Asakusa is located in Tokyo and is home to many famous tourist and sightseeing spots such as Sensō-ji Temple and the Kaminarimon Gate. It’s also a place lined with restaurants serving up an array of gourmet dishes.
We have covered many popular cafés and local specialties in Asakusa in MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON. Today, we will take a look at a sushi restaurant called Oniku no Osushi which opened recently where customers can eat sushi served with Japanese wagyu beef. It is the first big name restaurant from the Gion district of Kyoto to arrive in the country’s Kanto region. Since opening its doors, it has been much-talked-about and has enjoyed the hustle and bustle of hungry customers.
The restaurant is about an 8-minute walk from Akasaka Station via the subway and just a 2-minute walk via Tsukuba Express. You’ll know the restaurant when you see it as the outside of it incorporates a wooden design. Inside, too, wooden planks and pillars decorate the interior.
Matsusaka beef is a brand of beef in Japan made from the meat of Japanese Black cattle that are reared under strict conditions in Matsusaka, Mie. At Oniku no Osushi, customers are able to eat this beef in the form of sushi marbled and with a rare texture.
I dined together with Chinese model and talent Etsuna. She loves eating out but this was her first time eating rare meat on sushi. We ordered the restaurant’s popular Oniku no Osushi platter and the Gyusen Don (served only at lunchtime).
Oniku no Osushi Platter (8 Pieces): ¥5,000
The meat sushi platter comes with eight pieces including two pieces each of lean beef, salted beef, roast beef, and fatty gunkan beef. Excluding the gunkan beef it’s recommended eating each piece from the left as pictured above. Everything is already flavoured so you can eat them as they are.
The gunkan beef is best enjoyed while it is still frozen so I started with that. The cold beef just melts as it enters you mouth. It tastes sweet and has a fatty texture to it. The egg yolk mixes together with the beef on your tongue and gives it an even smoother taste.
The meat of the lean beef, salted beef and roast beef sushi is soft and each is layered with refreshing grated lemon and daikon. When you bite into the succulent meat your taste buds are treated to the sweetness of the fat and the meats’ rich flavours. I was able to taste the distinct qualities of each type.
Gyusen Don (w/ Cold Miso Soup): ¥2,480
The Gyusen Don is served at lunchtime only. It contains Matsusaka Gyusen® flakes and Kyoto-style tsukemono pickled vegetables, condiments and bite-sized meat pieces. The presentation of the dish is beautiful! You add soy sauce to it and mix with the egg yolk, and it’s simple irresistible! We made sure to snap a final photo before tucking in.
The beef of this dish melts in your mouth just like the gunkan beef and blends well with the egg yolk to create a velvety flavour. The dish also has condiments and pickled vegetables too adding to the variety of tastes. If you add wasabi or ginger the flavours are elevated even further, especially when eaten with the Kyoto-style pickled vegetables which creates a spicy tang.
The miso soup that the dish is served with is also Kyoto-style. Wheat starch and pickled vegetables are added to the sweet white broth to create a mellow flavour that goes well with the dish.
Etsuna gave high praise to the dish too: “It was so delicious. I think there are still a lot of foreigners that don’t know about meat sushi yet, so I think it’ll get popular soon. It’s a bit pricey there are a lot of foreign travelers who want to eat tasty Japanese food, so I recommend it to them.”
Asakusa is famous for its takeaway food to be eaten while walking, but Oniku no Sushi serves up an Asakusa-exclusive gourmet experience too.
Steamed Rice & Meat: ¥500
If you’re walking around Asakusa and are feeling peckish, then you should go for steamed rice and meat (おにくの飯蒸し). It’s packed full of beefy flavour.
What did you think of this little Asakusa lunch trip? Of course, Oniku no Osushi has an evening slot for dinner too, so if you’d like to try some Matsusaka beef then be sure to pay a visit.
Writer: Sayuri Mizuno (MMN Editorial Department)
Model: 悦奈（Etsuna）
Information
Information
Oniku no Osushi (Asakusa Branch)
Address: 2-6-14 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:30-15:00 / Dinner 18:00-21:00
Closed: Tuesdays
TEL: 03-5811-1939
Access: 7-minutes on foot from Sensō-ji’s Kaminarimon Gate / 2-minutes on foot from Asakusa Station via Tsukuba Express
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BOBA365, a bubble tea shop which just opened in Asakusa in November last year, has announced it is releasing a new drink and dessert on March 1, 2019.
