Twentythree

Tacos and spaghetti have earned love around the world, but will their meeting in Japan be a tragedy?

Japan loves spaghetti, but doesn’t necessarily feel bound to tradition when it comes to the dish, So while you can find authentic Italian-style pasta in Japan, so too can you find things like Napolitan (spaghetti with ketchup sauce, bacon, bell peppers, onion, and mushrooms) and spaghetti with tarako (cod roe) sauce.

And now restaurant chain Spaghetti no Pancho is expanding the concept of spaghetti even further in Japan with its new Tacospa, or Taco Spaghetti.

▼ タコスパ = Tacospa

To be clear, this isn’t a spaghetti taco (that’d be a taco filled with spaghetti). Spaghetti no Pancho’s Tacospa is an attempt to combine the flavors and ingredients of a taco with those of a bowl of spaghetti. For this fusion dish, Spaghetti no Pancho forgoes its flagship Napolitan sauce and instead starts from a ragu-style meat sauce, but adds cumin and “Cajun spices” for a taste inspired by the seasoned ground meat you’d find in a taco. Salsa is then mixed in with the sauce, and shredded lettuce and cracked tortilla chips are sprinkled on.

Placed in front of us, the Tacospa had immediately impactful visual vibes. It reminded us a little of the Okinawan fusion dish taco rice, which is essentially the fillings of a taco on top of white rice. Unlike taco rice, though, Spaghetti no Pancho’s Tacospa has those tortilla chips, and the contrasting colors of the lettuce and vivid sauce help the ingredients really stand out from one another and make you doubly aware of just how unique this dish is.

Taste-testing duties fell to our Japanese-language reporter P.K. Sanjun, one of the more passionate taco enthusiasts in the SoraNews24 office. As captivated as he was by the Tacospa concept, though, his initial impression after taking his first bite was that it tasted like pretty ordinary meat sauce spaghetti, but with a little extra spiciness. That’s not a complaint, as Spaghetti no Pancho’s basic meat sauce is really tasty, but still, if he’d been doing this taste test blindfolded, aside from the texture there wasn’t anything that screamed “Tacos!” to him right away, and instead the Tacospa seemed to be only faintly whispering “…tacos…” to him.

But something unexpected happened as P.K. continued eating. Maybe because of its thinner consistency compared to the meat sauce, it takes a while for the salsa to really start to cling to the noodles. With every twist of his fork and mixing of the pasta, though, the salsa sensation got stronger and stronger. The result is a very enjoyable, momentum-building eating experience that gets increasingly rewarding the more you eat, with your taste buds spurring you on once they realize that each mouthful is going to taste even better than the last.

Spaghetti no Pancho, it just so happens, always has bottles of Tabasco sauce on its tables, since it’s a popular condiment for Napolitan spaghetti. To P.K.’s great joy, Tabasco is also an outstanding accompaniment to the Taco Spaghetti, and pouring some on took it to an even higher level of stimulating spicy deliciousness.

The Tacospa is priced at 1,090 yen (US$6.80) for a small-size order or 1,290 for a large, and is scheduled to be available until the end of July.

Related: Spaghetti no Pancho location list
Top image: PR Times
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While waiting for the train, there’s always one spot he hopes will be empty when it comes.

Today, we’re featuring the writing of a special guest columnist, Ryoku. Ryoku works as a producer in the TV industry, and his hobbies include singing karaoke and traveling the country in a search for Japan’s tastiest gyoza.

Ryoku also happens to have glaucoma, and has been almost completely blind since about four years ago. In this article, he’d like to talk about his experiences riding the train as someone with impaired vision.

“You can’t see, but you still work in the television industry?”

Sometimes even I ask myself that, but it’s thanks to the support of people around me that I’m able to continue in this line of work. On the other hand, even though I receive help from so many people, I’d like to talk about some of the things I can do on my own and what I’ve noticed while doing them. One of those things, which I want to talk about today, is the best spot for me to be at inside a train.

I use a white cane when taking the train, and each time I do I end up thinking the same thing: It’s a huge help for me if there are empty spaces inside the train right next to the door. Those are the best places for me to ride in. You could even say that after I became unable to see, standing next to the door was one of the first places I found where I could feel secure.

I usually get on the train a little past 9 a.m. Even if there are some days when it’s still crowded, at that time usually it’s not all that packed. I’d say there’s about a 50-percent chance of having an empty spot next to the door where I can stand, so when I’m waiting on the platform for the train to arrive, I’m usually thinking about whether I’m going to be lucky that day.

When the train stops and the doors open, I don’t get on right away. First, I focus all my attention on what I’m hearing. Can I hear footsteps of people getting off? Can I hear voices of people talking inside the train? Can I hear air currents rustling? Usually, though, everyone is pretty quiet.

In movies and manga, there are a lot of stories where someone loses their eyesight and then their other senses become sharpened. Unfortunately, in real life it’s not that simple. I didn’t realize this until after developing vision problems, but you always have to be paying attention. Is my footing safe? Am I going to bump into someone? What was that sound I just heard? And, of course, where exactly am I right now? There’s hardly ever a moment when I can relax and stop asking myself these kinds of questions.

This is all before even getting on the train, At this point, I’m already using about 60 percent of my mental capacity. Once the train does come and it’s time to get onboard, that gets kicked up to 100 percent. When the doors open, I gather my resolve and stretch out my left hand…and if I feel someone else’s hand inside the train, I think “Ah, no luck again today.” If someone is standing inside the train to the left of the door, it’s a pretty sure bet that someone will be standing on the right side too. As everyone knows, the spots right next to the door are popular spaces for commuters. So I end up standing right in front of the door, and that means that at every stop along the way to where I’m going, I have to get off the train, then get on again, so that other people can get on and off too.

I could solve this by going further into the train, but honestly that’s really frightening for me. The more I move, the more chance there is that I’ll bump into someone, but what I’m even more worried about is making other people do more to accommodate me. There have been many times when someone has helped me find a hand strap or given up their seat so that I can sit in it. I really appreciate their kindness, but having to be in a state of continual reliance on them is tiring. If I move farther into the train’s interior, I have to start saying “Excuse me” and “Thank you.” I bump into people. I apologize. I bump into someone else. Then this terrifying game repeats when the train gets to my destination and I have to get off. To other people, it probably looks like a peaceful scene, but actually, I’m moving around the train constantly appreciating, apologizing, and feeling frightened. I’m in a state of serious panic.

On occasion, a thoughtful person standing by the door will say “You can stand here” and give me the spot. At those times I tell them “Thank you” from the bottom of my heart, and accept their offer. Standing next to the door makes it easier to understand where I’m at inside the train, and I can feel my mental HP quickly refilling. When other people need to get on or off the train, I can just stand up straight so I won’t block their way. I don’t have to concentrate on anything else until I need to get off. It’s one of the few places where I can feel relaxed and secure.

Recently, I’ve also started putting this card on my bag.

▼ 運動不足なので立っています = “I am standing because I don’t get enough exercise,” and the red tag is Japan’s Help Mark badge, indicating that the bearer may be in need of assistance.

This is my personal reason for standing. The card has turned out to be more effective than I’d expected, though. Seeing the card, people seem to think “Oh, this person doesn’t want to sit,” and that’s made standing by the door even more comfortable for me.

There’s a downside too, though. A few times a month, I go back to visit my parents’ house, and the train ride to get there takes about an hour and a half. Obviously, somewhere in the middle of the ride I start wanting to sit down, but no matter how many empty seats there are on the train, none of the other passengers tell me that there are places to sit. Well, that’s to be expected though, isn’t it? After all, I’m the one who, all on his own, let them know that “I am standing because I don’t get enough exercise.” Plus, having put the card on my bag, it somehow becomes a point of pride, so I can’t say “You know what, I actually do want to sit down.” Sometimes, people end up struggling in the situations they set up for themselves…

In talking about all this, I’m not asking for anyone to change the rules about riding trains. It’s just that, if the space next to the door is empty and I can stand there, it makes it a little easier to get around that day, so the next time I’m waiting on the platform and the train comes, I’ll be listening as the doors open, and stretching out my hand to see if that space is available.

