About This Site

When most people think of Japan, they think of cars, Kimonos, and Karaoke. But there are still many more things to be discovered in Japan that Americans haven’t even heard of yet.

We’ve named this site, “Cool Japan” and it was created to bring you the “hidden gems” of Japan that are still yet to be discovered on this side of the Pacific. We’ll introduce things like the coolest Japanese cuisines, fashions, and designs.

Ultimately, it is our goal to showcase Japan’s undiscovered treasures to the American public through this website.

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News | COOL JAPAN

DESIGN>> NYIGF (New York International Gift Fair) 2012

JETRO, the organizer of the Japanese exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF)'s Japan Pavilion, is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the best of Japanese craft and design at the world's premier gift show.

FOOD>> Akita Sake Brewers Convinced of Chicago's Sake Market Growth

Following the success of their May 2011 sake tasting, the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago and JETRO Chicago, in cooperation with Akita Prefecture Government, organized another Japanese Sake Tasting & Pairing for professionals on November 2^nd.

FOOD>> Japan's Diversity of Green Teas Impresses Chicago's Food Professionals

On October 20^th, Chicago's food and beverage industry came together to discover the green teas Japan is famous for at the "Japanese Green Tea Showcase." The event was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Chicago office.

FOOD>> First Japanese Sake Promotion in the Midwest Following the Great Earthquake Attracts Food Industry Professionals

Members of Chicago area's food and beverage community had the chance to learn about Japanese sake both in theory and practice at the Sake Tasting & Pairing Event for Professionals sponsored by JETRO Chicago and the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago in cooperation with the Sake Export Association of Japan.

DESIGN>> The 23^rd International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF)

JAPAN by DESIGN is a special exhibition organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to introduce 14 cutting-edge Japanese design companies and organization to the North American design industry.

FOOD>> "Greens from the Sea" - A Japanese Food Showcase Highlighting Seaweed

Fans of Japanese food often cite similar reasons for loving it - its healthy properties, the depth of flavor in its noodle dishes, soups and sauces, the delicate taste of sushi enhanced by the pungency of wasabi and, of course, the characteristic use of certain staples, condiments and ingredients. One such ingredient that signifies Japanese cuisine is seaweed.

FOOD>> International Restaurant & Food Service Show of New York 2011

The Japan Pavilion at the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York 2011.

DESIGN>> NYIGF (New York International Gift Fair) 2011

JETRO, the organizer of the Japanese exhibitors at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF)'s Japan Pavilion, is pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the best of Japanese craft and design at the world's premier gift show.

FOOD>> JETRO @ The 2011 Winter Fancy Food Show

A traditional ingredient in Japan, miso is growing in popularity worldwide for its convenience and benefits to health and beauty. At the 2011 Winter Fancy Food Show, JETRO San Francisco will showcase the health benefits and new applications of miso. Best of all, you could sample three easy-to-make and delicious Sendai miso-based recipes, as well as last year's popular freeze-dried miso soup.

FOOD>> A Japanese Food Event at the Indiana State Fair

Japanese food emerged as a fundamental aspect of the first ever Japan-focused exhibition to take place during the 2010 Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. Citizens of Indiana, or "Hoosiers," were given the rare opportunity to try authentic Japanese food and drinks they may never have had the chance to try before.

FOOD>> Dekopon

Outside the greenhouses at Nishida Citrus and Fruit Garden in Kumamoto prefecture, peach trees are in full bloom and a cool breeze carries the scent of the blossoms to the road. But inside the greenhouses, a more vibrant scent radiates from the ripening fruit of dekopon trees.

FOOD>> Place We Went Along the Way

One of the most outstanding things of our food tour of Japan, hosted by Jetro, Japan External Trade Organization (a governmental organization), was its fabulously well-planned choice of stops along the way..

FOOD>> Kelp Poultry Farm

"Kelp Poultry Farm" is a rather strange name, but it's one that haute cuisine diners in Tokyo have become accustomed to seeing. The reason? Kiichi Sato's hand-raised organic chickens, and their eggs, which are so flavorful that top restaurants don't mind paying four times the national average price for them.

