-deserved reputation for providing good quality at affordable prices. That holds true for the chain’s food and beverage items too, and on our most recent Mujirushi run we came across another all-star snack. Mujirushi is now selling stroopwafels,…
Starbucks Japan releases new chilled cup exclusively at FamilyMart convenience stores - Japan Today
With branches in every prefecture, and sometimes multiple outlets in a single shopping mall, Japan isn’t short of Starbucks stores. However, if you still find yourself more than a few kilometres away from a branch, you can always pop into a supermarket or convenience store for a taste of Starbucks, thanks…
Tanuki bread arrives at Japanese bakeries with a sweet surprise - Japan Today
Japanese foodie culture is of the opinion that food shouldn’t just taste good, but look good too. Of course, “looking good” includes a broad range of possibilities, from appearances that convey opulent luxury to rustic purity…and, in the case of the latest creation from bakery chain Kimuraya Sohonten, irresistible cuteness. It…
Food companies sell products that are less healthy in poorer countries, says report - Japan Today
The world’s biggest food and beverage companies on average sell products in low-income countries that are less healthy than what they sell in high-income countries, according to a new report. Products sold by companies including Nestle, Pepsico and Unilever were assessed as part of a global index published by the…
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavor in Japan - Japan Today
Pringles is a global brand sold in over 140 countries, but not all of its flavors are available everywhere. This makes the brand’s limited-edition varieties highly sought after, and now Japan has been chosen to receive one of those limited-edition flavors, with the release of the Pringles Butter Caramel. This is…
What’s the most popular way to prepare Japan’s beloved breakfast dish, 'tamago kake gohan'? - Japan Today
When I asked my Japanese friend who’s currently living in the rural U.S. what food she misses the most from home, she responded very quickly: “TKG.” In fact, she loves TKG so much that it’s often the first and last meal that she eats at Haneda Airport in the midst of her…
Cat paw yoghurt is now a thing in Japan - Japan Today
Japanese stores are known for selling pretty much everything you could wish for, and now they’re making the dreams of cat lovers come true by selling cat paw yoghurt. Officially called “Iyashi no Puni Puni Yoghurt” (“Healing Squishy Yogurt”), this new treat is created by Takanashi Dairies, a company well-known for…
Popular sports drink supplements in Japan: Tips from a Tokyo dietitian - Japan Today
As the weather begins to cool down and people resume their post-summer holiday routine, this time of year finds many residents of Japan returning to exercise and sport. Runs or hikes are no longer sweltering and even children are more focused on sports, with October being the month of many…
Hello Kitty shows up at Baskin-Robins Japan for 50th birthday party with special sweets and merch - Japan Today
Hello Kitty has been spending a lot of time at McDonald’s Japan these days, thanks to an adorable set of Happy Meal toys featuring the Sanrio star as well as her acting gig in a commercial for the burger chain. She’s saved room for dessert, though, as Baskin-Robbins Japan has now kicked off its Hello Ice Cream promotion,…
‘Safe route’ or ‘sushi route’ − 2 strategies to turn yuck to yum and convince people to eat unusual foods - Japan Today
What will the diets of the future look like? The answer depends in part on what foods Westerners can be persuaded to eat. These consumers are increasingly being told their diets need to change. Current eating habits are unsustainable, and the global demand for meat is growing. Recent years have seen increased…
Where to find turkey in Japan - Japan Today
If you’re living in Japan and craving turkey for a special occasion—whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas or simply a hearty feast—you might be wondering where to find one. While turkey isn’t a common staple in Japanese supermarkets, there are several great places to score this seasonal bird. Here’s a friendly guide on where to find…
Ultra-processed foods: We have the technology to turn them from foe into friend - Japan Today
Ultra-processed foods are the latest nutritional villains, associated with several diseases of the modern world, from obesity to heart disease. However, many nutritionists question whether the term “ultra-processed” does any more than create confusion. It only considers the way food is produced, ignoring other important factors like calories and nutrients. My work suggests that…
Burger King Japan creates Kyoto Whopper, its most Japanese burger ever, with Kyoto rice merchant - Japan Today
Burger King, as the chain makes clear right from the start, is all about hamburgers, the most American of sandwiches. Meanwhile, Kyoto is the most quintessentially traditional Japanese city. In a case of opposites attracting, though, Burger King Japan is rolling out a brand-new Kyoto Whopper, mixing elements of American and Japanese cuisine.…
Starbucks Japan reveals new holiday frappuccino - Japan Today
December might still seem some time away at the moment, but at Starbucks the holiday season is already kicking off, with the release of a new limited-edition beverage called the Hatsuyuki Frappuccino. The drink actually goes by two names — Hatsuyuki Frappuccino (“First Snow Frappuccino”) and the slightly less poetic but more descriptive Macadamia White Snow…
We start craving hotpot with the release of Japan’s 2024 National Nabe Opening Forecast map - Japan Today
Is there anything better when the temperature dips than a communal nabe/nabemono (hotpot) dish that you can share with family and friends? Sukiyaki, shabu shabu, chankonabe, oden…in Japan, the list of comforting, wholesome dishes goes on and on and varies from region to region. For instance, the custom of cooking the local-style nabe, imoni, by a river…
