Japan

RFT Spring Arts Guide 2013: Music

Point/Counterpoint: Which is Superior, Waffles or Pancakes? Pancakes FTW

According to the Internet, -- and other credible sources, like Waffle House -- the first week of September is National Waffle Week. Our first thought at Gut Check International Headquarters was: Why do pancakes only get one measly day of celebration, while waffles are awarded an entire week? It was ... More >>

Google Glass Project: Five Uses At Your Next Show

Ever since Android and Google were released people seem to have opened up to the idea that every free service the search giant provides them is in fact paid for with a steady stream of personal information they don't realize Google has. With that in mind: The Google Glass Project is an enormous per ... More >>

Greek Fire's Johnny Venus has Leukemia and No Health Insurance

About a month ago, Greek Fire drummer Johnny Venus noticed that the exhaustion he attributed to his band's recently completed Japanese tour had not faded. He was reluctant to see a doctor because he does not have health insurance, but his friends and bandmates eventually convinced him to get his blo ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From March 5 to 11

This week brings us not one but TWO members of the Wu-Tang Clan (unfortunately on separate nights), Japanese punk-weirdos Peelander-Z, and the first visit ever from Seattle's raw Ramones-y punk band the Spits in its entire ten years of existence. Continuing with the punk rock / hip-hop aesthetic is ... More >>

Why HELLO, Kitty: Adorable Japanese Icon Hits Career Low

Tokyo Hooters locations recently announced a very special Valentine's Day promotion: Hello Kitty herself will don the signature orange shorts, tan pantyhose and push up bra to serve hot wings and beer to lucky patrons. Where to begin? With the fact that it's terrifying to sexualize a cartoon chara ... More >>

Sweet, sincere, cloying, average, beautiful: Oscar nominees, in brief

Brad Penny Heading to Japan

​I don't know how I managed to miss this story when it first popped up, but former Cardinal hurler Brad Penny agreed to a deal with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the NPB (Japan's major league), for the 2012 season. The contract, worth a reported $4 million plus another potential $3.5 million ... More >>

Tidbits from the Grove, University City

via Facebook​- O'Shay's Pub is just about ready to go at 4353 Manchester Avenue (previously home to Newstead Tower Public House) in the Grove district of Forest Park Southeast. Look for an opening early next week, after final state approvals. Get a sneak peek at the O'Shay's menu on the restau ... More >>

Fugazi's Joe Lally Is Still Moving Forward

Why AKB48's Virtual Star, Aimi Eguchi, Won't Cross Over From Japan To America

​Anyone who has only recently recovered from Kanye West's decision to use autotune on 808s and Heartbreak will not be fond of the latest strange innovation to come from Japan, a country that has built its international reputation on strange innovations. After a series of virtual pop starlets w ... More >>

The city's long-running slop-pop experts celebrate turning eighteen this weekend

The Life and Times

8:30 p.m. Friday, February 4. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.

Thunder, Enlightening

Canadian Gingerbread Houses Recalled for Staph Infection

Canadians who got gingerbread houses might not have had a merry Christmas. The Toronto Sun reports that gingerbread houses sold at an Ontario Whole Foods were recalled on Christmas Eve for possible staph contamination.Christmas wasn't great for a would-be French truffle thief, either. According to t ... More >>

Today in News from Japan: Mozart-Cultured Bananas and Wine-Crazed Manga

Bananas: Sweeter with Mozart?Image via​While we here in the United States continue to argue like children over food-safety and child-nutrition legislation, gastronomes in Japan are taking a far more civilized approach to food -- at least, that's what I take away from these two head-scratchers (bot ... More >>

The Cardinals Have an Infield Question; The Import Market May Have an Answer

​Okay, before everyone gets all pissed off at me, I don't have anything personal against Skip Schumaker. I don't. Scout's honor. I mean, I don't really get the whole handsome thing with Skip, but that's mostly a matter of taste. I'll swoon at the mere mention of Joe Mather, and every so often in j ... More >>

Kampei! Nobu's Sushi and Akira Kurosawa's Stray Dog

Photo by Keegan HamiltonPieces of sake (salmon) and bonito (a type of mackerel) nigiri from Nobu's ​Japanese cuisine is remarkably similar to Japanese cinema. Each art form is defined by efficiency of movement (by both the sushi chef and the camera), attention to detail that borders on neurotic an ... More >>

Chef's Choice, Part 2: Eliott Harris of Miso on Meramec

This is part two of Robin Wheeler's Chef's Choice interview with Eliott Harris of Miso on Meramec. To read part one, click here. Stay tuned for part three tomorrow. Robin Wheeler​Did your family cook when you were a child? If so, what meals stand out? My mom is an awesome cook. I'd hang out i ... More >>

Metal veterans Anvil embark on a tour to support their documentary and new album

The Morning Brew: 1.19

Kraft take-over of Cadbury approved. (NPR.org) ​ Japan braces for cultural and economic impact of possible tuna export ban. (NPR.org)Young cheesemaker returns to old methods. (The Oshkosh Northwestern)Walgreens investigates selling  prepared meals. (Business Week)In another outburst of f ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Monday, 10.12

​ Despite recent food-borne illness outbreaks, key food safety positions remain unfilled. Meanwhile, Japan bans beef from Nebraska processing plant after finding mad-cow prevention violations. (Cattle Network, Market Watch)McDonald's in the Louvre? No big deal. (UPI)Bologna healthier than PB ... More >>

So Nigiri, and Yet So Far: Café Mochi bets there's room for another sushi joint on South Grand

The Audacity of Sneak

Fernando de Sousa, Wikimedia Commons Show: Up, Pixar's latest gorgeous, visually engaging attempt to make me laugh while feeling a little guilty. Total success on both counts.Food: Mochi ice cream, mango flavored.Difficulty: Moderate. This is the easiest form of ice cream to bring into the movies, ... More >>

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 2.25

It truly is the devil's peanut butter: The number of those sickened by the salmonella outbreak reaches 666! (Reuters)Brooklyn is the center of hipness for the arts, indie rock and, now, food. (New York Times)A rare case of domestic opposition to whale meat in Japan. (Los Angeles Times)

Short Cuts: 2009 Academy-Award Nominated Shorts

Review Preview: Mia Rosa

A preview of this week's review of Mia Rosa, the new Italian restaurant in Forest Park Southeast.

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 9.24

Raw Deal

That's how they roll

The Morning Brew: Friday, 6.20

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 5.20

The Morning Brew: Friday, 5.16

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 4.2

The Morning Brew: Monday, 2.4

The Morning Brew: Friday, 12/21

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 10/11

Small Plates: Monday, 6/25

Tonight's Show: Ben Folds with John Mayer

Envy

Insomniac Doze (Temporary Residence, Ltd.)

Enter the Dragon

Dragon Quest VIII is the biggest thing from Japan since Godzilla.

St. Louis in Verse

Instead of in chorus

Japan on $10 a Day

Tea ceremonies, anime, Taiko drumming and more await at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Eastern Youth with Cursive and The Blood Brothers

Friday, October 3; Mississippi Nights

Restaurant with a View

Top of the Riverfront

Alice Unchained

In Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki soars through the looking glass

Japanese Cuisine

Robata of Japan

Oh Koi!

St. Louis gets an Eastern exposure at the Missouri Botanical Garden's Japanese Festival

Tei Time

With her new restaurant, Nippon Tei, Ann Bognar outdoes herself

Nobukazu Takemura

Hoshi No Koe (Thrill Jockey)

PRINCESS MONONOKE

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki