Latest news with #MasanukiSunakoma
SoraNews24
12-08-2025
- General
- SoraNews24
Japanese omelette sushi changes the way we think about makizushi
Dashimaki Futomaki is rare to find, but a must-try in Japan. You never know what you might find when strolling through a depachika ('department store basement') in Japan. These underground food halls are filled with all sorts of beautifully presented sweets, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals, and when our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma was strolling through the one at Takashimaya in Shinjuku the other day, he came across something he'd never seen before. ▼ There, next to some beautiful dashimaki (Japanese rolled omelettes), was a lineup of 'Dashimaki Futomaki'. Futomaki literally means 'fat rolled sushi' as it's thicker than a typical maki roll. They usually contain a variety of colourful fillings, but the Dashimaki Futomaki keeps things simple with yolk-hued presentation… ▼ … and a huge slice of omelette inside each serving. This unusual roll comes from Kappo Sushi Kisaragi, a popular restaurant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. A pack of four costs 1,080 yen (US$7.31), with each slice presented beautifully, showing the craftsmanship involved in its simplicity. Staff at the store explained to Masanuki that these futomaki are made with rice that tastes good even when cold, early-harvested seaweed with a rich aroma, and soft, fluffy dashimaki with a deep yolk colour and rich flavour, and every last detail has been tuned to perfection by skilled artisans. ▼ Each omelette is hand-cooked for a perfect finish and fragrant, delicious flavour. When Masanuki held the sushi up to the light with chopsticks, he could see how the whiteness of the rice and the darkness of the seaweed framed the main actor, the egg, even more brilliantly. The dashimaki was densely packed yet moist and fluffy, so that when Masanuki bit into it… ▼ … he closed his eyes in delight at the truly delectable texture. It wasn't just the texture that captivated his senses but the flavour too — the moist, vinegared rice was perfect, acting as a delicious base for the elegantly balanced dashimaki flavours to seduce his palate. The satisfaction he felt from just a single piece of sushi was outstanding. The harmonious contrast between ingredients was a testament to the professional techniques behind its creation, and the moderate acidity of the vinegared rice kept the aftertaste light so he could easily finish the entire box. If you're on the hunt for an unusual sushi that tastes as astounding as it looks, then this is something you have to try next time you find yourself in the underground paradise of a Japanese depachika. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
10-08-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Don Quijote now sells a bento of American corn dog ends
The end bits of the 'American Dog' are now the main dish…but should they be? In June, a new Don Quijote store opened at the Southeast Exit of Tokyo's Shinjuku Station. Like many other branches of the hugely popular retail chain, this location sells just about everything under the sun and caters to the needs of international tourists with tax-free registers, multilingual signs, and staff who can speak multiple languages. While short-term visitors to the country see the store as a one-stop shop for Japanese souvenirs, locals stop by for other kinds of bargain finds, with the 'Do' own-brand of bentos being a particularly good deal. You never know what you might find when browsing the bento aisles, and one discovery that's been making news in the local community is a bento called the Corn Dog Batter Bento. While the English name is a little elusive, the Japanese name is far more descriptive — 'Only This Part of the American Dog Bento' ('アメリカンドッグのココだけ弁当'), with an arrow pointing to the base of the dog. Priced at 430 yen (US$2.92), this unusual meal was first released in December 2024, and when our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma stopped by to try it recently there was only one left in stock, proving its popularity is still running high. Anyone who's ever eaten a corn dog will know how satisfyingly crunchy the end bit is, but this bento takes that good thing and dials it up to eleven by serving up a whole mound of it with ketchup-infused rice on the side. The end bit of the corn dog is no longer a supporting character — in this bento it finally reaches its full potential as the star dish. ▼ There's even a sachet of mustard and ketchup included so you can really bring out those corn dog flavours. Following the instructions to heat the bento in a 500-watt microwave for 60 seconds, Masanuki could smell the tantalising fried aroma of the corn dog bits, and when he took a bite… ▼ … he left this world and ascended to corn dog heaven. The batter bits were delicious, and amazingly, they made Masanuki feel like he'd just eaten a whole corn dog without having eaten one. The taste was so spot-on that he couldn't quite believe it, and as he gobbled them all up, he began to appreciate the wabi sabi aspect of the corn dog ends. With most people attributing the deliciousness of a corn dog to the main body, the simple end bits are often overlooked and sometimes discarded without a second thought. Wabi sabi teaches us to appreciate the inherent beauty in simple, seemingly imperfect things, and these ends of the corn dog perfectly hold the silence left behind after the American dog is gone. We can't imagine anyone but Don Quijote coming up with the idea to give these overlooked, discarded batter bits their time in the spotlight. You may never find a more wabi sabi-esque bento in Japan, and Masanuki is thankful that it was all made possible by the humble American corn dog. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
