Japan Eats! podcast

Japan Eats!

What is Japanese food? Sushi, or ramen, or kaiseki? What about Izakaya? Akiko Katayama, a Japanese native, New York-based food writer and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, tells you all about real Japanese food and food culture. With guests ranging from sake producers with generations of experience to American chefs pushing the envelope of Japanese gastronomy, Japanese cuisine is demystified here!

What is Japanese food? Sushi, or ramen, or kaiseki? What about Izakaya? Akiko Katayama, a Japanese native, New York-based food writer and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, tells you all about real Japanese food and food culture. With guests ranging from sake producers with generations of experience to American chefs pushing the envelope of Japanese gastronomy, Japanese cuisine is demystified here!

 

#387

Konbini Culture: Unwrapping Japan’s Unique Convenience Stores

Our guest is Gavin Whitelaw [https://rijs.fas.harvard.edu/gavin-h-whitelaw] (https://rijs.... more

04 Dec 2025

56 MINS

56:26

04 Dec 2025


#386

Discover America’s Largest Japanese Whisky Collection at Teruko

Our guest is Brian Evans who is the Director of Bars at Sunday Hospitality Group [https://... more

27 Nov 2025

53 MINS

53:18

27 Nov 2025


#385

Chef Tadashi Ono: Serving The Essence of Japanese Cuisine For Three Decades

Our guest is Tadashi Ono who is the executive chef at Teruko [https://hotelchelsea.com/din... more

20 Nov 2025

37 MINS

37:41

20 Nov 2025


#384

An American Winemaker's 35-Year Journey Helping To Shape Japanese Wine Culture

Our guest is Bruce Gutlove, who is an American-born winemaker based in Hokkaido, Japan. Th... more

13 Nov 2025

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:29

13 Nov 2025


#383

What Makes a Michelin Star Sushi Restaurant?

Our guest is Cheng Lin who is the chef/owner of Shota Omakase [https://shotaomakase.com/] ... more

06 Nov 2025

35 MINS

35:51

06 Nov 2025


#382

Teaching Kids How To Cook And Eat Healthy Food (With Fun!)

Our guests are Mayumi Uejima-Carr and Debra Samuels. Mayumi is the President of TABLE FOR ... more

30 Oct 2025

46 MINS

46:09

30 Oct 2025


#381

A Humane Catch: How Ikejime Benefits Fish, Flavor And The Planet

Our guest is Andrew Tsui who is the founder and president of The Ike Jime Federation [http... more

23 Oct 2025

45 MINS

45:56

23 Oct 2025


#380

Nozomi Mori: A Female Sushi Chef Breaks New Ground In L.A.

Our guest is Nozomi Mori who is the chef/owner of the sushi bar Mori Nozomi [https://www.m... more

16 Oct 2025

23 MINS

23:55

16 Oct 2025


#379

Global Kura: Japanese-American Sake Collaborations

Our guest is Timothy Sullivan who has over 17 years of experience teaching about sake.In 2... more

09 Oct 2025

42 MINS

42:05

09 Oct 2025


#378

What Is The Difference Between Japanese Restaurants In Japan And The U.S.?

Our guests are Yusuke Fukuzaki and Ryo Yamazaki, co-owners of SSAW [www.ssawbrooklyn.com/]... more

11 Sep 2025

37 MINS

37:41

11 Sep 2025


#377

Ask The 18th Generation Priest: What Is Zen And How Do You Practice It Daily?

Our guest is ReverendDr. MasakiMatsubara who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the... more

04 Sep 2025

51 MINS

51:09

04 Sep 2025


#376

‘Read The Room’ Mindset: What Makes Japanese Culture Unique?

