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See photos of our party celebrating our Japanify All Day cookbook zine, including winners of our Japanify Golden Ticket contest!

Runoff Book Release Party with creator Tom Manning Get your book signed by Tom, enter a raffle drawing, and look through Tom’s original art and illustration tools!

Wow guys, THREE YEARS!!! Can you believe we have been open in Old Oakland for three whole years???!?!?! From bare walls to Skankynavian chic, Yoko and I are so proud and happy to have been able to share our passion...

I've made quite a few dishes using natto (fermented soy beans) in the past years -- from Natto Moffin to sweet Natto Sandwich. If you like natto, it's good with everything (almost), but if you hate natto, you...

We can not tell you how fun it has been at Umami Mart since we've started selling beers and sake. We are America's first Japanese beer shop! And you ain't seen nothin' yet, ya'll. Getting our license to sell alcohol was our...

Another summer, come and gone. Erm, another fall, come and gone. It's starting to get chilly here in the Bay Area so I thought I would bring back some summertime warmth and celebration and blog about our 2nd annual Umami Mart...

Guess what? It's our birthday! We're turning TWO years old (can you believe?!?!?!) and as we promised, we are making our Matsuri festival an annual tradition and throwing yet another big bash to celebrate our summertime birthday (holla to the Leos)....

We are so excited to finally announce a proper soiree for Erin Gleeson's new cookbook, The Forest Feast! The book was published in April and has been selling like hotcakes at our shops. It was far and wide the best seller for...

2013 whizzed past us didn't it?!?! As I look back on the year, I recall a rager, a long day of blood/sweat/tears, a triumphant expansion, then, another expansion. Cause hey, why the hell not? It's all a bit...

Last year we hosted a Hannukah party with Erin of The Forest Feast, and her husband Rabbi Jon, in our first year of business in Oakland. It was a peaceful evening, and the first time I ever lit a menorah! The...

Umami Mart is a place where ideas and people come together, take charge and create magic. This is true for the blog, the online shop, and our brick-and-mortar space in Oakland, CA. When writers, friends, friends of friends, customers, food + drink enthusiasts, and...

Conbini is a shortened word for "convenience" which is referred to when talking about convenience stores in Japan. Littered around on any street corner in most cities, conbinis are like a typical corner store, or bodega -- but from the future. They...

Photos by Josh Urich, The Joy of Drinking We did it! We signed a lease! After six months of free rent with Popuphood to see if we could "make it" in Old Oakland, we have proven to the world, and to...

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....

Photos by Erin Gleeson After weeks of painting, building, going to Home Depot five times a day (ugh), sleepless nights, banh mis for breakfast/lunch/dinner, pestering our friends and families (are you done with that project yet? Can you cut wood for...

Hello! Sorry I haven't been blogging much, but I wanted to update you on how the shop is coming along. Our big opening day will be next Friday 8/3! Waaaaa! We're slaving away here every day and have put everyone we know to work. Ha!...