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© soycamo

Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is well-known for his unique takes on classic Japanese recipes. For the first time he is revealing the secrets behind some of his most popular dishes in an effort to raise funds for Japan relief efforts. He is partnering with Michelin star chef Anito Lo and Madonna's personal chef Mayumi Nishimura to create KeepRecipes.com. On this site they will provide their favorite Japanese recipes to create a digital cookbook, which anyone can access from now through the end of June for a donation of $10.

All of the funds raised will go to support the America Red Cross' relief efforts in Japan. One of the recipes featured will be Morimoto's Braised Black Cod. Morimoto said that he wanted to do whatever he can to help his home country, and is organizing a big fundraiser in NYC in May to raise money for relief efforts as well. It will be a taste-around with some of the city's top chefs.

© Danny Choo

New York is a cosmopolitan city with a range of cuisine on offer for all its tourists and locals. There are even a number of thriving and successful Japanese restaurants that you should go to especially if you are on an Extended Stay in New York. Some of the best Japanese sushi restaurants are easily accessible from extended stay times square New York.

One of the best Japanese eateries in New York is the Sushi Azabu, which may be hard to find for some as it is slightly hidden in the basement of the Greenwich Grill. It is a popular spot for solo diners as the Japanese chefs there are very talkative and friendly. Their most delicious dish is the nigiri morsel, and their sashimi and grilled salmon starters are also a favorite.

The Jewel Bako located in the East Village is another great Japanese restaurant in New York. It is famous for its delicious raw fish, and the best deal on the menu there is the chef's omakase dish.

© Trent Bigelow

The Agricultural Ministry in Tokyo aims to add Japanese food items like sushi, tempura, okonomiyaki, ramen and yakitori to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) list of cuisine, as a cultural heritage. The ministry also intends to include utensils to prepare and consume these Japanese food items and the nation's table manners onto the list. The application with UNESCO will be filed in March 2012 and a verdict on the inclusion will be got in November 2013.
Japanese food is popular all through the world, but with the earthquake and the tsunami having struck northeast Japan, the nation's agricultural and fisheries sector are being affected negatively. Consumers are losing faith in Japanese food items and avoiding their consumption due to safety concerns. Hence, several countries too are halting Japanese food imports. The inclusion of Japanese food in UNESCO'S list of cuisine will help support the nation's economy and create faith once again in Japanese food ingredients and products, says the Agricultural Ministry.