Golden "age-fukuburo," a culinary take on Japan's new year "lucky bags," can be served on their own.
Good fortune, wrapped in fried tofu
Inspired by Japan’s lucky bags, these tofu pouches hold savory treasures that simmer into a small taste of good fortune.
Yoko Nakazawa's debut cookbook, “The Japanese Art of Pickling and Fermenting: Preserving Vegetables and Family Traditions," offers 125 recipes, from fuss-free sweet vinegar pickles to more challenging dishes such as rice bran pickles (above).
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 11, 2025
Brine and dine: A guide to pickling your Japanese vegetables
Yoko Nakazawa’s debut cookbook offers a deep dive into preserving your greens — a method that has formed the bedrock of her family’s culinary traditions.
Industry professionals gathered in Kyoto to discuss sake at the Sake Samurai Summit.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 11, 2025
Industry experts weigh sake’s global future at Kyoto summit
Participants at the Sake Samurai Summit in Kyoto discussed how global enthusiasm and domestic headwinds are reshaping Japan’s sake trade.
The Onodera Food Service group, which manages Sushi Ginza Onodera and "kaiseki" specialist Nadaman, has merged a sushi "omakase" (chef's choice) into a kaiseki to create a new dining experience.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 7, 2025
At Nadaman, a traditional Japanese multicourse meal gets a new format
The Onodera group has taken a bold step in merging two of its dining concepts — sushi and “kaiseki” haute cuisine.
All Nippon Airways' gourmet program, The Connoisseurs, showcases the Japanese concept of "shun" (peak season for ingredients), giving passengers a preview of the refined cuisine that awaits them in Japan.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 2, 2025
How airlines are refining their in-flight food in Japan's tourism boom
With chef collaborations, exclusive pours and vegan choices, the region’s top carriers are taking their meals for premium class passengers to new heights.
The Japanese version of "mābō dōfu," a tofu and pork stew, is less spicy than the original Sichuan dish.
A Sichuan-inspired classic gets an umami boost
Toss in some shiitake mushrooms into your "mābō dōfu," a spicy stew of tofu and pork, for a savory boost.
Great Wines World features more than 260 top-rated wines curated by influential American wine critic James Suckling.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Oct 31, 2025
Renowned wine critic James Suckling brings Great Wines World back to Tokyo
The event showcases more than 260 top-rated bottles from 150 producers, with a focus on Bordeaux.

Longform

Juzo Itami’s “Tampopo” was released Nov. 23, 1985, and though it wasn’t a hit at the time, it has gained a cult following in the years since.
Eat, slurp, love: 'Tampopo' turns 40