Latest news with #Takuya
SoraNews24
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What's inside a Japanese taco?
Taco restaurant serves up some surprises in Tokyo. You can find a lot of things in the huge metropolis that is Tokyo, but one thing that's relatively hard to find is good tacos. Our reporter Takuya Inaba has been on a mission to change that, though, hopping from place to place to try as many tacos as he can find. His latest quest took him to El Rey Amigo, a little-known spot in Tokyo's Machida City, right at the entrance to the retro Machida Nakamise Shopping Street, which is lined with long-established stores and restaurants. ▼ The colourful entrance to the shopping street will put a smile on your dial. ▼ Walking through the arcade will lead you to the secret taco spot. ▼ The menu is printed in Japanese and English, with everything reasonably priced. The low prices meant Takuya would be able to try a few different varieties, so he started by ordering the three-piece taco set for 1,000 yen (US$6.77). The flavours here are beef, beef chunks, and chicken, all topped with pickled purple cabbage and served with sauce and limes on the side. The crispy corn tortillas were fragrant and delicious, and the pickled purple cabbage added a great acidic tartness, creating an irresistible flavour. The best thing about these, though, were the fillings, which were bold in flavour, spreading spiciness and umami throughout the palate in equal amounts. They were true to Mexican-style tacos in ways you don't usually find in Tokyo, and three weren't nearly enough to satisfy Takuya's cravings. So he placed another order, this time for the 'Birria Taco' (500 yen), which is said to be all the rage in California. ▼ To eat it, you dip it in the accompanying soup. This one was surprisingly heavy to hold… and incredibly delicious to eat. T he meat, which had been marinated in vinegar, dried chillies, garlic, and a mix of herbs and spices, delivers a whollop of flavour to the taste buds. Loaded with an amazing amount of cheese, it has a super guilty flavour that's irresistible, and when you dip it in the accompanying soup… … the sense of sinful indulgence maxes out, with the rich and creamy flavour leaving you defenseless to its charms. By this stage, Takuya was happily full but he did have room for a unique taco you won't find anywhere else. ▼ The 'Japanese Taco' (800 yen) According to the menu, this taco is filled with the very Japanese flavour of okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake typically containing cabbage and eggs and served with mayonnaise, a sweet and salty sauce, and a topping of aonori (seaweed flakes) and katsuobushi (bonito flakes). The store's decision to use a soft tortilla for this taco is actually a very clever one, as it's a closer fit for the pancake-like taste and texture of a grilled okonomiyaki. Though Takuya was expecting some sort of Mexican fusion flavour when he bit into it, instead he found that it tasted exactly like an okonomiyaki, right down to the tiniest detail. It was so spot-on he found himself laughing in surprise, and the presence of yakisoba (fried noodles) inside was another unexpected discovery that added to its delicious moreishness. ▼ The noodles-and-tortilla combination makes this a filling meal so you'd only need to eat one of these to feel satisfied. The whole thing was seriously tasty, and the store's boldness in creating such out-there flavours puts this on Takuya's list of must-visit taco places to try while you're in Tokyo. Just make sure you come with an empty stomach so you can enjoy all the delicious varieties. Restaurant information El Rey Amigo Address: Tokyo-to, Machida-shi, Haramachida 4-5-18 東京都町田市原町田4丁目5ｰ18 Open: 7:00 p.m.-midnight (ends when sold out) Closed: Irregular holidays Website (Instagram) 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
16-07-2025
- General
- SoraNews24
One week of Pop-Tart breakfasts – Can a Japanese man fall in love with the U.S. breakfast icon?
