Food

YOSHIKI Sparks Yoichi Wine Craze

HOKKAIDO, Oct 04 (News On Japan) - YOSHIKI, the world-renowned musician, has helped put the spotlight on Yoichi in Hokkaido, where the town once best known for whisky is now making headlines for wine. Each year, its wine festival draws visitors from across Japan and overseas, with demand so strong that tickets face competition as steep as 13-to-1.

At the center of this transformation is Mayor Saito’s “wine-focused” strategy, which shifted production toward premium grape varieties and used top-level sales efforts to win global recognition. YOSHIKI’s involvement in producing Yoichi wine has added star appeal, amplifying the town’s reach on the international stage.

The success has extended beyond bottles and festivals. Yoichi has attracted donations through the hometown tax scheme and drawn new investment, with proceeds funding community programs such as childcare support and tourism development. The result is a cycle of growth that is reshaping Yoichi’s identity and reputation far beyond its origins as a whisky town.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS

Takaichi Wins Leadership Race, Declares All Must Work Like Horses

Sanae Takaichi, elected as the Liberal Democratic Party’s new president on October 4th, declared on stage, “I ask everybody to work like a horse,” after defeating agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi in a runoff to become the party’s first female leader.

Honey Trap Crimes Becoming More Malicious

A string of so-called “honey trap” cases is drawing attention across Japan as schemes once limited to extortion have become increasingly violent, involving physical assaults and life-threatening intimidation.

Woman Killed with Dozens of Stab Wounds in Higashi-Osaka

Police have revealed that a woman killed by her former partner in Higashi-Osaka had sustained dozens of stab wounds across her body, including injuries that pierced internal organs.

Mega Solar Farm Sparks Backlash Over Deforestation

Vast hillsides have been cleared for the construction of a large-scale solar power facility in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, leaving piles of felled trees scattered across the slopes. The development covers approximately 146 hectares, or the size of 32 Tokyo Domes, and involves cutting down about 365,000 trees to make way for 470,000 solar panels.

Sora2 AI Raises Copyright Fears

OpenAI has unveiled its latest video generation AI, Sora2, which can produce realistic footage in about three minutes, including Japanese anime-style clips and composite videos featuring real individuals.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Food NEWS

YOSHIKI Sparks Yoichi Wine Craze

YOSHIKI, the world-renowned musician, has helped put the spotlight on Yoichi in Hokkaido, where the town once best known for whisky is now making headlines for wine. Each year, its wine festival draws visitors from across Japan and overseas, with demand so strong that tickets face competition as steep as 13-to-1.

Discover Koenji: Tokyo’s Best Kept Secret for Food and Fun

Looking for hidden gems in Tokyo? Join us as we spend an entire day exploring Koenji (高円寺) — one of Tokyo’s coolest neighborhoods loved by locals. From parks and shrines to amazing food, coffee, shopping streets, and even a traditional bathhouse, Koenji is full of surprises. (TabiEats)

Changing Ocean Currents Shift Japan’s Tuna Harvest

The usually abundant seasonal katsuo (bonito) is showing sharp regional contrasts this year, with Chiba Prefecture’s Katsuura port bustling while Kesennuma in Miyagi, Japan’s top landing site for 28 consecutive years, is seeing poor catches and soaring prices.

Wagyu Sukiyaki - High-end Food in Tokyo

A visit to Hiyama to have Wagyu Sukiyaki prepared (Aden Films)

All-You-Can-Eat Famichiki 30 Minutes for 1,000 Yen

FamilyMart held an all-you-can-eat fried chicken event at select stores nationwide on September 26th, offering fans 30 minutes of unlimited Famichiki for 1,000 yen as part of a strategy to raise brand visibility in Hokkaido, where its market share remains low.