No7 [Restaurant] iBUKi: Breathing New Life Into Japanese Cuisine!
iBUKi: Breathing New Life Into Japanese Cuisine! Aunique and attractively modern Japanese sushi restaurant has recently opened in Maida Vale and there is no doubt […]
Articles by aConceptLondon
No8 [Interview] Barak Kushner, a long story
Barak Kushner teaches the history of Japan at the University of Cambridge. He is a specialist in Sino-Japanese relations and his second book, Slurp! A […]
No7 [Cooking] Gomoku Chirashi
Gomoku Chirashi The name “Gomoku Chirashi” literally means “a mixture of five toppings” and it is an apt one, as this dish is created by […]
No7 [Book] The best place to drink in the world
According to author Chris Bunting, Tokyo has a lot to offer the curious drinker. Is Tokyo the best city for booze in the world? English […]
No7 [Travel] Enjoy travelling through books in Jimbocho
There are many bookshops in this area situated in the heart of the capital, where Chinese revolutionaries used to come a century ago to form […]
No7 [DVD] A treasure of a film
A village is ravaged by plague. The ninja Kagero escorts a troup of soldiers that have been sent to investigate but very soon, Tessai, one […]
No6 [Music] They won’t keep their mouths shut
All around the world, dozens of artists and bands fight to defend their right to be different. It is no exception in Japan despite its […]
No6 [Cinema] “I like to highlight the strange, unpredictable side of life”
Gakuryu Ishii talks about life, death, Japanese cinema and his latest movie “Isn’t Anyone Alive?”. Film director Sogo Ishii is back with a vengeance. He […]
No6 [Eating] Dorayaki: Japanese Pancake Journey!!!
Dorayaki: Japanese Pancake Journey!!! Dorayaki is a Japanese pancake which traditionally contains a red bean paste filling (Anko/Azuki beans). The traditional “Azuki Dorayaki” has a […]
No6 [DVD] Twilight in the country of the rising sun?
© Fuyumi Ono, Ryu Fujisaki/SHUEISHA, SHI KI Committee Adapted from Fuyumi Ono’s novel, Shi Ki is a high quality anime that you can now watch […]
No6 [Literature] Discovering or rediscovering Black Rain
Five years after the atomic bomb explodes, young Yasuko is living with her uncle and aunt in a village near Hiroshima where they took refuge […]
No6 [Interview] An interview with the GazettE
On the European release of “Visual Kei” band the GazettE’s latest album, Division, the band members answered our questions during an exclusive interview. Tell us […]
No6 [Interview]Tha Blue Herb, alive and kicking
From left to right, O.N.O. the beat maker, and Boss, the MC (master of ceremony). The two members of Tha Blue Herb. You are […]
No6 [Interview] Shinsei Kamattechan shares his secrets
From left to right, Mono, Misako, Chibagin and Noko. The four members of Shinsei Kamattechan. Could you tell us about the band ? Mono […]
No6 [Cooking] Prawns in Chilli Sauce
Prawns in Chilli Sauce This month’s recipe is a Japanese re-interpretation of the Classic Szechuan dish; prawns in chilli sauce. The original Chinese regional dish […]
No6 [Travel] Kawasaki, home of Doraemon
© Fujiko-Pro You will enjoy visiting this museum whether or not you are a lover of Fujimoto Hiroshi’s robot cat.” Paying tribute to one of […]
No6 [Interview] Mori Yoshitaka, An expert’s opinion
Mori Yoshitaka is a sociologist and a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts. He carefully analyses the evolution of the music scene, and has […]
No5 [Pleasure] Royce’, the Rolls of chocolates
Situated close to Sapporo, this company is gaining increasing popularity amongst chocolate lovers. Hokkaido is famous for fish, shellfish, râmen (especially famous in Sapporo and […]
No5 [Beer] From producer to consumer
A few kilometres away from Sapporo, Otaru’s little port is experiencing a revival with help from a master brewer who comes from Germany. Nowadays, Otaru […]
No5 [Wine] In Tokachi, dreams are made of grand crus
For approximately 50 years, Château Ikeda has been building a solid reputation with its wine. On arriving in Ikeda on the Nemuro line, 250 kilometres […]
No5 [Food] Hokkaido makes your mouth water
Long considered to be rather an isolated region, the island was often ignored, but thanks to new rail links, it has become more accessible. Last […]
No5 [Travel] When Kyoto goes up in flames…
The ancient imperial capital welcomes visitors all year around, but autumn is the best time of year to visit, and this is why… “I was […]
No5 [Interview] Hosoda Mamoru “Making a movie means knowing how to take risks”
© 2012 “WOLF CHILDREN” FILM PARTNER The Wolf Children, Ame and Yuki, is this Japanese film director’s latest masterpiece. It was a great success throughout […]
No5 [Restaurant] Singing the praises of Suki-yaki
Singing the praises of Suki-yaki One of the most satisfying things about eating out in Japan is the number of dishes cooked right in front […]
