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You can now buy Studio Ghibli shaved ice desserts in Japan - Japan Today
We are currently reaching peak summer in Japan, which means it’s time to call in the big guns of summertime refreshment. This month, the Studio Ghibli-affiliated Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory, run by the brother of Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, is answering the call with a shaved ice dessert that’s big on flavor… and…
Try some of Japan’s summer foods - Japan Today
Anyone who has lived in Japan has noticed the sharp contrast in seasons and the celebration of those distinctions. One of the many Japanese words related to seasons, 旬 (shun), describes the peak period of produce, fish and other food in Japan. Each food has its own “shun,” so certain dishes are more…
Lawson now sells old rice as 'vintage' onigiri in Japan - Japan Today
There’s a severe shortage of rice in Japan at the moment, and the situation is so dire that the government recently released emergency stockpiles to make the everyday staple more widely available. As these are emergency stockpiles, though, the rice isn’t freshly harvested — in fact, some would go so far…
A history of fermented foods – from pickles to kimchi - Japan Today
Are you a pro at pickling? How about baking sourdough bread or brewing your own kombucha? If the answer is yes, you’ve probably picked up on one of the recent trends promoting fermented foods, which promise to boost your gut health and save both you and the planet from the scourge of food waste.…
Study reveals potato's secret tomato past - Japan Today
You say potato, I say tomato? Turns out one helped create the other: Natural interbreeding between wild tomatoes and potato-like plants in South America gave rise to the modern day spud around nine million years ago, according to a new study published in the journal Cell. Co-author Loren Rieseberg, a…
Macrobiotics: The Japanese concept that brings balance to your diet - Japan Today
Macrobiotics is all about eating in balance. Here's a quick guide to all you need to know about macrobiotics, including the best diners in Tokyo to try it out! When I first moved to Tokyo, I was 40 pounds overweight and anxious to understand why Japanese women were so slim despite eating…
Is katsudon a dish best served cold? Trying out the new Hiyashi Dashi Katsudon in Tokyo - Japan Today
Most people would say that there aren’t a lot of similarities between revenge and a pork cutlet bowl/katsudon. Among other key differences, revenge often leaves one feeling empty and consumed by sadness, while consuming katsudon is one of the quickest ways to achieve both fullness and joy. But could it…
Lawson debuts new fried chicken, so let’s see how it compares to other stores - Japan Today
There are certain staples that each of the major convenience store chains in Japan is sure to carry. Onigiri are almost a certain bet, and nikuman steamed meat buns have more recently become available everywhere and all year round. You’ll probably even find a melon pan in each store if they aren’t already sold out. Another…
Starbucks Japan’s white peach Frappuccino and drinks are here - Japan Today
It’s been an extremely hot summer in Japan this year, with the country recording its highest temperature ever just a few days ago. Temperatures have dipped a bit since then, but not by much, so we were very much looking forward to having not one, not two, but three new chilled…
Crème fraîche creates a creamy broth for briny-sweet steamed clams - Japan Today
A big bowl of steamed clams and juicy-crisp corn is summer eating at its finest. The combination is fresh, sweet and briny, almost like a chowder made for eating with your fingers. In this recipe from our cookbook “ Milk Street 365: The All-Purpose Cookbook for Every Day of the…
Insane food challenges in Japan (if you’re hungry enough) - Japan Today
From conveyor belt sushi to regional takes on ramen, Japanese cuisine is a top reason many people visit Japan. But if a regular omori (大盛り, large portion) of rice or a kaedama (替え玉, extra noodles) isn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, why not push your limits with a full-blown food challenge?…
Iconic French chef stakes reputation on vegan menu - Japan Today
Celebrated French chef Alain Passard has made history once again. The 68-year-old has become the first three Michelin star chef in France to switch to an entirely plant-based menu, opening a new chapter in the world of luxury dining. Since July 21, Passard has stopped serving meat, fish, dairy products…
Sudachi: Japanese baby lime cookie recipe - Japan Today
What’s a すだち (sudachi)? Think of it as a tiny, tart lime native to Tokushima Prefecture in Japan. Every now and then, I stay up way too late experimenting with seasonal fruits — testing my patience, my oven, and definitely blowing past my daily calorie limit. But hey, it’s all…
Why does Häagen-Dazs Japan have two different types of green tea ice cream, and do we need both? - Japan Today
Like many of Japan’s sweets suppliers, Häagen-Dazs Japan is continually rotating special limited-time flavors into its lineup. Their newest, which went on sale July 22, is Gyokuro, named after the green tea of the same name. Now if you’re thinking “Wait a second, I could have sworn I’d seen green tea Häagen-Dazs in…
