Rephonic
Artwork for Japan Eats!
Japanese Cuisine
Sushi
Sake
French Cuisine
Sustainability
Japan
Japanese Wine
Culinary Education
Fermentation
Tokyo
Koji
Omakase
Ramen
Omotenashi
Kyoto
Wagyu
Japanese Cocktail Culture
Brooklyn
Shojin Ryori
Shochu

What is Japanese food? Sushi, or ramen, or kaiseki? What about Izakaya? Akiko Katayama, a Japanese native, New York-based food writer and director of the New York Japanese Culinary Academy, tells you all about real Japanese food and food culture. With guests ranging from sake producers with generations of experience to American chefs pushing the envelope of Japanese gastronomy, Japanese cuisine is... more

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Artwork for Japan Eats!

Latest Episodes

Our guest is Nick Rowan, author of Japanese Wine, a fantastic, comprehensive book on Japanese wine. The Japanese wine industry and culture have been developing very rapidly since the 1990s, and Nick’s book, which came out in 2025, is so timely.

The ... more

Our guest is Silvia Mella who is the owner of Sorate in New York. Sorate is a unique Japanese green tea company, which sells premium Japanese tea through online and operates beautiful tea houses in Manhattan.

Japanese tea has been gaining attenti... more

Our guest is Reverend Dr. Masaki Matsubara, who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition. His career is unique and impressive. Following his Zen monastic training in Heirinji Monastery in Japan, he moved to the US in 19... more

Our guest is Hideatsu Shibanuma who is the 18th-generation president of Shibanuma Soy Sauce, which was founded in 1688. Shibanuma Soy Sauce has specialized in producing barrel-aged soy sauce in Ibaraki Prefecture for about 370 years. Its products we... more

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Recent Guests

Nick Rowan
Author of Japanese Wine, expert on Japanese wine industry and culture
Author, Japanese Wine
Episode: Why Is Japanese Wine So Hot Right Now?
Silvia Mella
Owner of Sorate; Japanese tea company founder
Sorate
Episode: Making Waves in the Latte-Driven Matcha Boom: An Italian Woman Introduces Authentic Japanese Tea Culture
Masaki Matsubara
An 18th generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition.
Butsumoji Zen Temple, Chiba, Japan
Episode: Food Is The Foundation Of Our Mindfulness: Zen Monk Masaki Matsubara
Hideatsu Shibanuma
The 18th-generation president of Shibanuma Soy Sauce, a traditional soy sauce maker in Japan.
Shibanuma Soy Sauce
Episode: Crafting Shogun-Selected Barrel Aged Soy Sauce For Over 330 Years
George Padilla
Key figure in multiple Japanese restaurants and businesses in New York.
Rule of Thirds, Bin Bin Sake, Teruko at the Hotel Chelsea
Episode: Discovering Real Japan: The Oldest Izakaya, Fermentation Lab And Singing With Japanese Bluegrass Musicians
Gavin Whitelaw
Executive Director of Edwin Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies at Harvard University
Harvard University
Episode: Konbini Culture: Unwrapping Japan’s Unique Convenience Stores
Tadashi Ono
Executive chef at Teruko at The Hotel Chelsea, with experience in both Japanese and French cuisines.
Teruko
Episode: Chef Tadashi Ono: Serving The Essence of Japanese Cuisine For Three Decades
Cheng Lin
Chef-owner of Shota Omakase, a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant
Shota Omakase
Episode: What Makes a Michelin Star Sushi Restaurant?
Andrew Tsui
Founder and president of Ike Jime Federation, a unique traditional Japanese technique to treat fish
Ike Jime Federation
Episode: A Humane Catch: How Ikejime Benefits Fish, Flavor And The Planet

Host

Akiko Katayama
Host of Japan Eats; coverage spans Japanese food, culture, and industry, with a focus on authentic preparation, sourcing, and cross-cultural exchange.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 151 ratings
  • Vegan?

    Are zen monks vegan?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veganman1961
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • JAPAN FOOD & FAMLY

    Thank you for sharing your Japanese culture through a cozy warm window stories of family, food, philosophy ! Please tell me more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    And 360
    United Statesa year ago
  • So wonderful to learn about all the Japanese foods I love and more!

    From the moment I started listening, I found myself learning about Japanese foods and places I love - like the original Ramen Burger from Smorgasburg, Tsukemen, Shalom Japan - and so much more. This is both so relevant and informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OliviaLevine
    United States3 years ago
  • Fascinating guests & topics

    Akiko covers a wide range of topics and guests combining insights into Japanese food, drinks and culture. I live in Tokyo but learned a lot. From a recommendation I also found a favorite Tokyo sushi restaurant as a bonus

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kiminoi
    Japan4 years ago
  • Lots of Learning!!!

    Even you are Japanese, why don’t you listen this program for your understanding to foods and ingredients correctly?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    satoru.tsuda87
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host brings thoughtful questions and enables guests to relax and share deep stories.
Listeners praise the breadth of guests and the host's preparation and ability to draw out insights.
Fans appreciate the accessible yet in-depth look at Japanese food and culture.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Food Is The Foundation Of Our Mindfulness: Zen Monk Masaki Matsubara
Q: How do you practice the teaching of Tenzo Kyokun in your daily life now, personally?
I focus on being mindful in cooking and aim to avoid waste, using what I have creatively.
Food Is The Foundation Of Our Mindfulness: Zen Monk Masaki Matsubara
Q: Could you tell us briefly about what Zen is, and how you can achieve mindfulness through Zen?
Zen is a way of life and seeing the world; it involves finding one's true self through meditation.
Crafting Shogun-Selected Barrel Aged Soy Sauce For Over 330 Years
Q: What was the most interesting request you received from your clients?
A Michelin star chef asked to develop an original soy sauce brand for his restaurant by mixing many types of soy sauces.
Crafting Shogun-Selected Barrel Aged Soy Sauce For Over 330 Years
Q: How hard is it to educate your potential clients about the special qualities of your soy sauce?
It's relatively easy because Japanese cuisine is popular globally, and we tailor our approach to local preferences.
Crafting Shogun-Selected Barrel Aged Soy Sauce For Over 330 Years
Q: How did you get into the overseas market?
An Australian import company contacted us, leading to our first export experience, which we expanded from Australia to other regions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Japan Eats!

What is Japan Eats! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A globally minded show about Japanese food, culture, and culinary innovations, featuring conversations with chefs, producers, scholars, and industry builders. Episodes span traditional crafts like soy sauce fermentation and ike jime, to modern movements in sake education, izakaya culture, and Japanese spirits, with a steady thread of hospitality, sourcing, and global tastemaking. Notable strengths include deeply informed guests, strong host preparation, and a focus on how Japanese food and culture travel and transform abroad, making it a practical listen for professionals seeking authentic context, trends, and potential partnership angles in food and beverage, hospitality, and cultural education.

Where can I find podcast stats for Japan Eats!?

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How many listeners does Japan Eats! get?

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What are the audience demographics for Japan Eats!?

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How many subscribers and views does Japan Eats! have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Japan Eats! has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Japan Eats! are there?

Japan Eats! launched 11 years ago and published 392 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Japan Eats!?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Japan Eats!?

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What guests have appeared on Japan Eats!?

Recent guests on Japan Eats! include:

1. Nick Rowan
2. Silvia Mella
3. Masaki Matsubara
4. Hideatsu Shibanuma
5. George Padilla
6. Gavin Whitelaw
7. Tadashi Ono
8. Cheng Lin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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