omurice – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Mon, 07 Sep 2026 17:30:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 omurice – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Tokyo’s red-light district cafe lets you dine inside a real 1960s cabaret https://soranews24.com/2026/09/08/tokyos-red-light-district-cafe-lets-you-dine-inside-a-real-1960s-cabaret/ https://soranews24.com/2026/09/08/tokyos-red-light-district-cafe-lets-you-dine-inside-a-real-1960s-cabaret/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2026 17:30:40 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=744202

Used as a Netflix crime drama set, this safe, solo-female-friendly venue offers up black omurice and colorful retro sodas.

Kabukicho, in Tokyo, is Japan’s most recognizable red-light district, packed to the brim with adult entertainment and touts for venues that charge exorbitant and unexpected fees. It’s not the sort of place where most travelers, women in particular, would probably feel comfortable heading into an establishment alone and for the first time. However, we came across a Kabukicho cafe that even many solo women are keen to dine at, and it’s like stepping through a portal into a world set half a century prior.

Our Japanese-language reporter Natsuki Gojo is a lover of all things cute, with her life goal being to live surrounded by cute things, spread the charm of cuteness and become a cute grandmother. One of her less grandiose dreams, though, was to visit a Showa-era (1926–1989) cabaret, so when she found out about Niinana Kissa, a cafe that operates inside what used to be the famous Hinomaru Cabaret, she knew she had to be brave and venture forth into Kabukicho.

Walking through the district, just north of Shinjuku’s iconic Godzilla Head installation, Natsuki soon came across the cute retro sign…

…but the building itself was another mental hurdle for her to overcome, being less than warm and welcoming.

Pushing aside her trepidation, Natsuki plucked up her courage to walk up the stairs and open the door.

Unfolding before her was a glamorous Showa cabaret, with neon lights shaped like the Japanese flag (colloquially called the Hinomaru) dazzlingly brightly at the end of the room.

Looking up at the ceiling, it was covered in mirrors, and the disco ball was sparkling like a massive gemstone.

The entrance had, to put it bluntly, an intimidating vibe, but take a step inside, and it’s truly another world. Natsuki’s excitement couldn’t help but shoot through the roof, this was exactly the type of cabaret she had been longing to visit at least once.

Since Niinana Kissa was used as a filming location for the Netflix crime drama series Tokyo Swindlers, Natsuki was a little worried about what to do if there were scary customers inside, so just in case, she prepared some high-pressure fashionable sunglasses to adopt a don’t-mess-with-me vibe.

▼ They turned out to be completely unnecessary.

Looking around the interior, it was clear that the main customer base was groups of women, who all seemed to be enjoying oshikatsu (activities centered on supporting their favorite idol or character) by savoring colorful drinks, but there were also couples and women by themselves too. In fact, the typical Kabukicho-like clientele that Natsuki had been expecting wasn’t there, being mostly women and younger generations. Taking off her unneeded sunglasses, she settled in her seat and got ready to enjoy herself.

During peak hours, there is a 60-minute limit (or an additional order required), and after 10:00 p.m., a cover charge of 500 yen (US$3) applies, but during other time slots, you can use the cafe without a cover charge.

Having come all this way, Natsuki opted for the most popular drink and food to see the best the cafe had to offer.

▼ Although there were numerous tantalizing options to choose from.

The 27 Club Soda (900 yen) is just so photogenic, with a rich variety of versions available. Natsuki selected orange, which is said to be one of the most popular among customers because of its great taste.

On top of the refreshing orange soda, there’s whipped cream, ice cream, an Oreo, and a cherry, and while the menu says it’s a drink, it feels more like a dessert. Natsuki loved how voluminous it was, but she had to wrap up her photos quickly as the ice cream soon started melting.

Sipping on her drink, Natsuki admired the cuteness of both the coasters and the matchboxes.

The overwhelming favorite food is said to be the Black Omurice (1,500 yen), but with the amount of cheese sauce, it’s definitely more white than black.

▼ Oh… wait…. there it is.

The inside is pitch black. Unlike some other instances of black food being a result of including squid ink, this blackness comes from bamboo charcoal, and the lightly-seasoned rice goes exceptionally well with the rich cheese sauce. Due to how black it was Natsuki wasn’t quite sure what to expect as they took a bite, but the vegetables and meat still turned out to have a thoroughly enjoyable texture and flavor.

While there is a trend for photogenic items at places where you go to enjoy the space to not be particularly delicious, the menu at Niinana Kissa is genuinely tasty. In fact, whenever Natsuki feels like having something to drink or eating a meal around Kabukicho, she’s considering using it as a regular coffee shop.

▼ Even the sofas on the side look comfortable enough to enjoy some refreshments on.

For some, there is one thing that might put people off, and that is that smoking is allowed, though Natsuki could see that as adding to the sense of having traveled back in time to the Showa era.

Contrary to its somewhat intimidating exterior, Niinana Kissa is a charming space where, once inside, you can enjoy it in various ways, from reflecting on a bygone era to using it as an everyday cafe.

Cafe information
Niinana Kissa / ニーナナ喫茶
Address: Tokyo-to, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 2-36-3, Shinjuku Acb Kaikan 3F
東京都新宿区歌舞伎町2-36-3 新宿Acb会館 3F
Open 11:00 a.m.–6:00 a.m.
May suddenly close due to filming or event operations, so check Instagram stories for confirmation
Instagram

Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/09/08/tokyos-red-light-district-cafe-lets-you-dine-inside-a-real-1960s-cabaret/feed/ 0 744202 imgi_36_Photo-7-1 New Travelling Bento pouches turn your luggage into a Japanese lunch box https://soranews24.com/2026/04/10/new-travelling-bento-pouches-turn-your-luggage-into-a-japanese-lunch-box/ https://soranews24.com/2026/04/10/new-travelling-bento-pouches-turn-your-luggage-into-a-japanese-lunch-box/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:00:11 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=730568

Make your next journey delicious and Instgrammable.

Packing for a trip can be a stressful experience, but now it’s something you’ll look forward to, thanks to a new series of travel pouches from Japanese company Pine Create.

Cutely called “Tabi Suru Obento” which translates as “Travelling Boxed Lunch“, the new pouches instantly transform the contents of your luggage into a Japanese lunch box, and there are two types of obento to choose from.

▼ The first variety is “Hinomaru Bento“.

This variety contains the same core elements as its namesake, with its defining feature being plain rice topped with an umeboshi (pickled plum). Its appearance bears a striking resemblance to the “hinomaru” (literally “circle of the sun”), the Japanese flag, from which it takes its name.

▼ A real Hinomaru Bento

▼ Black sesame seeds are often added for extra flavour and visual contrast.

The travel pouch version does a great job of replicating the real thing, but with a zip so you can pack your clothes into it.

While Hinomaru were eaten on their own during frugal times, these days they’re commonly paired with side dishes, and this pouch reflects that, as it comes in a set with another pouch: Tamagoyaki and Fried Chicken.

▼ The set retails for 3,740 yen (US$23.44).

Whereas the Hinomaru Bento travel pouch is the larger of the two, at 40 x 28 x 12 centimetres (15.75 × 11.02 × 4.72 inches), the Tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) and Fried Chicken pouch is classed as a medium, measuring 30 x 20 x 12 centimetres.

▼ An ideal size for smaller items of clothing.

Those wanting to pack more into their luggage can complete the set with three smaller pouches, sold separately.

▼ These three retail for 2,970 yen.

The addition of the “food divider” pouch and drawstring bags was a detail the designer, a lover of bento boxes, insisted on. The bags feature grilled salmon and “tako-san weiner” (octopus sausage), both classic bento items.

