We learned, we drank and we ate all things ume during our Umeshu Class last Sunday. During the two-hour session, we learned about the history of ume and umeshu, how to make it and ate an array of dishes that highlighted ume. Along side sips of umeshu, of course.

Ume, or Japanese plum, originated from China and is genetically closest to the apricot.

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On a lovely spring day, we hosted an event focused on seed season and gardening. One of our most popular items at Umami Mart are the Asian vegetable and fruit seeds by the Kitazawa Seed Company — so we knew that many people in our community would be interested in a gardening event. The talk was led by Kristyn Leach, a friend of mine who manages Namu Farm in Sunol, CA, a farm dedicated to providing produce exclusively for the popular Namu Gaji restaurant in San Francisco.

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Come out for the 2nd edition of the Ippo Ramen pop-up here at Umami Mart. Last month, the ramen sold out in record time — 56 bowls in 56 minutes. You know what that means… get here EARLY if you want a bowl. Seriously. Steve will be serving his signature ramen with shoyu, miso and shio broths with all the accouterments: soft-boiled egg, negi (green onions), chashu (roasted pork) and nori (seaweed).

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How often do you see babies on the front page of Umami Mart??? Well, it was bound to happen at some point. Look at her, she’s adorbz!

It is quite rare for either Yoko or myself to show our true girly colors, but we could not resist the urge to celebrate WOMEN at our first ever Hinamatsuri party, a holiday just for girls in Japan.

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We are SUPER EXCITED to host a pop-up by Ippo Ramen this First Friday 4/5. Proprietor Steve Yee will be here starting at 6pm, ready to cook up some noodles to serve you his ramen. His simple menu consists of three choices: shoyu, miso and shio (salt) broths. He makes everything except the noodles by hand, and spent over a year perfecting his broths and a long while on the egg and chashu.

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Two years after the Tohoku disaster in 2011, memories have faded and conversations about the incident, and what we can learn from it, are rapidly disappearing from the media. As time widens the gap between March 11, 2011 and the present, I wonder how I can stay connected to the issues that arose from the disaster — but often I am left feeling very helpless.

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In August, Tomo gifted us a daruma to celebrate the opening of Umami Mart. It is tradition to draw in one eyeball when you receive it while making a wish, then fill in the other when the wish comes true. Our wish was to sign a lease in six months.

And we did it! We signed a lease! WOOOOOO-HOOOOO!!! Who knew that Oakland was starved for a shop that specialized in Japanese kitchen and barware???

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We had a fun, bustling opening last month for our friend Aya Brackett‘s photography show opening. Titled Home is Oakland, Home is Japan, 12 of Aya’s photos are on exhibit on the back walls and nook of Umami Mart. Professionally, Aya’s food photography has been published in The New York Times, Monocle and Bon Appetit – for this show, Aya has chosen select pieces that reflect domestic moments in California and Japan. 

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Yoko and I are showing our true, girly colors by celebrating Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Day) at Umami Mart! We had to do it — Yoko’s mom spent over a decade making a traditional ohinasama (ornamental doll) display with five tiers (!) that we felt we absolutely must showcase. Girl’s Day in Japan lands on March 3 every year, and is a day to reflect and celebrate a woman’s happiness.

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With winter roots and wild mushrooms in abundance, January was a perfect time to invite Kelly Geary to Umami Mart for a Quick-Pickling and Canning event. Author of a the book Tart and Sweet: 101 Canning and Pickling Recipes for the Modern Kitchen, Kelly was visiting California from Brooklyn to showcase her Sweet Deliverance jams, winner of the Good Food award.

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