For Japanese-style char-grilled wagyu...

 

“Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant, where premium quality, rigorously selected meat is meticulously hand-cut-in-store, adjusted to optimal thickness for each part and then char-grilled Japanese style.”

 

The centerpiece of a bar-counter inside
Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant

This was what I learnt as I received the invitation for a dining experience at Toramaru so it will be ridiculous if I did not accept the invite to find out if all that was said is for real.

 

With a restaurant name that includes words like, ‘Wagyu’ and ‘Yakiniku’, it is clear that they serve premium Wagyu beef prepared in Japanese charcoal grilled-style.

 

Beef connoisseurs can attest to how Wagyu beef will literally melt-in-your-mouth due to its delicate marbling (Read: Intramuscular Fat) which has a lower melting point than the warmth in our mouths.

 

Facade of Toramaru Wagyu
Yakiniku restaurant in Johor Bahru

The restaurant is located in a familiar area and with its impressive façade that features the Toramaru logo, it was easy to spot. When we stepped indoors from the tropical sunshine, the cool and contemporary interior design that featured lots of wood in a cosy layout, bade my foodie friends and I, a very warm welcome.

 

While the others looked at the menu and admired the colour photographs of the servings, I looked around to discover a row of comfortable alcoves with relative privacy and the centerpiece of long bar-counter where diners may prepare their wagyu on electric grills.

 

I observed the staff serving charcoal grills to the tables and helping to set up under a sophisticated and strong ventilation system. With meat grilling going on over charcoal, the exhaust system will ensure that diners will have a comfortable dining experience without any discomfort and will leave not reeking of residual aromas.

 

A row of private alcoves for dining

My review of any restaurant always included a peep at the restrooms and I was suitably impressed to see that the toilet bowls here are equally sophisticated, reminiscent of the deluxe toilet bowls I experienced in Japan.

 

[No, I did not have to “go” so I cannot say if this plush toilet came with a trickling water tune to add to the toilet ambience to help diffuse any embarrassing noises.]

 

Back at the table, I was pleased that my friends had accepted the restaurant manager’s recommendation for our lunch and waited in eager anticipation of a delightful meal.

 

A swerving of Toramaru Special Platter

When the charcoal grill was set up at our table, a piece of beef lard served on a small plate was provided to melt over the heated grill to prevent grilling meat from sticking onto the hot grill.

 

The brand, Toramau was founded in Suzhou, China, with some 17 outlets opened in Shanghai. My friends who are familiar with Chinese television dramas, told me that this brand even made an appearance in a Chinese drama and that this outlet is its first flagship restaurant in Johor Bahru.

 

Wagyu slices and beef tongue being
grilled on the charcoal grill

By this time, I was more than curious to learn more about the restauranteur behind Toramaru here. Then I was introduced to a local partner who was pleased to share with me that three other partners were Johoreans while one was a Japanese based in Shanghai.

 

He said the Johoreans were schoolmates in Johor Bahru and when two were based in Suzhou for work, they met with the Japanese who also enjoyed food and was keen on a partnership in the Food & Beverage industry. As they all enjoyed dining at Toramaru in China, they decided to bring this brand to Johor.

 

Beef Sauce [Left] and a platter of
Special Marinated Raw Beef

This business partnership, in fact, started ahead of 2020 when a local chef was sent to Shanghai for on-the-job training. But due to the global pandemic and subsequent periods of lockdown, the restaurant opening in Johor Bahru was delayed.

 

After its soft-opening, since March 2025, Toramaru have been welcoming diners who enjoy good beef. To meet the tastes of discerning diners, the menu not only features grilled A5 Wagyu and seafood but also popular Korean specialties like Bibimbap and Seafood pancake.

 

A bowl of fresh lettuce with the
Toramaru Special Sauce Set
 

As the charcoal embers glowed brightly, we followed the instruction to rub that piece of lard across the heated grill to get it ready for grilling the meats.

 

Then wagyu slices in the Toramaru Special Platter, 220gm (RM158) were carefully arranged on the hot grill to be seared under watchful eyes.

 

While wagyu meat may be savoured to the diner’s choice of doneness, we left the slices of tongue from the platter of Signature Thinly-sliced Beef Tongue (RM68) to grill for a little longer.

