Old Japan to close by January

Courtesy of Old Japan

Yesterday one of my friends told me that Old Japan in South End would be closing soon. I called today and confirmed this with Amie Belobrow who co-owns the shop with her husband Shinroku Ohashi. I believe that Old Japan is one of only two exclusively Japanese gift shops in the Boston area and they are the only one with a focus on vintage and antique goods. (The other shop, Tokai in Porter Square, sells mostly modern goods.) Amie-san said that they are being forced to close because their building has been sold and the new landlord wants double their current rent which they cannot afford. She said all of the other tenants have left.

Old Japan has been in business at their current location since 2009. Prior to that they had shops first in New York City from 1990 to 2006 and then for a few years in the Berkshires in Lenox, Massachusetts. They were forced to leave NYC due to gentrification and rising rents, so it's sad to see them forced out of the South End for the same reason. We've had a number of other Japanese-owned businesses close in recent years, including Old Japan's former neighbor, Yakitori Zai.

They will definitely be open through Christmas and plan to have some sales in December on some of their larger antiques. Beginning in January everything in the store will be highly discounted. They will need to be out of the space by January 30th.

Amie-san said they will continue their small online shop though it offers only a fraction of the goods they have in the store. People have asked if they would reopen in a new location but she said that the reality is that they cannot afford the rent anywhere given their small margins. On their website she writes that the shop has been "a labor of love for both of us since then, and we can’t imagine doing anything else!"

You can visit Old Japan at 24 Union Park Street, Boston, MA 02118. Please note that they don't have regular hours so you should call ahead to find out when they will be open. I wish Amie-san and Roku-san the best as they plan their future.

H Mart Japanese groceries

I made it back to H Mart tonight around 8pm to check out the grocery side. I take back what I've said about Ebisuya not needing to be worried about H Mart. It's been a long time since I went to the Burlington H Mart but my impression is that Cambridge has a much larger selection of Japanese groceries than I saw at Burlington. The only advantages Ebisuya has are proximity to 93 and the Saturday Japanese school, free parking, native Japanese-speaking staff (actually, I don't know whether H Mart has Japanese staff but I would think the likelihood is low), pre-made Japanese food (bento, onigiri, etc.), and a shopping experience that doesn't feel like a roller derby. I really hope that H Mart Cambridge won't drive them out of business since they're the last remaining exclusively Japanese store in the area.

Personally I'll continue to shop at Ebisuya and Reliable because I don't like a stressful shopping experience. Going through H Mart tonight was a lot like going to Market Basket in Somerville, although less rude.

I didn't take a very close look at the produce. I saw gobo and nagaimo that looked fine (the gobo was reasonably priced but my friend thought the nagaimo was expensive). We also spotted very mouldy Driscoll strawberries as soon as we entered the grocery side. They were on top of the stack - kind of surprised they didn't pull it since it was impossible to miss.

I didn't make a careful study of prices but most things seemed reasonable. Their snack selection seemed to be about on par with what you'd find at Hong Kong Supermarket (formerly Super 88) in Allston.

The store was packed but I think a lot of people may have just been window shopping because the lines at the checkouts were not as bad as what I saw on Wednesday.

Some surprises:

• more natto than I can recall seeing in my entire life
• a very large Spam selection
• a large matcha selection (compared to other local stores)
• a lot of mochi ice cream (I don't think I managed to get pictures of all of them - they had multiple brands)
• a wider variety of American groceries than I was expecting (perhaps they're hoping to compete with Whole Foods and Shaws)

I took as many pictures of the Japanese groceries & products as I could with a few other random photos like Spam. There was a lot of fresh & frozen raw meat but that section was too mobbed to get photos. I also didn't bother with photos of rice cookers and other kitchen and household products.  A lot of them are hanging above your head so don't forget to look up. I didn't intentionally take any photos of Korean groceries. I know very little about Korean food so I have no comments. Photos begin here.

Over at Sapporo & Go Go Curry ramen & curry were entirely sold out as was much of the sushi menu. Paris Baguette also looked very well picked over. I did talk to José Garcia (partner in Sapporo Central) when I had dinner at Ebi Sushi tonight and he said they're going to figure that out. Sapporo and Go Go Curry's hours are officially 11am to 9pm. I'm going to guess tomorrow may be worse. If you want to go, go early.

4/26/14: I completely forgot to talk about parking last night. I got really lucky that seconds after I pulled in to Lot 5 and was wondering what to do because it looked full, a woman was walking to her car and waved indicating she was leaving. While I waited for her and her husband to put their child and groceries in the car, she came back and handed me her parking slip that she'd paid for until 9pm! I just love random acts of kindness. By the time I left though things were craaaazy in the parking lot. I tried to offer my space to someone in the same way the shopper before me had but somewhere in a crazy shuffle of 6 cars he disappeared, possibly because someone had come from the other side to steal the spot I was vacating.  I can't stress enough that if you can leave your car at home, you'll definitely want to do that.

See also: H Mart Cambridge is finally open!

H Mart Cambridge is finally open!

H Mart Cambridge Grand Opening

Much to my surprise, H Mart Cambridge opened on schedule today. It's been a long wait for H Mart fans and people waiting to try Sapporo Ramen's new Central Square menu and Go Go Curry. The rain may have kept some people away but when I got there around 1pm, it was a madhouse.

This line wraps around the corner

Things are pretty disorganized on the Sapporo/Go Go Curry side - there is only one cashier for both so you have to stand in the epicly long line* whether you're ordering ramen, curry, or grabbing take-out sushi. I'm told that the cashier is provided by H Mart so hopefully they'll figure out that doesn't work at all. (Update 4/28/14: H Mart has added an additional cashier although if you go at peak times the line is still long. I'm told that those buying only take out sushi can skip the line.) Oddly enough Paris Baguette had 2 dedicated cashiers & registers though they weren't always there. When I got to the front of the line at Paris Baguette, one cashier wandered away briefly.
* (The line was not as epic as Yume Wo Katare's often is, but it was longer than Sapporo Porter's usually is.)

I didn't have time to stay for lunch or fight the crowds to explore the grocery store so I just took a few pictures, bought a pumpkin cream cheese pastry at Paris Baguette (which sadly, isn't that great) and left. I think it'll be a while until I get there to try Go Go Curry and Sapporo's new menu. Next time I'll have to try the fake Cronut™.

Imitation Cronut™

Grocery store

I was surprised that parking wasn't as hard as I expected although I may have just gotten lucky. I found an open spot on Bishop Allen Drive as soon as I crossed Norfolk Street and one empty parking space in the lot. When I left there were several empty spaces in the lot and on the street. If people don't stay long then there will be turnover in spaces, although if you can leave your car at home and take the T that's probably better, especially on weekends. You definitely don't want to drive there on Mondays before 6pm when the Central Square Farmers Market takes over most of Lot 5 (May - November). You can also try Lot 4 at the corner of Bishop Allen and Essex Street but it's really small as is H Mart's private parking lot off Essex Street. There's also Lot 6 near Columbia Street. Note that all pay-by-space parking lots in Central Square require you to pay until 10pm. Meters have to be paid through 6pm.

H Mart's grocery store hours are 7am to midnight but I don't believe the food court will have the same hours. Sapporo and Go Go opened at 11am today, although I don't know if that will be their opening time every day. Neither Go Go Curry nor Paris Baguette have updated their websites with info on the Cambridge location and Sapporo doesn't have a web presence so I couldn't look up the hours. Paris Baguette also serves coffee and other drinks so they may be open all day. (Update 4/25/14: José Garcia of Sapporo Central told me that Sapporo and Go Go Curry's hours are 11am to 9pm daily.  I've heard that both have been running out of food early though hopefully they'll sort that out soon.)

Update 5/8/14: I'm told that Sapporo will be reconfiguring their kitchen to make room for another broth pot so hopefully they won't be out as early as they have been since the opening. That will unfortunately result in no more tempura for the maki.

Did anyone get to eat there today? How was it?

Photos from today begin here.

Update 4/25/14: I made it back to explore the grocery store.

H Mart grand opening date in doubt

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Japanese groceries

Update 4/25/14: I was wrong. They opened on schedule.

Grocery store - 4/8/14

I knew I should have waited before I posted the grand opening date. One of my sources tells me that H Mart hasn't even begun the inspection process and given that they're still not finish installing things, it doesn't seem likely they can even begin to schedule inspections for another couple of weeks. It usually takes several rounds to pass inspections so I'm thinking an opening in May or June is more likely. As you can see from these photos taken on Tuesday and Saturday, they've made some progress, but there's still much more to do.

Grocery store - 4/12/14

H Mart grand opening on April 23rd

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Cambridge is finally open! & H Mart Japanese groceries

Update 4/13/14: They've put up a banner announcing the grand opening, but I think it's doubtful they'll open on schedule.

Paris Baguette

Thanks to reader RiceWalker for alerting me to the fact that H Mart has announced their grand opening for Wednesday, April 23rd. I'm a little surprised because I was there yesterday and while they've made significant progress since my last visit it seems like they still have a lot of work to do before they can start the inspection process.

This is great news for H Mart fans who are tired of driving out to Burlington, but very bad news for all the independently-owned Korean grocery stores in Cambridge and Somerville (and possibly for Ebisuya, but I hope not). Reliable Market in Union Square has a major advantage over Lotte (Central Square) and J&K Han A Rum Oriental Market (North Cambridge) since they have free and hassle-free parking, but not being on a train line they may find it hard to compete with H Mart. On the other hand, if you're driving, Central Square is already a nightmare to park in so H Mart may primarily attract people who are taking the T.

Food court

Mass Ave. entrance

Photos: H Mart's Progress

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Cambridge is finally open! & H Mart Japanese groceries

Mass Ave. entrance

I went to H Mart last week to check on their progress but discovered after I got there that I'd forgotten my camera! I managed to make it back there today. All three signs (they have three entrances) were up last week, although I don't know when they went up.

Don't let the shiny exteriors fool you though. You won't be eating curry and ramen there any time soon. At the end of January they told the Cambridge Chronicle that they planned to open in April, but with April just two weeks away, I don't see that happening. There are construction materials everywhere, wires dangling from the ceiling, and the floors and walls aren't finished. They have a lot more work to do before they can even begin the lengthy inspection process.

When I texted a picture of the interior to a friend last week he commented that maybe they wouldn't open until next year. The store has been plagued with delays so anything is possible. The Globe first reported that H Mart had signed the lease on the old Harvest Co-op space in June 2012. At one point H Mart was optimistically projecting a February 2013 opening, but it was apparently delayed due to power issues with the building. Then they were saying late fall 2013. Then they told the vendors they could move into their spaces in January 2014. Now here we are in March with their last projected opening date next month. Perhaps I should start a pool? When do you think H Mart will open? Leave a comment with month, date, and year!

Food court

Grocery store

Grocery store

Essex St. entrance

Lot 5 entrance

H Mart construction chugging along but no opening in sight

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Cambridge is finally open! & H Mart Japanese groceries

Today I was shown some interior photos of H Mart (which unfortunately I don't have permission to post). Although they've put up signs for Sapporo Ramen and Go Go Curry, equipment has yet to be unwrapped and installed and the food vendor stalls still look more or less like a construction zone. Counters and flooring have yet to be installed. I suppose they could complete construction this month and get inspected in April but at this rate I'll be surprised if they're open before summer.

H Mart Cambridge barely making progress

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Cambridge is finally open! & H Mart Japanese groceries

H Mart's storefront

I was in Central Square the other day so I went by H Mart to see how they were doing. They've taken out the front windows and doors, but it's just boarded up with wood now. At the rear entrance they've put up signs saying they are "coming soon" but I peered inside and it looks like they've made very little progress since I last checked in mid-November. Although the vendors were notified last year that they would be able to move into their stalls in January, I don't see that happening. The walls and floors are not finished at all - it still looks very much like a construction site, not a store. I found it odd that both times I visited (during the daytime on weekdays) no one was working on the space. Sadly, I anticipate it will be months before they open and we can get a taste of Sapporo Central and Go Go Curry.

Coming soon?

See also: Ittoku Update / Sapporo Ramen coming to Central Square @ H Mart

H Mart Update: 2014

Update 5/6/14: H Mart Cambridge is finally open! & H Mart Japanese groceries

Future home of H Mart Central Square

Folks hoping to eat ramen (and other Japanese food) in Central Square next month will have to wait a little longer. Although news outlets reported during the summer that they would open in November or December, a source told me that H Mart tenants received email a few weeks ago saying they would be allowed to move into their stalls in January. However, as you can see from these photos I took today, they're nowhere near ready to open. H Mart has been plagued with delays, so I'll be very surprised if they hit that date (I think they were first hoping to open in the fall of 2012). I suppose it's possible they could complete construction by next month or January but then they still have to pass their inspections which can be a lengthy process. The entire facility - the grocery store and the food concessions - have to pass before they can open. I'm thinking spring 2014...

Grocery store area

Food concession area

See also: Ittoku Update / Sapporo Ramen coming to Central Square @ H Mart

Closed Japanese Businesses

This post is a work in progress. Am I missing something? Let me know at keiko dot in dot boston [at] gmail dot com!
Last updated: 5/15/18

Former home of Miso Market

Well, it's pretty sad that I have to write this post but with the closings of two Japanese grocery stores, one restaurant, and one cafe in the past 6 months, I decided I should list them separately in case people wonder what happened to them. I've also listed a few businesses that closed years ago that I still hear people talk about. I will update this post as needed.


FOOD
Grocery Stores | Restaurants | Other Japanese Food Businesses

SHOPPING & SERVICES
Books | Hair Stylists
 

---

Grocery Stores

Japan Village Mart | 200 Washington St., Brookline, MA - Brookline Village | Yelp

Closed spring 2013.

Kotobukiya Japanese Market | 1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange 

Closed in May 2009. Former employees of Kotobukiya now run Ebisuya, the only exclusively Japanese grocery store in New England that I'm aware of. 

Miso Market | 1963 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA - Porter Square | Yelp

Closed August 2013.

Yoshinoya | 36 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA - Central Square | Yelp

Closed May 2007.

Restaurants

Ken's Ramen House | 1 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA - Allston/Packard's Corner | Yelp

Closed January 2011. Interesting rumor on Eater that a new somewhat related Ken's Ramen is coming to Providence. It seems they already put up a website.

Pikaichi | 1 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA - Allston/Packard's Corner | Yelp
Closed December 2017. In 2011 Pikaichi bought Ken's Ramen House and moved into the space they occupied at the grocery store formerly known as the Super 88. Due to the landlord wanting to drastically raise their rent in 2017, they decided to close their Allston location and relocate. They reopened at 123 Boston Ave. in Medford, MA in April 2018.

Shiro Japanese Restaurant | 3 Gates Pond Rd., Berlin, MA 01503 | Yelp
Closed September 2013. They posted to Facebook post on 9/19/13 saying they were closed until further notice for renovations. On 12/24/13 they posted to Facebook saying they were still working on their renovations, but as far as I saw, they never reopened.

Snappy Sushi / Snappy Ramen |  | Yelp
Closed 11/19/17. Technically this isn't a total closing but a relocation, however since they're in a new location under a new name I thought I would list it here. The restaurant formerly known as Snappy Sushi and renamed in August 2013 to Snappy Ramen has moved to the other side of Davis Square and reopened with a new menu as Snappy Kitchen at 234 Elm Street. There is also a Snappy Sushi location on Newbury St. in Boston that remains open.

Sushi Island | 397 Main St., ‎Wakefield, MA | Yelp
According to a note on their website, Sushi Island closed on 8/25/13. The Aokis hope to open a new restaurant in a new location.
Update 1/11/14: The Aoki's are hoping to working on opening their new restaurant, Junji Fine Japanese Cuisine in Marblehead.

Yakitori Zai | 315 Shawmut Ave., Boston, MA - South End | Yelp
Closed summer 2013.

Other Japanese Food Businesses

Japonaise Bakery
1032 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA - Allston/Packard's Corner | Yelp

Closed summer 2013.
1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140 - Porter Exchange | Yelp
Closed 3/17/15. Unclear if closure is temporary. Summer 2015 - Confirmed closure is permanent.
The Brookline, MA location is still open.

Mochi Kitchen
Somerville, MA | Yelp
Closed March 2015.
The Boston Globe: Mochi made-to-order!

Books

Sasuga Japanese Bookstore | 7 Upland Rd., Cambridge, MA - Porter Square
Brick and mortar store closed 2004, online store closed 2010.

Hair Stylists

Kanoko Hair for Women @ Fernanda's Beauty Salon | 75 Bow St., Somerville, MA 02143 - Union Square
Closed 10/27/14.

See my Directory of Greater Boston Japanese Businesses & Organizations for a partial list of businesses and organizations that are still open.

More Food News: Snappy Ramen, Miso Market

Menu @ Snappy Ramen. Photo courtesy of sartak

Snappy Ramen!

I was really surprised to hear from 2 people today that Snappy Sushi in Davis Square has re-branded as Snappy Ramen. I hadn't heard anything about it. I wasn't able to get there today, but my friend sartak has kindly said I could share his pictures. Looking at the menu, my guess is that they took most of the ramen dishes from the Yakitori Zai weekend ramen menu (they have the same owner). I'm excited to have more ramen nearby and hope to get there this weekend. Their hours are Sunday through Thursday 11:30am to 10pm and Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 11pm. Update 11/18/13: They're no longer open for lunch Monday - Thursday. Their hours as of 11/6/13 were Monday - Friday 5 - 10pm, Friday - Saturday 11:30am - midnight, Sunday 11:30am - 10pm. 

See also: Snappy Ramen: Davis Square now has Ramen

Miso Market

Miso Market is closing at or before the end of the month. I went by today and there's not much left. They had lots of Matcha Cream Pocky and assorted candy, a few drinks, random food, and housewares including some beautiful Japanese dishes. The shelves are quite bare and all the refrigerated food is gone. The owners told me that the person who was making their prepared food is planning to continue selling from Chocho's, the Korean restaurant in the Porter Exchange.

Reopenings: Miso Market, Yume Wo Katare

Update 8/21/13: Miso Market's hours on August 22nd will be noon - 5pm. I'm unclear if that will be their hours for the rest of the month. Metal shelving will also be on sale for $25 & $35.

Miso Market is reopening this Thursday, August 22nd for their final few days before they close for good at the end of the month. I spoke to owners, Steve and Fumi Genova, before their vacation and they told me they have no plans to reopen Miso Market in a new location because they couldn't find another space to relocate to in the Porter Square area, which is too bad.

At long last, Yume Wo Katare is reopening on Friday, August 30th! They've even created a Facebook event for it. Yes, they're now on Facebook. They also have a new mascot. I guess he's Butaman? He's Buta-Ra-Man - says it right on the window, but I failed to see it.

I've missed their ramen, but I think it's still too hot for jiro for me. I was thinking of getting some Yume Wo Katare cha-su to try a men bāgā (メンバーガー), the Japanese-style ramen "burger".

See also: Everything you need to know about Yume Wo Katare.

Miso Market is closing in August

Update 8/4/13: Miso Market seems to have gone on vacation in the middle of their closing sale. A sign in the window said they'll reopen on August 22nd. Sale is now 50% off and they're cash only. Things are looking quite bare inside.

Update 7/29/13: Sale is now 30% off.

More bad news for Japanese food lovers. Yesterday, I heard from a friend that Miso Market in Porter Square is closing. I went by today to check it out. It seems the redevelopment of their building has forced them out so they're planning to close on August 30th. Almost all of their inventory is on sale for 25% off (fresh bento and rice are excluded). I'll be a little surprised if they make it to the end of August. The shelves are already a bit bare, although there's a little bit of most things (refrigerated food, snacks, candy, tea) and some odds and ends (appliances, candles, Japanese dishes). I picked up food storage containers and candy.

I'm sad to see them go, although I have to admit I haven't shopped there very much. Parking is hit or miss - sometimes you get lucky and there's metered parking available in front of the store (although it can be stressful/difficult to park with crazy Mass Ave. traffic) but other times it's impossible, so I usually shop at Reliable and Ebisuya which both have plenty of hassle-free free parking.

Japan Village Mart in Brookline Village closed a few months ago, although I was never able to find out why. My friend seemed to think Cherry Mart on Newbury Street closed a few years ago, but I found a Yelp review as recently as last July and their G+ page is still up. If anyone knows whether they're still in business, please leave a comment. If they are closed, that'll make Ebisuya in Medford the only remaining Japanese grocery store in the Boston area.

H Mart is supposedly coming to Central Square in November or December, but we'll see if that happens. Their opening has been delayed by more than a year, which I'm sure Reliable and Lotte are happy about.

See also: Japanese Grocery Stores, Where to find Japanese groceries

Where to find Japanese groceries

This post is a work in progress. Am I missing something? Let me know at keiko dot in dot boston [at] gmail dot com!

We have just one remaining exclusively Japanese grocery store in all of New England, but there are many other places to buy Japanese groceries in the Greater Boston area which may be more conveniently located for you and may have better prices. Selection at some of these stores is quite limited, but many of them have staples & snacks.

Non-Japanese Asian Grocery Stores

[Last updated: July 2014]

Hong Kong Supermarket (no website) | Boston, MA - Allston/Packard's Corner | Yelp
Pan-Asian - Groceries from all over Asia. Formerly a Super 88 location. The big Super 88 sign is still on the roof. Large food court with Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Korean, and Chinese food (including dim sum!) as well as bubble tea and dessert (ice cream, frozen yogurt, cake). Pikaichi is also in the building in a dedicated space separate from the food court.

H Mart | Burlington, MA | Yelp

Korean-owned Pan-Asian: This location has some Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, & Thai groceries.  Food court with Korean bakery and Korean, Japanese, Chinese, & Vietnamese food.

H Mart | Cambridge, MA | Yelp
4/7/14: The Cambridge location is opening on Wednesday, April 23rd.
Food court will have a Korean bakery, Japanese curry, ramen, and sushi.

Mirim Oriental Groceries (no website) | Boston, MA - Allston | Yelp

Korean: Japanese staples, small selection of snacks & candy, and some other random Japanese groceries.

Reliable Market (Google+) | Somerville, MA - Union Square | Yelp

Korean: A lot of Japanese groceries.  They also have Japanese & Korean alcohol.

Super 88 (no website) | Malden, MA | Yelp
Pan-Asian: Groceries from all over Asia + American groceries. Huge produce section.

Fresh Fish

[Last updated: January 2013]

In addition to Sakanaya (See Other Japanese Food Businesses), I'm told that these fish markets are popular with Japanese folks. 

Courthouse Seafood | East Cambridge, MA | Yelp

New Deal Fish Market | East Cambridge, MA | Yelp

American Grocery Stores

Many Shaw's and Stop & Shop locations have a small section of their international aisle dedicated to Japanese food. It tends to be limited to packaged food and snacks.

Whole Foods Market carries American brand "Japanese" food such as Eden Foods, Great Eastern Sun, and South River Miso Company.

Directory of Greater Boston Japanese Businesses & Organizations

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.

FOOD
Japanese Grocery Stores | Japanese Agriculture | Authentic Japanese Restaurants | Other Japanese Food Businesses

SHOPPING & SERVICES
Japanese Gift Shops | Japanese Books, Magazines, & DVDs | Japanese Hair Salons & Stylists | Japanese Travel Agencies | Japanese Photographers | Other Japanese-Owned Services

ART, LANGUAGE, & CULTURE
Arts | Kitsuke/Kimono Rental & Photos | Museum Exhibits | Japanese Language | Japanese Clubs | College Clubs & Organizations

MISC
Other | Blogs

Update 9/14/12: I moved doctors and therapists to a separate post for healthcare providers.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Japanese Doctors | Japanese Dentists | Japanese Mental Health Professionals | Japanese Acupuncturists

Japanese Grocery Store

[Last updated: September 2013]

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]

Anime Zakka (formerly Kofuku) | Cambridge, MA - Harvard Square | Yelp

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 Japanese Language School of Greater Boston at Medford High School has a library (Nihongo Toshokan) that is open to the public when school is in session.  They have books, magazines, and CDs. They also sell used books and hold an annual book fair in late October.

