Name: Behind the Counter at a Japanese All-Female Onigiri Shop
Uploaded: 2025-06-19T17:47:25.000Z
Duration: 15 min 23 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

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This is behind the counter at a local Japanese onigiri shop Good morning everyone today I am in Tokyo's Asakusa area to take you to this local Japanese onigiri shop just behind me I don't know what it is, but for some reason I'm just super tired this morning It's not as early as other behind-the-counter videos that I've done before But I just probably didn't get enough sleep last night.

Right now The owner should be arriving shortly.

So all we have to do is wait for her to arrive Today I'm going deep into the kitchen at onigiri Haru-chan a cozy onigiri rice ball shop run by a humble and aspiring owner Who learned the craft from her mother tucked away in the back of Tokyo's Asakusa area just a minute walk from scuba express Asakusa station this hidden gem has quickly become a neighborhood favorite onigiri Japanese rice balls are often wrapped in nori seaweed and filled with everything from classic salmon to unique local flavors It's one of Japan's most popular and convenient comfort foods with Japanese grow up with Good morning, that's the owner what a son Are you usually the first one to get here Oh Good morning another workers here So, when did you open this door Oh and my onigiri Makes sense So First she prepares the rice It's the heart and soul of any onigiri the shop uses a koshi hikari rice from shimane Which was carefully selected for the shop by a rice master in Japan.

There are 1002 different types of rice each one with its own characteristics and best uses So selecting the perfect rice for the shop was critical as many Japanese take the rice very seriously Do you need to be careful of anything when washing the rice Interesting Hi, how long have you been working here?

Yeah makes a day go by fast She says that she's been doing yoga for about 20 years and it's become a big part of her life So do you have any other hobbies?

Oh You must like Bali To Mecca for yoga, right?

Apparently Hori a son often goes to Tsukiji fish market to hand-select the seafood herself But today she had them delivered to the shop directly Nice this fresh seafood will be perfect for her onigiri and since Japan is an island nation It's no surprise that many classic onigiri fillings feature seafood like tarako salmon and tuna I Guess when you're ultra focused on a task, the last thing you have on your mind is jit-jat So, do you have a family like a husband kids Oh, how old are you do you want to get married?

Okay, so do you two go out after work in Asakusa That's cool, what are you doing?

Yeah, especially after a long day Now the two continue to work diligently on their preparations as a shop offers 21 different kinds of onigiri fillings that must be readied Before the store opens, although an onigiri seems like a simple food with a few ingredients much goes into this masterful craft So, what was your dream when you were a kid?

She cycle Really which sport She started when she was 3 and stopped playing in junior high.

So you went to high school around here Us until when oh like me born in the Philippines but moved to the States when I was 3 In Japan at the age of 10 is when Horiya-san started cooking alongside her mother learning Not just the art of cooking but also the importance of heartfelt communication and grace these experience shaped her into the person She is today carrying her mother's lessons into a warm thoughtful customer service and the delightful flavors.

She creates Hey, I heard you use your mom's recipes What are you son has always had a deep connection with her mother and says that no matter how busy her mother was she would Always prepare a delicious meal for their family And even if she only had a minute she would still prepare for them her handmade onigiri in Horiya-san's father's passing Four years ago his last words spoke were of wanting to eat his wife's cooking one more time since then her mother's onigiri has Become a source of comfort bringing the family together in grief as well as a symbol of love and warmth Wait, are you using ice-cold water?

When you use ice-cold water to cook rice, it's cooked on a gas stove, so the rice becomes thicker and sweeter Oh, rice to know So, how are you doing with time?  You should come in earlier, just kidding That's right, I was too busy last night Ah, I see Now the shop prepares its most popular filling, Sabin, rich in umami and selected specifically to complement their Koshihikari rice Enhanced with a touch of salt to bring out its natural flavor So, what's important for you when running a business?

Since it's Asakusa, there are a lot of customers, from locals to foreigners I think it's important to have a sense of cleanliness Makes sense, and what's been the most challenging part for you?

