About food in Japan

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!

 

Fight Tohoku! supermarkets start products on sale

A major Japanese supermarket chain, Ito-Yokado conducts special promotion called "Gambaro Tohoku" (がんばろう東北, difficult to translate exactly,,,, in my way, Fight Tohoku!) until this Saturday 10th April 2011. At Ito-Yokado 140 units, to support food producers in Tohoku, special fair is taken place to introduce about 60 products in Tohoku, in some cases at special promotion price. 

Food products to be offered at the promotion are different store by store and day by day. For example, their units in Tokyo and surrounding area, consumers will/do/did find apples and scallops from Aomori (青森),  beef from three prefectures got the most serious damage, Iwate (岩手), Miyagi (宮城) and Fukushima (福島), yoghurt drink from Iwate, rice from Fukushima. In addition, at some units yesterday, Ito-Yokado offered at special price lettuce made in Ibaraki, where farmers saw serious sales drop after the nuclear power plant problem.

The major supermarket chain headquater examined and reconfirmed with a private sectore research center that these products are proved safe from radioactive health problem. 

Other supermarket chains are intending to follow the promotionn by Ito-Yokado. Such as Aeon, Tokyu store are planning to start offering argricultural products from Tohoku at some of their units. 

 

Support farmers in Fukushima and Ibaraki, Marche at Kotsukaikan, Tokyo

While launching current "my journey serise Kanazawa" this week, I cannot miss an opportunity to introduce this event in Tokyo.

A month long campaign has been started by Marche (named after "market" in French) Kotsukaikan (交通会館) organizer, in order to support farmers based in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefecutures, where they have gotten the most serious damage in sales shrink cased by the nuclear power plant problems. 

The market organizer aims at enlighten consumers with correct information of food safety level directly from farm producers in Fukushima and Ibaraki. The market is held from 1st April through to 8th May 2011 at Marche Kotsuskaikan (交通会館). (It is just in front of JR Yurakucho station and the market is on the ground floor outside terrace.) Farmers and members of local agriculture associations from Fukushima and Ibaraki appear with their products such as rice (harvested in last fall obviously), beef and vegetables. They offer tasting, sell their producted proved safe and occasionally show numerical value of radiation level on a "Geiger counter" in front of visitors.

The promotional event has been featured by Japanese media widely. As per the market organizer official site, the market is successfull everyday with many supporter-consumers coming to support these farmers and purchasing their arricultural products.

Of course I will visit there to get some products within a month, especially because my rice stock is soon run out...

Related news: Fukushima farmers seek to prove their food is safe | The Japan Times Online.

 

Marche at Kotsukaikan (交通会館マルシェ), Yurakucho, Tokyo

Opening hours:

Monday to Friday - 12h00 - 18h00  (around 5 sellers appear)

Saturday, Sunday and Holidays - 11h00 - 17h00  (operated much bigger scale, 20-25 sellers)

Address: 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo

*In front of JR Yurakucho station, from Kyobashi Exit (Ginza side), between JR station and ITOCIA shopping complex.

 

大きな地図で見る

Traveling in Japan - 日本を旅する

Our life is becoming back to normal day by day in Tokyo, while some countries issue travel warning to some parts in Japan. Now the tourism and hospitality industries in Japan observe decrease of both domestic and international tourists. The restaurant industry is also seeing sales drop by less clients to come. What some people, including me, are aiming at this moment is to get out ourself from depression and to act as normal for economic activities. That contribute to economy of Japan and will bring more energy and support for recovering from the unprecedented damage by the earthquake and tsunami.

It is totally up to you but....If you have a plan to trip to Japan and consider between to go or to cancel, please kindly keep in mind that your consumption while travelling in Japan is surely a way to support and cheer up the country’ industries and indirectly even the people still suffering in Tohoku.

Here I can introduce activities on Twitter and Facebook in this purpose.

#smile_japan project – Accommodation operators and tourists in Japan are uploading photos of their smiling guests/themselves at their properties in order to show they are fine in Japan.

http://www.facebook.com/smilejapanproject

http://twitter.com/keep_smile_jp

 

 外食産業を勝手に応援しよう! (Let’s support the restaurant industry on our own!) – Japanese explantion only though. The site owner is encouraging non-disaster-victims to report dining out experieneces in Japan in order to save the restaurant industry for business recovering.

 http://www.facebook.com/gaishokukyusai

 

This week I had been traveling in Hokuriku (北陸) region, mainly in Kanazawa (金沢) as planned earlier. I had no problem to have sightseeing trip there. From tomorrow I will post what I had and saw in the region as my journey series on this blog.

