Russian food shop in Ginza to close as war in Ukraine drags on

Good riddance.

Buh-bye!

Putin and his power hungry cronies hijacked Russia and now run it as the largest most sophisticated crime ring in the world.

Russian food is really not that good, I know it’s subjective, but overall…naw…

Victoria Miyabe, who runs Aka-no-Hiroba, a Russian shop in Tokyo's Ginza district which sells food products from the former Soviet Union, poses for a photo.

Sad that her business is a victim of geo-political circumstances beyond her control.

The Japanese government provided businesses that closed a few hours early or didn't serve alcohol with monthly stimulus funds or zero interest loans during the COVID-19 pandemic to tide businesses over.

Mrs. Miyabe seems to be a similar victim of circumstance beyond her control.

@bass4funk - French, Italian,Indian,Chinese, Thai and Japanese.

I'm struggling to think of ANY country that has good food consistently along a broad range of prices than those countries. Certainly not the UK, USA or Canada.

Rain man - try ottoman cuisine... Very good too!

They only have the fascist Russian government to blame.

 "I hate the Russian government," he added. "My friends around me also think like that. But what can I do?"

There are certainly plenty of good Russians who want nothing to do with the fascist regime and the midget dictator. They are also victims.

"Certainly not the UK, USA..."

But, but, but, America has burgers and fries...

Russian food is really not that good, I know it’s subjective, but overall…naw…

Bass@, you might think otherwise after a meal at Rogovsky in Ginza. It's one of my favorite restaurants in Tokyo, both in terms of cuisine and ambiance.

Here is the address. I'll go shopping there. Sorry to see them go, especially after just now discovering them. Another loss for diversity.

Ginza N・K Bldg., 1 Chome-20-14 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

Most don't even know the difference between winter and spring borscht,

Most don't even know the difference between winter and spring borscht,

Or summer borscht, which is served cold, in a glass, with a dollop of sour cream.

@factchecker, petty. This is someones livelihood/business, don't think she had much to do with the events Ukraine

If she was born in what is current Ukraine, how about shifting the menu to Ukrainian? Run the business and hire some of the local Ukrainian refugees to cook some of the dishes that she's not familiar with. Change the name of the restaurant from Aka no Hiroba (Red Square) to Azov Brigade.....no just kidding on the last part.

How SAD, as normal everyday hardworking people pay the price for their leaders actions.

This is sad. Another proof that normal people have to suffer due to dementia of their leaders.

The shop was unique in Tokyo because of items diversity, which could not be found anywhere else.

Always sad when the blameless are punished but that is like so many collateral casualties of Putin's War.

I'm surprised it lasted so long. It should have been boycotted the day Russia invaded Ukraine!

I for one have bought from their online store as I like some of the chocolate and snacks that they sell. I am not a close-minded person that blames a shopowner for the acts of someone else.

These ordinary everyday people don't have anything to do with the war. This woman started before there even was a war. Does anyone think she had anything to do with the war? I don't see how. She's the innocent victim of the war. It's sad to see an average person suffer because of a war she didn't even see coming. And the Russian food I've had is very good. But now I won't get the chance to try different things. This is the problem: the government is one thing, the people are another. Just like you and me.

Judging by the picture, she seems like a genuinely nice lady and it is sad to hear stories like this where people work so hard to save up and build their dreams only to have it tramped by a cause that has nothing to do with them as an individual.

Miyabe, 50, a 25-year resident of Japan

Losing your business because your business model is putrid is one thing, but losing your business because you were born in a country where geo-political ties are tense is another thing. She's been living here for 25 years now, treat her like a Japanese citizen already! She has nothing to do with Putin's regime.

A shame. God speed to the good Russian people.

Various items from Ukraine and former Soviet States are available at Gyomu Super.

Ms. Miyabe is just one of many many victims of Vladimir Putin's thirst for power and glory.

Agreed - another victim of Putin. Really unfortunate timing. And I dread to think what the overheads are for a shop in Ginza. Individuals are not responsible for the what their governments do. They have no influence upon their governments. They are often victims of their governments, just like the rest of us. So lose the nation-based abuse. Your government doesn't care any more about you than Putin does about Russian citizens.

Communism ruins everything.

The same people making fun of this will never be able to be independent through hard work or make money while sleeping, never.

What horrible comments from certain sad individuals . Sorry to see you go. Been there a few times x

Sad for the owners. More victims of Putin's ego. They must hate him.