I guess you just did Hopefully someone's able to help Wow, that soboro smells amazing It's based on her mom's recipe, which was her favorite dish growing up Soboro is typically made with chicken, but here they use a mix of pork and beef to produce a stronger umami Cool, the rice is ready Interestingly, onigiri must have the perfect balance of firmness and stickiness to maintain its form But most importantly, it has to maintain its flavor and texture when it's hot and cold As onigiris are often eaten cold, similar to rice used in bento boxes Hey, before we continue on, I want to tell you guys about the sponsor of this video, Sakurako Who make it possible to experience Japan from the comfort of your own home Once it's been delivered, I can't wait to open up this lovely Japanese artisan snack box It's unique to the month itself The theme this month is moonlit sakura, making you feel like you're enjoying yozakura When I get it, I don't waste any time to go through the snacks It's always a cool surprise each month to see what items I get Like this sakura dorayaki, sakura chocolate cookie, and even the sakura shrimp senbei, which I love And you also get this sakura hibiscus tea to pair with the snacks And even this sakura wagashi plate With all these delicious themed snacks, it's like I'm enjoying night time cherry blossoms in my own house As always, you get this ultra cool booklet to learn about everything in the book Including allergen info and even Japanese culture Now, get a special Japanese matcha set for a limited time if you get an annual subscription with Sakurako Or use code PAOLO to get $5 off your first order Click the link below or scan this QR code and enjoy the beauty of night time cherry blossoms from the comfort of your own home At 10 a.m., the shop is officially open for business And as soon as the doors open, customers start pouring in And the workers get even busier in the kitchen Horei-san forms her signature onigiri loosely, yet it remains in shape Hinting a fluffy airiness to it In fact, the Japanese typically prefer gaps of air between each grain of rice So that they can thoroughly enjoy its texture And while shaping rice balls for orders Horei-san's constantly on the move Preparing fillings, cooking the next batch of tonjiru soup And crafting their side dishes Her hands never get a moment's rest Wow, she's preparing their signature seasoned egg yolk One of their most popular toppings The shop soaks their frozen yolks overnight in their special sauce Absorbing its deep and rich flavors Awesome, these are for deliveries She says that the shop receives 20 to 30 Uber orders daily Plus, occasionally large orders from the entertainment industry Such as films and theater productions In Japan, talent agencies and even celebrities themselves Often provide food on set for the team Similar to Western catering situations But on a smaller scale And since onigiris are so easy to eat during filming It's a popular choice for the industry Oh, another worker's here, hello Do you always come around this time?

Yes, because I'm working At night, I take a day off Oh, what do you do?

Snack Wow, that's dope Welcome It's not even lunchtime yet And the seats are already filled up Historically in Japan Onigiris were offered to gods In its iconic triangle shape Symbolized mountains Where gods were believed to dwell Once considered a sacred and precious food And it's now an everyday staple That still lends itself to evolving tastes While preserving its deep cultural roots Often at an onigiri shop like this Side dishes are offered like tonjiru soup And karaage fried chicken To pair with their onigiri But here, the tonjiru is not only a side dish But a taste of home The shop's tonjiru soup is rather unique As it typically isn't served with a chunky pork belly like this But Hori-san uses her mother's homemade recipe Made with a collagen-rich broth From pork and chicken bones Simmered for 7 hours Loaded with vegetables Combined with a traditional bonito and kelp dashi And then flavored with a rich sweet miso From Akita Prefecture So, do you have any secret menu items?

Apparently, all 21 of the shop's toppings Can be mixed together Customers can create their own unique onigiri Kind of a cool option I think they're super busy right now So let's talk to the customers Hi, do you come here a lot?

Yeah, I come here a lot It's a bit far from where I live Oh, what's your favorite?

My favorite is the Negitoro egg yolk With tuna and minced meat And the egg yolk And the egg yolk mixed And the egg yolk mixed And the egg yolk mixed And the egg yolk mixed Anything else?

I usually eat salmon and shujiko Today, I'll have the salt onigiri The simplest one with just rice and salt Because it's the most flavorful I always order tonjiru Because it's my favorite Cool, thank you!

Saikyo-yaki onigiri And karaage and tonjiru Cool, and why did you choose this onigiri?  It's delicious, the saikyo-yaki Got it, thanks!

And that's another one in the books If you're interested in visiting this shop for yourself I'll be sure to leave a link in the description Also, I'm hoping that Horie-san gets the help she needs It does go to show you though How much someone can accomplish in just one year Wishing for her future success And to anyone else watching Who's striving for their dreams So that is behind the counter At a local Japanese onigiri shop If you guys like this video Help me out and hit that like button If you guys want to help support the channel Check out my hot sauce Also, if you want to buy my hot sauce In Japan, I have a place in Shibuya Links are in the description It's going to be there permanently So come anytime you're here in Japan And if you guys want to see more videos like this Or anything related to Japan Hit that subscribe button and the bell button I'll catch you guys in the next one

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Behind the Counter at a Japanese All-Female Onigiri Shop

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