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Metropolis Japan
14 hours ago
- General
- Metropolis Japan
Japanese BBQ Guide
There's nothing quite like the smoky aroma of grilled meat, the sizzle of seafood on hot coals, and the shared joy of cooking outdoors. Each country has its own spin on barbecue, and Japan's version is in a league of its own. Equal parts minimalist, flavorful, and deeply rooted in tradition. Whether you're firing up a shichirin grill in your backyard or planning a beachside cookout, this Japanese BBQ guide covers everything you need to know. From binchotan charcoal to miso-glazed onigiri and foil-wrapped seafood, discover the essential tools, ingredients, and dishes to turn your next gathering into an unforgettable feast. The classic Japanese barbeque is a shichirin, a round, square or rectangular hollow earthen base fitted with a net top. These became popular during the Edo Period as an economical and practical alternative to traditional sunken irori hearths in houses. While shichirin were replaced with gas stoves in homes during the 1950s, they continue to have a place in grill restaurants and barbecue set-ups, as they're small, lightweight, and impart a prized charcoal-grilled flavor. These days, konro is an umbrella term often used for Japanese barbecues, and encompasses shichirin as well as other portable barbecue varieties like single gas burners and stainless steel tabletop or standing grills. While gas elements or briquettes are cheap and easy to manage, sumibiyaki (charcoal grilling) is the original method of Japanese barbeque, and still dominates the barbecue scene. The infrared heat emitted by binchotan charcoal cooks the meat on the surface at a high temperature, trapping the umami-rich juices inside. As the heat passes through, the outside becomes crispy while gently cooking the inside. As the juices drip onto the charcoal, the smoky, meaty plumes rise up to infuse the food with a deep, smoky taste. Barbecues and binchotan charcoal can generally be purchased at homeware stores like Don Quixote and Tokyu Hands, and online at Amazon or Rakuten. We recommend the Coleman BBQ Cool Spider Pro! A popularity ranking of Japanese barbeque foods ( shows meat in first place, followed by grilled vegetables, seafood, processed meats like wieners and bacon, mushrooms, salad vegetables, fried noodles, onigiri, cheese fondue and fruit. Foil-wrapped foods and skewered foods are also common. Given all this, here are some menu ideas for a Japanese-style barbecue: In other countries, it's popular to marinate meat and seafood in different rich sauces or rubs before grilling. In Japan, it's more common to cook meat plain. Beef, pork and chicken are the most popular meats. Favorite cuts of beef are harami (skirt steak), cheeks, belly, boneless spare ribs, rosu (sirloin), tongue and offal. Popular pork cuts are spareribs and rosu, and popular chicken cuts include the thighs and wings. Serve grilled meat at a Japanese barbecue with condiments like lemon juice, ponzu, mayonnaise, yuzukosho, wasabi, butter and salt. Grill an onigiri on the barbecue until it gets a crispy, chewy exterior. Basting plain or salted onigiri in a little soy sauce, or a mixture of miso paste, mirin, sugar and water or mentsuyu as it cooks is popular. Alternatively, try a DIY rice burger by shaping onigiri into flatter patties, grilling them, then sandwiching in other barbecued ingredients. This dish is a yatai favorite, but can easily be recreated in a barbecue setting. Serve grilled or foil-roasted potatoes with a rich sauce of equal parts mayonnaise and mentaiko (cod roe), mixed with a little olive oil and lemon juice. Scallops in the shell are relatively easy to buy in Japan from supermarkets. Place them over a grill, add a little sake and butter and, when just about cooked, sprinkle a little soy sauce over them. Also often grilled plain in Japan, seafood pairs nicely with the classic seafood dipping sauce, tartar. Popular seafood to grill includes prawns, crab, octopus, squid, aji (horse mackerel), torigai clams, scallops and sazae shells. In addition to commonly barbecued vegetables in Japan like pumpkin, potato, mushrooms, renkon, daikon and onion, try grilling summer seasonal vegetables like corn, myoga (native Japanese ginger), zucchini, asparagus, green peppers and edamame. Salt-grilling is a classic Japanese preparation technique for fish, where a whole fish is rubbed generously in salt and then grilled over coals. Shioyaki-ayu (sweetfish) are a common sight throughout summer, sold at yatai street food stands and festivals where skewered grilling fish surround pits of coal, ready to be devoured whole straight off the skewer. Mochi (Japanese rice cakes) and barbecue are a match made in heaven. When grilled, they become crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and are also a substantial option for vegetarians. Himono are Japanese salted and dried fish, a food-preservation custom which goes back to ancient times. These are perfect for barbecuing, as the oily skin becomes crispy and the flesh soft and juicy. Grill skin-side down first, then flip once the flesh changes color a little. Similar to Mexican elotes, chargrill whole corn cobs, then, just before serving, brush with Kewpie mayonnaise and butter, sprinkle on a heavy-handed amount of powdered or grated parmesan cheese, a dusting of shichimi togarashi, salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice. Kama is the collarbone of a fish, and is generally a meaty, fatty part, so it becomes incredibly rich and juicy when barbecued. Hamachi (yellowtail) and tuna kama are easy to get and cheap at supermarkets and fishmongers, and can be grilled with just a little salt and pepper for seasoning. Foil-wrapping is a popular cooking technique in Japan, both in the oven and on a stovetop or barbecue grill. Salmon, as well as summer seasonal fish like kisu, karei, mebaru and Japanese mushrooms like shiitake, eringi, shimeji, and enoki, work well as a foil-wrapped parcel combined with butter or olive oil, lemon, pepper and herbs for a succulent parcel. Known as 'tomato beikon kushiyaki' in yakitori joints, these are an easy barbeque number. Take cherry tomatoes, wrap them in bacon, skewer them, sprinkle with a little salt and black pepper . T hen, grill for around 5 minutes. This one will need a flat BBQ plate but is cheap and cheerful and feeds a crowd. Heat a little fat on the barbecue plate, then add the yakisoba noodles. Saute them a little, then push them to the side. Fry strips of pork belly, then add slices of onions, carrots, peppers and cabbage, Add a meat of your choice, and a sprinkling of tenkasu (tempura crumbs) for a little crunch. Sauté until softened, then mix in with the noodles and yakisoba sauce. Serve as-is, or topped with a little pickled ginger and aonori (powdered seaweed). Cut a round section out of the top of the rind of a wheel of camembert . W rap it in foil, grill until it's oozy, then grind over some black pepper, add a drizzle of honey. S erve with crusty bread or vegetables and fruit for dipping. Pineapple, mango, peaches and kyoho (Japanese grapes) are all in season over the warmer months in Japan, and can all be thrown onto the barbecue grill. The natural sugars caramelise making them a perfect summertime dessert. Did you like our Japanese BBQ Guide? Read our other guides to life in Japan: The Best Japanese Citrus Fruits: Flavor, Uses & Seasonal Picks The Colorful and Healthy Art of Japanese Pickle Recipes