It's sad her business, a bridge between cultures, had to go down because of the actions of that thug and his government.

the store received abusive phone calls and in one incident, its signboard was damaged.

Immature, small minded people with nothing to do with their lives except being jerks. Just like Chinese calling Japanese restaurants and other establishments because the waters in Fukushima.

So many ugly minded people around! Shame on you! How the hell is it her fault that this stupid war is continuing?! Get an idea please!

Lots of xenophobia towards the start of these comments. Putin is the problem, not good people trying to earn an honest living.

Russian food is really not that good, I know it’s subjective, but overall…naw…

Ever been there? I'd take Russian food over American any time. Note that I'm not talking about Putin or the Russian government or the "war," just the food.

Despite my hatred of the Russian government it's genuinely saddening to see things like this happen.

We must always remember that many of the people that live in/are connected with awful regimes like Russia, China, North Korea, Iran etc. are just like us, and often hate their government even more than we do.

We should try to welcome such people wherever possible. This will, in turn, weaken those awful regimes back home and effect change for everyone.

Despite my hatred of the Russian government it's genuinely saddening to see things like this happen.

I agree.

Ginza's rents are very high. Moving in and moving out money is also high.

@B: Russian food is really not that good, I know it’s subjective, but overall…naw…

Food blog writers should be objective..., but many fail at that, too for myriad reasons.

Ever been there? I'd take Russian food over American any time. Note that I'm not talking about Putin or the Russian government or the "war," just the food.

But of course, because America “mean bad scary” according to the majority of your posts, so of course the food must also be sub par, despite your obvious lack of any first hand experience with much of anything.

As America is a nation of immigrants, there is precious little “ American food” , it’s various iterations of dishes handed down and modified over generations: Italian America cuisine , tex mex, Puerto Rican American, even Asian American dishes, and many more.

I do do love the buffoonish “bUT AmErICa MeAnS McDonAlds oNlY cuz thATS wUt I seE on THe TeLlY!” Nonsense that permeates a subset of posts on forums like these. At least they’re so kind as to broadcast their ignorance so as to remove any ambiguity.

Sad that her shop is closing but couldn't she have picked a cheaper location! I bet the rent must have been crazy high!

Communism ruins everything.

Curious comment.

Her business is not in the old Soviet Union, it would not have been permitted.

It is in the end closing due to the rules of property ownership and high rents in an area like Ginza.

Capitalism.

When violence based on discrimination occurs against foreigners it doesn’t make news in Japan.

Japanese laws are weak.

Now it’s too late for this blameless lady

Michael Hooper

I'm surprised it lasted so long. It should have been boycotted the day Russia invaded Ukraine!

'I wanted to bridge Japan and Russia through food,' she says. That's how we, as humankind, build peace among different countries. You must separate politics from the lives of ordinary people.

Here is the address. I'll go shopping there. Sorry to see them go, especially after just now discovering them. Another loss for diversity.

Ginza N・K Bldg., 1 Chome-20-14 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061

Thanks Patricia--heading there now.

Probably an honest Russian (yeah i know it's a contradiction in terms) just trying to make a business.

Putin is screwing his own people as well as the Ukrainians. Most just want to get on with there lives and be happy. But this insane dictator is messing up lives everywhere just because he is completely mental.

It's a shame to see innocent civilians being unfairly discriminated due to the actions of Putin.

It's terrible that she's been harassed and store been damaged. This lunatic behaviour belongs in America not Japan.

@wallace; Thanks for that interesting and little known insight.

When you buy a store lease, it's just a basic bare shell. It costs more than $10 million to have it fitted out. When terminating the lease, the shop must be stripped out and returned to the basic shell, which costs millions.

She's the innocent victim of the war. It's sad to see an average person suffer because of a war she didn't even see coming. 

Reminds me of a scene from the otherwise forgettable movie “Vertical Limit.”

The Pakistani Army mountain brigade officer offers the climber a cup of tea:

”Would you like some tea? It’s from India.”

**surprised look from the climber

”We may be at war with them, but let’s not be ridiculous.”

these comments are ignorant, why not boycott Chinese restaurants or retail goods? Oh. It’s the good food. Makes sense…. It has nothing to do with the communist dictatorship, or frankly, the country, that openly hates Japan.

I’m not sure why she refers to the shop as “Russian” unless she sees herself as Russian. Of course she could have rebranded as Ukrainian shop. However, I have to vote with my wallet. I can’t support “Russias economy”.Its always the average person who suffers, and as long as I keep buying things from Russia we are indirectly supporting Putin’s economy.(which unfortunately funds the military) I’d love to support her and a local business but just as I can’t buy things from made by slaves to support an internet shop, I want to support Ukraine even more. I don’t think we can have it both ways. Support her shop and somehow NOT support Putin’s economy.

