JAPAN Fes

Saturday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Upper West Side near Columbia University, on Broadway between 115th and 116th Streets

Admission: Free

After kicking off their 2023 street fair schedule on March 26, JAPAN Fes continues this Saturday, April 1.

The Japanese food festival loved by 250,000 people, JAPAN Fes will produce 20 events throughout New York City this year, their most ever. In total, JAPAN Fes will feature more than 750 vendors, including vendors from Japan as well as around the US.

This Saturday, along with popular Japanese street food such as crusty takoyaki, savory yakisoba, fluffy okonomiyaki, and juicy karaage, many JAPAN Fes vendors will feature cherry blossom-themed products. Celebrate the season with sakura-favored crepes and cherry blossom cheese toast!

To discover more about spring in Japan, JAPAN Fes will also have cherry blossom items such as beautiful kimono or stylish cherry blossom-designed hats. For more information, please visit JAPAN Fes’s website and Facebook page.

Remaining JAPAN Fes Schedule

• April 15 in Chelsea

• April 29 in Chelsea – Ramen Contest

• April 30 in Astoria – Ramen Contest

• May 20 in NoMad

• May 21 in Park Slope

• June 4 in Midtown West

• June 17 in East Village

• June 18 in Park Slope

• July 2 in Astoria

• July 15 in Chelsea

• August 26 in East Village

• August 27 in East Village

• September 9 in Upper East Side

• September 16 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest

• September 17 in Chelsea – Konamon Contest

• October 7 in East Village – Ramen Contest

• October 8 in Upper West Side – Ramen Contest

• October 28 in East Village

Night Market: Asian Food & Sakura Festival

Friday, March 31 from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

MIKA – 25 Thames Street, Brooklyn

Admission: $12 in advance / $15 at the door

MIKA and Upstairs are turning all 8,700 square feet of MIKA’s space into a night market featuring a mouthwatering, traditional Asian menu and sakura-themed food, drinks, and products. There will be sakura accessories, Pokémon goods, crafts and more throughout MIKA’s indoor and outdoor patio spaces.

Wear your cherry blossom outfits and join the fun!

Food for Purchase ($10-$15)

• Award-Winning Tonkotsu Ramen

• Sakura Pescatarian Ramen

• Takoyaki

• Yakitori

• Vegan Curry Rice

• Onigiri

• Tokyo Fried Chicken

• Gyoza

• Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

• Golden Fish Ball

• Fried Mushroom

• Sakura Jelly

• Ube and Matcha Cheesecake

• Super Omakase Strawberry

• Sakura-, Ube- and Matcha-Mochi Filled Cookies

Beverages (for Free Drink Ticket Holders Only)

• Chu-Hi (shochu cocktails) sponsored by Iichiko and Takara Sake

• Beer by DUBCO

• Yuzu-flavored Mocktails by Moshi

Beverages Available for Purchase

• Special Sakura, Matcha, Yuzu, Lemon, Calpico, and Oolong Chu-H

• Special Sake Flight Menu with Sakura Sake Cocktails by Kubota and Kato Sake Works

For a full list of vendors and to purchase tickets, please visit the Upstairs Night Market website.

Yumi Kurosawa Trio at Joe’s Pub

Thursday, March 30 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

Joe’s Pub – 425 Lafayette Street (at Astor Place)

Admission: $25 / $15 Students

Yumi Kurosawa is one of today's most exciting soloists on Japan's national instrument, the koto. Marking the debut of her new album Metamorphosis, Kurosawa creates a transformative listening experience through her new compositions.

The Yumi Kurosawa Trio blends the violin, percussion, and koto and draws upon many musical influences to reveal Kurosawa’s abundant curiosity and remarkable capacity. Latin percussion, shakuhachi, and alto saxophone add a variety of tonal colors. The idea of borderless music is reimagined to create something unique and special. 

This album recording and the world premiere of several music pieces are commissioned by Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program funded through the generosity of Howard Gilman Foundation. Produced by Arturo O’Farrill and Kabir Sehgal. For more information about Yumi Kurosawa, please visit her website.

Photo by Gail Hadani

Performers

Yumi Kurosawa — 20-string koto
Naho Parrini — violin
Eric Phinney — percussion

Special Guests

Carlos Maldonado — Latin percussion
Zac Zinger — shakuhachi and alto saxophone

 There is a minimum two-drink or one-food order per person. To purchase tickets, please visit Joe’s Pub’s website.

Photo by Gail Hadani

WHAT’S UP CONNECTION

Wednesday, March 29 at 9:30 p.m.

Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn – 445 Albee Square West, Brooklyn

Admission: $10

Film distributor Kani Releasing is hosting a one-night-only screening of What’s Up Connection, Japanese punk auteur Masashi Yamamoto’s zany road trip comedy in which one Hong Kong family takes on a Japanese conglomerate to save their fishing village, at Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn. Yamamoto will join via Zoom for a post-screening Q&A moderated by film critic Kazu Watanabe.

About What’s Up Connection

When Hong Kong teenager Chi Gau Shin (Tse Wai Kit, School on Fire) wins a trip to Japan, he unleashes a chain of events that will soon bring him from the secluded fishing village of Po Toi O to Tokyo, by way of Kamagasaki—the so-called slums of Osaka. Upon returning home with a merry band of schemers, Gau Shin finds his family of resourceful counterfeiters on the verge of expropriation. A multinational conglomerate led by a ruthless Japanese developer has found the village and is determined to raze it to build the new center of world trade.

A rare bilingual Japan-Hong Kong co-production that unfolds as part unhinged globalization mini-epic, fringe documentary, and breathless, kaleidoscopic evocation of a specific pan-Asian cultural experience as the 1990s drew near, What’s Up Connection is bursting at the seams with possibility. It brings Yamamoto’s project—of capturing beauty and resilience in the margins of capital—to its maximalist apex.

To purchase tickets, please visit Alamo Drafthouse’s website.

In Cantonese and Japanese with English subtitles

About Masashi Yamamoto

Born in Ōita Prefecture, indie auteur Masashi Yamamoto attended Meiji University but left early to concentrate on making independent 8mm films. In the late ‘70s to early ‘80s, he produced music for the Japanese rock band JAGATARA and has since cast punk icons Akemi Edo, Kou Machida, and Sakevi Yokoyama in his films.

His Carnival in the Night (1983) was the first independent Japanese film to be officially invited to screen at both the Cannes International Film Festival's Critics' Week and the Berlin Film Festival's Young Forum. Robinson's Garden (1987) won the Zitty Award at Berlinale and earned Yamamoto the Directors Guild of Japan’s New Directors Award. Following the completion of Atlanta Boogie (1996), he lived in New York for a year as a research fellow for Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, during which time he distributed his film Junk Food (1997) across the US.

In 2012, he created Cinema ☆ Impact, a filmmaking workshop that produced and released 15 films from up-and-coming directors, including Nobuhiro Yamashita (Linda Linda Linda), Ryosuke Hashiguchi (Like Grains of Sand, Hush!), and Ryūichi Hiroki (Ride or Die, Vibrator). The work born from Cinema ☆ Impact was screened at film festivals in the US, Hong Kong, Japan, and Berlin.

He has also acted in films such as A Forest with No Name (Shinji Aoyama) and March Comes in Like a Lion (Hitoshi Yazaki). His latest film, Wonderful Paradise (2020), screened at the Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival, Nippon Connection, and JAPAN CUTS in New York.

SHOKO NAGAI’S TOKALA

Wednesday, March 29 from 8:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Barbès – 376 9th Street, Brooklyn

Suggested Donation: $20

Shoko Nagai's TOKALA explores the sound of the ancient connection between Japan and the Middle East via the Silk Road. The cultural exchange that happened there left an imprint which became an integral part of Japanese culture. The music of TOKALA can raise awareness of the ancient connection between the Far East and the Islamic world of the Middle East.

Experience TOKALA tonight at Barbès, a bar and performance space in South Slope, Brooklyn. Click here to reserve your ticket.

Performers

Shoko Nagai — Accordion, electronics, voice
Satoshi Takeishi — Percussion
Frank London — Trumpet

About Shoko Nagai

Shoko Nagai is a versatile musical artist who improvises and performs on piano and accordion with world-renowned musicians and composes original scores for films and live performances. As a teenager in her native Japan, Nagai was trained on Yamaha’s electronic organ, the “Electone,” to perform popular music.

Since moving to the US from Japan and studying classical, jazz, and composition at Berklee College of Music, she has adapted her mastery of the keyboard to prepared piano, accordions, and other keyboard instruments, often inspired by the minimalist approach of composer Toru Takemitsu. Whether she is performing Klezmer, Balkan, or experimental music, Nagai is a charismatic presence onstage, hypnotizing audiences with her intense focus and virtuoso sound.

For more information, please visit Nagai’s website.

“We have seen the art works, instruments, and other artistic objects from the Persian empire preserved in Imperial storage in Nara, Japan. We can but only imagine what it was like for musicians of Japan to hear the sounds of Persian court music. We are sure that it has left strong imprints deep in the Japanese traditional culture.”

— Shoko Nagai

the zen of shopping with zenplus

This listing is made possible by ZenPlus.

The internet has made the world smaller. People connect globally through social media platforms. Accessing information about other countries and cultures is a breeze. Even ordering your favorite products from Japan is easier with ZenPlus.

ZenPlus is a Japanese online marketplace that offers more than three million authentic products by 1,400 companies in Japan to customers all over the world. Three million.

What Kind of Products?

You can find practically anything you want on ZenPlus. Anything. Clothing and accessories, health and beauty, home and office supplies, even food and drink are among the categories of items on the website. And within these categories are even more specific subcategories.

