This post is a work in progress. Am I missing something? Let me know at keiko dot in dot boston [at] gmail dot com!
Many of the businesses and organizations on this page are Japanese-owned or operated. I list mainly those that are exclusively Japanese, as opposed to everywhere you can find anything Japanese. My geographic focus is Greater Boston, but there are some businesses and organizations outside of that area.
Disclaimer: Please note that inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement. Some of these businesses are owned by my friends and I'm a customer at others, but some I've had no interaction with.
Can't find a business? Check my list of
Closed Japanese Businesses.
See also Where to find Japanese groceries and closed Japanese grocery stores.
Boston has many Asian groceries stores, some that are focused on specific countries/regions and others that are pan-Asian. Many of the non-Japanese Asian grocery stores are cheaper. Although many of them carry Japanese staples & snacks, there are certain Japanese foods and products you just can't find at a store that isn't specifically a Japanese grocery store. As far as I know, as of summer 2013, Ebisuya is the only exclusively Japanese grocery store in New England.
Ebisuya |
Medford, MA |
Yelp
Ebisuya also has a sushi bar. If there isn't sushi in the case that you want, they will make it while you shop. They also sell
onigiri, bento, and other prepared side dishes and full meals. There are a few tables so you can eat there if you're too hungry to wait until you get home. They also offer
free knife sharpening on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
You may be wondering why Ebisuya decided to open in a location that is a long bus-ride away from the
nearest T station (I did). That's because the
Japanese Language School of Greater Boston, the only
Japanese Saturday school in New England, meets at Medford High School, so it's a great location for families to shop after school.
Japanese Agriculture in New England
[Last updated: May 2018]
I recently learned there is much more Japanese agriculture in New England than I was aware of so I thought I would include links here. None of them are in the Boston area but Ebisuya Market stocks Sunbow 5's produce and Assawaga Farm will be coming to farmer's markets in the Boston area this season.
Assawaga Farm | Putnam, CT
Yoko Takemura and Alex Carpenter are just getting this vegetable and herb farm started. They are growing a variety of Japanese and other organic
produce.
Sunbow 5 Foundation (
Facebook) | Hadley, MA
(Website is English only. Facebook page in Japanese & English. )
I'm not sure when Sunbow was founded but Ebisuya Market in Medford, MA has been stocking their produce for several years.
Wild Folk Farm | Benton, ME
I believe this farm is just inspired by Japanese rice cultivation techniques – specifically “
The Power of Duck: Integrated Rice and Duck Farming” by
Takao Furuno – and grows some varieties of Japanese rice in addition to other types of rice. It does not appear that any of the people involved with the farm are of Japanese heritage.
Read more in the Portland Press Herald: "
Two Maine farmers try a new crop: rice".
Authentic Japanese Restaurants
[Last updated: May 2018]
Ever since sushi became trendy, Japanese cuisine has popped up on menus in other Asian restaurants. Some non-Japanese restaurant owners figured out that Japanese food would be more profitable and opened "Japanese" restaurants. While I'm all for diversifying people's culinary experiences, I've found that some Japanese food around Boston doesn't taste like what I think of as "authentic". Don't even get me started on fusion cuisine. I originally planned to title this section "Japanese-Owned Restaurants," but I've discovered that
you don't need to be Japanese to cook authentic-tasting Japanese food. This is a subjective list based on my opinions and recommendations from others. The majority of the restaurants listed here are Japanese-owned. I'm not vouching for the quality of their food, just that the owners are Japanese or serve food that tastes authentic.
Blue Fin Restaurant |
Middleton, MA |
Yelp
Café Mami |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange |
Yelp
Cafe Sushi |
Cambridge, MA - Harvard Square |
Yelp
Ebi Sushi |
Somerville, MA - Union Square |
Yelp
Hana Japan |
Newburyport, MA |
Yelp
Inaho |
Yarmouth Port, MA |
Yelp
Ittoku (no website -
Facebook) |
Boston, MA - Brighton |
Yelp |
First Look
Ittyo Restaurant |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange |
Yelp
Under new management (same owner as Café Mami) with new menu since Jan 2013.
Gyu-Kaku |
Brookline, MA - St. Mary's |
Yelp
Japan-based
yakiniku chain
Oishii Sushi Bar |
Chestnut Hill, MA |
Yelp
Oishii Boston |
Boston, MA - South End |
Yelp
Pikaichi (
Facebook) |
Medford, MA |
Yelp |
My review for their original Allston location
Santouka Ramen |
Cambridge, MA - Harvard Square |
Yelp
Japan-based ramen chain
Sapporo Ramen (no website) |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange |
Yelp
Shiki |
Brookline, MA - Coolidge Corner |
Yelp
Tampopo (no website) |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange |
Yelp
Toraya |
Arlington, MA - Arlington Center |
Yelp
Yokohama (no website) |
Brookline, MA - Brookline Village |
Yelp
Yume Wo Katare |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Square |
Yelp |
All of my Yume coverage
Other Japanese Food Businesses
[Last updated: May 2018]
Beard Papa's |
Boston, MA - Chinatown |
Yelp
Japan-based cream puff chain.
Gen Sou En |
Brookline, MA - Coolidge Corner |
Yelp
Japanese tea house serving green tea and matcha beverage and Japanese-style baked goods.
go-en Fermented Foods | Whitefield, ME
Founded in 2015 by Mika and Nicholas Repenning, go-en Fermented Foods makes organic koji and miso.
Read more in the Portland Press Herald: "
It’s a scramble to source local, organic soybeans".
Heiwa Tofu | Rockport, ME
Founded in 2008 by Maho Hisakawa and Jeff Wolovitz, Heiwa Tofu makes organic tofu from primarily Maine-grown soybeans. Read more in the Portland Press Herald: "
It’s a scramble to source local, organic soybeans".
Japonaise Bakery |
Brookline, MA - St. Mary's |
Yelp
As of July 2013 the Allston Comm Ave. location is closed.
As of March 2015 the Porter Square location is closed.
Boston's oldest independent Japanese bakery making Japanese-styled baked goods.
KOKO Bakery |
Newton, MA |
Yelp
Independent Japanese bakery making Japanese-style baked goods.
Ogawa Coffee |
Boston, MA - Downtown Crossing |
Yelp
Japan-based coffee chain.
Sakanaya: Japanese Fish Market |
Boston, MA - Allston |
Yelp
Fishmonger, catering, take-out sushi.
Sullivan's Market
Cooking & hospitality classes, Japanese cooking classes, kid's maki sushi birthday party.
The Sweet Kitchen | near Newton City Hall, MA
Entertainment cooking and dessert classes.
Japanese Gift Shops
[As of October 2015]
As the name implies, anime and
zakka goods.
Old Japan, Inc. | Boston, MA - South End | Yelp
Japanese gifts with a focus on vintage/antique goods. They do have some modern goods.
10/15/15: They will be open through Christmas and closing by the end of January.
Rummage |
Cambridge, MA - Fresh Pond |
Yelp
Some vintage Japanese goods and arts & crafts by local Japanese artists as well as non-Japanese goods.
Tokai |
Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange |
Yelp
Mostly modern Japanese goods including dishes, bento goods, origami, Sanrio and San-X.
Japanese Books, Magazines, & DVDs
[Last updated: November 2013]
The information in this section was provided by my friend, sartak.
Since
Sasuga closed its physical store in 2004, Boston has been without a Japanese bookstore. The closest Japanese bookstores that I'm aware of are in New York City:
Kinokuniya (website Japanese only) and
BOOKOFF. There are a few stores where you can buy books and magazines and rent DVDs in Boston.
Ebisuya |
Medford, MA |
Yelp
Small selection of books & magazines; some books in English. Great collection of DVDs.
Reliable Video (no website) |
Somerville, MA - Union Square |
Yelp
No books or magazines. Collection of mostly older Japanese DVDs. Located next to Reliable Market, a Korean grocery store with a substantial selection of Japanese groceries. If the video store is closed, ask for help at the market.