Top image: Pakutaso
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Lacework designers turn their talent to Totoro for adorably fashionable socks and clutch bag.

As any Studio Ghibli fan can tell you, Totoro’s natural habitat is a lush forest. That doesn’t mean he’s confined to the woodlands, though. Between his flying top and apparent free pass to ride the Catbus, he’s actually a pretty mobile guy, and now he’s got a new way of getting around with these adorable Totoro socks.

Newly added to the lineup at the Ghibli Museum store, these stylish socks are a collaboration with Mina Perhonen, a Japanese fashion brand from Kanagawa Prefecture with a love for lace. For this project, Mina Perhonen created a new pattern for its Forest Parade line, called Totoro Forest Parade, that combines the brand’s customary nature and wildlife motifs with appearances by Totoro.

An especially clever point is that the lacework isn’t fixed in place. Instead, it attaches to the sock near the hem, but with enough slack that Totoro will playfully dance with every step or dangle as you stretch out your legs.

The lace straps can also be removed, in case you want to sport the accouterment on just one foot for a more asymmetrical look. You could even mix and match colors if you pick up more than one pair.

▼ The socks come in gray, blue, and white, a nod to the colors of the big, medium, and small Totoros.

Mina Perhonen’s Ghibli-inspired lacework is also part of the Totoro Forest Parade Cuddle Purse.

This blue velvet clutch bag features a lace bird for Totoro to make friends with, and acorn-shaped tabs to close or open the main clasp.

The lacework here even features a second subtle Totoro, holding a lotus leaf…

…and the interior has multiple compartments to help keep everything neatly organized.

▼ Design sketches from the lacework’s planning stages

The Totoro Forest Parade Socks are priced at 4,400 yen (US$27.50) per pair, while the bag is 48,400 yen. You don’t necessarily have to go all the way to the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo’s Mitaka district to get your hands on them, as they’re also being offered through the Ghibli Museum Online Shop here and here.

Source: Ghibli Museum
Top image: Ghibli Museum
Insert images: Ghibli Museum (1, 2, 3, 4)
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We find out if these limited-edition treats really taste like the fruits that inspired them.


Krispy Kreme Japan is going fruity this summer, with not one, not two but three delicious creations designed to satisfy our sweet cravings. On the menu from 24 June, we were able to pop by for a taste of all three, to find out if they really taste as good as they look.

▼ The three new doughnuts take their inspiration from watermelon, peach and pineapple.

Each doughnut has a brilliant, glossy fruit glaze that makes them look so fresh and juicy you’ll want to bite right into them. The one that looks most similar to a fresh fruit is the Juicy Watermelon, which is priced at 356 yen (US$2.45) for takeout and 363 yen for eat-in.

The glossy red finish is made with a fruit glaze containing watermelon juice, raising our expectations for the flavour to be as good its looks. The playful touches are especially cute, with chocolate chips used for the “seeds” and a green coating recreating the rind.

When we took a bite, we were immediately surprised by the aroma, which was just like a real watermelon. The authenticity transferred to the taste buds in flavour soon afterwards, and it was so spot-on that every bite could’ve fooled us into thinking we were biting into a slice of the fruit. The delicious dough provided depth to the watermelon, allowing the flavour to linger longer before leaving with a clean finish.

▼ Next up, the Juicy Peach (356 yen takeout; 363 yen eat-in).

Like the watermelon, this too is finished with a fruit glaze containing peach juice. The decorative green leaf helps to enhance the peach-inspired look, and biting into it revealed a sweet-and-tangy flavour reminiscent of a fruity sweet.

▼ Finally, we have the Pineapple Cream (378 yen for takeout; 385 yen for eat-in)

This playful-looking doughnut looks like a pineapple emoji that’s leapt straight off the screen and into real life. As the name suggests, this one is filled with plenty of cream, and the flavour is undeniably tropical, so for us, it was the most summery of the three. It’s also the one with a significantly shorter sales period, as it’ll only be on the menu until 14 July, while the watermelon and peach will be available until 20 August.

Whichever one you try, Krispy Kreme recommends chilling them in the fridge before eating. We actually did that with another batch when we got home, and we were surprised to find that they did seem even more deliciously fruit-like, as the fruit glaze firms up slightly, intensifying the flavours. It’s a very sweet way to enjoy the refreshing taste of fruit this summer, and next time we pop by to try them, we might not be able to resist picking up a peach drink from Starbucks to amp up the fruity refreshment.

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Cost of sushi? 132 yen. Cost of being a moron? 500,000.

In addition to being tasty, casual, and convenient, low prices are a big part of the appeal of Japan’s conveyor belt sushi restaurants. At the most popular major chains, for example, you can usually get a two-piece plate of mainstays like tuna or salmon for 200 yen (US$1.25) or less.

A 43-year-old man’s meal at a branch of conveyor belt sushi chain Hama Sushi in Saitama Prefecture, though, is going to end up costing him a lot more than that, but he really has no one to blame but himself.

As we discussed earlier this month, the man went into a Hama Sushi branch in the town of Tsurugashima on May 27, then filmed himself taking a plate of tuna sushi from the conveyor belt, pulling a dish soap container out of his bag, and squirting liquid from the bottle onto the fish. He then posted the video online, later telling investigators that he did it because he wanted “to get a lot of views on social media.”

Unfortunately for him, after seeing the video neither Hama Sushi nor the police smashed that like button, and he was arrested on charges of forced obstruction of business, and Saitama’s Kawagoe Summary Court has now handed down its verdict, ordering the man to pay a fine of 500,000 yen (US$3,125).

Though equivalent to the cost of 3,788.88 plates of Hama Sushi’s tuna sushi, 500,000 yen isn’t exactly a your-life-is-ruined sum, and many online commenters have expressed anger that the penalty wasn’t more severe. One factor in the decision may have been that the man squirted the liquid (which he later claimed was water that he’d put inside a dish soap bottle) onto a plate of sushi that he seemed to have ordered for himself, since it automatically came to a stop on the conveyor next to his table and he took the plate off the belt before applying the liquid. Though the video cut off before showing what happened to the sushi, it’s unlikely that any other customer would have consumed the foreign substance, which may have gotten him some clemency. Nevertheless, after becoming aware of the video Hama Sushi, as a precaution, had to disinfect the possibly affected area within the restaurant, and employees also had to spend extra time responding to customer complaints and inquiries about the incident, leading to the ruling that the man was guilty of the forced obstruction of business charge.

Even within a culture that’s passionate about food, Japan is particularly fond of conveyor belt sushi restaurants, with a wide swath of the population regularly eating at them. At the same time, both restaurant customers and operators know that the system is highly dependent on trust and considerate, hygienic conduct, and so while the fine could have been bigger, hopefully the swiftness with which the punishment was handed out will discourage others from similar disgusting acts.

Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, Jin, Saitama Shimbun
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A two-ingredient food hack promising a delicious upgrade.

From time to time, Japan sees interesting and unusual food hacks popping up on the internet, preparing food in new ways for unexpected delights, or combining several to create unique flavors. Here at SoraNews24, we are keen to put our tastebuds and stomachs to the test in the neverending quest for culinary bliss, so when we spotted the latest idea and the positive reviews, we knew we had to give it a go for ourselves.

The idea itself comes from a tweet found on the official Twitter account of Japanese food company Ajinomoto, which is well known in Japan for its range of seasonings, and calls for just two ingredients: Knorr Instant Cream of Corn Soup (made by Ajinomoto) and Frito Lay’s Mike Popcorn Butter and Soy Sauce Flavor, and all you have to do is to mix the two together.