There seems to be a consensus that supporting her shop is supporting war.

By logical extension, every time one consumes US beef, imported hotdog or anything American in origin that supports the US economy (which funds their military), is also supporting shocking events in Gaza/Palestine. Can't have it both ways. Show some consistency.

As she said, she was just trying to bring people together through food. She had items from both Russia and Ukraine, as well as other countries, which no doubt was a godsend for people who hailed from Armenia etc.

No reason to hate on that.

Once I dropped by it was full of flies!

She has been unable to visit the city for more than a decade now since the eastern part of the country became a battleground in 2014 when Russia began defending against fascist attacks there.

Fixed it.

Oh yes the leftist on here who clearly can’t read! Putin has nothing to do with her business closing, it has everything to do with sick individuals harassing her constantly. Vandalizing her business and threatening her? Most likely far left agitators acting like they always act! The left is so violent!

I think the police should look into the far left foreigners who were arrested recently for graffiti. Any leftist thug that gets caught doing these things should be deported immediately.

Im sorry to see her business go!

JJEToday  02:45 pm JST

There seems to be a consensus that supporting her shop is supporting war.

By logical extension, every time one consumes US beef, imported hotdog or anything American in origin that supports the US economy (which funds their military), is also supporting shocking events in Gaza/Palestine. Can't have it both ways. Show some consistency.

It is not DIRECTLY supporting the war but it is indirectly.And if we disagree with what the US is doing (as an individual) we can choose to spend our money somewhere else. No problem. It’s just the same as vegetarians vote with their wallets, and don’t buy meat or we can be against animal experiments but still take the medicine they were tested on. Depends on the greater good. If you believe supporting Russian economy is for the greater good, that’s for you to decide. As for Gaza, we don’t have to buy Israeli oranges, or food stuffs which support the military. That would be consintant. If I live in American I can buy American even though I don’t support the governments “policy” directly. We get to vote on that. We don’t have to buy Russian goods just as we didn’t have to buy South African good during apartheid or German goods to support the Nazis. We can purchase things WE (as consumers) DIRECTLY HAVE CONTROL OVER. We as a society have no direct control over our governments policy.I won’t fret over politicians choices I have no control over but I can control where the money from my wallet goes. Either directly or indirectly. Sadly I can’t control where my taxes go.

but if you are against sanctions or war? What do you suppose we in Japan can do?

Honestly, she should just open a "Ukrainian" shop and sell the same products, seeing as how the bulk of all Ukrainian culture derives from Russian culture, until a little over thirty years ago, that is. I guarantee you the average Japanese person would not notice a difference either.

Shame on the scum who abused her over the phone, harassed her and vandalized the store.

To think prejudices would escalate to that degree against an honest, hard-working woman is disgraceful. Justifying it is just as despicable.

Oh yes the leftist on here who clearly can’t read! Putin has nothing to do with her business closing, it has everything to do with sick individuals harassing her constantly. Vandalizing her business and threatening her? Most likely far left agitators acting like they always act! The left is so violent!

I think the walls have closed in again on seriousness again.

I can imagine the ‘people’ making the threatening calls are fewer than it looks.

This kind of dishonest and pathetic nonsense often make transparent and laughable attempts to make their numbers seem larger than they are.

Waste of oxygen.

Anyway, sad to see what we assume to be decent people suffer because of the actions of that foul little thug in the Kremlin.

Hopefully the Japanese police are investigating the phone calls and the vandalism. Arrest the individuals involved and give them a minimum of 2-5 years in prison. If they are foreigners who are involved absolutely deportation and lifetime bans from Japan after they serve time in a Japanese prison.

If you read the article fully the abusive phone calls and single incident of vandalism whilst deplorable are overshadowed by economic factors, sanctions and rising costs of importing from Russia.

She is a victim yes, but not of ‘leftist foreigners’. Get a grip.

“She is a victim yes, but not of ‘leftist foreigners’. Get a grip.”

Time will tell comrade bob. Let’s see after the arrest are made

Aka-no-Hiroba, which opened just a year before Russia's February 2022 invasion of its neighbor, has struggled amid escalating sanctions and logistical hurdles that have pushed up costs and has also faced acts of vandalism and harassment.

That is so stupid. What does her shop have to do with the conflict.

