Japan is likely to see a noticeable slowdown in food and beverage price increases in February, signaling potential easing in inflationary pressures, according to new survey results released Friday by private research firm Teikoku Databank. The study shows that 195 major food and drink manufacturers plan to raise prices on 674 products next month. This… Continue reading Fewer Food and Drink Price Increases Expected in Japan This February
Category: Food & Beverages
Top 5 Functional Foods That Boost Gut and Brain Health
In recent years, scientists have increasingly emphasized the powerful connection between the gut and the brain. Often referred to as the gut–brain axis, this two-way communication network links digestion, immunity, mood and cognitive function. What we eat plays a central role in keeping this system balanced. Functional foods — foods that provide benefits beyond basic… Continue reading Top 5 Functional Foods That Boost Gut and Brain Health
Are AI Misfires and Fragmented Suppliers Just a Temporary Storm in Starbucks’ Coffee Cup?
NEW YORK — For years, Starbucks has blamed inconsistent sales in the United States on a familiar culprit: stores that can’t reliably keep basics on hand. Missing milk deliveries, unavailable pastries, or even a lack of cup lids have repeatedly disrupted the customer experience across the company’s thousands of U.S. locations. The issue has persisted… Continue reading Are AI Misfires and Fragmented Suppliers Just a Temporary Storm in Starbucks’ Coffee Cup?
Korea Plans Culinary School for Foreigners as Global Demand for K-Food Grows
South Korea is moving ahead with plans to establish a new culinary school dedicated exclusively to Korean cuisine, aiming to welcome foreign students as early as the second half of this year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Monday that the proposed institution, tentatively named “Sura School,” will focus on training international… Continue reading Korea Plans Culinary School for Foreigners as Global Demand for K-Food Grows
Brands Reassess Ties After Celebrity Chef Admits to Multiple DUI Offenses
Several consumer brands are facing renewed scrutiny following revelations by celebrity chef Im Seong-keun, a contestant from Season 2 of Netflix’s cooking competition “Culinary Class Wars,” that he has been convicted of driving under the influence on three separate occasions over the past ten years. Im, who rose to popularity for his sharp wit, confident… Continue reading Brands Reassess Ties After Celebrity Chef Admits to Multiple DUI Offenses
Bacha Coffee Brings Old-World Elegance to Tokyo’s Ginza
Stepping into a Bacha Coffee café feels less like entering a coffee shop and more like being transported into a carefully curated world of luxury. Polished surfaces gleam, ornate details catch the light, and every element seems designed to elevate the simple act of drinking coffee into a refined ritual. The Singapore-based brand has built… Continue reading Bacha Coffee Brings Old-World Elegance to Tokyo’s Ginza
Sakemaking Finds New Soil Beyond Japan, From India to Southeast Asia
Sake has long been synonymous with Japan, shaped by centuries of tradition, climate and craftsmanship. Yet today, the iconic rice-based drink is quietly establishing roots far from its birthplace. From Southeast Asia to South Asia, a growing number of brewers and chefs are experimenting with sake production, adapting it to local ingredients, cuisines and drinking… Continue reading Sakemaking Finds New Soil Beyond Japan, From India to Southeast Asia
Korea’s Winter Cod Is Disappearing — And So Is a Seasonal Tradition
For generations, winter in Korea has been inseparable from cod. As temperatures dropped, the cold-loving fish would migrate south through the East Sea, filling coastal waters and markets with one of the season’s most cherished ingredients. From home kitchens to neighborhood soup houses, cod signaled the arrival of winter meals meant to warm the body… Continue reading Korea’s Winter Cod Is Disappearing — And So Is a Seasonal Tradition
The Korean flavour winning over New York
“I became interested after seeing actor Lee Kwang-soo on a variety show. In Japan it is even introduced as a must-try course,” Haru, a 26-year-old visitor from Okayama, said as she picked out two palm-sized glass bottles from a narrow alley shop in central Seoul on Jan. 2. The store was not selling K-pop merchandise… Continue reading The Korean flavour winning over New York
Rising Food Prices Are Taking a Toll on Young People in Japan, Survey Shows
Inflation is increasingly reshaping daily life for young people in Japan, with higher food costs forcing many to rethink how much — and how often — they eat. A recent survey suggests that rising grocery prices are placing particular strain on those at the early stages of their working lives. According to research conducted by… Continue reading Rising Food Prices Are Taking a Toll on Young People in Japan, Survey Shows