 

When the Toramaru Special Sauce Set (One complimentary per person) was served, we could tell that this set comprised a Sesame Sauce (topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds), Roasted Garlic Sauce (filled with chopped roasted garlic), Moon Sauce (topped with a fresh egg yolk) and a Spicy Sauce. Any additional order of sauce is priced at RM6 each.

 

This is the way to wrap the Special Marinated
Raw Beef with slivers of apple in seaweed sheet

A bowl of Fresh Lettuce (RM6) with carrot and cucumber sticks was also served for diners to use as a wrap for freshly grilled meats.

 

Then all eyes were riveted to the bowl of Beef Sauce (RM6) when it was served because this concoction continued to boil and bubble in its stone bowl.

 

Aptly called Beef Sauce, this is freshly created from a recipe of secret ingredients that included minced beef for diners to enjoy as a dip sauce for grilled meat or mixed with steamed white rice.

 

A serving of Karubi Soup

As the meats were being grilled, we turned our attention to their Special Marinated Raw Beef (RM42) served topped with a raw egg yolk along with a side of small sheets of seaweed and slivers of raw apple.

 

For a start, the raw egg yolk should be mixed into the marinated raw beef. A portion of this and slivers of raw apple should be wrapped in the seaweed sheet and then popped into the mouth to savour an interesting mix of tastes and textures.

 

Karubi or boneless short-rib, is one of the most popular cuts of beef that is tender and very juicy due to its marbling. So I was pleased to enjoy a serving of Karubi Soup (RM29) that tasted warm and comforting.

 

A serving of seafood pancake

To strike a balance with the meat in this meal, there was a crunchy and refreshing Mixed Vegetable Salad (RM16) and a Seafood Pancake (RM25) to share.

 

I was pleased to see that Toramaru also has a Lunch menu for diners who may opt for a quick meal of rice and noodles. We all agreed that this menu gave us another reason to return for yet another dining experience.

 

Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku is located at No. 195, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru. No Pork or Lard is used in this restaurant.

 

Open daily from 12pm to 2.30pm, 6pm to 11pm and closed on Tuesday. For reservations, Tel: +6010 6685 855.

Sun Yat Sen trail with Friends of the Museum

 

In March 2024, I met a group of docents from Friends of the Museum (FOM) Singapore, when they were in Johor Bahru for an exciting live experience of the Johor Chingay, an annual tradition of the Johor Old Temple.

 

With Friends of the Museum (FOM) Singapore
at the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum

Thanks to Susan Chong, who arranged for this interesting experience, I had a pleasant meet-up with this FOM group over a hearty lunch.

 

In January 2025, when Susan sent me greetings for a Happy New Year, she told me about another plan with a small group of FOM docents who were keen to explore the Sun Yat Sen heritage trail in Johor Bahru.

 

Susan went on to say that they were trying to locate his followers in Johor Bahru and reminded me that I had written on this subject in My Johor Stories.

 

It was good to share Johor stories with
a keen and attentive group of visitors

This certainly sparked my interest because I have covered many subjects on Johor culture and heritage so I quickly turned back the pages of my blog to see which subject Susan was referring to. She was quick to provide a hint and said, “Johor Bahru Ngee Heng Kongsi.”

 

This jolted my thoughts and I instantly figured out why this FOM group was keen to discover more about the Ngee Heng Kongsi or society, here.

 

As I pondered over Susan’s request to arrange a Heritage Walk with this group of FOM docents, I was happy to welcome them to Johor Bahru to discover the interesting link between the Johor Bahru Ngee Heng Kongsi and Sun Yat Sen.

 

The FOM group with a much
cherished portrait of Sun Yat Sen

We know Sun Yat Sen as the paramount leader of the 1911 Revolution and was credited for overthrowing the Qing (Manchu) dynasty.

 

Sun served as the first president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of China in 1912 and as the inaugural leader of the Kuomintang. He was married to Soong Ching Ling (1915 – 1925), one of the renowned Soong Sisters, three prominent women in modern Chinese history.

 

As for the Ngee Heng Kongsi, it is believed that this society was derived from the Hong Men or Red Door society, a Teochew group that developed from the Tian Di Hui or Heaven and Earth society. Ngee Heng is the Teochew version of, Ghee Hin, its name in Hokkien dialect.

 

While people may walk or drive along Jalan Ngee Heng and students and teachers went to the Ngee Heng School – now known as Sekolah Kebangsaan Ngee Heng – few may know about the origin of this name and its rich heritage in Johor Bahru.

 

Reading a template for a form used to
pledge support for the revolution cause

As I joined the dots between Sun Yat Sen and the Johor Ngee Heng Kongsi, I was able to tailor my own Sun Yat Sen heritage trail to meet the requests of this FOM group.

 

There was no better place to start than in the lobby of the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum where I introduced myself and My Johor Stories and kicked off our time together in an enjoyable time of storytelling and information sharing.

 

I started with saying that the Teochew made up the majority of the Chinese dialect groups who responded to the Johor Ruler who invited Chinese planters to open up land to cultivate pepper and gambier in Johor.

 

Photo memento with the portraits of pioneers
Wong Ah Fook, Tan Hiok Nee, Lim Ah Siang
  

Led by Ngee Heng Kongsi leader, Tan Kee Soon, the Teochew arrived in Johor Bahru, then known as Iskander Petrie, in 1844 and settled mainly in the area known as Kangkar Tebrau.

 

While kang means river in Teochew dialect, a kangkar was the disembarking point, usually its middle or upper reaches along the river.

 

When the Chinese came to Johor, they not only brought along their culture and farming skills but also their own brand of justice, gangsterism and vice.

 

At the archway for the
Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk

As revolutionaries, the Ngee Heng Kongsi activities were largely underground, with a tradition of covert activities that used secret codes and languages. After a period of anarchy, they agreed to surrender their secret society activities.

 

Even though the Ngee Heng Kongsi started as a quasi-military revolutionary brotherhood that was opposed to the Qing dynasty, their activities here gradually evolved into valuable social, political and administrative work which contributed to Johor’s early economic growth.

 

The Johor Ngee Heng Kongsi had a significant role in helping Temenggong Ibrahim settle the unrest in Muar and his son, who ascended to the throne as Sultan Abu Bakar in 1885, continued to tap on the strength and spirit of the brotherhood of this society.

 

Having fun at the top of the Segget Walk

Sultan Abu Bakar acknowledged that a brotherhood like the Ngee Heng Kongsi with its combination of muscle and moral authority, was the best barrier against unwanted infiltration and the best way to unite the Chinese to remain loyal to him.

 

After Tan Kee Soon died around 1864, the identity of the Ngee Heng Kongsi changed under the leadership of Tan Hiok Nee and became an organization of kangchu or River Masters and revenue farmers who successfully developed Johor through the cultivation of pepper and gambier.

 

In 1870, Sultan Abu Bakar appointed Tan Hiok Nee as Mejar Cina of Johor as well as Council of State to look after Chinese community affairs.

At the entrance of the Johor Bahru
Kwong Siew Heritage Gallery

When the clans agreed to stop their secret society activities, the Ngee Heng Kongsi was legalised as an association in 1873, assigned by royal favour to take charge of Chinese community affairs. This association was the forerunner of the present-day Johor Bahru Tiong Hua Association.

 

In 1914, when Johor became part of the Unfederated Malay States under British colonial authority, the kangchu system was abolished and the Johor Ngee Heng Kongsi was disbanded.

 

The society’s assets were dissolved and contributed to charity, with a sum set aside to build a tomb for the burial of their ritual and sacred objects as well as ancestral tablets.

 

This grand tomb, simply adorned by two Chinese characters that read, Ming Mu which mean, Ming Tomb, is the resting place of the Ngee Heng Kongsi’s ritual and sacred objects. As a mark of respect, Johor Bahru Chinese community leaders will perform ancestor worship ceremonies at this tomb, twice a year.

 

A Sun Yat Sen memorial plate

As a benevolent ruler, Sultan Abu Bakar continued the goodwill relationship started by Temenggong Ibrahim and encouraged the Chinese community to live in peace.

 

He played a vital role in uniting the Chinese by providing them with land to build a common place of worship and land for burial grounds, with respect to their tradition of ancestor worship.

 

United with the other Chinese dialect groups as a legal society in Johor, they built the Johor Old Temple, established a common cemetery dubbed, Kongsi San and started the Foon Yew School.

 

Located along Jalan Trus, the Johor Old Temple bears the word, Johor in its name, attributed to the strong relationship between the Johor ruler and the Chinese community in Johor.

 

Photo of Sun Yat Sen with his
wife, Soong Ching Ling

This is also known as the Temple of Unity as it uniquely houses the five deities worshipped by the five main Chinese dialect groups – Hokkien, Hainan, Hakka, Cantonese and Teochew – all under one-roof.

