Mikawaya to celebrate reopening
Mikawaya  the creators of mochi ice cream and the premiere maker of Japanese pastries and specialty desserts, celebrate the grand re-opening of its Japanese Village Plaza (JVP) flagship store on Friday, August 17. Mikawaya’s JVP store closed for only a day while renovations were completed. As development has changed the face of Little Tokyo, Mikawaya felt it was necessary to remodel its store to meet the needs of its new customers. The renovations will enable Mikawaya to better serve its customers by providing a more inviting open space design with new seating and counters. Additionally, the renovations will highlight Mikawaya’s popular frozen treats, including mochi ice cream and its newest product gelato. This is Mikawaya’s first retail location to offer gelato.
“It’s really exciting to celebrate the grand re-opening and show off our newly designed flagship store.” said Frances Hashimoto, president and CEO, Mikawaya. “Customers that have come to love our mochi ice cream and mochigashi, will now have the opportunity to experience our newest dessert, gelato in 24 flavors.”
Mikawaya’s JVP store, located at 118 Japanese Village Mall, will be open daily; hours are Sunday Thursday, 10 am 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10 am 11 pm. For more information, go to www.mikawayausa.com. 


AJINOMOTO GYOZA CRUNCHY! CRUNCHY! SWEEPSTAKES
Ajinomoto is Japan’s most recognized brand of foods
Ajinomoto USA, manufacturer of Japanese frozen foods, today announced the launch of a sweepstakes where entrants can win one of 250 kitchen appliances. The Crunchy! Crunchy! Sweepstakes will run from Wednesday, August 1st through Sunday, September 30th, 2007 and is open to legal residents of the United States. No purchase is necessary to enter the sweepstakes.
Ajinomoto invites consumers to vie for a chance to win one of 50 Grand Prizes- a Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert ®. The Gourmet d’Expert is a versatile electric skillet, perfect for preparing gyoza or pan-frying noodles, vegetables or dumplings. Second prize winners will win one of 200 magnetic kitchen timers. Consumers can find entry forms at participating local Ajinomoto retailers or by visiting the sweepstakes website at www.ajifrozenusa.com/sweepstakes07
For more information about Ajinomoto and the Crunchy! Crunchy! Sweepstakes: visit www.ajifrozenusa.com


Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America - Torrance Hotel Construction
Starting in 1987, Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America has operated the Miyako Hotel in Little Tokyo and has announced that it is building a seven story, 208 room hotel in Torrance.
The concept of this hotel is a “Hybrid,” which is superior in regards to the environment, with such things as solar power generation and a solar water heating system, the plan being to place great importance on protecting the environment.  On the software side, that is “Asian Comfortable,” the basic concept being one of the branding of the “Miyako Hotel” operation in both Japan and America, emphasizing the know how on the service side, which they say is aimed at becoming a fusion of the Japanese and Western cultures. The plan is to furnish rooms with such things as deep Japanese style bathtubs, lighting shades that use Japanese paper for the material, warm water wash stands and down futon bedding. Meeting rooms, restaurants and bar lounges will also be available. In addition, Japanese style spa facilities will be located on the premises and shiatsu finger massage may also be enjoyed.
Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America is a subsidiary of the Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. that has its home office in Japan. The Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. is involved in various enterprises and the hotel business is overseen by the managing corporation, “Kintetsu Hotel Systems,” which operates 17 major locations in Japan, like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nara and has expanded overseas with the “Miyako Hotels and Resorts” in Los Angeles. The Miyako Hybrid Hotel Torrance is planned to be completed by the spring of 2009.


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