▼ Octopus sausages are made by cutting one end of a red sausage into four or eight “tentacles” that curl when grilled.

▼ Drawstring bags are convenient for storing underwear, socks, and skincare products…

▼ …and it just wouldn’t feel like a bento box without a green grass-like divider.

▼ All the pouches are designed to fit snugly together to resemble a delicious bento.

▼ The second collection in the Travelling Boxed Lunch range is the Omurice Bento.

The largest pouch here resembles omurice (omelette rice), complete with tomato sauce topping. While the real thing contains a centre of rice, open this one up and you’ll find your clothes inside instead.

Though Omurice is commonly served on its own, here it’s paired with a side of “Napolitan to Hamburg” (Tomato Sauce Spaghetti and Japanese-style Hamburger Steak), for added colour and storage.

The three smaller pouches add some other common bento elements to the boxed lunch set.

▼ Shrimp tempura

▼ Cherry tomatoes

▼ Lettuce

▼ Another delicious set that’ll make you want to open your case at customs.

Priced identically to the two sets that make up the Hinomaru Bento, the Omurice Bento packs are equally sized, with the larger pouches having enough room to store around four T-shirts and three pairs of jeans together.

The cleverly designed Travelling Bento really comes to life when packed into your suitcase, where it looks so much like a boxed meal you’ll be tempted to buy all the pouches to fill both sides. The sets can be purchased at the Pino Poche online store (Hinomaru here and Omurice here) and at online retail sites like Rakuten.

Source: Press release
Featured image: Pine Poche
Insert images: Pine Poche (1, 2), press release
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/04/10/new-travelling-bento-pouches-turn-your-luggage-into-a-japanese-lunch-box/feed/ 0 730568 Traveling Bento Japan travel pouch accessories Hinomaru omurice cute food shop goods viral instagram news 13 Japan has omurice chocolate, and the weirdest thing isn’t how it tastes https://soranews24.com/2026/02/09/japan-has-omurice-chocolate-and-the-most-surprirsing-thing-isnt-how-it-tastes/ https://soranews24.com/2026/02/09/japan-has-omurice-chocolate-and-the-most-surprirsing-thing-isnt-how-it-tastes/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2026 03:00:58 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=726116

What sounds like a crime against food, turned out to be a cute and delicious surprise.

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, it’s time to start thinking about what to present to your loved one, which in the case of Japan, is almost always chocolate. Chocolate and Japanese Valentine’s Day are so intertwined that it sometimes feels less of a romantic event and more of a nationwide celebration of chocolate. Each year sees the coming of fairly standard chocolates, bizarre creations like ones that taste of fish, and the unexpected ones in the shape of a male masturbatory aid.

This year, we happened to hear about the Popping Candy Chocolate: Omurice Tin from chocolatier Mary’s. The combination of omurice, or omelet-topped ketchup-fried rice, and chocolate almost feels forbidden, as unsettling as putting whipped cream on sushi, or dumping cereal into ramen.

▼ The appearance of the forbidden chocolate?

However, word of mouth was that Mary’s omurice chocolate was actually surprisingly tasty, so with curiosity getting the better of us, we looked up where to pick some up. It turns out that the chocolates are available only at department stores, train station commercial facilities, and online shops, but after checking the Valentine’s corner of our nearest Takashimaya department store, we managed to find them.

Although the omurice chocolate is available all by itself, in the enticing green tin shown below, our heart instantly fell in love with the brown retro cafe menu-themed tin sitting nearby.

This tin contains a nine-type assortment recreating retro cafe menu items, such as melon cream soda and pancakes, in chocolate form.

Since it also happens to include the omurice chocolate we were after, we decided on getting the retro cafe set, officially called the Popping Candy Chocolate: Cafe Menu Tin, for 2,700 yen (US$17).

After closer inspection of the tin upon returning home, we came to the conclusion that it truly is absurdly retro-cute no matter which angle you admire it from.

Opening up the tin, we found:

• Cola Float Chocolate (three pieces)
• Cider Chocolate (three pieces)
• Melon Cream Soda Chocolate (three pieces)
• Mixed Juice Chocolate (three pieces)
• Strawberry Soda Chocolate (three pieces)
• Pancake Chocolate (three pieces)
• Shortcake Chocolate (three pieces)
• Omurice Chocolate (two pieces)
• Fruit Sandwich Chocolate (two pieces)

…all making for a total of 25 pieces.

▼ Even the wrappers are super adorable.

When you unwrap the chocolates and line them up, they look like pastel-colored jewels.

Much like the name of the product suggests, the main feature of this chocolate is the popping candy, which seems like it would be a fantastic fit for the soda-based flavors, but we couldn’t wrap our heads around how that would play out with the omurice chocolate.

In appearance, it’s a small, round shape that, when broken open, reveals a two-layer structure that resembles egg atop some ketchup rice.

Putting it into your mouth, it opens with a gentle, milkshake-like flavor, before the popping sensation starts to go wild, followed by a faint ketchup-like taste.

Rather than being a simple novelty, you can tell that Mary’s were genuinely trying to recreate the flavors of omurice while still maintaining within the realm of “actually tasty chocolate.” Even so, we couldn’t help but feel that the popping candy is quite strong, ultimately stealing the limelight.

Next, we tried the fruit sandwich chocolate.

This one is mostly white and feels like white chocolate overall. Within the milky flavor, the relentless popping candy doesn’t fail to make its presence known once again.

While we originally thought these chocolates would be a mere novelty item, they actually turned out to be surprisingly delicious. If you do happen to spot them in a Valentine’s Day section in a store near you, they would make a pretty great gift. Next, we just need to figure out what to do with our cute empty tin.

Related: Mary’s Website, Online Store
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/02/09/japan-has-omurice-chocolate-and-the-most-surprirsing-thing-isnt-how-it-tastes/feed/ 0 726116 imgi_338_LINE_ALBUM_20260202_260202_11_7e6c25 We followed Tokyo’s mystery walking map and ended up creating our own bar-hopping adventure https://soranews24.com/2026/01/13/we-followed-tokyos-mystery-walking-map-and-ended-up-creating-our-own-bar-hopping-adventure/ https://soranews24.com/2026/01/13/we-followed-tokyos-mystery-walking-map-and-ended-up-creating-our-own-bar-hopping-adventure/#comments Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:00:34 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=724049

Several bumps in the road, a few glasses of beer, and a black omurice later, we couldn’t be more satisfied with our new discoveries.

When planning a trip, some people enjoy meticulously scheduling out each day, knowing where and what time they’ll be doing activities, whereas others take pleasure in the more laid-back approach, keeping a rough idea in mind and leaving the rest until the day itself. However, there are also those who relish in spontaneity, selecting a location, traveling there, and only then deciding what they want to do, never making a plan beyond the current activity.

I’ve tried all these ways during my travels around Japan, and while I don’t do it much any more, there really is something exhilarating about keeping your holiday in complete suspense for yourself, never really knowing what’s going to happen until you reach your destination.

There are several ways to get a taste of this style of traveling, like going on a mystery bus, train, plane, or even ferry tour, but our Japanese-language reporter Asami Oshima stumbled across a rather unusual capsule machine called Yorimichi Map. Unlike the capsule machines you’ll see in many other places in Japan, this one doesn’t include a toy, but rather a map, and as “yorimichi” means “dropping in on the way” or “making a side trip”, the Yorimichi Map project is essentially themed around walking the side streets of Nippori, where only locals are likely to tread.