Nothing is more despicable than trying to eliminate Ukraine from the Earth.

Justifying Putin’s invasion is despicable.

You can attempt to make an exception for the very stupid who swallow packages sold to them by grifters on podcasts.

They shouldn’t be trusted with sharp objects.

wolfshine

Honestly, she should just open a "Ukrainian" shop and sell the same products, seeing as how the bulk of all Ukrainian culture derives from Russian culture

It is the same actually. "Ukraine" simply means "borderland", and the history of area is intimitely intertwined. Kiev is actually the original Russian capital. Remember that Ukraine in its current form was created in the Stalin era. Historically, Eastern Ukraine was part of the Hungarian and Polish-Lithonean empires, and Eastern Ukraine was always Russian. So much simplification in the media.

“She is a victim yes, but not of ‘leftist foreigners’. Get a grip.”

Time will tell comrade bob. Let’s see after the arrest are made

What arrests? The ones you are fantasizing about?

I’d suggest (re?)reading the article. Sanctions and economic factors are mentioned several times. The single vandalism incident just once.

Just ‘Bob’ is fine thanks.

That is so stupid. What does her shop have to do with the conflict.

I’d replace ‘conflict’ with ‘invasion’ there. You weren’t incorrect but ‘invasion’ does the job better.

Anyway, still no excuse for this harassment.

Instead of imagining ‘foreign leftists’ why not believe the Russian gentleman quoted in the article as, alongside his friends, hating the Russian government?

I think he knows more about this than you or I.

Newgirlintown

Lots of xenophobia towards the start of these comments. Putin is the problem, not good people trying to earn an honest living.

Sadly, that is not true. There is no Russian government that could possibly accept Nato expansion into its critial area. Even William Burns warned about this when he was Moscow ambassador.

This has nothing to do with Putin. Do you seriously think if Medvedev was president, youd have a different situation? To the contrary, with the much more impulsive Medvedev in power, all constraints are gone.

ZaphodToday 04:51 pm JST

wolfshine

Honestly, she should just open a "Ukrainian" shop and sell the same products, seeing as how the bulk of all Ukrainian culture derives from Russian culture

It is the same actually. "Ukraine" simply means "borderland", and the history of area is intimitely intertwined. Kiev is actually the original Russian capital.

Are you sure Moscow isn't just the horde collaborating outskirt of Kyiv?

Remember that Ukraine in its current form was created in the Stalin era. Historically, Eastern Ukraine was part of the Hungarian and Polish-Lithonean empires,

So it did exist prior to the Stalin era. Russia in its current form was created at the same time as Ukraine & Belarus.

and Eastern Ukraine was always Russian. So much simplification in the media.

It was the Crimean Khanate before it was part of Russia. 'Tis a fine history lesson but has no bearing on the three treaties guaranteeing Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.

ZaphodToday 04:55 pm JST

Newgirlintown

Lots of xenophobia towards the start of these comments. Putin is the problem, not good people trying to earn an honest living.

Sadly, that is not true. There is no Russian government that could possibly accept Nato expansion into its critial area. Even William Burns warned about this when he was Moscow ambassador.

This has nothing to do with Putin. Do you seriously think if Medvedev was president, youd have a different situation? To the contrary, with the much more impulsive Medvedev in power, all constraints are gone.

Ukraine was not close to being accepted into NATO. Doubly so after 2014.

It is a shame she’s lost her business and she has my sympathy. But, bearing in mind Russia annexed the Donetsk etc in 2014 and she is from the region, I can’t help thinking she was a little naive. Best of luck to her though.

ZaphodToday 04:55 pm JST

There is no Russian government that could possibly accept Nato expansion into its critial area.

Russia doesn't get a veto on other countries' foreign policies. If other countries wish to join NATO (to guard against Russian aggression, funnily enough), they will.

It doesn't matter if Russia "accepts" this or not: it does not have the right to invade these countries.

If Russia doesn't want countries to join NATO, it should be a good neighbor, rather than threatening and invading those around it.

Tell us how US would be just fine with Mexico or Canada joining a Warsaw pact if it still existed.

Irrelevant because they didn't and would have never done due to the unatractive nature of living under the impoverished Soviet boot.

they used Ukraine to fulfill their long term goals to draw Russia into a conflict in order to strategically weaken and defeat it.

'Lured' Putin into invading according to you. They forced him to invade, he had no choice, and now he is strategically defeating himself. This is the reasoning of an adult who is struggling to cope with his dirty support of an invasion. A culture of victimhood and blame. Quite pathetic.

