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Ornate wooden floats on parade, the highlight of the Takayama Festival tour in October

EVENT AND NEWS IN LA EXPERIENCE TRAVEL WHAT’S HOT

Japan Deluxe Tours Is Now Booking Its Takayama Festival Tour

japanup_akane 07/23/2026

A Takayama Festival tour is now available from Japan Deluxe Tours, built around one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals. Travelers get an up-close look at the lavishly decorated floats and the karakuri puppet dedication, along with the lively traditional performances that fill the streets during the celebration. What the Takayama Festival Tour Includes The next departure runs from October 5 to 14, with an itinerary that travels through Tokyo, Nagano, Takayama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. Check the link below for full details. About the Tour Operator Japan Deluxe Tours ・Website: japandeluxetours.com Related ArticlesJapan Now! The Three Views of Japan, a…

ANA aircraft, marking 40 years of the ANA Los Angeles route since 1986

EVENT AND NEWS IN LA EXPERIENCE TRAVEL WHAT’S HOT

ANA Los Angeles Route Marks 40 Years With a Commemorative Ceremony

japanup_akane 07/23/2026

The ANA Los Angeles route has reached its 40th anniversary, and the airline marked the milestone with a commemorative ceremony at Los Angeles International Airport that opened with a taiko drum performance. General Manager Yoshiyuki Hirooka took the stage to express his gratitude and to reaffirm the airline’s commitment to safe operations. Four Decades of the ANA Los Angeles Route ANA launched international service in 1986, and the Los Angeles route took off on July 16 of that same year. Today, counting flights out of Haneda, three daily flights connect Tokyo and Los Angeles. About the Airline ANA (All Nippon…

bakudan onigiri giant rice ball michi no eki Japan

CUISINE EXPERIENCE FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Japan Now! Japan’s “Bomb” Rice Balls Are Going Viral, and They Live at Highway Rest Stops (7/23)

japanup_akane 07/23/2026

For decades, American road trip food has meant one thing: gas station snacks you eat out of mild desperation. However, in Japan, the roadside stop is a destination in itself, and this week the internet found its new proof. A photo set of two enormous “bakudan onigiri,” literally “bomb rice balls,” sold at roadside stations in Tokushima and Hokkaido has racked up over 7 million views, under a caption every Japanese driver understood instantly: “This is why I can’t quit michi no eki.” Quick Answer: Bakudan onigiri are oversized rice balls, often bigger than your face, stuffed with premium local…

Onigiri Sun rice balls with Japanese rice and nori, opening at CAL Marketplace in DTLA

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

Onigiri Sun Opens Its Second Location in DTLA on July 24

japanup_akane 07/22/2026

Onigiri Sun, the Little Tokyo shop known for its plump, generously filled rice balls made with Japanese ingredients, is opening a second location on July 24. The new shop is inside CAL Marketplace at 2CAL in Downtown Los Angeles, the building that houses the Consulate General of Japan. It opens at 7am on weekdays, which makes it an easy stop for breakfast or a quick lunch during the workday. What Makes Onigiri Sun Different The shop is serious about the basics. The rice, nori, and salt all come from Japan, and each onigiri is hand-shaped rather than pressed tight, which…

Unagi don with grilled eel over rice and pickled ginger, the July special set at Kimukatsu in Torrance

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

Kimukatsu’s July-Only Special Unagi Don Set in Torrance

japanup_akane 07/22/2026

A special unagi don set has arrived at Kimukatsu in Torrance, available for the month of July only, in celebration of Doyo no Ushi no Hi. The set pairs a generous bowl of plump, expertly grilled eel over rice with a salad, a hearty house-made tonjiru (pork and vegetable miso soup), and pickles. Normally $23.75, the full set is $20.75 for a limited time. Why Unagi Don in Midsummer Doyo no Ushi no Hi is the midsummer day when people in Japan traditionally eat eel to build stamina for the hottest stretch of the year. In 2026 it falls on…

Tatsuya Fujiwara lettuce campaign Japan food waste viral

CUISINE EXPERIENCE FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Japan Now! A Famous Actor’s Face on Your Lettuce? Japan’s Weirdest Grocery Campaign Has a Genius Reason (7/22)

japanup_akane 07/22/2026

For years, American grocery stores have tried everything to move produce: coupons, recipe cards, the occasional mascot. However, Japan just escalated the game to a place no one saw coming. Since July 21, supermarkets around Tokyo and Osaka have been selling the now-viral Tatsuya Fujiwara lettuce: heads wrapped in plastic film printed with the intensely staring face of one of Japan’s most famous actors. If that name sounds familiar, it should: he played Light Yagami in the live-action Death Note films and starred in the cult classic Battle Royale. And yes, there is a completely serious reason his face is…

sudachi soba chilled noodles green citrus slices Japan summer

CUISINE EXPERIENCE FOOD Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN

Japan Now! Sudachi Soba Is Trending, Japan’s Prettiest Way to Survive Summer (7/21)

japanup_akane 07/21/2026

For most Americans, summer noodles mean one thing: a heavy bowl best eaten in air conditioning. However, Japan is currently obsessing over the exact opposite, a dish so light and photogenic it looks like edible stained glass: chilled soba topped with a full spiral of paper-thin green citrus slices. It is called sudachi soba, it is trending on Japanese social media this week, and it might be the most beautiful thing you can do to a bowl of noodles. Quick Answer: Sudachi soba is cold buckwheat soba in chilled dashi broth, covered edge to edge with thin slices of sudachi,…

