About food in Japan

Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony exhibition

Modern Japanese tea ceremony exhibition called Enishi will be taken place at Seibu department in Shibuya during 4th to 24th October 2011.

The word, Enishi (縁) represents tie, link or encounter among people or between human and things. The younger generation tea ceremony master, Mr. Matsumura, introduces the world of modern Japanese tea ceremony, collaborating with modern art creators. Followings are what you will find at the exhibition "Enishi, Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony", taken place at 3 different exhibitions corners all on either the 5th or 8th floor B-wing Seibu department Shibuya.

*Tea ceremony room brought to the department store.

 On weekend afternoons, in the room, tea ceremony will be taken place several times. For the ceremony, modern tea making tools created by young 20 potters will be used and Japanese traditional sweets also made by new generations of Japanese sweets (和菓子) masters, "wagashi asobi" will be served to the ceremony guests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Introduction of tea ceremony in modern lifestyle

Combining with materials in life; clothes, sweets, tea making tools and housing, new ways to enjoy tea ceremony in daily life will be introduced.

 

*Tea bowls, tea making tools and decoration objects for tea rooms will be presented under the theme "Neo-Japonisme and Avant-garde" in a gallery.

 

Related links

Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony information on Avant-Garde Cha Kai site(Japanese)

http://www.ava-cha.com/2011/09/21/3479

 

Shuhally (Japanese) - Tea ceremony school by the master, Mr. Matsumura who plays the main role of the exhibition producer.

http://www.shuhally.jp

 

Wagashi Asobi - Young Japanese sweets maker who provides tea ceremony sweets for the exhibition.

http://wagashiasobi.wordpress.com

 

 

Exhibition: Enishi (縁) Art meet modern Japanese tea ceremony

Date: 4th October to 24th October 2011

At: 5th and 8th floor B-wing, Seibu department store Shibuya

Address: 21-1 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

大きな地図で見る

Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival 2nd is coming on October

It is a great news for Food Lovers who stay and visit Tokyo

The second Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival will be taken place between 8th to 23rd October 2011, following the first attempt last year.

The event has been upgraded with 17 films (much increased!! from 8 in 2010) "tasty" both new and old, domestic and international as well as several exclusive opportunities to watch movie at a restaurant while having dinner arranged specially for the movie. 

The main venue is at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Yebisu Garden Place.

 

Followings are some of works on screen at the film festival.

"eatrip" - The film festival's concept movie, which cannnot be missted for the event every year.

Documentary film to tell about Japanese food culture.

With English subtitles. About the movie, check our previous post from here. 

 

<Japanese films, Japanese version only, unfortunately....>

Samma no aji (秋刀魚の味, "An Autumn Afternoon", 1962 by Yasujiro Ozu)

Kamome Shokudo (かもめ食堂, 2006, a commedy story of a Japanese lady who opened a Japanese restaurant in Helsinki, Finland.)

Nankyoku Ryorinin (南極料理人, Antarctic Chef, 2009, returned from the last year event because it was so popular. a story of chef who serves for Japanese Antarctic camp)

<English version with Japanese subtitles>

Bagdad Cafe (2008, remaken from the original 1987 version)

My Blueberry Nights (2007) 

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

 

<Other language version with Japanese subtitles>

Cooking Up Dreams ("De Ollas y Suenos" Spanish version, 2009, Peruvien food documentary)

Soul Kitchen (German version, 2009)

 

<Screen with dinner>

The event organizer offers special opportunities to have dinner and movie at a restaurant. The dinner menu will be something got inspired from the movie on screen.

Advanced reservation required. For more information please check its official site.

*Film "eatrip"(Japanese version, English subtitle) / Date: 3rd Oct, 11th Oct

*FIlm "Cooking Up Dreams"(Spanish version, Japanese subtitle) at Peruvian restaurant / Date: 4th Oct, 17thOct

*FIlm "Dinner Rush" (English version, Japanese subtitle) with Italian menu / Date: 11th Oct

*Film "The Hangover"(English version, Japanese subtitle) / Date: 11th Oct - it also includes "free flow of some alcohol drinks" to make you "hangover"!!

