OAKLAND, Calif. — Started and co-owned by childhood friends Kayoko Akabori and Yoko Kumano, Umami Mart is a specialty store and tasting bar featuring high-end barware, home goods and a hand-picked selection of sake, shochu and whiskies. The idea for Umami Mart was born from a blog they started in 2007, which still runs strong […]
Lifestyle
Umami Mart: Come to shop, stay for a drink, and return for the community
August 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Pioneering event aims to put Nikkei vintners on winemaking map
August 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment
For decades, the Bay Area has been a world class destination for wine enthusiasts, drawing millions of visitors to Napa, Sonoma, and even the burgeoning Livermore Valley. But on July 17, a group of Nikkei winemakers tried something new — hosting a wine tasting event at a sake brewery in an industrial park in southeastern […]
A changing of the guard for Honolulu tofu factory
August 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Paul Uyehara pointed to the tsuru (crane) and turtle logo on his polo shirt. The third-generation president and custodian of Aloha Tofu Factory, explained that the company logo was created to honor his grandparents, Kamesaburo and Tsuruko Uyehara, who founded the company in 1950. “To me, it’s kind of a way to always remember my […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Summertime chillin’
August 18, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Now that the mercury is definitely on the rise in the midst of summer, when full bodied red wines and dark whiskies are a little too hot for the palate and turning on the oven or stovetop simply magnifies the unbearable heat, it’s time for some chillin’ to counteract the heat. Did someone say chilled […]
Honey Sesame Shirataki Noodles
August 4, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Shirataki Noodles with Honey Sesame Dressing is a cold and refreshing dish. Top the noodles with shredded egg crepe chicken and cucumber. It’s a perfect guilt-free summer noodle that is low in calories. It’s gluten-free, too! We spend our summer in Japan with my family. In case you weren’t aware, the heat during Japanese summers […]
THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Barbecue time
July 21, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Just the word barbecue takes on different meanings, depending on where in the country you reside. In the South, barbecue usually means low and slow cooking at somewhere between 225 to 275 degrees over charcoal. In the Carolinas, it primarily means hog, whereas it’s only beef in Texas. And even in the hog centric regions, […]
Anmitsu フルーツ白玉クリームあんみつ
July 7, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Celebrate summer with this delightful Japanese dessert called anmitsu! It’s a Japanese wagashi dessert with kanten jelly, fruits, mochi, red bean paste, green tea ice cream and a good drizzle of sweet black sugar syrup. Anmitsu (あんみつ) is a summer dessert (but why don’t we enjoy it year-round?) made of small cubes of kanten jelly, sweet […]
Naomi Osaka, LeBron James team up for entertainment venture
June 23, 2022 by Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James and Naomi Osaka are becoming teammates in the entertainment world. Tennis star Osaka and her agent and business partner, Stuart Duguid, are forming a media company called Hana Kuma in partnership with The SpringHill Company, which was created by NBA star James and Maverick Carter. The June 21 announcement comes […]
Agedashi tofu (video) 揚げ出し豆腐
June 9, 2022 by Leave a Comment
Agedashi tofu (揚げ出し豆腐) is soft tofu coated with potato starch and deep-fried so that the outer shell is crispy. It is typically served with grated daikon, katsuobushi (bonito flakes), scallion, and grated ginger on top. Then tsuyu (sauce) made of dashi, mirin and soy sauce is poured over the toppings and soaks the tofu to enhance […]
Ohtani powers Angels to victory on Nichi Bei Day
May 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment
The Nichi Bei Foundation held its annual Nichi Bei Day with the Oakland A’s on May 15. The A’s hosted the Los Angeles Angels at the Oakland Coliseum, and the game featured the reigning American League MVP for the Angels, Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani has marveled fans as a two-way star in the Major Leagues as […]
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