Hojicha tea bags brewing in a glass teapot, part of the Den's Tea July special

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

Den’s Tea July Special: Hojicha Tea Bags Are 10% Off

japanup_akane 07/21/2026

Hojicha tea bags are 10% off all through July at Den’s Tea, the Japanese tea specialist carrying a wide variety of teas sourced from Japan. As this month’s featured tea, these bags pack aromatic, authentic roasted hojicha leaves into a convenient format, ready whenever you want to settle in for an unhurried cup. Available through the website, so do not miss it. Den’s Tea imports directly from its factory in Japan and keeps the tea in a chilled warehouse until it ships, with a parent company that has close to a century of experience in blending and manufacturing tea. What…

Dr. Chie Kigawa, the chiropractor at Kigawa Chiropractic in Gardena and Santa Ana

EVENT AND NEWS IN LA EXPERIENCE WHAT’S HOT

Kigawa Chiropractic: NAET and Gentle Care for All Ages in Gardena and Santa Ana

japanup_akane 07/21/2026

Kigawa Chiropractic offers a broad range of care centered on NAET, an allergy elimination technique, at its Gardena and Santa Ana offices. Dr. Chie Kigawa, D.C., is a certified NAET practitioner who also holds acupuncture credentials, and she sees patients of every age, from infants to seniors. Services at Kigawa Chiropractic Alongside NAET, the clinic addresses concerns including allergies, headaches, and stiff shoulders, and offers pediatric chiropractic care as well as pelvic adjustment before and after childbirth. The clinic also works with families seeking support for children with ADHD or autism-related concerns, using NAET-based approaches. Patients frequently note that the…

Three Views of Japan Miyajima floating torii Itsukushima

EXPERIENCE Fun Facts LEARNJAPAN POPULAR

Japan Now! The Three Views of Japan, a 380-Year-Old “Best Scenery” List That Never Changed (7/20)

japanup_akane 07/20/2026

For decades, travel media has ranked Japan’s most beautiful places, and the lists change every year. However, Japan itself settled this argument nearly four centuries ago. In Japan, July 21 is Three Views of Japan Day, celebrating a scenic ranking written in 1643 that has never been revised: Matsushima, Amanohashidate, and Miyajima. No additions, no updates, no Mt. Fuji. And this year one of the three has extra reason to celebrate. Quick Answer: The Three Views of Japan (Nihon Sankei) are Matsushima in Miyagi, a bay dotted with some 260 pine-covered islands; Amanohashidate in Kyoto, a 3.6-kilometer pine-forested sandbar called…

Smiling staff member at a Japanese supermarket, where product demo jobs are available in LA and OC

EVENT AND NEWS IN LA EXPERIENCE WHAT’S HOT

Japanese Supermarket Jobs in LA: Product Demo Staff Wanted, No Experience Needed

japanup_akane 07/20/2026

Japanese supermarket jobs are open on an ongoing basis for product demo staff in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. Weekly LALALA is recruiting people to introduce Japanese manufacturers’ products at Japanese supermarkets, and applications are welcome from anyone, regardless of age or gender. No prior experience is required. English is a must, since you will be speaking with customers directly. What the Job Involves The work centers on sharing what makes a product appealing. That includes offering samples and running product demonstrations in-store, explaining items to customers and supporting sales, and helping with simple display and prep work.…

Premium sake bottles and cut-glass sake cups served at Wa Dining Suya in Torrance

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

Wa Dining Suya in Torrance: Exquisite Japanese Cuisine by True Artisans

japanup_akane 07/20/2026

Wa Dining Suya in Torrance serves exquisite Japanese cuisine crafted by skilled chefs. The lineup includes steak with a house-made Japanese-style sauce, uni pasta, and miso-marinated black cod. Various course menus are also available, so the restaurant works well for all kinds of occasions. What to Expect at Wa Dining Suya The kitchen brings together Japanese culinary tradition and steakhouse dining. Signature plates like the steak with house-made wafu sauce, the uni pasta, and the miso black cod show that range clearly. With course menus on offer, it suits everything from a quiet dinner to a special celebration. Hours and…