#Mitsuwa Marketplace

[tamapalace]

Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater New Jersey Carries Tamagotchi Plus Gashapon Charms!

Another place to purchase Tamagotchi Plus Gashapon charms! Not only can you get them at the American Dream Mall, but you can also get them at Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater, New Jersey. Mitsuwa is a supermarket chain offering Japanese groceries, cosmetics, appliances, and more.

Tolovelfromvine paid a visit to Mitsuwa Marketplace to check it out! They were able to find the Gashapon machines carrying the Tamagotchi Plus charms (machines 004, and 073) which are available for 2 tokens. Tokens can be purchased for $2.00 USD each.

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A post shared by Julie ♡ (@tolovelfromvine)

[coldkotatsu]

heaven ☄. *. ⋆

[bobcatmoran]

Highlights from Eclipse Trip, final day:

$99.99 fancypants melon imported from Japan, for sale at Mitsuwa Marketplace

Spending about 1 1/3 melon's worth at Mitsuwa, justifying it to myself because everything I bought is either unavailable back home or would cost at least $2-3 more and is shelf-stable, which adds up.

Roadside sign consisting of a 15-ish foot tall picture of a standing Jesus, saying JESUS IS ALIVE, with what appeared to be lasers coming out of Jesus' heart. (also, uh, isn't Jesus coming back, alive, here and now, supposed to be some sort of apocalypse thing? Not Christian, but I have gathered that to be the case)

A duo of billboards - the first having a cartoon drawing of what I assume is the local Ford Dealer's (bald) owner saying something like, "I can't grow hair but I can get you the best price on a Ford!" with the billboard immediately behind it advertising a hair regrowth product.

Wisconsin rest stop vending machine selling 3 different types of cheese curds

The unfortunate discovery that there's a reason why I've never seen canned hojicha before.

HOME!

[sakuramiku]

🍒 went to mitsuwa marketplace & got this takoyaki bread that i felt very . . indifferent about. i didn’t like it intensely but after i finished it, i thought it wasn’t half bad. i went ham at the gacha machines & bought the other sukuna volume cover for my sukuna shrine

[chicagocubsreactions]

How Shota Imanaga wound up all over Chicago before the Cubs landed the free agent

[original article]

Shota Imanaga listened to the roar of the crowd during the national anthem, taking in the scene before one of Connor Bedard’s first home games with the Chicago Blackhawks. Imanaga later returned to the United Center to buy a Michael Jordan jersey and take a picture next to the iconic statue.

This was early November, a few weeks before Imanaga entered the posting system created by Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. Imanaga, a fixture with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the winning pitcher in Japan’s victory over Team USA in last year’s World Baseball Classic championship game, wanted a new challenge.

With a 45-day negotiating window beginning to close, Imanaga returned to Illinois at Christmastime to make himself available for meetings and reassess his options as a free agent. Octagon, the agency that represents him, has an office on Michigan Avenue and a network throughout the Chicago area. The central location made sense for possible travel ahead of Thursday’s deadline to sign a contract with a major-league club.

Imanaga and his associates posted up at a suburban hotel, getting comfort food at Mitsuwa Marketplace, a Japanese grocery store in Arlington Heights. Imanaga worked out at Bo Jackson’s indoor facility near O’Hare International Airport. Imanaga’s group now has a collection of tourist photos around Chicago that could best be described as “Where’s Shota?”

Imanaga felt so comfortable that he wanted to stay. He just wasn’t sure that the interest was mutual.

“Each team is different and it’s a long process,” Imanaga told The Athletic on Thursday through an interpreter. “One time I mentioned, ‘I hope the Cubs offer me.’ I was kind of joking just because at that time the Cubs were out of the picture.”

Cubs executives Jed Hoyer and Carter Hawkins are patient, logical and calculating. All throughout December and into the middle of January, the Cubs did not sign a free agent to a major-league contract or make a trade to improve an 83-win roster that subtracted Cody Bellinger and Marcus Stroman. Hoyer personally scouted Imanaga during a trip to Japan in September and remained in contact with his representatives, though the Cubs did not jump out as a frontrunner until the late stages of the negotiations.