Malaysian Reserve
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Tourists boost sales at Japan's Don Quijote stores
by CAROLINE GARDIN & ATISH PATEL BUSINESS is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. 'I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language,' 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the US told AFP. But 'I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like US$70 (RM302)' including 'a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys'. The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed 'Donki' were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: The idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, Don Quixote. He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fuelled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are 'around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic', said Motoki Hata, a manager at the retailer. Last year, its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12% year-on-year (YoY) for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a 'treasure hunt' — a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hata told AFP. 'Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for,' he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavour KitKats, a popular exclusive product. 'Jungle'-like Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the US and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs — including levies of 24% on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, 'I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment', Kraft said. 'Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan — even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores.' They are also 'some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen', with consistently 'the best selection of almost anything'. However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is 'cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old' with products seemingly 'hanging from everywhere'. Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its 'Don Don Donki' jingle on repeat just adds to the 'jungle'-like experience. 'It is just almost an assault on the senses,' Kraft said. Inflation Hits Still, Don Quijote 'has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan', Kraft said — especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2% in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1% in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. 'It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands,' said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for 'shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere'. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. 'It is a store for you to buy as much as you want — but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it,' he said. — AFP This article first appeared in The Malaysian Reserve weekly print edition
Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
'Treasure hunt': Tourists boost sales at Japan's Don Quijote stores
Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colorful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. "I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language," 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the United States told AFP. But "I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like $70" including "a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys". The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed "Donki" were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, "Don Quixote". He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fueled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are "around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic", said Motoki Hata, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12 percent year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a "treasure hunt" -- a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hata told AFP. "Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for," he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavor KitKats, a popular exclusive product. A machine selling little versions of "Donpen", the official character of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote, also known overseas as Don Don Donki. Customers at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Pedestrians in front of a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Tourists at the tax free checkout tills, at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Customers walking past directions for the tax free counter at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Motoki Hata, inbound support department manager, talking about some of the products during an interview with AFP at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. Motoki Hata, inbound support department manager, talking about some of the products during an interview with AFP at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote. 'Jungle'-like Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the United States and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs -- including levies of 24 percent on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, "I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment", Kraft said. "Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan -- even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores." They are also "some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen", with consistently "the best selection of almost anything". However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is "cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old" with products seemingly "hanging from everywhere". Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its "Don Don Donki" jingle on repeat just adds to the "jungle"-like experience. "It is just almost an assault on the senses," Kraft said. Inflation hits Still, Don Quijote "has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan", Kraft said -- especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2 percent in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1 percent in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. "It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands," said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for "shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere". There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. "It is a store for you to buy as much as you want -- but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it," he said. - AFP
Japan Today
11-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
'Treasure hunt': Tourists boost sales at Japan's Don Quijote stores
Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from compact gadgets to party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists By Caroline Gardin and Atish Patel Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. "I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there's so many options, everything's in a different language," 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the United States told AFP. But "I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like $70" including "a coffee cup for my mom, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple toys". The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed "Donki" were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, "Don Quixote". He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fueled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are "around 1.7 higher than before the pandemic", said Motoki Hara, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12 percent year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a "treasure hunt" -- a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hara told AFP. "Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for," he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavor KitKats, a popular exclusive product. Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the United States and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs -- including levies of 24 percent on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, "I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment", Kraft said. "Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan -- even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores. "They are also some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen, with consistently the best selection of almost anything. However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old with products seemingly hanging from everywhere". Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its "Don Don Donki" jingle on repeat just adds to the "jungle"-like experience. "It is just almost an assault on the senses," Kraft said. Still, Don Quijote "has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan", Kraft said -- especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2 percent in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1 percent in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. "It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands," said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for "shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere". There is even usually a cordoned off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. "It is a store for you to buy as much as you want -- but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it," he said. © 2025 AFP
New Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
'Treasure hunt': tourists boost sales at Japan's Don Quijote stores
TOKYO: Business is booming at Japanese discount chain Don Quijote, which sells everything from nostril-hair wax to compact gadgets and colourful party costumes, thanks to its cult status among tourists but also inflation at home. At a large Don Quijote store in Tokyo's bustling Shibuya district, hundreds of tourists rush to fill their baskets with snacks and souvenirs from its heaving narrow aisles. "I was pretty overwhelmed at first, just because there are so many options, everything's in a different language," 27-year-old Garett Bryan from the US told AFP. But "I feel like I bought a lot and it was only like US$70," including "a coffee cup for my mum, a fan, some Godzilla chopsticks, just a couple of toys." The chaotic cut-price shops nicknamed "Donki" were founded in the 1980s by Takao Yasuda, who named them after his business inspiration: the idealistic protagonist of the classic Spanish novel, "Don Quixote." He wanted to shake up Japan's staid retail industry with new tactics including late-night opening hours as well as more varied prices and product lines. Now a record influx of visitors to Japan, fuelled by a weak yen, is boosting sales nationwide. Revenues at Don Quijote in Japan are "around 1.7 times higher than before the pandemic," said Motoki Hara, a manager at the retailer. Last year its parent firm Pan Pacific International Holdings (PPIH) saw revenue rise around 12 per cent year-on-year for its discount chains including Donki, while tax-free sales beat internal forecasts. Shopping at Don Quijote is like a "treasure hunt" – a fun experience that foreign visitors love, Hara told AFP. "Customers end up buying something different than what they came in for," he said beside rows of cherry-blossom flavoured KitKats, a popular exclusive product. Don Quijote and its sister brands have 501 stores in Japan, where 24 new ones opened during the past financial year. PPIH Group also runs 110 stores abroad, in the US and across Asia from Taiwan to Thailand. California is one place being targeted by the company for expansion, according to analyst Paul Kraft, founder of Tokyo-based consultancy firm JapanIQ. But that plan could be complicated by US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs – including levies of 24 per cent on Japan, which have been paused until July. Even so, "I wouldn't bet against them, even in this entire high-tariff environment," Kraft said. "Nobody adjusts as fast as Don Quijote in retail in Japan – even faster than convenience stores, because they give so much autonomy to their stores." They are also "some of the smartest and most aggressive buyers that I've seen," with consistently "the best selection of almost anything." However, in Japan at least, the shopping experience is "cramped, dark, you know, the buildings might be old" with products seemingly "hanging from everywhere." Don Quijote's omnipresent Santa-hat wearing penguin mascot Donpen and its "Don Don Donki" jingle on repeat just adds to the "jungle"-like experience. "It is just almost an assault on the senses," Kraft said. Still, Don Quijote "has grown to be an extremely important retailer in Japan," Kraft said – especially as rising inflation ramps up demand for cheaper products. The country's core inflation rate accelerated to 3.2 per cent in March, with consumers feeling the pinch on electricity bills as well as kitchen staples like cabbage and rice. Household consumption fell 1.1 per cent in 2024, with some people making the trip to Don Quijote to save. "It's less expensive than other shops, and they also have famous brands," said a Tokyo resident who shops at the store twice a week and gave her surname as Kuroki. Shoji Raku, 20, told AFP she shops at Donki for "shampoo, electronics and everything that you don't find elsewhere." There is even usually a cordoned-off adults-only section at Donki stores selling various sex toys. Tourist sales remain a key focus for the chain, which plans to open two new stores targeted at visitors in Japan next year, centred on duty-free products. But one Donki customer, Bruno Bosi from Brazil, said shoppers should tread with caution. "It is a store for you to buy as much as you want – but I think you need to ask yourself if you need it," he said.
