Japan

End of a ban on slaughterhouse inspections could have gourmands horsing around

Former Westword critic Jason Sheehan was interested in trying horsemeat, "considered a staple in France, a delicacy in Japan and a treat among Italian, Dutch and Belgians." But he couldn't find a source in this country -- and then in 2006, Congress banned funding of horse-meat inspections, essential ... More >>

Izakaya Den hosts Asabiraki Sake Brewery for a lesson in sake pairing

Izakaya Den will host a sake-pairing extravaganza tonight.​All sakes start with rice and water, which are fermented in a process similar to that of brewing beer. But every toji -- head sake brewer -- has a different style, and rice polishing, additives and aging techniques all result in vastly ... More >>

Roger Taylor of Duran Duran on writing new music rather than resting on one's laurels

During the 1980s and into the '90s, Duran Duran (due tonight at the 1STBANK Center with Neon Trees) was one of the most popular and successful rock bands of that time. It was the kind of band for whom people would camp out outside hotel rooms to get autographs. Its music and its music videos are ico ... More >>

10 things to do for $10 this weekend, April 29 - May 1, 2011

Fast Geek Boutique​The monthly transitional weekend is one of our favorite types of weekends. It's like you enter the weekend thinking to yourself, "Gee, April is great," and by the end of it you're like, "Shit, it's May already?" It's a bit jarring, really. While you're busy writing out those ... More >>

Giving Back To Japan

Get Animated

Ask the bartender: The sun rises on Japanese whisky

​Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource ... More >>

Mile High musicians reach out A Mountain of Arms to the people of Japan this weekend

​As yet another example of the seemingly inexhaustible generosity of the members of our local music community, this weekend finds nearly two dozen acts from the scene rallying around the people of Japan with a pair of like-minded benefits, A Mountain of Arms at City Hall and Tomodachi: A Conce ... More >>

Japan's nuclear power plants need to poo

​It is way too soon to joke about the three-disasters-rolled-into-one happening in Japan right now. Luckily, though, for those of us with an almost unbearable urge for shocking tactlessness, Japan is making the jokes for us with a public service video for children explaining via one of the mos ... More >>

Radiation from Japanese nuclear paint found in Colorado: Health dept. says no need to panic

​Last week, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment tried to counter media-fueled fears about radiation from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan creating health risks here. Today, that job just got more difficult. The CDPHE confirms that "minuscule" amounts of ... More >>

Update: More food-centric benefits for Japan

A Flickr photo.​Denver restaurants are rallying to aid Japan; here are some of the local benefits: Ototo Food and Wine (www.facebook.com/ototoden), Izakaya Den (www.izakayaden.net) and Sushi Den (www.facebook.com/sushiden) will host fundraisers through Saturday, March 19. A portion of dinner ... More >>

Japanese radiation worries in U.S.: Health dept. tries to calm fears as media stokes them

​This morning, Peter Boyles spent part of his KHOW morning show wondering if we should be taking potassium iodide to protect ourselves against radiation from the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. And at this writing, the main story on the CBS4 home page asks, "Could Japan's Radi ... More >>

Pueblo nuclear power plant proposal hearings against backdrop of Japanese explosions

​Timing is everything. With gas prices going up, up, up due to the chaos in North Africa last month, suddenly a nuclear power plant started looking good to Pueblo County, where the commissioners are considering a proposal to make that county one of the spots in the country vying for a new nuke ... More >>

Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast's Tokyo Extreme Fashion Show: A Harajuku holiday

​Andrew Novick and Janene Hurst, the stark raving mad brains behind Gimme Gimme Pillow Toast have taken monster steps up the ladder with their Japan-centric concern: The couple, who go on buying trips in Japan, opened and closed their Belmar store, vend at NDK and other cosplay meccas, throw a ... More >>

Guinness World Records day: the world's best, most important day, ever

Really?​It's the day we've all been patiently waiting and preparing for the entire year. The one day when we can come together as a people, not just as Americans, but also as human beings, and celebrate the magnificent beauty and potential of the human imagination. Yes, today is Guinness World ... More >>

