This Week in Tokyo – 15 June 2021

Welcome to ‘This Week in Tokyo’, a review of the Maction Planet week that was and a look ahead to what’s coming up in the city. Hosted by Mac, our Founder and Lead Guide, you can check out photos from our tours and read insights into our explorations as we get under the skin of the World’s Greatest Metropolis, and beyond! This week: All good things; Maction x Kanpai Planet Life; Sake Everything; Olympic SK-II and Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021.

All good things: Sunday marked the last regular Maction Planet x At Home with Nahoko cooking class! Tendon had the honour of being the final recipe cooked.

As always our guests did us proud and produced some amazing results, as the following screenshots from the morning (US timezone) and evening (European timezone) classes attest.

Nahoko’s husband Kei snapped the featured image during the morning class. I’m going to miss that kitchen!

If you want to continue learning about Japanese food and drink, I recently launched a Japan drinks-focused YouTube channel – KANPAI PLANET. Please check it out and subscribe here. Your support means a lot!

We will still run our classes for a private group of your family and friends, or as a teambuilding exercise or corporate activity to enjoy with your colleagues! 

We want to thank everyone who joined one of our classes for being part of the last year of the culinary and cultural edutainment that came to you from the belly button of Tokyo. It’s been an incredible journey, and we couldn’t have done it without your support. A huge DOMO ARIGATO from us. Itadakimasu, and we continue…  

Maction x Kanpai Planet Life: In light of the above news, its good to know that we are leaving a legacy. Stu and Fi sent in this incredible shot – a feast crafted from lessons learnt Maction Planet cooking classes, accompanied by sake from our recent Kanpai Planet x Iwate Meijo brewery tour. A photo like this brings me a lot of joy and makes all the effort worthwhile!

Sake Everything: My latest article for Tokyo Weekender is ‘Sake Everything: Different Ways to Enjoy Japan’s Signature Beverage.’ From sake-flavoured KitKats to bathing in sake — there are more ways to enjoy nihonshu than just drinking it. I even included a signature sake cocktail recipe you can try making!

Olympic SK-II: Sake has been used in beautification routines for centuries. Geisha traditionally used sake as a facial lotion before applying their makeup. In the 1970s scientists investigated why kurabito (sake brewery workers) had particularly smooth and supple hands, often despite their age. Contact with various parts of the brewing process had a positive effect on their skin. We understand the science a little more now. Sake containing amino acids, kojic acid, ferulic acid and other ingredients is perfect for cosmetic items. These bring with them hydration, smoothing, anti-aging, exfoliation and brightening benefits.

The origins of the SK-II cosmetic company are bound up in this research. A yeast extract called pitera was isolated and used in the brand’s products when they launched in the early 1980s. Fast forward to today, and the formula – business and cosmetic – has worked. SK-II are an Olympic sponsor, and are currently taking up the entire shopfront of Matsuya Ginza!

Yamazaki Limited Edition 2021: Suntory released Yamazaki Limited Edition on 25 May 2021, in time for the Ochugen gift-giving season. Does it deserve the hype? We put it through stringent Kanpai Planet taste test standards and then put it head-to-head with Yamazaki Limited Edition 2017 AND the standard Yamazaki 12. Which Yamazaki wins? Watch to find out!

Maction Planet runs bespoke Private Tours and Experiences in Tokyo, and beyond. To book yours, or to purchase a gift card, contact us at info@mactionplanet.com

You can subscribe to the Maction Planet newsletter below, and follow all our adventures on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Mixcloud and YouTube.