Yaki Brûlée Matcha Latte - Regular Size ¥700 (Tax Included)
The new Yaki Brûlée Matcha Latte is an upgrade of BOBA365's most popular beverage, the Tapioca Matcha Latte Kiwami. It's a combination of bitter matcha from Shizuoka Prefecture and milk. It has just the right amount of sweetness to create an even deeper flavour than the store's original matcha latte. Matcha is said to be good for health and beauty, and so to make it even more delicious, BOBA365 has burnt the top of the drink like a crème brûlée. There are five layers of flavour to indulge in with just one sip.Thick Dorayaki Matcha Kiwami: ¥480 (Tax Included)
The original Tapioca Matcha Latte Kiwami has also be turned into a delicious dorayaki dessert packed with a generous serving of cream laced with matcha from Shizuoka Prefecture. BOBA365 has announced it will release more new items in the near future, but for now enjoy the Yaki Brûlée Matcha Latte and Thick Dorayaki Matcha Kiwami.Information
BOBA365
Address: 2-5-9 Asakusa, Taito Ward, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:00-21:00
No Fixed Holidays.
Access: 3-minutes on foot from Asakusa Station via TSUKUBA EXPRESS / 10-minutes on foot from Asakusa Station via all other lines
BOBA365 Official Website: https://peraichi.com/landing_pages/view/boba365
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Sarazanmai is an upcoming TV anime series set to begin airing in April 2019. The series director Kunihiko Ikuhara appeared alongside Junichi Suwabe who voices Keppi at Animate Girls Festival 2018 which was held on November 10 and 11 where he unveiled details surrounding the story and setting.
Kunihiko Ikuhara has wanted to create stories since he was a child. Today, he is a creative artist and anime director who has directed hit anime series such as Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997) and Mawaru Penguindrum (2011). During his talk, Ikuhara spoke about how he wanted to create a story on the legend of the kappa, a yokai of Japanese folklore that has webbed hands and feet and a shell on its back similar to a turtle. As he explained this, he also dropped that the story will be set in Asakusa, Tokyo. "[Asakusa is] next to the Sumida River. I wanted these young boys' story to be in a place where one can feel life," he commented. The theme of the story is "connecting." We live in a world where we can connect to anyone at any time with a mobile phone, but there's a lack of actually wanting to connect. "If we carry on connecting in this way, where would we end up? If we lose sight of connecting [with others], would it really become like that? Is connecting a necessity or not? These are things I wanted to explore," explained the director. A radio show titled Purezanmai based on the anime series was also announced to begun airing in January 2019. Two important characters in the series, the police duo Reo Niiboshi voiced by Mamoru Miyano and Mabu Akutsu voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya, also have their own Twitter account which they will be posting on frequently until March 31, 2019. Comment: Junichi Suwabe (Voices "Keppi")"This anime is an original series so there's a lot I can't talk about, but what I can say is that since it begins in April 2019 it will straddle the new era*. The old era will go and a new one will come. Even though it will be very new for the new era, I think it will be a wonderful and nostalgic series. I hope people look forward to it."*Translator's Note: He is talking about the end of the Japanese Heisei Period which is set to end while the anime is airing. Comment: Kunihiko Ikuhara (Director)"Even now the staff are working diligently on the series. I hope to connect with everyone during this time where it's hard to know what it means to connect and where we would end up if we did. Please look forward to Sarazanmai!" Information
TV Anime “Sarazanmai”
Initial Broadcast: April 2019
Official Website: http://sarazanmai.com
Radio Show “Purezanman”
Hosts: Kunihiko Ikuhara (Director), Junichi Suwabe (voice of Keppi)
Channel: A&G+
Time/Date: Every Saturday at 21:00 (JST) on A&G TRIBAL RADIO AGSON
Reo & Mabu Twitter
Running: Until March 31, 2019 -
Shin NakamiseShopping Street in Asakusa runs perpendicular to Nakamise Shopping Street, and it’s there that the new Japanese tea café Yanagi Chaya will open on July 6, 2018. Asakusa is one of Japan’s most famous tourist destinations and is packed with tourists from both inside and outside of Japan every single day. Yanagi Chaya will open nearby Sensoji Temple which is a significant sightseeing spot for tourists, hailing as the oldest temple in Tokyo. The café’s ideal location means that those strolling around Asakusa can pop in for drinks and desserts. The shop is positioned so it takes in a lot of light, so it’s nice and bright. It’s also spacious, giving it a welcoming vibe. Its simple wooden décor lets one feel at one with the warmth of nature while also being surrounded by that Japanese omotenashi, or ‘hospitable’ atmosphere.
