Official Author

新井 美紀（Miki Arai）

It Just Gets Bigger and Bigger as It Cooks! "Basho Senbei," a Specialty of Osaka! This video shows a demonstration of baking basho senbei at a festival stall. Basho means "banana" and basho senbei (rice crackers) are named after the shape of a banana leaf. It's pretty uncommon to find even in Japan, but it's an Osaka specialty, and you can buy it online as well. In the video, you can see the rice cakes that start out the size of the palm of your hand getting bigger and bigger as they're cooked. Be sure to check it out!

Teppan-jinja - A Teppanyaki Izakaya With a Shrine Theme This video shows what Teppan-jinja Soemoncho, a restaurant in Osaka City, is like. Teppan-jinja Soemoncho is a relatively new restaurant that opened in December 2016. A torii gate you'd find at a shrine is attached to the exterior, and as the restaurant's name suggests, the concept is based on a shrine. *"Jinja" means shrine in Japanese. The dishes are grilled skewers of vegetables and meat cooked on a teppan (griddle), and they are made with olive oil for a refreshing taste. They're open until late at night, so if you're ever in Osaka looking for a late night snack, give it a try. ◆Teppan-jinja Soemoncho Store Information◆ 【Address】2 Chome-3-14 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085 【Access】A 3-minute walk from Namba Station on the Subway Midosuji Line / A 3 minute walk from Namba Station on the Subway Sennichimae Line / A 3-minute walk from Osaka Namba Station on the Kintetsu Namba Line / A 5-minute walk from Namba Station on the Nankai Main Line / A 5-minute walk from Namba Station on the Nankai Koya Line / A 5-minute walk from Nihonbashi Station 【Avg. Cost】1 skewer ¥250+, ¥3,000 avg. 【Hours】17:00-05:00 (the following day) ※17:00-03:00 on Mondays 【Closures】None 【Parking】None 【Phone】06-6213-7011 【TripAdvisor】Teppan-jinja Soemoncho https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g14127623-d9675545-Reviews-Teppan_Jinja-Chuo_Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html

Hashimaki, a Standard Food at Festivals in Japan's Chugoku and Kyushu Regions This video shows hashimaki being made at a festival stall. Hashimaki is a standard dish at festivals in the Chugoku and Kyushu regions, in which thinly cooked okonomiyaki is wrapped around chopsticks. Since it's wrapped around chopsticks it's easier to eat than normal okonomiyaki. It's not very famous in the regions east of Osaka unfortunately. There is a theory that this is because people in Osaka prefer okonomiyaki to hashimaki. If you find a hashimaki stall at a festival or other event, be sure to try it!

Fluffy Dashi-Maki Tamago Topped With Kabayaki Eel! This video shows the shops lining Osaka's Kuromon Market. The video shows fluffy dashi-maki tamago being cooked at a one of the shops. In Japanese cuisine, there is a dish called "umaki," which is a dashi-maki tamago (rolled Japanese-style omelette) with kabayaki eel at the center, but this restaurant sells eel on top of the egg instead. Known as "Osaka's Kitchen," Kuromon Market is where you can get a variety of foodstuffs, including seafood, fruit, and processed foods. As you can see in the video, eating around is one of the best parts of the market. Consider stopping by if you're in Osaka! 【Official Homepage】Kuromon Market https://kuromon.com/en/ 【Tripadvisor】Kuromon Market (黒門市場) https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g14134994-d1896861-Reviews-Kuromon_Market-Nippombashi_Chuo_Osaka_Osaka_Prefecture_Kinki.html

Garyubai - The Famous Sake From Sanwa Shuzo That Has Been Brewed for 300 Years in Shimizu, Shizuoka This video is a promotional video for the sake "Garyubai" by Sanwa Shuzo (Sanwa Sake Brewery), founded in 1686. The video explains the attention to detail of the artisans involved in making Garyubai and the process of making Japanese sake. The ingredients and yeast are carefully selected for Garyubai. In the video, the famous sake was tried by someone who had never been a fan of sake, but found it delicious. Definitely try it if you get the chance! 【Official Homepage】Garyubai http://www.garyubai.com/

The History of Taruzake with the Flavor of Yoshino Cedar This video explains the history of Kiku-Masamune's "Taruzake" (sake that has been kept in a wooden cask) and the process of barrel making. During the Edo period (1603-1867), when sake was first introduced to Japan, it was stored in barrels and transported to Edo (Tokyo) on boats called "taru-kaisen" (cargo vessels that carried sake). "Nada no sake," which was carried from above and became popular as "Kudarizake," naturally developed a cedar aroma while being stored in the barrels. The video explains the barrel-making process in detail. Kiku-Masamune's "Taruzake" is made by pouring dry sake into a cask made of Yoshino cedar from Nara Prefecture, one of Japan's leading cedar-producing regions. Be sure to give it a whiff and a sip if you get the chance! 【Official Homepage】Kiku-Masamune (菊正宗) https://www.kikumasamune.com/

The Approach to Sake Brewing at Tokyo Port Brewery, a Free and Challenging Brewery in Tokyo's Minato Ward This video is a short documentary by Yoshimi Terasawa, who, in 2011, revived a brewery that had gone out of business in 1911. It has attracted attention for its free and challenging sake brewing, taking advantage of a once-lost tradition. Edo Kaijo is a sake made in Tokyo's Minato Ward. Be sure to give it a try. 【Official Homepage】Tokyo Port Brewery http://tokyoportbrewery.wkmty.com/

Satoshi Kitayama, Former Sumo Wrestler and the Owner of Kotogaume, Talks About Chanko Nabe! Chanko nabe is a dish that sumo wrestlers eat on a daily basis to bulk up. In this video, former sumo wrestler Satoshi Kitayama introduces his restaurant, Kotogaume. In the video, he introduces what chanko nabe is and talks about sumo and why he opened the restaurant. Be sure to check it out! ◆Kotogaume Store Information◆ 【Address】3-4-4 Kinshi, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0013 【Access】A 1-minute walk from the north exit of Kinshicho Station on the JR Sobu Line 【Avg. Cost】¥4,000+ 【Hours】17:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:00) 【Closures】Sundays・Holidays 【Parking】None 【Phone】03-3624-7887 【Official Homepage】Sumo Cuisine "Kotogaume," a Chanko Nabe and Tuna Restaurant http://www13.plala.or.jp/kotogaume/ 【Tabelog】Kotogaume (琴ヶ梅) https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1312/A131201/13002961/

"Setagaya" - the Ramen Shop Dominating the Setagaya City Ramen Battlegrounds of Kannana! In this video series by "ramenwalker" they introduce ramen shops from around Japan. In this episode, Karin Ito from Nogizaka 46 is the guest, and she helps introduce Setagaya's Setagaya branch which has claimed the ramen battleground of Kannana. At Setagaya, the fragrant, curly noodles are made with a luxurious blend of domestic wheat in a rich, thick seafood soup. Setagaya has been leading in the fiercely competitive district of Kannana for 15 years. Setagaya Ramen is a perfect blend of niboshi (dried sardines), seafood flavors, and animal flavors, such as pork bones and chicken bones, and in the video they talk in detail about their commitment to excellence. ◆Setagaya Store Information◆ 【Address】2-1-2 Nozawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 【Access】A 15-20 minute walk from Komazawa Daigaku Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line / A Less than 1 minute walk from the Shibuya Station Tokyu Bus, Nozawa Ryuunji, Ryunn-ji 【Avg. Cost】¥1,030+ 【Hours】18:00-3:00 the following day 【Closures】Wednesdays 【Parking】There are two parking spots near the store. 【Phone】03-3418-6938 【Official Homepage】Setaga-ya https://english.setaga-ya.com/ 【Tabelog】せたが屋 https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1317/A131707/13001417/

The Popular Ramen Shop, Hakata Ippudo This is the 100th episode in a series of videos by "ramenwalker," introducing ramen shops. In this commemorative 100th episode, they introduce the iconic Hakata Ippudo in Ginza, a charismatic ramen shop that continues to deliver delicious ramen to the world. Hakata Ippudo is a global brand of ramen that originated in Fukuoka and is one of the leading Hakata ramen restaurants. The restaurant is now expanding to other countries and has received high praise from many people. At the Ginza branch introduced in the video, the walls of the restaurant are decorated with ramen noodles and sprouts, creating an interesting and innovative design. The three reporters ordered the classic Shiromaru Moto Aji, and all three chose different degrees of hardness for their noodles. Be sure to check out the video to see the true essence of Ippudo, including their ratings and Ippudo's attention to detail. ◆Hakata Ippudo Ginze Branch Store Information◆ 【Address】4-10-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0061 【Access】A 2-minute walk from Exit A7 of Higashi-Ginza Station off the Toei Asakusa Line 【Avg. Cost】¥750+ 【Hours】Mon-Thurs 11:00-2:00 the following day｜Fir/Sat・The day before holidays 11:00-3:00 the following day｜Holidays 11:00-1:00 the following day 【Closures】None 【Parking】None 【Phone】03-3547-1010 【Official Homepage】Hakata Ippudo Ginza Branch - 【Ippudo】| Ramen "IPPUDO" https://stores.ippudo.com/1012 【Yelp】Ippudo Ginza Branch (一風堂 銀座店) https://www.yelp.com/biz/%E4%B8%80%E9%A2%A8%E5%A0%82-%E9%8A%80%E5%BA%A7%E5%BA%97-%E4%B8%AD%E5%A4%AE%E5%8C%BA-4?osq=hakata+ippudo