 

We recommend the film "eatrip" the most if you are a food lover but do not understand Japanese. Please check screen time from  the site Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival's English site. 

 

In addition, for cinema lovers, Tokyo Interenational Film Festival will follow the Food Lover Film Festival from 22 October 2011. Many Japanese and international movies will be on screen in Roppongi during the festival.

 

Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival official site:http://tokyogohan.com/filmfestival/

 

Our previous post related:  Tokyo Food Lovers Film Festival at Ebisu Garden Cinema

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/10/tokyo-food-lovers-film-festival-at-ebisu-garden-cinema.html

Newly developed Japan's foods!

Last friday Gourmet & Dining Style Show 2011 Autumn was taken place in Tokyo. It is a trade show for professional food & drink buyers to seek for new products. 

At the site, under the project titled "Re-discover Japan's good products" (ニッポンのいいもの再発見！), newly developped local food products made with traditional ingredients are introduced by local small size producers across Japan. Today we picked up two products which we liked the most among these from "Re-discover Japan's good products".

 

Jo-con (醲献), Japanese sake

It is condensed Japanese sake made from rice in Ueda-city, Nagano prefecture. It contains 38% alcohol, unusually high rate, more than double companred with normal sake. The richness must attract alcohol lovers, as whisky or brandy do. It is good to have it on the rocks. 

Another point to note is..., unlike normal fresh sake, it can be kept over a year. It will be aged day by day like vintage wine and you can enjoy different taste at each stage.  

For international travelers, the small bottle of 100ml at a reasonable price Yen1500 per bottle must be a good souvenir item to bring back to your country. 

Go to Jo-con facebook site (Japanese)

Official site: http://www.jo-con.jp

 

Awajishima Rusk (淡路島ラスク)

Rusk is originally Wester style product but different versions of it are available in some places in Japan. This is one of them from Awajishima, Hyogo prefecture.

Awajishima rusk offers 3 different kinds of flavor; onion, local citrus Naruto orange and honey, all are ingredient harvested on the island. Onion rusk is salty and maybe good as snack with beer, while other two have tender sweet flavor. Each of them surely has each different vivid character but they are never too strong. It must be a good souvenir of Awaji island. 

Official site (Japanese): http://www.m-awaji.jp/onion/rask.html

 

Although we are not able to find them easily so far, we are looking forward to seeing these nice products attacting many of both Japanese and interenational clients soon

Tsukiji Market update

 

Tsukiji Market (築地市場) re-opened its tuna auction visit for tourists from this tuesday. It had been suspended since 11th March 2011 when the East Japan earthquake occured.

As per their instruction for the early morning Tuna auction visiting on the official site and leaflet available at the market entrance, followings are guideline announced on 25th July 2011. 

*To see Tuna auction "from the special observation area" on early morning...

Please make a reservation

- at "Fish Information Center" (おさかな普及センター)  located next to "Kachidoki Gate" (勝どき門) of Tsukiji Market. The gate is on Harumi Street.

- Reservation starts from 5:00A.M.  (Only for the day of visit acceptable, no adavance reservation possible)  

- The market is able to accept only 120 visitors per day. These visitors will be allocated into two time slots by first-come-first-served basis.

    1. for the first 60 visitors - from 5:25 A.M. to 5:50 A.M. 

    2. for the 2nd 60 visitors - from 5:50 A.M. to 6:15 A.M.

*Please kindly keep in mind that it might be changed without prior notice depending on the various situation related the market. We recommend you check the latest information on its official website.

Tsukiji Market official site: http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm 

Tokyo Tourism Information News:  http://www.tourism.metro.tokyo.jp/english/administration/tsukiji_201107.html

 

If you are not able to become within the first come 120 people or are reluctant to wake up so early morning, still you have a chance to feel the vital atmosphere of the market and to enjoy fresh seafood there. Please visit my previous posts about Tsukiji Market and restaurants there, as linked below.

Tsukiji Market (築地市場) 

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/04/tsukiji-market.html

RestaurSushi Dai, Tsukiji Market (寿司大 築地市場)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/05/sushi-dai-in-tsukiji-market.html

Takahashi in Tsukiji Market (高はし, 築地市場）

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/05/takahashi-in-tsukiji-market.html 

 

Accommodation recommendable to visit Tsukiji Market

They are all withing walking distance to the market.

