Economy | ANALYSIS
Households to take hit from tax hike
by Tomoko Otake
The consumption tax increase will hit every household in Japan hard, with many people’s financial future hanging on whether their wages rise enough to offset the hike's impact.
Food & Drink | FOOD Aug 8, 2013
Eat yourself broke at Grand Front Osaka
by John Asburne
You’ve gotta love a city whose primary motivation is to accumulate wealth then promptly squander it through the time-honored pursuit of kuidaore (eating oneself to bankruptcy). Now, with the opening of the massive Grand Front Osaka commercial, residential and entertainment complex on the north ...
Food & Drink | KANPAI CULTURE Aug 8, 2013
Supporting Tohoku one glass at a time
by Melinda Joe
On a Saturday evening in late July, Wine Aid for East Japan began, appropriately, with a toast. Now in its third year, the event, organized by professionals in the wine industry to raise money for charities in the Tohoku region, featured over 100 premium ...
Food & Drink | EVERYMAN EATS Jul 25, 2013
A nostalgic nibble on lasting favorites
by Steve Trautlein
As Japanese families return to their hometowns for the traditional summer holidays, cries of "Atsui!" ("Hot enough for ya?!") give way to feelings of natsukashii — a sense of nostalgia triggered by the sights, sounds and tastes of childhood.
Food & Drink | KANPAI CULTURE Jun 14, 2013
Hard-won battles produce great wine grapes
by Melinda Joe
On an overcast morning high in the hills of the Priorat region in northern Spain, I found myself faced with a dilemma: I had to decide which shoots to prune from the gnarled arms of a 60-year-old Garnacha grape vine. It was mid-May, and ...
Food & Drink | SWEET INSPIRATIONS Jun 7, 2013
Japanese desserts with an alcohol kick
by Robbie Swinnerton
“There are two types of people,” my dear old landlady used to say, handing me a bowl of frothing matcha tea: “Those who like alcohol, and those who like sweets.” She was well aware which camp I belonged in. But as a tea-ceremony teacher ...
Food & Drink | KANPAI CULTURE May 10, 2013
You don't need to be a pro to enjoy tasting and pairing sake
by Melinda Joe
For those new to sake, learning to distinguish the subtle nuances in the flavor of various brews can feel like a daunting task. When evaluating sake, professionals consider the balance of sweetness and acidity, the body and the finish, in addition to the drink’s ...
Food & Drink | KANPAI CULTURE Apr 12, 2013
Cocktails with a fresh twist (literally)
by Melinda Joe
Dressed in a crisp white jacket, white shirt and black tie, bartender Gen Yamamoto looks as though he has just emerged from a casino in a James Bond film.
Food & Drink | KANPAI CULTURE Mar 8, 2013
Singapore's taste for Japanese drinks
by Melinda Joe
On my recent trip to Singapore, Japanese drinks seemed to follow me everywhere. At Jigger & Pony, a stylish new cocktail bar in an old part of Chinatown, the first thing I noticed was the selection of around 20 Suntory and Nikka whiskies that ...