As New Yorkers, we’re lucky to have plenty of goods from Japan only a subway ride away. You can find anime, manga, and action figures in New York City, but there are hundreds that aren’t available here. As I browsed through the ZenPlus website, I found fascinating things that I didn’t realize I could buy online from Japan.

Hanging scrolls and a sleeping bag with sleeves? Check. Shogi board games and fishing reels? Check. All the Kit Kat flavors from Tokyo Banana to cheesecake can be yours, as well as a tambourine shaped like a koala. The possibilities are endless.

How Does It Work?

The Osaka-based company acts as a liaison between the customer and the companies they represent. ZenPlus understands that Japanese culture and products are revered around the world, so they make it easy for customers in hundreds of countries who need to communicate in languages other than Japanese.

Go to the ZenPlus website. Create a free account and shop online as you would with any e-commerce platform. Choose your shipping and payment methods, and you’re done. Shipping may take several days to several weeks depending on the method you choose, standard or express.

Explore ZenPlus and find the world of Japan at your fingertips. As ZenPlus says, “You don't need to be in Japan to shop like the Japanese.”

This listing is made possible by our generous sponsor, ZenPlus.To learn more about ZenPlus, please visit https://zenplus.jp/en/.

Blue Note Presents Hiromi: The Piano Quintet feat. PUBLIQuartet

Tuesday, November 29 and Wednesday, November 30 at 7:00 p.m. (Doors at 5:30 p.m.) and 9:30 p.m. (Doors at 9:00 p.m.)

Sony Hall – 235 W. 46th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues)

General Admission: $45 Advance | $50 Day of Show
VIP Reserved Seating: $65

Japanese jazz composer and pianist Hiromi returns to New York to perform four shows in two nights at Sony Hall, presented by Blue Note. Hiromi will take the stage with the Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet, which is known for its imaginative approaches to contemporary classical, jazz, and world chamber music.

Tickets

To purchase tickets, please visit Sony Hall’s website. General Admission seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. VIP reservations include guaranteed seating in a designated section. This all-ages show will have a full dinner menu available.

About Hiromi

Ever since the 2003 release of her debut, Another Mind, Hiromi has electrified audiences with a creative energy that encompasses and eclipses the boundaries of jazz, classical, and pop, taking improvisation and composition to new heights of complexity and sophistication. On her new album, Silver Lining Suite, Hiromi further exemplifies her virtuosic hybridity and emotional range, finding strength and hope amidst the turmoil of the pandemic.

Born in Hamamatsu, Japan in 1979, Hiromi’s first piano teacher, Noriko Hikida, exposed Hiromi to jazz and introduced her to the great pianists Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. She enrolled in the Yamaha School of Music and started writing music.

Hiromi moved to the United States in 1999 and studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Among her mentors was jazz bassist/arranger Richard Evans, who took Hiromi’s demo to his friend, the legendary pianist Ahmad Jamal. Evans and Jamal co-produced Another Mind.

Another Mind was a critical success in North America and Japan, where the album shipped gold and received the Recording Industry Association of Japan’s Jazz Album of the Year Award. Hiromi’s astonishing debut was but a forecast of the shape of jazz to come.

In 2009, she recorded with pianist Chick Corea on Duet, a live recording of their concert in Tokyo. She also appeared on bassist Stanley Clarke’s Grammy-winning release, Jazz in the Garden.

In the summer of 2021, Hiromi performed at the opening ceremonies of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Japanese-Themed Short Films of New York Japan CineFest

The 11th New York Japan CineFest

In-person Screening on Monday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Scandinavia House – 58 Park Avenue at 38th Street
In-person Tickets: $15 in advance; $18 at the door | Students: $12 in advance; $15 at the door

Online Screening from Tuesday, November 15 through Sunday, November 20
Online Screenings: $15 + suggested donation

New York Japan CineFest, a film festival that introduces Japanese-themed short films, is celebrating its eleventh year. The in-person screening tonight (November 14) at Scandinavia House features nine of the festival’s 21 films. Some guest directors are scheduled to appear on stage. To purchase tickets to the in-person screening, please visit NYJCF’s Eventbrite page.

Online screening will be available from Tuesday, November 15 through November 20 at New York Japan CineFest’s website. With the purchase of a Festival Pass, viewers in the US can watch all 21 short films in seven days. To register for the online screenings, please visit NYJCF’s website.

Mar Creation hosts the festival with partners CYBER New York, Japan Information and Culture Center (Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C.), Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia, Sapporo International Short Film Festival, and Aichi International Women’s Film Festival.

Films

Veils
Dir. Erika Nakayama | 2021 | 17:57 | Drama | Japan
Ayumi Tani, an owner of a small bookstore, and Sayaka Murakami, a call center worker, are a lesbian couple living together. While They feel somewhat stifled by the fact that they are part of LGBTQ community, They are looking forward to having a wedding-style photoshoot to celebrate their anniversary.

Lost in Eden
Dir. Hakim Hayashi | 2021 | 14:31 | Drama | Japan
Rika, a young Japanese girl, lives with her new French husband, Isaac, in Paris. She finally manages to renew her residence permit after a long struggle with the chaotic French administration. Then a man from the Japanese Embassy brings a cruel reality to her: We have to deal with your parents’ situation. She faces a Cornelian dilemma.

Kurosawa’s Grave
Dir. Ben Lopez | 2021 | 13:47 | Documentary | United States
Viewed through the eyes of an expert cinephile, this pilgrimage to Japan and love letter to Akira Kurosawa will transport the audience to a moment where modernity meets nostalgia.

Kurosawa’s Grave
Dir. Ben Lopez | 2021 | 13:47 | Documentary | United States
Viewed through the eyes of an expert cinephile, this pilgrimage to Japan and love letter to Akira Kurosawa will transport the audience to a moment where modernity meets nostalgia.

Bigger Is Better
Dir. Larry Tung | 2021 | 24:57 | Documentary | Taiwan
Bigger Is Better is a documentary about the identity culture and body politics of the bear subculture within a larger gay male community in Asia. It takes the audience to Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China to meet with stakeholders and examines the development of this unique subculture and its meaning and impact.

I Love Today’s Sky
Dir. Kazuma Yano  | 2022 | 6:26 | Drama | Japan
Do you remember yesterday’s sky? The sky always extends beyond your upward gaze. I love today’s sky where clouds scatter leisurely. This film is based on “I Love Today’s Sky,” Shuntaro Tanikawa’s new poem that describes a bright future.

MaTcH
Dir. Masaki Katsuyama | 2022 | 20:00 | Drama | Japan
Haruko, an old Japanese mother, goes to Tokyo from Osaka to see her 30-year-old son, Shuji. The purpose of her visit is to set up matchmaking for him because he is still a single man. However, Shuji already uses a matching app to find his partner.

The Voice Actress

Dir. Anna J. Takayama | 2022 | 15:06 | Drama | Japan
Kingyo, a veteran voice actress working in Tokyo, possesses a unique ability to see the soul in all things, living and inanimate. The voice acting world is changing, and Kingyo must find a way to reconcile her way of living with the modern industry.

CASSETTE TAPE
Dir. Yurugu Matsumoto | 2020 | 23:25 | Drama | Japan
Young office worker Saki is looking forward to a birthday date with her boyfriend, whom she has been dating for three years. He surprises her the next day when he suddenly proposes marriage. However, Saki’s father is anything but enthusiastic and responsive to their wedding plans.

Submittan
Dir. Susumu Kimura | 2021 | 18:14 | Drama, Sci-Fi, Dystopian | United States
In the future city of Submittan, people over 80 years old are forced into “retirement” to a remote mountain area as the city deals with increased population. The burden falls on the shoulders of an immigrant artist, who is tasked with designing a propaganda poster to convince citizens of this new registration.

KAGEBOSHI

Dir. Ken Ochiai | 2020 | 5:02 | Drama, Horror | United States
In the 1930s, a Japanese American father and daughter must play a deadly game of shadow tag to escape from a demon child, Kageboshi.

Never Give Up: Akinori in Mooresville
Dir. Royce Akifumi Wilmot | 2022 | 13:12 | Documentary | United States
Twenty-four years after attending his first NASCAR race, Akinori Ogata chases his dream of one day racing in the Daytona 500. Moving his family halfway across the world in the process, he races locally in the lower series of NASCAR, working for his big break.

Above Water
Dir. Ken Honjo, Kentaro Yoshimura | 2022 | 26:00 | Documentary, Environmental | United States
On the remote island of Sarichef off the Northwest coast of Alaska, 20 miles below the Arctic Circle, there’s a small village called Shishmaref. Every year, it continues to get smaller as rising water levels erode its shores. In the summer of 2021, two artists were invited to the island to paint a mural, and they learned more about the culture and the impact of the melting permafrost.

Final Deathtination (In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Dir. Marika Tamura | 2021 | 2:05 | Animation | United States
A suicidal man encounters “Death,” who is a “travel agent,” to find the best place to die.

Living While Black in Japan (In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Dir. Shiho Fukada & Keith Bedford | 2021 | 15:13 | Documentary | Japan
African Americans in Japan discuss how racial issues in the U.S. affected their decision to live abroad.

MARE (In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Dir. Tamaki Ishida & Akito Kawabe | 2022 | 7:46 | Animation, Sci-Fi | Japan
In a world that became a wasteland of toxic gas, there’s a painter who lives in an isolated shelter. He draws paintings of oceans. Why does he make these paintings? What happened to the world? This is a story about our near future, with environmental pollution and sheltered lives.