Our guest is Joshua Walker who is the President and CEO of Japan Society [https://japansoc... more

27 Aug 2025

48 MINS

48:31

27 Aug 2025


#375

Waltz: Japanese Cocktail Culture Expressed in Seasonality

Our guest is Gento Torigata [https://gentotorigata.com/] (https://gentotorigata.com/) who ... more

21 Aug 2025

44 MINS

44:29

21 Aug 2025


#374

Pioneering Sustainable Plant-Based Protein With Koji

My guest today is Tim Fronzek who is a co-founder of Nosh.bio [https://www.nosh.bio/] (htt... more

06 Aug 2025

43 MINS

43:06

06 Aug 2025


#373

Inspiring The World With Japanese Fermentation Culture And Traditions

Our guest isTakashi Sato who is the 8th generation family member of Sanjirushi Jozo in Mie... more

23 Jul 2025

32 MINS

32:55

23 Jul 2025


#372

The Spirit of Japan: Passing Down The Tradition Of Shochu In The Modern Era

[https://yamatozakura.com/] (https://yamatozakura.com/)   [https://www.thespiritofjapan.co... more

14 Jul 2025

46 MINS

46:53

14 Jul 2025


#371

SingleThread: Weaving Japanese And Californian Ethos Together

Our guest is Kyle Connaughton, who is the chef/owner of SingleThread [https://singlethread... more

10 Jul 2025

50 MINS

50:55

10 Jul 2025


#370

From Masa To Nami Nori: A Culinary Journey of Chef Taka Sakaeda

Our guest is Takahiro Sakaeda who is the chef/partner of Nami Nori [https://www.naminori.u... more

03 Jul 2025

33 MINS

33:05

03 Jul 2025


#369

A Japanese Toji Dedicated to Making Sake In America For Over 20 Years

Our guest is Takumi Kuwabara who is the toji or brewmaster at SakéOne in Forest Grove, Ore... more

26 Jun 2025

39 MINS

39:19

26 Jun 2025


#368

After Two Michelin Stars In London, A Chef Returns To Japan To Reimagine Kaiseki

Our guest is Yoshinori Ishi who is the executive chef and producer of Auberge TOKITO [http... more

19 Jun 2025

54 MINS

54:52

19 Jun 2025


#367

Cooking Authentic Kaiseki Cuisine in New York For Two Decades

Our guest is Isao Yamada who is the chef-owner of Yamada [https://www.yamadanewyork.com/] ... more

12 Jun 2025

32 MINS

32:13

12 Jun 2025


#366

Merging French And Japanese Cuisines In Harmony

Our guests are Rahul Saito and Mitsu Nagae.  Rahul is the owner and Mitsu is the co-owner ... more

04 Jun 2025

38 MINS

38:17

04 Jun 2025


#365

A Ginza Sushi Chef Who Connects Authenticity And Evolution

Our guest is Takatoshi Kadowaki who is the chef-owner of Sushi Kadowaki [https://sushi-kad... more

30 Apr 2025

31 MINS

31:02

30 Apr 2025


#364

A Career In Sake: Curating Sake Lists, Collaborating With Breweries And Educating Future Profession...

Our guest is Daniel Bennett who is the sake sommelier at Sushi-san [www.sushisanrestaurant... more

16 Apr 2025

55 MINS

55:40

16 Apr 2025


#363

Heavensake: Traditional Sake Made In The Style of Champagne

Our guests are Régis Camus and Carl Hirschmann, co-founders of Heavensake [https://www.hea... more

09 Apr 2025

47 MINS

47:08

09 Apr 2025


#362

Hilo Beverly Hills: Earnest Pursuit Of Deliciousness With Hawaiian Hospitality

Our guest is Hilo Mahelona who is the chef and founder of Hilo Beverly Hills [https://www.... more

02 Apr 2025

43 MINS

43:54

02 Apr 2025


#361

Noma Kyoto 2024 Recap And The Future Of Noma

Our guest is Thomas Frebel who is the creative director at Noma [https://noma.dk/] (https:... more

26 Mar 2025

57 MINS

57:29

26 Mar 2025