Latest news with #Takada
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Step up to the plate: Catch a taste of heritage at La Cime, Osaka
At La Cime in Osaka, chef Yusuke Takada doesn't just serve food - he orchestrates a dialogue between past and present. His two-Michelin-starred restaurant offers a vision of French cuisine reimagined through a deeply Japanese lens. Inspired by Keikoshoukon - the act of meditating on the past to guide the present - Takada blends classical French techniques with Japanese ingredients like kudzu, tofu skin, miso and wasabi, creating something truly original. Every meal begins with his cheeky signature: the Boudin Dog . Imagine a smoky bite of blood sausage cloaked in edible bamboo charcoal - a nod to his Parisian training that's as playful as it is profound. But the surprises don't end there. La Cime's menu is fluid, adapting to ensure repeat guests always meet something new. Takada's roots - from the lush subtropics of Amami shima to the culinary verve of Osaka - breathe life into each dish, crafting an experience where food, guest and space become one. La Cime is not just a restaurant - it's a cultural revelation. If you want to see what happens when heritage and haute cuisine meet, visit La Cime.
Reuters
07-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Cosmo to launch Japan's first sustainable aviation fuel production in April
TOKYO, March 7 (Reuters) - Cosmo Energy Holdings is set to launch Japan's first domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel in April, a step toward the country's goal of replacing 10% of jet fuel with a cleaner alternative, though cost-cutting challenges remain. Cosmo (5021.T), opens new tab, the nation's third-largest refiner, will produce SAF from used cooking oil at its Sakai refinery in western Japan. "Our goal is to boost SAF supply to 300,000 kilolitres by 2030 through domestic production and imports," Takeshi Takada, general manager of new business development, said. Japanese refiners must supply SAF equivalent to 10% of their aviation fuel sales by 2030, as Japan works to combat climate change and aligns with global efforts to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from airplanes. A company official said 300,000 kl (1.89 million barrels) would be sufficient to meet 10% of Cosmo's jet sales. Cosmo plans to produce 30,000 kl of SAF annually at Sakai, supply 150,000 kl from its Sakaide site in western Japan using bioethanol and import 120,000 kl from Thailand's Bangchak ( opens new tab and other Asian suppliers, Takada said. The refiner aims to build expertise and customer relationships by launching production and sales ahead of competitors, despite challenges in reducing costs, securing raw materials and locking in buyers, he said. The Sakai project, targeting production of 24,000 kl in fiscal 2025 after accounting for site maintenance, has already secured most customers, including Japan Airlines (JAL) (9201.T), opens new tab, ANA (9202.T), opens new tab and DHL. Cosmo's next goal is to start SAF production at Sakaide by around 2029, with a final investment decision expected in fiscal 2026. Both projects have secured government subsidies, covering about half of capital expenditures. Cosmo declined to disclose Sakai's production costs or SAF prices, but the company expects to turn a profit with the help of subsidies. SAF is estimated to cost three to five times more than conventional jet fuel. While higher production volume could lower distribution costs, significant cost reductions are unlikely due to raw material constraints, which make up a large portion of expenses, Takada said. "Japan's subsidy scheme is at a medium level by global standards ... Countries will compete to offer attractive subsidy schemes for SAF deployment to maintain hub airport status," Takada said. Recently, the Sakaide plant and three other projects secured part of 340 billion yen ($2.3 billion) in government subsidies over five years to support local SAF production. The projects include Eneos' (5020.T), opens new tab 400,000 kl facility in Wakayama, Idemitsu Kosan's (5019.T), opens new tab 250,000 kl plant in Yamaguchi and Taiyo Oil's 200,000 kl project in Okinawa, all still in the design phase. Idemitsu has also secured a separate subsidy for a 100,000 kl project in its Chiba refinery near Tokyo. These projects are key to boosting domestic production and meeting Japan's estimated SAF demand of 1.7 million kl by 2030. ($1 = 147.5700 yen)