Seven days, seven packs of Pop-Tarts. Watching foreign movies and TV series can provide you with unexpected insights into overseas lifestyles, and recently our Japanese-language reporter Takuya Inaba keeps noticing the same thing in works from the U.S. It's not the family dynamics or workplace norms that have been grabbing his attention, though. Rather, it's a piece of set dressing that keeps showing up again and again in kitchen-set scene, a little blue box with 'Pop-Tarts' written on it. After doing some research, Takuya learned that they've been around since 1964, and are a beloved breakfast food in America. Here in Japan, though, they're almost entirely unknown, and completely different from the traditional Japanese breakfast of rice, fish, and miso soup, or even the standard Japanese image of a Western-style breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and/or salad. And so Takuya set out to get a taste of this part of American culture for himself, and pledged to eat nothing but Pop-Tarts for breakfast for an entire week…provided, of course, that he could actually get his hands on some, since unlike in the U.S., they're not commonly available in convenience stores or supermarkets in Japan. Luckily, Amazon Japan had Takuya covered, and after looking over the various flavors available through the online commerce giant, he decided on a box of Frosted Strawberry Pop-Tarts (the one here). Shipping was free and took about one week, and with 16 Pop-Tart packs in the box for a price of 1,650 yen (US$11.40), Takuya was looking at a cost of only about 100 yen a day for breakfast, provided these turned out to be a viable morning meal option. Opening up the box on Morning 1, Takuya pulled out one of the shiny packs, discovering that each one actually holds two Pop-Tarts. Tearing open a packet and pulling one out, he could see that from one side it looked like a pretty ordinary, if squared-off, piece of bread… …but when he flipped it around… …it looked like straight-up candy! Now, it's true that you can find a variety of sweet pastries in the bread aisle of Japanese convenience stores. Those aren't usually marketed as breakfast foods, though, and they're also not nearly as sugar-encrusted as what Takuya now held in his hand. Not that he was complaining, mind you, as he took a bite and found a pleasing quantity of strawberry jam waiting inside. The reviews from Japanese customers on Amazon had described Pop-Tarts' flavor as crazy sweet, but Takuya actually found it rather enjoyable. He wouldn't describe the taste as refined or balanced, but it wasn't as intensely sugary as he'd been bracing himself for. As a matter of fact, Takuya was startled by how unsweet the dough was in sections where it wasn't touched by sugar, frosting, or jam. Without any extra sweeteners, the flavor of the dough most reminded Takuya (who's a big burrito fan) of a tortilla. However, as he chewed Takuya took a closer look at the packaging and learned that the recommended way to eat Pop-Tarts is to warm them up in the toaster or microwave first, so that's what he did for his second pastry in the pack. OK, now this was getting good! The now warm, melty jam was amazingly tasty, and the dough had also become more flavorful, and gained a more inviting texture too. It was starting to make sense to Takuya how these things could have become an ubiquitous part of breakfast culture in the U.S., and so he went on to live this particular version of the American dream with a solid week of Pop-Tart breakfasts. ▼ Left to right then top to bottom: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday ▼ And then for the final day, Sunday, an alfresco Pop-Tart breakfast. Upon seeing an actual Pop-Tart for the first time, Takuya figured it'd be sort of hard to commit to this diet, but that turned out to be easier than he'd expected, since they taste good and are surprisingly filling. He will admit, though, that by the end of the week he was getting a little tired of starting every day with the same simple sweetness, and he never quite got over the sense of subtle guilt he felt from eating what still felt like a dessert for his morning meal. Curious as to whether or not a daily Pop-Tart breakfast ever starts to feel totally normal, Takuya headed to downtown Tokyo's Harajuku neighborhood, one of the most popular parts of the city among foreign sightseers, to find some Americans and get their take on the matter. Without exception, they were all familiar with Pop-Tarts, and confirmed that yes, they're a popular breakfast food in the States. But when Takuya told them about his solid week of Pop-Tart breakfasts, even Takuya's new American acquaintances said that sounded like a bit much, and that a daily Pop-Tart pack habit is something only super-fans or little kids have. Takuya had sort of developed such a hunch around the middle of his week, and so it made a lot of sense when the people he talked to told him that Pop-Tarts are more of a thing that people keep a box of in their pantry for mornings when they're too busy to make a regular breakfast or have particularly strong cravings for something sweet. That made even more sense when Takuya got back home and checked the expiration date for his Pop-Tarts and saw that they'll be good until April of next year, so he thinks he'll take his time and savor his remaining stock. 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
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What did our Japanese reporter think of his first visit to American cinnamon roll chain Cinnabon?
