Adding one surprise ingredient is said to make this classic Western-style Japanese dish pair extra well with white rice.
Stew
If you’ve ever wondered what a Japanese school lunch tastes like, you’ll want to head to this hidden gem.
Join us as we recreate Dora’s chunk of meat and the Tiger Moth Airship Stew, which look just like they do in the film.
Our stew-loving reporter says a quick dash of one of Japan’s staple seasonings, added at just the right time, boosts the flavor of this cold-weather favorite.
Hop on a train to off-the-beaten-path Yamagata Prefecture any weekend from September through November, and you’re bound to see crowds of people congregating and cooking pots of something delicious by the local river. Yup, imoni-kai season is in full swing!
Imoni (芋煮) is the name given to a taro root stew native to the Tohoku region of northern Japan. Apart from its delicious taste, imoni is also famous for the social aspects of its creation. Families traditionally congregate on a riverbank (the practice of which is known as imoni-kai, literally, “imoni gathering”) and cook the stew from scratch over a fire pit. In that sense, you can think of it a bit like an autumn version of o-hanami, the popular Japanese tradition of viewing cherry blossoms in the spring.
Join us after the jump for a glimpse at a unique cultural tradition of northern Japan which many Japanese people in other parts of the country have never even heard of!
Since a picture was leaked online last week, Japan has been all abuzz with rumors of the latest in the “rich” flavor line up of popular Garigari-kun brand popsicles. Their previous corn potage flavor was deemed a rousing success and now it appeared they were topping themselves this with a potato stew version.
The good news is a release date has been set for 29 October. The even better news is that we already got to take some Garigari-kun Potato Stew bars for a test taste at a presentation in Tokyo two weeks early!
What comes to mind at the mention of stew? Maybe a hearty beef stew or some creamy chicken soup? Well, it seems that many fast food restaurants in the Philippines will sell you stew that’s made from the blood of domesticated animals! Holy cow! Or maybe it’s horse. Sheep? Exactly what kind of blood are we talking here?! To find out more, we flew our top investigative reporter to the Philippines to fill us in on the heart of the matter. Read More









Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
Drink vending machines disappearing in Japan as number drops to lowest in 30 years
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
Peanuts and Coke becomes a viral hit in Japan, but is it a trend worth joining?
This lucky bag of anime models is also a decades-long history lesson for our mecha newbie
Does Ippudo’s new plant-based tonkotsu ramen really taste like pork?
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
The legendary “pet bird” ice cream now comes sandwiched between pancakes!
We put the internet’s “techniques for emptying your bladder with morning wood” to the test
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations
You can assemble a well-balanced team of Pokémon, them eat them, thanks to Japanese cake chain
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
7-Eleven Japan’s new baked-in-store sweet treat is only available in three parts of the country
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
This lucky bag of anime models is also a decades-long history lesson for our mecha newbie
Does Ippudo’s new plant-based tonkotsu ramen really taste like pork?
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
The legendary “pet bird” ice cream now comes sandwiched between pancakes!
We put the internet’s “techniques for emptying your bladder with morning wood” to the test
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Two Sailor Moon musicals will stream online for overseas fans this winter
New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box
Japanese idol creates kawaii Gunpla, the world’s cutest Gundam models【Photos】
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Mist descends upon Japan’s “Killing Stone” after ceremony to appease nine-tailed fox spirit
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Super-cheap, super-convenient rice-cooking mug is a new kitchen gadget all-star from 3 Coins
10 obscure Japanese vending machine drinks that fly under the beverage radar