 

 

#smileat One drink for Tohoku(東北)

We need smile + eat even at a difficult time...

Several restaurant owners in Tokyo started chality campaign #smileat to coop each other, to encourage people in difficult time and to revitalize the economy for Japan's recovering in their own ways. The participant restaurants or bars offer special menu or drink promotion which lead to a donation from their revenue to people and area suffered from the huge natural disaster damage in Tohoku.  At the same time, for people living alone or only a few, dining out is to contribute "energy saving" that we are encouraged to do.

That is another way to help people in Tohoku and Japan's recovery!

Let's have a meal at participant restaurants and contribute to help people in difficutl situation.

Information about #smileat (Japanese) http://smileat.posterous.com/

Here are a part of participant restaurants

Paxi House (nearest station Kyodo) http://paxihouse.com/tokyo/

Related post: http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/03/coriander-lover.html?cid=6a0120a609fb30970b0147e361a270970b#comment-6a0120a609fb30970b0147e361a270970b

 

Sala Sontana (Thai food, nearest station Kyodo) http://sontana.net 

 

Three restaurants by Butagumi (specialized in pork, in Nishiazabu or Roppongi) 

Butagumi Shabuan (Pork shabushabu, Roppongi)  http://www.butagumi.com/shabuan/shopinfo/

Nishiazabu Butagumi (Pork tonkatsu, Nishiazabu)  http://www.butagumi.com/nishiazabu/about.php

Seizan Butagumi Hanare (Izakaya)  http://r.gnavi.co.jp/a585200/

 

Izakaya restaurants by AP company http://www.apcompany.jp/shop/

 

Sushi Saisho (nearest station Oimachi) http://www.saisho.net/

 

Many other restaruants will be found on the list of #smileat http://smileat.posterous.com/

 

Radiation and food safety update 2

Early this morning the government announced that radioactive materials were found from more spieces of food made in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures. As the result, the food distribution ban is expanded to some of affected spieces. They are brocoli, cauliflower, turnip and leaf vegetables harvested in Fukushima prefecture and milk, parsley taken in Ibaraki prefecture. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare instructed local governors to expand the monitoring of radiation scanning from 4 prefecutures to total 10 prefectures surrounding the affected area. We can find reports of inspection resuts from Kanagawa, Niigata, Ibaraki, Fukushima prefectures, supporting this goverment's decision on the website of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as of 22th March 2011.(In Japanese)  http://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/houdou/2r98520000015txf.html

The government, Consumer Affair Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as well as academic or private-sectore specialists in the field of food safety are asking consumers, food retailers, and distributers to react based on scientific, objective information and facts, in a calm manner and not by unsupported rumor, because current level of radiation would not cause immediate health risk on human by intakeing the food occasionally.

 

 

Radiation and food safety

Last Saturday, 19^th March 2011, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Japan announced radiation-contaminated food were detected. They were milk collected in Fukushima prefecture and spinach picked up in Ibaraki prefecture, located next to Fukushima. It followed by agricultural productes from other prefectures in Kanto region; Tochigi, Gumma and Chiba. The government explained “the levels of radiation for these products pose no immediate health risks if consumed.” After the Fukushima nuclear plan crisis broken out, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare immediately set up the new standard of radiation contaminated in food and has instructed local governements to monitor radiation levels in some fresh food like milk, vegetables, drinking water, egg, meat, fish and sea plants, in order to eliminate radiation-contaminated food from the market. The relevant prefecture governors are asking farmers voluntary to refrain from shipping their products. The national government asks the publc to stay calm and cosniders posing a new regulation in food distribution from the affected areas.

We need to keep our eyes on this issue and urge the local goverments and related organizations to monitor and examin the food safety level continuously and appropriately then to disclose information to the public so we will be able to feel safe and to get out from anxiety.

It is a pitty today I am not able to introduce you how we can enjoy food in Japan.

I will keep you informed if we find any update on this topic and I hope this uneasy situation is terminated soon..

 

Related links:

The Japan Times online -  Q&A Latest threat: radiation-contaminated food

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a4.html

 

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare – Press release in English

“Handling of food contaminated by radioactivity”

“Handling of food contaminated by radioactivity”(separate sheet) – letter to local governments

 

Food is always important for our life…

 

Pray for the victims and wish for live saved

As many of you know, the tragedy of earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku area, claimed thousands of lives, hugely made us shocked. From last night, the weather condition became severe for refugee. It is snowing sometimes and the temparature is below or around zero degree. Rescue teams are having hard working for live-saved. Another risk of nuclear power plants followed and was revealed. It is really hard to look at the reality happened in Japan at this moment. But we cannot be devastated for longer and would never lose hopes in future. Many of us are greatly impressed by warm messages and supports from the world. I deeply appreciate warm hearts of each of you. Now it is the toughest time but personally I am sure that my country is able to overcome this crisis.