The machine is installed in the front of the Ecute Nippori shopping mall situated inside JR Nippori Station in Tokyo, and comes as one of a pair.

There are two time-based versions: the Day Map (1:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.), and the Evening Map (5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.), each having four varieties, for a total of eight maps, and all planned out by the local Machimachi Megane eyewear shop.

It seems to be a popular project, as when Asami rocked up to the capsule machine, the Day Maps were already sold out and waiting to be restocked.

▼ The Evening Map on the left, and the sold-out Day Map on the right

With no choice, and a little anticipation, she inserted a 100 yen (US$0.64) coin into the Evening Map machine, and turned the dial.

Out popped a map entitled, “A drunken downhill walk! Wandering small drinking spots along Yanaka Road”.

Seeing as Asami holds the belief that all of humanity will become family after having a drink, this walking tour sounded right up her alley. The walk would have her start at a bar, stop at a small goods shop, enjoy some sake, and wrap things up at another bar. The thought of visiting so many bars got her excitement level rising.

There’s even English on the back, making it known that international visitors are more than welcome to participate in the program.

Along with the map was also a small voucher that can be exchanged for something at the goal shop, adding an extra sense of anticipation.

So, off Asami went, starting her walk from the west exit of Nippori Station.

Following the map, she first climbed up an uphill slope.

After passing through a quiet residential area and turning the corner by a stone shop, the first stop was just a little bit further…

There it is! The first stop: Bar Hoshikuzu.

Apparently, it’s a music bar where you can casually enjoy drinks while listening to records centered on city pop. However…

It appeared that they had an irregular closure that day, so Asami was unable to go in.

It was unfortunate that the tour got off to such a poor start, but it being December 27, right in the middle of the year-end period when a lot of closures and parties happen, some bumps in the road should be expected. Onwards!

Moving swiftly on, just a short walk away was the second stop: Boheme Plus Beaudessin, a shop featuring bags and small goods centered on leather products.

Inside you will find beautifully crafted, high-quality items lining the shelves, which are a delight to peruse.

The shop is run single-handedly by the owner, Tokihiko Ikushima, and there’s even a small prefab hut a short distance away that mostly sells apparel items.

When Asami spoke to him, she found out that he has been involved in leathercraft and apparel production for over 40 years, and he opened this shop at the age of 60. Looking at his youthful energy, you might be as surprised as Asami was to learn that he is currently 68 years old.

Mr. Ikushima also happens to be quite the fan of alcohol, even giving Asami some recommended places to drink, which she did try to go to afterwards, but was again not able to get in.

▼ A pub called Enoki, just a stone’s throw away from Exit 1 of Sendagi Subway Station on the Chiyoda Line.

The two of them had a calm and pleasant chat, and she eventually left the store feeling completely relaxed.

Next up on the route is the sake bar Shukon.

▼ There’s even a sugidama, a ball of cedar leaves used to indicate that new sake is ready, hanging out front.

This hidden Japanese sake bar, which opened in 2023, is based on reversing the traditional concept of matching Japanese sake to food, which highlights the food as the more important of the two. At Shukon, the Japanese sake plays second fiddle to none, with the food only serving to complement it. Asami couldn’t wait to finally get a sip of alcohol…

Until tragedy struck once again: the place was reserved for a private event, so Asami couldn’t enter.

That’s two out of three places. Asami couldn’t help but lament her poor choice of timing to go out and explore. With only the goal of the map left to go, she quelled her frustration and headed towards the final stop, Seitaro.

However, as Asami was strolling along, a “Craft Beer” sign jumped out at her.

Even though it wasn’t on her Yorimichi Map, Asami felt compelled to go into the store. Making little detours on your way to the goal is all in the spirit of “yorimichi.”

Asami entered Buzzed Lamb Brewing, a microbrewery renovated from an old liquor store whose building was over a century old.

Here, you can enjoy up to six taps of craft beer brewed in the on-site brewery.

You can even peer into the area where they brew the beer.

For her first alcohol of the day, Asami ordered the “Aries no Hiyaku” (Regular, 900 yen) and “Mugi to Rice” (Regular, 800 yen). For snacks, Asami went for the three-item plate, consisting of a four-mushroom herb marinade, gizzard confit, and edamame and baby corn with fragrant soy sauce.

Aries no Hiyaku had a citrusy, tropical note and was easy to drink.

Mugi to Rice was low in bitterness, with a gentle rice umami.

All three foods on the plate were carefully prepared, and more than worthy as accompaniments to the craft beer.

While she was enjoying her ordered items, by sheer happenstance, Asami ran into the person in charge of Machimachi Megane, the creators of the Yorimichi Map, Ayaka Fujiwara. With a memorable smile and gentle demeanor, Ayaka listened to Asami’s story, and agreed to take a commemorative photo.

Satisfied she could fill up her stomach a little, and feeling pleasantly tipsy, Asami continued on to the final location, Seitaro.

This is a sake bar where you can enjoy a wide selection of Japanese sake and dishes, some quite rare. According to the map description, it’s run by a highly service-minded owner known as Yama-chan.

Apparently, the store’s hidden specialty is dashi ramen, so of course Asami was eager to try it. There was even the voucher she had to use from the capsule machine, but alas…

They were full, and Asami couldn’t get in.

In the end, Asami couldn’t enter any of the three pubs listed on the map, and she silently cursed herself for attempting the tour during the end-of-year festivities.

However, Asami didn’t want to let the evening end on such a sour note, so she figured there must surely be one more good place around. As she walked along the streets, she passed many interesting and cute-looking stores that seemed to warrant a closer look another day.

Asami wandered around for a while until she discovered a traditional house bar with a distinctly retro atmosphere.

This place is Sun Potter Cafe Nonbiriya, a cafe and bar renovated from a 100-year-old traditional house.

During the day, it operates as a cozy cafe, and at night as a stylish bar. In winter, they even set up kotatsu, tables fitted with quilts and heaters, making it very true to its name: a place where you can “nonbiri” (relax and unwind).

Asami started off by ordering Ichiro-san’s Highball (880 yen), Ankimo Ponzu (780 yen), and the recommended Omurice (Black) for 1,400 yen.

The Ankimo Ponzu, monkfish liver with a citrusy soy sauce, was surprisingly tender and extremely delicious.

However, the Omurice was just too shocking.

What looks like a typical dish of Omurice, with an omelet topping some rice, is actually hiding a dark, black secret: jet-black rice.

Digging a little deeper, the secret is revealed to be squid ink seafood risotto.

Despite the striking appearance, it’s incredibly mellow, with the rich umami of squid ink quite noticeable. The dish was so outstanding that had the store been any closer to Asami’s home, she would likely have become a regular just for the meal by itself.

The store staff also recommended the Kenbisihi Taruzake (880 yen), so she decided to order that as well.

This is a dry, umami-rich sake that maintains the traditional flavor profile established since the Muromachi period (1336–1573), and the amber color leaves a lasting impression.

It paired perfectly with the complementary squid snack, making for a deeply satisfying final drink.

With the final glass of alcohol down the hatch, the Yorimichi Map walk came to a close. Although Asami wasn’t able to follow the map exactly as planned, there’s no doubt that she was able to discover places that she would never normally stop by, and had unexpected encounters with people. Seeing as she was unable to use the voucher, she still hopes to give going to Seitaro another go, though.

If you want to add a little splash of mystery to your holiday, or just fancy going out for a walk in a neighborhood you seldom visit, consider going on a mystery walking tour, not knowing what wonderful local delights you’ll come across. The Yorimichi Map is a limited-time project running until March 31, 2026, so be sure to give the capsule machine a go if you pass through JR Nippori station, but even if you miss out on the chance, there are still plenty of things to do around the area, such as the retro shopping street of Yanaka Ginza, as well as a whole lot of cats to find.

