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Premium Dassai sake served at the LA Dassai Experience at Uchi West Hollywood

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LA Dassai Experience: Japan and USA’s Finest Sake in West Hollywood

japanup_akane 09/17/2026

The LA Dassai Experience, the first event of its kind in Los Angeles, is coming to Uchi West Hollywood on Sunday, October 11, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. It is a rare chance to taste both the original Dassai from Yamaguchi, Japan, and Dassai Blue, brewed in New York’s Hudson Valley, side by side. Guests can enjoy them paired with Uchi’s inventive Japanese cuisine, including a limited menu made with Dassai Blue’s sake kasu (lees). Tickets are $100, and reservations are recommended early through the link below. What to Expect at the LA Dassai Experience The evening brings together classic Junmai…

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Japan Now! Cup Noodle Turns 55 Today. The 61-Year-Old Inventor, the Hostage Crisis, and the Fork That Changed Food Forever (9/17)

japanup_akane 09/17/2026

Most billion-dollar products are born in labs and boardrooms. However, the one turning 55 today was born in a backyard shed, perfected by a 61-year-old who refused to retire, and rescued from commercial failure by, of all things, a televised hostage standoff. On September 18, 1971, Nissin launched Cup Noodle at the Isetan department store in Shinjuku, the world’s first cup ramen, and Japan has spent this entire anniversary year celebrating in the most Nissin way possible: more mystery meat, mahjong tiles, and a birthday message involving an astronaut. Quick Answer: Cup Noodle, the world’s first instant ramen in a…

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Honda-ya Charity Event Celebrates Kappo Honda’s 30th in Tustin

japanup_akane 09/16/2026

The Honda-ya charity event returns to Tustin on Sunday, October 4, from 11am to 8pm, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Kappo Honda. Admission is free, and the day is packed with food booths, drinks, games, and live performances. A portion of the proceeds goes to a local community fund. It is shaping up to be a lively day out, so bring the family or a group of friends and join in. What’s Happening at the Honda-ya Charity Eventrite Expect a full day of street eats, drinks, taiko drumming, live music, dance, and games, with local vendors and community organizations joining…

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Japan Now! Typhoon Dujuan Is Aiming at Japan’s Biggest Fall Holiday in a Decade. What Travelers Need to Know (9/16)

japanup_akane 09/16/2026

If your Japan trip overlaps with the next week, this is the forecast to watch. Typhoon No. 25, internationally named Dujuan, formed near the Mariana Islands on Tuesday night and is strengthening as it tracks toward Japan, with the Ogasawara Islands in its path Friday into Saturday and, depending on its course, eastern Japan including the Tokyo area exposed early next week. The timing could hardly be worse: it collides with Silver Week, Japan’s five-day autumn holiday, the first of its kind in over a decade, when tens of millions of people travel at once. Quick Answer: Typhoon Dujuan (No.…

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Godzilla Is Coming to Dodger Stadium: Bobbleheads for 40,000, a Kaiju Drone Show, and Everything to Know About Minus Zero Night (9/24)

japanup_akane 09/15/2026

Los Angeles baseball and Japanese monsters have flirted for decades, but on Thursday, September 24, they make it official. The Dodgers and TOHO are throwing Godzilla Minus Zero Night at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium for the regular-season home finale against the San Diego Padres, and the headliners are worth planning an evening around: an exclusive Godzilla bobblehead for the first 40,000 fans, and a Godzilla-themed drone show lighting up the sky over Chavez Ravine after the final out. Quick Answer: Godzilla Minus Zero Night takes place Thursday, September 24, 2026 at Dodger Stadium (Dodgers vs. Padres, 7:10 PM). The…

Doraemon movie 2027 Steam Time Locomotive Victorian London

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Japan Now! Doraemon Is Taking a Steam Train to Victorian London. Japan’s Biggest Movie Franchise You’ve Never Seen in a US Theater (9/14)

japanup_akane 09/14/2026

Every March, one movie tops the Japanese box office so reliably that families plan spring break around it. However, most Americans have never bought a ticket to a single installment. It is the Doraemon movie series, 46 films deep, and today in Japan the next one showed its cards: “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Steam Time Locomotive” (our provisional translation) opens March 5, 2027, sending the robot cat and friends hurtling from 21st-century Japan to 19th-century London aboard a steam locomotive that travels through time. The first teaser footage dropped today, and it is exactly as charming as that sentence suggests.…

