We bring you an inside look at “J-WAVE NIHONMONO LOUNGE,” an entertainment restaurant presented by Hidetoshi Nakata and J-WAVE!

Hello everyone, this is PR Sunny-chan!

Today, we are bringing you a report from the press preview of the entertainment restaurant “J-WAVE NIHONMONO LOUNGE,” held prior to its official opening on Tuesday, July 14, 2020!
*This restaurant is organized by J-WAVE Inc., with SUNNY SIDE UP Inc. participating as co-organizer.

This restaurant opened within “Takanawa Gateway Fest,” a special venue located in front of the new JR Yamanote Line station “Takanawa Gateway Station.”

Various booths throughout the spacious venue

Hidetoshi Nakata, former member of the Japan national soccer team who has traveled through all 47 prefectures, mastered Japanese culture including sake, and continues to share its appeal with the world, has been appointed as director.

From here, we will introduce each of the various genres of content filled with Japanese charm gathered at the venue!

159 renowned sake breweries from across the nation have assembled!

In collaboration with “CRAFT SAKE WEEK,” the world’s largest SAKE event organized by Nakata and held four times previously, carefully selected sake from all over Japan can be enjoyed according to different themes at the venue.

During the event period, approximately 20 breweries rotate weekly, with each presenting their recommended brands.

On this day, 19 brands of sake were offered under the theme of “Tokyo/Tohoku” for Week 1 (July 14-19).

From among them, we will introduce one sake each from Tokyo and Tohoku recommended by a sake sommelier.

Photo left: Okunogami (Toshimaya Sake Brewery) Photo right: Aramasa (Aramasa Sake Brewery)

First is “Okunogami” from Toshimaya Sake Brewery in Higashimurayama, Tokyo.

Created with the concept of “fragrant and gentle flavor,” this sake features a sweet apple-like aroma. It was recommended as perfect for sake beginners like Sunny-chan!

Taking a sip, I was surprised by its fruitiness. The apple aroma spreads throughout the mouth. It was a very easy-to-drink item with a refreshing finish.

Next is “Aramasa” from Aramasa Sake Brewery in Akita Prefecture, Tohoku.

The sweetness and elegance you feel with one sip has a flavor that doesn’t seem like sake at all. A member at the venue who is knowledgeable about sake told me this is an item that people who don’t usually drink sake should especially try.

A premium counter for “YEBISU Beer,” celebrating its 130th anniversary, also appears

Set up in one corner of the venue is the “YEBISU PREMIUM COUNTER,” a premium counter for “YEBISU Beer”!

On the wall, specially made glasses created specifically for enjoying YEBISU Beer are lined up in rows.

Three types of beer are constantly available. One type rotates weekly for your enjoyment.

“Lucky YEBISU” served in a special design glass, one in several hundred

Please enjoy the various “golden richness” for yourself.

Special menus from 16 popular domestic restaurants that are difficult to book

Additionally, special menus supervised by Japan’s finest restaurants that are difficult to book and can only be eaten here are offered at the venue.

Menus created under the supervision of popular chefs to pair with sake rotate weekly, so it would be nice to visit according to the menu you want to try.

Here, we will introduce two of Sunny-chan’s recommended items from the menus offered at the tasting!

The first item is “White Liver and Soft-Boiled Egg Tartine” from the French restaurant “L’Effervescence” in Nishi-Azabu.

On top of a crispy baguette sits fluffy white liver and sour cream, and when you take a bite, the soft-boiled egg yolk oozes out.

L’Effervescence’s “White Liver and Soft-Boiled Egg Tartine”

The rich aroma of the white liver is perfect with sake. I forgot (almost) that I was working, and my hand kept reaching for another drink.

The second item is “Kudan’s Specialty Oden 7-Piece Assortment” from the Japanese restaurant “Kudan” in Gakugei-daigaku.

The aroma of the broth that you can smell even before eating is exceptional! True to the restaurant’s concept of “drinking sake with broth,” this is a menu you definitely want to eat together with sake.

Kudan’s “Kudan’s Specialty Oden 7-Piece Assortment”

The tororo kombu topping provides a nice accent. The broth has thoroughly soaked into each of the seven types of oden, allowing me to savor each piece individually.

You can also enjoy “NIHONMONO TOKYO,” which brings together Japanese charm,
and entertainment by J-WAVE

At the venue, a shop called “NIHONMONO TOKYO” has also been established, featuring crafts and other Japanese attractions that Nakata encountered during his travels across the country.

Additionally, the restaurant broadcasts YEBISU BEER BEGINNINGS ~FROM TAKANAWA GATEWAY~ live on weekdays from 12:30. The program invites chefs from restaurants participating in J-WAVE NIHONMONO LOUNGE, sake brewers, musicians, creators, and other people leading Tokyo’s next generation as guests for public live broadcasts.

COVID-19 infection prevention measures are also implemented

At the venue, thorough measures are implemented with consideration for the health and safety of visitors and staff.

Next to the “CRAFT SAKE TOWER” located immediately upon entering, “Sake Alcohol Disinfectant” made by sake breweries is installed.

When actually disinfecting your hands, you can tell that the aroma differs depending on the sake used. Some disinfectants have the aroma of sake itself, and I was surprised by the differences.

This restaurant offers content filled with Japanese charm from various genres, including pairings of carefully selected sake and cuisine, crafts, and entertainment, all curated by experts in each field.

Please visit “J-WAVE NIHONMONO LOUNGE” and fully enjoy the appeal of Japan!

Reservations are required in advance, so please make a reservation before visiting.

For reservations and detailed information, please click here.