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Kimukatsu mille-feuille katsu, opening at the Tokyo Central Yorba Linda food court

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Kimukatsu Yorba Linda: New Express Location Opens in September

japanup_akane 09/04/2026

Kimukatsu, already serving diners at the Tokyo Central PCH location, is opening a new spot in Yorba Linda. Starting in September, a takeout-focused express location opens inside the Tokyo Central Yorba Linda food court. Grab the katsu it is known for, from the mille-feuille katsu of 25 thin, stacked layers of pork to the cheese-filled katsu, as an easy pickup on your shopping run. Enjoy carefully prepared, Japanese-quality katsu right in Yorba Linda. What to Get at Kimukatsu Yorba Linda The signature draw is the mille-feuille katsu, made by layering 25 thin slices of pork into a single cutlet, fried…

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Gaburi Chicken Opens Its Second US Location in Huntington Beach

japanup_akane 09/04/2026

Gaburi Chicken, the Japanese karaage (fried chicken) specialist, has opened its second US location in Huntington Beach. The menu centers on the shop’s signature karaage, crispy on the outside and juicy within, alongside other carefully crafted dishes. Open from 11:30am to 10pm, it serves hearty set meals by day and izakaya-style plates by night. Bring the family or a group of friends and give it a try. What to Expect at Gaburi Chicken Born in Nagoya and now with more than 70 locations across Japan, Gaburi Chicken made its US debut in Torrance in 2024, and this Huntington Beach opening…

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Experience Japanese Festival in Nevada: Aki Matsuri in Henderson, NV!

Hiratsuka 09/03/2026

Get ready for an extraordinary autumn celebration🏮 On Saturday, October 10, 2026, the 17th Annual AKI MATSURI Japanese Festival returns to Henderson’s Water Street Plaza from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Best of all, admission is FREE! What is “AKI MATSURI”? In Japan, AKI MATSURI (Autumn Festival) is a cherished seasonal tradition held to give thanks for the fall harvest.It’s a lively, community-centered event where friends and families gather to enjoy food, music, and seasonal festivities. Highlights of AKI MATSURI Japanese Festival -Authentic Festival Eats & Sake: Enjoy delicious Japanese street food, and visit the Sake Pavilion (21+) for curated…

EXPERIENCE FOOD RESTAURANTS WHAT’S HOT

Two New Flavors Join Japan’s Long-Loved Puré Gummy Lineup

Hiratsuka 09/01/2026

Kanro’s Puré Gummy, a long-selling favorite in Japan known for its sweet-and-sour taste and signature heart shape, welcomes two new flavors this summer. Sweet Japanese Strawberry🍓 A rich strawberry flavor joins the Puré Gummy Premium series. Made with carefully selected fruit varieties and origins, each gummy has a luscious jelly-like filling and delivers a sweet, juicy strawberry taste with every bite. Watermelon🍉 A refreshing sweet-and-sour watermelon flavor joins the Classic series. Its crisp, juicy taste pairs perfectly with Puré Gummy’s signature sour powder and chewy texture. The new flavors have been rolling out in stores since early August. Look for…

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JapanUp! 227 – September 2026

miwako3 09/01/2026

HAVE YOU READ OUR LATEST ISSUE?🤓 September issue is available on our website. Check it out NOW!

Takagi Coffee's new hayashi rice, beef and onions in demi-glace sauce over rice

EXPERIENCE FOOD RESTAURANTS WHAT’S HOT

Takagi Coffee’s New Hayashi Rice: Rich, Slow-Simmered Comfort

japanup_akane 08/27/2026

Hayashi rice is the newest addition to the menu at Takagi Coffee, the popular Los Angeles cafe. This Japanese comfort dish features beef and onions slow-simmered in a special demi-glace sauce, delivering a deep, savory richness over rice. Add the cheddar cheese topping for an even richer, more indulgent bite. While you are there, check the cafe’s Instagram for its latest pancake menu and drinks. What’s in the Hayashi Rice Hayashi rice is a Western-influenced Japanese classic, built on tender beef and onions cooked down in a rich demi-glace until deeply flavorful, then served over rice. Takagi Coffee’s version leans…

Pokemon World Championships 2026 San Francisco Pokemon Center pop-up

EVENT EVENT IN LOS ANGELES Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Pokemon Worlds Takes Over San Francisco, and We Got Inside the Pokemon Center Everyone’s Talking About

japanup_akane 08/27/2026

For one weekend a year, one city becomes the capital of the Pokemon world. However, this year that city is a two-hour flight from LA, and the scale is unprecedented: starting tomorrow, August 28, more than 50,000 trainers descend on San Francisco’s Moscone Center for the Pokemon World Championships 2026, running through Sunday, when, for the first time in the event’s history, the finals move into Chase Center, the NBA arena where the Golden State Warriors play. A card game born in Japan in 1996 will crown its world champions on an American basketball court. Our team is on the…

EVENT IN LOS ANGELES WHAT’S HOT

[Exclusive B2B Event | First 40 Free] “FRESH FISH EXPRESS” LA Tasting Event!