Summer Ends (In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Dir. Yuka Doi | 2021 | 23:53 | Drama | Japan
Botan’s father is a sparkler maker. One day, she is frustrated because she is not allowed to make sparklers, and her father, Yanagi, has a falling out with her. Several years later, Botan, now an AD at a video production company, has no choice but to return to her estranged parents’ home for an interview.

just another summer day (In association with Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia)
Dir. Yoshika Matsuoka | 2021 | 25:00 | Drama | Japan
It was “just” a summer day spent with someone she didn’t know. Hizuki was drunk and lost her memory.

Pain of the Anonymous (In association with Sapporo International Short Film Festival)
Dir. Daichi Amano | 2021 | 27:00 | Drama | Japan
Struggling to find work and entrenched in a personal health crisis, a former middle school teacher accepts a position as an online content moderator. She is faced daily with death, violence, and abuse—and reminders of unspeakable past traumas.

Siblings (In association with Aichi International Women’s Film Festival)
Dir. Yoko Sato | 2021 | 39:55 | Drama | Japan
Nozomi has a younger sister, Kie, with mental disability but has yet to tell her boyfriend, Takashi, about her. One day, Nozomi finally informed him about Kie upon their engagement, causing confusion. From there, Nozomi faces a series of problems peculiar to a family with disabilities, and she starts to reconsider her life.

Mi
Dir. Masayoshi Nakamura & Zak Engel | 2022 | 4:23 | Animation | United States
This film is the journey of a father and son. The young son enters into this crazy and unknown world, and the father tries to guide him though as best as a father could. There are some things the father himself doesn’t fully understand, and he lets the son know that’s ok.

Ukujima
Dir. Tekko Nogami | 2021 | 4:02 | Drama, History | Japan
Today’s travelers follow the path of Iemori Taira, which has been passed down to Ukujima, an island in the Goto archipelago off the coast of Kyushu. Their path will eventually synchronize as they come into contact with the life and culture of the people on the island from the past, present, and future. It is a journey story that encounters a miracle that “people return to themselves.”

About New York Japan CineFest 

NYJCF was founded by three Japanese producers based in New York in 2012: Yasu Suzuki (actor, dancer and filmmaker), Kosuke Furukawa (film director), and Hiroshi Kono (CEO of Mar Creation, Inc.)  Since 2015, the film festival has screened its programs and films in multiple cities including Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco in the U.S. NYCF has also participated in film festivals in Japan such as the Aichi International Film Festival Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market, Kadoma International Film Festival, and New Director Film Festival.  

Documentary about Women in Taiko to Screen at DOC NYC

Finding Her Beat

Wednesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 17 at noon

IFC Center – 323 6th Avenue (at W. 3rd Street)

Tickets: $19 General Admission | $17 Seniors and Children | $16 IFC Center Members
In-person Screenings before 5:00 p.m.: $12 General Admission | $10 IFC Center Members

Online Screenings: Thursday, November 17 through Sunday, November 27
Online Tickets: $12 General Admission | $9 IFC Center Members

DOC NYC, the largest documentary festival in the US, is currently celebrating its 13th anniversary with in-person and online screenings, including the New York premiere of Finding Her Beat.

About Finding Her Beat

A drum master from Japan and a Korean adoptee from Minnesota boldly convene an all-female troupe to perform Taiko, the Japanese drumming art that has been off-limits to women for centuries. As the early menace of Covid rumbles in the background, the group faces down hurdles to prepare for a historic performance in snowy St. Paul. Buoyed by dynamic drum performances and do-or-die spirit, directors Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett create an energizing and uplifting story of music, cultural expression and sisterhood. – Karen McMullen

Check out the film’s trailer.

Q&A

Filmmakers Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, subjects/producers Jennifer Weir and Megan Chao Smith, and field producer/cinematographer Caroline Stucky will attend the 7pm show on Wednesday, November 16 at the IFC Center for a Q&A after the screening.

Discount for JCNYC Readers

DOC NYC is generously offering our community a discount of $3 off tickets for in-person and online screenings. Enter promo code DOCNYC_PTNR_22 at checkout for the discounted price. To purchase tickets, please visit DOC NYC’s website.

19 Japanese Restaurants in New York That Earned Michelin Stars in 2022

Michelin released its 2022 New York guide on October 6. Of the 73 restaurants on the list, 19 are Japanese, including six making their Michelin debut. Famed—and expensive—sushi restaurant Masa continues to sit atop the list with three stars, and the rest of the list earned one each. The majority of the entries are pricey sushi spots, while a few serve kaiseki fare. Tempura Matsui and Torien are the lone tempura and yakitori restaurants, respectively.

If you’re not into spending up to $600 on sushi, you’ll find the more practical Michelin Bib Gourmands at the bottom of this list.

Here are the 19 Japanese restaurants with Michelin stars for 2022.

Three Stars (“Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey”)

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Masa

Type of Cuisine: Sushi

10 Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center
Website: http://www.masanyc.com/
The most expensive restaurant in the country maintains its three stars.

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One Star (“A very good restaurant in its category”)

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Hirohisa

Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
73 Thompson Street
Website: https://www.hirohisa.nyc/
Chef Hirohisa Hayashi focuses on seasonal kaiseki.

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ICCA (NEW)

Type of cuisine: Sushi
20 Warren Street
Website: https://icca.nyc/
Chef Kazushige Suzuki serves only fish from Japan for his omakase and tasting menu.

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Kanoyama

Type of cuisine: Sushi
175 2nd Avenue
Website: https://kanoyama.com/
East Village sushi restaurant earns a star for the sixth consecutive year.

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Kosaka

Type of cuisine: Sushi
220 W. 13th Street
Website: http://kosakanyc.com/
Executive Chef Yoshihiko Kousaka is the former Executive Chef of Jewel Bako, which earned several Michelin stars before closing in 2020.

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l’Abeille (NEW)

Type of cuisine: French
412 Greenwich Street
Website: https://www.labeille.nyc/
This French spot may be new to New York’s Michelin scene, but Executive Chef Mitsunobu Nagae is a veteran of Michelin-starred restaurants, including Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Tokyo.

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Noda

Type of cuisine: Sushi
6 W. 28th Street
Website: https://www.noda.nyc/
Chef Shigeyuki Tsunoda serves a 20-course omakase twice a night.

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Noz 17 (NEW)

Type of cuisine: Sushi
458 W. 17th Street
Website: https://www.noz17.com/
The companion restaurant to Sushi Noz, Chef Junichi Matsuzaki, Chef Nozomu Abe’s protégé, serves a thirty-course, Edomae-style sushi tasting menu in this seven-seat space in Chelsea.

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odo

Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
17 W. 20th Street
Website: https://www.odo.nyc/
Seasonal kaiseki for lunch and dinner

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Shion 69 Leonard Street (NEW)

Type of cuisine: Edomae Sushi
60 Leonard Street
Website: https://www.69leonardstreet.com/
Formerly of Sushi Saito in Tokyo (three Michelin stars) creates an Edomae-style experience in an intimate setting.

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Sushi Amane

Type of cuisine: Sushi
245 E. 44th Street
Website: https://www.sushi-amane.com/
Omakase sushi restaurant earns fifth consecutive Michelin star.

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Sushi Ginza Onodera

Type of cuisine: Sushi
461 5th Avenue
Website: https://www.sushiginzaonoderanewyork.com/
Dropped from two stars to one

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Sushi Nakazawa

Type of cuisine: Sushi
23 Commerce Street
Website: https://www.sushinakazawa.com/
Everyone’s favorite former Jiro apprentice continues to earn accolades of his own.

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Sushi Noz

Type of cuisine: Sushi
181 E. 78th Street
Website: https://www.sushinoz.com/
Experience omakase at an eight-seat, 200-year-old hinoki counter run by Chef Nozomu Abe, who was inspired by the fish from his grandfather’s Hokkaido seafood company.

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Sushi Yasuda

Type of cuisine: Sushi
204 E. 43rd Street
Website: https://www.sushiyasuda.com/
This Midtown East stalwart has been serving sushi in NYC for almost 25 years.

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Tempura Matsui

Type of cuisine: Tempura
222 E. 39th Street
Website: https://www.tempuramatsui.com/
The late chef Masao Matsui, after whom Tempura Matsui is named, perfected the lightly coated technique that his staff carries on today, elevating tempura into fine dining.

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Torien (NEW)

Type of cuisine: Yakitori
292 Elizabeth Street
Website: https://torien-nyc.com/
Chef Yoshiteru Ikegawa presents a 13-course yakitori experience devoted to all parts of the chicken.

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Tsukimi

Type of cuisine: Kaiseki
228 E. 10th Street
Website: https://www.tsukimi.nyc/
With its name meaning “moon viewing,” Tsukimi’s modern kaiseki celebrates the harvest as well as Japanese hospitality.

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Yoshino New York (NEW)

Type of cuisine: Sushi
342 Bowery
Website: https://www.yoshinonewyork.com/
This Michelin newcomer is named after the chef’s father’s hometown in Nara Prefecture.

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Bib Gourmands (“Inspectors’ favorites for good value”)

Michelin now defines “good value” as spending $49 or less—excluding tax and gratuity—for two courses and a glass of wine or dessert. This is up from the previous limit of $40. The Guide considers these restaurants the highest quality affordable restaurants in the city.

DOMODOMO

Type of Cuisine: Temaki, Sushi
138 W. Houston Street
Website: https://www.domodomonyc.com/

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Hanon

Type of Cuisine: Udon
436 Union Avenue, Brooklyn
Website: Hanon on Resy

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Jin Ramen

Type of Cuisine: Ramen
3183 Broadway
Website: https://125.jinramen.com/jin-west-harlem/

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Nami Nori

Type of Cuisine: Temaki
33 Carmine Street
Website: https://naminori.nyc/

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Shalom Japan

Type of Cuisine: “Authentically inauthentic Jewish and Japanese food”
310 S. 4th Street, Brooklyn
Website: https://shalomjapannyc.com/

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Soba-ya

Type of Cuisine: Soba Noodles
229 E. 9th Street
Website: https://sobaya.square.site/

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Tonchin

Type of Cuisine: Ramen
13 W. 36th Street
Website: https://www.tonchinnewyork.com/

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For a complete list of all the New York restaurants that earned stars—not just the Japanese ones—please visit Michelin’s website.

