Summer in Japan...Elegant dinings

During my last short stay back in Japan, I still managed to go out for some really nice meals.


In Omotesando, I met a girlfriend for a very elegant summer lunch.


Full of summer flavors. I especially enjoyed the tempura of anago (sea eel), then once finish eating it and remove the lid, there was pork shabby shabby!


My sister and I went back to Mikizo-san's place...he is just brilliant every time!


These are only some of so many amazing dishes he created for us. His "hassun" course included 14 small dishes in a basket. Incredible!


On my final night, we had dinner at a local French restaurant in Urawa. They had a special wine dinner by their new chef. It was really great.


There were so many courses of dishes and wines. I had a great time.

Summer in Japan...Izakaya dinners

I was back in Japan last month for a little over a week.
Summer in Japan is very HOT and humid. It feels like it gets hotter and hotter every year.


In Urawa, I was there in the weekend of the annual big festival. One night, we had sushi in a local place we go regularly. I enjoyed all the seasonal treats.


Urawa is a fun old town to walk around at night, as there are many izakaya and bars. Tomoko (my sister) and I went to this tiny izakaya on another night. Their entrance has a tiny sliding door which you have to slouch to walk through.


In Shinjuku, I met a friend at a very old school izakaya which has been there since 1972. We started with chunky "butsugiri" octopus, horse sashimi, and grilled duck (photo on top). Their sake list is great, too. I also enjoyed fried lotus root with chicken filling.

Feels like home.

Super Happy Donabe Steamed Vegetables

...for my American friends.


I wanted to express with my donabe dish.

#lovewins
Happy donabe life!

Nagatani-en on CRAFTED, now available to watch on Amazon!

Yuji Nagatani, the 7th generation of Nagatani-en and I...he's like my father

The short documentary film by Morgan Spurlock, CRAFTED, featuring Iga donabe master, Yuji Nagatani of Nagatani-en, is now available to view on Amazon (you can access from the link below). Please support artisans! 
http://craftedlikenoother.com
And, here's the direct link to CRAFTED movie on Amazon.

I'm so proud to be part of the project as well as to bring Nagatani-en's authentic Iga-yaki donabe and beautiful Japanese donabe culture to America and the world since 2008! I started my donabe shop and mission to spread donabe culture from zero, when almost no one in the US knew (or could even pronounce it) about donabe, and now our donabe and the producer even became a subject of a documentary film by an internationally-known award-winning director!

These photos are behind the scenes from Iga shooting, which I helped making.


Last week, the movie premiered at LA Film Festival!


It was a sold out show, and it was great to see the production team there again.

Happy donabe life.

Our Iga-yaki DONABE on Morgan Spurlock's documentary film, CRAFTED

Now it's official. I'm so proud the Iga donabe master, Yuji Nagatani (the chairman and the 7th generation of Nagatani-en), is featured in CRAFTED, a documentary film directed by Morgan Spurlock. It was such an honor and pleasure to be part of the production in Iga, Japan. Please check out the trailer, linked below. Donabe to the world!
http://craftedlikenoother.com


Here's an excerpt from the movie...the chairman is the star!


Morgan Spurlock's interview from this morning's KTLA news can be watched here. Happy donabe life!