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Get your gifts in time for the big day!

We love doing our Christmas shopping online, but it does mean that we can’t leave it until Christmas Eve to do it all! If you want guaranteed delivery before Christmas from Japan Centre Online there are a few dates to be aware of to make sure you receive your order in time. Please be aware these dates are also for guaranteed delivery before New Year.

Please place your order by 9am GMT on the date shown depending on your delivery destination.

UK DELIVERY

Courier - UK Mainland: Monday 17th December
Courier - Non UK Mainland: (Channel Islands, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Highland, parts of Scotland, Guernsey & Jersey) Thursday 13th December
Royal Mail First Class - Monday 17th December We recommend using the courier delivery service as we cannot be held responsible for the Royal Mail Christmas postal service!

INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY

Courier - Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands: Monday 17th December
Courier – Spain, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Sweden: Wednesday 12th December
Courier - Greece, Norway, Bulgaria, Malta and Switzerland: Monday 10th December 
Royal Mail - Europe/ US/ Canada: Thursday 6th December We recommend using the courier delivery service as we cannot guarantee Royal Mail international delivery even if ordering by this date.

Important Details

• Once we have dispatched your goods, you should normally receive them within the time frame chosen. While we will attempt to rectify any delivery problems as soon as reasonably possible, the operation of the delivery companies we use is outside our control. Please see our terms and conditions for more details.
• If items you order are out of stock, this may slow down how fast your order can be processed. We recommend you choose to have any out of stock items removed or substituted.
• Royal Mail deliveries cannot be tracked, we recommend that you use a courier service which will be less likely to experience any Christmas delays or losses.
• Ordering by these dates will guarantee that your order will be dispatched in time for the delivery company to deliver before Christmas, according to each delivery company’s expected service.
• There may be situations outside of our control, such as bad weather, which could affect the delivery schedule of your order. We cannot be held responsible should these arise.
• If using a courier service, please make sure that you are available to sign for your delivery on the first attempted delivery date.

If you wish to ask about Global Express delivery service, want to place an order for Christmas after these dates, or you live in a country not specified in the information above, please contact: enquiry@japancentre.com. For all our terms and conditions please see here for further details.

Shop Now →

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Planning on popping along to see us this festive season? Make sure you check we’re open! Please see below for all our store location opening times between Christmas and New Year.

Japan Centre, Regent Street

24th December: 10:00 – 17:00
25th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 29th December: Open as usual
30th December: 11:00 – 20:00
31st December: 10:00 – 17:00
1st January: Closed
2nd January: 10:00 – 19:00
3rd January: Open as usual

Japancentre.com (Office)

21st December: 09:30 – 13:00
24th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 30th December: Open as usual
31st December: 09:30 – 13:00
1st January: Closed
2nd January: Open as usual

For online delivery before Christmas and New Year please see our Christmas Delivery Schedule.

Japan Centre, North Acton

24th December: 11:00 – 17:00
25th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 30th December: Open as usual
31st December: 11:00 – 17:00
1st January: Closed
2nd January: Open as usual

umai by Japan Centre, Westfield Stratford City

1st – 12th December: 10:00 – 22:00 (Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00)
13th – 16th December: 10:00 – 23:00 (Sat 09:00 – 22:00, Sun 12:00 – 18:00)
17th – 22nd December: 09:00 – 23:00
23rd December: 12:00 – 18:00
24th December: 09:00 – 18:00
25th December: Closed
26th December: 08:00 – 23:00
27th December: 09:00 – 23:00
28th December: 09:00 – 22:00
29th December: 09:00 – 22:00
30th December: 12:00 – 18:00
31st December: 09:00 – 18:00
1st January: 12:00 – 18:00
2nd January: Open as usual

umai by Japan Centre, Air Street

24th December: 11:00 – 16:30
25th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 29th December: Open as usual
30th December: 11:00 – 19:00
31st December: 11:00 – 16:30
1st January: Closed
2nd January: 10:30 – 18:30
3rd January: Open as usual

Toku Restaurant

24th December: 12:00 – 16:00 (last orders 15:30)
25th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 30th December: Open as usual
31st December: 12:00 – 16:00 (last orders 15:30)
1st January: Closed
2nd January: Open as usual

Shoryu Ramen

24th December: 11:30 – 16:00 (last orders 15:30)
25th – 26th December: Closed
27th – 30th December: Open as usual
31st December: 11:30 – 16:00 (last orders 15:30)
1st January: Closed
2nd January: Open as usual

Have a Happy Christmas!

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After one too many pigs-in-blankets, a near-empty Quality Street tin down (apart from the orange creams, we’re not mad) and Baileys running through our veins it’s time to take off the gluttony glasses and kick start 2013 with a healthy-eating plan you can easily stick to and tastes amazing. Impossible we hear you cry! No no no, there’s a reason Japan has the lowest obesity rate and the longest life expectancy in the world and in the coming weeks we’ll share Japan’s diet secrets with you.

Japanese Super Food

This week it’s all about Super Food, and in particular the top 5 that’ll help you on your health-busting way. Unfortunately there isn’t a Pocky in sight, just have a stick or two instead of the whole box as an occasional treat from now on! From low carb to low fat, by adding these delicious Top 5 Japanese Super Food to your diet you’ll be back in shape and feeling amazing in no time.

1: Shirataki Noodles – low carb wonder noodles

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THE miracle diet food of the past few years, shirataki noodles are made from the konjac yam plant and contain almost 0 calories, 0 carbohydrates and no fat, yet remain high in fibre. They make a great low carb substitute for wheat noodles or pasta and are especially great for simmered dishes as they have little flavour of their own and soak up the flavour of sauces they are cooked in.

Buy wonder food shirataki noodles online at Japancentre.com and try our tasty low calorie, low carb shirataki recipes:

Spicy Shirataki Stir Fry
295kcal Shirataki Noodle Salad
Shirataki Chicken Noodle Soup

2: Natto – vegetarian protein with a pong!

