Introducing tips for living in hot regions, the Asia Fair 2019 will be held from July 24th to 30th at the 9th floor event hall/festival plaza of Hankyu Umeda Main Store. This time, the focus will be on Taiwanese cuisine and miscellaneous goods.

Daily Living by Don't Yell At Me
"Brown Sugar Tapioca Milk" (581 yen including tax), "Roselle Honey Chrysanthemum Tea + Small Sweet Potato Balls" (581 yen including tax)

This event brings together a total of 80 stores from all over Asia. Now in its fifth year, the event will focus on Taiwanese culture, which is currently garnering attention, especially among young people, and will introduce popular gourmet foods that have people lining up to try them, as well as cute-looking goods that have long been loved by locals, all with demonstrations.

From Nichijou Chama by Don't Yell At Me, a popular drinks stand in Zhongshan, Taipei, they will be serving the bubble tea that is a huge hit in Japan, and roselle tea, a new and innovative drink that is gaining popularity locally. The refreshing hibiscus roselle tea contains yuyin, a traditional sweet with a gentle sweetness and chewy texture. Don't forget to check out the impressive cups.

Ximending Mango Ice (Ximending Mango Ice) "Mango Shaved Ice" (864 yen including tax)
The original soy milk soup, "World Soy Milk King," founded in 1955, is making its Japan debut. Soy Milk Soup (756 yen including tax), a Taiwanese breakfast staple and soul food, is filled with salty soy milk and a variety of toppings, including fried bread, green onions, and pickled mustard greens. Ximending Mango Ice, a shaved ice specialty shop in Ximending, a popular destination for young people, which sees lines every day, is also making its Japan debut. You can enjoy "Mango Shaved Ice" (864 yen including tax), which is a refreshing, fluffy shaved ice topped with sliced mango and mango ice cream.

Also making its Japan debut is Taichung's "Hong Ruizhen Bakery," a famous Taiwanese sandwich shop known as the "San Minji." In addition to the "Taiwanese Sandwich" (from 303 yen including tax), which is a great combination of slightly sweet Taiwanese mayonnaise and ham and cheese, they will also be selling unique sandwiches using mango and other ingredients.

Ni Hao Wo Hao
In addition to food, there will be a shop called "Ni Hao Wo Hao," which brings together long-loved local "good things" selected by Yuka Aoki, a 17-year Taiwanese resident who connects cultures through a variety of media. Located in Dadaocheng, an area of Taipei where the old townscape remains, Aoki's select shop is said to have collected items that she loves, items that allow you to see the backgrounds of the people who make and use them. The shop stocks a wide variety of items, including apparel and miscellaneous goods, each filled with a distinctively Taiwanese story. Aoki will also be holding a talk event during the event.

Chen Mama Workshop
There will also be a section showcasing demonstrations of traditional crafts made with techniques passed down to the present day, evoking nostalgia yet evolving into modern times. Among the many ethnic groups in Taiwan, the "Taiwan Aborigines" (the government-recognized name for these people) have been settled there since before the 17th century. Each tribe has developed its own unique crafts suited to the land where they settled, and these have been passed down to the present generation. On display will be everyday items such as warm-looking bags and baskets made from shell ginger leaves, which are abundant in the area, from "One Grain Workshop," as well as miscellaneous goods from "Chen Mama Workshop" that showcase the embroidery skills of the Paiwan people.

Also, we'll be selling frozen "Shakatou" fruit (1 piece for 1,404 yen including tax), which was only recently allowed for import in November of last year and features a distinctive outer skin resembling the head of Buddha. A Taiwanese specialty, it's appealing for its high sugar content and creamy texture, similar to ice cream. However, because the fruit is soft and difficult to import to Japan, it has been described as a "phantom fruit." Why not experience the taste of this "phantom" fruit, which is still rarely encountered?