Thumbs Up Ramen Puts Bubbles in Your Broth

The Japanese word awa means “bubble” or “foam.” Sake fans are familiar with this term in reference to sparkling sake or sake that has champagne-like qualities, Hakkaisan’s AWA and Nanbu Bijin’s AWA Sparkling to name just two brands. Now ramen lovers can enjoy the same effect in their broth at Thumbs Up Ramen.

Thumbs Up Ramen is a new ramen shop that opened on June 1 in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Their signature style is Bubble (AWA) Ramen in which the broth is whisked to bring out the umami, creating a bubbly, creamy texture. According to the owners, it’s the only restaurant in the New York City/New Jersey area that serves this style of ramen.

Chef Naotaka Miyazawa of Thumbs Up Ramen

A Brief History of Thumbs Up Ramen

Chef Naotaka Miyazawa teamed up with restaurateur Teruaki Ishiyama to open Thumbs Up Ramen in Fort Lee. Chef Miyazawa has been working with the beloved Japanese comfort food for more than 30 years. Starting at a ramen shop in Tokyo during high school, Chef Miyazawa moved on to Tsujita, a ramen restaurant known for its artisanal tsukemen, a type of ramen where cold noodles are dipped into a broth that’s in a separate bowl. When Tsujita expanded to the US, Chef Miyazawa developed the menu for its first restaurant in Los Angeles and eventually six other locations on the West Coast.

Ishiyama opened and managed the US outposts of Tendon Kaneko Hannosuke Nihombashi Honten, a famous tempura restaurant in Tokyo. He later opened his own restaurants, including Tokyo Shokudo, Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr., and B-Bee Crepe & Boba, in California and Illinois. A New Jersey resident for the last five years, Ishiyama thought that Fort Lee, with its proximity to Manhattan, would be the perfect place to open a ramen restaurant.

Whisking the broth at Thumbs Up Ramen

“Bubble” Ramen

Chef Miyazawa didn’t invent Bubble (AWA) Ramen, but he developed his own recipe after being inspired by several ramen shops that serve it in Japan. His chicken paitan broth takes 20 hours to make, slowly boiling chicken bones and eight different vegetables. At the time a customer places an order, he whisks the broth in a bowl before adding the toppings.

The result is a bowl of ramen that appeals to the senses: beautiful, fragrant bubbles that have a creamy but light texture and effervescent mouthfeel and work in harmony with fresh noodles made in Sun Noodle’s New Jersey factory.

View of the kitchen at Thumbs Up Ramen

My First AWA Ramen Experience

I was a guest at Thumbs Up Ramen in early July. (Full disclosure: I received a free meal from Thumbs Up Ramen in exchange for an honest review.) The space is bright and sunny, with seating for 50. Its open kitchen allows customers seated at the bench the chance to peek in and watch the whisking.

Chicken Paitan Bubble (AWA) Ramen at Thumbs Up Ramen

I had their signature dish, the chicken paitan. Yes, seeing the bubbles was delightful, but tasting it was even better. The velvety broth is brimming with umami, and the red onions and scallions add an extra oomph of flavor. The sous-vide char siu is thinly sliced and easy to chew, with a look and flavor that are reminiscent of prosciutto. There’s also a generous piece of chicken char siu, which soaked up the flavor of the broth. My favorite ramen topping is the boiled egg, and Thumbs Up’s had a deep orange yolk that was slightly gooey, which is the way I prefer it. All of this blended perfectly with the noodles.

Char siu

Chicken char siu

Rich, orange boiled egg

Noodles by Sun Noodle

Menu Options

Thumbs Up’s menu includes eight types of ramen: the aforementioned chicken paitan, chicken paitan tsukemen, chicken paitan miso, chicken paitan miso tsukemen, tomato mabo-noodle, vegetable, classic shoyu, and ramen you can customize with 15 different toppings. Rice bowls and appetizers such as chicken karaage, takoyaki, gyoza, and pork buns are also available.

Spacious Thumbs Up Ramen

Worth the Trek to NJ?

I know what you’re thinking. If you live in New York City, where there is no shortage of exceptional ramen shops, why would you go to New Jersey for a bowl of ramen? Trust me, I thought the same thing. But it’s worth the trip, and not just for the bubbly broth. The entire bowl of ramen is tasty, and I’d love to go back to try Chef Miyazawa’s other styles. Plus, it’s not far from the Mitsuwa shopping complex in Edgewater. My recommendation is to enjoy a bowl of bubble ramen at Thumbs Up Ramen before a Mitsuwa/Daiso run.

How to Get There from NYC

Thumbs Up Ramen is located at 2024 Center Avenue, Suite G in Fort Lee, New Jersey. It’s open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Take bus #158 from Port Authority Bus Terminal to Main Street at Center Avenue, which is about a 40-minute ride. Walk north for two or three minutes. Click here for the schedules.

Take bus #182 from the George Washington Bridge Terminal in Manhattan, going over the bridge into Fort Lee. Tell the driver you want to get off at Main Street at Center Avenue, which is the stop after Main Street at Bergen Boulevard. The bus ride takes only ten minutes! Click here for the schedules.

All Done!

For All Things Japanese in New York City, check out JapanCulture-NYC.com and follow @JapanCultureNYC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

The Joy of Sake Returns to New York

The Joy of Sake New York

Thursday, August 4 from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion – 125 W. 18th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues)

Admission: $120

After a three-year hiatus forced by the pandemic, the Joy of Sake returns to New York for its 17th celebration. There will be an astonishing 576 different labels from throughout Japan and the US available for tasting. Sake-themed appetizers from top New York restaurants add to the enjoyment, making the Joy of Sake the event of the year for the city’s sake enthusiasts.

For a great rundown of what to expect, check out food writer Nancy Matsumoto’s recent sake blog post. The co-author of Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth, Matsumoto will have a table at the Joy of Sake, selling and signing copies of the gorgeous and informative book.

The admission fee includes unlimited samplings of sake and a dish from all participating restaurants. To purchase tickets, please visit the Joy of Sake’s Eventbrite page.

Participating Restaurants

BondST
En Japanese Brasserie
Insa
Juban
Katsuya
Kimika
Kissaki
Momoya
Rule of Thirds
Sakagura
Sarashina Horii
Sen Sakana
Towa
Yopparai
Zuma

For more details about the event, please visit the Joy of Sake’s website.

Manhattanites Now Have a Daiso of Their Own

July 15 was a banner day for Manhattan-based Daiso fans. The celebrated Japanese retailer known for its inexpensive, yet high-quality products opened its first Manhattan store.

The new location at 220 E. 57th Street (between 2nd and 3rd Avenues) marks the eighty-third Daiso storefront in the contiguous United States. There are now more than 3,300 stores in Japan and more than 5,500 worldwide. The Manhattan opening is particularly pleasing to city dwellers who until now have had to trek to Brooklyn or Queens to indulge in purchasing loads of stationery, craft supplies, and home goods at significantly low prices. Manhattanites showed their appreciation by waiting in a long line down E. 57th Street on the morning of the grand opening.

Check out our Instagram reel of the line outside the store on July 15, the morning of the grand opening.

Serendipitous Situation

“We never thought about opening in Manhattan before because of the price, but because of COVID the rent [lowered], and we thought maybe now is a good chance to open a store here,” says Shuhei Geshi, store operation manager for Daiso in the US. “We always get so many messages from customers on Instagram or Facebook that they want us to open a store in Manhattan, so this is like a destination for us, finally.”

It’s unusual to hear a favorable rent-related story during COVID, but in Daiso’s case, the pandemic actually helped. A real estate broker informed Daiso management about the availability of the Manhattan site in February 2021. The new store is Daiso’s largest in New York City, topping the square footage of the Flushing, Rego Park, and Japan Village locations.

Geshi says that all the stores have the same inventory, but the Manhattan location serves a different purpose for Manhattanites.

“Customers cannot come here by car, so I wanted to have this store so that customers can come back every day,” he says.

Shoppers can stop by Daiso Manhattan often for things that are easy to carry, rather than a once-a-month visit where they purchase items in bulk that they can put in the trunk of their cars.

Daiso’s US store operation manager Shuhei Geshi with brush pens, a popular item

Most Popular Items

You can find practically anything you’d want for your kitchen, your office, your latest craft project, and even your garden at Daiso. The shelves are filled with products you didn’t realize you needed.

Asked what Daiso’s best sellers are, Geshi first points to the store’s well-stocked stationery section.

“Staples closed so many stores, and our stationery items are increasing in sales a lot. Especially pens from Japan are really popular,” he says, referring to brush pens that are used in calligraphy.

Sanrio characters adorn a variety of items for sale at Daiso

Items featuring characters from such beloved lines as Sanrio and Disney are also high on the list.

Surprisingly, Daiso’s brand of makeup pads and cotton balls are hot ticket items for the store. There’s even an end cap dedicated to them. Geshi points out that a nearby drug store sells the same items, but for a higher price. A bag of 400 cotton balls costs Daiso customers $1.99, whereas a 200-count bag goes for $3.99 elsewhere. The drug store brand’s cotton balls are larger, however.