SoraNews24
14-07-2025
- SoraNews24
What happens when you seek refuge from the summer heat at Ikea in Shinjuku
Surprising finds happen when you least expect them. Part of being a working Tokyoite is knowing how and where to escape the summer heat while commuting to and from the office during the hottest days of the year. For our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma, his summer haven is Ikea Shinjuku, as it's right between Shinjuku Station and our office, so when temperatures soared above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) recently, he sought refuge in the store to give his sweat-drenched body a rest before work, and when he did he made some surprising discoveries. The first find came as soon as he stepped through the doors, as the store had strategically placed its Swedish Bite bistro right near the entrance. Stepping over to the ticket vending machines to see what they had to offer, he discovered something that immediately had him reaching for his coins. ▼ The Secret Soft ice cream (150 yen [US$1.03]) The mysterious black colour of the Secret soft serve looked like just the thing to reset his tired body, and his interest piqued even further when he saw that the ticket from the machine had 'シークレット' ('secret') on it in bold black-and-white print. It took seconds for him to receive his soft serve, and the whole process of entering the store and ordering and receiving the ice cream took about a minute, which is good to know when you're looking for a quick place to recover from the heat. If you've ever felt like you're about to shrivel up from the heat, a cold, refreshing soft serve is unbeatable. That's how Masanuki feels anyway, and when he put his lips around the icy treat, he closed his eyes in delight as he found the secret flavour tasted fruity, with a sweetly tart and refreshing finish that made him think it might be pear. After finishing his soft serve, Masanuki's energy was restored and he decided to enjoy the air conditioning for a little while longer by heading up to the next floor. That's where he discovered that this branch of Ikea was celebrating its fourth anniversary with a limited-edition tote bag for 999 yen. Next to the bags was a selection of seasonal goods, where he saw what looked to be rolled-up towels. Upon closer inspection, he found these were actually T-shirts, and there was a good discount on them for customers who are registered as Ikea Family members. Seeing as Masanuki often shops at Ikea, he's been a member for a while, so when he saw he'd only have to pay 999 yen instead of 2,499 yen, he immediately picked up a black in the L/XL size. With his clothes already sweaty before work, Masanuki thought it'd be nice to wear the shirt when he got to the office, so he could feel super refreshed and ready to start the day. ▼ When he unrolled it in the office, it didn't look half bad. ▼ And when he put it on, he felt like a new man. The one drawback to the shirt was the super long tag inside it, but that was an easy fix as he got out his scissors and simply snipped it off. Masanuki couldn't quite believe how good the fabric felt against his skin, especially after his hot morning commute, and now that he knows how easy it is to get a soft serve on the way to work, he might just be popping in more frequently over the next couple of months. So next time you're walking around Tokyo looking for a respite from the heat, you might want to to duck in to a store like Ikea. You never know what you might find, and chances are, you'll look and feel better for the short break too! Images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
02-07-2025
- SoraNews24
This Japanese train station has its very own hot spring bathhouse, right on the platform【Photos】
We hop on the train to Mizunuma, then hop into the bath. The amount of amenities you can find at train stations in Japan varies pretty widely by how big the surrounding city is. At the primary rail hubs in major metropolises, you can expect full-sized shopping centers, restaurant rows, and hotels to be attached to the station building, but if you get far enough into the countryside, the station might not be anything more than an unstaffed platform with a bench and a box into which passengers drop your ticket with the honor system as the only safeguard that they paid the proper fare. So with Mizunuma Station being on the outskirts of the relatively low-key town of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, most people probably wouldn't expect the facility to have anything that noteworthy. They'd be wrong, though, because Mizunuma Station has its very own natural onsen/hot spring, called Mizunum no Yu, with the entrance right there on the platform! It's common for web sites for hot springs and other travel attractions to mention how far they are from the nearest train station, and Mizunuma no Yu proudly, and accurately, boasts that it's a 'zero-minute walk' from Mizunuma Station. Though the area has been known for hot springs for some time, the station onsen just opened up a few months ago, and our intrepid Japanese-language reporter Masanuki Sunakoma made the trip to check it out for himself. ▼ Mizunuma Station is located on