Angela Erika Kubo - The Japan Times

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Angela Erika Kubo

For Angela Erika Kubo's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Dec 30, 2014

Crackers from the briny deep courtesy of Calbee

Calbee has given its popular Kappa Ebisen snack a fancy makeover this month with the release of a gourmet-lobster-bisque-flavored version of the product (¥138).

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Dec 24, 2014

Pastries and sweets by Sangenjaya Station

Bonnet Dane is a long walk from Tokyo's Sangenjaya Station, and is a tiny shop with only a small selection of baked goods, but it makes up for any inconvenience in quality. Owner Hiroshi Ogihara spent 5½ years in Paris working at bakeries, patisseries and chocolate shops, and it shows. The croissants...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Dec 16, 2014

Zima gets a new look and a second chance

In Japan, a man can order a bottle of Zima at a bar and no one will make snide comments questioning his sexuality.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Dec 16, 2014

Seven-Eleven comes out with a creamy treat

Seven-Eleven has been selling Cold Stone Creamery's ice cream since 2012, but the two took their partnership a step further by collaborating on a new series of candies that were released last week. One of the new treats you can find at Seven-Eleven stores across the country are chocolates inspired by...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink

Dec 9, 2014

Christmas in Tokyo is pretty sweet

Just before the Halloween decorations were taken down and packed up, the signs advertising Christmas cakes went up. Bakeries, department stores and convenience stores all seem to have a corner for small cakes topped with whipped cream and tiny Santa Claus figurines. A traditional Japanese holiday feast...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Dec 9, 2014

Organic chocolate-covered fruit snacks from Biople are a great gift idea

Biople by CosmeKitchen (biople.jp) has locations in Ogikubo, Odawara and Machida, and is known for a line of organic cosmetics. In addition to selling beauty products, the company also imports a growing selection of organic food, including tasty freeze-dried fruit covered in chocolate from Landgarten...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Dec 2, 2014

Get the taste of Brazil right at Caipirinha Bar

Even if you don't care for the nightclubs, rowdy bars and other delights of the Roppongi scene, Caipirinha Bar is one of those rare places that doesn't give off that general "Roppongi" feel that leads some patrons to take their drinking elsewhere. The bar, with its dim lighting and relaxing Brazilian...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Dec 2, 2014

Pizza and chocolate are delicious, but not together

Pizza and chocolate are two delicious foods, but together they don't make for a tasty treat.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Nov 25, 2014

Little Pie Factory draws big crowds

The newly opened Little Pie Factory in Tokyo's Hiroo neighborhood (5-16-6 Minami-Azabu, Minato Ward) serves up tiny pies in all kinds of flavors from classic apple (¥380) to a savory turkey and mushroom (¥450). The turkey and mushroom variety is only available during the month of November. While the...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Nov 18, 2014

Step into another era at Cafe Streamline

Leaving the tranquil streets of Tokyo's Daikanyama district and entering Cafe Streamline is like going back in time. The bar contrasts the modern architecture outside with antiques and old kitchen appliances cluttering the interior and soft jazz music playing on a radio. Then again, the bar counter and...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Nov 18, 2014

Popcorn flavors take ever stranger turns

Frito-Lay Japan releases some pretty weird flavors in its Mike Popcorn line. Earlier this year it was Indian butter chicken curry, while others have included seaweed wasabi, ponzu (citrus soy sauce) and salad. Its latest creation is maple butter (¥105), which has a subtle sweetness and tastes almost...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Nov 11, 2014

Donuts and ice cream united at last at Krispy Kreme

Two of life's greatest comfort foods — donuts and ice cream — come together at Krispy Kreme stores across the country, where you can top your warm honey-glazed donut with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and extra toppings, adding more calories to an already overly decadent dessert.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Nov 4, 2014

'Super Sour' Pringles pack an added punch

Pringles is true to its word when it describes its newly released dill pickle-flavored chips (¥152), released last week in convenience stores throughout Japan, as "Super Sour." Eating one of these chips is like reaching into a jar and biting into a juicy pickle flavored with plenty of the delicate herb....

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Nov 4, 2014

Drunk Bat: Attune your sonar to this cozy craft-beer bar

Admittedly, the only reason craft-beer bar Drunk Bat in Mitaka caught my attention was because of its name. For English-speakers, it comes off as amusing; for Japanese speakers with only a few years of compulsory English education under their belt, it can be misheard as "Drug Bad," which leads to some...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Oct 28, 2014

Croissant-muffin hybrid prepares to tackle the Cronut

Dominique Ansel's famous Cronut has inspired endless imitations in Japan, including a croissant taiyaki sold at Gindaco stands across the country, as well as other bizarre hybrid pastries.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Oct 21, 2014

Cinnabon joins the popcorn bandwagon

While popcorn may be one of the hottest snack trends in Japan right now, it's still unexpected that Cinnabon, of all places, started selling its own gourmet version this month. The popcorn comes packaged in small (¥380) and medium (¥750) sizes and can be found at the chain's Roppongi branch (Roppongi...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Oct 14, 2014

Craft beer on tap couldn't be simpler

Opened last month, Pump is the newest addition to Tokyo's continuously expanding craft-beer scene. The interior is clean and simplistic with unadorned concrete walls, spotless counters and tables and a stainless-steel wall behind the bar counter.

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH

Oct 14, 2014

One Happy Turn snack deserves another (this time with ice cream)

While it is sad that the summer weather is more or less behind us, Meiji's latest product, Happy Turn Ice (¥130 plus tax) — an unlikely appropriation of its hugely popular Happy Turn rice crackers — is a good cause for cheer. Meiji mixes in the savory "Happy Powder" used to coat its...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH

Oct 7, 2014

The popcorn craze continues at Clap Your Hands

Continuing Japan's craze for popcorn (of all things!), Hiroshima-based popcorn maker Clap Your Hands has opened its first Tokyo branch in trendy shopping district Shimokitazawa, far from Omotesando, where people currently line up for hours at KuKuRuZa and Garrett. Prices range from ¥300 to ¥350...

Japan Times

LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO BAR ADVENTURE

Sep 30, 2014

Unleash your inner fetishist at Tokyo's Shag

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Things may look perfect to the outside world, but today's mom is fine with some imperfection at home.

How 'Reiwa moms' are reshaping motherhood in Japan

By Mai Yoshikawa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

Vol. 35: Travel in time — and stay there

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