Latest Posts
Japan Guide : Sabo KYO in Kyoto (京都府)
In the spring of 2024, during the cherry blossom season, a new tea room called “居雨/KYO” opened in Kyoto, a collaboration between the Tokyo-based craft gallery “AMAHARE” and the Fukuoka-based tea and sake house “Yorozu.”
Sabo KYO is located inside a traditional Kyoto machiya (townhouse) at the craft gallery “KYO AMAHARE.” After passing through the gallery entrance, you’ll find this tea room tucked away inside a former storehouse.
At the heart of the space, a large table with a wind furnace and walls made by a Japanese paper artist creates an atmosphere of stillness, with droplets of water gently falling from above, filling the room with an aura of “darkness” and “quiet.”
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Castella (カステラ)
Castella is a traditional Japanese sponge cake with origins in a Portuguese recipe. It was introduced to Japan in the 16th century by Portuguese missionaries and was adapted by the Japanese over time into its current form.
The ingredients are simple—primarily flour, sugar, eggs, and honey—yet the cake is characterized by its fluffy texture and moist sweetness.
Typically, it is baked in a rectangular mold, with a slightly firm crust on the outside and a moist, golden-yellow interior. Today, various regional versions exist across Japan, with Nagasaki being especially known as a prominent region for Castella production.
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Tokyo Guide : Nakamura Tokichi Cafe
Nakamura Tokichi (中村藤吉) is a long-established Japanese tea specialty store, founded in 1854. It is especially renowned for its production of matcha, with its matcha made from carefully selected tea leaves from regions like Uji in Kyoto.
The matcha is known for its rich flavor and deep green color. Nakamura Tokichi Café offers a modern twist on traditional matcha culture, making it popular not only with matcha lovers but also with those who enjoy café culture.
Some of the signature matcha desserts include matcha parfaits, matcha ice cream, matcha cheesecake, and matcha Mont Blancs. These desserts are characterized by a rich matcha flavor, with not only matcha powder but also matcha syrups and sauces that are carefully crafted.
The café also offers a wide variety of matcha drinks, such as matcha lattes, iced matcha drinks, and even original matcha-based beverages. The perfect balance of matcha’s bitterness and the sweetness of milk makes these drinks irresistible to matcha fans.
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Sara Udon (皿うどん)
Sara Udon (皿うどん) is a specialty dish from Nagasaki, Japan, featuring either crispy fried noodles or thick steamed noodles topped with a rich sauce full of various ingredients. There are two main types: one with thin, crispy noodles and another with thick, chewy noodles.
The dish includes ingredients such as pork, shrimp, squid, cabbage, bean sprouts, and wood ear mushrooms, combining the flavors of vegetables and seafood. The sauce, made with chicken broth, soy sauce, and oyster sauce, is thick and flavorful, bringing out a rich, savory taste.
The thin noodle version has a crispy texture, and when topped with the hot sauce, the noodles retain a delightful crunch that contrasts perfectly with the thick sauce. The thick noodle version, on the other hand, uses steamed noodles, giving it a soft, chewy texture and a heartier feel.
Sara Udon is enjoyed in Nagasaki’s Chinatown, as well as in Chinese restaurants and households across Japan. With its diverse textures and flavors, this dish is widely loved.
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Hello from Tokyo (November 2024)
November has arrived! Typically, this would be the time when people wear jackets even during the day, but although it’s cold in the mornings and evenings, the days have remained warm enough to get by with just long sleeves. How’s the weather in your area?
Looking back a bit, October was unusually eventful. In the first half of the month, I got sick for the first time in a while, which left me with a husky voice. Later in the month, my daughter and I both celebrated our birthdays, so we enjoyed quite a bit of cake! A few days afterward, we took part in a Halloween parade organized by my son’s elementary school and the Arakawa Ward.
And last but not least, I had a major change in my life—I’ve become the CEO! Over the past few years, I had been carefully considering the timing to incorporate my business as the cooking class industry has gradually recovered post-COVID.
I plan to post more about the new company at a later date.
Let’s all stay healthy and enjoy November!
YUCa
Tokyo Guide : The Sumida Hokusai Museum
Do you know a Japanese famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai? Even if you do not know his name, you may have seen this ”The Great Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa”, one of his masterpieces.
This is one of his representative works and is particularly famous among ukiyo-e (浮世絵). The piece depicts the fierce waves swallowing boats, characterized by its powerful movement and vibrant colors. Hokusai boldly expresses the power of nature, highlighting the smallness of humanity.
Recently, it was decided that “The Great Wave” will be featured on the reverse side of the new 1,000 yen banknote in Japan. This reflects the recognition of Hokusai’s work as a symbol of Japanese culture worldwide. This choice signifies the universal appeal of Hokusai’s art and its importance in conveying the tradition of Japanese fine arts to future generations.
The influence of “The Great Wave” extends beyond just being an art piece; it can also be seen in contemporary design, fashion, and advertising. In this way, Hokusai’s works continue to inspire people across time.
Since this LEGO product were recently released, we decided to display it inside the YJC classroom. Furthermore, we are happy to add a Japanese-style interior
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YJC Hand towels
The hand towels for my cooking class are finally ready. Until now, we had been using store-bought towels, but I wanted something with a unified look, so I decided to create my own this time. The colors are pink, brown, yellow, and blue. Each towel has a ‘YUCa’s Japanese Cooking’ logo in the corner. They turned out really cute, and I’m very satisfied with them. Please feel free to pick your favorite color when you visit the class. What color do you like?
Tokyo Guide : Menya Hachitoku
Togoshi Ginza (戸越銀座) is a lively shopping street located in Shinagawa, Tokyo, exuding a charming Showa-era atmosphere. In this vibrant area, the ramen shop Menya Hachitoku (麺屋八徳) stands out with its emphasis on high-quality ingredients and soy sauce-based broth.
They offer a variety of options, including the classic Chuka Soba, niboshi soba, shoyu tsukesoba, and rich tonkotsu or light chicken broth ramen, with plenty of toppings to choose from!
My daughter and I ordered the backfat shoyu soba, a bowl of white rice, and a plate of gyoza. We had the option to choose the amount of backfat, and we selected “normal.” Even then, it provided plenty of richness that paired wonderfully with the homemade, chewy noodles.
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YJC Globe
Time for Repairs! Mr.YJC (@msstgm) recently updated the YJC globe for the first time in a while. Our goal is to update it every six months, but we’re content if we can manage it once a year without overburdening ourselves. We spray the pre-made pins in YJC’s signature magenta color, let them dry for a while, and then attach them to the globe. In recent years, we’ve been fortunate to have more visitors from rare countries. It seems like Mr.YJC’s work will increase, but I secretly look forward to the day when the entire globe is covered in magenta.
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Tokyo Guide : Ippodo Tea Salon
Ippodo Tea Co. is a well-known and long-established Japanese tea company, founded in 1717 in Kyoto. For over three centuries, they have been dedicated to producing high-quality tea, specializing in fine Japanese green teas like matcha, gyokuro, sencha, and bancha. Ippodo is particularly celebrated for its meticulous tea selection and blending processes, ensuring that their teas maintain consistent taste and quality over time.
The company’s philosophy emphasizes the connection between tea and everyday life, promoting tea as a means of relaxation and mindfulness. Ippodo has a flagship store in Kyoto, along with tea shops in other major cities like Tokyo and New York. They also provide workshops and detailed guidance for brewing the perfect cup, helping tea lovers around the world appreciate the depth of Japanese tea culture.
In addition to their retail and online presence, Ippodo Tea Co. has gained international recognition for its traditional and authentic approach to tea, catering to both connoisseurs and beginners alike.
At the back of Ippodo’s Kyoto flagship store, there is a dine-in space where you can enjoy tea. Take your time to relax and savor the calm atmosphere of the main store, as well as the peaceful moments that flow there!
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