Mitsui Garden Premier Ginza

三井ガーデンホテル銀座プレミア

 

 Courtyard Marriott Ginza Tobu

コートヤード・マリオット　銀座東武ホテル

 

Conrad Tokyo

コンラッド東京

 

Park Hotel Tokyo 

パークホテル東京

 

Royal Park Shiodome Tower 

ロイヤルパーク汐留タワー

 

Tokyo New Hankyu Hotel Tsukiji 

東京新阪急ホテル築地

Our twitter account is now opened!

We are pleased to inform you that About food in Japan twitter account has just opened

Here not only about food but more diversed information that must be useful for food lovers and those who are traveling in Japan will be posted. 

 

Please follow us

 

Our Twitter account : @aboutfoodjapan

                                  http://twitter.com/#!/aboutfoodjapan

 

Message from Japan by Arashi(嵐)

You could already find a short movie called "Message from Japan" on TV or street commercial ad in your town. The film was created by Foreign Ministry and Tourism Agency of Japan and published from yesterday. Japanese top idol boys group Arashi (嵐) appear on the movie and introduce several regions in Japan with feeling hospitality of local people. At the end of the film, they express a message to you, all people around the world, that we Japanese thank you for your warm support and we are happy to welcome you in Japan

"Message from Japan" movie by Arashi will be on air on TV or street ad monitors etc in 133 countries or region across the world.

Hope you enjoy the film by Arashi in your place.

The official movie has not been opened yet on Youtube at this moment.

So hereI put the link of the film recorded and posted on youtube by someone.  

http://youtu.be/XTT1O2VtrSY

Summer 2011 is different and more relaxed in Japan

As many of you may know, in Japan, especially Kanto region (Tokyo and surrounding area) as well as Tohoku region, we are encouraged to save electric energy as much as possible during this summer, because the damage on nuclear power plants in Tohoku is followed by less supply level in electronic energy.

Japanese government urges industries to reduce energy consumption for their production and other business activities by 15% from last year. As a way to respond to this initiative, some major enterprises, such as auto car industry giants Toyota, Nissan and telecommunication NTT Docomo, have changed office close days from weekend (Saturday and Sunday) to two consecutive days on weekday (for example, Monday and Tuesday or Thurseday and Friday), so as to reduce energy consumption during weekday which is the peak in electricity usage. Other companies started voluntary summer time which means their business hour start and end earlier than usual by 1 or 1.5 hours.

These efforts by bussiness organizations in Japan also impacted on food service industry in the same area. If you travel to Tokyo during this summer, you could also take advantage of the changes as followings.

 

* Bar, Izakaya and restaurants start "Happy Hour" from 4 p. m.

Considering business people complete their work 1hour earlier than usual, some restaurants and bars are offering happy hour (discount price for alcohol or other selected products) mainly from 4 o'clock on late afternoon. That must be a big advantage for travlers too.

Enjoy and share chilly beer with Japanese business people from 4p.m.!

 

*Cafe open earlier for breakfast

As same with Happy Hour at bars, cafe, first-food and coffee shops, which provide breakfast in the morning, open earlier 1-2hours than usual for early-bird business people. Some of them also offer more selections of breakfast menu. It is also an advantage for travelers who have to depart in early morning for excursion or journey on air or train. 

 

*Restaurants open during weekend in business districts

In the business districts like Akasaka, where less potential clients exist during weekend normally, some restaurants decided serving on weekend as well during this summer so they can capture week-end workers in the area. Even you stay in such business district, you will also more choices of dining during weekend and you might not have to go out further from your accommodation. 

Such effort and cooperation by business organizations and people in Japan is so far successful in reducing electric energy since the beginning of July 2011.

Of course, Japanese people are happy to share this relaxed summer time with foreign travelers

 

 

 

Radioactive contamination data

I understand some of you concern on radioactivity level in Japan, which was exposed from Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant after the earthquake on March 2011. For those people, the linked site is maybe helpful to ease your anxious and to make decision whether and in which part you tavel in Japan.

