Among the massive outpouring of support for Tohoku, one fundraising effort in particular has caught our eye. Eat For Japan is a program launched by Roppongi Nouen, a fine restaurant tucked away in the heart of Tokyo's nightlife district that specializes in good, wholesome dishes and farm-fresh produce.
Few restaurants in the metropolitan area can boast closer links with rural communities. Roppongi Nouen is run by the children of farmers, and most of the vegetables and meats used in the kitchen come directly from their parents' farms. Among their most popular dishes are the shabu-shabu and grilled pork, as well as seafood nabe hot-pots.
Until the end of April, ¥100 is being donated from each item ordered from the food and drink menus. To keep the process fully transparent, the restaurant is publishing the fundraising results on its website — on some days, it has raised close to ¥100,000.
Since reopening after the March 11 quake, Roppongi Nouen has been operating scaled-back opening hours, and offering surprisingly affordable meals. Full-course special spring menus are 3,800 and 5,800.
Roppongi Nouen, 6-6-15 Roppongi, Minato-ku; (03) 3405-0684. Nearest station: Roppongi (Hibiya and Oedo lines). Current opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 6-11:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. and holidays noon-3 p.m. and 5-11 p.m. www.roppongi-nouen.jp.