Shuhei Geshi says cotton makeup pads and cotton balls are favorites of customers at Daiso

Future Goals

If Geshi has his way, the first Daiso in Manhattan won’t be the last. His goal is to open more stores in the city, “near supermarkets or similar retail stores. Maybe customers will become interested in our products,” he says. Bronx and Staten Island locations are also on his wishlist.

Daiso price conversion chart

Pricing Structure

Almost every item in the store is $1.99. The packaging for items in that price point doesn’t have the symbol/character for yen—¥ or 円. Products that cost more than $1.99 will have the price in yen, including tax. Yen-to-US dollar conversion signs are found throughout the store, so customers will know exactly how much each item costs. A lot of shoppers—myself included—don’t pay attention to those signs. Instead, we choose to throw whatever we want into our baskets and analyze our receipts after purchasing, marveling at how we bought so many items for so little money.

Daiso can keep costs low because it purchases in high volume—in the millions for a single product. This bulk-buying practice allows the variety store to stick to its mission of helping consumers maintain a high standard of living without paying high prices.

You’re sure to find something that will make you happier or feel more efficient by strolling the aisles at Daiso.

Dishes at Daiso

Daiso: where you can get origami paper AND rubber chickens

Woven storage boxes for organizing your home

Daiso’s section of office supplies

Daiso Locations in New York City

Manhattan: 220 E. 57th Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues

Flushing, Queens: 40-24 College Point Boulevard

Rego Park, Queens: 61-35 Junction Boulevard

Brooklyn: 68 35th Street, 2nd Floor in Japan Village, Industry City

For more information, please visit Daiso’s website.

For All Things Japanese in New York City, check out JapanCulture-NYC.com and follow @JapanCultureNYC on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook!

Japanese Dessert Shop Reopens in New Home at Industry City

You may recall Tadaima dessert shop from our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. After a two-month hiatus they have now reopened in their gorgeous new space, just down the hall in Industry City’s The Makers Guild. The new shop’s facade looks like it was transported from Japan with signage in the form of a traditional Japanese andon lantern and intricate woodwork framing the windows.

Owner Ayaka Ando’s rotating seasonal menu of baked goods, sweets, and intricately crafted beverages has returned. Current offerings are sable cookies in matcha and black sesame; cakes such as a plant-based spiced carrot or yuzu lemon pound cake, both adorned with beautiful edible flowers; and black sesame, maple, and matcha madeleines.

As for beverages, the black sesame latte is back, as well as a matcha latte made with matcha from Nagasaki. Most beverages are served either hot or iced, and with both being equally delicious, it’s hard to choose! There is a new line of Tadaima tea which you can make at home, as well as a few flavors of homemade granola.

Some new menu items were added such as the umami grilled cheese, which looks amazing. With this new space, all baking is now done on the premises. The big window behind the counter allows you to see Ando working her magic, baking the tasty treats she has to offer.

Tadaima

Dessert Shop

Open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

51 35th Street, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Building 5, 2nd floor of Industry City

Ayaka Ando, owner of Tadaima

Hakata Amaou: Japan’s “King of Strawberry”

What comes to mind when you think of Fukuoka? I usually think of Hakata ramen. I’m reminded of the yatai that line the streets along the river in Fukuoka City, selling deep, steaming bowls of the tonkotsu-style ramen with its rich, creamy broth made of pork bones.

Fukuoka Prefecture, located on the island of Kyushu in the southwestern part of Japan, is also known for something equally delicious: strawberries. Hakata Amaou is a special variety of strawberry that farmers in Fukuoka Prefecture developed in 2002.

What’s in a Name?

Here’s a handy way to explain the acronym that “Amaou” forms.

The ABCs of Amaou Strawberries

A for theあ of あかい (akai) = “red”

MA for the ま of まるい (marui) = “round”

O for the お ofおおきい (ookii) = “large”

U for the うof うまい (umai) = “tasty”

Farming Methods

Farmers cultivate Hakata Amaou in greenhouses, using bamboo sticks to hold up the leaves so that the strawberries are exposed to good sunlight. The space between the plants is wide to give the strawberries as much sunlight as possible, and bees cross-pollinate the strawberries. These methods produce large fruit with a gorgeous red color. Hakata Amaou strawberries are juicy and have a sweet, but not overbearing, flavor that is slightly acidic. They are perfect in sweets, especially strawberry shortcake. Adding them to yogurt and a glass of sparkling sake will add the perfect amount of sweetness and juiciness.

Not Just Delicious

In addition to its juicy sweetness, Amaou strawberries are also nutritious. They contain dietary fiber that absorbs and eliminates toxins and other harmful substances from the body. One Amaou strawberry has half as much vitamin C as one lemon, and it can help boost your immunity as well as increase collagen production. It also contains potassium, which is an anti-inflammatory.

A bowl of delicious Hakata Amaou strawberries

Fun Fact

In 2015 the Guinness Book of World Records certified that a Hakata Amaou strawberry that Koji Nakao grew in Fukuoka was the world’s heaviest strawberry. Weighing in at 8.82 ounces (250 grams), the strawberry broke a record that a man in England held for 32 years. (Chahi Ariel of Israel broke Nakao’s record in February 2021.)

Not-So-Fun Fact

Enjoying these strawberries come at a cost. ZEN-NOH Fukuren, the Fukuoka Prefecture headquarters of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, reported that sales reached 1,450 yen/kg (almost $12 per 2.2 pounds) for Hakata Amaou in 2018. At recent pop-ups at RESOBOX, a Japanese cultural center in Long Island City and the East Village, the strawberries sold for $40 a pack.

Hakata Amaou at The Market Line

Where to Find Them

Grown exclusively in Fukuoka, Hakata Amaou are enjoyed by people across Japan. There are more than 20 farms throughout Fukuoka Prefecture where the public can pick strawberries during the season, which runs from November to mid-March.

Japan exports the strawberries to Hong Kong and Taiwan. As for New York, we were lucky that RESOBOX facilitated pop-up markets, but their recent pop-up at The Market Line in Essex Market was the last of the year. We’ll have to wait until November to try the juicy sweetness of Hakata Amaou again!

Disclosure: This is a paid article for Hakata Amaou.

The First Annual Japanese Restaurant Cherry Blossom Week 2021 Is in Full Bloom

It’s been one year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in New York City, and we are still in the midst of the pandemic. Many Japanese restaurants have suffered due to restrictions and the difficult winter weather. After cold weather and a spike in COVID-19 cases, indoor dining was banned again in December of 2020, leaving restaurants with only outdoor seating options.

Now that indoor dining has been re-opened in time for spring, the New York Japanese Restaurant Association (NYJRA) established its First Annual Japanese Restaurant Cherry Blossom Week 2021. Taking place from March 8 to March 21, the initiative features 92 participating restaurants offering special menu items that focus on a sakura theme.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (emergency support project for the development of overseas sales channels for Japanese agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and foods) is subsidizing this event, and the Japan Food Restaurant Overseas Promotion Organization (JRO) is sponsoring as a collaborative project with the NYJRA.

Organizers and participants hope that Japanese Restaurant Cherry Blossom Week 2021 will provide an opportunity for these struggling restaurants to open their doors to the people of New York City to enjoy Japanese ingredients and cuisine.

Visit NYJRA’s website for details about each restaurant’s special for the First Annual Japanese Restaurant Sakura Week 2021. Contact the restaurants to see if they have indoor and outdoor dining, take reservations, or are take out/delivery only

