When In Tokyo, Alanna Panday Can't Miss Chirashizushi And Fluffy Pancakes
Ananya Panday's cousin, Alanna Panday, is currently enjoying a luxurious stay in Tokyo alongside her husband, Ivor McCray, and their son, River. Undoubtedly, an array of Japanese delicacies took centre stage. The YouTuber kick-started her culinary escapades by giving a sneak peek into an authentic izakaya, which is a type of casual Japanese gastropub where people gather to drink and eat small, shareable dishes served from an open kitchen, indicating a focus on fresh preparation.
Watch Alanna Panday's story below:
Following this, Alanna gave a virtual tour of the foodie delights she relished over there. The first frame featured a long piece of driftwood served with a big bowl of Chirashizushi (which literally means scattered sushi). This dish is characterised by its colourful and artful presentation, with the toppings "scattered" (arranged) over a layer of rice. From what it looked like, the variety of ingredients included raw fish (sashimi), seafood and chopped pieces of a range of vegetables. To balance the rich flavours of the food item and offer a mix of textures in each bite, we can also spot a couple of bowls containing side dishes commonly served with it, like miso soup, pickled ginger, seaweed salad and a few other condiments.
Watch Alanna Panday's story below:
Afterwards, Alanna took her fans inside the kitchen, documenting the preparation of the cloud-like smooth pancakes. Here, the chef was seen skillfully pouring the thick, white, creamy batter for the pancakes on a baking plate, creating cute shapes with it. 'The fluffiest pancakes,' read her small note below the video, capturing the essence of the moment.
Watch Alanna Panday's story below:
Well, how can a foodie like her stop herself from ending her wholesome meal without a sweet dish? The following frame in the YouTuber's journey featured irresistible Japanese souffle pancakes, served alongside a dollop of high-purity Manuka honey, fresh milk for the whipped cream and dried fruits on top. Surely, the pancakes, with their sweet aroma and buttery texture, were a delightful end to her culinary journey for the day.
Watch Alanna Panday's story below:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Lost, loved, or starting over? These 10 books will hold your hand
Your 20s are not just about figuring out what you want to do, but also about understanding who you really are. These years bring first jobs, heartbreaks, quiet confusions, and bold beginnings. Through all this, books can serve as gentle guides. Here are ten books that are comforting, powerful, and unforgettable, books that speak to people in their 20s who are learning to move, stay, fall, grow, and start again. Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Set in a small Tokyo café where customers can travel back in time, only for a few minutes, this Japanese novel is soft and philosophical. It doesn't offer grand life advice, but rather shows how little moments and missed chances shape us. The book reminds us that no matter how far we want to go, we must return to the present before the coffee gets cold. It's a beautiful story about regret, time, and forgiveness. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa In a world that moves fast, this book invites you to slow down. When a heartbroken woman moves into her uncle's secondhand bookstore in Tokyo, she begins to heal quietly through books and calm routines. There are no dramatic twists, only quiet comfort. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo If your 20s ever feel lost or loud, this book teaches you how stillness can also be strength. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay Written by a clinical psychologist, this book explains why your 20s matter more than you think. It covers relationships, careers, and identity with stories from real patients. It's direct, honest, and motivating. Not everyone likes advice books, but this one is worth reading because it respects your intelligence and offers practical tools. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni A powerful retelling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's point of view, this novel blends mythology with emotion. It explores destiny, duty, ambition, and feminine strength. For readers in their 20s, it shows how history can be reimagined and how women's voices, often quiet in old stories, deserve to be heard with full force. Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed This book is a collection of real letters from people seeking advice and the compassionate responses from Cheryl Strayed. Her words are warm, wise, and often poetic. You'll find parts that feel like they were written just for you. It's a book to turn to when you don't know what to do next. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho A global favorite, this story of a shepherd who goes in search of his destiny is about more than just adventure. It's about listening to your heart, trusting life's process, and finding meaning in simple things. Your 20s are the right time to read this, not because it gives answers, but because it helps you ask better questions. Educated by Tara Westover This memoir traces the author's journey from a strict, survivalist upbringing in rural Idaho to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. It's about breaking free from limiting beliefs and finding your voice. It teaches that education is not just about books, but about learning how to think for yourself. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig If you've ever thought, 'What if I had chosen differently?' this novel will move you deeply. The story follows Nora, who is given the chance to try alternate versions of her life. It gently explores regret, purpose, and hope. You'll walk away from it feeling a bit more accepting of your choices and your past. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson With its bold title and blunt advice, this book may seem like it's just trying to be cool. But it offers a deeper message: Focus your energy on what truly matters. In your 20s, when you often try to do and be everything, this book reminds you to choose your battles. Normal People by Sally Rooney This quiet, intense novel captures how complicated relationships can be, especially in young adulthood. It doesn't judge its characters for being unsure or imperfect. Instead, it shows how love, distance, and communication shape who we become. It's a novel that doesn't shout, but leaves a lasting echo. You won't find all the answers in books. But the right ones will help you pause, reflect, and feel less alone. These ten titles are not just about entertainment. They are mirrors, maps, and sometimes soft blankets, reminding you that growth can be slow and still beautiful. So read widely. Reread when needed. Let stories help you carry the weight of becoming.
