No.97 [FOCUS] Third age: the Japanese exprience
With almost 30% of its population aged over 65, Japan is working on a “long life project” (choju shakai). / Er [...]
Articles by aConceptLondon
No.97 [SEASON] Kakigori: Keeping cool!
Kakigori comes in a multitude of different flavours to suit all tastes. A summer speciality, this bowl of shav [...]
No.97 [HARUYO RECIPE] Toridango to Manganji togarashi no supu (Chicken broth with Manganji chilli peppers)
RECIPE 01 – Chop the Manganji sweet peppers and bell peppers. 02 – Cut the onion and mince in a fo [...]
No.97 [Travel] In the footsteps of Prince Shotoku
Amagashi Hill offers a bird’s-eye view over Asuka, the region where Shotoku Taishi lived. / Eric Rechsteiner f [...]
No.96 [EVOLUTION] Kotobuki-cho has gone grey
Ageing have become main causes for concern in Kotobuki-cho. / Eric Rechsteiner for Zoom Japan Formerly a base [...]
No.96 [TASTE] A long love affair
With 1,936 restaurants, Sukiya, founded in Yokohama, is the main gyudon chain in Japan. / Eric Rechsteiner for [...]
No.96 [HISTORY] Siu mai, an iconic morsel
Of Chinese origin, siu mai is closely linked to the history of the city of Yokohama. / Kiyoken Kiyoken has bee [...]
No.96 [HARUYO RECIPE] Shumai Siu mai (steamed pork dumplings)
RECIPE 01 – Blanch the peas in boiling water then drain well. 02 – Chop the leek and ginger finely [...]
No.96 [TRAVEL] Sankei-en, a big surpris
The relocated three-storey pagoda of Tomyo-ji Temple in Kyoto, is the only building visible from anywhere in t [...]
No.95 [TRADITION] Improving the daily routine
The ekiben-uri in Hitoyoshi station, Kyushu. / Odaira Namihei for Zoom Japan Once the symbol of good food on J [...]
No.95 [FOCUS] An uncertain future for the train
The pandemic has been a major factor in driving away train passengers in Japan. Mojiko Station, at the norther [...]
No.95 HARUYO RECIPE OPEN INARI-ZUSHI (Fried tofu pouches with rice)
RECIPE For the aburaage: 01 – Rinse the aburaage in boiling water to remove grease. 02 – Cut in tw [...]
No.95 [TRAVEL] The early Christians of the Goto Islands
Consecrated in 1908, the redbrick Dozaki Church is located on the main island of Fukue. / Eric Rechsteiner for [...]
No.94 [HARUYO RECIPE] Ingen to gyuniku no nikomi (Braised beef with beans)
RECIPE 01 – Cut the beans into 3-4 cm long pieces and the ginger into matchsticks. 02 – Heat the b [...]
No.94 [THE PAST] Still a red-hot issue
Among other things, Kishi Toshihiko has edited an encyclopaedia of Manchurian history. / Eric Rechsteiner for [...]
No.94 [FOCUS] Lessons of Manchukuo
Mukden railway station (present-day Shenyang) and the famous Asia Express train, flagship of the South Manchur [...]
No.94 [DISCOVERY] Shochu, a potent drink
Though shochu is still having difficulty taking root in Europe, it’s very popular in Japan. / ©DR After sake’s [...]
No.94 [Travel] On the banks of Lake Kasumigaura
Surrounded by numerous canals, rivers and lakes, Itako is definitely a “water town”. (C) Eric Rechsteiner for [...]
No.94 [YURI’S RECIPE] Children’s Day SWEETS FOR 5TH OF MAY
In Japan, May 5th is called tango no sekku, which translates as Children’s Day or the Boy’s Festival. It is a [...]
Vol.93 Sakoku or spirit of closure
Japan welcomed nearly 32 million foreign visitors in 2019, in contrast to only 250,000 in 2021! The Japanese g [...]
Vol.93 [ENCOUNTER] The weight of history
According to Ito Gaichi, this tendency to look inwards has its roots in the country’s past. According to write [...]
Vol.93 [HARUYO RECIPE] Chizu Takkarubi (Tak kalpi with cheese)
RECIPE 01 – Dice the chicken and leave to marinade for 30 minutes. 02 – Cut the cabbage into squar [...]
Vol.93 [YUM!] Welcome to tasty dishes from abroad
Ji pai, similar to Taiwanese kara’age, enjoys a high level of popularity. For some months now, the Japanese ha [...]