The rest of the offseason will be shaped by that ability to pounce. The Cubs have the financial resources and the prospects to make a deal at any moment. That reality became harder to grasp during the two months of inactivity between Hoyer hiring Craig Counsell as the sport’s highest-paid manager and Imanaga signing a four-year, $53 million contract with options to take the deal to five years and $80 million. But the Cubs are very good at recruiting when they concentrate on certain free agents, making personalized pitches that previously resonated with Japanese players such as Yu Darvish and Seiya Suzuki.

The Cubs demonstrated some more creativity in Thursday’s trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up two prospects who are talented but far way (Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope) for a reliever who will immediately slot into Counsell’s bullpen (Yency Almonte) and a left-handed hitter who crushed Triple-A pitching (Michael Busch) but was blocked by all the stars at Dodger Stadium.

Suddenly, the talk at this weekend’s Cubs Convention will shift toward the action and away from the moves that aren’t being made. Imanaga will be introduced Friday afternoon at the Loews Chicago Hotel. When Imanaga went to a Schaumburg shopping center on Wednesday — to buy a new tie in the right shade of Cubbie blue for the press conference — the clerk recognized him and double-checked by looking at the name on the credit card. The anonymity is already fading.

“The Cubs stepped in,” Imanaga said. “Their intensity level made me feel like they really wanted me.”

[kvibe-test]

<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-storage/AJQWtBNw5kzyYk8i_oQm-P-0Ipp1KAVikGK3YqsuckkdEZj9CJnET8ERzYLd9M5dyUITeI9WIKA37QE2sPffLraWI5z6Z0__UZLlCCr_kipE1CI94g=s700"> Savor NYC's Japanese Cuisine: History, Hotspots, and Hidden Gems

New York City is a cultural melting pot, and its culinary scene is a testament to that diversity. Among the many cuisines present, Japanese food has carved out a significant niche in the city. This journey through various NYC neighborhoods famous for Japanese cuisine will explore historical context, depict the current food landscape, and offer must-visit recommendations based on insights from food critics and influencers.

History of Japanese Cuisine in NYC

Japanese immigrants have been integral to New York's cultural fabric since the late 1800s. Some of the city's oldest Japanese restaurants, like Tanaka Tora-Ya (est. 1902) and Hakubai (est. 1994), offer a window into the history of Japanese cuisine in NYC. These establishments have endured over time, maintaining traditional recipes while evolving to suit modern palates. Dining at these venues feels like stepping back in time, where one can enjoy historically significant culinary techniques.

The lasting popularity of these restaurants underscores how the city's Japanese food culture has grown while keeping its roots intact. From sushi to ramen, these establishments introduced New Yorkers to authentic Japanese flavors long before Japanese cuisine became mainstream.

Manhattan’s Japanese Dining Districts

Manhattan is home to several Japanese dining hubs, with East Village standing out in particular. Here, one can find numerous authentic Japanese eateries such as Soba Totto and Ippudo Westside. The East Village is famous for its mix of casual dining spots and upscale restaurants, offering food enthusiasts a broad spectrum of Japanese dishes, from classic soba noodles to creative ramen dishes.

Another prominent area is Midtown, where upscale establishments like Sushi Yasuda and Ootoya deliver a high-end dining experience. These spots attract both locals and tourists who are in search of top-quality sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese specialties. Manhattan's love for gastronomy ensures these dining districts are essential components of the city's culinary scene.

Japanese Cuisine Beyond Manhattan

Japanese cuisine also flourishes beyond Manhattan, especially in other Asian food districts such as Koreatown and Sunset Park in Brooklyn. These neighborhoods add their unique twists to Japanese food.

In Koreatown, Takumenyc and Sushi Katsuei are standout venues, known for their excellent sushi and innovative dishes that blend Japanese and Korean flavors. Similarly, Sunset Park offers a diverse array of Asian cuisine, with Japanese influences evident in beloved local spots.

Exploring Japanese Markets

Exploring Japanese markets like Mitsuwa Marketplace and Sunrise Mart offers profound insights into Japanese culinary traditions. These markets provide unique ingredients essential for making authentic dishes at home, ranging from fresh seafood to specialty condiments and snacks.

Apart from shopping, these markets often feature in-house eateries where you can enjoy a quick, authentic Japanese meal. The lively atmosphere and diverse products make these markets a haven for food enthusiasts and home cooks alike.

Participating in NYC Food Tours

For a more guided experience, taking part in a Japanese food tour in New York City can be incredibly rewarding. These tours typically guide participants through various neighborhoods, giving them the opportunity to sample different Japanese dishes, learn about the history and cultural significance of the cuisine, and meet the chefs behind these culinary masterpieces.