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Jim Rion: 'Fair-play mystery is still alive and well in Japan'
How did you end up living in Yamaguchi? Jim Rion (Courtesy the subject) It was all just an accident, really. I was living and studying in Germany before I came here. Just as I was coming to the end of my time there and wondering where to go next, a friend from university emailed out of the blue. She said she was working at an English school in Yamaguchi that was looking for a teacher; was I interested? And I thought, 'Why not give it a try?' I'm glad I did it, because here I am, 20 years later, and happy as can be. What got you interested in sake and writing about the Yamaguchi breweries? The first thing was just enjoying the drink. I came here in 2004, and Yamaguchi was right at the start of a big jump in sake quality and recognition. So, the people around me were all excited to share the local drink with this new guy. Over time, as I began to learn more about the brewing process, I was attracted to all the craft skill that goes into it. I've always been a fan of traditional craft and making things by hand, and sake is certainly a good example. Then, when I started working as a translator, I saw my position as a way to both get closer to that craft and maybe also help share these wonderful local products with the world. 'I came here in 2004, and Yamaguchi was right at the start of a big jump in sake quality and recognition. So, the people around me were all excited to share the local drink with this new guy. ' Having interacted with Uketsu's work closely as a translator, what stood out for you as a dominant theme in the book? Strange Pictures is an unusual book that you can just read for the chills and the mysteries but also rewards some deeper reading and exploration of themes. As a translator, of course I wanted to get as deep as possible to make sure I didn't miss anything when I was bringing it into English. I won't go into spoiler territory, but as I went through the book over and over, I came to feel that the essential theme of Strange Pictures is motherhood, and how it can be both a source of boundless love and also a terribly dangerous thing. You've mentioned in your blog about the challenges of translating Strange Pictures – the Kanji characters, the name of the blog in chapter one, etc. What are some of the most common challenges when it comes to translating Japanese into English? I think there are two things about Japanese that make it particularly challenging to translate for me personally — other people surely have their own lists. One is purely linguistic, and one is stylistic. The linguistic issue is that sentences often leave out the subject, ie who it is that is speaking or doing some action, which we can't do as much in English. In Japanese, the subject is usually understood from context, but sometimes it is intentionally left vague. In the mystery and horror genres in particular, not knowing is often essential to the impact of a story. The need for English to know the subject of a sentence introduces a danger of ruining the surprise. The real challenge, then, is not necessarily that of deciding who did something, but how to write a meaningful English sentence without ruining some kind of plot point. The stylistic issue is that Japanese writing uses repetition in ways that English writing simply doesn't. For example, it's very common in written dialogue for one person to make a statement, then for the narrative text to repeat the idea in other words. So, you might get an exchange that would be directly translated like, 'This isn't just an accident. Someone killed him.' He was saying this was deliberate? In other words, murder? Which is three ways of saying the exact same thing, and people reading in English, without that kind of style, might get tired of a novel that did that for every major exchange. So, I have to both stay true to the tone and the meaning of the original while still making the English text something people will enjoy reading. 'Strange Picturesis an unusual book that you can just read for the chills and the mysteries but also rewards some deeper reading and exploration of themes.' What do you make of Uketsu's enigmatic disposition? With respect to the fact that he never shows his face, he has a somewhat unconventional profile of a YouTuber-turned-author, the narrative he chooses to engage in is quite different. I've heard Uketsu himself talk about this several times now, and I think that the way people are focused on his mask and body-stocking is an excellent example of organic identity building. He has said in several interviews that he was simple concerned about preserving anonymity as a guy making those 'weird videos' at the start of his YouTube career, but now they've become essential to the Uketsu mystique. I don't think he ever dreamed he would become as famous as he is, so I doubt he had much of a plan. So, the unconventional profile and narrative are probably just the result of him making it up as he goes along. Luckily, he seems to be quite good at that. It all really does work to build the mystery and fascination with everything he does, doesn't it? As for the YouTuber-turned-author path, he has said that he hadn't originally intended to become an author, but someone in publishing saw his mystery videos and said if he wrote books, they'd be hits. Clearly, that person was right. From a contemporary novel to the classics, tell us about your understanding of Seishi Yokomizo's novels and honkaku as a genre, something that was in vogue almost five decades ago. Honkaku mystery has been a significant presence in Japan's publishing market for decades, even as a target of rebellion as some writers in the 1960s started to feel it was getting too mired in orthodoxy and trope. Of course, Yokomizo was a foundational figure in the whole Japanese mystery genre, and his works are still popular in Japan today. One of the things that I find so interesting is just how dark his stories are, and how they seem to toy with supernatural elements, even while ending up being purely rooted in the natural world. I think in that, Yokomizo reflects the influence of Edogawa Ranpo, the 'founding father' of Japanese mystery who, in turn, was deeply influenced by Edgar Allan Poe. So, he includes an undercurrent of the grotesque, the corrupt, and the twisted that goes beyond the more mundane murders that populated the works of Agatha Christie or Ellery Queen. If you're looking for a Western writer for comparison, it's probably John Dickson Carr, who also tried to evoke horror fiction tropes like ghosts, vampires, and witches, while remaining purely natural and scientific in the end. And today, 'fair-play' mystery is still alive and well in Japan. This is the age of Shin-honkaku, the 'New orthodox' mystery movement that started in the 1980s — or even the Shin-Shin-Honkaku, 'The new new-orthodox.' I think some might even call this a golden age, with young writers taking up the challenge of writing fair-play mysteries that bring fresh takes on the well-trodden ground of locked rooms and impossible murders. Which explains why Yokomizo's books are still in print, and the many film and television adaptations are still being watched. Of Strange Pictures and The Devil's Flute Murders, which one was more fun to translate and why? I have to say that in terms of 'fun,' Strange Pictures has to be the winner. It was just so satisfying to follow as all the threads wove together in the end to reveal... Well, I'll stop there. No spoilers! There was a lot that was rewarding about The Devil's Flute Murders, of course. It gave me a way to learn about Japanese history, such as the fall of short-lived noble classes that were modelled on Europe. But then, when I think of what I gain from translation, I have to say connections to authors is one of the biggest rewards — and unfortunately, Yokomizo is no longer with us. Uketsu, though, is and I have been lucky enough to get to speak and work with him. 'There was a lot that was rewarding about The Devil's Flute Murders, of course. It gave me a way to learn about Japanese history, such as the fall of short-lived noble classes that were modelled on Europe.' What are you working on next? The next book from Uketsu, Strange Houses, is coming out in the summer, and we're just finishing up edits on that. Then, I have another unannounced mystery translation coming from Pushkin sometime in 2025 or 2026, maybe, before the next Uketsu book, so my schedule is pretty full for the next year or so. But I'm also trying to find time to work on my own book, a non-fiction look at ceramic artists in Japan. I hope that by making this so public, I'll feel compelled to finish what I started! Arunima Mazumdar is an independent writer. She is @sermoninstone on Twitter and @sermonsinstone on Instagram.
News18
a day ago
- News18
Japan's Princess Kako Flies Economy. Internet Can't Stop Praising Her Humility
Last Updated: Princess Kako of Japan is seen entering the flight alongside other officials who accompanied her for a visit to Brazil. Humility never goes unnoticed, and a viral clip of Princess Kako of Japan is a perfect example. The video shows the royal travelling on an economy flight, despite her imperial status and close ties to Emperor Naruhito, her uncle. According to reports, Princess Kako had visited four different locations prior to boarding and, visibly exhausted, was seen sleeping during the flight. The footage quickly drew praise online, with many applauding her down-to-earth nature. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the princess was in Brazil to attend the public events on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Initially, in the clip, she is seen entering the flight alongside other officials who accompanied her for a visit to the South American nation. After the lights were turned off, she fell asleep against the window of the domestic flight – a moment that has captured the Internet's heart. 🇯🇵🇧🇷It has been on viral for #Japan 's Princess Kako of Akishino who made her official visit to #Brazil. The Princess was seen travelling in a commercial flight from São Paulo to Campo Grande. She was among her followers and other passengers in the flight.… — Royal World Thailand 🇹🇭 (@rwthofficial) June 18, 2025 Soon after the video gained momentum, social media users shared their reaction in the comments section, with one of them writing, 'She looked like a porcelain doll. It is completely understandable to feel tired with such a packed schedule." Another added, 'People love seeing her. The video shows how humble she is." While social media users had only praises for the princess who fell asleep soon after taking her seat, the Imperial Household Agency (IHA) expressed disappointment at the invasion of privacy. FYI, IHA is responsible for looking after royal affairs. Princess Kako stepped into the spotlight after her elder sister Princess Mako gave her royal title and left the imperial family in 2021 to marry her college sweetheart. After the latter relocated to New York, Kako took on a more public role, often travelling nationally and internationally to represent her royal household. Outside of her official role, she is admired for her grace and dedication. Japanese media often describe her as 'the hope of Japan." During one of her public addresses, she also candidly admitted to having a short temper, which she says is her biggest flaw.