FOOD>> Kumamoto Oyster

All over the west coast of the U.S., you can order Kumamoto oysters. But ironically, they're impossible to find on a menu in their place of origin -- Kumamoto, Japan.

FOOD>> Discover New Japanese Food Products @ Natural Products Expo West 2010

JETRO Los Angeles will participate in the Natural Products Expo West (NPE 2010) operating two Japanese food booths for the third consecutive year.

FOOD>> 2010 International Restaurant & Food Service Show

The Japan Pavilion at the 2010 International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York.

FOOD>> Educational Session in Winter Fancy Food Show 2010: Miso and Natto

With the growing popularity of Japanese cuisine and the increasing health consciousness across America, adding Japanese products to your product line could help you meet demand coming from both trends. At this seminar, meet with....

FOOD>> Regional Food (Aichi)

A new article of regional food is updated!! While the region enjoys global acclaim for its status as Japan's manufacturing heartland, Aichi natives know that the prefecture's distinctive cuisine is just as deserving of worldwide attention...

FOOD>> San Francisco Miso Event @ Ferry Plaza Market

JETRO San Francisco held a miso booth at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market. The booth was so popular that we ran out of samples well before closing time! Visitors were able to taste foods made with miso, including a vegetable dip, salad dressing, and salsa. From a survey and conversations held with the visitors, it became very clear that the use of miso in everyday recipes could definitely be an upcoming trend in the U.S. food market.

FOOD >> Sendai Miso Tasting Seminar in San Francisco

A traditional ingredient in Japan, miso is growing in recognition worldwide for its benefits to health and beauty. During the seminar, we heard from five top Bay Area chefs of Western cuisines who shared recipes for using miso in non-Asian cuisines. Tastings of these recipes were provided, which included seared tuna, fried green tomato salad, black cod, pork belly, and ice cream! Over 70 guests from the food industry were able to enjoy this event and see the versatility of miso.

DESIGN >> Japan by Design

"JAPAN by DESIGN" is best described as a "fair-within-a-fair" at ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from May 16 through May 19, 2009, consisting of two components: the kansei-Japan Design Exhibition and the Japan Pavilion, a commercial division showcasing select Japanese companies...

FOOD >>Mr. Konjac Goes Global

Have you heard of konjac? Although Americans are familiar with tofu and soy sauce, few have heard of this healthy food unique to Japan...

FOOD >>The San Francisco Sake Tasting Seminar

For many Americans, an introduction to sake came while dining at a sushi restaurant. A ceramic pitcher of hot, high-alcohol sake arrived, it washed down the sashimi and the nigiri in little cups, and we thought that all sake was the...

FOOD >>Sake-101 Elements of Sake

Along with Japanese food and culture, sake has increasingly gained in popularity around the world. In the United States, there were only five brands of sake available in the 1970's. Following the sake boom of the 1990's, exports from Japan quadrupled, and today Americans can choose among 500 available brands...

ENTERTAINMENT >>Film

5 new films are posted!
Japan's major film production and distribution company, Kadokawa Pictures has been entertaining the international audience with over 2000 live-action and anime titles. FIVE of their famous titles are now posted on our site! Click on the titles below, watch the trailer and get the sales contacts!
Kanki no uta
Jirocho Sangokushi
Asahiyama Dobutsuen Monogatari
Dive!
The Scissors Massacre

DESIGN >>New York International Gift Fair

In Japan, an archipelago stretching from the white sand beaches of Okinawa to the snow-capped mountains of Hokkaido...

ENTERTAINMENT >>Manga and Anime Captivating U.S. Audiences

The popularity of manga and anime in the United States is continuing to grow as Americans discover the wealth of engaging stories ...

FOOD >>Japanese Cuisine Becoming Mainstay for American Palates

America continues to grow its curiosity and appreciation for Japanese food, from easy-to-prepare comfort foods to exquisite haute cuisine...