By Keiko FukudaA Japanese style yakiniku restaurant “Oreno Yakiniku” is located on the third floor of the Weller Court, a shopping mall in Little Tokyo. This place gets especially busy during lunch hours and also while some event is being held nearby. During lunch hours, neighboring Government offic...

By Kosuke KujiA traditional Japanese ceremony of breaking open the sake barrel was held on stage, followed by the welcome beverage of “Awa sake” served in champagne glasses to approximately 300 Japanese and Italian guests to toast together at once. This sight had me dreaming of “Awa sake,” instead o...

By Elli SekineEbisu, which is going into their 37th year of operation this year, is a long-established restaurant that has been leading the sushi boom...

特に日本酒と食のペアリングに対して、多くの人は「何を大げさな、あまり関係ない」と考えているのではないだろうか？今回は、ちょっとした心がけで日本酒と料理のペアリング能力が上がるコツを教えたい。まずは、なるべく性質の違う日本酒3銘柄を用意していただきたい。性質の違いは、本当は飲んでみないとなかなか分かり...

By Aya OtaCharacteristics of New York City are strongly reflected upon old brick buildings and graffiti on the walls of the Lower East Side. In this t...

By Keiko FukudaOkonomiyaki restaurant, Chinchikurin, stands in front of the Yagura of Japanese Village, the symbol of Little Tokyo. Teppan-yaki tables are laid out in an orderly way in a large space, and their kitchen is an open style. If you get seated at the counter, you can watch Okonomiyaki bein...

By Kosuke KujiThe 43rd edition of Japan Week (http://www.iffjapan.or.jp/) organized by the International Friendship Foundation, a non-profit based in Tokyo, was held in Torino, Italy. The welcome reception was held lavishly at the Foyer of Teatro Regio, attended by Japanese and Torino affiliates, to...

Text Mayumi Schroeder Photo: Elli SekineGrowth of popularity of sushi in San Francisco’s Bay area in recent years is quite amazing. Many sushi restaur...

By Aya OtaIts unique exterior; walls without windows, which make it impossible to peek in, and the thick and heavy door, both of which remind you of a...

By Keiko FukudaAn Okinawan restaurant, Habuya Okinawan Dining, was opened in December of 2010 in Tustin. Mere 3 months after the opening, it was featured as “The Best Hidden Japanese Restaurant” in the Los Angeles Times, which gave this restaurant a big boost. Mayumi Burgus from Okinawa, the owner o...