Shop information
Boheme Plus Beaudessin / ボエム プリュス ボーデッサン
Address: Tokyo-to, Taito-ku, Yanaka 7-17-9 Goten #01
東京都台東区谷中7-17-9 轟天＃01
Open: 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on holidays)
Website

Buzzed Lamb Brewing / バズド ラム ブルーイング
Address: Tokyo-to, Taito-ku, Yanaka 4-2-39
東京都台東区谷中4-2-39
Open: 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays)
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
Website

Sun Potter Cafe Nonbiriya / 散ポタカフェ のんびりや
Address: Tokyo-to, Taito-ku, Yanaka 5-2-29
東京都台東区谷中5-2-29
Open: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays 12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.–11:00 p.m.
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
Website

Related: Machimachi Megane
Photos ©SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2026/01/13/we-followed-tokyos-mystery-walking-map-and-ended-up-creating-our-own-bar-hopping-adventure/feed/ 0 724049 imgi_6_20251227_171549 Lawson Store 100 releases retro line of Japanese convenience store foods https://soranews24.com/2023/08/31/lawson-store-100-releases-retro-line-of-japanese-convenience-store-foods/ https://soranews24.com/2023/08/31/lawson-store-100-releases-retro-line-of-japanese-convenience-store-foods/#comments Wed, 30 Aug 2023 15:00:51 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=634971

Let’s take it back to ’79, give or take a decade.

The food at convenience stores is constantly evolving. But evolution is such a slow process that sometimes the change is hard to perceive unless you take a look back every once in a while. And here to do just that is the discount offshoot of Lawson convenience stores Lawson Store 100 and their limited lineup of Showa Retro Fair foods.

▼ You can tell a Lawson Store 100 from its green signs

The Showa era of Japan technically ran from 1926 to 1989, but many people tend to focus on the latter part of it, which ran through the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s when looking at things like fashion, culture, and music. Now, we can get a taste of that time too, through one or all of these delightfully primitive-looking meals and snacks.

▼ Throwback Hayashi Rice

There was a time when carefully embedding peas into a thick demi-glace sauce was the epitome of class. Now, that spirit is alive again in this bento that combines this rice-and-sauce dish which also contains loads of beef, onions, carrots, and mushrooms beneath the surface, all for 370 yen (US$2.53).

▼ Pilaf Onigiri

There was a time when pilaf was considered superior to frying when it comes to cooking seasoned rice. That time is now again thanks to this rice puck for 100 yen ($0.68) filled with diced bacon, carrot, onion, and red pepper.

▼ Ginger Pork Onigiri

Thin cuts of pork cooked in a rich ginger sauce have definitely stood the test of time in Japanese cuisine, but it was way back in Showa when this delectable meat really took off. The rice of this ball is flavored with soy sauce and wrapped in small cuts of grilled pork flavored with ginger and mayonnaise for 138 yen ($0.94).

▼ Throwback Showa Retro Bento

This lunch box is a full-on assault of foods with shades of Showa in them. Lawson Store 100 wondered what foods would most bring people back to that bygone age and filled the container with rice and salmon garnished with the holy trinity of a pickled ume, pickled daikon, and kelp, all for 248 yen ($1.69).

▼ Thick Fried Egg Sandwich

At a price of 288 yen ($1.97) don’t let the appearance of this simple Showa staple of diners fool you. Inside that thick patty of egg is a wonderland of rich flavoring with some mayo and mustard to drive the taste home.

▼ Agepan

This sugary treat selling for 110 yen ($0.75) was the envy of all school lunch desserts. Its name literally means “fried bread” which would be a “donut” in lay terms for people so lay that “fried bread” wouldn’t suffice.

▼ Twist Sandwich (Apricot Jam)

The retro koppepan craze – in which simple, soft rolls not unlike hotdog buns are sold with a jam or cream filling for a cheap and easy snack – has been well underway in Japan for a while now. But only Lawson’s 110-yen ($0.75) jam sandwiches dare to ask the question: “Hey, remember when the bread used to be all twisty too?”

The products listed above all went on sale from 30 August, but they are hardly the end of what’s in store at Lawson Store 100. Starting 9 September, the following two additional items to the Showa Retro Fair will be made.

▼ Omurice & Napolitan

Going to any Showa-era kissaten coffee shop, you’d be sure to find the stalwarts of omurice and Napolitan spaghetti on the menu, but which one do you choose? Lawson Store 100 asks, why not both? For 350 yen ($2.39) you can have your omurice and eat your Napolitan too. It’s a match made in ketchup heaven.

▼ Ginger Pork & Napolitan Sandwiches

Lawson Store 100 doesn’t stop asking questions there, either. For their next trick they wonder what if the two Showa signature dishes of ginger pork and Napolitan were served in sandwiches for 230 yen ($1.57).

It’s certainly a lot of Showa-stylized foods on display but that isn’t even everything. Lawson Store 100 will also offer a range of retro candies, snacks, and instant noodles in their stores and they’ll even be playing hits from the era while the Showa Retro Fair is underway until 12 September.

So, slap on your punch perm and head down to your nearest location while the past is still alive and savory!

Source: Lawson Store 100, PR Times
Images: PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/08/31/lawson-store-100-releases-retro-line-of-japanese-convenience-store-foods/feed/ 0 634971 At Kichi Kichi in Kyoto the rice omelets are both dinner and a show【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2023/08/25/at-kichi-kichi-in-kyoto-the-rice-omelets-are-both-dinner-and-a-show%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2023/08/25/at-kichi-kichi-in-kyoto-the-rice-omelets-are-both-dinner-and-a-show%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Fri, 25 Aug 2023 03:00:20 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=634330

Kichi Kichi ya ya da da…

A classic of “yoshoku” (western-influenced Japanese cuisine) is omurice. This is essentially an omelet-style fried egg draped over a large scoop of rice with meat and vegetables that are all typically seasoned with ketchup.

It’s a simple meal often enjoyed home-cooked, but there are also restaurants that specialize in the dish. And then there’s Kitchi Kitchi in Kyoto which has elevated cooking omurice to a performance art and has earned a worldwide reputation for it.

I was lucky enough to get a coveted seat at the counter of this hugely popular dinner show and meet the sole founder and head chef, Yukimura Motokichi. I arrived around 3 p.m. to have a chat with him a few hours before opening and there were already about a dozen people who had made reservations lined up in the hopes of getting into their prefered slot among those available hourly between 5 and 9 p.m. that evening.

If you make a reservation for a day, your best bet is to line up well before 3 p.m. for a good spot. And if you don’t have a reservation you can try your luck by swinging by around that time to scoop up any no-shows or cancelled spots. It’s tough though and I saw a fair number of people get turned away because there just wasn’t room.

When I entered the restaurant, everyone was busy preparing for the evening, but Motokichi was kind enough to sit and talk with me for a moment. He told me about how he honed his unique omurice-making technique over 45 years of experience and took his show on the road to places like Australia and Indonesia.

▼ He also proudly showed me his Certificate of Excellence from Tripper Guide for his consistently high reviews.

What struck me about Kitchi Kitchi was that the restaurant itself is incredibly tiny, with only a few tightly packed seats along the counter and a shared table in the back. But that seemed to suit what was about to take place there just fine.

I left to let Motokichi get ready and returned at about 4:40 that afternoon. Again, there was a lineup of people who had made reservations along with even more people who stopped by in the hopes of getting a last-minute cancelation or open seat. The staff came out and talked to everyone one by one to either tell them to come back later in the evening or give them a menu. Some were also told that they would have to share the table seats, but they all seemed perfectly fine with that and happy just to be able to get in.

Everyone who got into the 5 o’clock slot also made their orders while in line so Motokichi could prepare everything in advance. He told me before that even though about 90 percent of his customers are from abroad, he speaks very little English, but his staff is fluent and can easily handle English questions and orders.

Customers have to be very punctual when visiting too. If you arrive later that five minutes before the scheduled time, you probably won’t be let in. Everyone in my group was on time though, and we were all let in and shown our assigned seats. Motokichi and the staff were quitely preparing the side dishes like rice, bread, and pork cutlets.

That was just the calm before the storm, however. The main event here is the omurice and shortly after that the show began.

▼ Here is the making of Kichi Kichi Omurice in full

Earlier that afternoon I asked Motokichi if he ever got requests from people to teach them his style of omelet making and he just gave me a strange look, saying that he shows everyone who comes in to the restaurant or watches his videos online how to do it. Sure enough, he did give a step-by-step explanation of how to cook the egg so that it does this.

He also shows off the tools of the trade, such as his specially designed omuchan frying pan and extra-sharp knives, that are all for sale and will increase your chances of recreating this magic. He seems to have a really keen sense of the heat from the fire and makes it look easy but it certainly seems like one of those all-in-the-wrist things that requires considerable experience so get right.

As you can see in the first video, customers can choose between either getting their omelet sliced with a knife so it delectably drools over the rice, or “flying style” in which Motokichi flips it from the frying pan onto the rice so that it pops open like a gently burst water balloon and achieves the same result.

Normally, omurice is considered a sort of kids’ food and often has a very sweet taste. Kichi Kichi omurice, on the other hand, uses a demiglasse sauce instead of ketchup for a more elegant and savory taste.

The sheet of egg on omurice made in most places is generally very good, but a little on the coarse and dry side. Kichi Kichi’s, however, was silkly smooth and unlike any I’ve ever had before. The rice also includes mushrooms and edamame to give it an outstanding texture overall.

I ordered a small sized omurice for 1,450 yen (US$10) but even that was a decent enough size that felt like a satisfying meal. The other great thing about omurice is that it’s incredibly easy to eat. All you have to do is shovel it in your mouth with a big spoon, so everyone in the restaurant finished up their meals rather quickly. This was fortunate since the next slot of reservations started from six o’clock.

I was beginning to think this was the end of the meal, but Motokichi wasn’t through yet. He called out to everyone, saying that it was time for a song. This would be the official Kichi Kichi theme song “Kichikichi Happy Omurice,” available on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music, written and composed by Motokichi and Keizo Horiuchi with vocals by MMOH.

▼ Though nothing beats a live performance sung by Motokichi himself.

After that, everyone settled their bills and Motokichi came out to personally thank everyone for coming and pose for pictures.

There was something very intimate about experiencing all this in such a small space, and everyone there really felt connected to the performance. I asked Motokichi what his thoughts were for the future of Kichi Kichi such as expanding to other locations. However, he’s the only person who does this kind of thing, so his goal is just to continue spreading the word about omurice to as many places in the world as possible.

▼ His business card even has his job title down as “Evangelist of omelet.”

So, everyone who also wants to experience this one-of-a-kind dining will have to seek out his restaurant in the Zaimokuchu area of Kyoto and have a bit of luck on their side. The good news is that even though Kichi Kichi just celebrated its 45th anniversary and Motokichi himself is in well into his 60s, he still seems to be in better shape than me and will probably keep on flipping and slicing for a long time to come.

Restaurant information
The Yoshoku Kichi Kichi / ザ・洋食　キチキチ
Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Nakagyo-ku, Zaimokucho 185-4
京都府京都市中京区材木町185-4
Hours: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Weekdays / Noon – 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Weekends)
Closed Wednesdays
Website

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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/08/25/at-kichi-kichi-in-kyoto-the-rice-omelets-are-both-dinner-and-a-show%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 634330 Hey, Japanese taxi driver! Thanks for taking us to one of the best rice omelet restaurants in Japan https://soranews24.com/2023/05/01/hey-japanese-taxi-driver-thanks-for-taking-us-to-one-of-the-best-rice-omelet-restaurants-in-japan/ https://soranews24.com/2023/05/01/hey-japanese-taxi-driver-thanks-for-taking-us-to-one-of-the-best-rice-omelet-restaurants-in-japan/#comments Sun, 30 Apr 2023 17:30:52 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=622359

The Pakkan Omuraisu isn’t just a meal, it’s a performance too!

In our “Hey, Japanese taxi driver” series, we ask Japan’s cabbies to take us to a great local restaurant. Usually, though, we narrow the candidates down a little by asking for their recommendation regarding a type of food that city is famous for, such as seafood in Otaru, takoyaki in Osaka, or bubuzuke in Kyoto.

But in our latest installment we’re headed to Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture. While Okazaki has a cool castle and beautiful riverside park, it’s not really known for any type of food in particular, basically living in the culinary shadow of nearby Nagoya’s miso pork cutlets and tempura shrimp rice balls.

So as we slid into the back seat of a taxi outside Higashi Okazaki Station (pictured above) and asked just “Can you recommend a good restaurant around here?”, we were sort of braced for a long pause and eventual non-answer. To our pleasant surprise, though, not even a full second passed before the driver replied “Sure, Santa.”

To clarify, we weren’t headed to the North Pole, and even now, we’re not quite sure why the restaurant is called Santa (which they write さん太, different from the Christmas Santa’s name in Japanese, サンタ). It took us about 15 minutes to get there, and at first glance we thought it was somebody’s house, until we saw the sing out front and row of people waiting for a table.

Santa specializes in yoshoku (Western-inspired dishes), the taxi driver told us. “Their rice omelets are great,” he recommended. “The ones with cheese are really popular, but the normal version is really delicious too.”

Even through Santa is located in a residential area, the size of the lunch crowd as big enough that the staff told us there’d be a 50-minute wait to get in. Luckily, the actual wait turned out to be closer to be 20 minutes,

Looking at the menu, we spotted the camembert rice omelet the driver had told us about, but we wanted to know what Santa’s baseline rice omelet tastes like, so we opted for the Pakkan Rice Omelet Set, shown here, which the menu promises includes a “Pakkan performance.”

“Pakkan” is the Japanese onomatopoeia for something splitting open, but we honestly had no idea what a “Pakkan performance” is, so we were just going to have to wait and see.

When the server brought our omuraisu to the table, it was immaculately beautiful. The egg was smooth and fluffy, without so much as single singed blemish to its golden surface. The rice, too, looked delicious. Really, there was only one problem: in a Japanese rice omelet, the rice is supposed to be inside the egg, so you can get both in the same bite, but Santa serves the egg entirely on top of the rice.

But as we were wondering how we were supposed to eat this unorthodoxly presented dish, our server produced a knife, sliced down the center of the egg, and…

…pakkan!

The tender egg folded back on itself, creating a canary-colored canopy over the rice.

And yes, if you want to cut the egg and do the pakkan procedure yourself, you can.

Next we added the served-on-the-side sauce…

…and it was time to dig in!

As you can probably imagine, the single strongest sensation Santa’s rice omelet gives you is “creamy.” Stupendously creamy. The egg is right at that magical borderline between too soft and too firm, and our taste tester Haruka Takagi loved every bite.

▼ Haruka, in the process of loving one of those bites

The texture is so smooth and satisfying, it almost feels like eating a dish of ice cream. The sauce is amazing too, with meaty notes and a pleasantly mild tartness from the tomato.

Also included in Haruka’s 2,400-yen (US$18) lunch set was a salad, sweet potato croquette, drink, and dessert, which were also excellent.

Santa is the ort of restaurant that we’d never have stumble across on our own, especially since rice omelet’s weren’t even on our gastronomic radar when we arrived in Okazaki. But as we’ve come to learn, oftentimes the best part of asking Japan’s taxi drivers to take you to a good restaurant is when they take you someplace you weren’t expecting.

Restaurant information
Santa / さん太
Address: Aichi-ken, Okazaki-shi, Hanecho Unagi-ike 112-3
住所：愛知県岡崎市羽根町鰻池112ｰ3
Open 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (Wednesday-Friday), 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 5:30-9 p.m.(Saturday, Sunday, holidays)
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays
Website

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]]> https://soranews24.com/2023/05/01/hey-japanese-taxi-driver-thanks-for-taking-us-to-one-of-the-best-rice-omelet-restaurants-in-japan/feed/ 0 622359 HTG 1 We try Kaldi’s microwavable Omelet Rice to find out if it really cooks that easily【SoraKitchen】 https://soranews24.com/2022/10/30/we-try-kaldis-microwavable-omelet-rice-to-find-out-if-it-really-cooks-that-easily%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2022/10/30/we-try-kaldis-microwavable-omelet-rice-to-find-out-if-it-really-cooks-that-easily%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2022 05:00:19 +0000 https://soranews24.com/?p=605461

Omurice in just five minutes? We had to try it.

Kaldi Coffee is a food shop that sells many things–coffee, of course, but also imported food products, wine, and lately unique and convenient edibles like spreadable french toast. We like to shop there to find out what kind of new, convenient, tasty food products they have, and our most recent trip didn’t disappoint.

This time we found the “Eh?! Renji de Omuraisu!?” (“What?! Microwavable Omelet Rice?”) easy-cook set, which had us pretty excited. Though the name of the set initially inspired more surprise than the set itself, we couldn’t help but be intrigued by the prospect. Normally omelet rice (known as omurice in Japanese), though not a terribly complicated dish to make, requires more steps than simply popping it in the microwave, since you have to cook the veggies, rice, sauce, and omelet. That’s why being able to do it all with a single microwave showed incredible promise.

▼ “What? Microwavable Omelet Rice?!”

Naturally, it was only 410 yen (US$2.80), so we bought it and immediately whisked it home to try. All you need besides the kit is two eggs–the ketchup-based sauce, rice, and cooking container are all included.

Inside the container were two sealed plastic packages: the “omelet rice ingredients” and the “rice ingredients”. The instructions said it would take only five minutes to cook in the microwave, but this we found hard to believe because the rice was still completely raw.

If you’ve ever cooked rice in the microwave, you’ll know it takes far longer than five minutes. We began to wonder if this particular omelet rice was going to have crunchier rice, like paella, maybe. Well, in for a penny in for a pound.

We followed the instructions on the box, mixing the “omelet rice ingredients” and “rice ingredients” together in the container. Then we put the lid on and microwaved it for three minutes.

While we waited, we whisked our two eggs, and when the microwaved dinged, we poured them over the rice.

After that, it all went back in the microwave for two more minutes, and after a total of five minutes of cooking, it was apparently done! It did look more-or-less like omelet rice when it came out.

The most important thing for us was to check the rice. Contrary to our expectations, it was properly cooked, which was a relief. We had no idea how it cooked so quickly, so we took a gander at the website; apparently they use “microwaveable rice”.

Since the rice was cooked in the “omelet rice ingredients” sauce, it had soaked up a delightful ketchup flavor. It was soft, but not too soft, with well-defined grains, and we thought it was somehow even more delicious than microwavable rice packs.

With a decent amount of vegetables scattered throughout the rice, everything seemed comparable to a standard plate of omelet rice. Considering it was made in five minutes in the microwave, that’s honestly pretty exceptional.

However, we had yet to taste the crux of the recipe: the omelet. It was completely different from the type of omelet you would make in a frying pan. We wouldn’t say it was dry and tasteless, but it certainly was thoroughly cooked.

Those who like a well-cooked egg will likely enjoy this, but those who prefer their omurice omelets to be fluffy or even a little bit on the runny side will probably find this unacceptable. We, at least, wished we had cooked the eggs ourselves instead of putting them in the microwave.

Still, the fact that it was basically a proper omelet rice that was cooked in just five minutes, which was also piping hot all the way through when it was ready to eat, is quite impressive. Plus, you can eat it right out of the container it cooks in, so you can basically get by with just about no dishes to wash, which is pretty ideal.

If you’re not too picky about the way your omelet is cooked, and you want a quick, easy meal that’s no mess and no fuss, this is a great option. We guarantee that the raw rice will be done in those five minutes, so don’t worry about that part! And if you prefer big, fluffy omelets, you might also try using this handy device for microwaving eggs. If you can successfully combine the two microwave cooking devices, you’ve got yourself a winner!

Images © SoraNews24
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2022/10/30/we-try-kaldis-microwavable-omelet-rice-to-find-out-if-it-really-cooks-that-easily%e3%80%90sorakitchen%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 605461 microwave omurice2 Japanese maid delivery service brings omurice to your door 【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2020/02/20/japanese-maid-delivery-service-brings-omurice-to-your-door-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2020/02/20/japanese-maid-delivery-service-brings-omurice-to-your-door-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 20 Feb 2020 13:00:42 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=489466

Now you can apply to have omurice delivered to your door with a side of “moe moe chin”.

There are a lot of hearty comfort foods in Japan that don’t always get the same level of fame and attention as internationally renowned staples like ramen and sushi. However, one beloved Japanese dish is now getting its time in the limelight, thanks to a new campaign by Japanese food processing conglomerate Nippon Ham.

The dish is omurice, which is named after its two main ingredients: omelette and rice. Usually served with a thin layer of omelette covering the rice beneath, wrapped up like a tasty parcel, omurice is a comfort food often cooked at home, but another place where it’s famously served is at Japanese maid cafes.

Not only does its comforting flavour fit in with the whole cutesy, soothing “moe” vibe at these cafes, it’s usually topped with a condiment that allows for some fun interactive play between the maid and their “master” or “mistress”.

▼ Tomato sauce is used to draw an image or message on the omelette, followed by a “moe moe kyun!” incantation with heart hands to spark kawaii happiness.

The combination of maids, moe and omurice is one that Nippon Ham is now using to help sell a new microwaveable omurice called Fukuro no Mama Dekiru Omurice (“Omurice You Can Make in a Bag”). To promote the product, Nippon Ham is offering people the chance to have the microwaveable omurice delivered to their door by a Japanese maid, alongside a new ad featuring cosplayer and gravure model Moe Iori as the delivery maid.

Take a look at the ad below:

In the ad, Iori can be seen travelling from the seaside to famous tourist sites and along city streets, to deliver omurice with a microwave attached to her back like a rucksack.

▼ Forget the omurice, I wanna know where I can get one of these microwave rucksacks.

Instead of using the incantation “moe moe kyun”, Iori says “moe moe chin“, with “chin” being the Japanese onomatopoeia for the sound of the microwave bell ringing when the meal’s done.