Participating Restaurants

Manhattan

Aburiya Kinnosuke – 213 E. 45th Street

BAR GOTO – 245 Eldridge St. Ground Floor

Basta Pasta – 37 West 17th Street
and Bar B – 84 7th Avenue

Benemon – 10 E. 4th Street

BentOn – 156 East 45th Street

Blue Ribbon Columbus – 308 W. 58th Street

Blue Ribbon Izakaya – 87 Orchard Street

Blue Ribbon Sushi – 119 Sullivan Street

Blue Ribbon Sushi Brookfield – 225 Liberty Street

Cagen – 414 E. 9th Street

Cha-An BONBON – 238A E. 9th Street

Curry-Ya – 218 E. 10th Street

Decibel – 240 E. 9th Street

DokoDemo – 89 E. 4th Street

Donburiya – 253 W. 55th Street

Douska (formerly Douzo) – 63 Delancey Street

Dr. Clark – 104 Bayard Street

Gari Columbus – 370 Columbus Avenue

Go! Go! Curry! Chelsea – 144 W. 19th Street

Go! Go! Curry! Harlem – 567 W. 125th Street

Go! Go! Curry! Midtown East – 235 E. 53rd Street

Go! Go! Curry! Times Square – 273 W. 38th Street

Go! Go! Curry! Washington Square Park – 231 Thompson Street

Go! Go! Curry! World Trade Center – 12 John Street

Gorin Ramen – 351 E. 14th Street

Hasaki – 210 E. 9th Street

Hi-Collar – 231 E. 9th Street

Hide Chan Ramen Midtown East – 248 E. 52nd Street, 2nd Floor

Hirohisa – 73 Thompson Street

INASE – 1586 1st Avenue

J-Spec – 239 E. 5th Street

Katana Kitten – 531 Hudson Street

MakiMaki Sushi – 1369 6th Avenue

MakiMaki Sushi – 360 Lexington Avenue

Marezzata – 231 E. 50th Street

Marumi Restaurant – 546 LaGuardia Place

Minca – 536 E. 5th Street

Momokawa – 1466 1st Avenue

Ootoya Chelsea – 8 W. 18th Street

Ootoya Greenwich Village – 41 E. 11th Street

Ootoya Times Square – 141 W. 41st Street

Rai Rai Ken – 218 E. 10th Street

Rai Rai Ken Uptown – 1467 Amsterdam Avenue

Ramen Misoya – 129 2nd Avenue

RAMEN-YA – 181 W. 4th Street

Restaurant Nippon – 155 E. 52nd Street

Sakagura – 211 E. 43rd Street

Sake Bar Hagi 46 – 358 W. 46th Street

Sake Bar Shigure – 277 Church Street

Samurice – 261 Canal Street

Shabu Tatsu – 216 E. 10th Street

Soba Noodle Azuma – 251 W. 55th Street

Sobaya – 229 E. 9th Street

Sushi Ann – 38 E. 51st Street

Sushi Ikumi – 135 Sullivan Street

Sushi of Gari 46 – 347 W. 46th Street

Sushi of Gari TriBeCa – 130 West Broadway

Sushi of Gari Upper East Side – 402 E. 78th Street

Sushi Ryusei – 216 E. 39th Street

Sushi Tsushima – 210 E. 44th Street

Takahachi Bakery – 25 Murray Street

Takahachi Tribeca – 145 Duane Street

Tempura Matsui – 222 E. 39th Street

THE IZAKAYA NYC on 6th – 326 E. 6th Street

THE IZAKAYA NYC on 4th – 215 E. 4th Street

Tomi Jazz – 239 E. 53rd Street

Totto Ramen Hell’s Kitchen – 464 W. 51st Street

Totto Ramen Midtown East – 248 E. 52nd Street

Tsurutontan Midtown – 64 W. 48th Street

Tsurutontan Union Square – 21 E. 16th Street

Udon Izakaya West 46 – 150 E. 46th Street

WOKUNI – 327 Lexington Avenue

Yakiniku Futago – 37 W. 17th Street

Yakiniku Tohbay – 235 W. 55th Street, 2nd Floor

Yakiniku West – 218 E. 9th Street

Yakitori Torishin – 362 W. 53rd Street

Yakitori Totto – 251 W. 55th Street, 2nd Floor

Brooklyn

750 Myrtle Diner – 750 Myrtle Avenue

Andante – 255 Berry Street

BAR GOTO NIBAN – 474 Bergen Street

Bozu – 296 Grand Street

Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue

Karazishi Botan – 255 Smith Street

Momo Sushi Shack – 43 Bogart Street

Samurai Mama – 205 Grand Street

Samurai Papa – 594 Lafayette Avenue

Sunrise Mart Brooklyn – 934 3rd Avenue

Wasan Brooklyn – 440 Bergen Street

Queens

Ariyoshi Japanese Restaurant – 41-13 Queens Boulevard, Sunnyside

BentOn Factory – 3739 Crescent Street, Long Island City

Hartsdale

FUJINOYA – 26 South Central Avenue

Kishuya – 163 South Central Avenue

Sharing is Caring

Spread the word by sharing the details of your meals on social media! Follow @nyjra_nyc on Instagram and use these suggested hashtags:
#NYJRA #NYJapaneseRestaurantCherryBlossomWeek #Cherryblossomfestival #Japanesefood #NYJapaneseRestaurant #sushi #sashimi #wagyu #bento #ramen #yakitori #udon #takoyaki #kaiseki #shabushabu #sukiyaki #onigiri and #tempura.

About the NYJRA

The purpose of the New York Japanese Restaurant Association is to heighten the status of and develop markets for Japanese food in America. NYJRA seeks to revitalize the prevalence of Japanese food and culture through organizational activities such as collaborating with Japanese restaurants to facilitate catering to offices; supporting education for restaurants on topics like the history of Japanese food, human resources tips, and culinary techniques; and assisting Japanese restaurants to address the major challenges they face today.

The JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide – Part V

Kanpai!

Still grappling with holiday gift ideas this Christmas Eve? For procrastinators, this is nothing, but for those of you who are more organized, you might be feeling a bit stressed right now. Look at it this way: Remember when we were in the throes of the lockdown in New York City and no one knew what day it was? All was forgiven because, well, 2020. Why would Christmas be any different?

All of a sudden, we woke up, and it was Christmas Eve. If you send a gift to a friend or family member and it arrives late, does it really matter? It’s the thought that counts, and we should be kind to ourselves. (Procrastinators are pros at justifying our procrastination!)

So, for those super-last-minute gifts, we recommend sake!

Sake is the perfect gift because, let’s face it, everyone could use a drink right now.

In the fifth installment of our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide, we suggest our favorite places to buy sake in New York City. You can support local businesses—which is a major theme of our Holiday Gift Guide every year, but this year in particular—give a boost to Japanese sake breweries, and let someone on your gift list enjoy a taste of Japan.

In no particular order, here are our fave places to buy sake in New York City. These places put you in the holiday spirit(s)!

Sakaya

NYC’s first shop specializing in premium sake

Address: 324 E. 9th Street, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-505-7253
Website: sakayanyc.com
Instagram: @sakayanyc

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits

A Chelsea liquor store with a huge section dedicated to sake and shochu. Minoru’s Sake Shop is a key supporter of Fukushima sake.

Address: 167 W. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-2323
Website: wineon23.com
Instagram: @minorunyc
Holiday Special: Buy one 720 ml bottle of sake from Fukushima, get a 300 ml bottle AND a sake bag!

Minoru’s Sake Shop at Landmark Wine and Spirits

Kuraichi

Brooklyn’s go-to shop for Japanese spirits and sake, located in Japan Village at Industry City

Address: 267 36th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Website: kuraichibk.com
Instagram: @kuraichibk

Union Square Wines and Spirits

Large selection of sake with an area devoted to sake from Fukushima Prefecture

Address: 140 4th Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-675-8100
Website: unionsquarewines.com/sake
Instagram: @usqwines

Fukushima sake at Union Square Wines

Ambassador Wines and Spirits

Upscale shop with a walk-in sake fridge

Address: 1020 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-421-5078
Website: ambassadorwines.com
Free delivery within a 10-block neighborhood range; amount of delivery fee depends on location

Astor Wines and Spirits

Almost 200 artisanal sakes from around the world, stored in temperature-controlled units

Phone: 212-674-7500
Website: astorwines.com
Instagram: @astorwines
Open until 6pm on Christmas Eve!

Cocktails to Go

Sakagura

The mecca of sake in New York City since 1996, Sakagura is now offering a variety of sake flights to go! Check out their website to place an order and get these portable potent potables into the hands of everyone on your gift list! (Order dinner while you’re at it.)

Address: 211 E. 43rd Street, B1, New York, NY 10017
Phone: 212-557-5205
Website: sakagura.com
Instagram: @sakagurany

To-Go Sake Flight from Sakagura

Angel’s Share

This iconic Japanese speakeasy in the East Village has been whipping up creative to-go cocktails since the early days of the pandemic. The weather outside may be frightful, but the hot and canned cocktails by Angel’s Share are delightful!

Address: 8 Stuyvesant Street (Heated outdoor dining available at street level)
Website: angelssharenyc.com
Instagram: @angelssharetogo

Online Options

If you prefer to order online from the comfort of your own home while wearing pajamas, here are a couple of great services.

Drizly

E-commerce platform for alcohol delivery working with stores in your delivery area. Depending on where you are in the city, there is a wide range of sake, shochu, Japanese beer, and Japanese whisky available. Delivery times range from “Get it now” to next day to two or three days later

Website: drizly.com
Instagram: @drizlyinc

Tippsy

Consider this online sake subscription service to educate someone on your gift list about the beverage. Choose a subscription box or order individual bottles from their selection of more than 200 sakes.

Website: tippsysake.com
Instagram: @tippsysake

$10 shipping fee (Free shipping of six bottles or more)
$10 off your first order with promo code TIPPSYFIRST

Happy Holidays from JapanCulture•NYC! Kanpai!

JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide 2021 (Part II)

It’s time for Part II of JapanCulture•NYC’s Holiday Gift Guide 2021, and we are suggesting the perfect outing to Japan Village in Industry City. It’s a trip that won’t feel like shopping is a chore and has plenty of opportunities to treat yourself along the way.

If you have yet to make it over to Japan Village in Brooklyn, now is the time as there are special Japanese pop-ups on weekends this December. Besides the Japanese businesses we will suggest in this post, there are plenty of other festive happenings at Industry city this winter from an ice rink to holiday treats  to decorating to a kids paper sculpting workshop to create pop-up holiday cards.  Check out the events calendar for all Industry City has to offer. Don’t let the Brooklyn location deter you as it’s very easy to get to via the subway. Only two stops into Brooklyn if you catch an express D or N train and get off at 36 Street Station, Japan Village is only a block away!

Industry City is a campus of several industrial buildings turned into eateries, breweries, distilleries, specialty grocery stores, artists’ studios, small businesses, retailers, event spaces, and much more. We will group our suggestions by location so it’s much easier to navigate, with our first stop being Building 5. Enter at 51 35th Street and head upstairs to the second floor known as the Makers Guild. At the top of the stairs, you will find …

Tadaima

Dessert Shop

51 35th Street, 2nd floor, Suite B223, Brooklyn, NY 11232

December schedule can be found here

“Tadaima” means “I am home,” and that is certainly felt the moment you enter this Japanese dessert and gift shop. Owner Ayaka Ando offers a rotating seasonal menu of baked goods, sweets, and either hot or iced beverages. The baked goods are works of art with beautiful details like edible dried flowers or hand-stamped packaging.

For the month of December, Tadaima will be making pound cakes with Japanese flavors such as yuzu lemon and chestnut hoji-cha. There will also be two plant-based cake options, a bitter cacao banana, and a fruit cake. The cookie flavors will range from matcha white chocolate, salted Hoji-cha, coffee caramel, and hazelnut. The snowball cookie set makes the perfect festive holiday gift, coming in vanilla and rose raspberry. Sable cookies will be available in matcha and black truffle (highly recommend this one!). Matcha, maple, espresso chai, or Earl gray madeleines will also be available. Lastly, homemade granola in maple cherry or chai would make a great stocking stuffer as it will hit the spot for the chilly winter mornings we have ahead.