Uji Matcha Tiramisu - ¥600 Uji Matcha Rice Flour Dumplings - ¥790 The menu is packed full of matcha items. You could tuck into a boxed Uji matcha tiramisu which MACCHA HOUSE, another shop, is famous for and was even featured on news media. Or you could chew on some Uji matcha rice flour dumplings which are all individually handmade instore and made white syrup and a matcha paste created on site that mixes together strained bean paste and matcha. There’s plenty more on the menu too where that came from. Both the tiramisu and dumplings are something you’ll want a photo of. There’s also an original takeout matcha drink you can sip on which is made from a matcha called Tomo no Mori by Mori no Han who’ve been around since 1836. It’s served in Yanagi Chaya’s own bottles so you can take it around Asakusa with you as you explore the sites. Yanagi Chaya should be put on your list of places to visit in Asakusa. Enjoy yourself some delicious matcha sweets. ■Information Yanagi Chaya Address: Hashimoto Bldg. 1F, 1-30-6 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo Opening: July 6, 2018 Opening Hours: 10am-6pm (Last Orders 5pm) No Fixed Holidays. TEL: 03-5830-8317 FAX: 03-5830-8318 *All prices listed are pre-tax.
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Sebastian Masuda to open SUSHIDELIC, a new sushi restaurant in Soho, New York City. The location will open on June 28, 2023.
“King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda, creator of Harajuku’s “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE,” loved by celebrities around the world, has created a new restaurant concept in New York City
Sebastian Masuda is a multi-disciplinary artist whose unique sense of color transcends the boundaries of art, fashion, and entertainment. His restaurant “KAWAII MONSTER CAFE” opened in Harajuku in August 2015 and quickly became a popular spot in Tokyo, frequented by celebrities from around the world, including BLACK PINK’s Jenny, Katy Perry, and Ariana Grande. His next project will take place in New York City, where he is currently based. The restaurant will offer a completely new perspective on sushi, the most popular Japanese food in the U.S. and an integral part of the American lifestyle.Enjoy an Immersive Kawaii Experience
The new location is meant to be an “immersive Kawaii experience.” Once you step into the restaurant, you’ll find yourself in a psychedelic and one-of-a-kind space that will make you feel as if you’ve wandered into another world. Guest will be guided by employees clad in colorful custom-made costumes, and three rotating cats will be suspended by the ceiling, rotating to reveal a secret image. Guests sitting at the counter will enjoy a pink custom-made conveyor belt, a.k.a a sushi lane.The restaurant will offer artist Sebastian Masuda “Immersive Kawaii Experiences” that go beyond THE DINING EXPERIENCE.Featuring a Menu Developed by Japanese Chefs and Supported by AUTEC, Inc.
Chef Hiroki Abe and Sebastian Masuda collaborated to create an unforgettable menu, fully supported by AUTEC. After moving to the United States in 2001, Abe worked as an executive chef at EN Japanese Brasserie in NYC. He now works as a private chef at corporate events and parties around the U.S. On the technical side, AUTEC, which boasts the number one share of the automatic sushi machine market in North America, is backing up the venture. The sushi is sure to be as tasty as it is kawaii!Featuring Restaurant Music by RAM RIDER, the Music Producer Behind the Score at KMC
The in-store background music is essential when cultivating an immersive experience. Music producer RAM RIDER, who created the music for KAWAII MONSTER CAFE, has written an incredible 70-minute ambient track for SUSHIDELIC. Guests can look forward to losing themselves in the adorable ambiance.Tons of New Yorkers Visit During Pre-Opening, SUSHIDELIC Trends on Social Media
During SUSHIDELIC’s limited pre-opening, scores of New York-based celebrities and influencers visited the shop. The unparalleled ambiance, food presentation, and experience have quickly become a hot topic on social media!Opening in SoHo, the Trendiest Neighborhood in New York City
SUSHIDELIC is scheduled to open at 177 Lafayette St. in the heart of the SoHo area, where the latest fashions and trends are born and where many fashion brands have opened their flagship stores.We will keep you updated with the latest information as it becomes available. Please look forward to the chemistry between “Sushi” and “Kawaii,” two of Japan’s proudest exports.
Sebastian Masuda
Information
Shop Overview
Name: SUSHIDELIC
Opening: June 28, 2023
Address: 177 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10013Website: https://www.sushidelic.netInstagram: @sushidelic.nyc -
The online sake shop KURAND is now selling TIGER & BARNABY SPARKLING, a special sparkling sake made in collaboration with the TIGER & BUNNY 2 anime series.
TIGER & BARNABY SPARKLING is a sparkling sake that will surprise customers with its delicate bubbles and light flavor. The label features an outline of the city of Sternbild, the setting of TIGER & BUNNY, and each bottle will be delivered in a decorated box. This is perfect for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations! Those who purchase TIGER & BARNABY SPARKLING will receive a TIGER & BARNABY Champagne Stopper as a gift. The bubbliness of this sake is sure to impress, so kick back and relax with friends and family this holiday season with a few glasses of this limited-edition goodness. Information
TIGER & BARNABY SPARKLING
Order Period: November 4 – November 17 at 16:59
*Orders will be delivered by Christmas
Second Order Period: November 17 at 17:00~
*Orders will be delivered during or after January 2023
(Bottles available for Christmas are only available in limited quantities. Those ordering bottles for a January 2023 delivery should be aware that items are only available to order while supplies last.)Price: ¥8,600 (Tax Included)
Details: https://kurand.jp/collections/tigerandbunny -
In Saiki City, located in the southernmost part of Oita Prefecture, visitors will find a unique project. For a limited time, guests can enjoy a sushi-netarium, where sushi–not stars–will be featured in the sky. Saiki City, where the event takes place, is a treasure trove of seafood thanks to the Bungo Channel and boasts the largest catch in Oita Prefecture. It’s also known as Oita's premier sushi destination, with more than 350 varieties of ocean delicacies to enjoy each year. Saiki Sushi, made from fresh local fish, is known for its firm texture and for having just the right amount of fat. To promote this tasty dish throughout Japan, the interactive sushi-netarium promotion was created!
A Planetarium Experience Featuring Soothing Music and a Sky Filled with Sushi The sushi-netarium is said to have a relaxing effect comparable to that of Beppu Onsen, the most famous tourist attraction in Oita. Those taking part will be able to see not only a sky filled with sushi, but a sushi meteor shower and the Gari Borealis. As you watch, it might become impossible not to crave sushi! Visitors will be able to take part in this special viewing at certain locations in Beppu City and at Oita Airport from September 22 until November 30. In a public announcement, the city invited guests to eat plenty of tasty local food and soak in the Beppu Onsen before enjoying the sushi-netarium to wrap up a wonderful day. The Beautiful ‘Sushi Projector’ Check out these impressive projectors made exclusively for the sushi-netarium! These original sushi projectors in the shape of Saiki sushi are the only five such projectors in the world and come in the shapes of tuna, yellowtail, octopus, egg, and shrimp. Come enjoy this strange sushi-centric activity in the south of Japan! Participating facilities are listed on the website below. Information
Saiki City presents Sushi-netarium
Running: September 22 – November 30, 2022
Venue: Accommodations in Beppu City, Footbath Space at Oita Airport
Target Space: Accommodations listed below, Oita Airport Footbath Space
Details: https://www.visit-saiki.jp/topics/detail/eb9def81-fb90-40ae-9b5a-10c8d6c94b32
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Shiragiku Sake Brewery will release a special sake made exclusively to mix with soda water on October 1, 2022. The beverage will be available in Okayama Prefecture. The company’s interest in creating a new sake culture led them to develop &Soda, a delicious sake made to be mixed with soda. This may be helpful for those who don’t know much about sake, or who may feel intimidated by the many different types. Being able to mix it with soda will make sake drinking feel more casual.
