Discovering Real Japan: The Oldest Izakaya, Fermentation Lab And Singing With Japanese Bluegrass Musicians
Japan Eats!19 Des 2025

Discovering Real Japan: The Oldest Izakaya, Fermentation Lab And Singing With Japanese Bluegrass Musicians

Our guest is George Padilla who plays a key role in multiple exciting Japanese restaurant and hospitality businesses in New York, including Rule of Thirds (https://www.thirdsbk.com/), Bin Bin Sake (https://linktr.ee/bin.bin.sake) and Teruko (https://hotelchelsea.com/dining-and-bar/teruko) at The Hotel Chelsea.

George’s passion for and profound understanding of Japanese culture is impressive. Since he joined the tiny yet influential Japanese restaurant Okonomi in Brooklyn in 2014, he has been one of the most inspiring people in the Japanese food industry. He joined us with his chef partner JT at Rule of Thirds, in Episode #236 in August 2021, and shared his idea of Japanese food and food culture.

He recently took another trip to Japan, which was packed with unique experiences and discoveries. In this episode, we are going to discuss all about them, such as his visit to the oldest izakaya in downtown Tokyo, the standing sushi bars he enjoyed and his stay at a traditional foodway retreat in Yamanaka Onsen. We will also talk about traditional manufacturers and breweries he visited, Japan’s fermentation culture and much, much more!!!

***

Places mentioned:


Shinsuke izakaya

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066442-d1688850-Reviews-Shinsuke-Bunkyo_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Kagiya izakaya

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066461-d9930321-Reviews-Kagiya-Taito_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

Tachiguizushi Akira (standing sushi bar)

https://tachiguizushi-akira.com/en

Hakko Department (fermentation retail shop)

https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/11155/

Hannah Kirshner’s Yamanaka retreat

https://www.instagram.com/hanamurasaki_official/

Harappa Aizu (cotton textile)

https://www.harappaaizu.com/en/indtop.html



Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Japan Eats by becoming a member!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(390)

Episode 110: Acid Trip to Japan

Episode 110: Acid Trip to Japan

Akiko is joined by fellow HRN host Michael Harlan Turkell, author of the book Acid Trip: Travels in the World of Vinegar: With Recipes from Leading Chefs, Insights from Top Producers, and Step-by-Ste...

12 Feb 201854min

Episode 109: Shochu’sday with Stephen Lyman

Episode 109: Shochu’sday with Stephen Lyman

This week's guest is Stephen Lyman, one of the leading American experts on authentic Japanese shochu. He has visited approximately 70 shochu distilleries and has sampled around 2,000 different brands....

5 Feb 20181h 12min

Episode 108: The Quintessential Japanese Condiments & Seasonings

Episode 108: The Quintessential Japanese Condiments & Seasonings

Akiko welcomes Elizabeth Andoh of A Taste of Culture back to the program to discuss quintessential Japanese condiments and seasonings. A Taste of Culture is a culinary arts program that combines spicy...

29 Jan 201853min

Episode 107: The 17th Generation Japanese Bladesmith

Episode 107: The 17th Generation Japanese Bladesmith

On this week's episode, Akiko welcomes Murray Carter of Carter Cutlery, makers of handcrafted high performance cutlery using time-honored, traditional Japanese blade-smithing techniques. Japan Eats is...

22 Jan 201850min

Episode 106: Nourishing Japan:  Japanese Food Education

Episode 106: Nourishing Japan: Japanese Food Education

On the season premiere of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Alexis Agliano Sanborn, an independent researcher, community organizer, and artist. Her research interests include food educati...

15 Jan 201847min

Episode 105: The First Sake Brewery in New York

Episode 105: The First Sake Brewery in New York

On this week's episode of Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined in studio by Brian Polen & Brandon Doughan, co-owners of Brooklyn Kura, the very first Japanese sake brewery in NYC. Now that sushi ...

11 Des 201747min

Episode 104: Modern Nikkei Cuisine in the Heart of Manhattan

Episode 104: Modern Nikkei Cuisine in the Heart of Manhattan

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Mina Newman, the executive chef of Sen Sakana. There, she collaborates with Osaka native Taku Nagai, a well-respected chef in his own right...

27 Nov 201743min

Episode 103: The Incredible Power of Natto

Episode 103: The Incredible Power of Natto

This week on Japan Eats, Akiko is joined by Heidi Nestler, a fermentation teacher and co-owner of Wanpaku Foods, a Portland-based maker of traditional Japanese natto. In Japanese “wanpaku” is used e...

20 Nov 201752min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
treningspodden
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-sunn-okonomi
foreldreradet
merry-quizmas
rss-mann-i-krise-med-sagen
gravid-uke-for-uke
generasjonspodden
fryktlos
hverdagspsyken
sinnsyn
teknologi-og-mennesker
rss-kunsten-a-leve
rss-mind-body-podden
dopet
rss-kull