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Melinda Joe
Melinda Joe
Melinda Joe is a food journalist based in Tokyo, Japan. She writes the Kanpai Culture column for The Japan Times, and her work has appeared in publications such as Condé Nast Traveler, Nikkei Asia, Eating Well, Newsweek, CNN, Departures and WSJ Asia among others. A certified sake and wine specialist, she has been a panel chair for the sake division at London’s International Wine Challenge since 2015.

Family-owned sake breweries in Japan are seeking out new, creative ways to thrive, from exporting premium brews to Hong Kong and China to selling ready-to-drink cocktails and promoting sake pairings for food.

Michelin-star restaurants were a big draw for overseas visitors to Japan before the Covid-19 pandemic. With visitors banned, restaurants have pivoted to welcoming local diners.

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Some chefs are offering diners multisensory experiences that appeal to more than just the taste buds, writes Melinda Joe.