HYPER JAPAN 2012 Christmas

Doki, located in Pacific Plaza in Wembley, London, showcased and sold a selection of ceramics and pottery imported directly from Japan at HYPER JAPAN London 2010. Doki is written as 土器 in Japanese kanji characters, and means earthenware. It is the term used to describe ancient Japanese earthenware, and Doki today provides people living in the UK with the opportunity to buy authentic, beautiful Japanese ceramics, cookware, glassware, lacquerware and more. Doki’s range of products is the most extensive in Europe, and the next best thing to going crockery shopping in Tokyo!

In Japan, almost as much care goes into the presentation of cuisine as the preparation. A traditional kaiseki Japanese chef will be as strict in choosing the dish in or plate on which to serve each dish as he will be in selecting the seasonal ingredients with which to make it. All Japanese food, but particularly kaiseki, focuses on engaging all five senses (gokan), using the five flavours (gomi), and the five colours (goshiki: red, black, white, blue, yellow), too. And so the arrangement and the presentation of the food are integral to creating and maintaining this balance between flavours, senses and colours. Ceramics decorated with seasonal motifs, such as birds or flowers, are particularly useful in evoking the season. This importance of tableware in food helps to explain why the ceramics industry is so thriving in Japan today.

But you don’t have to be working in a highly ritualised culinary environment to have fun with your tableware. Doki products come in a wonderful variety of patterns, shapes and colours, so as you build up a collection you can mix and match with the season, the food, the weather or the flowers arranged on your table. Unlike the UK, where its normally the done thing to serve food on matching tableware, Japanese people are less concerned with an overall matching system, and focus more on the beauty of each individual piece. Many visitors came to find the right rice bowl or the perfect tea cup. Also particularly popular was the maneki neko, or "beckoning cat", a cat character seen throughout Japan that is also known as the Money Cat, Lucky Cat or Fortune Cat. It's supposed to bring businesses luck by encouraging customers in.

Doki fans visited the stall over all three days, sometimes repeatedly, to stock up on their beautiful ceramincs which are imported directed from Gifu prefecture in Japan. The stall had a selection of products normally available at the Wembley store include: plates, bowls, teapots and cups, lacquerware, ornaments, screens, fans and kitchen tools including graters, mortars, sushi rolling mats and tea strainers. The Pacific Plaza is located in Wembley Retail Park, Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0EG. They can also be found every week at Camden Market so you can head there to pick up characterful, authentic dining ware there, too!

Doki, or Jomondoki, dates back to 14,000 BCE, when the Jomon period began in Japan. This pottery is internationally unique; jomon itself means ‘rope patterns’ and this early pottery was decorated with markings made by pressing ropes into the clay. Pottery making became more sophisticated throughout the Jomon period, with later pieces reaching quite stunning levels of artistic expression and complexity. Ceramics continues to develop in Japan over the centuries, with various regions developing core centres of production with distinct styles; these include Mino-Seto, Arita-Karatsu, Kiyomizu-Shigaraki, and Kutani-Mashiko. In keeping with its long tradition of absorbing and adapting the traditions and practises of other countries and cultures, modern Japanese ceramics has embraced Western artistic influence, creating bold and innovative pieces that are as admired as art as they are as functional vessels. Indeed, ceramic sculpture thrives in Japan, and this high level of artistry is supported by a strong community of artisan ceramicists and potters.

Japan has one of the most booming and innovative beauty industries in the whole world, and its eyelash extension technology is simply second to none. ON THE LASH, a mobile eyelash extension service based in London and Brighton, appeared at HYPER JAPAN London 2010 to showcase its stunning range of cute, sparkly, fun and naturally beautiful extensions. The falsies proved so popular that there was a waiting list to get some Tokyo-style eye glamour.

ON THE LASH offered a wide range of eyelash extensions on the day. Colour extensions and cute rhinestones will make your look – the decorative options last for the whole day and were be available at a special HYPER JAPAN price. Natural extensions, which can last between 2 to 6 weeks depending on the life cycle of your own lashes and your daily care, were also available, again at a special event price. These extensions are attached to your own lashes with a non-toxic high quality bonding protein, directly imported from Tokyo.

So if you’ve ever wondered how those kawaii-as-pie Japanese models get their eyes looking so super cute, here’s your chance to find out: it's all on the ON THE LASH website here.

Let ON THE LASH put the finishing touches to your cosplay.

Highlight your eyes with a flirty flicker of red
Shimmering rhinestones for a stunning look

MISAKO AOKI: HIGH PRINCESS OF CUTE

HYPER JAPAN was delighted to welcome Misako Aoki, top KERA model and all-round mega cute celebrity, to HYPER JAPAN with our UK models for Hyper Style A Go Go on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October, and for an exclusive Audience with Misako on Friday 1st October.

Misako is one of KERA’s top models, regularly appearing in the magazine. She has also modelled for many brands, including BABY, the stars shine bright, and is a regular in gothic and Lolita publications. As well as being a model, Misako also works as a nurse.

Misako was thrown into the international spotlight in 2009 when she was selected by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as one of three ‘Kawaii Taishi’ (that’s Ambassadors of Cute to you and me) to represent Japan’s contemporary fashion and culture overseas.  The main mission of the three ambassadors was to communicate new trends in Japanese pop culture and fashion to the rest of the world and to promote understanding of Japan by attending cultural projects carried out all over the world by Japanese Embassies and the Japan Foundation.