Schoenhof's Foreign Books |
Cambridge, MA - Harvard Square |
Yelp
Less than a single shelf of pricey Japanese novels. No magazines or DVDs.
You can also borrow from the following libraries:
The
Minuteman Library Network has some books & DVDs. If the item you're looking for isn't at your local library, you can usually request it to be sent to yours.
Japanese Photographers
[Last updated: April 2014]
Beaupix (Ryuji Suzuki) |
Boston, MA - Fort Point
Headshots, weddings, and advertising, editorial, and fashion photography
Chihiro Senda Photography | Somerville, MA
Portrait photography for children, families, dogs
Keiko S. Dowell Photography | Chelmsford, MA
Baby, child, maternity, and family photography
Keitaro Yoshioka Photography | Boston, MA
Commercial/fine art photography
Tomoko Photo (Tomoko Leman) | Serving MA, NH, RI, CT, VT, & Japan
Wedding, portrait, & event photography
USK Photography (Yusuke Suzuki)
Freelance photographer
Other Japanese-Owned Services
[Last updated: April 2014]
hanaya floral designs |
Cambridge, MA |
Yelp
Florist
Urban Realty Group |
Brookline Village, MA |
Yelp
Real estate agency
Yamato Transport, USA Inc |
Woburn, MA
Professional movers
Museum Exhibits
[Last updated: August 2015]
This list is only for permanent collections. Many of our local museums bring in Japanese-themed temporary exhibits. The
New England JACL monthly newsletter is a great source for information on temporary exhibits. The newsletter is emailed to members, but also posted on their website a few days into the month. Read
The Boston Globe's "
MFA exhibit tours Japan, will not be seen in Boston" to learn why Boston museums have such incredible collections of Japanese art.
Arts
[Last updated: May 2014]
See also College Clubs.
314 Studio | based in Somerville, MA
Chihiro Makio, jewelry artist
Afternoon Concerts | Brookline, MA
Periodic classical music concerts staged by local musicians, most of whom are Japanese.
The Art Complex Museum Tea Hut |
Duxbury, MA |
Yelp
An authentic Japanese
tea house built in Kyoto in 1969. It has been in Duxbury since 1975. They offer tea presentations and a concert series. The 2013 series has a variety of non-Japanese artists playing Western instruments.
Chorus Boston | Greater Boston area
"[A]n amateur choral group whose goal is to enjoy singing together while striving to attain a high level of musical performance. ... The group sings both classical and modern music, focusing on Japanese music but singing as well from the choral repertory in English, Latin, Hebrew, Italian, and other languages."
The Genki Spark | Greater Boston area
"[A] multi-generational, pan-Asian women's arts and advocacy organization that uses Japanese taiko drumming, personal stories, and creativity to build community, develop leadership, and advocate respect for all."
Clubs
[Last updated: October 2013]
Some of these clubs have membership fees, but may also have events that are open to the public. The primary language for these clubs may be Japanese or English.
Boston Japanese Researchers Forum (BJRF)
A networking group for Japanese researchers in the Greater Boston area. Monthly talks "on a variety of topics, including life sciences, arts, engineering, space sciences, health sciences, music, business, markets, Japanese cultures, physics, chemistry, geology, and/or politics" are presented in Japanese from September to May at MIT. Lectures are followed by a light meal. Non-native speakers wishing to improve their Japanese and network with Japanese researchers are welcome.
The Japan Society of Boston
"[A] not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote cultural and economic ties and active interchange between Japanese and Americans for mutual understanding, benefit and enjoyment.
New England Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
It seems unfair to refer to the JACL as merely a club since their role in Japanese American life is so significant. The JACL launched the
campaign for redress for Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII, which ultimately led to payment of $20,000 per person by the U.S. government. From their website: JACL "is the nation's oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization… whose mission is to secure and maintain the human and civil rights of Americans of Japanese ancestry and others victimized by injustice." The local chapter is small but they try to do a few events per year and co-sponsor events with other groups. Their monthly newsletter is a great source of Japanese and Asian activities in New England. It is emailed to members at the beginning of each month and posted on their website a few days later.
Japanese Association of Greater Boston
"The Japanese Association of Greater Boston (JAGB) was created in 1950, and has grown to be the largest Japanese run social group in the Boston area."
Japanese Women's Club of Boston (JWCB)
"[A] group that offers various social opportunities and monthly lectures for its members. Japanese women who are independent, have a desire to improve themselves and respect others are qualified to join. The group is engaged in various relief efforts in the wake of the [
3.11] disaster in Japan as a part of Boston's Japanese community.
Massachusetts Hokkaido Association
"[D]edicated to supporting the historic relationship between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Japan's northern island prefecture of
Hokkaido."
NEJETTA (New England
JET Program Alumni Association)
"We support JET program participants, former, current, and future, in
bringing Japan and the United States closer together. Headquartered in
Boston, we serve Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont."
Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society
"In December of 1987 a delegation of dignitaries from the New Bedford/Fairhaven area journeyed to Tosashimizu, the home town of Manjiro, and signed a "Sister City" agreement. This led to the incorporation of the "Fairhaven/New Bedford-Tosashimizu Sister City Committee, Inc.". Since that time there has been an on-going exchange of political leaders, Little Leaguers, students, quilters, artists...etc." It seems they also have a small museum in
Fairhaven, MA.
College Clubs & Organizations
[Last updated: April 2015]
Many area colleges have Japanese clubs. Membership requirements vary - groups may be open to the public, or you may need to be a member of the college community to join. Even if clubs are not open to all, they may have events or classes that are open to the public.
Boston University Japanese Students Association |
Boston, MA
Harvard For Japan |
Cambridge, MA [Note: appears to be inactive.]
"Harvard For Japan is a cross-Harvard alliance created in response to the Great Tohoku Earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. Our mission is to spread awareness of the effects of the quake and the resulting aftershocks, tsunamis, and nuclear crisis and to help the affected regions."
Harvard Japan Society |
Cambridge, MA
Harvard-Radcliffe Chado Society |
Cambridge, MA
Japan Club of Boston College |
Newton, MA
Japanese Association of MIT |
Cambridge, MA
MIT Japan 3.11 Initiative |
Cambridge, MA
"The MIT Japan 3.11 Initiative is MIT’s response to the March 2011 triple disaster in Japan. This Initiative, established by the
MIT-Japan Program at the
Center for International Studies, will provide a mechanism for faculty and student exchange between MIT and universities in the Tohoku region for the study and implementation of disaster-resilient planning."
MIT Japanese Tea Ceremony |
Cambridge, MA
MIT Sloan Japan Club |
Cambridge, MA
New England Japanese Intercollegiate Network | Greater Boston
This is an umbrella organization that "aims to bring together Japanese students and students interested in the culture through various events."
OrigaMIT |
Cambridge, MA (meeting locations change but are always on campus)
Suffolk University Japanese Student Association | Boston, MA
Tufts University Japanese Culture Club |
Medford, MA
UMass Boston Japanese Club |
Boston, MA
Wellesley College Japan Club |
Wellesley, MA
Other
[Last updated: February 2013]
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston |
Boston, MA
JB Line (Japanese Bostonians Support Line)
Who knew there was a 24-hour support hotline for Japanese people? Although their website is entirely in Japanese, they say they provide phone support in English as well. Call any time day or night if you're feeling down and need someone to talk to.
KanaSwirl - Turns
hiragana and
katakana study into a game!
An iApp designed by my friend
sartak, who lives in Somerville, MA. I figured I'd include this in the vein of "Shop Local." :)
Blogs
[Last updated: April 2013]
Daigo Fujiwara runs this website about Japanese baseball players who play in the US. I don't follow baseball, but it looks quite detailed.
Secret Asian Man blog
You may have seen the comic Secret Asian Man in the
Weekly Dig, the free alternative paper around town. What you may not know is that writer and illustrator
Tak Toyoshima is local.
