Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture and the largest city in Japan's Tohoku region, is a two-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo. The city has earned the nickname Mori no Miyako, or 'City of Trees,' due to the abundant rows of zelkova trees lining many of its streets. It bustles with charm and is enjoyed by locals and tourists for its history, sights, and events, such as its associations with the Japanese regional ruler Date Masamune, the famous Sendai Tanabata Festival, and more. However, there are many other incredible locations that Sendai has to offer that aren't as well known as the popular sites, so today we are joined by Etsuna who is giving us the latest in what can be found in the city.  

Along The Coast

The coast of Sendai was struck by a tsunami when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck back on in March 2011. Today, the area is continuing its re-development efforts. New facilities have and are being built, including plenty of new spots the area never had before. Sendai is home to a memorial hall for remembering those affected during the disaster which is a must-visit if travelling to Sendai.  

Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium

Feel the sea breeze and ocean water of Tohoku against your skin Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium opened in 2015 as the larrgest aquarium in the Tohoku region. The first floor is themed on the waters of Tohoku where many rare aquatic species from the Sanriku Coast are housed. The second floor is centred on sea creatures found in the oceans around the world such as tropical fish, jellyfish, marine mammals, and other familiar faces.   Visitors can even meet ascidians there which are famous in the Sanriku Coast. The large fish tanks let in a lot of natural light, recreating the beauty of the Sanriku sea. There's also a special spot where you can get up close to some of the fish! The aquarium offers an optional program where visitors can feed the penguins. "It's a pretty big aquarium," said Etsuna. "It was great to see all of the different things they have on display. I had a lot of fun feeding the penguins too!"   Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium Address: 4-6 Nakano, Miyagino-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi Prefecture Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 (May change depending ont he season) No Fixed Holidays TEL: 022-355-2222 Access: 10-minutes by shuttle bus (free ride) from JR Nakanosakae Station Price: Adults ¥2,200 / Seniors, High School and Junior High School Children ¥1,600 / Elementary School Children ¥1,100 / Infants ¥600 (All Tax-Inclusive) Official Website: http://www.uminomori.jp/umino/  

Sendai Chuooroshiuri Market

Fresh fish at an affordable price Sendai Chuooroshiuri Market is like the kitchen of Sendai. The food shops there were opened by locals. Visitors will find many different bites to eat when visiting. Etsuna visited Sushi Yoshi, a restaurant in the area so popular that there's always a line. The restaurant's name, Sushi Yoshi, suggests that it's a sushi restaurant, but they actually serve common delicacies like rice bowls and set meals.

Maguro Sanshudon | ¥1,500

This rice bowl contains three kinds of maguro tuna, so much in fact that you can't even see the rice!

"You can enjoy delicious fresh fish at a reasonable price. You might have to wait in line, but it's totally worth it!"    Sushi Yoshi Address: 4-3-1 Oroshimachi, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 6:30-13:30 Closed: Wednesdays and Sundays TEL: 022-232-8042 Access: 20-minutes by bus from Sendai Station  

Sendai 3/11 Memorial Community Center

Learn the story of the disaster Inside Arai Station, which is the last stop on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, you can find the Sendai 3/11 Memorial Community Center where visitors can learn all about how the Great East Japan Earthquake affected Sendai through the exhibition rooms and in the communal space. The first floor features a panel with a 3D map of how the tsunami inundated the region as a result of the earthquake. Up on the second floor is a permanent exhibition showcasing the restoration and restoration efforts of the community as well as real photos from around the time of the disaster. There are also staff members there who survived the disaster and can describe their experiences as well as current issues facing Sendai. "I got teary when the speaker told me about the hardships they faced at that time," explains Etsuna. "The people of Sendai are living their lives looking forward, and I have a lot of respect for them."   Sendai 3/11 Memorial Community Center Address: Kutsugata-85 Arai, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 10:00-17:00 Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if the Monday falls on a public holiday) / Day after public holiday / New Year Holidays TEL: 022-390-9022 Access: Arai Station Entry: Free Official Website: http://sendai311-memorial.jp 

Sendai Arahama Elementary School

The school that still stands after the earthquake disaster On the day of the Tohoku earthquake, many local residents fled to Sendai Arahama Elementary School where 320 people were trapped including the evacuees, children, and teachers, before managing to escape safely to the roof. The school is now open as a memorial to preserve the memories of those who survived. The tsunami that struck after the earthquake made it to the second floor of the school. These first two floors have been kept untouched and are as they were on the day. There are photos as well as video footage exhibited on the fourth floor where the tsunami didn't reach. From the school building's roof you can gaze at the peaceful coastline. "Seeing the place that was hit by the tsunami up close has really changed my outlook on life. There is green in the surrounding area. I felt life budding all around."   Sendai Arahama Elementary School Address: Shinborihata-32-1 Arahama, Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 9:30-16:00 Closed: Mondays / Every 4th Thursday of the month / New Year Holidays TEL: 022-355-861 Access: 15-minutes by bus from Arai Station Entry: Free  

Akiu Area

Akiu Onsen is a spa town known to locals as the 'living room' of Sendai. It's a 30-50 minute bus ride from Sendai Station. It has been nicknamed one of Japan's Three Baths alongside Bessho Onsen and Nozawa Onsen, both in Nagano Prefecture. It's another place that Date Masamune frequented many times.  

Rairaikyo Gorge

A stroll along the gorge path Rairaikyo Gorge gets its name from the abundance of enormous rocks that have been eroded by the Natori River and given them strange shapes. The Kanji 'rai' used in the gorge's name literally means 'many rocks.' The gorge is home to a 1-km path that people can walk along and soak up the incredible natural environment that offers sights to behold throughout the year. From late October to mid November, when the autumn leaves are in bloom, the area is also lit up in the evenings. The heart-shaped hollow in the rocks as pictured above is considered a sacred place for couples. Taking a stroll along the path one sees maple trees aplenty. Visiting during the height of autumn graces you with a colourful scene you wouldn't want to miss. "I feel healed having gotten to take a leisurely stroll through nature," explained Etsuna. "The rocks of Akiu have some interesting shapes."   Rairaikyo Gorge Address: Akiumachi Yumoto, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Access: Approx. 40 minutes by bus from Sendai Station  

Akiu-sha

A stylish, old fashioned cafe in the hot spring town When taking a trip to Akiu Onsen, one hot spot that's a must-visit is Akiu-sha, a restaurant that was renovated from an old private farm house from the Edo Period. During the day it serves lunch food and drinks while in the evenings it's used for events like private parties. There's an open garden at the site which is sometimes used for weddings. At the back are vegetable plots tended to by the restaurant.

Akiu-sha Lunch | ¥1,280 (Before Tax)

The Akiu-sha Lunch is made with fresh vegetables grown in both their own plot as well as from around Akiu.

Akiu Saiseki Chocolate | ¥850 (Before Tax)

A white chocolate dessert inspired by the unique rocks of Akiu. Customers can use the little wooden hammer to break apart the dessert to create a rubble of chocolate. The inside of the restaurant is spacious with towering beams holding it up. "The vegetables are so fresh, I couldn't believe how tasty they were! This flavour is unique to this place."   Akiu-sha Address: Nozoki-9-4 Akiumachi Yumoto, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 11:00-17:00 (Last Food Orders 14:30 / Cafe Last Orders 16:00) Closed: Tuesdays TEL: 022-724-7767 (Bookings not possible) Access: 50-minutes by bus from Sendai Station Official Website: http://akiuwinery.co.jp  

Akiu Winery

Taste and compare different original wines Akiu Winery in Akiu Onsen was the first winery to open in Sendai. It's home to an enormous grape field, and inside is the brewery itself as well as a dining area and shop. They serve an array of original wines. As well as originals, Akiu Winery also stocks famous wines from Sendai.

Merlot Red Wine 2018 (Sample) | Koshu Sur Lie 2019 (750ml) ¥2,300 | Steuben Rosé 2019 (750ml) ¥2,000 (All Before Tax)

Akiu Winery's line-up of wines are famous in Sendai. At the back of the winery is the expansive grape field.

Craft Grill | ¥1,330

At the outdoor terrace you can enjoy a BBQ grill together with a glass of wine. "The sight of the grape field made me feel like I was in France. You can enjoy a BBQ too so I definitely want people to come here!”   Akiu Winery Address: Biwaharanishi-6, Akiumachi Yumoto, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Official Website: http://akiuwinery.co.jp

Akiu Great Falls

The Three Great Waterfalls of Japan Akiu Great Falls is considered one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture. It's about 15-minutes by car downstream from Akiu Onsen and is also accessible by bus. They have a retro shop at the entrance of the waterfall. Also located next to the waterfall is Akiu-Otaki Fudoson, a temple surrounded by dense green foliage and enormous gingko trees. "Being in nature really relaxed me and took away the day's stress! It's quite a walk to the waterfall basin so you get plenty of exercise too."   Akiu Great Falls Address: Otaki Akiumachi Baba, Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi TEL: 022-398-2323 (Akiu Onsen Tourist Information Center) Access: 50-minutes by bus from Sendai Station (Running on weekends and public holidays only)  

Around Sendai Station

Sendai Station can be considered as the doorstep of Japan's Tohoku region. It of course runs JR East's Tohoku Shinkansen bullet trains as well as operates Sendai Subway services and buses. The area around the station is great for finding tasty local delicacies, shopping, and souvenir-buying.  

WANOSHOKU NIKAI

Seri-nabe is Sendai's new specialty food If you're asked to give an example of a famous speciality food product from Sendai, chances are people will jump straight to the city's gyutan beef tongue, but what has been the talk of the town recently is seri-nabe. Seri-nabe is a type of hotpot cooked with Japanese parsley ('seri') - one of Japan's seven spring flowers. Miyagi Prefecture boasts as a top class producer of Japanese parsley. The hotpot is served in a simple duck broth which allows the fragrance of the parsley to come through. "I can't get enough of the crunchy texture of the [parsley] roots! It was delicious, I had a refreshing soy sauce soup finished with ramen."   WASHOKU NIKAI Address: 2-5-15 Ichibanchō, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 17:00-Midnight No Fixed Holidays TEL: 022-224-6040  

Iroha Yokocho

Bar crawl deep into the back streets The side streets of the Sunmall Ichibancho arcade have a retro Japanese vibe to them, packed full of shops that make one feel nostalgic. The long, winding alleys feature plenty of Instagram-worthy spots. "This is a great spot for enjoying a bar crawl, just having a light drink and then moving onto the next place. Even if you don't drink there's tasty food to enjoy too!"   Iroha Yokocho Address: 2-3-28 Ichibancho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi TEL: 022-223-3151

S-PAL Sendai

A fashion mall connected to the station S-PAL is a fashion mall directly connected to Sendai Station, home to apparel stores, restaurants, souvenir shops, sundry sellers, and more. Here are some sundry stores selling a variety of miscellaneous items perfect as souvenir purchases.   Nakagawa Masashichi This is an old-time chain that has been around for 300 years. Specialising in lifestyle goods, this S-PAL branch is the only one in all of Tohoku. Its interior design has a retro feel to it with shelves and tables piled with cute bits and bobs.

Kaya-ori Tea Towel | ¥440 (Tax Included)

A specialty product of Tohoku, this tea towel is made using the traditional weaving technique of kaya-ori. Exclusive to Tohoku.   IORI IORI is another shop you'll only find in the Tohoku area. They sell imabari towels which are perfect as gifts to yourself or another.

Handkerchiefs | ¥600 Each (Tax Included)〜

These handkerchiefs are only sold in Sendai and feature a variety of embroidered motifs like the windsocks of the Sendai Tanabata Festival, kokeshi dolls, the helmet of Date Masamune, and more.   KANEIRI STANDARD STORE A select shop stocking stationery and other trinkets that promote the culture and craftsmanship of Tohoku. This store is right next to Sendai Station and has plenty of souvenir-worthy items, so it's absolutely worth a visit. As well as lifestyle goods, the store also sells items made in Miyagi, like kokeshi dolls.

Matsukawa Daruma | ¥1,300 (Before Tax)

These Matsukawa Daruma are super cute, especially the blue one which is inspired by the Sendai Domain, also known as the Date Domain.   Dagashiya Zousan Dagashiya Zousan sells old-time Japanese sweets and confections, stocked with many popular treats from Tohoku adored by both kids and adults alike. The traditional sweets are all packed together along the shelves and up the walls.  

The popular souvenir shops of Sendai

You can't go home after a fun trip without picking up a souvenir, so here's s line-up of shops that have been surging in popularity recently in Sendai, all of which sell Sendai-specific items.   Drinkable zunda at Agurienomori Mitte

Drinkable Zunda | ¥370 (Before Tax)

Zunda are mashed green soybeans boiled and turned into a sweet paste. They are also a local delicacy. Zunda mochi are very famous, but zunda beverages are popular too. This shop sells a variety of zunda treats to pick from.   Bamboo grass kamaboko at Kanezaki-ya There are many makers of sasa-kamaboko, or bamboo grass fish paste, but what makes Kanezaki-ya's so great is how it retains the original umami flavour and plump texture of the fish.   Zaou cheese at Tohoku Meguri Irotoiro

Zaou Cream Cheese, Vanilla Cream Spread | ¥557 Each (Before Tax)

A food select shop selling a range of different ingredients. Their kaou cheese with sweet vanilla is their most popular item. "It's a fashion mall so of course they sell clothes, but they had a bunch of other stuff too, everything from traditional Japanese daruma to food. I really recommend S-PAL Sendai if you're searching for souvenirs!"   S-PAL Sendai Address: 1-1-1 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Opening Hours: 10:00-20:00 (Restaurant wing open 11:00-22:00) No Fixed Holidays TEL: 022-267-2111 Access: Connected directly to Sendai Station Official Website: https://www.s-pal.jp/sendai/    "Sendai looking and progressing into the future as it overcomes the effects of the disaster. It's a place with amazing food, fun shops, and is teeming with nature. If you've never been to Sendai before, then be sure to visit and have fun!"

ASOBINEXT is a new project launched by event management and talent agency ASOBISYSTEM, which is known for managing artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The project aims to create next generation icons who will promote their unique personalities and outlooks to the world using social media and in turn bring about new forms of culture. As part of ASOBINEXT, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will be publishing content from each talent that is tied to ASOBINEXT in the form of their favourite and recommended things. In this edition, we are joined by ASOBINEXT's Izumi Aine, who performs on live streams and is active on social media in the hopes of becoming an idol. Today, she is showcasing a selection of different outfits.   The four looks she has put together are focused on the jumper skirt, a versatile clothing item that can be worn in a multitude of ways, no matter the season.  

Black Half-Sleeve Blouse x Jumper Skirt

Both the blouse and skirt have a black base. This, together with showing a bit of arm and leg, keeps the look tight without being over the top. And I keep the look fresh by styling my hair in curled twintails!  

White Long-Sleeve Blouse x Jumper Skirt

A highlight of the jumper skirt is how you can change the impression you'll leave by having the blouse just one tone. A black one piece, too, can give you a cute look like that of sweet and classic lolita fashion. I tried combining that with curly hair and a lace rose headdress. Going half-sleeve can be chilly in the spring and autumn, so I recommend this one for those seasons!  

Jumper Skirt x Trench Coat

If we're talking lolita coats, then you often get those with fur on the sleeves and collar, but putting a look together with a trench coat looks great too. Coats with lots of fur on them and warm, fluffy, and cute, but they can be difficult to pull off well. Trench coats, on the other hand, let you have the front unzipped and open so you can show off a one piece. And if it gets cold, you can zip it up. This means there's two different ways you can wear a trench coat, making it very versatile. You can clad yourself in one during the cold spring and autumn days to keep warm.  

Jumper Skirt x Grey Vest

"Thank you for visiting So-And-So Tower today. The observation deck is located on the 7th and top floor, up 356m high. It takes 120 seconds to reach it." You can just hear the announcement with this look which gives off elevator-girl-in-front-of-the-department-store vibes. If you're tired of the same old lolita looks, or are stuck on how to change things up, then I recommend this one to you.  

Bonus: Jumper Skirt x Cardigan

For this bonus look I put my all into creating a casual lolita outfit. Wearing the cardigan without having a pannier on brings volume to the skirt and brings together its design, making it a lolita outfit that's not too in-your-face. This one's perfect for beginners who want to try out lolita fashion but are still a little apprehensive.  

What does lolita fashion mean to Izumi Aine?

I put together four looks plus a bonus one for you all today. What did you think? When I was little, I was influenced by a manga series called Hime Gal Paradise which I used to read in Ciao Magazine. It opened my eyes to lolita fashion and all of its enchanting lace designs and patterns.   In today's internet society, the world has become a place where you can see things you don't want to, like mental abuse and insults, which I feel is making it harder to shout about the things you love. But it's been a while since smartphone have been around now, so I feel the time has come to talk about the things you love and respect our individualities! That's the kind of world I want to aim for! And my first step towards that is promoting lolita fashion.   Brand featured in this article: axes femme / BODYLINE  

ASOBINEXT is a new project launched by event management and talent agency ASOBISYSTEM, which is known for managing artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The project aims to create next generation icons who will promote their unique personalities and outlooks to the world using social media and in turn bring about new forms of culture. As part of ASOBINEXT, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will be publishing content from each talent that is tied to ASOBINEXT in the form of their favourite and recommended things. Today, we are joined by ASOBINEXT's Haruna Tamura, an actor and YouTuber, whose film recommendation in this edition is the live-action adaptation of Let Me Eat Your Pancreas.

Synopsis

The story is centred on two individuals who, at the start of their relationship had never really spoken about anything in particular... initially. "Me," the male protagonist in the film, comes across a diary in a hospital waiting room and discovers it belongs to his classmate Sakura Yamauchi. He learns in the diary that she has a pancreatic illness. https://twitter.com/kimisui_movie/status/844735229902274560?s=21  https://twitter.com/kimisui_movie/status/879600249500598273?s=21  Sakura is a very popular girl in Me's class, and he never thought she would be suffering from such a fatal illness. She had kept it a secret, with only the people in her family knowing about it. And so begins a bittersweet love story between the plain and simple Me and Sakura, his complete opposite who is the popular one of the class. https://twitter.com/kimisui_movie/status/868708467804168192?s=21 

Cast 

There are different cast members in Let Me Eat Your Pancreas for playing both the present and past selves of the characters.   The characters of the past, 12 years ago, are played by the following: Minami Hamabe as Sakura Yamauchi, Takumi Kitamura as Me/Haruki Shiga, Karen Otomo as Kyoko, and Yuma Yamoto as Gamu-kun.   This film marked the first time Minami and Takumi had starred in film together, and it was a huge success amongst viewers who shed tears at the relationship between the ill-stricken girl, and the boy who found her diary that details her experiences of living with said illness.   Playing the characters of the present is: Shun Oguri as Haruki Shiga, Keiko Kitagawa as Kyoko, and Yusuke Kamiji as Gamu-kun. Comments from viewers who have watched the film often pointed towards how Shun and Yusuke gave authentic performances of Haruki and Gamu-kun grown-up together, and how they Keiko Kitagawa's dress was spot on. I was drawn in by how they all knew each other at school. https://twitter.com/kimisui_movie/status/892247322234568705?s=21 

My Favourite Part

The highlight of the film for me which I want to point out to everyone is Minami Hamabe's portrayal of Sakura Yamauchi. She purposely puts energy into her performance, and that really left an impression on me. The world of the movie and the real world are two completely different things. Of course, this character doesn't really exist, but when I watched the performance I felt I understood her. There was a real affinity there. As the story progresses, so too does the illness grow more serious, so what I want is for people to pay attention to her facial expressions, her demeanour, and such, as that happens.   https://twitter.com/kimisui_movie/status/868753787149791232?s=21 

Wrapping Up

I first watched this film when I was a 3rd year high school student. Since the film is set in the same school year, the story had an even greater impact on me. I was able to learn the bittersweet-ness of romance as well as the preciousness of life. To this day, I think it remains my favourite film.   I was captured by the array of emotions that Minami Hamabe portrays in particular. There are a lot of parts that I can relate to from being a student to becoming an adult. It's a very easy story to get behind, so if you're reading this, I'd love it if you checked it out.   Minami Hamabe and Takumi Kitamura are also starring in the film Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare which is showing now too. I want to go and see it for myself to see how they have both grown.  