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If you can get past the pungent smell and slimy texture of natto, wonderful health benefits await. Natto are soy beans fermented with bacillus subtilis and are claimed to help prevent heart disease, thrombosis and cancer, lower cholesterol and provide a vegetarian protein alternative low in calories. Traditionally eaten with rice, nowadays it is quite in-vogue to use your stinky soy beans in more modern recipes. A love it or hate it flavour akin to strong cheese, give natto a go we dare you!

Buy natto online at Japancentre.com and try making our natto recipes:

Natto Rice
Natto Pasta
Natto Sushi

3: Miso – the mighty little bean

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Miso is made by fermenting rice and soy beans into a thick paste which is used as a marinade or for seasoning simmered dishes. It is also commonly mixed with water and dashi soup stock to create famous miso soup. A rich, salty mellow flavour, miso is rich in vitamins and protein and low in fat. It can be quite salty though so less suitable for someone looking for a low sodium diet.

Find healthy miso to buy online at Japancentre.com, there’s also some fantastic recipes using miso to try:

Grilled Tuna with Miso Marinade
Korean Style Spicy Miso Soup
Miso Soup

4:  Green Tea – metabolism boosting

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Green tea is becoming more and more popular in the west with matcha green tea powder currently enjoying it’s time in the sun. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants and polyphenols which are said to boost metabolism, help prevent heart disease and provide calming effects, green tea ranges from the fresh grassy flavours of sencha, to roasted hojicha or genmaicha and slightly bitter matcha. Enjoy green tea as a hot or cold drink and in delicious baking.

Buy fresh green tea online at Japancentre.com and try making our green tea recipes:

Green Tea Latte
Ochazuke Green Tea Rice
Red Bean & Matcha Cupcakes

5: Seaweed – strong, clear and bright

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There are many types of umami seaweed used in Japanese cooking, common varieties are wakame for soups, konbu for stock and nori for sushi rolls. Rich in B-vitamins folic acid, riboflavin and pantothenic acid which help prevent cancer, as well as magnesium, fibre and iron seaweed is also nature’s richest source of iodine, great for those with thyroid problems. From a beauty viewpoint women in Japan eat seaweed for clear skin and shiny hair.

You can buy healthy seaweed online at Japancentre.com, also try our fantastic seaweed recipes:

Edamame & Wakame Salad
Seaweed Infused Tempura
Creamy Bacon, Mushroon & Seaweed Soba Noodles

As well as these golden 5, don’t forget about old favourite tofu. Tofu is made from set soy bean milk, has a mild creamy, nutty flavour and is used in both sweet and savoury dishes. A vegetarian protein, tofu is also low fat, low calorie and high in iron. Tofu is therefore good for those looking to reduce their cholesterol and risk of heart disease. Buy healthy tofu online at Japancentre.com, try our delicious tofu recipes such as Tofu & Salmon Gratin, Spicy Beef & Tofu Rice Bowl and Tofu & Edamame Burgers.

Next Week…

Read our top Japanese tips on changing your eating behaviour for the better with our 5 Japanese Diet Secrets next week!

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We’ve all been there at the start of a diet, that sudden eye-popping reduction in food and a desperate attempt to live off salad in the cold winter months; foolishly we think we have to sacrifice taste and happiness to get the body beautiful… wrong! With our 5 Japanese Diet Secrets we’ll tell you all you need to know to easily change your eating habits, improve your health and trim down in no time, whilst not having to live by ridiculously restrictive rules. Hurrah!

Japanese Diet Secrets

Last week we talked about the Top 5 Japanese Super Food to help kick-start your healthy eating plan, well this week we have all the diet secrets used in Japan to help you change your habits for the better!

Secret 1: Eat with your eyes

Japanese food isn’t served on multiple, small pretty dishes or in bento compartments for nothing. By presenting food beautifully you’re encouraged to first enjoy the meal with your eyes, slowing down to savour each bite. Result? Giving your brain time to recognise when you’re full meaning not overeating. With it proved people eat up to 45% more than intended when served bigger portions, and in particular on one dish, it’s a no brainer…

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Secret 2: 80% full

Eating until you’re 80% full (known as Hara Hachibunme) is another way to stay trim. The idea is to eat more slowly and once you feel that you have reached 80% full, you stop eating. If you’ve eaten slowly, your brain will have a chance to catch up and remind your stomach that it is full, so don’t forget to slow down!

Secret 3: More than 5 a day

Vegetables feature massively in the Japanese diet, at least 4 or 5 are served in a single meal. A world away from boring boiled cabbage, Japanese staples such as soy, mirin and dashi mean that you can get maximum taste from veg such as shiitake, daikon and seaweed without using oil, meaning minimum harm to the waistline. Japanese are said to eat over 100 different varieties of food per week, compared to 30-45 in western cultures, much of this is down to their high vegetable intake. Incorporate them into each meal, including breakfast, and you’ll be healthier in no time.

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Secret 4: Fresh fish

Omega-3 rich fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines all featured heavily in the Japanese diet too. Swapping artery clogging red meat for oily fish such as these will boost your heart’s health.

Secret 5: Alternative protein

Soy bean products such as natto, tofu, edamame beans and soy sauce are a great vegetarian alternative to red meat because they have little or no saturated fat. Japanese meals usually feature at least one soy-based dish and if you’re worried about your salt intake, low-sodium soy sauce versions are readily available.

What Next?

Don’t forget to read our Top 5 Japanese Super Food post to get the inside knowledge on all the best food to aid you on your healthy-eating way!

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Partly thanks to fierce competition between companies and partly thanks to Japan’s love of seasonal, regional or otherwise unusual food there are probably more weirdly flavoured Japanese snacks than it’s possible to eat in a lifetime.

Of course most of these are just fun unusual flavours, cheesecake flavoured KitKats, watermelon flavoured Pepsi or even savoury sour plum flavoured pretzels. The kind of thing that brightens your day while you’re doing the shopping. Some however, some just make you stare. You take a moment, look at the snack again, but nope someone really did decide to make Sapporo Beer Flavoured Caramel.

Join us on a trip down the Top 5: Strange Japanese Snack Flavours, climbing the heights of Japan’s oddest, weirdest… and even most delicious confectionery and treats.

