Food & Beverage

Fundodai is exploring new applications for its transparent soy sauce, such as for making a colorless ramen. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Food & Beverage

Clearly delicious: Japan firm creates see-through pudding, chips

Inventor of clear soy sauce Fundodai develops unique recipes

14 August 2023
Though spirits infused with the aroma of wood already exist, these are the first to be made directly from wood. (Photo by Masaki Fushii)
Food & Beverage

Japan lab turns wood into drinkable spirit in global first

From cedar to oak, each tree gives liquor a distinctive flavor

12 August 2023
Tanks at the site of the Fukushima nuclear accident hold treated water that will be discharged into the ocean. (Photo by Ryutaro Yokoyama)
Environment

Japan to check tritium in fish daily after Fukushima water release

Pre-release check finds no detectable levels, Fisheries Agency says

11 August 2023
Kirin is a latecomer to the whisky market, but its Fuji single grain has been praised overseas. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Food & Beverage

Kirin partners with Pernod Ricard to expand Fuji whisky's global reach

13 European markets added with eye on 20-fold increase in regional sales by 2030

8 August 2023
The chicken burger lineup was expanded to five sandwiches from two, drawing new and younger customers. (Photo courtesy of KFC Japan)
Food & Beverage

KFC Japan's profit triples as customers brush aside higher prices

New and limited offerings help maintain store traffic in April-June quarter

7 August 2023
Pasteur Street Brewing, known for using local fruits and spices along with its colorful cans, is credited with igniting Vietnam's craft beer craze. (Photo by Sadayasu Senju)
Food & Beverage

Vietnamese craft beers make splash in Japan, Singapore

Breweries like Pasteur Street take fresh approach with local fruits and spices

6 August 2023
Kameda's Kaki no Tane and Happy Turn snacks are exported to around 40 countries.
Food & Beverage

Japan's rice cracker makers find crunchy new markets abroad

Foreign tourists, health-conscious snackers give lift to exports

5 August 2023
An Indian farmer carries rice saplings in her field. India banned exports of non-basmati white rice on July 20.
Commodities

Rice prices hit 11-year high as Indian export ban fuels supply fears

Once-stable rice joins expensive wheat in growing risk of 'agflation' and hunger

4 August 2023
The proposed Coca-Cola deal would add some consumer spending exposure to Philippine conglomerate Aboitiz's portfolio. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Business deals

Philippine group Aboitiz aims to buy local Coca-Cola bottler

Proposed deal would involve Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

3 August 2023
A dizzying -- and inedible -- display of grilled sweet fish, fruit and champagne on ice at a store in Tokyo's Kappabashi district. (All photos by Stephen Mansfield)
Tea Leaves

Japan gives us faux food for real thought

Tokyo's Kappabashi district elevates plastic models to level of artwork

2 August 2023
Yum China headquarters in Shanghai. CEO Joey Wat said the company is trying to loosen people's purse strings.
Food & Beverage

Yum China flags weak consumption despite record quarter

Fast-food chain relies on discounts to woo 'very value cautious' customers

1 August 2023
President and CEO of Toridoll Holdings Takaya Awata says investors like the company's strategy of hedging its risks by seeking growth overseas to offset weakness in Japan.
Food & Beverage

Cheap yen benefits U.K. expansion, Marugame Udon owner says

Toridoll Holdings buys London pizza, Greek food chains to offset Japan weakness

31 July 2023
Called the "god of sake brewing" by his fans, Naohiko Noguchi says he wants to keep making sake until his last day on Earth. 
Life

Sake 'god' Naohiko Noguchi, 90, is giving up on retirement

Master brewer strives to build global brand, based on 70 years' experience

30 July 2023
CP Foods' plant-based "chicken" products sold in Japan, including nuggets and cutlets, are made from soy. (Photo courtesy of Itochu)
Food & Beverage

Itochu brings Thai 'plant-based chicken' products to Japan

CP's frozen foods available at online shopping sites, supermarkets

30 July 2023
Hachi-Ban, a Japanese restaurant operator, will bring a new plant online in Thailand and resume restaurant openings in Vietnam. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Food & Beverage

Japan ramen chain Hachi-Ban to expand in Thailand, Vietnam

Company to open new central kitchen, increase number of shops

26 July 2023
The Yamagata Benio, left, is Yamagata prefecture's largest cherry variety yet. It is seen here compared with its predecessor, the Beni Shuho variety, at an orchard in June. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Tea Leaves

How a $30 cherry helps boost rural Japan

Yamagata's luxury fruit market reflects economics and social dynamics of aging countryside

26 July 2023
At a February event in Shanghai, chefs fillet a tuna caught off the coast of Japan's Nagasaki prefecture.
Fisheries

China's sushi eateries struggle with import controls on Japanese seafood

Tougher customs inspections come in response to planned release of Fukushima water

21 July 2023
Yakult's California plant, currently its sole U.S. factory, came online in 2014. (Photo courtesy of Yakult)
Food & Beverage

Yakult to build 2nd U.S. probiotic drink factory for $305m

Georgia plant will help Japanese company supply to East Coast

19 July 2023
Steakholder sees similarities between Jewish kosher and Muslim halal dietary requirements. (Photo courtesy of company)
Food & Beverage

Israel's food tech upstarts eye ASEAN's Muslim countries

Indonesia, Malaysia offer halal gateway for Jewish state's companies

19 July 2023
Megmilk Snow Brand will add Thailand to the list of Asian markets where its long-life milk products are sold. 
Food & Beverage

Japan dairy companies bet on Asia exports as demand slows at home

Megmilk targets Thailand while Yotsuba Milk seeks higher Singapore sales

18 July 2023
Kewpie is expanding Indonesian production of mayonnaise and other condiments in hopes of capturing growing demand. 
Food & Beverage

Japan's Kewpie to boost Indonesia mayonnaise output

Condiment maker bets on country's growing population

15 July 2023
Italian restaurant chain Saizeriya will review free offerings of cheese and other items in order to maintain current prices. (Photo by Kaisuke Ohta)
Food & Beverage

Japan's Saizeriya avoids price hikes by eliminating free cheese

Italian restaurant chain narrows takeout selection to focus on eat-in customers

11 July 2023
A customer holds a cup of a legally brewed beer at the United Peoples Brewery in Bangkok. (Photo by Papangkorn Bamrungmuang)
Life

How craft beer helped turn Thai politics

By closing the lid on brewing, Bangkok's elite may have unseated itself

8 July 2023
Sumidagawa Tasogare Coffee cultivated the Chinese market for Japanese-style drip bag coffee, according to the company's founder. (Photo by Noriyuki Doi)
Food & Beverage

Japan-style drip bag coffee creates a buzz in China

Chinese entrepreneur takes on home market with Japanese-inspired brand

2 July 2023
Shigenao Tamura walks along a path that crisscrosses the 17,000-hectare farm he manages in Uruguay. "There are no farms of this size in Japan," he says. (Photo by Sengo Perez)
Life

Japanese founder's legacy lives on at Uruguay farm

New generation opens up markets with japonica rice and wine

2 July 2023