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July 16, 2024
 

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Robbie Swinnerton
Robbie Swinnerton has been living, eating and writing about food in Tokyo for over 30 years. His column, Tokyo Food File, has run in The Japan Times since 1998.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Sep 4, 2021
Adi: A stylish tribute to comforting Nepalese curry
Its weekday lunch menu is the finest iteration of dal bhat — the Nepalese staple meal of rice and lentil stew, with curries, vegetables and achar pickles on the side — you can find in Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Destination Restaurants 2021
Aug 21, 2021
Uozen: Where hunting, fishing and nature find harmony
Swapping the concrete jungle of Tokyo for rural Niigata Prefecture, chef Kazuhiro Inoue has created inventive menus starring locally sourced produce, seafood and game meat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Aug 14, 2021
Tokyo’s restaurants push through another state-of-emergency summer
The Japan Times gives you the lowdown on what new gems opened, what closed and what restaurants are ready and waiting to throw open their doors.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jul 24, 2021
Kon: Shaved ice and sushi as you’ve never had them before
In summer, we need to slow down, drink up and eat light. Looking for specific ideas? Make your way to Kon and cool off with upscale versions of two of Japan's favorite foods.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Destination Restaurants 2021
Jul 17, 2021
Tonoya Yo: Japan's fermentation fundamentals, made modern
Chef, brewmaster and hotelier Yotaro Sasaki takes locally grown Tono rice and traditional fermented fare to new culinary heights.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jul 3, 2021
Chef Daniel Calvert finally opens Sezanne, and the wait was worth it
Any new high-end French restaurant in Tokyo is big news. But Sezanne's official unveiling on July 1 signaled the arrival of a young chef of considerable accomplishment.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Destination Restaurants 2021
Jun 19, 2021
Pesceco: ‘Satohama gastronomy’ rooted in local soil and sea
Creative, seafood-based cuisine inspired by the vista and bounty of Shimabara.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jun 5, 2021
At Dashin Soan, handmade noodles take pride of place
Expect refined ambience, a selection of elegant appetizers and top-notch soba.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Destination Restaurants 2021
May 29, 2021
L’evo: Destination dining that’s worth the journey
Chef Eiji Taniguchi's “avant-garde regional” cuisine showcases the best of Toyama Prefecture's seasonal ingredients and local artisans.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
May 15, 2021
Sip, snack and stand in style at No. 502
Tucked away in suburban Setagaya Ward, No. 502 is a perfect example of the recent fashion for wine stores with bars attached — plus an innovative plant-forward menu.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
May 1, 2021
This laid-back tea specialist has flown under Tokyo’s radar — until now
The latest state of emergency in the capital means it's more important than ever to stay safe, which means outdoor dining. Cue the calm, secluded Sakuu.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Apr 17, 2021
Burger Police: Locking in its status as one of Tokyo’s best burgers
This offspring of the well-known Tacubo serves a gourmet burger like no other, pared back to the simplest of no-frills basics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Food Sustainability in Japan
Apr 3, 2021
When life gave him olives, this Shodoshima farmer made world-class beef
Shodoshima's Olive-fed Wagyu Beef is taking the “Wagyu Olympics” by storm, and putting the island on the gastronome's map.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 20, 2021
Hakko Department: Set meals showcase the breadth of Japan’s fermented foods
It's easy to take Japan's wealth of fermented foods for granted. Hakko Department puts them front and center.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 20, 2021
BGM: Coffee shop’s small size belies big flavor
Chef Yusuke Namai of Ode turns up the volume at his hip spinoff coffee shop in Hiroo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 7, 2021
Tenoshima: A master chef's tasting menu in the comfort of your own home
While Tokyo diners continue to wait for an end to the state of emergency, the city's fanciest restaurants are finding ways to survive by offering take-out meals.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 7, 2021
Chuka Soba Tomita: 'Ramen of the Year' box sets from Chiba to your door
Fans of ramen who don't want to travel can now order boxes from the award-winning Chuka Soba Tomita in Chiba Prefecture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Feb 20, 2021
Freeman Shokudo: Backyard barbecue defies convention
Pitmaster Jeremy Freeman brings “Brooklyn backyard BBQ” to Tokyo — well-spiced and with more than one twist.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Feb 6, 2021
Xie Wang Fu: Auspicious ambience for high-end Chinese dining
The first overseas offshoot of Shanghai's best-known specialist crab restaurant is bringing the crustacean delicacy to Tokyo year-round.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Jan 30, 2021
The Restaurant: Florilege protege gives local Gunma ingredients the high-end treatment
With a focus on local food products, the reborn Shiroiya Hotel has put Gunma Prefecture's capital city back on the culinary map.
Bloodied Trump survives assassination attempt at political rally
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is surrounded and evacuated by Secret Service agents at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Trump was rushed off stage at the rally after shots rang out.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
Amid same-sex marriage ban, LGBTQ couples opt for 'photo weddings'
A lesbian couple, consisting of a 35-year-old woman (left) and 40-year-old woman, cover their faces with bouquets as they pose for wedding photos in Yokohama on Nov. 1.
China and Russia conduct joint Pacific military patrol
The Russian corvette Gromkiy enters the Chinese port of Zhanjiang as part of a joint China-Russia naval exercise on Saturday.
How to beat Japan’s summer heat in ways better for the planet
Tenugui towels hang up to dry at a dyeing company in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on May 8. The durable and versatile tenugui, which many people have in their homes, can be used in many ways to cool one’s body.
After Trump shooting, U.S. presidential race might take a violent turn
United States Secret Service Counter Snipers stand guard on a rooftop during a campaign rally for U.S. President Donald Trump in Avoca, Pennsylvania, in 2020.
No AC this summer? No problem (for me).
Think air conditioning is a requirement for a Tokyo summer? Think again.
She’s paying ¥1 million to help behind the scenes at the Paris Olympics
Mai Tarumi, who previously volunteered at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has a travel budget of ¥1 million for her trip to volunteer at the Paris Games.
How to tweak your diet when temperatures spike
Most people think of hydration as a strictly liquid-based concept, but eating foods with high water content is an essential part of making it through a Japanese summer unscathed.

Podcast

You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Longform

Akiko Trush says her experience with the neurological disorder dystonia left her feeling like she wanted to chop her own hand off.
The neurological disorder that 'kills culture'
By Tomoko Otake

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