With both in hand, it was time to get tasting. Having never tried this popcorn before, I wanted to get a clear understanding of the base flavor before adding anything extra in the mix.

As far as popcorn goes, I’m more of a caramel fan, and very much against salted popcorn, so I was a bit hesitant as my hand reached into the packet. However, popping a piece into my mouth revealed a gentle savory taste rather than the salt that I was expecting, neither the butter nor the soy sauce being so prominent that it overpowered the natural taste of the popcorn. I felt I could quite contentedly eat the entire bag as it stood.

Now came the time for the extra seasoning of the instant cream of corn soup. I set aside some of the popcorn…

… and sprinkled over the powder …

… eventually fully coating the popcorn in a bright yellow dust.

The powdered soup offered a deeper taste that added an extra hint of sweetness from the corn. If I had to liken it to something, perhaps it would be the corn potage flavor of Umaibo, a cheap Japanese corn snack that is beloved by children, just not as light and airy.

Deciding to go back to the original flavor to compare it against, I found that it now tasted quite plain. Although not bad by any means, it felt as if the flavor profile was missing a vital element that would lead it to deliciousness. While it wasn’t a shocking overhaul in taste, adding the instant cream of corn soup evolved the popcorn into a more delectable treat.

As I continued throwing popcorn into my mouth, I couldn’t help but find myself staring at the packaging and letting my thoughts wander. What if I made the soup and added the popcorn into it, almost like they were croutons? Would I uncover an entirely new level of enjoyment?

I poured the remnants of the powder into a cup and added a little hot water to test my new theory. First a sip of the soup as is…

The actual soup was definitely a lot sweeter than it had been in powdered form, so I got really excited for the following stage and dropped several pieces of popcorn into my cup.

It turns out that the popcorn swiftly loses its texture, becoming soft and limp, but the hard hull of the popcorn remains, resulting in a less than pleasant eating experience, and there was no real benefit to the taste.

While I think adding powdered corn soup to popcorn is definitely an improvement over the original flavor, I would only consider it if I happened to have some instant soup in the house, rather than going out to buy both together. Many people online have tried out this experiment and have agreed that it’s delicious, but there are also voices out there saying that this works with other soups too, making this a relatively cheap way to try out a variety of popcorn flavors, either for a movie night or a party.

Related: Twitter/@AJINOMOTOPARK via Hachimakiko
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Timepiece is a stylish salute to 30 years of Pokémon history.

The name of Casio’s G-Shock line of watches is short for “Gravitational Shock,” a nod to its design priority of impact and vibration resistance. Linguistically, though, “shock” can also refer to electrical charges, so why not a tie-up with Japan’s favorite source of electrical energy, Pikachu?

Yes, G-Shock’s latest creative partner is none other than the Pokémon franchise, and while Casio’s newest creation might bear the official designation GA-110PKM-7AJR, it’s a lot easier to just call it the Pokémon G-Shock.

The color scheme makes use of plenty of red, green, and blue accents, not just because they pop nicely against the white casing and strap, but because Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue were the first three titles released in the video game branch of the Pokémon media family, and the G-Shock watch is part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the series’ start.

Zooming in to see other design details, the secondary dial reveals itself to have a Poké Ball motif, with a pointing Pikachu tail functioning as its hand.

Arguably the most captivating part, though, is the band, which features the likenesses of more than 30 different Pocket Monster species, including the starter Pokémon trios for every generation in the series thus far.

▼ And Eevee and Mew are here too!

Flip the watch over, and there’s a Pokémon 30th anniversary engraving on the caseback.

Naturally, a watch that’s this committed to its theme requires similarly inspired packaging, and in addition to shipping inside a box covered with Pokémon illustrations, the included case is shaped like a Poké Ball.

The Pokémon G-Shock is priced at 33,000 yen (US$205), but with high demand expected it’s being offered through a purchase lottery system. Applications can be made through the Casio online store here between July 1 and 6, with eligibility to be announced by the night of July 16.

Source: Casio (1, 2, 3)
Top image: Casio
Insert images: Casio (1, 2)
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