Applications for the Maid Made Omurice delivery service are currently being accepted until midnight on 13 March (Japan Standard Time), with deliveries being made to five lucky people, chosen by random, from 20-22 March. To apply, follow the product’s official Twitter account and fill in this online form with your information (in Japanese only). Applications can only be made by those with a Japanese address.

Even if you don’t get picked as one of the lucky ones for the delivery campaign, you can pick up one of the new microwavable omurice packs at stores around Japan from 20 February for 270 yen (US$2.42). Optional incantations and ear-cleaning by maids not included.

Source: PR Times 
Featured image: PR Times
Insert images: YouTube/NipponhamGroup, PR Times
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2020/02/20/japanese-maid-delivery-service-brings-omurice-to-your-door-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 489466 Maid delivery service Japanese maids cosplay costumes Japan cafes cosplayers Tokyo marketing omurice omelette food advertising YouTube video 1 Rice cats feel the cold, need omelette blankets this winter【Pics & Video】 https://soranews24.com/2015/11/13/rice-cats-feel-the-cold-need-omelette-blankets-this-winter%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2015/11/13/rice-cats-feel-the-cold-need-omelette-blankets-this-winter%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2015 15:00:26 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=281269

We’ve seen gorgeous character bentos and grated radish animals swimming in hotpot stews, but this winter it’s all about shivering rice cats begging to be covered in bright yellow omelette blankets.

The first cat to begin the trend was the star of a Japanese commercial for a local brand of eggs called Kiyora. In the ad, the sleepy kitten made from rice lies on a plate on the counter, waiting for its ‘owner’ to tuck him into a Japanese futon bed to keep warm.

Alas, after looking in the refrigerator, the cat’s creator finds the egg carton empty. Time to head off to the shop to buy a pack of Kiyora eggs!

People in Japan instantly fell in love with the adorable concept, which plays on the family-friendly ‘omurice’ dish, made from an omelette filled with ketchup-seasoned fried rice. Since the ad began airing last month, a number of sweet chilly cats have been appearing on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/makki_rui/status/663190640302272512 https://twitter.com/AoiGossipgirl/status/659346974567628800 https://twitter.com/dino_sa/status/658583070782566400

きよらのCM見てずっと作りたいな～って思ってたオムライス作ってみた٩( 'ω' )و pic.twitter.com/5sfJNzoeay

— 瑠璃丸 (@ru_lily) November 1, 2015

https://twitter.com/flower_makaron/status/660442426713051136 https://twitter.com/tellme71/status/660421541029482496 https://twitter.com/39mirai1/status/659962240452308992

The only problem, of course, is having to finish your meal when it looks this cute!

https://twitter.com/_08kei02_/status/660056709537251328

To welcome your own chilly cat to the dining table, simply wrap individual rice portions in plastic wrap or cling film and then mould them into rounded shapes before assembling them in a cat-shape on your plate. Add some cheese or sausage pieces for the face and ears and then finish with some cut nori seaweed pieces for the eyes and whiskers. All that’s left to do is cover your creation with an omelette and you’ve got the cutest weeknight dinner to surprise family and friends. Happy eating everyone!

Source: Grapee
Screenshots: YouTube/Kiyora Gourmet Shitate Official Channel

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/11/13/rice-cats-feel-the-cold-need-omelette-blankets-this-winter%e3%80%90pics-video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 281269 ht 19 ht a Japanese chef shows off amazing cooking skills with high-flying omelettes 【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2015/09/30/japanese-chef-shows-off-amazing-cooking-skills-with-high-flying-omelettes-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2015/09/30/japanese-chef-shows-off-amazing-cooking-skills-with-high-flying-omelettes-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2015 20:30:38 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=269187

If any of you have ever tried your hand at making omurice– a Japanese rice omelette- then you’ll know it can get a bit tricky when trying to plate up. This chef, however, not only makes the process look super quick and easy, but he even turns the process into a mini performance as he shows off his skill!

Omurice is a popular comfort food that Japanese people enjoy for its heartiness and versatility. While flavors, sauces, and fillings can vary, all omurice will consist of some sort of fried rice wrapped inside an omelette.

As simple as it sounds (and the actual cooking part is rather simple) getting the rice rolled up neatly inside the egg takes a bit of trial and error and a quick hand. This chef, as seen in a video from Jrock Radio, has the process perfected to an art.

The chef vigorously whisks the raw egg in the pan with his chopsticks as it cooks. After smoothing out the edges and letting it set for a few seconds, he expertly folds the omelette up on itself before flipping it over in the pan with a flick of his wrist. Then, plate in one hand and fry pan in the other, he gives the omelette a quick toss up into the air, and it falls perfectly onto the bed of rice. Whamo! Omurice done in less than 30 seconds.

▼ Just look at it, flying through the air already in the perfect shape to land atop the rice!

Without skipping a beat, he butters the frying pan and gets to work on the next order, before finishing it off with a couple of peace signs and a cheeky pose.

After a few hundred repetitions of this, I’m sure anyone could become as quick and efficient as this guy, but it’s still pretty impressively delicious to watch. I’m about ready to head on over and give him one more order to practice with!

Source, images: Facebook/Jrock Radio via Stomp

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/09/30/japanese-chef-shows-off-amazing-cooking-skills-with-high-flying-omelettes-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/feed/ 0 269187 2 2 1 When East meets West: Rice omelet sushi available for a limited time at Sushiro https://soranews24.com/2015/07/21/when-east-meets-west-rice-omelet-sushi-available-for-a-limited-time-at-sushiro/ https://soranews24.com/2015/07/21/when-east-meets-west-rice-omelet-sushi-available-for-a-limited-time-at-sushiro/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2015 01:00:05 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=253515

If you’re looking to try a popular type of washoku, or traditional Japanese food, while in Japan, sushi would be at the top of the list for many. If you wanted to try some authentic yoshoku, or Western-style Japanese cuisine, omurice, a parcel of rice wrapped in an omelette skin and topped with tomato sauce, would be one of the firm recommendations.

Now both of these star players have finally come together as part of a brand new menu from popular revolving sushi chain Sushiro. This unique Omurice Sushi is dainty, delicious and it retails for only 108 yen!

Omurice is often cooked at home and is a hit with Japanese chldren. The fried rice filling usually contains chicken and the full portion is enough to fill your belly for lunch or dinner.

While the original dish fully encases the fried rice, at Sushiro the omelette is placed securely on a bed of white sushi rice.

Nakano, our diligent Japanese reporter whose taste buds have experienced everything from delicacies at the nation’s best sushi restaurant all the way to the perils of sushi ice cream, took on the Omurice Sushi taste test. The special order is available for a limited time on Sushiro’s kid’s menu but customers of all ages can give it a try.

Nakano loved the look of the mini omurice but biting into it gave him the biggest surprise of all. The omelette actually had a meat sauce filling. When it oozed out into his mouth, combined with the vinegar flavour of the sushi rice, the result was an amazing taste sensation!

For only 108 yen (US$0.87), this is a steal and our trusty reporter ordered several more servings. If you pass by a Sushiro this summer, be sure to pop in and give it a try!

Normal omurice image: Hibi no Ippitsusen
All other images: ©RocketNews24

]]> https://soranews24.com/2015/07/21/when-east-meets-west-rice-omelet-sushi-available-for-a-limited-time-at-sushiro/feed/ 0 253515 p7170132 omu p7170134 p7170138 p7170139 Tribute to Nausicaä: Ohm-rice of the Valley of the Wind https://soranews24.com/2013/10/25/tribute-to-nausicaa-ohm-rice-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/ https://soranews24.com/2013/10/25/tribute-to-nausicaa-ohm-rice-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/#comments Fri, 25 Oct 2013 00:30:37 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=96838

The post-apocalyptic Japanese fantasy film Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind (Kaze no Tani no Naushika) came out in 1984. If you watched it as a kid, the odds are that your life was changed in some drastic way. Maybe you decided you wanted to be just like princess Nausicaä when you grew up, and learned how to fly. Or, you might have secretly decided to move to Japan, where those amazing creatures might live. Or, like one Niconico contributor, you were inspired to create an incredible replica of the king of the giant insects… the gigantic, trilobite-like Ohm… in the form of a rice omelette.