5: Melon Pan

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Okay, so we’re going to start off with a sort of opposite. Melon pan isn’t really strange for what it tastes of, but more what it doesn’t…. namely melon. Yes, that’s right not only does melon pan not contain any melons, it also doesn’t actually taste of melon either. It tastes delicious, just not of melon. So what’s up? Well, it’s actually the resemblance of the crispy, sticky cookie coating on melon pan to a rock melon or cantaloupe that gives it the famous name. Having said that, melon fans’ disappointment at the lack of melon flavour means you can now find melon flavoured melon pan as well these days. We’re not sure if this is called melon melon pan or just melon pan though. It is frankly, a melon too far for us.

4: Curry Ramune

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There are a lot of novelty ramune flavours. As well as the standard and oddly compelling kinda-lemon sort-of-lime flavour, there are also popular regional variations like mango, melon or yuzu. A few years ago there was a TV show where the losers had to drink oddly flavoured ramune as a punishment. It is to this latter category that curry ramune sadly belongs, proving once and for all that combining a delicious thing and a delicious thing can still make a kind of ‘ugh’ thing. Really, all that’s left is for them to make it massive. For those of you that enjoy crossing the streams (we don’t recommend this) you can even enjoy a ramune flavoured KitKat while you drink your chocolate flavoured ramune.

3: Wasabi KitKats

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As you may have gathered Japanese KitKats are a bit different from their continental cousins. The majority of novelty KitKats are exclusive to special locations, focusing on regional dishes or produce. This is fine if you are Kyoto and get the Matcha KitKat as your culinary envoy to the world. If you are Shizuoka on the other hand, you get Wasabi KitKats. Luckily for the international reputation of Shizuoka, it actually works quite well. The wasabi and the white chocolate work together to give a kind of sweet, but fiery taste (think chilli chocolate). On the plus side, if Nestlé continue to release more savoury Kitkats you could probably recreate some kind of meal using KitKats alone. How about KitKat curry rice or KitKat ramen?

2. Natto Cakes

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Ahh, natto. Natto got a honourable mention in our previous Top 5: Weirdest Japanese Food! blog and for good reason. Made from fermented soy beans, this extremely healthy (but pongy) food is famous for inspiring a love-hate relationship in all that try it. Usually enjoyed on rice or in other savoury dishes like sushi, recently it’s been making in-roads into the last great bastion of un-healthy food… cake! While it maybe good news for health fans (it is a good alternative protein after all), if you, like me, recoil in horror at anything even slightly natto-esque it will be sad news. Who knows what delicious treats will be harbouring the devil bean! Not just content with interfering with cakes, it’s also been making appearances in jellies, hard candy and with jam on toast.

Okay, we’re approaching our next and final item. If you don’t have a strong stomach, we strongly, strongly suggest you don’t read the last item.

Still here? OK, scroll down.

1: Placenta Drinks

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Like many people across the world, Japanese people are very concerned with ways to make themselves look younger or prettier or both. Over the years this has included a lot of food, for example nori seaweed has been believed to help hair grow shiny and strong since the Heian period (700s -1100s)!  With this in mind, enter one of Japan’s strangest trends, placenta drinks! While placenta drinks are not supposed to actually taste of placenta, we’re not sure they’d be our go to drink if we wanted fruit flavoured refreshment. They’re made from all kinds of animals depending on the brand, including pigs and dolphins (but probably not humans). If necking a bottle of placenta drink is not your speed, brave souls can even have placenta injected into them at beauty salons! If you want to try something similar, but like your edible cosmetics a bit more fruity and a bit less terrifying why not give umeshu plum wine with collagen or royal jelly a try?

Phew, that’s all over! Ready for more!?

If you feel like expanding your taste buds in slightly less extreme ways, there are plenty of unusual but delicious snacks to be found at Japan Centre. We recommend the wasabi peas, sushi candy set or curry pretzels as slightly more sedate starts to your snacking odyssey!

Thanks to ryumu at Flickr for the curry ramune image.

Thanks to Ray Larabie at Flickr for the placenta jelly drink image.

Thanks to Yoshizi at Flickr for the kastera cake image.

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If you’re setting up shop or opening a new eatery and are in need of wholesale quantity items, not only do Japan Centre have catering supplies available to purchase via our online shopping site, but we are also now able to offer bulk wholesale ordering from our warehouse for quantities over 1 pallet.

Please contact our wholesale team directly on wholesale@japancentre.com or 020 3405 1151 to discuss the details of your request. Alternatively please visit us at the Japan Centre Warehouse, Unit 15 – 18 Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Road W3 6UU.

Shop Catering Now!

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Japan Centre is not only located in London, oh no! In 2013 we will be visiting many locations around Europe bringing all the best Japan Centre goodies to you! Keep an eye on our Events Calendar to see where we will be popping up next, you never know if could be in your neighbourhood!

EVENTS 2013

May

MCM Comic Con, London 24th – 26th May

Gardening Scotland, 31st May  - 2nd June

June

JAFF: Hokuriku Food Festival, Japan Centre Regent Street 10th – 30th June

July

Japan Expo, Paris 4th -7th July

MCM Comic Con, Manchester 20th July

Hyper Japan, London 26th – 28th July  *Japan Centre customer discount tickets coming soon!

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Japan loves local and so do we! Japan Centre is proud to announce our fifth Japan Food Festival (JAFF), 10th – 30th June at our Regent Street store in collaboration with AIBA, the Association of International Business Advisers.

This JAFF we showcase local produce of the Hokuriku region in north-western Honshu, Japan, never before sold in the UK. Get your hands on exclusive regional specialities and experience the culinary diversity and beauty of Hokuriku right here in London. Featuring free tastings every day from 2:30pm the event features limited edition Hokuriku products such as tea, miso, ramen and sake for 3 weeks only, make sure you don’t miss out!

