Says he did it for the social media views, but the police didn’t like what they saw.
A lot of things in Japan rely on the country’s ability to trust that people will be considerate and respectful. Perhaps nowhere is this more clearly displayed than in the existence of conveyor belt sushi restaurants, in which automated delivery of food to customers is carried out under the assumption that no one will do anything disruptive or unsanitary along the way.
In other words, one of Japan’s most popula
Says he did it for the social media views, but the police didn’t like what they saw.
A lot of things in Japan rely on the country’s ability to trust that people will be considerate and respectful. Perhaps nowhere is this more clearly displayed than in the existence of conveyor belt sushi restaurants, in which automated delivery of food to customers is carried out under the assumption that no one will do anything disruptive or unsanitary along the way.
In other words, one of Japan’s most popular restaurant genres is dependent on people refraining from behavior within the “jerk” and “jackass ” sections of the societal spectrum. Unfortunately that proved to be too tall a task for one man, who’s now been arrested after posting a disgusting video of his recent visit to Hama Sushi, one of Japan’s biggest conveyor belt sushi chains.
In the video, which the man posted to TikTok, he can be seen squirting liquid from a dish soap container, which he had brought to the restaurant with him, onto a plate of sushi. The video was recorded at a Hama Sushi branch in Saitama Prefecture and posted on May 27.
One week later, the Saitama Prefectural Police have not only identified the man who posted the video as an unemployed 43-year-old resident of the Saitama town of Moroyama, they’ve also arrested him on charges of forced obstruction of business.
There are a couple of aspects of the incident that warrant further discussion. To start with, the man did not squirt the liquid on sushi that was eaten by another customer. In recent years, in order to improve efficiency and provide fresher food, many conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan have done away with the old system of pre-making sushi pieces and sending them on plates down the belt to be grabbed by whoever wants them. Instead, the vast majority of the food, and at many conveyor belt sushi restaurants all of it, is made after the customer places an order, then sent down the belt and automatically stops at the table of the diner who ordered it. That was the case with the sushi the 43-year-old man squirted the liquid onto, as in the video he uploaded the plate has stopped on the belt at his table, and in the video he can be seen taking the plate off the belt and placing it on his table.
However, the plate was still on the lane when he squirted it, opening up the possibility of whatever the liquid was splashing onto other plates or parts of the restaurant where it could come into contact with other diners’ food. The man, who has admitted to recording and posting the video and said his motive was “to get a lot of views on social media,” claims that he had emptied the dishwashing liquid container and refilled it with water prior to squirting it on the sushi, though this isn’t something that can be easily confirmed after the fact.
One could, perhaps, make the argument that regardless of whether the liquid was dish soap, water, or something else, as long as the man ate the sushi himself, or simply left it uneaten so that it would be thrown out when the restaurant staff cleaned the table, that he didn’t do anything wrong, just something weird and potentially damaging to his own stomach. However, by posting the video online, his actions could be seen as damaging to the reputation of Hama Sushi. Any suggestion of unsanitary conditions is extremely damaging to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, and by extension the chain and even the entire industry.
A rash of conveyor belt sushi “prank” videos occurred in 2023, but though things have quieted down since then, the Moroyama man’s actions are definitely not the sort of thing businesses, the police, or the general public have any patience for anymore. “[His] actions are utterly unacceptable” said Hama Sushi’s parent company Zensho in a statement, while promising to provide all possible cooperation in the investigation and legal procedures.
Tokyo’s new video game/anime eatery has a lot to love (and eat).
June 12 is the grand opening of the brand-new Square Enix Cafe in downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood, and the eatery has released a sneak peek at what’s going to be on the menu. As you might expect, food and beverages inspired by the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises will be on offer, but there’s one other dark-horse candidate for your dining and drinking attention, and an anime/manga mega-hit too.
Beginning with Fina
Tokyo’s new video game/anime eatery has a lot to love (and eat).
June 12 is the grand opening of the brand-new Square Enix Cafe in downtown Tokyo’s Shinjuku neighborhood, and the eatery has released a sneak peek at what’s going to be on the menu. As you might expect, food and beverages inspired by the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises will be on offer, but there’s one other dark-horse candidate for your dining and drinking attention, and an anime/manga mega-hit too.
Beginning with Final Fantasy, the entrée options are the Chocobo and Moogle Spice Curry, milder Moogle Kids Curry…
…Chocobo and Friends Burger Plate (with a special appearance by Cactuar on one of its mini buns), and Chocobo Balanced Salad, designed as a for-humans equivalent of the Gysahl Greens so loved by the avian steeds.
And for dessert, Final Fantasy fans can look forward to the FF Version Purin Parfait, a Japanese-style custard pudding served in a classy cocktail glass with toppings including a marshmallow Chocobo and ice cream.
The “FF Version” part of the name suggests the existence of other pudding parfaits as well, and the DQ Version, of course, stars Dragon Quest’s adorable Slime.
The DQ mascot monster also appears in the Slimes Draw Near Jiggly Sweets Plate…
…and there are savory Slime plates too, such as the Healslime Burger Basket, in which the restorative creature’s tentacles are represented by a sliced sausage, and the Taco Rice-Style Hamburger Plate with Bubble Slime On Top.
Getting back to that third video game inspiration we mentioned, it’s none other than Nier: Automata, whose version of the purin parfait gives you a triple dose of Emil marshmallows…
…and his smiling (?) face is also present in the Lunar Tear Milk Tea Float plate.
Things get a little abstract with the 2B YoRHa Skirt-style Crepe Salad (with edible bamboo charcoal the most likely ingredient giving it its color), and things get really abstract with the On-Site Procurement Bullet Hell Pasta, meant to evoke memories of the enemy bullet barrages in the game’s shooting segments.
Now we come to the anime/manga part of the menu, which is saluting Fullmetal Alchemist.
Though Square Enix is most famous for video games, the company is also a major manga publisher, and within Japan handles the tale of brothers Al and Ed Elric, who are featured in a purin parfait, plus steamed buns with sweet custard and savory stew fillings. Fellow alchemist Roy Mustang also contributes to the menu with a Flame Alchemist shrimp pasta topped with shredded chili for extra heat.
Drinks come in two tiers, with the fancier ones consisting of a Final Fantasy Potion, Dragon Quest Traveler’s Healing Herb Set, and Fullmetal Alchemist Dwarf in the Flask.
The lower drink tier is made up of standard soft drinks such as coffee, tea, cola, orange juice, and melon soda. The cold drinks come with your choice of illustrated cup sleeve…
…while hot drinks let you pick one of two latte art designs per series.
The Square Enix Cafe has a service charge of 1,200 yen (US$7.60) per person, but that price does include one lower-tier drink of your choice, plus an illustrated placemat (you can pick which title you want, but the exact design is random).
▼ In keeping with Nier’s unabashed weirdness, its placemats are vertically oriented.
And as anyone who’s been to one knows, you can’t have a proper themed cafe in Japan without art coasters, and you’ll receive one at random when ordering any of a series’ associated food items or premium drinks.
Prices for the premium drinks and desserts are generally in the 1,000-1,500 yen range, with most of the main dishes priced between 1,500 and 2,200 yen (though the Fullmetal Alchemist steamed buns are just 770 yen each).
Again, the Square Enix Cafe’s grand opening takes place on June 12, and while walk-ins are allowed if space is available, reservations can be made through the restaurant’s website.
Beefy gauntlet has been thrown down once again by Burger King Japan.
Burger King Japan understands that there are times when a regular-size hamburger just won’t cut it, which is why they offer what they call the One Pounder series, a line of sandwiches with four patties. Sometimes, though, a person’s bottomless well of burger love equals the infinite capacity of their stomach, and so for them, later this month Burger King Japan is offering all-you-can eat One Pounders.
First, let’s take a loo
Beefy gauntlet has been thrown down once again by Burger King Japan.
Burger King Japan understands that there are times when a regular-size hamburger just won’t cut it, which is why they offer what they call the One Pounder series, a line of sandwiches with four patties. Sometimes, though, a person’s bottomless well of burger love equals the infinite capacity of their stomach, and so for them, later this month Burger King Japan is offering all-you-can eat One Pounders.
