Upcoming Events
Past Events
Thursday, October 8, 2026
7:00-8:15 PM
The Crawford (Pasadena, CA)
We are excited to share that Naoko will be the featured guest at Cookbook Live, a cookbook event series presented by LAist in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, on Thursday, October 8 at The Crawford in Pasadena.
Cookbook Live celebrates the stories that cookbooks carry, and how they bring food, culture, and the people we cook for together for culinary connection and exploration. For this evening, Naoko will share the heart of everyday donabe cooking from her new cookbook, Simply Donabe and guide you towards incorporating it into your daily life.
Naoko will demonstrate a donabe recipe live on stage, followed by a conversation with Gab Chabrán, LAist's food and culture writer. It will be a wonderful chance to see donabe cooking up close and hear Naoko talk about the book.
The evening will include:
- A live donabe recipe demonstration by Naoko, featuring a recipe from Simply Donabe
- A conversation between Naoko and Gab Chabrán
- A savory pre-show snack from Mama Musubi
- Live solo instrumental jazz music by Amy Rowe presented by Pasadena Conservatory of Music on the patio from 6:00 PM
- A full-size sample of Graza olive oil for every guest in attendance
Copies of Simply Donabe can be pre-ordered with your ticket, or purchased at the event from bookseller partner Now Serving.
Date:
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time:
Patio opens at 6:00 PM
Program: 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM
Location:
The Crawford
474 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105
Shincha Workshop and Tasting with Tomoko Imade Dyen
Join this special workshop, all about shincha, which is Japan's most anticipated new season tea. TOIRO is excited to welcome back Tomoko Imade Dyen, a trained Japanese tea expert and culinary curator, for an immersive shincha tea experience.
In this workshop, you will explore the fascinating world of shincha and Japanese green tea - from its origins and cultural significance to how it is harvested, processed, and enjoyed. You'll have the opportunity to taste shincha served three different ways. The event also includes a special tea-inspired light tasting, featuring shincha rice and seasonal tea dishes, alongside a selection of teas available for purchase at the event.
The workshop will include:
- Introduction to shincha and Japanese green tea - history, culture, and health benefits
- Tasting of shincha served three ways: cold brew, warm brew, and hand-picked hand-roasted warm brew
- A tea-inspired light meal, featuring shincha rice mixed with tea leaves and steamed pickled tea leaves with ponzu.
- A pop-up shop featuring a curated selection of teas by Ocha World, available for purchase at the event
Space is limited to 10 participants per session. Tickets are final sale.
About the Instructor: Tomoko Imade Dyen
Tomoko Imade Dyen is the founder of Ocha.world, a platform dedicated to sharing Japanese culture through tea. Based in Los Angeles and originally from Tokyo, she believes tea is more than a beverage—it is a doorway into Japan’s landscapes, craftsmanship, hospitality, and everyday life.
Through tea tastings, cultural experiences, and ongoing study of the Japanese way of tea through the Southern California branch of the Omotesenke tradition, Tomoko helps people discover Japan one cup at a time. She regularly travels throughout Japan to learn directly from tea farmers and makers, bringing their stories to audiences in the United States.
Her mission is simple: to inspire curiosity about Japan through the everyday act of sharing tea.
Date:
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Session Times:
Session 1: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Session 2: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
RSVP for Shincha Workshop and Tasting
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Session Times:
Session 1: 11:00 AM and Session 2: 2:00 PM
TOIRO West Hollywood
Join this special workshop, dedicated to the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi! TOIRO is thrilled to welcome instructor Miya Smith from POJ Studio, a Japan-based ceramics and craft studio, to guide you through the art of golden repair.
Discover the beauty of imperfection through kintsugi, and learn about its rich cultural roots and history. You'll take part in the final step of the kintsugi process yourself, applying red urushi and finishing your own piece with metallic powder to take home.
The workshop will include:
- Kintsugi 101 Presentation, covering the history and cultural roots of the craft
- Demonstration of the kintsugi repair process
- Hands-on application session, where each participant applies red urushi and metallic powder to their own piece
- Each attendee will take home their finished, repaired piece from the workshop
This one-time event will feature two 90-minute sessions, offered at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Space is limited to 10 participants per session. Tickets are final sale.
RSVP for Introductory Kintsugi Class
About POJ Studio
POJ Studio is a Japan-based studio specializing in handcrafted ceramics and traditional Japanese craft techniques. POJ Studio brings their expertise and passion for preserving the artistry of kintsugi, the centuries-old practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, to participants in this hands-on workshop.
TOIRO West Hollywood
We are excited to welcome back Ai Fujimoto of Omiso, our talented miso maker and fermentation expert from LA, for this highly sought-after workshop next month! Ai will lead us through the fascinating process of making miso from scratch, a time-honored tradition in Japan that spans over a thousand years. Participants will create their own miso and take it home, offering a hands-on experience that extends well beyond the workshop.
