Japan Eats!

On the season finale of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Ryuta Kawano of Zen Noh, a passionate advocate of wagyu who has worked with the beef industry for over two decades. Tune in to hear how Japanese wagyu became the world’s best beef.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, sake specialist Monica Samuels joins Akiko in studio for a conversation about Monica's American-Japanese background and her career as a sake sommelier, including Monica's takes on sake's production, distribution, and food pairings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, Akiko is joined in studio by James Freeman, founder and CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. James talks about his pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee and reveals his three favorite Kissaten in Tokyo: Cafe Bach, Café de L'Ambre, and Chatei Hatou.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by Maiko Kyogoku, owner of Bessou, a restaurant in Noho featuring modern takes on Japanese comfort food. Bessou was conceived from Maiko's desire to share her family’s food traditions. The ingredients are responsibly sourced and prepared with care, with a menu that is seasonal and changing year-round.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Keizo Seki, owner and founder of Sushi Zo. Keizo Seki was born in Osaka, Japan. His lifelong desire to become a sushi chef, led him to Tokyo, where he gained valuable experience and knowledge of sushi. In 1991, he moved to Los Angeles, where he learned the business of the restaurant industry and honed his sushi skills. His dream to open a true Edomae style sushi restaurant, came to fruition in March of 2006, with the opening of the first Sushi Zo Restaurant in West Los Angeles. Within three short years, he was awarded a prestigious Michelin Star.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko is joined in studio by restaurant industry legend Barry Wine, former chef and owner of The Quilted Giraffe Restaurant, one of the most important restaurants in NYC's history. Tune in and listen to Barry share a few of his many stories of years working as a restauranteur in the city.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Howie Velie, Associate Dean of Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America, and culinary student Jose Ganem to discuss the school's new Japanese culinary program. The "Advanced Cooking: Japanese Cuisine" curriculum covers Japanese history and culture, along with the ingredients, flavors, textures, and techniques of authentic Japanese cooking.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in the studio by fellow HRN hosts Harry Rosenblum and Michael Harlan Turkell, creators of the Sumo Stew event series. Inspired by a trip to Japan, photographer Michael Harlan Turkell returned to New York City with aspirations of importing this ancient sport and teamed up with Harry Rosenblum, owner of The Brooklyn Kitchen, a wonderfully multi-faceted cooking store and center for culinary education. The two created a series based around plentiful bowls of chankonabe, the “sumo stew” wrestlers prepare and eat before matches. The hearty broth is loaded with fortifying protein and vegetables. This, paired with the live streamed bimonthly grand tournaments, makes for a lively event, bringing hungry first time and long-standing sumo fans ringside. The next Sumo Stew takes place on Monday, March 13 at the Brooklyn Brewery, and tickets are available here.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by San Francisco's Chef Richie Nakano. In 2010, Nakano opened Hapa Ramen as a pop-up food stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. A few years later, after launching a successful Kickstarter campaign, he opened his first brick-and-mortar ramen noodle shop and earned a 2013 StarChefs Rising Star Community Chef Award. His involvement with Hapa ended, but Nakano continues to experiment with new recipes and host pop-ups, as well as writing for First We Feast as well as Rising Stars Magazine.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by chef and entrepreneur Makoto Suzuki, owner of several restaurants in Brooklyn, including Bozu, Samurai Mama, Momo Sushi Shack, The Brooklyn Ball Factory, and Samurai Papa. Suzuki talks about how he struggled to open his first restaurant in the not-yet-cool Williamsburg 13 years ago and how he keeps his restaurants staying popular for years. Masa Urushido's favorite bars in Tokyo: Bar Trench (in Ebisu) Fugulen (in Shibuya) Tableaux Lounge - cocktail & cigar bar (in Daikanyama) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.