Three reasons buffets can be a recipe for a health disaster – and how to keep diners safe - Japan Today
You pile your plate high at the buffet, savoring the freedom to try a little bit of everything. But while your taste buds might be celebrating, your gut could be at risk. From shared serving spoons to lukewarm lasagne, buffets can be a breeding ground for bacteria – and a hotbed for…
KFC’s new Japanese-Style Summer Burgers source refreshing ingredients from Setouchi and Wakayama - Japan Today
Japan’s summer is feeling a little lacking in its Japanese-ness in some ways this year, but it’s set to get a little boost in that regard from the unexpected source of KFC. The Kentucky-born, big-in-Japan chain has released a pair of new Japanese-Style Summer Burgers, or, if you’re really getting into the Japanese-style…
Japanese pop star Ado wants to know if Americans actually eat one of Japan’s favorite 'Western foods' - Japan Today
For several decades, beef teriyaki has been one of the most popular menu items at Japanese restaurants in the U.S. It’s flavorful and hearty, and doesn’t use any ingredients with tastes or textures that would startle the average American diner. What can be surprising for American beef teriyaki fans, though…
Kinbato: A Japanese Paloma cocktail recipe - Japan Today
Say hello to the Kinbato, our refreshing original Japanese cocktail recipe inspired by the tropical flavors of Okinawa. For this, we’re putting a Japanese twist on the classic Paloma cocktail. With Japan’s humid summer in full swing, this light, zesty cocktail is perfect for Japanese-style outdoor BBQs or winding down after a day in…
7-Eleven Japan powers up even more with new baked-in-store breads and pastries - Japan Today
In every convenience store in Japan, you’ll find a bread aisle, stocked with individually wrapped sweet and savory baked goods trucked in from a central kitchen to each of the chain’s branches. That goes for 7-Eleven too, of course, but at some 7-Eleven locations you can also get various kinds of…
5 famous foods you’ll find in Nagasaki - Japan Today
As a port city with centuries of overseas influence, Nagasaki offers one of Japan’s most diverse regional cuisines. From the hearty noodle bowls brought by Chinese immigrants to European-inspired cakes and American-style burgers, every dish reflects the city’s cultural influences. Here are five famous foods in Nagasaki. 1. Champon Image: PIXTA/sasazawa This hearty…
5 delicious summer fish in Japan - Japan Today
Whether you prefer your seafood as sashimi or straight off the grill, summer in Japan is a veritable treasure trove of fish. Maybe these seasonal catches just hit differently in the heat, or maybe I’m still chasing that first bite of sushi I had all those years ago — but…
Discover some of the best snacks in Atami, a wonderland of Japanese street food - Japan Today
While there are beaches in the capital, most Tokyoites travel to one of the nearby seaside resorts in one of the neighboring prefectures to get their dose of sunshine with an ocean view. While Enoshima and Zushi are both excellent options for soaking up the rays nearby, if you’re willing to go a little…
Cold curry noodles? Is Japan’s favorite curry rice restaurant’s idea crazy enough to work? - Japan Today
Nine times out of ten, or heck, 99 times out of 100, when we walk through the doors of Cocoichibanya (aka Cocoichi), we’re there to get ourselves some piping hot curry rice. And yes, on our most recent visit to Japan’s biggest curry restaurant chain, we did get curry…but we had no rice,…
Japanese-style strawberry sandwiches win mainstream fans in UK, but aren’t quite like the originals - Japan Today
Japanese food has made some impressive international inroads in recent years. Turning up your nose at sushi because you’re uncomfortable with the idea of eating raw fish is now likely to get your foody credentials questioned in most countries around the globe, as is still thinking that ramen is limited…
Lotteria releases an unadon eel rice bowl burger in Japan for a limited time - Japan Today
On July 16, Lotteria launched a wild, limited-time menu item to mark Doyo no Ushi no Hi, Japan’s Midsummer Day of the Ox, on July 17. People traditionally eat eel or “unagi” on this day for stamina to help combat the hottest period of summer, and Lotteria has taken that tradition to…
Stop lining up for Ichiran ramen: Skip the line, dodge the hype and find better bowls locals actually eat - Japan Today
I try not to judge tourists’ travel itineraries. I’m very humble like that. In a way, it’s kind of nice that all the tourists congregate in the same three places. Sure, it’s wrecking small towns and pushing locals out of, well, the locale, but at least it keeps certain neighborhoods free of…
Indian curry in cafeteria spicing up Suzuki Motor's business - Japan Today
Suzuki Motor Corp, the longtime top carmaker in the Indian market, has launched sales of boil-in-the-bag curry, initially developed for Indian employees in Japan who longed for the taste of home. The Japanese automaker began selling four different varieties of Indian curry online on June 25 -- daikon radish sambar,…
Burger King Japan releasing official Japan Sumo Association burger - Japan Today