We Love Local

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Clik here to view.From 10th – 30th June at our Regent Street store come and enjoy the local produce of Hokuriku at food tastings from 2:30pm daily. We have some exquisite speciality food and drink available for the first time in the UK, such as roasted tea made specifically for the Showa Emperor, award-winning White Shrimp Ramen, chilli miso paste and beautifully smooth sake. For those of you not in London, these wonderfully unique Hokuriku items will also be available to buy at Japancentre.com

Download the full brochure: JAFF: Hokuriku

Experience the taste of Hokuriku

The Hokuriku prefectures of Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui, from which our local produce originates, face the Sea of Japan on one side and are backed by the snow-capped Hida mountain range, part of the breathtaking Japanese Alps, on the other. In addition to beautiful mountains and clean sea air, Hokuriku, famously known as ‘Kaga’ in the Edo period was considered a hotspot of Japanese culture. Nowadays the people of Hokuriku pride themselves on continuing this legacy and hope to share the flavours of their home with you at the Hokuriku Japan Food Festival!

Come and join us at JAFF this summer, and sample the beauty of Hokuriku right here in London!

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Always find yourself trudging back from the shops with heavy bags of rice? Forget to buy rice in the first place? We’ve all been there, I’m sure. Well, worry no more – Japancentre.com has launched a new service aimed at taking the stress away from the monthly trip to the shops for UK mainland customers.

The idea is to order a 6-month subscription to a bag of rice, and we’ll take care of the work and send you your rice every month on the same day! Plus, by participating, you’ll save on a whole bag of rice! Couldn’t be better, right? Wrong – if you order now, we’ll throw in FREE SHIPPING as well!

Please pay attention to the Terms and Conditions after the jump.

Shop Now!

Terms and Conditions

• To be eligible for this service, you must be a UK Mainland resident.
• All deliveries will be sent by DPD’s ‘NEXT DAY’ delivery service.
• The usual packing fee (£1.20) applies to each delivery.
• Postage is free (usually £4.99) for customers ordering before 1st July 2013.
• When ordering the Monthly Rice Delivery, please understand that no other items may be added to the same order. If other items are required, please make a separate order and understand that no other items are eligible for a monthly delivery service.
• Payment is taken for the entire 6-month period at once when this service is ordered.
• If cancelled midway, refunds are calculated by subtracting the full price of the individual rice bags already received, postage and packaging from the original total amount. Please also be aware that there is a £0.50 handling fee when refunding.
• It is not possible to combine this service with other items in the same order. As part of this offer rice only will be dispatched.

ジャパンセンターオンラインショップでは、お米を１ヶ月に１回定期的に配達する「お米定期便」サービスを始めました。６か月分のお米（６袋）を一括でご注文いただくことで、６袋のうち１袋分が 無料（￡２０以上もお得！）となる魅力的な価格設定です。自動的にお米が届いて、お米の買い忘れの心配もなく、￡２０以上もお金をセーブするチャンス！しかも２０１３年６月末までにご注文いただいた場合は、送料を全て無料とさせていただきます。是非この機会をお見逃しなく！！

ご利用規約がございますので、必ず下記をご確認の上、ご注文ください。

※お届け先はＵＫメインランドの場合にのみとなります。

※ご注文の際は、お米定期便のみでご注文ください。他の商品とお米定期便を一緒にご注文いただくことはできません。

※配達オプションは「発送後翌日のお届け」オプションとなります。

※発送ごとに梱包料（￡１．２０）がかかります。

※発送ごとの送料（￡４．９９）は２０１３年６月末までにご注文いただいたお客様は無料となります。

※各月の発送日は、基本的にご注文いただいた日にちの１ヵ月後、そのまた１ヵ月後となります（土日、祝日となる場合はその限りではありません）。

※お代金は６か月分の金額を一括で引き落とさせていただきます。

※途中解約の場合、発送済の袋数分の送料、梱包料および、正規のお米の価格をチャージさせていただき、残金を返金させていただきます。不足が発生した場合は、不足金額を課金させていただきます。また手続き料として£0.50いただきます。

※他の商品を定期便のお米と一緒に発送することはできません。お米定期便はお米のみでの発送となります。

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Yes, the fifth Japan Food Festival (JAFF) is now here! From the 10th – 30th June online at Japancentre.com and at our Regent Street store we are showcasing regional produce from the Hokuriku region in northwest Japan in collaboration with the Hokuriku Bank.

Not only will this be a chance to try exclusive produce never before sold in the UK, we will also be showcasing these regional specialities, such as miso, ramen and sake in free tastings every day from 2:30pm at our Regent Street store.

If you’re not based in London, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out! All the tasty treats being showcased in JAFF: Hokuriku are now available online at Japancentre.com. You can also check out all the delicious offerings out in our JAFF: Hokuriku leaflet.

Download the full brochure: JAFF: Hokuriku

Our Producers

Specially selected to represent the best and most delicious of Hokuriku fare, each of our producers participating in the fair offer a unique taste of the region. Let’s introduce them below!

 Kagaboucha Maruhachi Seichajo

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Established in 1863 Edo, this Ishikawa prefecture tea company produce famous ‘Kenjo Kagabocha Tea’, specially created for the visiting Emperor Showa in 1983.

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Otuya

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A Fukui prefecture specialist food retailer proudly supporting local Hokuriku producers by stocking items such as ‘Echizen Oroshi Soba’ dried buckwheat noodles and many more unique items.

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Butta Agricultural Products

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From seed to sale, this rice company grows their produce on their own farms using only organic fertilisers for a healthier world.

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Masuda Sake Company

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The Masuda Sake brewery’s ‘Masuizumi’ sake is one of the best known sake ranges in Japan, with celebrity chefs as fans and bars clamouring to stock it.

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Yamagen Jouzou

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A family run brewery established in 1772. Using fresh mountain water and the benefits of the local climate they produce high quality miso and soy sauce to traditional methods.

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In preparation for the UK’s biggest weekend long J-Culture party Japan Centre is combining forces with Hyper Japan and holding a Japan Centre x Hyper Japan collaborative event at our Westfield Stratford store 12pm – 6pm on Saturday 13th July!

What’s On?

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Clik here to view.You can expect some amazing activities and special offers during the day, with everything from free sushi workshops, origami making, yo-yo fishing and Cosplay photobooths; to free tastings, traditional shamisen musicians and in-store special offers. You can also be in with a chance to win a pair of Hyper Japan tickets by simply making a purchase at umai by Japan Centre that day!