No5 [Drinking] The drink that’s pretty in pink
The drink that’s pretty in pink Drinking alcohol is not normally associated with improving your looks, but more likely the pale, blotchy skin of the […]
No5 [Cooking] Tori Kara-age
Tori Kara-age The popular dish “Tori Kara-age” (Fried Chicken) has been eaten in Japan or over 90 years and is a versatile staple of Japanese […]
No5 [Literature] The memory of our mothers
By continuing the work she started with her first novel, Julie Otsuka forcefully evokes the conditions of Japanese immigrants in America. On the boat, we […]
No5 [Interview] Interview with Hotei Tomoyasu
Since August this year, legendary guitarist Hotei Tomoyasu has shifted his base from Japan to London and on Tuesday the 18th of December he will be […]
No5 [Exhibition] Kioku: fracture and memories
Until the 8th of December, Christian Ferreira will present the first collaborative installation by British artists Tom Milnes & Sabine Okami in the Accumulator Tower […]
No4 [Focus] Heart to heart Soul to soul
Many foreigners have settled in Japan over the past few decades and many of them have also worked there. And the Japanese, who wish […]
No4 [Travel] So close, yet so different from Tokyo
Just an hour away from the capital, Kamakura is so full of charm that you will forget how close you are to a big city. […]
No4 [Interview] Ueno Makoto, at the heart of the Japanese soul
The folklorist Ueno makoto was born in 1960. he is an expert on the man’yôshû, the first anthology of Japanese poetry that dates back to […]
No4 [Literature] 1300 candles for the Kojiki
Compiled in the year 712, it is about time you were introduced to the ‘Record of Ancient Matters’, a monument of Japanese culture. In turn […]
No4 [Cooking] Mabo Tofu
Mabo Tofu The cuisine of many nations can be found on Japan’s dining tables but perhaps the one most commonly made at home is Chinese […]
No4 [Photography] A red carpet for Moriyama
You can enjoy Daido Moriyama’s work at the Michael Hoppen Gallery until 20th October. It is a must see. Daido Moriyama is a traveller, a […]
No4 [Restaurant] In the market for chirashizushi
In the market for chirashizushi Chirashizushi, or ‘scattered sushi’ sounds like what might happen if you ask a particularly temperamental sushi chef for some ketchup […]
No4 [Book] Mastering the art of narration
Mitsu is the narrator. He is twenty-seven years old and the father of an abnormal child, like his sister who committed suicide before she reached […]
No4 [Eating] Curry OK!
Curry OK! Curry took a roundabout route into Japan. Arriving via the British navy at the end of the 19th century, when India was still […]
No3 [Event] Noh in Britain? we say yes!
On the 7th and 9th of September, two high quality shows will be presented in London and Orford in Suffolk, which combine classical Japanese theatre […]
No3 [Passion] A cop sits down to eat
This is a story about a talkative cop who likes to eat, but most of all loves to talk. It is to be consumed enthusiastically… […]
No3 [Cinema] A well deserved tribute to Shindo and Yoshimura
© BFI Southbank Two great figures of Japan’s post-war cinema will be celebrated in an exhibition at the BFI Southbank, running until the 30th of […]
No3 [Drinking] Raise your glass to Japan’s brewers
Raise your glass to Japan’s brewers Choosing a bottle of sake can be quite a daunting prospect. Bottles come in all shapes and sizes, each […]
No3 [History] At Mr. Nobunaga’s service
By using the historical figure of Oda Nobunaga as a character, mangaka have succeeded in creating several very imaginative stories. Over the past few years, […]
No3 [Initation] From producer to consumer
Arakawa Hiromu has taken a bold step with her new manga about agriculture. With Fullmetal Alchemist, Arakawa Hiromu has become one of the greatest names […]
No3 [Literature] I am a cat
The narrator of this tale is a cat who belongs to an English teacher ill at ease with himself and who suffers from depression and […]
No3 [Trend] Manga are now devoured in many different forms
2011 and 2012 saw a marked change in the way Japanese people read comic books. Years go by but in the world of manga everything […]
No3 [Travel] Monsters and all that
Sakaiminato is the birthplace of mangaka Mizuki Shigeru, a charming port city that pays tribute to his comic strip characters. Since the end of March […]
No3 [Interview] The press embodies local identity
The local press plays an important role in the far flung regions of Japan, but how it works is quite a mystery. A respected academic reveals […]
No3 [Restaurant] Oodles of noodles at Ittenbari
Oodles of noodles at Ittenbari There is a scene in the quirky 80s film comedy ‘Tampopo’, where an old ramen master teaches his young pupil […]