Hiratsuka 08/26/2026

. Bringing Japanese Seafood to LA Kitchens 🐟 A special tasting event for restaurant and foodservice professionals will be held in Los Angeles, featuring “FRESH FISH EXPRESS,” a new distribution model that brings Japanese seafood to the U.S. via sea freight. As a participant bonus, each attendee will receive $100 worth of “FRESH FISH EXPRESS” frozen fish! Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to experience everything firsthand, from live demonstrations of thawing, preparation, and cooking to actual tasting. Why Chefs and Owners Choose Us 🌟 ✅ Safe and secure with an effective Anisakis preventive measure ✅ Stable supply of high-quality seafood at…

EVENT IN LOS ANGELES WHAT’S HOT

[Exclusive B2B Event] Showcased by a Michelin Chef! JAPAN SCALLOP Showcase

Hiratsuka 08/26/2026

. Exclusive to the food and beverage industry! JAPAN SCALLOP Showcase where you can experience the charm of Japanese scallops, elevating your daily menu to the next level, will be held ✨ Featuring Chef Kevin Meehan, Owner and Executive Chef of the Michelin-starred KALI Restaurant as a guest chef, we will introduce approaches that bring out the full potential of Japanese scallops. ✅ Demonstration & Proposal by a Michelin Chef Chef Kevin Meehan will demonstrate and explain the versatility and appeal of Japanese scallops, which can be utilized across a wide variety of culinary genres. ✅ Exhibitions by Japanese Scallop…

Torikizoku summer menu items, the Toriki Dog and colorful Toriki Ranger floats, in Torrance

EVENT AND NEWS IN LA EXPERIENCE FOOD RESTAURANTS WHAT’S HOT

Torikizoku’s Summer Menu: Toriki Dogs and Colorful Floats

japanup_akane 08/24/2026

Torikizoku’s summer menu has arrived with the 2026 Toriki Summer Fest, now on at the Torrance yakitori restaurant. The limited-time lineup features the Toriki Dog, a hot dog stuffed with yakitori or yakisoba, in three varieties. There is also the Toriki Ranger, a jumbo float that comes in five colorful flavors. Come enjoy these festive summer-only specials in a lively atmosphere. Reserve a table using the link below. What’s on the Torikizoku Summer Menu The star of the fest is the Toriki Dog, which tucks Torikizoku’s signature yakitori or yakisoba into a bun, offered in three different styles. Alongside it,…

Riku Miura Ryuichi Kihara engaged Rikuryu Olympic pairs gold

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Japan Now! She Said Yes. Olympic Champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara Are Engaged, and the Proposal Happened on the Ice (8/24)

japanup_akane 08/24/2026

Olympic fairy tales are supposed to end on the medal podium. However, Japan’s beloved “Rikuryu” pair apparently read the script and decided it needed one more chapter. On August 23, figure skaters Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, who won Japan’s first-ever Olympic pairs gold medal in Milan this February, announced their engagement, and the proposal photos stopped Japanese social media cold: Kihara on one knee on the ice, ring in hand, both of them wearing the very costumes from their gold medal free skate. Quick Answer: Riku Miura (24) and Ryuichi Kihara (34), the pair known as “Rikuryu,” announced their…

Koshien 2026 champion Chiben Wakayama final Kendai Takasaki

Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Japan Now! The Spear Won. Chiben Wakayama Takes Koshien in a Final That Answered a 2,300-Year-Old Question (With a Twist) (8/21)

japanup_akane 08/21/2026

Two days ago, we framed this final as the oldest paradox in the Japanese language: the all-piercing spear of Chiben Wakayama’s offense against the all-stopping shield of Kendai Takasaki’s defense. However, when the answer finally came on Saturday in Japan, it arrived with a twist worthy of 2,300 years of waiting. Chiben Wakayama won 4-3, seizing its fourth national title in a seesaw masterpiece decided in the eighth inning, and the tournament’s most feared lineup claimed the crown without its tying or winning run ever touching a bat’s sweet spot. The spear pierced the shield, yes. But with its handle.…