Japan Eats!

This week on Japan Eats, Akiko is joined by Heidi Nestler, a fermentation teacher and co-owner of Wanpaku Foods, a Portland-based maker of traditional Japanese natto. In Japanese “wanpaku” is used endearingly to describe a naughty or mischievous child. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On today's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko is joined by Katsura Sunshine, a traditional Japanese Storyteller. On September 1st , 2008, Sunshine was accepted as an apprentice to the great Rakugo Storytelling Master, Katsura Bunshi VI, and subsequently received the name Katsura Sunshine. Sunshine received his professional debut in Singapore the following year, and completed his three-year Rakugo apprenticeship in November, 2012. Sunshine divides his time between London and Tokyo. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

This week on Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in studio by Naoki Takahashi of Naoki NYC. Tucked away in a hidden space in Chelsea, Naoki serves seasonal multi-course Japanese cuisines in a Zen-like interior. The recently launched kaiseki-style restaurant is part of Create Restaurants Holdings, which operates over 800 restaurants in Japan and around Asia. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in studio by Tim Sullivan, Brand Ambassador for the Hakkaisan Sake Brewery. Tim was the first person ever to receive a Cultural Activities Visa to study sake making in Japan! He founded UrbanSake.com, America’s longest-running sake website, and was awarded the title of “Sake Samurai” by the Japan Sake Brewer’s Association in recognition of his work promoting sake outside of Japan. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast.

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, author and Japanese cuisine specialist Elizabeth Andoh is back in studio to chat with host Akiko about Japanese tableware. Looks aren't the only important thing in Japanese utensils; plates, bowls, and chopsticks must be functional, adequate for the type of food and season of the year, and above all feel good in the hands and mouth. Here are the links to the seasonal recipes for the fall that Elizabeth mentioned during the show: Sanma Dobin Mushi Enjoy!!! Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Mayumi Uejima-Carr of the Table for Two USA organization, a nonprofit that simultaneously addresses the opposing issues of malnutrition/hunger in developing countries and overconsumption/obesity in the developed world. The concept is to take excess calories from places like the U.S. and transfer them to countries in need. World Food Day 2017 “Change the World with Onigiri” #OnigiriAction 1 Onigiri photo post brings 5 school meals to children in need! TABLE FOR TWO is holding a World Food Day 2017 campaign from Oct 5th to Nov 15th. As an NPO with roots in Japan, the campaign promotes healthy Japanese food and aims to provide 1 million meals to children in need around the world. As a part of the campaign, it will feature the popular Japanese food “Onigiri” (rice ball). For each Onigiri photo post on the campaign website or your social media with #OnigiriAction, our partner organizations will donate 5 school meals to children in need. It’s free to parti

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by Shinji Fukuyo, Whisky expert and chief blender of Suntory. Shinji Fukuyo joined Suntory in 1984 and eventually transferred to the whisky blending department in 1992. He quickly rose through the ranks and after four years studying at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh he moved to work in the Morrison Bowmore team in 1999, creating whiskies for Bowmore, Glen Garioch and Auchentoshan. In 2006 Shinji returned to Japan as the director of the whiskey blending department and in 2009 became chief blender for the whole of Suntory, only the fourth person to have held the prestigious position. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Fujiko Aoki, chef and owner at Mochin Rin. A dessert specialist, Fujiko created a new type of mochi that doesn’t quite exist in Japan by infusing New York’s locally-sourced ingredients into Japan’s popular traditional dessert. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by chefs Nick Kim & Jimmy Lau of Shuko, where the duo offers daily tasting menus based on traditional Japanese flavors and techniques from the kitchen and sushi bar. Chefs Kim and Lau build their menu based on seasonality and freshness, sourcing ingredients locally and internationally. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On the season premiere of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Chris Bonomo, a passionate home cook who especially loves Japanese food. He is the co-founder of The Japanese Pantry, an organization dedicated to bringing the best quality artisanal Japanese ingredients to professional and recreational cooks in North America. If you are interested in artisanal Japanese ingredients, go to www.TheJapanesePantry.com and here’s a 15% discount code for Japan Eats listeners: JAPANEATS15 The coupon is good from September 1 until December 31, 2017. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