If you love all things Japanese, then this is a great opportunity to enjoy some unique Japanese traditions and tastes in our bustling Westfield surroundings. Why not grab some sushi or ramen from our deli while you soak up the atmosphere and contemplate your photobooth pose, or make a date with friends and come dressed in your most treasured Cosplay outfit for extra kudos!

Gearing Up For…

Our Japan Centre x Hyper Japan event should whet your appetite for more and tickets for Hyper Japan will be on sale at the umai counter that day. Two weeks later from Friday 26th – Sunday 28th July Hyper Japan will transform Earl’s Court London with Japanese cuisine, traditions and ‘a hadouken force punch of pop culture’, whoah! Japancentre.com will be there too of course, with snacks, manga and treats galore so make sure you stop by our booth for your hit of Melon Pan and Pocky!

Buy Tickets Now!

We have a special treat for all Japan Centre customers, get £4 off your Hyper Japan tickets by entering the code HJP2013 when you buy through this link, choosing the ‘Corporate JAPAN’ ticket option. That’s a fabulous 30% OFF!

Japan Centre x Hyper Japan, Saturday 13th July 12pm – 6pm at umai by Japan Centre Westfield Stratford

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Tokyo’s No.1 Show

Japan Centre are proud to welcome the international, multi-award winning, Japanese spectacular SIRO-A back to London 21st August – 13th October at the Leicester Square Theatre! Often described as Japan’s answer to the Blue Man Group, SIRO-A is a revolution in live entertainment, fusing mime, ground breaking visual effects and an electro soundtrack to create a mind-blowing theatrical experience that is a feast for the senses. Japan Centre have teamed up with SIRO-A to offer our customers money off tickets to these amazing shows!

Technodelic entertainment on a whole new frequency!

Through dance, mime and puppetry, the company of six SIRO-A performers interact with technology in a way never seen before. Featuring spectacular video projection, light animation, stunning laser effects and a pulsating electro beat, SIRO-A is family entertainment like no other.

SIRO-A is fast becoming a worldwide phenomenon and Japan Centre are their official UK sponsers, having performed to 30,000 people at the Shanghai Expo and winning the Spirit of the Fringe award at the prestigious Edinburgh Festival. Now this visually stunning show is returning to London where it has already been wowing audiences and critics alike:

“It’s a mind-blowing show”

**** METRO

“a mesmerising mix of techno, high-tech light engineering, performance art, dance, comedy, animation and futuristic shadow-puppetry”

***** DAILY STAR

Funny, daring and unique, SIRO-A breaks down the barriers between, theatre, dance, technology and music to create live entertainment on a whole new frequency.

See the fantastic trailer at: siro-a.co.uk

Japan Centre Ticket Offer

Specially for Japan Centre customers quote ‘JAPAN CENTRE’ at the box office on 08448 733433 or in the promotion code box when buying online and purchase SIRO-A tickets for just £15, valid on all shows until October 13th. This is a great opportunity to see this mesmerising Japanese visual spectacular right in the heart of London.

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This Christmas is going to be a feast not only for the tastebuds, but the eyes, mind and wallet too! We’ve decked the halls and gone all out this year to make sure there’s something amazing going on at all times. So don’t miss out, check out our amazingly comprehensive round up of everything Christmas!

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Eat, Drink and Be Merry! Christmas F:easts at Japan Centre and umai 

Whether you’re eating out, cooking up a storm or letting the experts handle the strain, there’s food and drink for all this Christmas at Japan Centre.

Santa is a massive ramen fan and has given his approval for his Christmas must eats at Shoryu Soho and Regent Street, you’ll be able to enjoy these special faves from 17th November to 25th December.

If you’re looking for festive food then don’t miss out on the special Christmas dishes at umai! With a wide range of options for all budgets and tastebuds, umai will also be offering festive sushi platters and Christmas cakes. Fantastic for party season, make your office bash 100% better with some delicious grub. Plus orders will be accepted online, at Piccadilly and Acton, so there’s no excuse not to book.

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Clik here to view.Tons of Tastings, Mochi and More!

If you want to add some carouse to your carolling there will also be tastings at Piccadilly, umai Westfield and Acton from the 1st November to 28th December to whet your tastebuds for festive feasts.

Cool cats that prefer New Year revels will also be happy to know that mochi tsuki mochi pounding and kagami biraki sake cask openings will be taking place at Piccadilly on the 2nd of January!

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Clik here to view.‘Tis the Season! Great Gifts for All

Give something they’ll really enjoy whether your giftee is a foodie, Japan fan or just a sophisticated lover of the good things in life! With everything from food kits, ceramics, confectionery, toys, bento, sake and more the hardest part is going finding somewhere big enough to fit all the presents where helpful ‘elves’ won’t find everything!

What’s more no matter where you are in London or abroad gift shopping need not be a hassle with amazing gifts available online, in-store at Piccadilly and Acton or umai Westfield.

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Save this Christmas

As you gift to your friends and loved ones, we gift to you our lovely fans! This year is a bumper for awesome offers with double loyalty points at Shoryu from the 26th to 31st December, loads of awesome vouchers for sweet deals in the new year on everything from melon pan to magazines, continuing free delivery over £100 on all orders at JapanCentre.com and 25% off in the new year, great value bulk buy offers online, in-store, at umai, even our bookshop and fish & meat counter are included!

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Whether they’ve been naughty or nice there’s something for all, so buy online or in-store now!

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Always find yourself trudging back from the shops with heavy bags of rice? Forget to buy rice in the first place? We’ve all been there, I’m sure. Well, worry no more – Japancentre.com has launched a new service aimed at taking the stress away from the monthly trip to the shops for U.K. mainland customers.

The idea is to order a 6-month subscription to a bag of rice, and we’ll take care of the work and send you your rice at the same time every month! Plus, by participating, you’ll save on a whole bag of rice! Couldn’t be better, right? Wrong! We’ll throw in FREE SHIPPING as well which means that altogether, you are going to save more than £50!

Please pay attention to the Terms and Conditions after the jump.