Burger King Japan likes to get creative with its burger designs and theming. Within the past year, for example, we’ve seen them release both a Pickelball Burger and a Kyoto Whopper. Now, though, Burger King Japan is combining those inspirations of competitive sports and Japanese culture with the creation of a sumo burger. To commemorate…
Domino’s releases new 'Crispizzaburger' in Japan - Japan Today
It’s been a tough time for pizza chains in Japan, with Domino’s recently closing a number of its stores due to rising prices, which have impacted the business while also forcing customers to tighten their purse-strings. In order to stay ahead of the competition, the chain now aims to streamline its lunchtime…
3 basic ingredients, a million possibilities: How small pizzerias succeed in an age of chain restaurants - Japan Today
t its heart, pizza is deceptively simple. Made from just a few humble ingredients – baked dough, tangy sauce, melted cheese and maybe a few toppings – it might seem like a perfect candidate for the kind of mass-produced standardization that defines many global food chains, where predictable menus reign…
Godiva at revolving sushi? Luxury chocolatier crafts desserts for 'kaitenzushi' chain - Japan Today
In Japan, there’s a whole class of restaurants, called kaitenzushi, whose name has become kind of inaccurate. Kaiten means “revolve,” and the zushi part is an alternate pronunciation of sushi, and once you know that, you can probably guess that kaitenzushi restaurants are those places where plates of sushi go around and around on conveyor belts…
Tokyo ramen restaurant apologizes for trying to set too-strict time limit for eating its noodles - Japan Today
No ramen chain can boast a more passionate fan base than Ramen Jiro. So beloved is the brand’s high-calorie, heavy-flavor take on the noddle dish that regular customers have their own nickname, the Jirolians. That doesn’t mean the chain is infallible, though, and earlier this week one branch issued an official apology…
Tsukudani and hot rice: Still a go-to meal in Japan centuries after its creation - Japan Today
Their morning starts at 5 a.m. The father and son don’t speak to each other. They don’t need to. They barely look at each other as they go briskly, almost mechanically, from task to task. Beads of sweat glisten on their foreheads. It’s the same work they’ve been doing at…
Donuts with seaweed and soy sauce: Is Japan’s Mister Donut idea too Japanese for its own good? - Japan Today
Mister Donut is the Japanese donut chain. Though it originally started out in the U.S., it’s risen to greater success in Japan than it ever did in its home country, and was pretty much Japan’s only high-profile donut chain for several decades. Even now, with Krispy Kreme and Randy’s Donuts having opened locations in Japan, there’s still…
App that lets you find discounted food about to expire available at Osaka Expo too - Japan Today
Japanese supermarkets usually have a section filled with bentos and other freshly cooked foods like pizzas, croquettes, and spring rolls. But foods like these are only sellable for a limited time and when that clock starts to run down, the supermarkets often start slashing prices to cut their losses. Some…
Calpis taps to flow at 1,000 sites across Japan in new plan from beverage maker Asahi - Japan Today
Green tea may be Japan’s most traditional non-alcoholic beverage, but when Japanese people are feeling thirsty, especially on a hot summer’s day, a lot of them would rather gulp down some nicely chilled Calpis instead. Depending on what part of the world you live in, you might know this yogurt-like drink better…
5 famous foods you’ll find in Kagawa - Japan Today
Kagawa Prefecture might be Japan’s smallest by area, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to food. Nicknamed “Udon Prefecture” (yes, officially), Kagawa has carved out a reputation for chewy noodles, island-grown olives and one very unexpected mochi-based soup. From slurpable staples to savory snacks and sweet-salty curveballs,…
Chef Nobu serves his famous miso cod with a side of inspiration in a new documentary - Japan Today
World-famous chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has been tantalizing foodies for decades as he built his empire to include more than 50 upscale restaurants and several luxury hotels. The new documentary, “Nobu,” reveals the man behind the cuisine in an intimate look at how he found success, despite several major setbacks. The film traces Matsuhisa's journey…
FamilyMart service brings Hokkaido goods to your local convenience store - Japan Today
For those who can’t get enough of the convenience of Japanese convenience stores, the FamilyMart chain is adding to the fun with FamilyMart Online (“Famima Online”). This service gives access to exclusive goods that can only be ordered online and picked up at your local FamilyMart store location, of which there are 16,300…
Set sail on a voyage to a culinary culture - Japan Today
Almost five years on from its launch in the Mediterranean, Silversea Cruises’ initiative Sea and Land Taste (SALT) has become a much loved element of the cruise line’s Japan voyages. The multifaceted program, which allows passengers to explore a destination’s cultural identity through food, while onboard and ashore, was introduced…