Innocent Ukrainians are paying the price for neocon plans.

They are paying the price for Putin's gullibility according to your wild conspiracy. As are hundreds of thousands of Russians. But neocons n' red lines etc.

Ramsey's KitchenToday 07:25 pm JST

Ukraine sliding towards NATO membership has always been Kremlin,s red line

It does not matter: these are sovereign countries making their own decisions. Putin doesn't get to decide.

Countries are also free to join Putin's CSTO, but they don't. Why? Because Russia is a threat, not a partner. At best, it's dangerously unreliable - just ask Armenia:

https://www.euronews.com/2024/06/12/armenia-to-leave-russian-led-collective-security-treaty-organisation

Innocent Ukrainians are paying the price for neocon plans.

"Neocons" did not invade Ukraine. "Neocons" are not murdering/raping/torturing people, blowing up their homes, and abducting their children.

The Ukraine war is the work of Putin, and Putin alone.

Ramsey's KitchenToday  03:55 pm JST

However, I have to vote with my wallet. I can’t support “Russias economy”.Its always the average person who suffers, and as long as I keep buying things from Russia we are indirectly supporting Putin’s economy.(which unfortunately funds the military) I’d love to support her and a local business but just as I can’t buy things from made by slaves to support an internet shop,

Very principled opinion. Do you also refuse to buy anything made in China since you know..."made by slaves and political prisoners ". Are all your clothes, daily goods, furniture, electronics etc . from countries other than China?

Actually as much as I can. Yes ! I don’t buy stuff made in China, if I can see the label. But the world isn’t perfect. I sometimes have to choose the lesser of two evils sometimes.

but we know Russia invaded Ukraine which gave up its nukes under the guise of security guarantees by Russia and the US. Most Russians don’t give too hoots about the war, until they are on the front line or it’s their kids on the front. But to justify doing business with Russia is imho no different than turning a blind eye, and accepting that Russia attacked another country. It is also the very same psychological trick Germans had during WW2, knowing what was going on. Let’s not do anything because it doesn’t affect me! Well I believe doing nothing is being pacify complicit in support the Russian war machine. I get the point the Russians shouldn’t pay the price but that’s up to the Russians to decide.

if you wish to support her business fine. But she will be paying for their services who will pay Russian taxes that will fund the war and the killing. I’d rather a business go out of business than fund Russias invasion. She could herself stop buying Russia stuff, but she doesn’t care. She’s got a business to run. I wonder how many Germans said the same thing in WW2. Ever wondered why Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine et al don’t want much to do with Russia? Have we forgotten what Russia did in Czechoslovakia,Hungary,East Germany, Poland. Appeasement is not an option. We saw that before and where it leads. Happy to spend my money somewhere else.

Terrible tragedy, result of the foreign left.

More of a tragedy than the 500,000 that your right wing idol has killed or maimed?

Seems that you care more about shops than lives.

As circumstances change she should have adapted, down played the Muscovite empire angle and highlighted her Ukrainian origins and made a point of selling Ukrainian products.

This is just bad business management, when the market moves for whatever reason a business must adapt or die. She didn’t.

I noticed there are hardly any criticisms of the people who vandalized the place or threatened the store owner.

By the way, I love how so many people in the west are now pronouncing Kiev much more closer to the Russian pronunciation.

Ramsey's KitchenJune 19 07:25 pm JST

Russia doesn't get a veto on other countries' foreign policies. If other countries wish to join NATO (to guard against Russian aggression, funnily enough), they will.

Ukraine sliding towards NATO membership has always been Kremlin,s red line as Putin clearly said many times.

No, he hinted at it once before going to his room to sob and plan revenge for six years.

Western neocons crossed that line on purpose , they used Ukraine to fulfill their long term goals to draw Russia into a conflict in order to strategically weaken and defeat it. Innocent Ukrainians are paying the price for neocon plans.

And yet Ukraine was never close to being in NATO, particularly after 2014.

Tell us how US would be just fine with Mexico or Canada joining a Warsaw pact if it still existed.

We don't have such terrible relationships on our continent that that would have happened.

Ms Miyabe, we will miss you !!!

Humankind and Planet Earth are thirsting for peace.

Russian food is really not that good, I know it’s subjective, but overall…naw…

Ever been there? I'd take Russian food over American any time. Note that I'm not talking about Putin or the Russian government or the "war," just the food.

If you are talking about mass-produced corporate-made food like japan, you are right.

But locally grown American food is as fine as it gets anywhere.