Perhaps it’s red-hot spicy with a dash of chilli. Sometimes there’s no soup at all but a sauce to dip the noodles in. Ramen has surged in popularity in the United States, South Korea and other places. Retail sales in the US have risen 72 per cent since 2000, according to NielsenIQ, a sales tracker. … Read more
The Oxford English Dictionary’s March 2024 update included a delectable 23 words of Japanese origin. More than half are food-related, including donburi, karaage, katsu, okonomiyaki, onigiri, takoyaki, tonkatsu, tonkotsu and yakiniku. This is unsurprising, given the continuing impact globally of Japan’s soft power through cuisine (and popular culture), with the rise in Japanese restaurants and … Read more
Finding Her Beat was simply meant to be a recorded version of a one-night concert in the US state of Minnesota dedicated to the ancient Japanese art of taiko drumming. But after Jennifer Weir, the executive director of TaikoArts Midwest, had lunch with her long-time friend, filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson, a larger idea began to brew. … Read more
That is why Piano Mok, a certified international etiquette consultant based in Hong Kong and New York, has focused her classes on teaching students how to dine respectfully and appropriately, no matter what setting they are in. As well as being an expert on Asian dining etiquette, Mok is also well versed in Western dining. … Read more
Netflix is set to serve a blend of music and emotion with a captivating Japanese live-action series in 2025, bringing to life Wakagi Mio’s acclaimed novel, “Glass Heart.” Starring a stellar cast including Takeru Satoh, Yu Miyazaki, Keita Machida, Jun Shison, and Masaki Suda, the series is set in the vibrant world of aspiring musicians … Read more
Singaporean chain Chatterbox Express may be famous for its Hainan chicken rice, but in Hong Kong it has recently partnered with Chen’s Mapo Tofu to serve an entirely new range of chuka ryori dishes – Japanese adaptations of Chinese cuisine – such as mapo don and dan dan mien. Chen’s Mapo Tofu is a casual … Read more
Travelling along Victoria Road by Mount Davis in Sai Wan is a treat for the eyes. The road’s proximity to the sea and a rare absence of high-rises by the coast offer a view of Victoria Harbour that feels boundless. The University of Chicago’s Hong Kong campus, which opened in 2018, is a perfect spot … Read more
Hombale Films has responded to global demand by releasing Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire in English language on digital platforms. Following its decent run in Spanish and Japanese languages, the film’s English version is now available for streaming on Netflix. Prabhas starrer Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire now streaming in English language Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire, produced … Read more
2/5 stars In the new animated fantasy Maboroshi, an environmental disaster traps a small-town community in a bizarre time freeze, which sends its adolescent residents into an angst-ridden tailspin. Written and directed by prolific manga artist Mari Okada, the film blends themes of loneliness, insecurity and jealousy into a potent cocktail of teenage disenchantment, but … Read more
Shota Imanaga of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship game between Team USA and Team Japan at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami, Fla. Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images The recent rumors surrounding 30-year-old Japanese pitching prospect Shota Imanaga have been enough to give any San Francisco Giants fan … Read more