While you are there be sure to treat yourself to one of Tadaima’s beverages from its rotating menu utilizing fresh seasonal ingredients. The attention to detail given to your beverage will blow your mind, and that Tadaima principle of “I am home” will click once you take your first sip.

Photo courtesy of Tadaima

Photo courtesy of Tadaima

As you wait for your beverage, check out the selection of Japanese gifts that Ando sources herself and imports from Japan. Many items are local to her hometown in Japan and evoke nostalgic feelings from the scents of the incense, candles, and handcrafted soaps to the rack of second-hand clothing for sale. Other hand-painted textile handcrafts from Shinkougei are for sale, perfect for animal lovers or to gift as an ornament for the tree.

Photo courtesy of Tadaima

Just down the hall from Tadaima you will find one of the Japanese pop-ups happening at Industry city this December…

IPPIN PROJECT

Japanese Artisans and Makers Market

Friday, December 10 to Sunday, December 12 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Friday, December 17 to Sunday, December 19 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Photo courtesy of IPPIN PROJECT

IPPIN PROJECT was started in 2014 by New York-based interior design firm CRAFITS DESIGN STUDIO with the purpose of giving Japanese makers of furniture and home decor an outlet to sell their products abroad. With a designer/decorator’s background, they are focused on introducing Japanese traditional techniques and hand-crafted works in high quality designs.

Products such as tableware, interior goods, and kitchen tools will be available as well as items made from Japanese materials such as Kumiko wood screen, Kawara tile, Washi wall coverings, and more.

The products they carry are not mass-produced in Japan; they are made from limited materials and by skilled artisans. IPPIN PROJECT also produces custom-made furniture using traditional Japanese material with a contemporary twist.  They have been attending NYC trade shows since 2017, but this holiday pop-up is their return to NYC local markets since the pandemic.

After checking out IPPIN PROJECT, head to the courtyard between buildings 5 and 6 to find… 

Brooklyn Kura

Sake Brewery and Tap Room

68 34th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232, Courtyard 5/6

Fridays from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Brooklyn Kura is Brooklyn’s first sake brewery and purveyors of American craft sake. Since 2018 they have been brewing sake on site with the highest quality ingredients. Their mission to demystify sake and make it more accessible in the New York area.

In 2021 Brooklyn Kura entered a long-term partnership with Niigata-based Hakkaisan Brewery. Hakkaisan is one of the most respected breweries in Japan and home to many celebrated sakes. With this partnership Brooklyn Kura’s goal is to continue to share their love of fermentation and passion for sake with the world.

Photo: brooklynkura.com

For the sake lovers on your holiday shopping list, this is the perfect stop. You can purchase a selection of sakes brewed on site as well as merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, or enamel pins for the sake enthusiast. We recommend buying a gift card because it would allow the recipient to have a nice experience of visiting Brooklyn Kura for themselves. Or you could inquire about the Kura Kin membership for the ultimate sake gift.

This holiday season Brooklyn Kura is also offering two different gift sets.  Only available online for pick up or delivery on December 22nd these gift sets will make for a cozy NYC winter night. One set is a collaboration with Cavern, a New York-based fragrance studio. This gift includes a set of three candles and a bottle of Secondi, Brooklyn Kura’s sparkling sake, which is conditioned junmai ginjo that has gone through a secondary fermentation driven by Amazake and Champagne yeast. With notes of freshly baked shortbread, this sake is medium-bodied with a pleasant bubbly finish. Sounds perfect for if you know someone spending New Year’s Eve at home this year!

The other gift set is one of Brooklyn Kura’s favorite pairings of Oishii Berry and a bottle of their Catskills Junmai Daiginjo. This unique Japanese variety of strawberries is grown miles outside of Manhattan in an indoor vertical farm and harvested the morning before shipping. Daiginjo is considered a super-premium style of sake due to the effort, time, and cost that goes into its production. This limited-release sake has a fresh aroma and elegant body with the result intended to be delicate and luxurious. Order your Brooklyn Kura gift sets today before they sell out!

Photo courtesy of Japanklyn

While there, it’s time for a shopping break to enjoy some sake for yourself. After you have enjoyed your sake break, it’s now time to head to Japan Village!

During the month of December, Japan Village is hosting two other Japanese pop-ups that are located in Building 4 at 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232.

Japanklyn

Japanese culture x Brooklyn lifestyle brand

December Saturdays only from Noon until 6:00 p.m.

Japanklyn was founded in 2020 in Brooklyn, NY. It all started in a small apartment with Yuya Hamada’s love and compassion for Japan and Brooklyn as well as a passion for fashion, specifically hats. The pride, respect, and patriotism for Japanese culture, along with love for the communities, culture, and lifestyle in Brooklyn, are all fused together like a chemical reaction.

Japanklyn’s mission is to spread Japanese culture through their brand to the world from Brooklyn. As residents of Brooklyn, they want to support the local communities, artists, groups, sports teams, etc. Diversity is Japanklyn’s strength; unity is their power. The cultural differences shape gratitude, which is a main reason for Japanklyn’s love for Brooklyn and why they are located in New York. Japanklyn’s biggest dream is to open stores in both New York and Tokyo and have Jay-Z and Beyoncé wear their Japanklyn caps while watching the Brooklyn Nets game courtside at the Barclays Center.

Catch Japanklyn every Saturday this December in Japan Village’s Courtyard 4, across from Wakuwaku (more on that soon!) They will be selling a variety of branded hats: bright beanies for the upcoming winter, baseball caps that can be worn year-round, and bucket hats that are perfect for sunny days. Japanklyn keeps their focus on quality, not quantity, so be sure to grab some limited-run merchandise.

Photo courtesy of Japanklyn

From Courtyard 4, head inside toward Japan Village’s food hall and Sunrise Mart, detouring at the next pop-up located in the hallway…

Taro’s Origami Studio

Origami supplies

Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Hallway between Building 4 at 934 3rd Avenue and Courtyard 4

Taro’s Origami Studio is dedicated to the art and expression of origami folding. By folding origami one at a time with focus and care, one can enjoy the beauty of the process itself while one’s creativity is expressed from a sheet of paper to something completely new. Taro’s Origami Studio offers hands-on corners, classes, and workshops for all levels of children and adults at studios worldwide in New York; Pennsylvania; California; Washington, D.C.; Edinburgh, Scotland; and Tokyo, Japan.

For the month of December, Taro’s Origami Studio has a pop-up shop at Japan Village selling origami paper and books. Stop by to pick up supplies for the crafter on your shopping list and the opportunity to try some origami for yourself.  Stay tuned to Taro’s Origami Studio’s Facebook for details on a holiday origami tree.

Photo courtesy of Taro’s Origami Studio’s Facebook page

While passing through Japan Village to head to 3rd Avenue to get to our next location, we suggest stopping at Sunrise Mart for some Japanese snacks and candy to use as stocking stuffers. For small gifts or stocker stuffers for kids, there are stickers, DIY candy kits, character-themed snacks, Japanese erasers, and other small toys. For the home chef on your list, you could put together a gift basket of Japanese kitchenware, dishware, supplies, seasonings, etc. Of course, you could always gift a Sunrise Mart gift card with a shopper’s tote for the recipient to stock up on Japanese goodies.

After Sunrise Mart, head to the street side and turn right, walking toward 36th Street. Once you get to 36th Street, turn right again and head to…

Kuraichi

Japanese spirits and sake shop

Sunday through Thursday from Noon until 7:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday from noon until 8:00 p.m.

267 36th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Photo ©Jen Green

Kuraichi is Brooklyn’s go-to shop for Japanese spirits and sake. Their selection covers sakes from various prefectures and breweries in Japan, but they also specialize in other Japanese spirits. From high-end, limited-run Suntory Whiskey for the true collector to a variety of shochu and Japanese gins, Kuraichi will have something to enhance any spirits enthusiast’s home bar.

For the holiday season, they are offering sake mystery bags which include two bottles. They offer an extensive one-cup sake collection, which make great adult stocking stuffers!

Follow Kuraichi on Instagram for information on specials or upcoming tastings.

Photo ©Jen Green

Now that you’ve had a busy day exploring all the amazing Japanese gift ideas and culture that Japan Village and Industry City have to offer, you deserve a nice Japanese meal. If you’d just like to grab some quick food or take it to go, head to Japan Village’s food hall, which has ten different stalls ranging from a bakery to fresh-made onigiri to ramen to katsu curry and much more. There is also a bar that serves a range of Japanese beers and sake.

But for the ultimate Japan Village dining experience, we recommend Wakuwaku for food and Oldies for drinks. Wakuwaku is currently open for outdoor dining in its impressive house-like structures that look straight out of an alley in Kyoto. The buildings are heated (and dog-friendly, too). Indoor dining is available with tables and limited tatami rooms, and seating is also available in Oldies, their cocktail bar.

Photo ©Jen Green

Photo ©Jen Green

Wakuwaku and Oldies are open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from noon until 8:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon until 10:00 p.m. Last seating for walk-ins is 30 to 60 minutes before posted closing time, depending on how busy they are. Please note that on Fridays and Saturdays, a full izakaya menu is offered until 7:30 p.m. The menu switches to the Oldies bar menu (paired down small plates menu with full bar offerings) from 7:30 p.m. until close. They are currently using QR code menus and ordering to minimize the risk of COVID transmission between their guests and staff, but if you have technical difficulties using their system, staff is on hand to help.

