Hi there, Julie! That's amazing that you've just been to Tokyo. It sounds like you had a great trip and sampled lots of wonderful Japanese food - even at the kombini. I was delighted to hear that you've been enjoying the videos and I hope they can give you a little taste of Japan wherever you are! 😋

Hello there and thanks very much for watching. Wow - 19 years is a long time! I've never actually tried freezing natto as it's so tasty it doesn't last long in my fridge. It's a staple food item for me whenever I go shopping.😋

Hello there, Frederick! Thanks so much for watching. Yes, it's one of the more unusual styles of Udon Noodles, but definitely worth a try. The really wide ones must be really difficult to eat, though.😋

Hello there, Frederick! Ah, yes 'cartilage' must be a tricky word. It doesn't sound all that delicious, but it was really nice. Thanks so much for watching.😋

Thanks so much Shanti! I'm glad you liked it. Natto is one of the healthiest foods in Japan and although it looks kind of scary, it tastes really nice.😋

Hi there! Thanks so much for watching.Yes, it goes really well with any kind of alcohol really. One of my favorite recipes is in an omelet with cheese - easy to make and goes great with beer.🍺

Thanks very much! I moved here over 25 years ago to teach English and I just never went home. I fell in love with the culture, really enjoyed the job - which I still do and decided to settle down here.

​@@KonbiniJapanwow, awesome!

Hi there! It's actually quite tasty once you get used to the the smell and the sliminess. The flavor itself definitely grows on you, but I must admit it all looks a bit daunting seeing it for the first time. Give it a try, if you have the chance!😉

it has a little smell of coffee… if you got bad smell, that may be contaminated. Natto is good for people with high cholesterol.

Yes, it really is such an incredibly healthy food, isn't it?

Hello there, Frederick! ✨ Thanks so much for watching and for your question. The date that was displayed on the package is called the 消費期限 しょうひきげん shōhi kigen which means the "Use by date" - indicating the deadline for safe consumption of the product. This is different from another dating system which we also see on Japanese food products 賞味期限" しょうみきげん shōmi kigen which means "best before date" or "Best by date" in English. This indicates the date until which the product is expected to remain at its best quality and flavor when stored under proper conditions. After this date, the food may still be safe to eat but might not be at its optimal quality. I hope that clears things up for you. Cheers!😋

Hi there, Trish! Thanks so much for the kind words. Have a great day!☺️

Hi there! Yes, it's an old classic that Family Mart seem to have made official. Must be some good memories for you.😋

Hi there! Thank so much for watching. Perhaps they use the divider more for the rice balls that are usually eaten cold? I wonder how they decide which ones have the divider and which ones don't... But I know what you mean - you can't beat biting through some nice crisp seaweed and into the rice. Lovely stuff!😋

Hello there! You're very welcome and thanks so much for the nice idea. I'm so glad to hear that you've been enjoying the videos and hopefully the channel will gain a few more subscribers and get a little bigger in the future. Cheers!😋

Hi there, Frederick! ✨ Thanks for watching. Some people use soy sauce for Korean style sushi rolls, but it's really a matter of personal preference. In contrast to Japanese sushi where soy sauce and wasabi are a 'must,' Korean style sushi has a more complex flavor profile. Japanese sushi/sushi rolls tend to have a milder flavor, which lends itself better to the use of soy sauce. Hope that all makes sense. Cheers!😋

Hello there! Thanks so much for your kind words.😋

Hi there! Thanks very much for the kind words. I hope you enjoy the channel.😋

Hi there! Thanks so much for watching and for the request. I'll try and review something from the new Korean range at 7-11.😋

Hi there, Wendi! Yes, I agree. I've really started to like natto over the years and it comes with all those health benefits as well.😋

Thanks so much, Zed. It was rather a tasty offering from Family Mart and it added an interesting twist to an already iconic product - The Famichiki! 😋

Hi there! I must admit it might not look all that appetizing at first, but it actually tastes really nice. One of my favorite ways to eat natto is in an omelet with cheese. Goes great with beer.😋

Hi there! Well, I guess it's kind of an acquired taste, but at least you gave it a try.😋

Hi there! Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes, Natto seems to be one of those things you either love or hate. Perhaps it’s bit like blue cheese. Luckily, I’m a big fan and I actually eat it several times a week.😋

@@KonbiniJapan - PS: You got a new subscriber.

