HOUSTON – Tokyo X Festival is back and bigger than ever!
Held June 14 and 15 at NRG Center, this two-day event celebrates Japanese culture through music, food, fashion, and fun for the whole family. From high-energy cosplay contests and samurai demos to J-pop and K-pop dance battles, this indoor festival promises an exciting cultural experience. Visitors can also check out tea ceremonies, sake tastings, martial arts workshops, and a brand-new kids’ zone, making it a one-of-a-kind event for all ages.
Today on “Houston Life,” meet one of the voices behind your favorite anime characters — Blake Shepard! A longtime force in the anime world, Blake has voiced more than 250 characters in shows like One Piece, Food Wars!, Attack on Titan, and Saint Seiya. In addition to voice acting, Blake is also an animator and the creative mind behind Dynosaur Productions, a studio focused on bold storytelling and new technologies.
In the kitchen, meet the mother-daughter duo Ashley Lai and Elaine Won from Dumpling Haus, known for its handmade Chinese comfort food. They’re sharing their perfect recipe for rolling the dough for their signature Chinese sausage steamed buns, which they’ll serve at the festival, along with a tasty vegan dumpling option!
Chinese Sausage Steamed Buns (Recipe)
Ingredients
- 300g bread flour
- 150g warm water
- 3g instant yeast
- 5–10g sugar
- Chinese sausage, cut in half
Directions
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Slowly add water while mixing.
- Mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes.
- Knead the dough on a clean surface.
- Divide into 40g balls.
- Roll each ball into a 6–8 inch rope.
- Wrap each rope around a piece of sausage.
- Place buns in steamer with warm water (do not turn on heat yet). Let rest 1–2 hours.
- Steam for 12 minutes.
- Turn off heat, leave lid on 2 more minutes.
- Enjoy!
Don’t miss your chance to attend this exciting festival! Use promo code HL15 to receive 15% off tickets — limited to the first 500 users who purchase online. For tickets and more info, visit the Tokyo X Eventbrite page.