Omu-rice is an omelette made with fried rice—a popular Japanese dish, commonly served up with ketchup on top in a zigzag or smiley-face. This Ohm-rice tribute to Nausicaä looks a lot more ominous. If you’d like to try making Ohm-rice with squid ink sauce and spinach powder, you can have a go with the rough recipe provided below!

▼ In case you haven’t seen any Ohms around lately, this is the ideal look we’re going for! Trilobite or a relative of Armadillidiidae… you decide!

The basic ingredients used were as follows:

• Some soft cake flour
• Sweet corn, 1 can
• Some roasted sesame seeds
• Baby tomatoes (7)
• Squid ink sauce, half a packet
• Spinach powder, 5 tablespoons
• Bacon
• Ketchup
• White rice
• 4 eggs

You can begin by making the tentacles or mandibles first! Mix flour, spinach powder and sesame seeds, then add the squid ink sauce (in this case, a packet of Italian squid ink sauce was used for a realistic coloring) to make dough. Knead the dough, roll small pieces into tentacle shapes, and boil them.

▼Mmmm, looks like leeches from the Amazon.

Next up is the body (the underlying rice)— panfry the white rice with a can of sweet corn, bacon, and ketchup, then shape it into the body of the Ohm.

Finally, the omelette topping. Beat four eggs in a bowl then mix in some squid ink and spinach powder, and fry it in a pan to create a sheet of fried egg that looks like a sheet of seaweed from a distance, and the skin of a living creature close up. Shudder.

Finally, wrap the rice in the dark green sheet of fried egg like an Ohm, with the tentacles in front, and the baby tomatoes cut in half for eyes!

▼Tada!

▼ The Ohm thanks you.

Apparently the taste was very green, as you’d expect, and the rice was the tastiest bit.

The creator of this video says that for their next challenge, they may go on to make the scary tatari-gami (demon) from Princess Mononoke out of sobameshi (a mix of rice and noodles). I admire their bravery. By this stage, I’m a Ghibli wreck!

Source: Neto Labo
Images: Niconico

]]> https://soranews24.com/2013/10/25/tribute-to-nausicaa-ohm-rice-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/feed/ 0 96838 ohm5 A Japanese Woman’s Guide for Getting a Date: The Omurice Trick Works Every Time! https://soranews24.com/2012/08/22/a-japanese-womans-guide-for-getting-a-date-the-omurice-trick-works-every-time/ https://soranews24.com/2012/08/22/a-japanese-womans-guide-for-getting-a-date-the-omurice-trick-works-every-time/#comments Wed, 22 Aug 2012 05:31:44 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=16490 What kind of person are you attracted to?  Good looking and intelligent may be at the top of many people’s list of attractive attributes, but not all of us are blessed with an abundance of physical beauty and/or high intelligence.

Self sufficiency and outspokenness would normally be good characteristics to have but are also widely overlooked by the male species when searching for a female to spend time with.  ‘Ah she doesn’t need me’, would be a likely initial reaction.  This could be one of the great universal truths: cultural boundaries disappear in the need for us to be needed.

Alright, so something has to be done and since it takes time for someone to find your ‘inner beauty’, you may want to try these sure-fire tactics, courtesy of our female Japanese editorial staff, for getting someone you’re interested in to be interested in you.  Ladies, arm yourselves!

1. Play Tech-Dumb

Take an antiquated cell phone with you the next time you go drinking with friends. Approach the man you have your eye on and strike up a conversation during which you intentionally take out the antiquated cell phone and start fiddling with it.  The moment for your Academy Award performance is at hand:

“Ohhhhh this cell phone!”  Moan lightly.  Ooze with helpless and gentle frustration.

When he says, “What’s the matter?” you’ve got him hooked.

Continue with your performance.  “I don’t know much about cell phones…  Had this one for AGES!  It’s really difficult to use…” Simper a bit over this.

Most likely your guy has the most recent edition of his favorite smartphone and is itching to show off his knowledge of it.  He’ll say, “Why don’t you get a new one?”  (If this guy isn’t perceptive enough to say anything then it is OK to ignore him and move on)

Act like the thought of dealing with a new cell phone is truly baffling and just the thought of it leaves you speechless.  “Well I … I, I …”  Brighten up with, “The latest iPhone 5 is really popular, isn’t it? How is it?  I really want a new phone but …” go back to being baffled.

“It’s a 4s, the iPhone 5 isn’t out yet.  What kind of phone do you want?”

He is all yours!  You need him to help you find a good cell phone!  On your next day off you can plan a date in search of the perfect cell phone.  You may even be able to get him to buy it for you!

2. Bubble Over With Enthusiasm

Be theatrical, he’ll love it!  At any gathering of mixed company guys like to brag, giving orations on their latest endeavors. Perk up your ears for the guy you like, inserting your “wows” and “Oh really?” in a timely fashion.  An “I didn’t know that!” will also make him feel good enough to elaborate.  “You’re kidding!  Whats that supposed to mean?”  Let him know you want to know more, adding in a sing-songy tone: “I’d love to hear about it!”  The excitement in your voice is evident and he will gain much satisfaction from all your enthusiasm. You will be a pro in no time with enough practice.

3. Bump Up the Cute Level

Here we run into the cultural aspects of what is attractive in a woman.  Repeating what your guy said, like you are saving it for posterity then putting your finger to your head and moving it in a circular fashion might be a good idea.  When asked “what are you doing?”, reply: “saving it on my hard drive.”  Your guy might think that was the cutest thing!  It will make you look daft, which is a good thing.  Your guy can feel superior without any guilt because you are just so darned cute!

4. The Omurice Trick

When you’re at a restaurant together make sure he knows you cannot eat omurice. Omurice is a Japanese dish of rice topped with an omelette and can be found on the menu in any family restaurant and many coffee shops throughout Japan. For those of you outside of Japan, any egg-based dish like a normal omelette should work fine.

When seated, make sure you are seated next to your guy so that you can share a menu.  Find the picture of omurice, gaze at it with consternation and exclaim sadly:

“I absolutely can’t eat omurice.”

There is almost 100% chance that your guy will respond with, “Why not?  You don’t like omurice?”

Be silent for a few seconds for dramatic effect and continue: “I… well” (take a deep breath) “Every time an egg is cracked open those cute little chickees die…they’re killed!  Those cute little baby chicks… I can’t bear to think about it!  They’ll never get a chance to be born, to hop around and chirp those cute little chirps…”  It is good to shiver at this point.

Your guy will gaze at you in amazement!  What a kind, sensitive angelic person you are!  Next he will be feeling the need to spend the time to really get to know you.  He’s yours!  Plans for a date are in the bag!

When you start going out with him, no doubt you will find yourselves at a similar restaurant where you can order omurice.  You’ve got to know each other well enough, but of course he is going to ask.  “Didn’t you say you couldn’t eat omurice?”

It is safe enough to blow it off with a “I’m OK with it now”, or “Oh, I got used to it”, or even a “Did I say that?…tehe-pero!”

Original Author: Lady Ebiosu

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