Food tours offer a fantastic platform for both locals and tourists to uncover hidden gems and gain a deeper appreciation for the versatile landscape of Japanese cuisine in NYC.

NYC's Japanese food scene is a tribute to the city's multicultural fabric and love for culinary adventure. Whether you're dining at a historic restaurant, exploring vibrant food districts, or shopping at Japanese markets, there's always something new and delightful to discover.

#JapaneseFood #NYCFoodie #NYCJapaneseCuisine #CulinaryTour #FoodExploration

Embark on a culinary tour of NYC's Japanese food districts. Plan your visit with https://www.bloggery.ai

[squeemcsquee]

Anime Central 2023, Day Zero (Thurs)

Right. I need to get this done before too much time passes. The con was last month, but most of my memories are fresh, I’d like to think.

          For us, Day Zero began with a trip to Mitsuwa Marketplace for lunch and a bit of shopping before we headed to the hotel. It was our first time visiting, but it’s easy to see why so many ACen attendees make it part of their con tradition. With all of the different food stalls, game area, market, and bookstore it’s easy to spend at least 2-3 hours there. Oh, and of course, there’s plenty of Pokemon Go stops in the area as well.

We started off our visit with lunch and satisfied our growling bellies with some curry.   From there, we tried our luck with the claw machines, and got a couple small prizes. Then to the bookstore for some manga for me and actual literature for @lechevaliermalfet​. Naturally, I had to snap a picture of the Gundam they had on display. A quick run through the market section for Sapporo, as I’ve never tried it, and some mochi, and our visit was complete.

From Mitsuwa, we went to our hotel. This year, we were at the Embassy Suites. It’s extremely popular as an ACen hotel for several reasons: complimentary breakfast, the complimentary alcohol during the evening reception, pool, minifridge and microwave in the room, and perhaps most importantly: it’s right across the street from the Donald E Stephens Center.  The parking garage for the Embassy is also connected to the skywalk that is attached to the convention center.

We had one hiccup right on arrival: Despite doing Virtual Check-in via the app nearly two hours before, our Digital Key still wasn’t ready. We ended up getting physical keys from the front desk and used them exclusively for the weekend instead. The Digital Key didn’t even activate until we’d been on hotel property for at least 20 minutes.

We were able to grab a luggage cart to haul everything to the room and also snagged an elevator without too much of a wait. If only that could have continued through the weekend, but it wasn’t so. One elevator already appeared to not be functioning, out of three available to guests.

After setting everything in the room, we crossed the street and headed to registration in the Stephens Center to claim our badges. As always, the wait was very short for me, with maybe 5 minutes in line at the Will Call booths. @lechevaliermalfet​ suffered a little more – Acen offers a discount rate for veterans, but there’s obviously the added step of verifying your status before you can claim the rate. It took @lechevaliermalfet​ slightly over twice the amount of time it had taken me to claim a badge.

We also collected our swag bags and 18+ wristbands– this year’s swag bags only contained the program guide. I don’t know if that’s due to a greater emphasis on giving away larger freebies in the Exhibit Hall or if it’s a sign that things are still rocky post-shutdown. But it was disappointing, after remembering the various little surprises we’d gotten in previous years.

Then there was nothing to do but wait in the hotel for @shbumi​ to arrive. Once she had come to claim her spot in the room for the night (she moved to the Aloft on Friday), we headed over to The Sugar Factory.  The shakes were still very impressive, but they appear to have shrunk in size a bit – the restaurant has probably felt the same pinch of inflation as everywhere else. And this year, I ordered one of the alcoholic drinks and got to learn why they have such a high price tag – there was enough there for all 3 of us to enjoy.

From dinner, we went to the only other official ACen thing on the agenda for Day Zero: The official Discord meetup in the Hyatt. I brought batteries to the meetup, as another congoer needed some CR2032s. Since I’m still more of an introvert than anything, that conger marked the first of 3 people I spoke with at the Discord meetup. We were offered candy by another attendee, and spoke with a 3rd about Mass Effect thanks to the shirt @lechevaliermalfet​ was wearing. We stayed for approximately 15 minutes or so before we headed back to the Embassy to rest up for Day 1.  

