Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma is the anime adaptation of the popular manga written by Yūto Tsukuda and serialized in Shonen Jump. It tells the story of Soma Yukihira, a budding chef who joins the elite Totsuki Saryo culinary school hoping to hone his skills enough to surpass his father and become a full-time chef...

The word Taiyaki (鯛焼き) is a combination of tai and yaki. Tai refers to a type of fish, most commonly known as a sea bream, that often represents good fortune in Japanese culture. This is because the sound “tai” is also in the Japanese word “medetai,” which translates as joyous or auspicious. Yaki simply means...

Source When it comes to Japanese cuisine, ramen is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most iconic dishes. From huge varieties of instant ramen to dedicated shops, these noodles are a classic staple. However, despite its traditional Japanese image, ramen originated in China, and is believed to have reached Japan sometime in the late 1800s.  The original...

Craving a coffee? If you’re anything like billions of others around the world – chances are you’ve already had a cup or two before reading this headline.  Coffee is one of the most widely consumed drinks on the planet. With an uncanny ability to find its way into nearly every major culture around the world,...

Starbucks has really blown up in Japan since its first store arrived in Tokyo’s boogie shopping district, Ginza, all the way back in 1996. Since then, well over 1,000 other Starbucks stores have popped up all over the country – allowing Starbucks’ Japan branch to embrace its own unique identity and following. In fact, Japan...

Source As this year’s extended rainy season has given way to the hot and balmy vibes of August in Tokyo, there’s still a lot of “new normals” that we have to adjust to. The sprawling, bustling summer matsuri festivals we look forward to every year may not be panning out the way we all hoped....