No.93 [TRAVEL] Shimonoseki, point of entry
The Kanmon Straits separate the main island of Honshu from the island of Kyushu Located at the western tip of [...]
No.93 [YURI’S RECIPE] Seasonal flavour “SAKURA SWEETS”
The beautiful cherry blossoms season has come. I have to say that the cherry blossom season is something most [...]
No.92 [FOCUS] Okinawa’s desire for change
Elected as governor of Okinawa Prefecture in 2018, Tamaki Denny will try to retain his position in the electio [...]
No.92 [DISCOVERY] The great tradition of awamori
Awamori aged for 5 years in a pot (kamejikomi) produced by the Ishikawa distillery. In the space of just a few [...]
No.92 [TERROIR] Delights for the palate
Unlike other soba, those made in Okinawa do not contain buckwheat flour. Okinawa’s cuisine with its diverse in [...]
No.92 [Travel] Heading north on Route 58
Heart Rock Beach, Korijima, is where lovers meet! Our reporter followed the famous artery from south to north [...]
No.92 [YURI’S RECIPE] Hidden secrets of “HANAMI DANGO”
It’s still cold, but it’s already spring on the calendar. Daffodils and crocuses are begin to bloom, signallin [...]
Vol.91 [HARUYO RECIPE] Matcha mendiants
Matcha mendiants RECIPE 01 – Prepare a bain-marie by placing a cloth on the bottom of a saucepan to plac [...]
[YURI’S RECIPE]Power of green tea “MATCHA SWEETS”
What is matcha / green tea? Talking about matcha or green tea, what comes to mind first? A pale green, clear-c [...]
Vol.91 [FOCUS] Mizuki’s 100th anniversary
Self-portrait of Mizuki Shigeru surrounded by his most famous characters. A titan of manga culture, Mizuki Shi [...]
Vol.91 [DESTINY] “He was a workaholic”
Photo of Mizuki Shigeru on display in Kitaro Chaya, in Chofu, in the western suburbs of Tokyo. Haraguchi Naoko [...]
Vol.91 [TRADITION] Their Valentine’s Day now
Home-made chocolates are now very popular in Japan. In Japan, this day for lovers has long been synonymous wit [...]
No.91 [Travel] Close to the sea and people
The Michinoku Trail provides breathtaking scenery like the Kitayamazaki Cliffs in Iwate Prefecture. The Michin [...]
No.90 [HARUYO RECIPE] KUSADANGO
KUSADANGO Rice dumplings with yomogi (Japanese mugwort) RECIPE 01 – Blanch the spinach and rocket leaves [...]
No.90 [YURI’S RECIPE] Japanese aesthetic “NERIKIRI”
©2021wagashiart.com December is an exciting time in Europe to prepare for Christmas. However, December is more [...]
No.90 [FOCUS] Once upon a time… Tora-san
This fictional character created by the filmmaker Yamada Yoji has left a deep impression on Japanese society. [...]
No.90 [PLACE] Shibamata or the soul of the Tiger
The spirit of Tora-san is ever present in this district in the north-east of the capital where he lived. Otoko [...]
No.90 [TREND] Japanese-style panettone
This Christmas specialist bakeries will be offering their customers this popular Italian speciality. The Japan [...]
No.90 [TRAVEL] In the north lived the Jomon
The Sannai Maruyama site provides an insight into the way the Jomon people lived. Tohoku welcomes the inclusio [...]
No.89 [HARUYO RECIPE] SABA NO TOMATO-MISO NI
SABA NO TOMATO-MISO NI (Mackerel simmered with miso and tomato) RECIPE 01 – Salt the mackerel filets, th [...]
No.89 [FOCUS] 1966: Beatlemania
29 June 1966. Akasaka police notice near the Beatles’ hotel asking Beatles fans not to gather and to go home. [...]
No.89 [DESTINY] A part of the legend
Yokokura Kunie with the little flag she made for the Budokan concerts. At the age of 17 Yokokura Kunie was luc [...]
N0.89 [EATING & DRINKING] CRISIS A bad time for sake
To make sake, breweries use sakamai or sake rice. As a result of the health crisis, the decline in sake consum [...]
No.89 [TRAVEL] Iizaka Onsen: A licence to bathe
A small Shinto shrine adjoins Sabakoyu, the oldest public bath in Iizaka Onsen. The famous spa is very popular [...]
No.89[YURI’S RECIPE] So popular and so versatile “DAIFUKU MOCHI”
Of all the Japanese sweets which would I want to eat the most? When I thought about this, one of my favourites [...]