the Watarase Keikoku Line, which connects Kiryu with Nikko. General adult admission to Mizunuma no Yu is 1,350 yen (US$9.30) on weekdays and 1,550 on weekends and holidays, and those prices include a complementary drink in the lounge area. Towels aren't provided for free, so Masanuki had to rent one for 300 yen (which he could have avoided or reduced by bringing a towel from home or picking one up from a 100 yen shop before leaving the big city). ▼ Base admission does include locker use, though. ▼ Entrance to the men's bath The facility is actually divided into two sections, one for general admission and another with more premium amenities for an extra charge (600 yen on weekdays, 800 yen on weekends/holidays). It doesn't feel like Mizunuma no Yu is cheaping out on you in the basic zone at all, though, since it has both outdoor and indoor baths, as well as a sauna, lounge, and restaurant. ▼ Photography in the baths is prohibited, but these photos from the Mizunuma no Yu website show the general-admission baths. If you're visiting during the day, you can take in the beautiful vie of the surrounding forests from the bath, and even if it's after sundown, the mountain breeze feels invigorating on your freshly washed skin in the outdoor area. As an added bonus, even though Masanuki was at Mizunuma no Yu on the weekend, it wasn't particularly crowded. Maybe that's because the place has only been open since April, but it was nice to have room to stretch out in the bath and quietly zone out while enjoying both the warm water and tranquil atmosphere. After his soak and sauna session, Masanuki was feeling mighty relaxed, but also powerfully thirsty, so he headed to the lounge for his free drink. There's actually a pretty nice lineup of complimentary beverages, including fruit juices, teas, and Pepsi. What Masanuki was really impressed by, though, was that the free drink list includes Iyoshi Cola. ▼ Billed as a 'craft cola,' Iyoshi has a unique, refreshing taste, and also a sweet backstory about how the company's founder was inspired by his grandfather. If you're of the mindset that a nice cold beer is the perfect after-onsen beverage, you can also upgrade to a glass of Suntory Premium Malt's for an additional 200 yen, or a cocktail if you prefer. Surprisingly, the lounge also serves Coldstone ice cream (something that's getting harder to find in Japan these days) and savory snacks such as edamame and takoyaki. If you're feeling even hungrier, there's also an attached restaurant with tempting dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, including wagyu sukiyaki, kamameshi (rice and various meats and vegetables cooked together in the same pot), and udon noodles. ▼ Restaurant entrance Though convenience is obviously a big part of the appeal of a station-attached hot spring, Mizunuma no Yu is nice enough that Masanuki could easily see himself spending half a day here, hopping back and forth between the baths, sauna, lounge, and restaurant. For his next visit, he might even splurge for access to the premium area and its extra-large open-air bath and special napping room. He's totally satisfied with the general-admission areas too, though, and if you're looking for a hot spring that's off the beaten path but still extremely easy to access, it's hard to beat Mizunuma no Yu. Hot spring information Mizunuma no Yu / 水沼の湯 Address: Gunma-ken, Kiryu-shi, Kurohone-cho, Mizunuma 群馬県桐生市黒保根町水沼 Open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Website Top image: SoraNews24 Insert images: SoraNews24, PR Times ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
SoraNews24
29-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- SoraNews24
What's inside a Family Mart Grand Opening Lucky Bag?
We join the party at a new convenience store opening in Japan. You never know what you might find at a convenience store in Japan, and that fact was never as clear as it was when our reporter Masanuki Sunakoma stumbled upon a Family Mart that had opened in his neighbourhood. Stepping through the sliding doors, complete with their distinctive melodic chime, he was greeted by a bunch of colourful Family Mart balloons to mark the grand occasion, but that wasn't the only unusual thing about the place. There on the table, he found the 'Grand Opening Lucky Bag', which was priced at a very reasonable 500 yen (US$3.47), so he immediately grabbed one to see what it contained. The word '福袋' ('fukubukuro' or 'lucky bag') is usually reserved for blind-buy bags sold at New Year, but a store opening is also a good time to bring them out for a celebration. Feeling a flurry of excitement, Masanuki opened the lucky bag and peered inside… What he found was a collection of goods worthy of a party. Lightly Salted Potato Chips (150 yen) Chocolate Filled Cream Puffs (138 yen) Bakauke Rice Crackers with Dried Green Laver Flakes (118 yen) Light and Airy Castella (128 yen) Aquarius sports drink (151 yen) Family Mart Pocket Tissues (not available for sale) The value of the bag turned out to be 685 yen, which wasn't a bad return for the 500 yen he spent on it. Every item was a welcome addition to the snack cupboard, but out of everything, his favourite had to be the Chocolate Filled Cream Puffs, which he demolished in no time. So if you ever spot a new convenience store pop up in your neighbourhood, it's always worth going in to take a look. You may find discounts, lucky bags, or even steamed manju buns that you won't ever see at that store again. Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