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お米を１ヶ月に１回定期的にお届けする「お米定期便」のご案内です。6か月分のお米（6袋）を一括でご注文いただくことで、6袋のうち1袋分が 無料、しかも送料は全て無料とさせていただきます。定期的にお米が届いて、£50以上もお金をセーブするチャンス! 是非ご利用ください!!

・「お米定期便」はジャパンセンターオンラインショップ限定商品です。店頭ではご注文いただけません。弊社Webサイトからご注文ください。

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Clik here to view.Does Santa’s sleigh make a stop in Tokyo and Hokkaido? Of course it does! But what about turkey, presents and Christmas cards? Come bask in the warmth of the twinkly lights and pine tree scented knick knacks, and learn all about how Japan makes Christmas very merry indeed!

Love is in the air!

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Clik here to view.Of course Christmas time is filled with good wishes for all and love for others! In Japan, this love for others can be quite specific (or you could be in trouble!) Similar to Valentines Day in the West, Christmas is a very romantic occasion in Japan for many and couples commonly meet to enjoy a special meal and exchange gifts. Particularly popular date locations are illuminated gardens and boardwalks, as well as festive theme parks that go all out for Christmas.

However, as the more formal New Year gift giving tradition called o-seibo is falling out of favour, families and friends are often opting to arrange informal get togethers or gift giving at Christmas.

Turkey? Give me Kara Age!

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Ovens are not very common in most Japanese homes so producing a turkey with all the trimmings becomes a major production! Japan still celebrates in style with… fried chicken and strawberry shortcake! Chicken is so popular that stores take bookings well in advance, and those that don’t keep to their allotted time risk losing out on Christmas dinner altogether.

Work it Postie, Work it!

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You might think that if o-seibo is getting less popular and most Christmas gifts are given in person, then Japanese posties might be able to take it a bit easy over the holidays. No way!

Christmas card exchanges are not really as popular as else where in the world, but Japanese people still let friends and acquaintances know they’re thinking of them with nenga-jyo. These traditional New Years greetings are very much a part of Japan’s winter celebrations and with exhaustive lists of friends and family to send salutations to, it can be quite a lengthy process.

And to get you in the mood….

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If this has inspired you to add a touch of Japanese cool to your wintery festivities, why not whip up some kara age fried chicken? Or show someone special you’re thinking of them with a little bit of Japanese elegance or something a bit stronger.

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Thanks to mdxdt at Flickr for the snowy postbox image.

Thanks to takashiaes256 at Flickr for the Danbooru and Christmas cake image.

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New Year is one of the most important celebrations in Japan, and as such there are many fantastic traditions associated with it (not to mention delicious food!) On January 2nd from 12 noon join us at Japan Centre Piccadilly for two fantastic free events all in the name of a Happy New Year!

Sake Ceremony [Kagami Biraki]

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You might think anything that involves hitting stuff and alcohol was an accident waiting to happen, but the Kagami Biraki sake ceremony is popular at special occasions across Japan such as New Year without a whiff of touble (mostly). Kagami Biraki means ‘opening the mirror’ in Japanese and can refers to breaking open the lid (mirror) of a large ceremonial cask of sake with several wooden mallets while everyone shouts an encouraging “Yoisho!”

Arrive for 12 noon and watch as we smash open our gigantic sake barrel and serve free, royal warrant Gekkeikan sake to all as we ‘kampai’ in the New Year!

See you there!

A great day out for all the family, we look forward to seeing you all at Japan Centre on the 2nd for these two unique, loud and fun, free New Year events!

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We all know how it is… Christmas is over, the last of the wine and turkey have been snaffled and it’s time to turn over a new leaf! But despite those great yoga pants you got for that pilates class you will totally go to, or all those delicious naughty snacks you shovelled into the bin in ‘Operation: Clean Start!’, one week later you’re standing in the chippy asking for your usual. Argh!

Take a tip (or five) from us and read all about how 5 simple changes from Japanese food culture will help you lose weight and eat more healthily, without sacrificing the foods you love!

5. Tea Is Key

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Make green tea part of your daily routine. Green tea is low in calories and caffeine making it great as an everyday, no-stress treat. So ditch the extra creamy lattes or oh so delicious sugary pop when you’re feeling a little down and want to treat yourself or need that extra motivation to get going in the morning. Use green tea as your special morning break instead!

With loads of different types to taste test and cool bits and bobs to try, green tea is just as fun for me time! We recommend:

• Roasty hojicha for coffee lovers
• Refreshing sencha for a little bit of calm in a cup

4. Snack But Make It Count!

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Snacking is not a crime! The more your torture yourself with the thought of that delicious mochi sitting in the fridge, the more likely you are to go hog wild and eat all the mochi (not that we’d blame you). Japan is serious about its snacks, but Japanese people know that to snack right you have sit down, take your time and enjoy it!

Plus, Japanese snacks are usually pre-portioned. You don’t have to eat more or less that you want to, just enough to be satisfied! We reccommend:

• Rice cracker variety packs! Just 102kcal a packet, with a great mix of everything delicious
• Japanese Kitkats for the chocaholics. Amazing flavours but just 69kcal a pack, yum!

3. Bento For Fun & Profit

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It can be tempting to wolf down the closest food available when you’re hungry and tired! That’s why bento are such a great way to keep an eye on what you’re eating, enjoy your food and do portion control ahead of time. These traditional Japanese packed lunches are usually made fresh the same day, include lots of healthy ingredients and are packed into small bento lunchbox containers, so there’s less chance to over do it.

The idea of making a bento everyday can be daunting, but it’s OK to start small. There is no wrong way to do bento, so just make sure it’s delicious to you! We recommend:

• A fun and cheerful Original Onigiri bento set to get you started
• The Just Bento Cookbook to get you inspired!

2. Make Veg The Star!

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Eating more vegetables is one of the simplest and most effective ways to lose weight. Even if you’re eating healthily, the chances are you could be eating more veg! There are many, many different ways to enjoy vegetables in Japanese cuisine. Vegetable side dishes are very important in traditional Japanese meals and rather than rice or noodles delicious veggies often make up the bulk of food eaten at each meal. This is one of the reasons people who follow a traditional Japanese diet tend to be slimmer!