The Boston Public Library has a collection of books and DVDs.

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 Hair Salons & Stylists

[Last updated: March 2015]

Defi | Boston, MA - Newbury St. | Yelp

Hair Stylist Kayoko @ Haute Coiffure Salon Boston | Boston, MA - Kenmore

Fumiko Tanaka @ Beautiful Cuts | Allston, MA

Taka Ihara @ Haute Coiffure Salon Boston | Boston, MA - Kenmore

Mami Hair Salon | Arlington, MA - East Arlington | Yelp

Mie Higashimoto | Boston, MA - Newbury St. | Yelp

Japanese Travel Agencies

[Last updated: September 2013]

Amnet Boston | Boston, MA - Back Bay

Boston International Travel | Brookline, MA - Coolidge Corner

H.I.S. International Tours | Boston, MA - Copley

IACE Travel | Boston, MA - Copley | Yelp

Total Travel & Excursions, Inc. | Cambridge, MA - Porter Exchange

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.

Japanese House at the Children's Museum | Boston, MA - Waterfront

Museum of Fine Arts Art of Japan Collection, Japanese Garden, Tenshin-en, Japanese Buddhist Temple Room  | Boston, MA - Fenway/Kenmore

Peabody Essex Museum Japanese Art Collection | Salem, MA

Worcester Art Museum Asian Art Collection | Worcester, MA

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."

GrayMist Studio & Shop | Cambridge, MA - Huron Village | Yelp
Nantucket basket studio & curated gift shop with ocean theme. Although Nantucket baskets are native to Massachusetts, GrayMist carries select items from Japan and is Japanese-owned.

Ikebana International - Boston Chapter
Non-profit dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of ikebana.

Japan Artists Information Directory (JAID) - Artists in Massachusetts
"JAID is a database of information about performers and teachers of traditional Japanese performing arts based in the United States." JAID is maintained by the Five College Center for East Asian Studies.

Kaji Aso Studio | Boston, MA - Symphony | Yelp
"Kaji Aso Studio offers experience in the visual arts, music, poetry, philosophy,and Japanese culture... Members have the opportunity to exhibit and collaborate on central themes."

Odaiko New England | based in Woburn, MA
Taiko performance, workshops, and lectures.

Origamido Studio | Haverhill, MA
Origami studio. Private classes by appointment. You may have seen their work at the 2007-2008 Origami Now! exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum.

SAORI Worcester | Worcester, MA
Weaving studio that teaches the SAORI technique from Japan.

Studio Aika
Online Sashiko studio & shop; classes held in Massachusetts & New Hampshire.

Tewassa | based in Cambridge, MA - Huron Village at GrayMist Studio & Shop
Tewassa is a volunteer organization I'm involved with that produces "message" quilts for Japanese schools affected by the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake & tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster at Fukushima. We also work to educate adults & kids in New England on the disaster & recovery efforts.

Kitsuke/Kimono Rental & Photos

[Last updated: October 2015]

Boston Kimono Academy | Newton, MA

Hana Japan Kimono Experience | Newburyport, MA

Japanese Kimono Dressing ~Ayame~ | Malden, MA

Japanese Language

[Last updated: August 2013]

Amherst Japanese Language School | South Hadley, MA
Pre-school through high school Japanese Saturday school

Christopher Field | Based in Lincoln, MA
Japanese technical interpreting and translation

Circle of Boston Nursery School | Watertown, MA
Bilingual Japanese-English nursery school.

Japanese Language Class Boston | Boston, MA
Private and group instruction in Japanese language and culture for all ages and levels.

Japanese Language School of Greater Boston | Medford, MA
Kindergarten (beginning at age 3) through high school and Japanese as a second language Japanese Saturday school

Showa Boston | Boston, MA
Japanese language and culture institute

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]

Essence of Japan

Yoko Bryden of Yoko Design Kitchen blogs about Japanese cooking.

JapaneseBallPlayers.com

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.