Now, enjoy Miso, a traditional Japanese seasoning, onboard Japan's Nippon Airways

Tokyo is a modern city, but there are numerous stores dating Edo era which sells vegetables, dairy and other traditional sweets.

One of the long-established stores called ABUMATA Miso has been keeping the tradition and provides traditional Japanese fermented miso which is also often used as a seasoning.

The shot is serving for over five generations.

Mataumon Iida, President, Abumata Miso Co. Ltd, said, "For this Miso, some say that the sweet version was originally made with red Miso when Tokugawa Leyasu came to Edo. For our Edo Ama-miso, the ratio of rice being used (which also is called the Koji condition) is two times more than the average miso. Therefore, it becomes less salty and more sweet. That's how its name became Edo Ama-miso. In addition to enjoy it by putting on top of rice, another way to appreciate it is to spread it on toast. The crispy toast is delicious. Applying the miso after covering the toast with butter makes it feel like a canape. We would like to recommend it to foreign guests."

 

Edo Ama-miso, which was discontinued by war, has been recovered by the people of Tokyo who love its taste.

Chefs are producing it meticulously by hand.

Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) disclosed during its "Tastes of JAPAN" event that from January 2017, the specialty foods of Tokyo will be available through ANA inflight service and Haneda Airport's lounge.

Edo Ama-miso is being used in "Edo Traditional Vegetables and Tokyo Shamo Chicken Simmered in Edo Ama-miso.

By introducing traditional Japanese culinary culture, the charm of Japan will become even more popular in foreign countries.

Takashi Shishido, Deputy General Manager, Tokyo Sales Headquater, ANA, "We felt the same way this time in Tokyo. We received so many comments that it came as a surprise about getting to know certain items or ingredients from various regions through the introduction of this event, or the tastes were outstanding. Including a tourism promotion pourpose, we are extremely pleased to be able to create this opportunity to appeal to a wide range of guests about the special items that come from different places."

In Tokyo, various assistance on utilizing the information have been provided for people with disabilities, their families and supporters.

At the Tokyo Information Technology Regional Support Center for Persons with Disabilities, various IT machines designed for people with disabilities are being displayed with user directions provided.

For instance, this is a communication supporting tool designed for people who cannot produce sounds from their mouths.

The user expresses their own opinions by touching this red part on the right with their hand or elbow and chooses letters on the monitor screen to write.

This is a communication tool for paralyzed people.

When they breathe into the sensor, the monitor begins to work, and messages can be conveyed.

Mariko Horigome, an official with the Tokyo IT Regional Support Center for persons with disabilities, said, "Our technology has become quite advanced. However, it cannot reach out to each individual yet. Regarding the usability, it's not about whether the technology is nearby or not. It is about how the surrounding people can get together and supply as much instructions as possible."

As smartphones and tablets become more and more popular, new equipment that are compatible with those devices have been developed and introduced to this center.

Horigome further said, "It was after the Great East Japan Earthquake which took place on March 11, 2011 when the largest number of people came. Emails can be received and information on the earthquake can be obtained although the smartphone is unable to make or receive calls. A lot of people with hearing disabilities came after the earthquake. Everyone felt the urgency of thinking that they must protect themselves and gain information by themselves."

Tokyo will host big events in 2020. Preparation is under way for barrier-free support.

Horigome added, "With the scheduled Olympics and Paralympics, this is a period of good opportunities for Tokyo. For example, when riding a bus, is there any way to tell the driver that a passenger with a wheelchair is waiting at the next station, or that a passenger with a vision disorder is waiting at the next station? By achieving these much anticipated goals by the time of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the progress is tangible and it feels like Tokyo will achieve these targets within years that have been thought about for a few decades."

Metropolitan Tokyo continues making efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities.