We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
[[A Japanese actor, artist and designer has opened a Ukrainian restaurant in Tokyo called Smachnogo. Her one and only goal: to provide jobs to Ukrainian evacuees arriving in Japan after the start of Russia’s invasion. Iuliia Iarmolenko has the story.]]
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script Japan Ukraine Restaurant – Iarmolenko
HEAD: Tokyo Restaurant Serves Ukranian Food With Japanese Twist
TEASER: Opened by a Japanese artist, Smachnogo — 'bon appétit' in Ukrainian — employs war evacuees
PUBLISHED AT: 07/02/2023 at 2:41 pm
BYLINE: Iuliia Iarmolenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Tokyo, Japan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Susumu Miyazu, Justyna Feicht
VIDEO EDITOR: Oleksii Osyka, Anna Rice
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; Reifenrath
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 2:33
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE: corrects spelling of borscht in graphs 4 and 8 ))
((INTRO))
[[A Japanese actor, artist and designer has opened a Ukrainian restaurant in Tokyo called Smachnogo. Her one and only goal: to provide jobs to Ukrainian evacuees arriving in Japan after the start of Russia’s invasion. Iuliia Iarmolenko has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
Tokyo’s restaurant scene offers food from around the world. But it wasn’t until 2022 that Japan’s capital saw the opening of a Ukrainian restaurant. Called Smachnogo, or "Bon Appétit," it serves Ukrainian food with a Japanese twist.
((Nataliia Glygalo, Smachnogo Employee)) ((UKR))
“In Ukrainian, it’s holubets, but here we call it rerikabitsu — a cabbage roll. We make it with ground meat mixed with rice and tomato sauce on top.”
((NARRATION))
It’s one of the most popular dishes here.
Another popular choice is a Ukrainian-Japanese lunch plate that comes with potato and mushroom vareniki, chicken Kiev, among other things, but always with borscht.
Japanese actor, artist and designer Takane Ezoe founded Smachnogo in September 2022. Before Russia's invasion, she didn’t know much about Ukrainian food.
((Takane Ezoe, Smachnogo Owner)) ((JAPANESE))
“At first, I knew nothing about Ukrainian cuisine, but I consulted with a professional chef and decided to open a restaurant!”
((NARRATION))
For many locals, Ukrainian cuisine is something exotic.
((Nobu, Restaurant Visitor)) ((ENG))
“I had no experience of Ukrainian food. Before the war, we all understood it was kind of like Russian food. But here, this is the first time I came and enjoyed the Ukranian food, especially borscht. It’s very tasty!”
((NARRATION))
Ezoe says the real purpose of the restaurant is to employ Ukrainian evacuees. Iryna Svidran, who came to Japan from Dnipro with her daughter’s help, is happy to have a job here.
((Iryna Svidran, Employee)) ((UKR))
“You know, the Japanese welcomed us very warmly. I wasn’t expecting it. And despite my age, Takane-san gave me a job, and I can freely live here.”
((NARRATION))
Nataliia Glygalo came to Japan through a sponsorship from a friend. She says she doesn’t regret her choice. But mostly, she’s grateful for the opportunity to work.
((Nataliia Glygalo, Smachnogo Employee)) ((UKR))
“I decided it’s better to have a job here than be in Poland getting social benefits. When we were moving here, both my daughter and I already had a job. Here, we got to meet the other ladies, and now we are like a small Ukrainian family.”
((NARRATION))
Ezoe says achieving this family feel was the main goal of opening the restaurant. She says that making a profit is not what she wants, and when the war is over, she will close the restaurant.
((Iuliia Iarmolenko, for VOA News, Tokyo))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Tokyo, Japan
Embargo DateJuly 2, 2023 15:23 EDT
Byline
Iuliia Iarmolenko, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English