Misako appeared on stage at Hyper Style A Go Go on Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd October, and accompanied our UK models on their catwalk debut on the HYPER JAPAN stage! Loads of lucky Lolita fashionistas and Misako fans got to meet, greet and take photos with their idol on the stage and at the KERA Booth.

You can see some shots of Misako at HYPER JAPAN here. We'll also be updating the web with quotes, photos and comments from Misako soon!

You can check out Misako’s official website here (in Japanese), or you can read (or just look at!) Misako’s Japanese blog, “My Pink and Lovely Diary”, here.

Sushi always tastes better with a drop of KIKKOMAN Soy Sauce, but while the naturally brewed goodness of KIKKOMAN might be available in the home, it’s still pretty hard to make sushi like the experts in your own kitchen. Still, the KIKKOMAN Sushi Challenge at HYPER JAPAN London 2010 was a great way to learn the basics, then watch our Sushi Challengers battle it out on the HYPER JAPAN stage on Friday 1st October and Saturday 2nd October.

Sushi Challengers were invited to learn some essential sushi techniques from our resident sushi expert, Tomokazu Matsuya from SO Restaurant. After Chef Matsuya’s instruction, the Sushi Challengers had a chance to practice before the competition began! The Sushi Challengers were asked to make nigirizushi (that’s the kind where the sushi neta, or topping, is placed on top of a bed of sushi rice), under the watchful eye of Chef Matsuya. The best sushi was judged to be the piece on which the salmon topping stayed stuck onto the rice for the longest when the sushi was held upside-down. The winners on both days received an exclusive Jumbo Inflatable KIKKOMAN Soy Sauce Dispenser – not available anywhere in the shops!

On Friday 1st October it was Kristina Poslusna who won, and on Saturday 2nd October the prize went to Alex Cambell.

KIKKOMAN Soy Sauce is the most distinctive variety of all soy sauces currently available. It is naturally brewed, using just four ingredients and no artificial additives. The careful fermentation process is what makes it so rich in umami, and its smooth mellow flavour distinguishes it from alternative products. Learn more about KIKKOMAN Soy Sauce here and try out a delicious Eat-Japan recipe using this umami-rich, naturally brewed, essential Japanese ingredients.

Tomokazu Matsuya is head sushi chef at SO Restaurant, voted the UK’s Favourite Japanese in the Eat-Japan Dining Awards 2009 by the most discerning customers of all – Japanese residents in London. Chef Matsuya started out as a professional chef in 1987, aged 17, then joined the Self-Defense Forces and worked as a chef in the maritime forces for 15 years, cooking for VIPs onboard. After leaving, he opened his own restaurant, then in 2006 he moved to the UK for a new challenge, using his years of experience as a sushi chef to bring the authentic taste of Japan to British diners. He became SO Restaurant’s Head Sushi Chef in 2007. He is also a skilled instructor who has taught many a sushi enthusiast up until now through his regular sushi making classes at SO Restaurant.

Owned by a pioneering Japanese restaurateur, SO Restaurant now offers a beautifully prepared and varied menu combining classic Japanese cuisine unmistakable European twist. Heading up the classic sushi bar is Tomokazu Matsuya, whilst Kaoru Yamamoto, who has a background in French cuisine, creates fusion dishes in the kitchen. SO Restaurant is an exciting and innovative Japanese dining experience that has won multiple awards – don’t forget to try out their dishes at the Eat-Japan Food Court.

LINK TO HYPER JAPAN

Would you like HYPER JAPAN web users to visit your site? Are you interested in a banner exchange? Please contact us to talk about link exchanges. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your banner attached as a jpeg, png or gif file, 100px x 40px, your alt text,  and what size our banner should be.

WRITE FOR HYPER JAPAN

Got something to say about contemporary Japan? Want to tell the world about your favourite anime/manga/artist/writer/fashion designer? Why not write for Hyper Japan and introduce your Japan to an interested online community.

Online Marketing Opportunities with HYPER JAPAN

HYPER JAPAN is an event-focused brand that showcases the very best of Japan’s modern culture and cuisine. It is run by Cross Media, who created the EAT-JAPAN brand and are the organisers of the world-renowned Eat-Japan Sushi Awards.

The London 2010 event was held over the first three days of October 2010in London’s trendy Brick Lane area. It was a unique venture that brings together multiple Japanese products, including food, drink, manga, anime, films, street fashion and gadgets. HYPER JAPAN London 2010 was the most viewed event on London Timeout.com, and received extensive media coverage in the UK, Europe and Japan. Click here to see visitor feedback and a video of the event.

HYPER JAPAN runs an official website and each event will be promoted via diverse online and print media, including:

• HYPER JAPAN Official Website www.hyperjapan.co.uk
• EAT JAPAN website www.eat-japan.com
• HYPER JAPAN E-newsletter (twice monthly)
• EAT JAPAN E-newsletter (once monthly)
• Twitter and Facebook

We are happy to participate in mutually beneficial marketing exchanges, including:

• Information about your event, product or special offer in one or more of our newsletters in exchange for similar
• “Special Edition” newsletters featuring your event, product, or special offer in exchange for similar
• Competitions – we can offer event tickets in return for a prize from you

Marketing through the HYPER JAPAN/EAT-JAPAN brand is ideal if you are looking to appeal to any of the following audiences:

• Fans of Japanese film and animation
• Fans of gourmet food and wine
• Fans of manga, comics and pop art
• Fans of Japanese street fashion, accessories, cosmetics and hair products
• Fans of travel, Japan, Japanese/Asian culture

Contact: Mary at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 020-7247-9388 to discuss opportunities.