This Week in Tokyo – 25 May 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: FLIP Tokyo; Nobilmente; Doraemon 50th; Dorayaki Success and The Final Cooking Class.

FLIP Tokyo: I was honoured to be featured in the augural issue of Flip. Flip is a biannual online magazine telling the stories of individuals and organizations innovating in challenging times. Created by the team behind Startup Guide, the magazine is a platform for real-life stories of perseverance. Flip inspires and motivates entrepreneurs and others to make their own pivots, inspires confidence and encourages readers to rethink how they live and do business in a rapidly changing world.

In the interview, I discussed business pivots I have made over the last year to keep Maction Planet alive and kicking in the absence of international tourists. I hope it inspires any business or person looking to reinvent themselves in times of adversity. We continue…

Nobilmente: Isojiman’s Nobilmente is an exquisite sake.

Premium AAA Tojo Akitsu Yamada Nishiki rice from Hyogo Prefecture is used for both the koji-mai (rice used for koji) and the kake-mai (rice used in the fermenting moromi mash).

Every aspect of production and presentation aligns with the brand, from the 28% rice polishing ratio, the 50-day fermentation, the way the pressing sacks are washed to the washi paper label, antique-style blue bottle and oversized presentation box.

You would expect this to be a Junmai Daiginjo, but I love the fact it isn’t. One hour before pressing, 65 litres of brewing alcohol are added per ton of polished rice. The result is a fruity, aromatic sake with a richness and complexity absent from many Junmai Daiginjo. Pricing upwards of ¥20,000, if you can find it. Sadly for your wallet, it is very drinkable. Kanpai!

For more posts like this, follow the Kanpai Planet social media. Kanpai Planet is my new video-led platform focused on the world of Japan’s drinks. Check it out on YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn and Pinterest!

By the way, if you want to spend a productive 10 minutes, with 5 tips to instantly up your Japanese Sake game, watch this:

Doraemon 50th: The first full Doraemon story was published in January 1970. Fast-forward 50 years, and sadly 2020 was not the year of celebration it should have been. Despite that, the earless robot cat from the future has done well over the last 12 months. He had statues outside Parco, and a collaboration with Gucci! Due to the lower-then-expected foot traffic, there is still an excess of Doraemon 50th anniversary goods kicking around. Grab yours at this pop-up currently running at JR Akihabara Station.

Dorayaki Success: On Sunday we ran our latest online, interactive cooking class, teaching how to make the delicious traditional snack, Dorayaki. (The favourite food of Doraemon, as it happens!)

This is my favourite photo from the day: The finished products from the evening class, worthy of Tokyo’s finest patisseries and sweets shops. Thank you to all our participants for joining our classes!

The Final Cooking Class: This is it – the final Maction Planet x At Home with Nahoko Cooking Class: TENDON on 13 June 2021 (JST)

 As well as learning how to make this delicious dish, you will learn some pro techniques to take your culinary skills to the next level!

Two classes, at 08:00 and 18:00 JST cater to all timezones! [For guests in North and South America the class will be late afternoon/evening your time on 12 June.]

We hope you can join us, and our incredible community of chefs from six continents, so we can thank you ‘in person’ for being part of this incredible journey over the last 12 months. We couldn’t have done it without your support. A huge DOMO ARIGATO FROM TOKYO. Itadakimasu, and we continue… 

More details here. Email info@mactionplanet.com to sign up! 

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

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