First, let’s take a look at the exact kind of One Pounder that’s being served in the One Pounder Challenge, as the promotion is called. This is the Smoke House The One Pounder. Linguists might take the position that it really should be called the “The Smoke House One-Pounder,” but apparently all that beef leaves no room for such minute syntax or punctuation quibbles. In addition to four all-beef patties and cheddar cheese, the burger has both smoked bacon and a smoked bacon sauce. It looks like there might be some pickles in there too, but they appear to be the only things between the buns that aren’t meat, cheese, or sauce.
A single Smoke House The One Pounder weighs 545 grams, which converts to roughly 1.2 pounds, so its name is actually a bit of an understatement. It also packs 1,615 calories, so you may be questioning how many a person could possibly eat. Well, back in the spring, Burger King Japan also ran an all-you-can-eat Smoke House The One Pounder promotion, and the customer who ate the most put away 11 of them, which works out to 5,973 grams, or approximately 13.17 pounds, of burgers.
If you’re wondering where the break-even point is, Burger King Japan is charging 4,900 yen (US$31) for a 45-minute all-you-can-eat session, and with the Smoke House The One Pounder costing 2,790 yen when ordered off the menu normally, that would mean you’ll need to eat 1.75 of them to get your money’s worth. That calculation doesn’t take into account that the One Pounder Challenge also includes unlimited refills of French fries and soft drinks, though, so if you do manage to get to the 1.75-burger mark, you could say you’re actually coming out ahead. All entrants also receive a One Pounder Challenge 2026 T-shirt, Burger King Towel, and two stickers.
The One Pounder Challenge will take place daily from June 19 to June 26 at 80 Burger King Japan branches, with seatings at 2:30, 4, 5:30, and 7 p.m. Advance reservations must be made through the event’s website here, and seating is limited. Should you miss out on this chance, though, take heart that this is the second of three planned One Pounder Challenges for 2026, and they’ll be followed by a fourth promotion, the One Pounder Challenge 2026 Final, in December, with free tickets to the Final being given as prizes to the three customers who eat the most burgers at each of the first three One Pounder Challenges.
Choosing a CAVA order can feel simple even with so many great options of bases, dips, proteins, toppings, and dressings. Below, Emily Sullivan, RD, MyFitnessPal Registered Dietitian, shares five picks she would recommend, plus tips for making each one work for your unique goals.
How To Think About Your CAVA Order
CAVA food is flexible in the best way. You can keep things simple with a curated bowl or pita, or build your own meal from greens, grains, proteins, dips, toppings, and dressing.
Choosing a CAVA order can feel simple even with so many great options of bases, dips, proteins, toppings, and dressings. Below, Emily Sullivan, RD, MyFitnessPal Registered Dietitian, shares five picks she would recommend, plus tips for making each one work for your unique goals.
How To Think About Your CAVA Order
CAVA food is flexible in the best way. You can keep things simple with a curated bowl or pita, or build your own meal from greens, grains, proteins, dips, toppings, and dressing.
That flexibility is helpful. It can also make the menu feel limitless. The quiet move is to decide what you want the meal to do first.
Maybe you want more protein. Maybe you want a higher-fiber bowl. Maybe you want to keep calories or sodium more moderate. Or maybe you want something filling that still tastes like the order you actually wanted. A tool like MyFitnessPal can also help you compare meals when you want a clearer look at calories, protein, fiber, or sodium.
Once you have that goal in mind, the menu gets easier to navigate. You can choose the ingredients that help you get there, then adjust the extras depending on what matters most to you.
5 Healthier CAVA Orders To Try
1. Salmon + Yogurt Dill
This bowl pairs glazed salmon with arugula, saffron basmati rice, hummus, Crazy Feta, fire-roasted corn, tomato + onion, cucumber, and yogurt dill dressing. CAVA lists the Salmon + Yogurt Dill at 710 calories, 35 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 1,870 milligrams of sodium. (1,3)
“Salmon is a great source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and the colorful mix of vegetables rounds out the dish with an array of vitamins and minerals,” Sullivan says. (4)
RD tip: To increase the fiber, swap the saffron basmati rice for black lentils. CAVA lists saffron basmati rice at 2 grams of fiber and black lentils at 15 grams of fiber, so that swap adds 13 grams of fiber. (1)
Other considerations: This bowl has 1,870 milligrams, compared to the FDA’s 2,300-milligram Daily Value for sodium. (1,2)
2. Spicy Lamb + Avocado Bowl
This bowl is built with spicy lamb meatballs, avocado, red pepper hummus, Crazy Feta, cucumber, pickled onions, tomato + onion, black lentils, Super Greens, and lemon herb tahini. It has 800 calories, 43 grams of protein, 17 grams of fiber, and 1,670 milligrams of sodium. (1,5)
“Creamy avocado and nutty tahini bring healthy fats and depth of flavor, while the black lentils and vegetables round out the bowl with a substantial boost of fiber.,” Sullivan says. (1)
This is one of the higher-fiber picks on the list. The FDA lists the Daily Value for dietary fiber as 28 grams, so 17 grams is a meaningful amount in one meal. (1,2)
RD tip: If you want to reduce the sodium and fat content, skip the feta. CAVA lists one serving of Crazy Feta at 70 calories, 6 grams of fat, and 230 milligrams of sodium. (1)
Other considerations: This is a bigger bowl. If you want the flavor but not the full portion, you could save part for later.
3. Greek Chicken Pita
This pita includes grilled chicken, tzatziki, tomato + onion, Kalamata olives, feta, shredded romaine, and yogurt dill dressing. CAVA lists the Greek Chicken Pita at 720 calories, 48 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, and 2,230 milligrams of sodium. (1,6)
This can be a helpful CAVA order when you want something handheld, but still want protein and vegetables in the mix.
“With a hearty serving of protein, carbohydrates from the pita, and several different fresh vegetables, this sandwich is a convenient, balanced meal,” Sullivan says. (1)
RD tip: To reduce sodium, skip the Kalamata olives. CAVA lists Kalamata olives at 360 milligrams of sodium per serving. (1)
Other considerations: This pita is one of the higher-sodium picks on this list, with 2,230 milligrams of sodium. If sodium is something you are watching, this is a good place to customize. (1,2)
4. Steak + Harissa Bowl
The Steak + Harissa Bowl includes grilled steak, Crazy Feta, red pepper hummus, tomato + onion, cucumber, feta, sumac slaw, brown rice, Super Greens, and hot harissa vinaigrette. It has 620 calories, 37 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 1,830 milligrams of sodium. (1,7)
This is the lowest-calorie option among the five picks in this article, but it still brings a solid amount of protein. The Super Greens, brown rice, and vegetables also help make the bowl feel more complete. (1)
RD tip: If you are looking to lower the carbs, swap the brown rice base for Super Greens or arugula. CAVA lists brown rice at 48 grams of carbohydrates per serving, compared with 6 grams for Super Greens and 3 grams for arugula. (1)
Other considerations: The sodium comes in at 1,830 milligrams. (1) Also, this is a bolder, spicier bowl, so it may not be the move if you want something mild.
5. Falafel Crunch Bowl
The Falafel Crunch Bowl is a vegetarian option with falafel, hummus, black lentils, Crazy Feta, Persian cucumber, pickled onions, sumac slaw, romaine, tomato + onion, basmati rice, pita crisps, and skhug. CAVA lists it at 860 calories, 24 grams of protein, 18 grams of fiber, and 2,210 milligrams of sodium. (1,8)
“Packed with fiber-rich black lentils, chickpea-based falafel, and hummus, it delivers a combination of plant-based protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates,” Sullivan says. (1)
RD tip: To reduce sodium, ask for the crumbled feta, or for light Crazy Feta if your location allows it. CAVA lists Crazy Feta at 230 milligrams of sodium per serving, while crumbled feta adds 35 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 125 milligrams of sodium. (1)
Other considerations: This bowl is the highest-calorie pick on this list and has 2,210 milligrams of sodium. Consider customizing or balancing with lower-sodium choices later in the day. (1)
Simple CAVA Ordering Tips
Start with protein and fiber
Look for a protein you enjoy, then check whether the bowl has a fiber source like lentils, greens, avocado, hummus, or grains.
That combo can make the meal feel more complete without needing to rebuild the whole menu from scratch.
Watch the sodium add-ons
CAVA flavor often comes from briny, tangy, salty ingredients. That can be delicious, but it can add up.
If you are watching sodium, look at items like Kalamata olives, feta, pickles, and dressings. You do not need to remove all of them. Choosing one or two can be enough. (1)
Use MyFitnessPal to compare orders
If you are deciding between two bowls, MyFitnessPal can help you zoom out and compare calories, protein, fiber, and sodium. It is not about making the order perfect. It is about understanding where it fits in your day.
Customize without overthinking it
You do not have to make five changes to build a better bowl. One thoughtful swap can do the job.
Try black lentils instead of rice for more fiber. Choose greens instead of grains when you want a lighter base. Ask for light feta if you still want the flavor, just less of it. (1)
There is no single healthiest CAVA order for everyone. It depends on your goals and appetite. From this list, the Steak + Harissa Bowl is the lowest in calories, the Greek Chicken Pita is highest in protein, and the Falafel Crunch Bowl is highest in fiber. (1)
How many calories are in CAVA bowls?
CAVA calories vary by bowl, pita, and customization. In this list, the picks range from 620 calories for the Steak + Harissa Bowl to 860 calories for the Falafel Crunch Bowl. (1)
How can I lower sodium at CAVA?
Start with small changes. You can skip or go lighter on higher-sodium add-ons like Kalamata olives, feta, pickles, and certain dressings. CAVA lists Kalamata olives at 360 milligrams of sodium, Crazy Feta at 230 milligrams, and Hot Harissa Vinaigrette at 270 milligrams per serving. (1)
Is the Falafel Crunch Bowl vegetarian?
Yes. CAVA lists the Falafel Crunch Bowl as vegetarian, though it contains milk, sesame, and wheat. (8)
Bottom Line
CAVA can be a strong fast-casual option when you know how to order to hit your goals. The menu has plenty of ways to build a meal with protein, vegetables, grains, lentils, dips, and flavorful toppings.
The main thing to watch is sodium, especially in bowls or pitas with feta, olives, pickles, dressings, and multiple savory add-ons. (1,2)
The best CAVA order is not the most “perfect” one. It is the one that fits your appetite, your goals, and the rest of your day.
And if you want more real-life ideas, the MyFitnessPal Community can be a helpful place to see how other people customize restaurant meals and make everyday food choices work for them.
Originally published July 9, 2024; Updated May 2026
New fusion food looks set to become a hit on social media.
If you’re in Japan and find yourself in the mood for pizza, but with a hankering for sushi as well, there’s a new restaurant in Osaka ready to satisfy both those needs, all in one easy-to-eat slice.
Called Sushi Pizza, this new fusion food is the brainchild of Kaisen Monogatari, a sushi and izakaya restaurant in the city’s lively Dotonbori district. Osaka, and this district in particular, is bursting at the seams with so many places t
New fusion food looks set to become a hit on social media.
If you’re in Japan and find yourself in the mood for pizza, but with a hankering for sushi as well, there’s a new restaurant in Osaka ready to satisfy both those needs, all in one easy-to-eat slice.
Called Sushi Pizza, this new fusion food is the brainchild of Kaisen Monogatari, a sushi and izakaya restaurant in the city’s lively Dotonbori district. Osaka, and this district in particular, is bursting at the seams with so many places to eat that the word “kuidaore” or “eat yourself into ruin” is often used to describe it.
Released on 1 May, the Sushi Pizza features a crispy crust made from lightly fried seaweed and sushi rice, with a variety of seafood toppings to choose from.
Prices start at 1,078 yen (US$6.77) for the “Seafood Salad” or the “Oil Sardine” slice with sardines, olives, and tomatoes, and rise to 1,408 yen for the “Eel Butter” with eel, butter and egg and the “Chunky Seafood” containing shrimp, mussels, and squid tentacles.
The pizza is strong on visuals, making it perfect for attracting attention on social media, and the flavour is said to be equally impressive, with generous chunks of seafood and cheese delivering exciting contrasts in taste and texture.
Izakaya are often referred to as “Japanese taverns” in English, due to the fact that they serve up alcohol with a wide variety of small dishes designed to pair well with drinks. With Kaisen Monogatari specialising in seafood – the name literally translates as “seafood tale” – the sushi pizza is a novel way to showcase its expertise in the field, or should we say “waters”, while acting as an entry point for diving into more of its alluring offerings.
A slice of Sushi Pizza is a fun way to feast on seafood in the heart of Osaka, and it has all the ingredients to become a kaisen monogatari of your very own for you to recount to friends and family back home.
Restaurant information
Kaisen Monogatari Midosuji Store / 海鮮物語 御堂筋店
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Dotonbori, 1-10-7 Bonchi Building 4F
大阪府大阪市中央区道頓堀1-10-7 ぼんちビル 4F
Open 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Website
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Hatena Coffee continues to make customers smile as they scratch their heads.
The line that separates cafes from regular restaurants can be a hazy one, but most people would say that cafes generally have a more relaxed vibe that encourages you to linger over your drink or meal. And it’s definitely true that Hatena Coffee, which just arrived in Osaka’s Namba neighborhood, isn’t going to pressure you to hurry up and leave. As a matter of fact, Hatena Coffee has a policy in which they won’t even l
Hatena Coffee continues to make customers smile as they scratch their heads.
The line that separates cafes from regular restaurants can be a hazy one, but most people would say that cafes generally have a more relaxed vibe that encourages you to linger over your drink or meal. And it’s definitely true that Hatena Coffee, which just arrived in Osaka’s Namba neighborhood, isn’t going to pressure you to hurry up and leave. As a matter of fact, Hatena Coffee has a policy in which they won’t even let you go home until you’ve proved your smarts.
The cafe’s name is a tipoff to this unique rule, as “hatena marks” are what question marks are called in Japanese. In addition to beverages and light fare, Hatena Coffee also serves up brain-teasing puzzles. There’s a selection to choose from, with varying difficulties, and solving the puzzle is an official requirement in order to be allowed to leave.
That might sound like the place is an escape room that you can eat and drink in, but Hatena Coffee takes the opposite approach to time. In an escape room you’re given a certain amount of time in which to try to solve the mystery, and when time’s up, you’re let out regardless of whether or not you succeeded. At Hatena Coffee, though there’s no time limit, so you can approach the puzzle at whatever pace feels fun and enjoyable to you…or to you and your date or friends, since the Namba cafe has three types of seating: counters for solo customers, two-chair tables for pairs, or four-chair tables for larger groups.
All of the cafe’s puzzles are produced by Tokyo-based puzzle/mystery design company Experiful. The estimated time needed to solve most of them is in the range of 30 to 60 minutes, but if you want even more mental stimulation, the tougher ones will take up to 90 minutes, the company says (and while not explicitly stated, we’re sure that if you’re really stumped, they’ll let you go home without solving the puzzle, if you ask nicely).
Each guest pays a 1,500-yen (US$9.70) “puzzle fee” and is asked to also order at least one drink, but there’s no timed seat/table charge at Hatena Coffee, so you don’t need to worry about running up a more expensive tab if it takes you an extra-long time to solve your puzzle. Drinks are all priced at 500 yen (whether soft drinks or alcoholic), while snacks start at 500 yen, sandwiches and pasta plates at 700 yen, and desserts at 1,000 yen.
The Namba Hatena Coffee’s grand opening is scheduled for June 1, when it will become the chain’s sixth branch, joining the three locations in Tokyo (in the Ginza, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro neighborhoods), one in Yokohama, and one already open in Osaka’s Umeda neighborhood. With barely more than a year having passed since the initial branch opened in Yokohama, the fast expansion seems to show that there’s an eager market of fans for puzzles in relaxing spaces, and the new branch should make a great place to visit for a coffee after trying the neighborhood’s innovative sushi pizza.
Cafe information
Hatena Coffee (Osaka Namba branch)/ はてな珈琲店（大阪なんば店）
Address: Osaka-fu, Osaka-shi, Chuo-ku, Dotonbori 2-3-23, Hermanos Building 2nd floor
大阪府大阪市中央区道頓堀２丁目３−２３ エルマーノスビル２階
Open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. (no new seating between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.) Website
A new model of urban community collaboration in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area connects the generations using mint as a bridge.
Senior citizens probably aren’t the first demographic that comes to mind when you think of Shinjuku’s Kabukicho neighborhood, which is much more commonly associated with younger crowds, nightlife, and bars. Yet, the area is home to a sizeable population of older folks who depend on facilities such as Shinjuku Day Service for lifestyle support and social activities.
“Day se
A new model of urban community collaboration in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area connects the generations using mint as a bridge.
Senior citizens probably aren’t the first demographic that comes to mind when you think of Shinjuku’s Kabukicho neighborhood, which is much more commonly associated with younger crowds, nightlife, and bars. Yet, the area is home to a sizeable population of older folks who depend on facilities such as Shinjuku Day Service for lifestyle support and social activities.
“Day service” is a Japanese term that describes a place akin to a senior center where outpatient services are offered to senior citizens who are still capable of living independently but could use help with certain tasks or socialization activities. Shinjuku Day Service has recently partnered with Smappa! Group, which operates a large number of restaurants, bars, host clubs, and other entertainment facilities throughout Shinjuku, to bring a refreshingly new partnership to Kabukicho tables called the Shinjuku Day Service Mojito.
This initiative, which is one of the first of its kind in a major metropolitan area, connects farms, day service facilities, and restaurants/bars together in a community chain of compassion. Senior citizen volunteers grow mint plants organically using seedlings provided by Pipichan Farm in Ome, Tokyo Prefecture, which are then harvested and distributed to several Kabukicho restaurants, bars, and host clubs. Each of these participating locations has designed its own unique cocktail using the mint and is committed to sharing the story of its cultivation with customers.
The beauty of Shinjuku Day Service Mojito is that it creates a sense of purpose for many of the seniors so that they can feel their impact not only within their own community but in the larger Kabukicho community as well. Project organizers have commented that cultivating plants also has important physical and mental benefits for the seniors such as keeping their senses and cognitive abilities sharp. Best of all, involvement in the project is completely voluntary, participants can grow the herbs at their own pace, and they can be involved in other parts of the distribution process if they so choose.
▼ It’s fitting that mint means “virtue” or “warmth of emotions” in Japan’s language of flowers (hanakotoba).
If you’d like to support seniors by purchasing one or more of the collaborative mint cocktails, please see the list of participating businesses below. We think this is an excellent way for seniors to stay active and connected to the community–tied right up there with having their own line of collective trading cards.
A tale of four Matsuyas, and a whole lot of gourmet wagyu beef.
As one of the country’s big-three gyudon/beef bowl chains, Matsuya is among the top choices for those looking for a cheap but hearty meal in Japan. But maybe it doesn’t always need to be quite so cheap, and so Matsuya has made the decision to open a new, more expensive, and more gourmet, branch inside Matsuya.
Actually, we should back up a bit, because there are no fewer than four different Matsuyas we’re going to be talking about
A tale of four Matsuyas, and a whole lot of gourmet wagyu beef.
As one of the country’s big-three gyudon/beef bowl chains, Matsuya is among the top choices for those looking for a cheap but hearty meal in Japan. But maybe it doesn’t always need to be quite so cheap, and so Matsuya has made the decision to open a new, more expensive, and more gourmet, branch inside Matsuya.
Actually, we should back up a bit, because there are no fewer than four different Matsuyas we’re going to be talking about here. First is just plain old Matsuya, the beef bowl chain. Then there’s Matsuya Foods, the Matsuya restaurant chain’s parent company. Next there’s the Matsuya department store chain, whose branch in Ginza is going to be the site of the new Premium Matsuya gyudon shop.
The Matsuya department store chain is a totally separate company from Matsuya Foods. Founded 101 years ago, the Matsuya department store has an upscale image, offering not only fancy fashions but also high-end food items at its flagship store in Tokyo’s posh Ginza neighborhood. There’s some comic irony in a luxury department store and budget-friendly restaurant coincidentally sharing the same name, and the two companies decided to explore the idea of some sort of promotional collaboration, with the result being Premium Matsuya, which will be opening in Matsuya Ginza’s food section later this month serving special, upscale items you won’t see on a regular Matsuya restaurant menu.
For example, Matsuya’s signature dish is their standard beef bowl, which is priced at 460 yen (US$3). Premium Matsuya’s beef bowl, pictured below, will cost more than three times as much, 1,390 yen, but that’s because it’s made with Kobe beef!
Other delicacies offered by Premium Matsuya will include a hamburger steak bento boxed lunch with domestically raised kuroge wagyu (Japanese Black) beef (1,681 yen)…
…a tonteki (pork steak) bento (1,681 yen)…
…and beef curry rice sets, also with the options of sliced Kobe beef or a kuroge wagyu hamburger steak (1,050-1,681 yen).
While some Japanese department store food shops have seats for eat-in dining, preview images for Premium Matsuya suggest it’ll be a take-out only operation, though the staff will also have dapper uniforms unique to the upscale offshoot to help create an elegant atmosphere.
It should be noted that the menu and prices at regular Matsuya restaurants will remain unchanged, so this isn’t an example of Matsuya trying to reestablish its preexisting branches as higher-priced eateries, unlike the course recently taken by curry chain Coco Ichibanya. As for whether Matsuya Ginza’s clientele will be interested in gourmet Matsuya meals, Premium Matsuya’s opening as a permanent part of the food department comes after a similar limited-time pop-up at Matsuya Ginza last year was met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction from shoppers, so hopes are high for when Premium Matsuya opens on June 10.
Japan’s Kansai region inspires some very bold baking in Shakey’s Japan’s ovens.
A while back, Shakey’s celebrated its 50th anniversary of arriving in Japan with a special selection of pizzas that it called the “American Pizza Tour.” But having passed the half-century mark in Japan now, the chain has seen some very tasty stuff in this country too, and brings us to Shakey’s newest creations, pizzas inspired by the culinary traditions of central Japan’s Kansai region.
We start with the Kansai Ch
Japan’s Kansai region inspires some very bold baking in Shakey’s Japan’s ovens.
A while back, Shakey’s celebrated its 50th anniversary of arriving in Japan with a special selection of pizzas that it called the “American Pizza Tour.” But having passed the half-century mark in Japan now, the chain has seen some very tasty stuff in this country too, and brings us to Shakey’s newest creations, pizzas inspired by the culinary traditions of central Japan’s Kansai region.
We start with the Kansai Chili Con Carne Style Pizza. The topping for this complex concept is sujikon, a dish popular in Kansai made by simmering gyusuji (beef tendon) and konnyaku (konjac gelatin) simmered in a soy sauce-based stock. The sauce here has a Kansai twist too, as it’s a mixture of tomato sauce and Doro Sauce, a thick savory Worcestershire-like sauce made in Kobe with a little spicy kick to it.
Next we have the Saikyo Grilled Spanish Mackerel Alfredo Style Pizza. Kyoto is also part of the Kansai region, and while history buffs love the city for its temples and shrines, foodies are especially fond of saikyoyaki, a Kyoto specialty of white miso-marintaed grilled fish. Sawara (Spanish mackerel) is the most commonly used type of fish for saikyoyaki, and so that’s what comes with this pizza, with its elegantly sweet notes accompanied by a buttery Alfredo sauce and crisp mizuna (Japanese mustard greens).
Dessert also comes courtesy of inspiration from Kyoto cuisine. Though not mentioned in the name of the Matcha and Strawberry Dessert Pizza, here Shakey’s is drawing from nama yatsuhashi, Kyoto’s representative confectionary of folded mochi with anko (sweet red beans) inside and often a dusting of cinnamon. This dessert pizza has a butter anko sauce and is topped with little balls of gyuhi (extra soft mochi) and strawberry pieces, with matcha powder and cinnamon which should deliver an intriguing mix of sweet, bitter, and tart sensations.
And finally, Shakey’s will be serving up Doro Sauce BBQ Spaghetti too, which should let you get an even more pronounced taste of the condiment than with the Kansai Chili Con Carne Style Pizza.
There’s no denying that the new pizzas are all very bold, pioneering innovations…but it’s also hard to deny that they’re pretty weird. Since Shakey’s Japan operates on a flat-fee, all-you-can-eat system, though, there’s no need to commit to ordering a whole pie, so you can try a single slice first, then go back for more if/when they win you over.
Shakey’s Japan Tour 2026 Kansai, as the new items’ stint is called, runs from now until August 31.
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