London school opens to train chefs in authentic 'washoku' cuisine - Japan Today
Despite modest beginnings, the first Japanese government-certified culinary school to open in Britain is promising big things, offering a course to ground students in both the techniques and culture of Japan's growingly popular washoku cuisine. The London branch of the Tokyo College of Sushi & Washoku, offering an officially recognized…
7-Eleven releases a secret Cafe Latte Smoothie at select stores in Japan - Japan Today
Convenience stores in Japan have been known to add secret items to select locations without a lot of notice or promotion, leading customers to experience a rush of excitement as they discover the new products for themselves. That’s what happened to our reporter Mr Sato the other day, when he…
Japanese arcades now have crane games where you can win sweet potatoes then roast them in-store - Japan Today
Whether you shout it out for all to hear or whisper it inside your heart, “Ah, sweet!” is a perfectly logical reaction to winning something at a crane game/UFO catcher. If you’re playing the machines at certain arcades in and around Tokyo this fall, though, you can amend that to “Ah…
Husband-and-wife food bloggers show how two chefs can navigate the home kitchen and stay happy - Japan Today
Husband-and-wife food bloggers and podcasters Sonja and Alex Overhiser have a new cookbook that uses a simple step to keep the kitchen a less heated place for two chefs: clear, alternating roles. “A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together” lays out ingredients and directions for a wide array of…
With this salmon piccata, the fish sings in butter, lemon and capers - Japan Today
Here’s how to make salmon sing: Pair it with butter, lemon and capers in a move that’s genius in its simplicity. Husband-and-wife food bloggers and podcasters Sonja and Alex Overhiser swap fish for chicken in this classic Italian American dish, making it (dare we say?) even more irresistible than the…
Line of foreign tourists leads us to Akihabara’s meatiest fatty ramen - Japan Today
Ramen and anime are currently enjoying unprecedented heights of popularity around the globe, and at the same time Japan is seeing record numbers of inbound international travelers. So there are a couple of ramen restaurants in Tokyo’s otaku district of Akihabara where you can regularly see long lines of foreign tourists…
Will U.S. convenience stores find the secret to selling better food? - Japan Today
Americans who think of petrified hot dogs, frozen burritos and salty snacks when they imagine getting food at a gas station or truck stop may be pleasantly surprised during their next road trip: U.S. convenience stores are offering them more and better — though not necessarily healthier — choices. From…
Kanagawa sake shines at World Sake Day celebrations - Japan Today
Kanagawa’s artisanal sake is gaining increasing recognition in the U.S. market, celebrated for its deep connection to local tradition and natural resources. Benefiting from the pure waters of the Tanzawa Mountains and centuries-old craftsmanship, the prefecture's sake stood out during recent World Sake Day events. World Sake Day, held annually…
192-year-old Kyoto tea company now makes matcha Margherita pizzas - Japan Today
It’s said that the pizza Margherita was created in honor of Italy’s Queen Margherita of Savoy, and that its three toppings, red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil, were chosen to represent the colors of the Italian flag. Of course, here in Japan when foodies think of the color green, the first…
Halloween Totoro and Spirited Away puddings coming to delight Ghibli fans - Japan Today
Odds are when you think of Totoro, you think of summer. After all, that’s the season in which the majority of the film takes place, allowing for all those outdoor adventures set beneath skies of cumulonimbus clouds plus the iconic bus stop scene coinciding with a sudden squall. But at Shirohige’s Cream…
Adult Jam Bread causes a stir at store in Tokyo - Japan Today
There are many sweets stores in Japan, but right now there’s one that’s on everyone’s lips: Ginza Tsuki to Hana (Ginza Moon and Flower). Located in Tokyo’s upmarket Ginza neighborhood, this store specializes in one thing only, Otona no Jam Pan, or Adult Jam Bread. The word otona is commonly used…
Suntory’s famous Yamazaki whisky returns to canned cocktails with new highball version - Japan Today
Japan has had canned cocktails for many years, but for a lot of their early history they weren’t exactly considered high-class drinks. With their ingredient lists often containing lots of artificial flavorings and cheap varieties of booze, canned cocktails were a cost-effective and not-non-tasty way to get your buzz on,…
Tsukemen ramen restaurant becomes a hit with foreign tourists in Tokyo - Japan Today
Ramen restaurants in Japan have long been drawing tourists from overseas, but these days, foreign visitors have gotten wind of a ramen-adjacent dish that was previously overlooked by people outside of the country. Known as tsukemen, this dish differs to traditional ramen as the noodles and broth are served up in…
McDonald’s Japan brings out new sweet potato caramel chocolate pies for autumn - Japan Today
September was a very busy month for hamburger chains in Japan. First, they started applying the concept of Japan’s early autumn tsukimi/moon-viewing tradition to burgers (by giving them full moon-like fried eggs), and then a lot of them started adding moon-viewing sweets, often making use of custard pudding since its…
Japanese seaweed: The superfood you can find everywhere - Japan Today
Since ancient times, Japan has used sea plants in various ways, including food sources, dietary supplements, plant fertilizers and medical treatments. Pastes made from Japanese seaweed were once used to heal burns, as it was believed they prevented bacterial infections and soothed the skin. In modern times, this practice is continued through…