Umami Mart Registry
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Spotlight on Shiga Regional Foods

I have lived in Tokyo in the past for about 10 years of my life, but I admit my knowledge of Japanese geography is really limited. Limited not only to Tokyo proper, but more specifically to Western Tokyo, where pretty much everyone...

Furochan Eats

Postcard from Kyoto: Mentaiko Omelette

The way 'omelette’ is rendered in Japanese is omeretsu, which to my mind sounds like an underage girl should pop out of nowhere squeaking, OMURETSU-GO! But mentaiko omelette in general is worth high-octane levels of enthusiasm. When done right they are beautiful - and if...

Conbini Cabaret

Conbini Cabaret: Summer 2017

Remember this post about Limited Edition Conbini Candy? I’m happy to report that several years on, Japan is just as obsessed with Limited Edition Candy as it was before. Here’s a summer 2017 snippet of some seasonal sweets on Japan’s conbini shelves - some super,...

Code Name Mixology Laboratory (Tokyo)

Mr. Shuzo Nagumo is a mad scientist behind the bar. With a twinkle in his eye and a firm stance when shaking, he has started a cocktail revolution in Tokyo that is a great departure from the cocktail bars we've become used to in Japan. That is:...

Yona Yona Beer Works in Tokyo

Yoko and I were so excited to find that one of Yoho Brewery's tap rooms in Tokyo was right in our hotel! We waited until our very last night in the city to go in for a beer, and looking back, I wish we wouldn't...

Yakitori Bunraku in Tokyo

A good friend of mine is in Tokyo right now and he wanted a shortlist of places to eat. As a tourist, you usually do want to be armed with a list from someone you know of where to dine while traveling. You don't want...

Bar Owl in Niigata City

When we mentioned to Mr. Akio Watanabe, owner of Bar EST! in Tokyo that we were heading to Niigata, he recommended that we visit Bar Owl. It was one of those things that we told him we would do but Yoko and I didn't actually...

Todai Utensil Factory

I'd like to start with a little background on the small town of Tsubame-Sanjo. This manufacturing town in Niigata Prefecture produces most of Japan's stainless steel items. If you are enjoying a little cake with a tiny fork in Tokyo or stirring a cocktail...