 

Sun Yat Sen was Cantonese so I was pleased to acquaint the FOM group with the Johor Bahru Kwong Siew Heritage Gallery, housed in the property donated by Johor pioneer, Wong Ah Fook, that was once used as the Cantonese clan house.

 

His name is familiar not only because the main road through the heart of Johor Bahru, was named after him, but also because Wong and the Cantonese community in Johor were also strong supporters of Sun Yat Sen and his effort towards the revolution in China.

 

At the Kwong Siew Gallery, I was pleased to point out that the first Chinese school in Johor Bahru was the Yok Choy School, founded in 1907 exclusively for the Cantonese community that used to occupy the upper floor of the former clan house.

 

 Inside the Johor Old Temple, also
known as the Temple of Unity

In 1911, when the Qing dynasty in China was overthrown by the revolution led by Sun Yat Sen, the Chinese in Johor Bahru held a celebration procession through town.

 

The outstanding performance by the Yok Choy School band caught the attention of community leaders who were so impressed that they started discussions to form a school that was open to all the Chinese students in the community.

This led to the founding of Johor’s renowned Foon Yew School in 1913, where Wong Ah Fook was appointed Head of the School Board with Lim Ah Siang as his deputy while Wong Hee Coo held various important roles in the Board over 40 years.

 

The FOM group each holding a copy of
my book, My Johor Stories 3:
Proudly Johor, Then and Now

Our time together on my Sun Yat Sen heritage trail in Johor Bahru came to a fitting close with a delightful lunch on Johor specialties served at Sedap Corner.

 

Over luscious servings of Laksa Johor, Roti Jala, Soto Ayam, Lontong and Nasi Briyani, the group discussed some of the new things they discovered that morning, among them was the Ming Tomb and the support Sun Yat Sen received from the Chinese community in Johor.

 

It was simply a pleasure to observe that this FOM group not only enjoyed our time together but have even gained new knowledge from this experience.

Note: My Johor Stories books are available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, some books are available from JARO.

Calling all Convent Johor Bahru alumni...

 

“Here’s a rousing cheer for our Convent dear, in fair Johor Bahru…” This simply sounds familiar to alumni of the Johor Bahru Convent school because it is the first line of the School Song.

 

The last time I quoted this familiar line was in January 2022 in a blog post to document a meeting with Mrs. A. Oliveiro in her home to verify information about the Johor Bahru Convent school in my manuscript.

 

My story about the school was documented in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third installment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories, a book that was launched in December 2022.

 

Mrs O was my go-to-person to discuss about the school as she is the Chairperson of the Secondary School Board and also the Chairperson of the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP).

 

Aerial view of the Johor Bahru Convent, 1970's

Also present at this meeting were Elizabeth Anne Louis, Chairperson of the Primary School Board and fellow alumnae, Yvonne Loh, a Member of the Secondary School Board of Governors.

 

Our appointment was delayed due to the Covid-19 global pandemic and lockdowns, so it was significant that we had the opportunity to finally have a physical meet-up.

 

Meanwhile, I was already aware of a fund-raising initiative to help the school with necessary repair and replacement projects. The building was old and over the lockdown years, the premises had fallen into a sad state of disrepair. So this meeting was also an opportunity to discuss about these maintenance projects in detail.

 

After my manuscript was reviewed, I learnt more about the depressing condition of the school building, particularly in the Primary School, premises that were virtually left abandoned during the long periods of lockdown in the past two years.

 

As I listened to the dire needs outlined in the discussion, I decided to join Mrs O and Elizabeth on a visit to the school to see the situation before writing an appeal for funds.

 

“At our lofty building on the hill

Where Malaysian sunshine smiles…”

 

Wooden windows [Right] were being 
replaced in December 2024

When we arrived at the school on that unforgettable morning, the above familiar lines in our School Song simply did not ring true because the building looked forlorn in the persistent monsoon rain.

 

With funds slowly trickling in an on-going fund-raising process, it was encouraging to see the school premises gradually being upgraded step-by-step, from electrical wiring systems, deep cleaning, repairs and replacements.

 

I regularly pass the school on my way to the city and often stop to look at that lofty building on the hill to see the changes to its façade but one thing remains consistent – the grandeur of the old building with its landmark marble sculpture – carefully preserved through generations.