But what if you’re not a veggie fan? The other great bit about eating veggies Japanese style is that each dish is usually eaten in small quantities, so if you don’t like something it’s not the end of the world. Next veggie, please! We reccomend:

• Non-oil dressings - Non-greasy, lower kcal and just as delicious!
• Sesame sauce –  We guarantee no veggie can defeat the awesomeness of Japanese sesame dressings!

1. Fill Up On Flavour & Fun

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Japanese food is loaded with umami, the elusive 5th flavour that makes dishes like miso soup or ramen noodles so addictive. Umami has long been used in Japanese cooking to make  super low-kcal foods such as shirataki every bit as tastbud tinglingly delicious as more naughty treats like tempura and katsu!

So, if you feel like you want to make changes, like including more vegetables in what you eat (do it!) one of the best ways to do this is to make food irresistibly tasty and fun with umami! Experiment with miso paste, soy sauce and wasabi to add fun and flavour to your dinner without necessarily adding calories! We recommend:

• Shirataki in nabe hotpot! Let the noodles soak up the delicious miso flavour
• Dried tofu seasoned with delicious dashi stock

More Diet Secrets From Japan

Want to discover more about how Japanese food can help you lose weight? Check out Top 5 Japanese Super Food and 5 Japanese Diet Secrets for even more ways to stay trim and slim!

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Thanks to ehnmark at Flickr for the tea image.

Thanks to macglee at Flickr for the senbei image.

Thanks to 柏翰 / ポーハン / POHAN at Flickr for the bento image.

Thanks to shig2006 at Flickr for the veggie image.

Thanks to eefeewahfah at Flickr for the soy sauce image.

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The half-term hols are just around the corner, but with wet weather on the horizon and only so many hours of ‘powerful rangers’ that anyone can enjoy, why not make bento your half-term project for you and your kids?

With lots to learn, fun recipes to try and even the possibility of a bento picnic if the weather does co-operate bento make a great holiday project. Plus, unlike other holiday activities you’ll still be able to use all the bits during term time when the ‘big kids’ take over lunch duties. If you want to learn about Japan’s amazing answer to packed lunches, read on and see how you can make bento fun your holiday project!

Bento Box

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Arguably the most important part of any bento meal, is something to put it in! There are many different kinds of bento boxes available, with different styles, shapes and colours for all tastes. For older kids our kokeshi bento are unique and popular, for little fingers the vive lunchboxes are tough, leak resistant and easy to open and close.

Kids can even decorate their own bento box, to give it their own personal touch and so everyone knows it’s just for them! You can pack a bento lunch in just about anything, including a kitchen tub, but many bento boxes are specially designed to be leak-proof, microwaveable or heat retaining, plus they make things that little bit more special.

Bento Accessories

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It’s not just bento boxes that have amazing designs! There are loads of bento accessories you can use to liven up their lunch too. For older kids bento accessories like bento picks, decorative baran dividers or sauce bottles are great for letting the kids get creative even if you’re not cooking together. Ideal for when you want to do something fun, but have limited time.

For younger kids, bento cups, onigiri moulds, plastic bento cutters and egg moulds are fun, easy to use and suitable for most ages. If you have any budding style gurus, there are also matching bento sets with co-ordinated bento boxes, bands, chopsticks and carrying bags for complete accessorisation!

Bento Lunch

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Now the other most important part! Check out our recipes if you want inspiration for bento fillers or how to arrange your bento. Even if you don’t want cook food from scratch, kids can still have fun decorating their lunch. Nori seaweed punches, decorating pens for sauces and face shape cutters will let them put their own touch on vegetables, meatballs, cheese, rice and more.

If you’ve been inspired to try out bento this half term, check out our range of bento boxes, accessories and fillers available to buy online at Japan Centre. The hard part will be stopping everyone from eating their lunch before it’s dinner time!

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Thanks to saotan at Flickr for the hotdog bento image.

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Held on the 3rd of March every year, Hina Matsuri is a day on which families across Japan wish for health and happiness for their young daughters. Perhaps most famous for the beautiful arrangements of hina-ningyo dolls that are displayed in homes or at certain shrines, Hina Matsuri means dolls’ festival. Hina Matsuri is not just about beautiful dolls, though. There’s also loads of delicious food too! So scroll down to learn all about the essentials you need to make a Hina Matsuri meal fit for an empress!

Amazake

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Thick and sweet, amazake is sort of like a non-alcoholic nigori sake for kids! Made with kome koji (the same stuff used in sake brewing), it’s never fermented long enough to become boozy, just enough for the flavour to develop. Hina Matsuri used to be celebrated closer to the start of April, when the plum blossoms would be in bloom. Hence it’s other name, Momo no Sekku or peach blossom festival! However, amazake is also really delicious warmed to keep out the chill now Hina Matsuri is celebrated in early March!

• Natural Brown Rice Amazake
• Gekkeikan Amazake
• Soy Milk Amazake

Chirashi Sushi

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Is sushi cause for celebration or are celebrations a cause for sushi? Either way chirashi sushi is a very iconic Hina Matsuri dish. The combination of vegetables with lively colourful toppings give it a lovely spring feel and make it a great celebration dish!

• Chirashi Rice Seasoning with Black Vinegar
• Rice Bowl Chirashi Sushi Mix
• Gomoku Chirashi Sushi Mix

Hina Arare

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Whether you’re repping east-side or west-side there’s hina arare for you! These tasty rice cracker snacks come in sweet variations for those who have a sweet tooth or are old school Kanto (the area near Tokyo). If you’ve got Kansai pride, you may be happy to know that hina arare there is popularly a sweet and savoury mix, for a little bit of both! Either way, they’re totally delicious for something so cute and refined looking with pastel shades! Plus, and this is a super secret, this year we have… Hello Kitty and Anpanman arare! Yes! How will you resist?

• Chocolate Hello Kitty Hina Arare
• Hello Kitty Snack Pack Hina Arare
• Anpanman Hina Arare Rice Cracker Mix

Sekihan

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Sekihan has been enjoyed in Japan on special occasions for a very long time. Made these days with rice and beans, its cheerful pinkish colour helps to set a festive mood! Both healthy and filling, sekihan is enjoyed both sweet and savoury variations across Japan.

• Chestnut Rice Okowa

Bonus Round!

While we were out and about continuing our never ending quest to discover the coolest of the cool of all things Japanese, we spotted this!

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A traditional hina-ningyo display, right in the heart of London! Even though we’ve lived in Japan for a few years, we never managed to see a display like this.  Our roving photographer spotted this in the window of traditional Japanese wagashi sweet store, Minamoto Kitchoan. The dolls you can see in the photo are very expensive, heirloom items and are only displayed in the run up to and on the day of Hina Matsuri.

Many families can’t afford to have such a large set like this (or don’t have the room!), and may only have Empress and Emperor dolls. Alternatively many people may also choose to incorporate the tradition in different ways; making sushi in the shape of the Emperor and Empress or having a special Hina Matsuri cake with decorations representing the happy couple.

Are you celebrating Hina Matsuri this year? Why not experience a little bit of Japanese culture in your home with these lovely Hina Matsuri foods or maybe even your very own hina-ningyo display!?

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In our continuing quest to bring you only the very finest in Japanese food, drink and culture, Japan Centre recently pitted 5 of our favourite sakes against each other to find out which would become the sake champ! Plus, we’ll take you through a few of the more popular sake styles available. Great for making you look like a super brain next time you’re enjoying some sake with friends!

How is Sake Made?

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Clik here to view. Finely milled rice is steamed and washed, then mixed with special yeast and allowed to ferment.  The mix is then strained, filtered and blended. But naturally there are many variations on the steps along the way, there are as many different ways of making sake as there are sake fans!

Does Sake Have to be Expensive?

Unlike wine where you might feel you have to pay a lot to get a good drop, sake often becomes more expensive with more labour intensive or difficult techniques being used. This means that more expensive sakes may have different flavour profiles to more everyday stuff, but less expensive doesn’t mean less drinkable sake. We selected our 5 sakes from historic brewer Gekkeikan precisely because we thought they gave good value for money across a range of styles and sake types.

Sake vs. Sake! Who Wins? We Decide!

The Junmai!

Junmai-shu is made only from rice, rice malt and water with no added alcohol or sugar.  There are also ‘special’ or tokubetsu junmai varieties that may be made with highly milled rice, special brewing methods or rare rice varieties.

Gekkeikan Petit Moon Full Moon Junmai Sake

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• Verdict: Sake can be seen as a bit of a boys club, but with its stylish bottle and elegant name, this sake was designed to get ladies to try sake.  We could certainly taste the difference, this sake had a much more subtle and mild flavour than some of the others we tried.
• Recommended for: Salmon or vegetable dishes. If you’re not a fan of drinks with a strong alcohol flavour, we recommend trying this as a starting sake.
• Best Enjoyed: Slightly chilled, warmed or at room temperature.

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The Nigori!

Nigori is unfiltered sake or sake which has had the lees added to give a certain flavour profile. Because nigori has a slightly stronger flavour than other sakes it’s a good match for spicy or strongly flavoured foods that might overwhelm other sake. If you’ve tried other types of sake, why not check nigori out?

Gekkeikan Petit Moon Nigori Sake

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• Verdict: Another sake designed for the ladies! Has a distinct sweet, but not overpowering taste. Our tasting panel reckoned that this was a great introduction to nigori sake if you’ve not tried it before; not only did this sake have a milder flavour than usual nigori, it’s also in a smaller bottle if all else fails!
• Recommended for: Big and beefy dishes, leave the sashimi for another time. Good match for more Western-styled dishes like kara age fried chicken or desserts!
• Best Enjoyed: Slightly chilled.

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The Daiginjo!

Daiginjo sake has a minimum of 50% of the rice milled away before fermentation begins. This milling changes the composition of the sake rice, removing more of the outer layers, and allows different flavours to come through. Daiginjo sakes are often considered the pinnacle of the brewer’s craft!

Gekkeikan Horin Junmai Daiginjo Sake

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• Verdict: Most complex of the 5 tried, a really great daiginjo for special occasions or a present. Rich aroma and flavour with floral notes, and complex taste typical of daiginjo style sake.
• Recommended for: Enjoying as a standalone sake with or without food, will really bring out the umami in more simple dishes.
• Best Enjoyed: Room temperature, warmed or chilled.

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The Namachozo!

By pasteurising the sake only once namachozo strikes a balance between the beautiful and lively flavour of an unpasteurized namazake and the more complex matured, double-pasteurized sakes. Namachozo can be pasteurised either after it has been matured or just before it is shipped.

Gekkeikan Namachozo Sake

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• Verdict: Tasty on its own, but really came alive when paired with food (yes, our own sushi lunch from umai!). Very light and easy to drink, this was a hit with even the sake sceptics. Nicely fruity aroma and sweeter taste.
• Recommended for: Light seafood or pasta dishes.
• Best Enjoyed: Lightly Chilled

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The All-Rounder!

Gekkeikan Everyday Sake Eco-Cup

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• Verdict: A really robust, retro sake. Out of all the sakes we tried, this was reckoned best to go with some rice crackers or pickles.
• Recommended for: Whatever you’re eating! Particularly good match for stronger flavoured dishes like sukiyaki or hot pot meals. Also great for picnics or trips, comes in its own little glass cup, oooh!
• Best Enjoyed: Warmed or lightly chilled (bonus points for listening to a bit of enka too).

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And the Winner is… Horin!

We enjoyed all of our sakes, but the Horin Junmai Daiginjo was able to win over both sake-fans and sake-phobes a like! The size and price make it a fantastic starter sake, and it’d be equally suitable for a dinner party or an after work drink. If you prefer more mellow alcohol tastes or want a good sake for cocktails, the Petit Moon Junmai or namachozo sake may be for you. However, this got a thumbs-up all round from us!

If you’re a bit of a budding mixologist, why not check out our sake cocktail recipes? Alternatively, don’t take our word for it. There’s loads more sakes to try available to buy online at Japan Centre.  With over 54 to choose from, you’re bound to find a favourite!

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Thanks to hslo at Flickr for the sake museum image.

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