ASOBINEXT is a project launched by event management and talent agency ASOBISYSTEM, which is known for managing artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The project aims to create next generation icons who will promote their unique personalities and outlooks to the world using social media and in turn bring about new forms of culture.   As part of ASOBINEXT, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will be publishing content from each talent that is tied to ASOBINEXT in the form of their favourite and recommended things. Today, Fairy Kano is showcasing a colourful wardrobe of outfits for summer. Fairy Kano is a member of ASOBINEXT who posts her lifestyle on her social media pages.  

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  Hello World!   I love colourful perspectives and interpretations—they just explode with personality! I'm Fairy Kano—no matter the colour, I can make it work, and I'm a pro at finding good quality items at a cheap price.   Don't you ever get it where you're stuck on what colours you want to wear in summer, or what patterns to coordinate in your outfit? For those of you who answered yes, I've put together a list of styles using different colours—my forte—and divided each outfit by colour.  

Yellow Edition

I combined a cream-coloured top with white jeans♡ Simple but it flaunts self-assertiveness! The denim-on-denim creates a balance that's really cute. Adding yellow into the mix creates a happy, energetic vibe. This top has a flower pattern design which I combined with a yellow checked skirt. Don't forget to dress to impress, even if its for yourself at home.  

Green Edition

This look is so cute it makes me want to use run around with vim and vigour♡ The floral top is see-through, and the green overalls have a Mickey Mouse print on the front. Dayum, were short pants always this comfortable? This hand-knitted beret goes well with everything! The pants are green which is a hard colour to pull off. I added a baseball loose-fitting shirt on top of them with Betty Boop on it. This outfit has a hip-hop vibe to it, which looks stylish, don'tcha think?  

Pink Edition

To add a sweet colour on top of the white T-shirt I went with a pink camisole. To complete the look, I donned short pants so the look doesn't become overly-cute. I bought this pink T-shirt from Dole in Hawaii. Try combining 80's shorts pants like this with something similar yourself. The floral shirt is actually a one piece. I made use to make my bottoms and headband the same colour to balance the look. Having that mix of rough and feminine is good!  

What does fashion mean to Fairy Kano?

There are a lot of clothes out there, and there are a lot of outfit combinations out there. But there's no 'right' way to do fashion. Don't just follow what's popular; put together something that makes you feel good, with your favourite colours, and create your own unique look. I believe that as long as you're happy, that's all that matters. That's something I always think about whenever I'm enjoying fashion. So let's all go with choosing what makes us happy!  

ASOBINEXT is a project launched by event management and talent agency ASOBISYSTEM, which is known for managing artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The project aims to create next generation icons who will promote their unique personalities and outlooks to the world using social media and in turn bring about new forms of culture. As part of ASOBINEXT, MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON will be publishing content from each talent that is tied to ASOBINEXT in the form of their favourite and recommended things. Today, we're taking a look at a Japanese band recommended by ASOBINEXT's Kanon Aihara, a dancer and vocalist.  

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  My name is Kanon Aihara, and I'd like to share my perspective on why SEKAI NO OWARI is such a great band—one that was born from a desire to deliver entertainment to people through music.  

Incredible live performances

SEKAI NO OWARI's stage sets are otherworldly. They pull the crowd into a dreamlike place away from reality. I remember how moved I was being in that bright and shining place even for a moment with the towering tree, the owl, the dancing fireworks, the trains dashing past on the ceiling. How much time and effort it must have taken to create a set like that.   Band vocalist Fukase once said on a TV show that if they can't do the kinds of live performances they love, then they may as well disband. I really feel how great SEKAI NO OWARI when I see them wanting to continue making everyone smile and feel something deeply, and not compromising when it comes to doing the things they want to do.

The music

It's truly a difficult task to understand each and every lyric; and I find it difficult to cover their music. Despite this, even if I don't understand something in a song, I find that each and every track really gets through to me.   Their music speaks to and is loved by men and women of all ages, whether it be their song RPG Ya which was used as a theme song for the Crayon Shin-chan anime series, the main theme song RAIN for the film Mary and the Witch's Flower, Sazanka which was used as the theme song for the NHK broadcast of the Winter Olympics Paralympics, and so on.   SEKAI NO OWARI - "RPG" Music Video

  SEKAI NO OWARI - "RAIN" Music Video

The band members

SEKAI NO OWARI is formed of four members. There was actually a time when all of them shared a house together. On a TV show the band appeared on, all of the members excluding the vocalist Fukase said, "We want to create live performances that Fukase enjoys." Hearing those words really made me feel the love and connect the band has for each other.   For me, SEKAI NO OWARI is a place that lets me sees dreams. It also makes me feel strongly that I want to do the kinds of things they do too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHJKQT4A3_0 I believe that a lot of things are born from live performances when the artist and fans become one. Like SEKAI NO OWARI, I'm aiming to create live performances that are like going to a theme park too. The band are fun, cute, and cool, and are everything I aspire to be.   The one thing I always want to keep doing through music is performing live. That feeling of being one with the crowd. Seeing all of their smiles fills me with a happiness I've never felt before. Music is expression and is free to mean whatever you want. That's why the thing I want to do is to put my all into it for so that people enjoy themselves for all of time. I want to continuously think of and put out new, entertaining things in the future.  

Together with soy sauce and miso, mirin is a fundamental condiment in the Japanese kitchen and for many recipes for Japanese food. It's a sweet rice wine that has lower alcohol content and higher sugar content when compared to sake, adding a sweet flavour to dishes.   Today, we're taking a look at a recipe that uses "Mikawa Mirin," a brand of mirin made from high quality rice, to make carrot and cream cheese chawanmushi. Chawanmushi is a savoury egg custard dessert eaten in Japan.  

Carrot & Cream Cheese Chawanmushi

Chawanmushi is made using mirin and has a smooth texture to it as well as a subtly sweet flavour. It's the perfect accompaniment to a hot summer's day.   Ingredients (Serves 1)●Chawanmushi 60g carrots 240ml dashi 20ml soy sauce 120ml Mikawa Mirin 8g sugar 18g cream cheese 1 egg   ●Okra-an Okra 30ml dashi 0.5g salt 3ml Mikawa Mirin   Method We will start by making the chawanmushi. 1. Slice the carrots and boil them until they become soft. 2. Add the soy sauce, sugar, and lots of mirin and cook through the dashi. 3. Cook for approximately 20 minutes on a medium heat, then cool with ice. Add the cooled carrots, cream cheese, and 20ml of the dashi into a blender and bend. 4. Add the egg to the mix and steam the mix for 12 minutes on a medium heat.   While the chawanmushi is cooling, we'll make the okra-an. 5. Mix together the okra-an dashi, mirin, and salt together. Add watered potato starch and thinly sliced okra. Leave to cool in the refrigerator. 6. Add the okra-an to the cooled chawanmushi and tuck into your cute two-layered dessert.

Carrot & Cream Cheese Chawanmushi

The dessert is an enjoyable mix of the sticky texture from the okra-an and smooth chawanmushi. It's great to have not only at lunch or dinner, but at home parties with friends too.   --How's the taste? Misa Kimura: "It works really well with the mirin. The chawanmushi is like a sweet treat. It's super easy to make too, so I think I'll be making it at home!"   Mirin is indispensable to any Japanese cupboard and can be used in many ways, whether it be a classic Japanese dish or a dessert like this one.

Mikawa Mirin 700ml: ¥1,122 (Tax Included)

This authentic brand of mirin is made using a traditional method of Japanese brewing which blends in the delicious taste of rice. It's so delicious that you just want to drink the whole bottle. A high quality mirin, it has a distinct sweetness, colour, and texture. It has a rich flavour, and the taste of the rice elevates the flavours of its ingredients.   Mikawa Mirin Official Website: http://www.mikawamirin.jp/ Official Online Store: http://mikawamirin.jp/product/product_step1.php?m=n Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikawamirin   RecipeThis recipe was conceived by ITEMAE, a famous restaurant serving Japanese cuisine that is listed in the Michelin Guide.   Model: Misa KimuraPhotographer: Haruka Yamamoto