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Discover the Latest JINS TODAY Collection｜JINS

Hiratsuka 09/11/2026

. BThis season, JINS invites you to embrace effortless sophistication with our newest collection, themed around a “Noble and Clean” aesthetic. Designed for seamless everyday wear, these frames blend minimal lines, neutral tones, and intelligent detailing to bring a playful yet refined edge to your seasonal wardrobe. ▼Seasonal Items #1 Featuring light-toned, clear, and double-bridge metal frames, these versatile designs offer an airy, weightless look that effortlessly pairs with warm nude makeup, soft natural bangs, and relaxed, wavy hairstyle looks. ▼Seasonal Items #2 Highlighting sharp horizontal ovals and modern rimless silhouettes, these frames bring a sculpted edge to any look…

Zespri kiwifruit, SunGold and Green varieties, sliced to show the flesh

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Zespri Kiwifruit: A Sweet, Vitamin-C Boost for Fall

japanup_akane 09/09/2026

Zespri kiwifruit delivers a burst of sweetness and rich aroma in every bite, and it makes a perfect pick as the weather cools. In fact, a single Zespri SunGold kiwifruit provides all the vitamin C you need in a day. Delicious SunGold, Green, and Organic varieties are on sale now at supermarkets near you. Why Zespri Kiwifruit Is a Fall Favorite Beyond its naturally sweet flavor, kiwifruit is one of the most nutrient-dense fruits around, and the vitamin C in a Zespri SunGold makes it an easy way to support your immune system as the seasons change. The website is…

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Enjoy Torikizoku’s “Toriki Summer Fest 2026”!

Hiratsuka 09/09/2026

Why You Shouldn’t Miss “TORIKI SUMMER FEST 2026” Japan’s famous Yakitori Restaurant “Torikizoku” is hosting “TORIKI SUMMER FEST 2026” serving up an exclusive summer lineup that iconic Japanese street food! 🎆Toriki Dogs (Hot Dog Combos): -Yakisoba Dog: Japanese yakisoba noodles in a hot dog bun. -Yakitori Dog (Kizokuyaki Cheese/Chili Yakitori Dog): Toriki’s signature skewers served in a bun with melted cheese or chili. 🎆Toriki Rangers 5-Color JUMBO Floats: Nostalgic drink floats topped with ice cream and a cherry, available in five fun colors: Green Melon Soda, Blue Ramune, Red Watermelon, Black Cola, and Yellow Mango Peach. What is Torikizoku? Founded in Osaka in 1985, Torikizoku (Toriki) is one of…

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Celebrating 25 Years: Ichiza Las Vegas Hosts an Anniversary Month This September!

Hiratsuka 09/09/2026

Ichiza is celebrating its 25th anniversary! From flame-grilled yakitori skewers and fresh sashimi, Ichiza captures the ultimate spirit of Japanese pub culture. Every dish highlights their attention to detail, featuring carefully simmered broths, house-crafted sauces, and specialty desserts that bring out the true depth of authentic Japanese izakaya cuisine. To thank the community, Ichiza is filling the entire month with special menu weeks, unique pop-ups, and unforgettable cultural events. 25th anniversary Event Lineup – September 7–13: Wagyu Special Week Wagyu beef available for one week only. – September 10: The Official 25th Anniversary Day As a special thank-you to all guests, everyone…

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Tomoki Kameda Battles Powerhouse Brandon Figueroa in WBA World Featherweight Championship🔥

Hiratsuka 09/08/2026

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 (5:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM ET), former two-division world champion Tomoki Kameda steps into the ring at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to challenge reigning champion Brandon Figueroa for the WBA World Featherweight title. Presented by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and broadcast nationwide on TNT Sports and DAZN, this long-awaited showdown is drawing intense attention from boxing fans worldwide as Kameda fights to become a three-division world champion. A Living Legend in Japanese Boxing Tomoki is the youngest of Japan’s famous “Kameda Brothers”— one of the country’s most recognizable boxing families.…

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…