The original site is in Japanese but can be translated by Google into English and other languages. The site is linked to various data reports related to radioactive contamination such as air, water and food.

http://atmc.jp/

I hope that helps you with planning trip to Japan.

 

Tharros, Italian restaurant in Shibuya (渋谷) offers Wine Charity plan

Tharros, an Italian restaurant in Shibuya, featuring specifically south Italy and Sardinia food, started Charity Wine plan for their diners. As the charity plan, the first glass wine is offered to guests just at Yen100. If the guests would, they are encouraged to pay more than the price Yen100 and the amount will be contributed as donation to the earthquake and tsunami disaster relief.

The charity plan, named as "Gambari AMO" is offered until the end of July 2011, along with another promotion plan, stamp rally by which 5 stamps out of 10 Italian restaurants in Shibuya becomes a Yen 5000 voucher consumable at Tharros. 

Well, more about Tharros, it is situated a few minutes walk from Shibuya station and the "world-busiest" Shibuya crossing. In the area behind two big commercial complex, Tokyu Plaza and Shibuya Mark City, some interesting small restaurants can be found in addition to Tharros and Cowbelle which was introduced on this blog in the past.

 

South Italian style antipastini dishes

such as tuna, sardine, mushrooms... 

Sardinian pasta "fregula" with pork sausages looks like rice ...

but it is small pieces of pasta

"Pane frattau" Sardinia style lasagna with poached egg

With rich in seafood, olive oil and tomato sauce, their Italian dishes are healthy and good taste of course!

Let's enjoy healthy Italian and contribute to donation at the same time!

About Gambari AMO promotion plan, it is also available in English on eatpia.com.

http://www.eatpia.com/restaurant/tharros-shibuya-italian

Restaurant name: Tharros

Address: SEDE Building 1st floor, 1-5-2 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website: http://www.tharros.jp

大きな地図で見る

Save the sake (酒) in Tohoku

Tohoku (東北) region, where it got the most serious damage by the natural disaster, big earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 and followed aftershocks, has also been famous for sake (酒, 日本酒) production. As we can imagine, sake breweries in Tohoku are suffering the damage on their production facilities, product and/or ingredients stocks etc. Consequently the damage on breweries also impacted negatively on sake whole-sellers in Tohoku. Sake lovers across Japan, maybe around the world feel distress at the situation. To order sake from Tohoku at restaurants is a part of contribution to recovering from the damage.

Here I introduce two activities based in Tokyo to support sake breweries and whole-sellers in Tohoku region for promoting their products and giving information about the situation. 

SAVE KURA MIYAGI

A bar in Shibuya, called Kukai, is taking initiative to connect between sake whole-sellers, producers (can be expressed as KURA /蔵, sake stockage) in Miyagi prefecture and consumers through bars and restaurants in Tokyo and surrounding area. Its partner restaurants and bars purchase sake made in Miyagi from local whole-sellers to offer the products on their clients. The participants restaurants show the logo sticker (like the image right) on the site. 

Some of partner restaurants, bar are...

Kukai (公界), Shibuya / bar /  http://news.kukai.biz/

Seikoen (清香園), Shibuya / BBQ /  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a491700/lang/en/

Padrino del Shozan, Venus Fort Odaiba / http://shozan-international.com

Los Barbados, Shibuya / Arab-African cuisine / http://www7b.biglobe.ne.jp/~los-barbados/

The participants will be introduced further on the website. 

http://blog.livedoor.jp/savekura/archives/4581270.html

 

Save the Tohoku no sake (東北の酒)

Ms. Kaori Haishi,  a sake sommelier and journalist, launched the website since April 2011, as one of Tohoku sake lovers. She voluntary organizes the site to support damaged sake breweries and to share informaiton related sake in Tohoku. What is very good for this blog readers.... the information in English are also AVAILABLE thanks to her language skill. The site contents include introduction of Tohoku breweries, photo reports from devasted area, warm supporting messages from sake lovers as well as sake retailers, sake producers across Japan. 

Save the Tohoku no sake  http://save-sake.com/top

Let's enjoy sake from Tohoku region and support them for recovering!