On the season finale of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Megumi Sasaki, a film director and producer who was born and raised in Japan, and has lived in New York City since 1988. Her latest project is the documentary A Whale of a Tale, a deep dive into how the sleepy fishing town of Taiji in southern Japan became a battleground between local whalers and international activists, following the release of a previous documentary about whale and dolphin hunting. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Jessica Joly, a sake sommelier who became the very first Miss SAKE USA in 2016. Miss SAKE USA is a beauty pageant organized by the Miss SAKE Association in Japan to select a Sake Ambassador responsible for the representation and promotion of Japanese Sake in the United States. 2016 was the inaugural year of this pageant being held outside of Japan. Japan Eats is powered by Simplecast.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Idan Elkon, co-owner of Ichimura, a ten seat sushi bar serving an omakase dining experience. Tune in to hear them discuss why fresh fish is not always better, particularly for sushi.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Atsuko Quirk, a documentary filmmaker and environmental activist. Her recent short documentary, School Lunch in Japan, has over 9 million views on YouTube, and been widely inspirational, showing the importance of "quality of the mealtime" to many in the public school community. Here are links to Atsuko's impressive films: “School Lunch in Japan “It’s Not Just About Eating!”　　 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL5mKE4e4uU You can watch how successfully the Japanese school lunch system is applied to NYC here: http://www.cafeteriaculture.org/ “Kids in Tokyo & NYC Share a Message About Marine Litter” https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ta70uqmiKDc?start=343 Other inspiring films by Atsuko Quirk https://vimeo.com/user6716675/videos

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko is joined in studio by Jimmy Matsushima of E.A.K. Ramen. Jimmy talks about his background as a second-generation Japanese-American entrepreneur and his experience adapting Japanese cuisine to the taste of American guests.

On this week's episode, Akiko Katayama discusses Japanese food, vegetarianism, and much more with Guy Vaknin, Owner and Executive Chef of Beyond Sushi, which has four locations in Manhattan. Sushi has become a part of the American diet, and Guy created a unique concept based on traditional Japanese sushi, and expanded the category. Hear about his background, interest in vegan cooking, and more on this wide-ranging conversation.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Craig Koketsu, a third generation Japanese-American and chef-partner of Fourth Wall Restaurants in New York City. The group is comprised of established restaurants including the flagship Smith & Wollensky location, Maloney & Porcelli, Quality Meats and Quality Italian. Tune in to hear how the traditions of his heritage, as well as those of the chefs who mentored him, made Koketsu the chef that he is today.

On an all new episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Nils Norén of Asil Limited, a consulting company for the hospitality industry. Norén is also the former Vice President of Culinary and Pastry Arts at The French Culinary Institute, the former Director of Operations for Marcus Samuelson's MSG Group, and the former Executive Chef of Aquavit. Tune in to hear them discuss the value of incorporating Japanese ingredients and techniques into all forms of cooking.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Masahiro Takeda of Wine of Japan, the leading national importer and distributor of Japanese alcoholic beverages for the last 40 years. He oversees a comprehensive portfolio of 250 brands of Japanese beer, sake, and shochu, distributed in over 32 states. Here are links to the three fascinating breweries discussed in this episode: Niida Honke (Their brand name on the label is Kinpou Shuzo) https://www.kinpou.co.jp/ Shimazaki Shuzo (Azuma Rikishi) http://azumarikishi.co.jp　　 Hayashi Honten (Eiichi/ Hyakujurou) http://www.eiichi.co.jp/en/

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Tomoko Honda of Ippodo Tea in Midtown Manhattan, the first street-front location of the shop outside Japan. The original location, located in the heart of Kyoto, has been providing the highest quality Japanese green tea for nearly three centuries.