Thanks so much, Frederick! Welcome aboard.☺️

Hi there! The slime factor is indeed kind of off-putting for a lot of people, but once you get used to it there's no looking back. Thanks so much for watching!😋

Hey there, Carlos! Welcome aboard - I was so glad to hear you've been enjoying the channel so far. Japanese konbini foods have such a depth of variety, there's always something new to talk about. Cheers!😋

Hi there! Thanks so much for watching. Yes, there's a lot to be said for the quality of the eggs in Japan. I come from Scotland and whenever I go back home, I certainly notice the difference. The eggs in Japan have a deeper, richer flavor and the color of the yolk also seems much more appealing. I know a guy who is a researcher at a poultry feed company here in Japan and he says each food manufacturer requests a special recipe for their particular chickens. Apparently it even differs depending on how the eggs are going to be cooked. They also have different feed for the chickens that are going to be eaten as meat. Apparently they add herbs, tea leaves etc. to produce the desired results. Cheers for now!😋

This is so true. So many Japanese recipes call for you to just drop an egg yolk in and I never understood why. Up until I tried Japanese eggs. Let me say this, the best carbonarra is Japanese. Even their pork is juicy.

Hi there! Carbonara in Japan is always so creamy and rich - thanks to the addition of the amazing eggs. I'm not too sure how it compares to the authentic Italian version, but it always hits the spot with me.😋

Hello there! Ah yes, good old natto straight from the straw actually tastes the best. It's pretty hard to come by unless I find some in a local road station or souvenir shops near me. Thanks so much for the kind words!😋

Hey there, Humberto! Yes, the music was rather dramatic. Thanks so much for watching.😋

Hey there, Zed! Thanks so much for watching. I guess it might be difficult to get for some people, but I hope you'll be able to try some one day. A bit scary-looking at first, but after a few times it definitely starts to grow on you and it's a genuine superfood!😋

Grow your own natto, it even can be grown on a loose lentil puree or whatever. Boul some in a pot and clingerap the top of the pot and place it warm. Done

Hi there! That's a really good idea. I know some people who make their own here in Japan, but it's usually using a special machine which I think can also be used to make yoghurt.😋

Hi there, Daniel! ☺️Thanks so much for watching and for the kind words. I'm sure it'll take a bit of time, but I'll hopefully get there in the end. For the time being, I'm going to enjoy the journey and perhaps a few chicken sticks along the way. Cheers!✨

Hi there, Michel! 😋 Thank you very much for the kind words and I'm delighted to hear that you're an avid fan of all things Japan. I'm still kind of a word in progress, but it's so wonderful when I receive compliments on how the videos are put together. The gear that I use is really quite simple and everything is shot on my SONY a6300 camera. I also have a pretty big LED light with a softbox and I'm using a TASCAM DR-10L microphone for the sound. Cheers for now and I hope you'll enjoy the videos and of course your future visits to Japan!☺️

Hi there, Julie! Thanks so much for watching and also for subscribing. I hope you'll enjoy the videos! Mata ne!😋

Hi there, Zed! I hope it's ok to call you that. These have been around in various forms for a while now and these are the latest ones. I think I also tasted some Korean beef 'Bulkogi' ones the season before. Stuffed full with plenty of veggies, too!😋

@@KonbiniJapan Yeah, Zed is ok! Since I don't eat a lot of meat I'm glad they fill them with a lot of veggies 😁

That’s great, Zed. I guess Japanese food involves a fair amount of meat, but there are so many seafood options. It can tricky for vegetarians/vegans etc in Japan, though.

Thanks so much! I'm delighted to hear that. Bamboo rice is one of my favorites in the Spring for its slightly crunchy texture and also for its ability to adopt the flavors of the dish it's added to.😋

Hi there! Hope you enjoyed the video.😋

Also ochazuke is a very comforting dish, very nice

Hi there! Thank you very much for such a lovely comment. I guess it’s going to take time to build up more subscribers, but I’m really enjoying the journey. As you said, ochazuke is such a tasty dish. There’s not much to it, but its gentle flavor is incomparable to anything else. See you in the next video.😋

Hi there! Thank you very much for watching and for taking the time to comment. It's such a simple dish but so tasty and comforting at the same time, isn't it? Thanks for your kind words. Cheers!!😋

Hi there! I hope you enjoyed the video. Thanks so much for the support!😋

Hi there! ✨ Thanks so much for watching. I always appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts in the comments. Ochazuke is such a simple dish, but it is incredibly satisfying. There's a good reason it's one of the soul foods of Japan. If you can get hold of some, it's definitely worth a try. Have a great day!😋