Sushi, the most famous and original sushi brand in the UK, brought the concept of a Japanese ‘kaiten’ sushi bar that delivers food to customers via conveyor belt - more than 70 color-coded dishes ranging from $3.00 to $7.00. on October 05, 2014 at 6:00 AM At the Japanese-owned Kitano hotel in NYC you can test-drive the Toto toilet, a multi-function wonder that does everything but rotate your tires. I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese...I really think so. She wasn't born when this one-hit wonder ruled the airwaves in 1980, but Closter native Carly Susman can relate. Susman, 23, adores all things Japanese, from the food to the culture and language. She caught the bug two years ago during a semester abroad, and now she's living there for a year teaching English. When she's home in Jersey, Susman satisfies her Japanese yearnings in Manhattan, sussing out foodie, shopping and cultural options that appeal to her Japan-centric nature. She follows artists, companies and venues, searches for cultural events online and frequents inexpensive noodle houses that dish the real deal in Japanese fast food.

New York has long supported a population of both Japanese ex-pats and Japanese Americans, so it's no surprise that sushi and karaoke are nothing new in Manhattan. But as interest in Japanese design and pop culture heightens, there are more options than ever to experience wabi-sabi, a cultural aesthetic that embraces transient simplicity. For anyone intrigued by the Land of the Rising Sun, these New York spots, including a few of Susman's faves, deliver slices of culture, style and flavor that may just inspire your next overseas getaway. Uniqlo:The first location of this popular Japanese clothing store opened in Soho and now there are locations from coast to coast. But the original is a gem, a vast altar to neutral basics, with walls of T-shirts, pants and skirts meticulously folded and organized by color. Selvage denim, cashmere sweaters and wonderful socks are just a few takeaways. Muji: Another U.S. first, there are now four NYC outposts of this Tokyo chain that proffers "lower priced, no-label quality goods" and rejects "an excess of decoration, and needless packaging."

From sleek kitchen accoutrement and stacking furniture to super-necessities like toothbrushes and cotton swabs wrapped in brown paper, you can find much that is practical here, often in original packaging marked with Japanese characters.umi sushi menu shelter island Kinokuniya Books: This Japanese bookstore sells everything from magazines, books and comic books (English and Japanese) to toys and stationery, including racks and racks of washi, or Japanese wrapping paper. jiro dreams of sushi av clubUpstairs you can pick up a bento box lunch at Cafe Zaiya.yo sushi delivery mirdif Sanrio: Hello Kitty central in Times Square tells the story. geta sushi oakland

From adorning furniture and PJs to iPhone cases and plush toys, the iconic white figure stares back at you. By the way, Hello Kitty celebrates its 40th birthday in 2014 and brings in $7 billion worldwide, with zero advertising.jiro dreams of sushi wellington Toy Tokyo: Action figures, anime and even Godzilla live at this edgy toy emporium situated squarely at the intersection of Japan-centric toy geekiness and pop art.sushi conveyor belt bellevue Baby the Stars Shine Bright: The first NY location to spotlight Japanese Lolita street fashion, this shop is what happens when a Goth Alice in Wonderland can't decide between a baby doll dress, a corset and a pirate's wench outfit. Tokyo Rebel: This is another boutique that pushes the envelope with Japanese street fashion, a mix of dark fantasy with little girl innocence that is something else.

Kitano Hotel: This boutique Midtown Japanese-owned hotel is positively Zen in its design, starkly elegant and spare. Test-drive the Toto toilet in the rest rooms -- this Japanese answer to personal hygiene does everything but rotate your tires. The downstairs Hakubai restaurant, an underwhelming space that seems out of pace with the rest of the hotel, offers impressive kaiseki cuisine - essentially up-market, multi-course chef's tasting menus. Sake tastings, tatami room dining and a la carte menus of sushi and shabu shabu are also available. Jazz music is featured at the bar. Otafuku: A haven for Japanese street snacks, this East Village spot is known for treats like okonomiyaki, pancakes made with egg, shredded cabbage pork belly and the like, and takoyaki, round balls filled with different bits including diced octopus, ginger and onion. Mimi & Coco: Owned by two young Japanese women, this restaurant serves teriyaki "balls" filled with octopus (shrimp, potato, sausage, cheese).

Eight Turn Crepe: Japanese style rice crepes (yes, gluten free) filled with whatever suits your fancy: avocado, shrimp, smoky pork, eggs, whipped yogurt and tofu sauce in lieu of mayo. Similar to what you'd find in the youth-driven Harajuku district in Tokyo. Kenka: Susman loves this izakaya-style bar on St. Marks. "It often has a wait at night on the weekends if you don't go early enough," she says. "The whole thing is themed sort of like underground Besides more common types of Japanese food, it also serves some weird things like.... bull testicles? And you get sugar with your check that you can use to make cotton candy in the machine outside." East Kaiten Sushi: with multiple NYC locations, this joint delivers sushi on a conveyor belt kaitan-style and the color of the plate determines the price. Some locations have karaoke rooms too, which means even more fun.Curry: This NYC outpost of the authentic Japanese curry chain brings the popular Japanese street food to America.

Soba-Ya: Expect a wait at this popular downtown noodle house, where homemade soba noodles swim in broth fragrant with duck, soy, enoki mushrooms or curry. Basta Pasta:This downtown Italian restaurant owned by Toshi Suzuki features a crack stack of Japanese cooks and servers who cater to a loyal Asian clientele. The menu offers classic Italian and some fusion fare, prepared with loving attention to detail. Yes you can get uni and tobiko on your pasta. Cha-an: Besides the traditional Japanese tea ceremonies which are features on the first and third Sundays of every month, this second-floor East Village tea house offers stellar sweets, an extensive menu of teas and memorable savories such as sweet potato samosas and tea-smoked salmon. The vibe is serene and the decor traditional. Minamoto Kichoan: Japanese delicate sweets flavored with the likes of red beans, vanilla and green tear, all beautifully decorated, are in the spotlight at this Madison Avenue shop. Not always akin to the Western palate, these treats look pretty but sometimes taste um, unusual.