Order traditional izakaya-style small plates such as chicken karaage, kani croquettes, yakitori, and our personal favorite at Japan Culture•NYC, the kushiage. Feast on Japanese comfort food such as bento dinners and seasonal specials like ramen or oden. You deserve a specialty craft cocktail from Oldies’s ever-changing seasonal menu. Unwind after your productive day of shopping at Japan Village and Industry City.

If you time your visit right to Japan Village, you can end your day by catching the sunset in Courtyard 4. With the Japanese red lanterns flittering above, the crackling of the firepit with the glow from Wakuwaku’s authentic dining houses to your left, and Lady Aiko’s mural Japanese Garden in view, you’ll swear you are in Japan, not Brooklyn.

Health and Safety Protocols

Face coverings are strongly encouraged, as social distancing may be difficult to maintain throughout the campus of Industry City. Each stop may have different restrictions, and dining inside may require proof of vaccination. As CDC recommendations are changing daily, check for any updated COVID policies for masks as you get to Industry City.

The JapanCulture•NYC Holiday Gift Guide – Part III

Here’s a sweet and savory idea for the foodies on your gift list. For this list, we’re focusing on holiday items from Sunrise Mart.

Let them eat cake!

Christmas cakes, to be more specific.

Panya Bakery and Café Japan in Japan Village at Industry City in Brooklyn are taking preorders for their gorgeous and festive Christmas-themed cakes. Limited quantities will be available for in-person purchase at both locations beginning Monday, December 21.

Take a look at this mouth-watering list of cakes!

🍓 Strawberry Shortcake — $31 (8”)   $28 (6”)

🌰 Chestnut Cream Cake — $30 (6”)

🍵 Green Tea Tiramisu — $25 (6”)

🍫 Raspberry Chocolate — $28

🎂 Buche de Noel — $31

How to Preorder

In person at Café Japon at Japan Village – 934 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

Email info@japanvillage.com

Preorders close on December 19

Holiday Gift Boxes! 🎁

For a limited time, all Sunrise Mart locations are stocked with a variety of gift items. From beautifully packaged cookies to artisanal rice crackers, they’re a delicious, last-minute gift item!

For the New Year

Christmas cakes and cookies are a tasty way to celebrate the holidays, but New Year’s Day is the most important holiday to the Japanese. Osechi Ryori, or traditional New Year’s Day cuisine, is key.

Osechi will be available to pick up from Tuesday, December 29 through Thursday, December 31. You can make your reservation now at all Sunrise Mart locations and online at sunrisemart.com.

Sunrise Mart’s Osechi Menu

Broiled Spanish Mackerel in Citrus Soy Sauce

Boiled Shrimp in Sweet Dashi Sauce

Marinated Octopus in Sweet Vinegar

Roast Pork

Fried Chicken

Washugyu Beef in Sweet Soy Sauce

Red and White Fish Cake

Year-Crossing Noodles

Sunrise Mart’s handmade Toshikoshi Soba for crossing over to the New Year will be available at Gohei in Japan Village the last week of December.

Kagami Mochi

The traditional New Year decoration of kagami mochi is also available at all Sunrise Mart locations. Make sure to pick up a few different styles to add a touch of kawaii to your gift giving!

New Year’s Raffle Day

Sunrise Mart is keeping its New Year’s Raffle Day tradition alive! From Friday, January 1 through Sunday, January 3 at each Sunrise Mart location, everyone is a winner! Simply show a receipt of purchase for every $10 spent, and you’ll be entered into the raffle for a chance to win amazing prizes such as Japanese candy, premium produce, kitchen tools and appliances, and more! You can keep your prizes to yourself, or use them as late Christmas gifts for others!

Support Local Japanese Restaurants!

Buy gift cards from your favorite Japanese restaurants during this holiday season! They make great presents for your foodie friends and will help the restaurants survive during the ongoing pandemic.

New York Japanese American Organizations Launch Project Bento

I’ve been working on an initiative during this COVID-19 pandemic, and I’m proud to share it with all of you.

Project Bento officially launched on Monday, May 4!

Project Bento is a program under the auspices of The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc. in partnership with Sunrise Mart that offers bento to seniors and disabled members in New York’s Japanese American community.

With each bento generously donated by Sunrise Mart, Ito En is providing Japanese tea, and Daiei Trading is providing senbei, or rice crackers. Volunteers throughout New York City are sewing masks, and JAA Vice President Yuki Kaneshige is collecting them so that each senior will receive one with the bento, tea, and senbei.

Each Monday Erina Yoshida of Sunrise Mart and volunteer members of JAA and other Japanese-related organizations travel throughout Manhattan and the Bronx, delivering these goodies to seniors in our community. We also deliver bento in Queens and Brooklyn on Thursdays.

Erina Yoshida (right) of Sunrise Mart and JAA Vice President Yuki Kaneshige on the launch of Project Bento on May 4, 2020

Support from Local Restaurants

Even in its infancy, Project Bento is resonating with people who want to help us make a difference. Last week bento maker BentOn joined Project Bento, providing bento to seniors living in Queens from their factory in Long Island City. While they are not making a 100% donation, they are providing the bento to JAA at cost.

SAPPORO USA and an anonymous donor collaborated with Lower East Side restaurant JUKU to provide 25 Japanese and JA seniors at Isabella Center with these delicious bento.

If you are affiliated with a restaurant and want to donate bento (or provide at cost), please email me at susan@japanculture-nyc.com.

BentOn in LIC joined Project Bento on May 14, 2020

Bento prepared by JUKU and delivered to Isabella Center on May 12, 2020 (photo by senior recipient)

(from left) Madame Yukiko Yamanouchi, Chef Shogo Tsutsumi, Erina Yoshida, Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Chef Yasuhiro Shima at the Ambassador’s residence with donated bento

Support from the Japanese Consulate

Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan in New York, supports Project Bento! On Monday, May 18, Chef Yasuhiro Shima and Chef Shogo Tsutsumi, the official chefs at the residence of Ambassador and Madame Yukiko Yamanouchi, prepared 25 bento for Japanese and JA seniors at Isabella Center. They will prepare 25 more bento next week, bringing the Consulate’s total donation to 50. Each meal comes with a mask handmade by JAA volunteers and words of encouragement written by the Ambassador and printed on origami paper.

Bento prepared by Ambassador Yamanouchi’s chefs and donated to JA seniors living at Isabella Center (photo by a senior recipient)

Project Bento is More Than Food

In addition to the volunteers who made deliveries, other volunteers call the seniors to do wellness checks to ensure their health and safety and to engage them in conversation. At a time when we can’t gather together, these seniors miss companionship. Hearing a voice in Japanese, even for a few minutes, has made a huge difference. These seniors have been craving Japanese food, and many don’t have access to Japanese grocery stores. A weekly bento has helped fill a void.

To see and hear the gratitude from the seniors we are calling and visiting has been heartwarming. While we are doing this as a service to seniors, the volunteers have found that Project Bento has been just as meaningful and fulfilling for them.

Project Bento: Bento from Sunrise Mart, tea from Ito En, senbei from Daiei Trading, mask from community volunteers (photo by senior recipient)

Grateful seniors send photos of their bento

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Project Bento volunteers

How to Volunteer

We are looking for more volunteers to make phone calls and/or deliveries to seniors. Fluency in Japanese is not a requirement, but it is helpful.

If volunteers wish to make deliveries, we will pair them with seniors based on where they live. We do not want our volunteers to use public transportation or endanger themselves, so we request that all volunteers travel SAFELY (on foot, by bike, in your own car).

Before people are allowed to volunteer, the organizers of this project will vet them to ensure that they are reliable, have good judgment, are healthy, and will follow health safety protocols. We require all potential volunteers to answer a questionnaire and sign a liability waiver that they will receive once they express interest in volunteering. Send an email to me at susan@japanculture-nyc.com.

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Flyer design by Emily Akpan; artwork by Lauren Sumida

How to Donate

We are also accepting donations to help defray expenses and to expand this program to reach more people and to provide other necessities. Project Bento wishes to expand to Japanese seniors and others in need who are not necessarily members of JAA.

Donations may be made online: http://jaany.org/donate.html

The Yoshida Family created a Project Bento GoFundMe campaign. Although Sunrise Mart is generously donating 100 bento per week, we will surpass that number as we continue to outreach. The Yoshida Family wants to keep Project Bento going. (And so do we.)

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More Than a Box

A bento is a box. You can put whatever you want in each compartment. The Japanese would advise you to make sure your box has balance: balance in food groups (protein, vegetables, starch, carbs), flavors (salty, sweet), methods of preparation (grilled, fried, broiled), and even colors. There’s something about a bento that goes beyond the food. You can see it in the eyes, hear it in the voices, and read it in the thank-you emails of the seniors who are the recipients of this simple deed. Yes, a bento is a box, but to the seniors who are homebound during this pandemic, Project Bento is so much more.

Project Bento Volunteers

It Takes a Village

Project Bento is run by The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc. in partnership with Sunrise Mart, Ito En, Daiei Trading, BentOn, and New York City Japanese American organizations: the Consulate General of Japan in New York, New York Day of Remembrance, Japanese American Citizens League NY Chapter, New York Japanese-American Lions Club, Japanese Americans/Japanese in America, Tsuru for Solidarity, the U.S.-Japan Council NY Region, and concerned individuals.

(Disclosure: I am one of the founding organizers of Project Bento. I serve on the Board of Directors of The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc. as a Vice President and Secretary.)

Links to information on coronavirus:

https://www.who.int/

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home

https://www1.nyc.gov/

JapanCultureNYC is the English-language website dedicated to all things Japanese in New York City. Discover your next favorite Japanese anything at JapanCulture-NYC.com.