Back at the room, I did spend more time reviewing the schedule before bed than I have in previous years – this ACen, the schedule came out extremely late.  Panelists didn’t receive their confirmation until the week before the con and ACen staff were still updating guidebook even on Day 0 more than was typical.  I know that the confusion caused many ruffled feathers and several interesting-sounding panels were marked as “cancelled” due to the panelists backing out over the lack of time to prepare. Not sure what caused the hiccup, but it meant I didn’t feel as certain of what I wanted to attend as I have in years past.  But, soon enough, it was time to turn in and get some rest for starting the con proper.

All of Anime Central 2023 Coverage

Day Zero - Thursday (current post)

Day One - Friday

Day One Cosplayers

Day One Photoshoot - My Little Pony

Day One Photoshoot - MXTX/Danmei

Day Two - Saturday

Day Two Cosplayers

Day Three - Sunday

Day Three Cosplayers

[dawnlovesham]

Some food I ate during my California trip.

In chronological order:

Chicken parmigiana with spaghetti from Marri's Italian restaurant

Bourbon steak from Denny's

Burger and french fries with berry juice at Disneyland

Omurice from Mitsuwa Marketplace Torrance

Tacos from Rubio's Coastal Grill @ The Outlets at Orange

Ramen from Zabon Ramen @ Anaheim Packing District (it was really good but the problem was that it was so hot inside 🤪)

Food that I have no pictures of:

Free breakfast from Denny's

Curry rice from Little Tokyo (which wasn't really good 🙃)

Panda Express

Jollibee, since Vancouver already has two

The dishes at my aunt's house

[kogaracon]

With a little less than 3 months to go until Kogaracon 2023, we wanted to celebrate and thank the following businesses for letting us advertise our event at their storefronts.

GameStop Edison, GameStop East Brunswick, Little Japan USA in Edgewater, Seoul Fried Chicken, Hmart Edison, Sakana Japanese Cuisine New Brunswick, Mitsuwa Marketplace, Penang Malaysian and Thai Restaurant Edison, True Believers Gaming & Collectibles at Menlo Park Mall.

We really appreciate your help. Please help support these businesses when you can!

If you’ve enjoyed our flyer artwork from PaperLarva, please go to one of these businesses to get a physical postcard and help spread the word that Kogaracon is back! Don't forget to follow PaperLarva to show them your support.

Thanks, Kogaracon Staff

[texoff]

YEAH! they made a mitsuwa market in northridge! so much easier than driving to little tokyo! got my monburan (mont blanc chestnut) cake that i love! 😁 #northridge #japanese #🇯🇵 #mitsuwa #monburan #chestnut #🌰 #sfv (at Mitsuwa Marketplace) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn-da5iyeL2/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hellokittyangel]

[pink-dreaminq]

I can’t wait to go to Mitsuwa again 😭. If anyone has any recommendations for food or things to buy, let me know! 💖

[animemily]

A Love Live! Sunshine!! magazine at Mitsuwa 💗

[abadpoetwithdreams]

Creative decoration at mitsuwa 😦

[formeryelpers]

Mitsuwa Marketplace, 3525 W Carson St Suite 164, Torrance, CA 90503

This Mitsuwa location opened at Del Amo in late 2020. You can’t see it from inside the mall. You have to head outside the mall (the outdoor part of the mall) and turn right to see it. It’s a larger Mitsuwa location – a full size supermarket with a bookstore, food court, bakery, Royce, J Sweets, Mochicream, Shiseido, etc. The food stalls include ramen, udon, Korean rice dogs, takoyaki, mochi donuts, and more. And there’s a large indoor seating area and patio seating as well.

The market is clean and organized. The produce section is relatively small and they don’t have as large of a prepared food section as Tokyo Central but they do have sushi, curry, bento boxes, sandwiches, beef gyudon, katsu don, onigiri, etc. The prepared foods are reasonably priced.

They have fresh fish, meat, seafood, eggs, snacks, rice, tea, tofu, noodles, cold beverages, ice cream, kitchenwares, beauty products, liquor, etc. They have a few brand exclusives like Tada Natural Farm which makes yogurt!

Mapo tofu bowl ($6.95): Pretty good, lots of sauce and even a little spicy heat, tender cubes of tofu, steamed rice

There are a few self-checkout stations as well as cashiers.

5 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.

[progressum]

Mitsuwa Marketplace, Arlington Heights