If you would like to help the earthquake and tsunami victims and refugee, one way I recommend is to make a donation from below link.

CIVIC FORCE (emergency response team) : http://civic-force.org/english/index.html 

Online donation to CIVIC FORCE : http://www.justgiving.com/civicforce-japan?utm_source=JG%2Bhomepage&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=Japan%2BAppeal%2BNon-UK

 

How about situation in Tokyo?

As reported on some media, power cut is conducted for a few hours per day in  Kando region including residential area of Tokyo. Central Tokyo is out of the plan but many of business organizations in town such as retail stores, leisure facilities, tranportation services readily paticipate in cooperation of energy saving. They could close the door earlier or operate with limited facilities or less frequent services.

 

Food shortage?!

Another event we encounted in Tokyo – scarcity of food and commodities observed for last few days. It happened from a few reasons; available supply are sent to Tohoku area for refugee / because of energy short, people in Tokyo rushed to daily needs for storage. For last two days, after office hours I could rarely find breads, milk and eggs at supermarkets. It does not mean we have no food for today. We can still find fresh fruits, fish, meat, drinks, some snacks and grocery as usual. Many restaurants open and offer enough number of selections. It is never be a problem considering people suffering in Tohoku area. Just our daily life is maybe too convenient. Retailers are planning to source storage from West part of Japan and it is expected to improve the scarcity.

 

Today’s my dinner, two pieces of Onigiri: seasonal flavor “Sakura” cherry blossoms…Spring is just around the corner!

 

 

Headline - earthquake in Japan

Today 11th March 2011, at 14h46, one of the biggest earthquake hit Japan.

The most damaged area is in Sendai, Miyagi about 300km away in North from Tokyo.

At this moment I am home in Tokyo. Electricity and internet are fine but phone line is not available.

Some area, electricity is down. We still feel tremor, minor shock time by time. In grater Tokyo area, all train lines are stopped for tonight. Fire occured some places.

If you would like to contact to someone in Japan, it may be better to do through email or facebook, twitter rather than phone.

 Still we do not know how big and serious the damage is... Please check major new sources for update and further information.

Thank you.

 

TAP PROJECT 2011 - Clear water for all the world's children

"World Water Day" is coming on 22nd of March. TAP Project 2011 will be taken place during 19 to 27th March 2011 in Japan. The project was started in New York in 2007 and this is the third year of TAP Project introduced in Japan.

As per the official homepage of TAP PROJECT, one out of five children under the age of five grows up in an environment where the water is unsafe to drink.  TAP PROJECT help UNICEF with providing access to clean and safe water. 

How can we participate in the event? During the TAP PROJECT period 19 to 27th March 2011, visit a participant restaurant and donate Yen 100 or more for the water served to you. It is very easy! 

TAP PROJECT donnation from Japan will be used for supporting to provide clean and safe water as well as basic sanitation services in Madagascar. 

********************** UPDATE 15 March 2011 *********************************************

Seeing the severe natural disaster happend on 11March 2011, TAP Project organizer has changed supporting target to victims of earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku region, Japan.

 ***************************************************************************************************

 

Here I list up some participant restaurants in Tokyo from my previous posts but much more in town.

Waketokuyama (分けとく山) 

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/02/waketokuyama-%E5%88%86%E3%81%A8%E3%81%8F%E5%B1%B1-japanese-michelin-2011-.html

Restaurant I

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2011/01/made-in-tokyo-french-restaurant-i-%E3%83%AC%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3i-by-keisuke-matsushima.html

La Bettola (ラベットラ)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2010/09/la-bettora-da-ochiai%E3%83%A9%E3%83%99%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%80%E3%82%AA%E3%83%81%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4-casual-italian-in-ginza%E9%8A%80%E5%BA%A7.html

Aux Bacchanales 

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/07/french-caf-aux-.html

Hanasansho (花山椒)

http://aboutfoodinjapan.weblogs.jp/blog/2008/02/hanasanshou-mic.html

 

Other restaurants can be found at the official site. (in Japanese)

http://www.tapproject.jp/restaurant/

 

 

This is the sign of the project participant restaurants, on table. 

 

 

Official site TAP PROJECT 2011: http://www.tapproject.jp