Sake Made Exclusively for Mixing with Soda Water, ‘&Soda’
“Many people may like to mix sake with soda water or drink it on the rocks. By doing this, however, a nice sake may lose its flavor, and the drinker might be wasting a nice sake for the sake of a more easy-drinking beverage. &Soda was made exclusively to be mixed. Using Asahi Rice, a specialty in Okayama Prefecture, and water from the brewery, we’ve created a sake that has the proper aroma and sweetness. These characteristics will come through even after being mixed! The alcohol content has been increased to 18 percent, and the package will make the product easy to find and understand,” a statement from the brewery reads. For more information on how to enjoy &Soda, please see the special website below! Information
Sake Made Exclusively for Mixing with Soda Water, ‘&Soda’
Release Date: October 1, 2022
Official Site: http://www.andsoda.jp/
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Japan’s largest sake event, TOKYO SAKE FESTIVAL 2022, will run from October 4 until October 6 at the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building’s Triangle Square. The event’s aim is to make sake more mainstream around the world, with the first festival taking place in 2020. Tokyo Sake Festival blends sake with entertainment, showing off the very best of Japanese culture to those who may be new to craft sake. For the third year, former NMB48 member Yui Takano will serve as ambassador. Takano is known for leaving her idol career to manage the sake specialty store Yui Sake Shop. Tokyo Sake Festival 2022 is bringing together forty carefully selected sake breweries from around Japan, including Inoue Seikichi, winner of the Champion Sake award at IWC 2022. Tonoike Sake Brewery, winner of Kura Master 2022’s President’s Award, will also be in attendance. The full lineup can be found on the official website. Popular influencers and artists from Raphael to BOYS AND MEN and Ukon Takafuji will take the stage during the event, so be sure to swing by if you’re a fan of Japanese spirits!
Information
TOKYO SAKE FESTIVAL 2022
Dates:
October 4: Part 1 13:30-16:30 / Part 2 18:00-21:00
October 5: Part 1 13:30-16:30 / Part 2 18:00-21:00
October 6: 16:00-19:00
Venue: Shinjuku Sumitomo Building Triangle Square
(2-6-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)Buy Tickets/Details: https://tokyosakefestival.bitfan.id/
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Tsuchiya Kaban is known around the world for its Japanese craftsmanship and handmade goods. The company has now opened TSUCHI-YA, a glassware specialty store! The shop opened on Asakusa’s Kappabashi Dougu Street on August 18, 2022. At TSUCHI-YA, visitors can purchase the works of over 35 glass artisans from 13 prefectures throughout Japan, all of whom are dedicated to the art of making beautiful things. Aiming to share the beauty of glass with customers, many pieces on display are perfect for daily use.
In addition to unique handmade glassware, the collection also features faceted glassware, each incorporating advanced techniques to bring traditional designs into the modern age. The techniques used to create each piece of glass are also incredibly diverse. Along with faceted glass, visitors can find sandblasted glass, which uses sand to create intricate patterns, as well as blown glass. Also keep an eye out for sustainable items such as Ryukyu glass, a traditional Okinawan craft made from recycled glass melted from used bottles, and coasters made from wood, leather and other scrap materials. The interior design for the shop was done by the creative team that also handles Tsuchiya Kaban stores. The dark tones found on the first floor make the transparent glassware shine. The second floor is an upscale gallery with a white ceiling, walls, and floor, featuring colorful faceted glasses and accessories, as well as vases, art, and more. TSUCHI-YA embodied Tsuchiya Kaban’s passion for craftsmanship and will continue to share incredible handcrafted Japanese glassware. The company wants to bring Japanese politeness to the world. Information
TSUCHI-YA Asakusa Kappabashi Main Store
Open: August 18, 2022
Address: 2-5-4 Nishiasakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-17:00
Closed: Monday, Tuesday, New Years Holidays
Access: 7-minute walk from Tawaramachi Station (Exit 3) on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line / 6-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Exit B) on Tsukuba Express Line / 10-minute walk from Asakusa Station (Exit 3) on Ginza Line, etc.
Official Site: https://tsuchi-ya.jp/