Japan Eats!

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, foll...

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...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

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...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

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 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 heritag...

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 va...

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 ep...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art1...

On this week's episode of  Japan Eats , host Akiko is joined in studio by Japanese cuisine specialist Elizabeth Andoh. Elizabeth talks about the fascinating world of preserved vegetables. A graduate of the Yanagihara School of Classical Japanese Cuisine, Andoh has written three books on Japanese cooking: An American Taste of Japan, At Home with Japanese Cooking, and the IACP-award winning An Oce...

On the season premiere of Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Chef Tadashi Ono Tadashi Ono was born and raised in Tokyo, where he first began chef training, at age sixteen. Inspired by the mentorship of celebrated Japanese chef, ceramicist, and author, Rosanjin, Ono decided to further pursue his culinary career. He moved to Los Angeles in the eighties, cooking at the innova...

On the season finale of  Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Ryuta Kawano of Zen Noh , a passionate advocate of wagyu who has worked with the beef industry for over two decades. Tune in to hear how Japanese wagyu became the world’s best beef. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

On this week's episode of Japan Eats , sake specialist Monica Samuels joins Akiko in studio for a conversation about Monica's American-Japanese background and her career as a sake sommelier, including Monica's takes on sake's production, distribution, and food pairings. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

On this week's episode of Japan Eats , Akiko is joined in studio by James Freeman, founder and CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. James talks about his pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee and reveals his three favorite Kissaten in Tokyo: Cafe Bach, Café de L'Ambre, and Chatei Hatou. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my...

This week on Japan Eat s, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Maiko Kyogoku, owner of Bessou, a restaurant in Noho featuring modern takes on Japanese comfort food. Bessou was conceived from Maiko's desire to share her family’s food traditions. The ingredients are responsibly sourced and prepared with care, with a menu that is seasonal and changing year-round. See Privacy Policy at https...

This week on  Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined by Keizo Seki, owner and founder of Sushi Zo. Keizo Seki was born in Osaka, Japan. His lifelong desire to become a sushi chef, led him to Tokyo, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge of sushi. In 1991, he moved to Los Angeles, where he learned the business of the restaurant industry and honed his sushi skills. His dream to open...

On this week's episode of Japan Eats , host Akiko is joined in studio by restaurant industry legend Barry Wine, former chef and owner of The Quilted Giraffe Restaurant, one of the most important restaurants in NYC's history. Tune in and listen to Barry share a few of his many stories of years working as a restauranteur in the city. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri...

This week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined by Howie Velie, Associate Dean of Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America, and culinary student Jose Ganem to discuss the school's new Japanese culinary program. The "Advanced Cooking: Japanese Cuisine" curriculum covers Japanese history and culture, along with the ingredients, flavors, textures, and techniques of authentic Japanes...

This week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by fellow HRN hosts Harry Rosenblum and Michael Harlan Turkell, creators of the Sumo Stew event series. Inspired by a trip to Japan, photographer Michael Harlan Turkell returned to New York City with aspirations of importing this ancient sport and teamed up with Harry Rosenblum, owner of The Brooklyn Kitchen, a wonderfully multi...

This week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined by San Francisco's Chef Richie Nakano. In 2010, Nakano opened Hapa Ramen as a pop-up food stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. A few years later, after launching a successful Kickstarter campaign, he opened his first brick-and-mortar ramen noodle shop and earned a 2013 StarChefs Rising Star Community Chef Award. His involvement with Hapa...

This week on  Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by chef and entrepreneur Makoto Suzuki, owner of several restaurants in Brooklyn, including Bozu, Samurai Mama, Momo Sushi Shack, The Brooklyn Ball Factory, and Samurai Papa. Suzuki talks about how he struggled to open his first restaurant in the not-yet-cool Williamsburg 13 years ago and how he keeps his restaurants staying popul...

This week on  Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Masahiro Urushido, bar manager of Saxon + Parole in New York's East Village. Urushido learned the craft of classic cocktails, mastered the art of ice carving, and perfected his overall technique in Tokyo, before moving to New York in 2008. Urushido has since achieved national recognition for his creative approach to drink...

This week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by Nick Sakagami, the only Certified Seafood Master by Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo) who resides outside of Japan, bicoastal fresh tuna importer, and expert in branding/marketing of higher-end seafood. Nick is also a supporter and educator of responsible fisheries globally. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi...

This week on Japan Eats , host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by chef and udon specialist Joji Uematsu. Uematsu is the vice president of Dining Innovation New York and a managing partner of TsuruTonTan Udon Noodle Brasserie at Union Square, where he gives New Yorkers an unique opportunity to taste udon noodles made masterfully with traditional Japanese techniques. See Privacy Policy at https:/...