Takuya knew that his visit was destined to be sweet, but exactly how sweet…? Our Japanese-language writer Takuya Inaba has been enjoying the American TV show Adam Eats the 80's (2022), in which the host devours anything hot in the 1980s with a heaping side dose of nostalgia. In particular, the episode where he eats a Cinnabon cinnamon roll piqued Takuya's interest. He could almost sense the overly sweet sugar shock of the roll through his TV screen. He decided the only way to quench his curiosity was to visit Cinnabon and try one of the famous pastries for the first time. ▼ Founded in Washington State in 1985, Cinnabon is commonly found at shopping malls across the U.S., where its presence is revealed by the heavenly wafting scent of cinnamon on the air. Luckily for Takuya, Cinnabon exists in a number of locations throughout Japan, often paired with Seattle's Best Coffee. He promptly headed to the nearest Futako-Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center location in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. His excitement intensified when he entered the store and saw rows of showy cinnamon rolls. It was as if his American '80s food dream were coming true right before his eyes. Takuya started off with the Cinnabon Classic for 540 yen (US$3.69). It was a thing of beauty, with the cream cheese frosting flowing over the sides of the pastry. It wasn't until he held it in his hand that he realized just how enormous it was. He continued to watch in amazement as the frosting dripped dangerously lower. His fingers couldn't hold it for long, though, because it was still piping hot. With premonitions of a scalded tongue, he decided the safest way to consume his prize was to cut it open to allow some steam to escape. The inside was unexpectedly pretty, with layers of the roll clearly visible in a spiraling pattern. Takuya finally took a bite and was spellbound by its delicious sweetness. If he had to describe the taste in words, he would go with 'THE American' (verbatim). Curiously, there wasn't a heavy aftertaste, and the dough was plenty springy and soft. He also appreciated the fact that the cinnamon flavor wasn't too strong, but added just the right balance of spice to stimulate his appetite. Despite its size, Takuya still had plenty of room, so he next decided to spring for a convenient cup version called Roll on the Go (480 yen). This one featured a cinnamon roll pre-cut into bite-sized pieces in a paper cup. He appreciated the fact that his fingers didn't have to get sticky while eating this one. Even that addition didn't leave Takuya fully satiated, so he peeked at the menu to see what kinds of special flavors there were. First, the Caramel Pecanbon (600 yen regular/420 yen mini size) was a done deal. It looked so pretty with its flowing caramel frosting and pecan nut topping. Once he took a bite, he could only laugh because it felt like every cell in his body had been jolted awake from the sheer sweetness of it all. People could probably get addicted to this exact taste. Second, the Red Cherrybon (620 yen regular size/450 yen mini size) as his last order was a no-brainer. He thought it looked somewhat seductive with its drizzling of deep crimson cherry sauce. It also turned out to be his personal favorite, with the sour cherry flavor causing him to lose all remaining sense of sanity until he had devoured the whole thing. Luckily, coffee paired very well with all of the sweetness and helped settle his stomach at the end of this gastronomic adventure. We haven't gotten word yet if Takuya's still recovering from his Cinnabon-induced food coma, but whenever he wakes up, he can probably raise his blood sugar again through Lawson's current double-sized food offerings. Sweet, sweet dreams, Takuya! All 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 ]
Straits Times
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
At The Movies: Food for thought in 28 Years Later, My Sunshine a heartfelt coming-of-age drama
At The Movies: Food for thought in 28 Years Later, My Sunshine a heartfelt coming-of-age drama 28 Years Later (M18) 115 minutes, showing in cinemas ★★★★☆ The story: British director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland revisit the Rage Virus of 28 Days Later (2002) they created more than two decades earlier. Great Britain is now quarantined from the continent: who needs Brexit? A community, which survived the cannibalistic undead, has settled on a feudal fortress island connected to the mainland by a tidal causeway. Spike (Alfie Williams) is the boy hero of 28 Years Later, the third entry following 28 Weeks Later (2007) in the auteur zombie series. On his 12th birthday, his dad Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) takes him on a manly rite-of-passage hunt on the mainland. It is his introduction to the ghastly Infected roving the wilderness. The blubbery belly-crawling humanoids are easy targets for his arrows. Not the Alphas: they have evolved to be faster, smarter, feral and near-unkillable. Spike, however, has heard rumours of a physician, and he is soon sneaking back outside the safe zone, determined to save his long-ailing mother (Jodie Comer). That the mythical doctor is a kook played by Ralph Fiennes would be an encounter worth any danger, even, possibly, the Alphas chasing him down to rip his head off with spinal column attached. The movie in all its punk-rock helter-skelter viscera was filmed using iPhones and amplified by military footage. What is the Rage Virus if not Boyle's parable of humanity eating itself alive with its anger? And violence here becomes an entryway into a moving rumination on mortality for Spike, an innocent who has never known disease or death. Wherever Hollywood director Nia DaCosta (The Marvels, 2023) leads him next in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the second in a new trilogy due in 2026, Boyle has reaffirmed himself as a vital innovator of a seminal horror lore. Hot take: There is food for thought, not just flesh-chomping frights. My Sunshine (M18) 90 minutes, opens exclusively at The Projector on June 26 ★★★☆☆ (From left) Kiara Nakanishi and Keitatsu Koshiyama in My Sunshine. PHOTO: THE PROJECTOR The story: During one winter in a Japanese island town, two adolescents pair up for an upcoming skating competition. Taipei Film Festival's 2024 Special Jury Prize winner will not be the usual underdog sports drama. My Sunshine is an understated movie constructed of glances. Takuya (Keitatsu Koshiyama), a shy schoolboy with a stutter, is with his ice hockey team at the local recreation centre when he sights figure skater Sakura (Kiara Nakanishi) elegantly gliding on the rink. He is spellbound. The older girl has eyes only for her coach Arakawa (Sosuke Ikematsu), who later sees Takuya clumsily attempting Sakura's manoeuvres and is moved to mentor him. A former skating champion, he also sees something of himself in Takuya's passion. The lad is so endearing that haughty Sakura, a rising star from big-city Tokyo, needs little persuasion from Arakawa to begin training with him for a mixed duo contest. They become a family. An excursion to a frozen lake is a joyous high as the threesome cavort madly and embrace tightly against the magic hour light. But then comes another, unhappier glance: Sakura espies Arakawa with his male partner. The idyll is over even before the season's snow has melted. Japanese writer-director Hiroshi Okuyama's sophomore feature had seemed just a sweet, nostalgic coming-of-age confection, one that is suddenly very grown-up and deeply sad in confronting Japanese society's conservative gender norms and homophobia. The sensitive performances play the emotions for real because they are: Okuyama based the screenplay on his experiences as a junior skater. Hot take: This youthful romance, slender though it is, holds heartfelt feelings, tender and sorrowful. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Kyodo News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Families of N. Korea abductees ask new U.S. envoy for support
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 19:54 | All, Japan The families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago met with new U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass in Tokyo on Thursday to seek help in resolving the issue, according to a younger brother of one of the most well-known abduction victims. "We asked for his assistance toward the resolution of a problem that is running out of time," Takuya Yokota, the 56-year-old brother of Megumi Yokota, told reporters after the closed-door meeting, adding he felt Glass took their suffering "seriously." Megumi was abducted at age 13 by North Korean agents in Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast in 1977, while returning home from badminton practice at her junior high school. Pyongyang claims she died by suicide in 1994. "I believe the meeting had a lot of meaning if the importance of this issue is conveyed" to U.S. President Donald Trump, Takuya said. Tetsuya Yokota, Takuya's twin brother, said he told Glass that "just providing a space to talk likely applied pressure on North Korea," while their 89-year-old mother, Sakie, said the ambassador gave her a hug. The gathering was also attended by Glass's wife, Mary, who Takuya said expressed sympathy with their plight. Since the return of five abductees to Japan in 2002, Tokyo has sought the release of 12 others it has officially recognized as having been taken by North Korea. It also suspects Pyongyang's involvement in the disappearances of other Japanese citizens. Related coverage: Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea call for Trump's support Families of Japanese abducted by N. Korea to seek U.S. aid for return
