A talk event delving into the appeal of monjayaki, Tokyo's signature local dish, "TOKYO MONJA MIX ~Tokyo Monja is not just this~" will be held at WeWork Iceberg in Harajuku on Friday, October 17th. The event is organized by BuzzFeed Japan, The Asahi Shimbun Company, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Monjayaki has its origins in the Edo period's "Mojiyaki" (character grilling), and after the war it became popular in the sweets shop culture, and is now a food culture unique to Tokyo that attracts attention from tourists and overseas. The event will be themed around "tradition" and "innovation," and will look back on its history while also discussing modern challenges such as new ingredients and arrangements.

The guests are Mari Ako, a writer with an extensive knowledge of food culture and lifestyle history, Juri Takano, director of the Tsukishima Monjayaki restaurant "Maruta," and Koji Sato, who produces restaurants. The event will be moderated by freelance announcer Saho Tanaka.

Left) Ako Mari / Author and life history researcher Right) Takano Juri / Director of Tsukishima Monjayaki Maruta

Left) Sato Koji / CEO of KyuProject Co., Ltd. Right) Tanaka Saho / Freelance announcer

The program will include a talk session tracing the history of monjayaki, as well as a segment introducing the latest trends called "The Ever-Changing Monjayaki of Today," and a "Monjayaki Quiz Competition" with prizes up for grabs.

This project has been selected for the 2025 "Tokyo Charm Promotion Project" and is part of an effort to promote Tokyo's charm through food, utilizing the Tokyo brand icon "Tokyo Tokyo Old meets New."

The event will be held from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM). Participation is free. Advance registration is required (maximum 40 people, lottery draw). The application deadline is Wednesday, October 15th.

Venue