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Japan’s dueling ‘katsu’ curry creators are just happy to see the dish thrive
If you know anything about Japanese food, you’re probably familiar with katsu curry. The dish has been particularly popular in the UK in recent years! I visited one of the three places that claims the title as its originator, and compared it with a newer shop in the area in my latest piece for The…
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Masako Minaguchi: ‘Gelato is full of possibilities’
After working at a construction company that dealt with long-term projects, Masako Minaguchi, 55, realized she wanted to focus on the joy of the here and now. Last June, she opened Gelato MinNa, a gelato shop near Mejiro Station that serves seasonally changing flavors alongside creative alcoholic concoctions. Read my Japan Times interview with the…
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Interview with Polina Oba: ‘Try quick, fail quick, learn quick’
Polina Oba, 28, found her soon-to-be business partners while doing her masters in Tokyo. It wasn’t long before they asked her to join as co-founder and COO of GourmetPro, which is now an international network of food and beverage professionals. See my Japan Times interview with her here:https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2024/08/12/our-lives/gourmetpro-japanese-startup-food/
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How Tokyo’s ‘deconstructed ramen’ became a national favorite
Just like ramen, tsukemen broth and flavorings can vary greatly from place to place, but what they tend to have in common are cold noodles served with a hot broth and a variety of toppings. It’s a bit like a deconstructed ramen. And I had no idea, until I delved deeper, that tsukemen was invented…
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Hidden Heroines with Marissa Moss
Popular author and illustrator, Marissa Moss, was recently in Japan for a number of events, including a talk at the Tokyo American Club. I had the opportunity to interview her for the club’s magazine, InTouch. She was a pleasure to talk to, and it was very interesting to learn about her inspiration and what led…
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Amelia Hiorns Talks Bears
In the summer resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, you’ll find Amelia Hiorns, 28, looking after the local bears at the Picchio Wildlife Research Center. She’s a fascinating woman and a good friend of mine, and it was very insightful to interview her about the role, and hear her thoughts on everything going on in…
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How ‘winged’ gyōza took flight from a Tokyo suburb
I had mistakenly assumed that hanetsuki gyoza (winged dumplings) were an old traditional dish, but I was surprised to find that they were created only a few decades ago. What’s more, the original creator himself is still alive and cooking. See my article about hanetsuki gyoza and a cheesy evolution with The Japan Times here:…
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Defining Elegance with Yumi Katsura
Yumi Katsura’s fascination with dresses started at a young age, and sparked a lifelong passion for creating designs that are at the forefront of elegance. Now 93, Katsura reflects on her experiences in the fashion industry, and shares advice on finding the right path to success. I interviewed the iconic wedding dress designer for InTouch…
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Mogufull: Products, experiences and donating to a good cause
Furusato Nozei can seem confusing, especially if you don’t have a furusato (home town) in Japan. But the process of contributing some of your tax money to a certain region of Japan is open to anyone living in the country, and Mogufull hopes to make that process easier. Learn how they are doing so with…
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SIZUKU: Music beyond language barriers
SIZUKU is one of the latest Japanese artists to show us all that music surpasses borders and language barriers. See my interview with her and her producer here: https://metropolisjapan.com/sizuku
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Cassandra Lord - Japan Content Creator 