Japanese Spider-Man shows he's far weirder than American Spider-Man

​Forget what you think you know of Spider-Man. Forget Toby Maguire, forget Sam Raimi, forget everything from the movies. Hell, forget Peter Parker and radioactive spiders -- this is Japanese Spider-Man we're talking about today. Japan is a wonderful place with their own special way of doing t ... More >>

The Cove: Japanese protestors block Japanese-dolphin-killing documentary from theaters

A shot from The Cove.​ A documentary film about dolphin hunting in Japan directed by Boulder resident Louie Psihoyos has come under fire in -- where else? -- Japan. According to the website for The Cove, a right-wing nationalist group has raised enough ruckus that three Japanese theaters have ... More >>

Where's the fire? In your nose, with this wasabi alarm

​Another genius idea has emerged from Japan, where entrepreneurs have developed a fire alarm for deaf people that uses wasabi powder to penetrate the nostrils and alert them to imminent danger. The wall-mounted alarm has a container of compressed, concentrated wasabi mist that, at the first h ... More >>

In sickness and in health, 'til tuna do we cut

Non-traditional weddings are the new black. The bride wears whatever she wants, the wedding party jams to Kanye as they bebop down the aisle and beaches, backyards, and city parks have replaced chapels and churches. But a couple in Japan recently took the cake (or the sashimi, more appropriately) ... More >>

Freaky Friday: "Daibutsu Hands feat. FFF" - DJ ShabuShabu

​Before we go any further, I feel a warning is in order. Epileptics and anyone who started their day off with a hefty dose of psychedelics should stop here -- to go further is to risk madness, injury or death. The rest of you? Well, your eyes and brain may bleed a little bit, but you'll probab ... More >>

Freaky Friday: "Yatta"

​Today's freakshow is something of an Internet classic, and no doubt many of you are already well familiar with the singing, dancing insanity of the Japanese boy-band parody "Yatta." But classics gain that status for a reason, so you can stand to watch it again so your less well-informed coll ... More >>

Tonight's shochu dinner at Elway's Cherry Creek could be the blowout food orgy of the year

​By the time 5 p.m. rolls around on a work day in Japan, patrons have made their way into the nearest izakaya to knock back shochu (pronounced 'show-chew'), a clear distilled spirit, similar to vodka (sans the hangover), that can be made from rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, barley or buckwhea ... More >>

Freaky Friday: Sour - "Hibi no Neiro"

​Japan offers us this week's entry into the weird of the world. The song is "Hibi no Neiro" by Japanese group Sour. It's actually quite a nice little tune, sort of like a Japanese Belle and Sebastian who stop for a psych-rock/free jazz freakout now and then -- which I guess is weird enough, i ... More >>

CSU's Japan earthquake test: best experiment ever

Yesterday, a Colorado State University team led by civil engineering professor John van de Lindt successfully staged a very large-scale test in Miki City, Japan. They've come up with a new approach to building earthquake-proof (or at least more earthquake-proof) buildings, and to see if they're on ... More >>

Flick Pick

Bobby Walker

Git It
Lynx Records

The name is confusing, but Peking Tokyo takes you straight to Asia

A Cut Above

Look of the Day - What the Hell?!?

Turning Japanese

Turning Japanese

Ratatat

Playing the Guggenheim? Ratatat has been there, done that.

Haiti, Bar the Door

Why Mexico is not the most corrupt country in the Western Hemisphere.

World Flavor

The Great Escape

Domo transports you to a place you've never visited before. But you'll be back.

We're From Japan!

Thursday, September 22, 15th Street Tavern, 303-572-0822.

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Best Cheap Lunch

Oshima Ramen

Best Sushi Selection for the Pros

Sushi Den

Best Sushi

Opal

Best Bicultural Exhibit

POPjack: Warhol to Murakami

Best Installation Show

Visual Itch

Artyard Gallery

Best Japanese Restaurant

Domo

The Bite

Locals get vocal about their favorite neighborhood joints.

Best Sushi

Sushi Den

It Had to Be Yuba

Raw Courage

Way Out East

Whatsa Matto?

Yuka Honda's Cibo Matto makes delectable treats for the postmodern ear.