No.88 [HARUYO RECIPE] ONIGIRAZU
ONIGIRAZU RECIPE 01 – Place a sheet of nori on some clingfilm. 02 – Cut the nori sheet in half but [...]
No.88 [FOCUS] Rice – a treasure in peril
Rice dominates the landscape in the archipelago whatever the season. At the heart of Japanese culture, today t [...]
No.88 [DESTINY] Rice sommelier Nishijima Toyozo
Nishijima Toyozo promotes rice as a way to avoid the decline of the country. Considered the country’s leading [...]
No.88 [READING] Kajitsu or embracing plants
Tomato Berry no Kanten Yose (Vegetable aspic with berries and tomato). The famous New York restaurant has publ [...]
No.88 [TRAVEL] Noto, a piece of land-sea heaven
Located in the north of the peninsula, the Shiroyome Senmaida rice fields plunging down to the Sea of Japan ar [...]
No.88 [YURI’S RECIPE] Heartwarming “DORAYAKI”
It’s October and in Europe that means cooler weather as the chill of autumn sweeps through the continent. That [...]
No.87 [YURI’S RECIPE] Simple but deep “OHAGI”
Re-imagining sweet “Flower ohagi” When I came to live in the UK, I came across the well known desert, rice pud [...]
No.87 YUM The raindrop that creates dreams
The Mizu shingen mochi, or raindrop cake, is attracting incredible interest worldwide. A pastry shop in Yamana [...]
No.87 [HARUYO’S RECIPE] MIZU SHINGEN MOCHI
MIZU SHINGEN MOCHI (Raindrop cake) PREPARATION 01 – Wash a glutenous rice with plenty of water. 02 ̵ [...]
No.87 [FOCUS] Discovering another Japan
The sea occupies a fundamental place in the culture of the country and is an essential part of the journey whe [...]
No.87 [HERO] In search of Jirocho in Shimizu
The sight of Mount Fuji always has a magical, even mystical quality. An extraordinary historical figure, the f [...]
No.87 [SCHOOL] Help for pupils with special needs
Kutsuna Tomohiko and Kazuko set up the Shiokaze no denwa to keep in touch with lost loved ones. Faced with a s [...]
No.87 [BEACH] Heirs of the Sun Tribe
The cultivation of this flower took off in the Heian period (794-1185) after being imported from China. A majo [...]
No.87 [TRAVEL] A country at chrysanthemum time
The cultivation of this flower took off in the Heian period (794-1185) after being imported from China. From S [...]
No.86 [TRAVEL] Tokyo, rollercoaster version
In many ways, this part of the capital is more reminiscent of a provincial town than a district in the country [...]
No.86 [YURI’S RECIPE] Sweet summer jelly
Pastry chef Yuri shares a new series of recipes for wagashi, a traditional Japanese delicacy. ©2021wagashiart. [...]
No.86 [FOCUS] The Great Wall of Japan
Workers at the dam construction site in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture. To avoid a recurrence of the 11 March 2011 t [...]
No.85 [HARUYO’S RECIPE] TONYU NO PIRIKARA TONJIRU(Spicy pork soup with soya milk)
TONYU NO PIRIKARA TONJIRU (Spicy pork soup with soya milk) RECIPE 1 -Chop the white radish and carrot into sma [...]
No.85 [READING] Simmering soup revolution
Published in 1643, Ryori monogatari [a treatise on cooking] includes soup recipes with venison or wild boar. A [...]
No.85 [TRAVEL] Kagurazaka, Tokyo’s hidden beauty
Today there are only around twenty geisha left in this district, compared to 600 in the 1930s. This is one of [...]
IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER
© Eric Rechsteiner Sugawara-in shrine, Kyoto In Chinese astrology, 2021 is the year of the ox (buffalo), what’ [...]
We love anime!
In the space of a few decades, animation has become a mainstay in the world of Japanese pop culture. An essent [...]
[HISTORY] Animation’s bond with television
The famous 34th episode of Tetsuwan Atom was produced by Studio Zero in 1963. To explain the reason behind our [...]
[TREND] Watch your step
Based on her long experience, TAKEUCHI Yukari analyses the prospects for the animation industry. In the coming [...]
[ECONOMY] Quality always pays
According to Francesco Prandoni from Production I.g, the studio’s success is due to its maintaining the highes [...]
[TOP] Anatomy of an incredible success
Despite its childlike appearance, Demon Slayer has attracted a very large audience. By successfully dethroning [...]
[ENCOUNTER] MISHIMA by HIRANO Keiicihiro
MISHIMA Yukio dreamed of being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. A great admirer of the author of Confes [...]
[MUST SEE] One yokocho can lead to another
Hamonika Yokocho in Kichijoji is one of the district’s nightlife hotspots. Symbolic of the post-war period, th [...]
[TRAVEL] The Castle in the Sky is here!
Kisami beach is one of the most popular spots for surfers. A source of inspiration for the great MIYAZAkIHayao [...]
No.83 [HARUYO’S RECIPE] NAGAIMO NO BUTANIKUMAKI (Pork rolls with taro)
BUTANIKUMAKI (Pork rolls with taro) RECIPE 1 – Peel the taro and cut into batons. 2 – Cut the leek [...]
No.83 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER
© Eric Rechsteiner Sai Shrine, Ikijima, Nagasaki Prefecture More than any other country in the world, Japan ne [...]
No.83 [FOCUS] Eternal spirit of pleasure
The erotic album of the Comical Cuckoo Clock or Sex Adoration of the Women of the Night (Ehon hakai yobuko-dor [...]
No.83 [TREND] Sex, did you say sex ?
From the early 1990s, some men began to turn their back on flesh and blood women. Over the past three decades, [...]
No.83 [ECONOMY] Business is business
The sex industry represents a huge market. Benefitting from loopholes in the law, there are countless speciali [...]
No.83 [EVOLUTION] Soapland, an odd bath
Nikita, 28, takes a break between shifts at Soapland Paradise, in Kawasaki. Despite being banned, prostitution [...]
No.83 [IN SITU] I’m Riri, a soapland employee
Aged 29, this university graduate has chosen to work in one of these establishments popular with men. It’s 11: [...]
No.83 [CINEMA] Nothing to get excited about
Made in 2014 by director HIROKI Ryuichi who began his career in pinku eiga (pink film), Kabukicho love hotel ( [...]
No.83 [STORY] STORYHASEGAWA Chisa, pink film princess
In 2019, HASEGAWA Chisa appeared in 6 pinku eiga. “Pink films” are one of the pillars of Japanese film product [...]
No.83 [TRICKS] Recipes for a powerful boost
Eels, like the loach, were on the menu for those who wanted to flex their muscles. To keep healthy, the Japane [...]
No.83 [TRAVEL] Love nests in Tokyo
In Shibuya district, Tokyo, a couple search for a love hotel. In Dogenzaka district alone there are some 300 l [...]
No.81 IN THE EYE OF ERIC RECHSTEINER
© Eric Rechsteiner Tono, Iwate Prefecture The city of Tono, in the northeast of the Archipelago, is the [...]
No.81 [FOCUS] A story of hiccups
The Japanese love beer, but it does not always share the same characteristics as beer drunk in Europe. [...]
No.81 [MARKET] A heavy tax burden
Advertisement for Orion Brewery, originally established in Okinawa, which has 0.8% of the beer market. [...]
No.81 [ENCOUNTER] Happiness in a glass
The microbrewery uses three brewing systems (60,10 and 2.5hectolitres respectively). Journalist Noda Ik [...]
No.81 [ADVENTURE] Baird Beer, small but strong
The microbrewery uses three brewing systems (60,10 and 2.5hectolitres respectively). Founded in 2000, t [...]
No.81 [AMBITION] Orion looks up to the stars
Founded in 1957 as the Okinawa Beer Co. Ltd., the brewery was renamed Orion in 1959. Although its stron [...]
No.81 [ADVICE ] Beer brings food to life
The town, which has 26,000 inhabitants, is the leading producer of hops in Japan. Author of a reference [...]
No.81 [TRAVEL] Tono – at the heart of legends
The town, which has 26,000 inhabitants, is the leading producer of hops in Japan. The small town, which [...]
No.80 [TRAVEL] Okutama, another aspect of Tokyo
The junction of the Tama and Nippara rivers. Two hours from the capital city, lush and stunning country [...]
No.80 [TREND] Fashion food addiction
The fashion for “sweets from America” reached its height between 2006 and 2011. Over the past 50 years, [...]
No.80 [PUBLISHING] In constant turmoil
Women played a key role in the development of the consumer society in Japan Thanks to women’s magazines [...]
No.80 [PASSION] Words of an avid reader
Launched in 1966, Heibon Panchi Joseiban led the way for An An, and MIZUMOTO Akemi became a fan. MIZUMO [...]
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