Naoko and the TOIRO team will complement the workshop by preparing onigiri rice balls using freshly made rice from the Double-lid Donabe Rice Cooker, Kamado-san*, as well as a miso-themed side dish for participants to enjoy. All the miso and tasting items are plant-based and gluten-free.
Throughout the weekend there will be an Omiso pop-up shop where you can purchase Ai's delicious products so if you can't make the workshop, you'll still be able to take some home for a limited time.
Space is limited to just 10 participants per session, so be sure to RSVP while you can via the link below:
*The Double-lid Donabe Rice Cooker, Kamado-san is currently out of stock, but we will be restocking the 3 Rice-cup Size in late May. Stay tuned!
Simply Donabe Cooking Class and Book Signing
Saturday, May 16
Hosted by SingleThread Farm (Sonoma, California)
Naoko will be at SingleThread Farm—part of the Michelin three-star SingleThread restaurant in Sonoma—for a rare and intimate afternoon centered on donabe cooking. She will share a live demonstration featuring recipes from Simply Donabe, followed by a conversation and Q&A with Chef Kyle Connaughton. The event will conclude with a book signing, with a copy of Simply Donabe included in the ticket.
Reserve your spot here.
Simply Donabe Cooking Class and Book Signing (Hawaii)
Saturday, April 25
Hosted by CookSpace Hawai'i
Naoko is heading to Honolulu for a special hands-on donabe cooking class, hosted by CookSpace Hawai'i, at Macy’s Ala Moana Demo Kitchen. In this intimate session, she will share her approach to everyday donabe cooking, featuring comforting rice dishes and shareable donabe preparations using Japanese seasonings and local vegetables. The class is designed to show how donabe can bring warmth and ease to daily meals, with techniques you can continue using at home.
After the class, Naoko will also host a Simply Donabe book signing at the same location, open to the public. Stop by to meet her, get a copy signed, and say hello.
There are two sessions. Go to the event page here.
Simply Donabe Dinner by Naoko and Chef Alex Chang (New York)
Sunday, April 19 at 6 pm
KIKO New York
Naoko at KIKO NYC – One-Night Donabe Dinner with Chef Alex Chang on April 19
On Sunday, April 19, Naoko will be in New York for a special one-night dinner to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, Simply Donabe, at KIKO, in collaboration with Chef Alex Chang. This dinner brings together KIKO’s thoughtful, contemporary approach and Naoko’s donabe cooking, centered on the simple yet powerful act of cooking with clay.
The menu will highlight the unique qualities of donabe—its gentle heat retention and ability to draw out deep, layered flavors—through a series of dishes that are rooted in tradition while reflecting a modern sensibility. Each course is designed to feel warm, comforting, and expressive of the ingredients.
This will be a rare opportunity to experience their collaboration dinner in New York in an intimate setting, and to enjoy a dialogue between two chefs through a shared table.
Find more details and reservation information through the link here.
Author Meet & Greet and Book Signing with Naoko (New York)
Sunday, April 19 at 12 pm
Kinokuniya New York
Naoko will be visiting Kinokuniya New York for a special meet & greet and book signing to celebrate her new cookbook, Simply Donabe!
Simply Donabe shares Naoko’s approach to donabe cooking—simple, nourishing one-pot dishes inspired by everyday Japanese home cooking. The book features a wide range of recipes, from comforting hot pots and rice dishes to noodles and even sweets, all designed to make donabe cooking part of daily life.
Naoko will be signing copies of the book and meeting readers during the event. If you’re in New York, we would love for you to stop by to join this special event!
For full details, please visit the event page through the linked here.
MARCH 2026 EVENT!
In conjunction with the release of Simply Donabe, Naoko will be hosting her very first livestream online class with Milk Street on Thursday, March 5th at 6PM EST (3PM PST). You can join from anywhere in the world!
She will be introducing three dishes from her new cookbook, SIMPLY DONABE, and share techniques, ingredients, and why donabe cooking has such an important, everyday presence in Japanese home kitchens.
Milk Street is offering a special 15% discount with the code: NAOKO15 for this class. You can sign up for the class HERE.
- 2/19 Los Angeles, CA - SIMPLY DONABE x Camelia DTLA
- 2/24 San Francisco, CA - Author Talk @ Omnivore Books
- 2/25 San Francisco, CA - SIMPLY DONABE x Rintaro Dinner Event
- 2/26 Seattle, WA - Cooking Demo @ Book Larder
- 2/27 Portland, OR - Author Talk @ Vivienne Culinary Books
To celebrate the U.S. release of Naoko (aka Mrs. Donabe)'s new cookbook, SIMPLY DONABE next month, there will be a reception at TOIRO on Sunday, February 15th.
SIMPLY DONABE is a collection of comforting one-pot dishes centered on donabe cooking-- recipes meant to be shared, prepared with intention, and enjoyed together. The event is a chance to gather, enjoy conversation and celebrate the spirit of the book with Naoko. We will be serving complimentary refreshments from friends of TOIRO.