No3 [Cooking] Zaru soba
Zaru soba Soba noodles are very traditional form of Japanese cuisine. These noodles are made using buckwheat flour (the buckwheat plant is also calles “soba” […]
No2 [Interview] Miyazaki at the BFI Southbank
Copyright Studios Ghibli On June 8th at 6 pm, during a weekend dedicated to anime, the BFI Southbank will be presenting Miyazaki’s long awaited From Up […]
No2 [Restaurant] Celebrate the finest steak in the world at Matsuri
Celebrate the finest steak in the world at Matsuri Wagyu – The Holy Grail for any lover of red meat seeking the ultimate steak. Prized […]
No2 [Interview] Eight voices to remember
Journalist Elin Lindqvist publishes a wonderful book in which she puts the tragic events of 11th May 2011 into perspective. Born in Japan in 1982, […]
No2 [Eating] How to make perfect nigiri
How to make perfect nigiri Creating rice balls for nigiri-zushi and onigiri, can be a bit of a bore. And unless you’re a trained sushi […]
No2 [Cooking] Inari Zushi
Inari zushi Inari zushi are made from fried tofu that is boiled to be sweet or bittersweet and stuffed with boiled rice. When the rice inside […]
No2 [DVD] Laughter for the benefit of all
People often say that the Japanese do not enjoy laughter and that they are always serious. However, just like in any society, laughter often arises […]
No2 [Interview] Mita Masahiro : A pinch of nostalgia
Writer Mita Masahiro was born in 1948. He teaches at Musashino University in Tokyo. In 1977, he won the Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan’s most […]
No2 [Trends] Going East
The opening of the Tokyo Sky Tree on the eastern side of the Japanese capital marks the start of a new era. Without doubt, Tokyo […]
No2 [Cinema] Fifty years as a film star
© 1961 Toho Co. Ltd. Film directors recognized the symbolic value of the Tokyo Tower and it was often used as a setting in their […]
No2 [History] The end of a symbol
A tower within a tower Tokyo Tower was built during the years of strong economic growth in Japan. Now that the country is in crisis, […]
No2 [Travel] Hiraizumi’s secrets
Japan’s former cultural and intellectual centre, in the north east of the country, makes a beautiful stop off the beaten track. Iwate’s main city was […]
No1 [Restaurant] A taste of Kyûshû, in Marylebone
A taste of Kyûshû, in Marylebone Japanese food for many people means one thing – sushi. Tempura, tonkatsu curry and bento boxes may also figure, […]
No1 [Exhibition] The wonderful land of Hello Kitty
Copyright Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts Until June 24th, at the SCVA, you can meet the characters who have been populating Japanese everyday life […]
No1 [Eating] Harumi, the Housewife’s Heroine
Harumi, the Housewife’s Heroine Despite her status as domestic superstar (over 22 million books sold in japan, a chain of shops, her own homeware range) […]
No1 [Literature] dial c for crime
This is a rendez-vous with one of Japan’s best authors. The Devotion Of Suspect X shows the maturity that crime novels have reached in the […]
No1 [Technology] Robots will make the difference
Whether for the future of their economy, or in everyday life, Japanese rely on robots. The car industry was the motor of our economy […]
No1 [Interview] Change is Hara Kenya’s dream
Born in 1958, HARA Kenya is art director of Muji since 2001 and designed the opening and closing ceremony programs ofthe Nagano Winter Olympic Games […]
No1 [Trends] From “made in” to “made with”
In aeronautics, the Japanese are betting on international cooperation to establish their technology. In the field of aeronautics, the Japanese have acquired a solid reputation […]
No1 [Challenge] Reinventing “made in japan”
After a challenging year on all sides, the Japanese population is set to slowly regain trust in it’s own products. According to its end […]
No1 [DVD] on living happily ever after
In Roujin Z, the author of Akira tackles a burning subject. Unfortunately, Kitakubo’s adaptation doesn’t draw to its level. One of the companies that has […]
No1 [Travel] Miyajima, more than just a cliché
Out at large from Hiroshima, a site registered as UNESCO World Heritage will make you picture-crazy. By choosing to write about Miyajima in the main […]
No1 [Manga] Fantasy on all floors
Ryugamine Mikado is a young teenager who dreams of the exciting life of big cities. when his childhood friend Kida Masaomi invites him, he gets […]
No1 [Cooking] Tofu “Hamburgers”
Tofu “Hamburgers” Make healthy Tofu “Hamburgers” by simply mixing with tofu and frying! Enjoy the silky smooth texture of tofu together with the crunchiness of […]
No1 [Exhibition] Kusama takes the Tate modern
© Yayoi Kusama and © Yayoi Kusama Studios Inc. A retrospective exhibition dedicated to the 83-year-old artist allows us to grasp both the diversity and […]