Yes, unfortunately you read that title correctly. The Asian Giant Hornet, known in Japan as suzumebachi, is a feared insect, as its sting can range from incredibly painful to fatal. However, the larvae of this huge flying predator is said to contain amino acids that boost athletic performance, an idea given credence by a Japanese…
Category: Food
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki is a food that defies definition in Western culinary terms. Not quite a crepe, pancake or omelette, okonomiyaki is a meal rolled into one big package. Cabbage, eggs, pork and a batter made with flour and yam are the basic ingredients, but there are many optional ones including cheese or noodles. One of the quintessential…
Shirasu
Shirasu are immature white fish that are a staple in the Japanese diet. They swim together in large schools and not difficult for fishermen to scoop out of the ocean in large quantities. One fisherman on television recently said he can catch 150kg (330 lbs.) of shirasu in a single outing. Shirasu can be eaten raw or…
UN University Farmers Market
In a country where domestic agriculture is such a critical industry, there have been surprisingly few Farmers Markets in Japan. Recently, momentum is gaining for supporting sustainable agriculture and locally grown products, and Farmers Markets are a wonderful by-product of the overall movement. In the heart of Tokyo, United Nations University in Aoyama hosts a…
Kuro Goma Soft Cream
The mysterious black soft-serve ice cream might scare some people away, but we think it is one of the most delicious of the soft cream flavors in Japan. It gets it’s color from black sesame seeds 黒ごま, giving it a nutty and sweet flavor. At this shop in Kamakura, they sprinkle the soft cream with…
Hello Old Timer
Call it Japanese-Cajun fusion or Neo-Southern-Washoku, but no one disputes the food at Hello Old Timer is just plain delicious. Off the beaten path in Ekoda, 10 minutes west of Ikebukuro on the Seibu line, Hello Old Timer is a place you go searching for simply because there is nothing else like it in Japan or…
Kinkai Ramen
A favorite from the day we arrived in Japan, Kinkai’s soup stock is flavored with flying fish and is a relatively healthy alternative to the rich tonkotsu (pork broth) soups that many people love. If a bowl of noodles and a boiled egg isn’t going to fill you up, try the Oyakodama, with crispy kaarage (fried…
Omoide Yokocho
This narrow set of alleys outside the West exit of Shinjuku station is home to about 60 tiny restaurants, mostly serving the traditional salaryman meal, yakitori (skewered meat) and of course, a glass of beer to wash it down. Omoide Yokocho means “Memory Lane” and the place does hold many memories since it sprung up at…
Ice Cream Vending Machine
Everyone loves the ice cream truck, coming down the street on a hot summer day loaded with every variety of ice cream a kid can imagine. The only thing better would be a vending machine, so you wouldn’t have to wait in anticipation for the ice cream truck, right? Thankfully, Japan’s marketing department has heard…
Log Road Daikanyama
Singapore talent and model Esther Leong enjoys a cup of coffee from Log Road, a boutique shopping center in the trendy Daikanyama area of Tokyo. Log Road opened last year to much fanfare though it really only houses a few shops and cafes. But each is unique to Tokyo and many to Japan: LA clothier…
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