One very cool thing about Japanese convenience stores is that they’re not just a place to grab snacks like chips and cookies. They’re also stocked with all sorts of tasty food that you could eat as a meal. Craving a pork cutlet sandwich, beef bowl, or plate of meat sauce pasta? The… Read
The “Yuru Hakama” series of roomwear is just one of the products to have come out from Mocolle, a Japanese brand that takes the ideas of popular artists & designers from social media and brings them to life using crowdfunding campaigns. A hakama, essentially, is the traditional Japanese version of… Read
For centuries, the winter months in Japan have been bound up with the enticing smell of freshly baked sweet potatoes. In recent years, a new generation has cottoned on to the wonderful flavor of yaki-imo 焼き芋. Hoping to hitch a ride on the bandwagon, the nation’s food manufacturers have been… Read
If you’ve ever sat in a Japanese conveyor belt sushi restaurant, the chances are you’ve felt the impulse to overindulge on that never-ending merry-go-round of tasty raw fish. Don’t worry, we’ve been there too. You find yourself thinking ‘I’m not quite full yet, one more plate of maguro nigiri should… Read
For as much as foreign visitors and residents take a liking to Japanese beer, the way it's served when poured can be a bit jarring for some beer fans. While many see too much head on a beer to be off-putting for reasons such as "not getting what you paid… Read
Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, iconic anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam" has seen quite a bit of interesting goods released to mark the occasion. In the last year we've seen Gundam-themed wine cooler sleeves from a French cookware brand, Gundam head tofu you can paint with golden curry sauce, and even… Read
After mourning the loss of some big-name Japanese whiskies last year–namely Kirin’s Fuji-sanroku Tarajuku Genshu 50, Nikka’s Taketsuru Pure Malt 17, 21, and 25-years, and Suntory’s Hakushu 12-year and Hibiki 17-years–it was a welcome change to hear about the arrival of some new and exciting whiskies from Suntory as we enter 2021. Kicking off… Read
Since 2017, Mister Donuts Japan has tapped top names in patisserie and chocolate as part of their "there's something good at Mister Donuts" slogan. Previously, they have collaborated on donut and pastry collections with culinary maestros the likes of Toshi Yoroizuka and Pierre Hermé, the latter of which was named the World's Best… Read
In these difficult pandemic times, for many people, cherishing loved ones and showing you care can feel even more important than ever. Valentine's Day could provide an opportunity to do that this year. If you and your special someone enjoy chocolaty dessert drinks, The Alley has a nice Valentine's Day… Read
Japanese snack brand Calbee, known for their wide range of potato chips, potato stick snacks like Jagabee and Jagarico, as well as their Kappa Ebisen shrimp crackers, have held an annual original "Snack Contest" since 2011, soliciting ideas from children on different themes every year. In 2019, for their 9th… Read