 

When the sculpture of the Virgin Mary was refurbished in 2007, it was covered by a glass casing to protect the marble sculpture from the elements.

 

The wooden windows have been replaced
by glass panel windows

In December 2024, I observed that the upstairs wooden windows – that were literally falling off its hinges – were being replaced by glass-panel windows.

 

Recently, I was pleased to see from the building façade that the job was completed and all the upstairs windows have already been replaced.

 

Just like many of our alumni, generations in the family, ranging from grandmothers and mothers to aunts, cousins and sisters, all share a common bond of enjoying an education in the only Convent school in Johor Bahru.

 

While I was contributing Johor news in the mainstream media, I had the privilege to publish pieces about the school and some teachers, often in cover and centerspread features.

 

Plaque in front of the school with
the present-day school badge design

One of the earliest features, published in October 2008, shared my experience of witnessing the school’s annual Christmas pageant. I can recall how we used to start to practice singing Christmas carols as early as October and that students of all races enjoyed taking part in this annual event.

 

In 2012, I was in the school again, not for any fun event but to witness an extremely serious dialogue between relevant people concerning the proposal to relocate the Convent Primary School to Iskandar Puteri, a district then known as Nusajaya.

 

Parents, teachers and students heaved a huge sigh of relieve when the Johor Sultan, His Highness Sultan Ibrahim, stepped in to say the final word that the Johor Bahru Convent will remain where it is.

 

Fast-forward to 2025 which marks 100 years since the Johor Bahru Convent was established on a piece of land gifted by then Johor Ruler, Sultan Sir Ibrahim and his consort, Sultanah Rogayah, to build the school at Jalan Yahya Awal in Johor Bahru.

 

School Motto on the school badge
in its original design

From its inception in 1925, the Johor Bahru Convent has been blessed by Johor Royal support to run a school that not only provides academic but an all-round education to mould and mentor young girls into confident ladies who can successfully contribute to the community. 

 

To celebrate the school’s 100^th anniversary, a series of activities are lined up to bring the alumni together, if not possible physically – due to distance – but virtually through social media.

 

Dubbed the Convent Johor Bahru 100^th Celebration, alumni are invited to join the official Facebook social media page by the same name to stay updated on the activities happening throughout the year.

 

Among the activities planned is a Reunion Dinner with members of the Convent Association of Past Pupils (CAPP) and school alumni. This dinner will be hosted for 100 banquet tables at Restaurant Pekin Daiman 18, Johor Jaya, on August 30, 2025.

 

The school's iconic sculpture of
Virgin Mary was refurbished and
protected within a glass case

Tickets are rapidly being taken up while a few tables are still available. Ticket bookings are welcome through the official Facebook page.

 

It will be pretty unique for multi-generational alumni to participate in the Centenary Celebrations so do not hesitate to share this with your family and friends.

 

One of the souvenirs planned for this celebration is the publication of a 100^th Anniversary coffee table book that documents interesting information about the school through the years with sections for Memories and a Photo Gallery.

 

Work on the manuscript is in rapid progress and alumni are invited to contribute Memories about:

 

1] Your experience with Principals and Teachers that highlights the teachers and principals who have impacted your lives and to shine the light on how they have nurtured students. And/or,

2] An interesting experience in the school – your own or what you saw – that inspired you on a career choice or inculcated a moral value that you still apply to this day in your work and family.

 

Memories of 500 to 700 words max should be sent as attachments in a Word document by email with your Full name and Form Five year.

 

If you have clear photographs that capture fond memories of schooldays in the Johor Bahru Convent, do submit your photos with brief caption with date/year that describe contents of the photos.

 

Photos should be sent as attachments by email in .jpg format with your Full name and Form Five year, for photos to be credited to you.

 

Please submit your contributions by email to: write2jbconvent@gmail.com

Due to a very tight work schedule, submissions must be received strictly, on or before 10 May 2025.

 

Now turn back the pages of your mind for fond Memories and dig through your photo albums to find interesting Photos captured in your schooldays.

 

This 100^th Anniversary coffee table book will be sold as a souvenir and valuable collectible to raise funds that will go towards the school maintenance projects.

 

Feel free to share this with Johor Bahru Convent alumni in your contact list as we welcome alumni contributions from every generation to be a part of this 100-Year Anniversary souvenir book.

 

Together, we can make the 100^th Anniversary celebration of the Johor Bahru Convent a meaningful and memorable milestone in the school’s history.