Hojoko, the Cushmans' Japanese Tavern in Fenway, Will Land Late This Month

Hojoko, the izakaya on the way from venerable O Ya duo Tim and Nancy Cushman, has been in the works for about a year, most recently preparing for a summertime debut. The Improper Bostonian recently caught up with them to pinpoint it to late July, and learn more fun details about the forthcoming, high-energy, Japanese tavern.

Located at the hip Fenway Verb Hotel, floor-to-ceiling windows will overlook the pool, and guests can enjoy Hojoko's fare on the deck, too. Inside, the 100-seat, musically-themed restaurant is boldly decorated with contrasting, bright patterns and dark woods, and Japanese pop culture adorns the walls, the Improper notes.

There will also be a removable stage, and Tim Cushman, a Berklee College of Music alum (and James Beard Award-winning chef) hopes to have local students as well as national performers stop by.

On the bar, Japanese and local craft beers, Old World and domestic wines, and "a robust selection of sake" will join cocktails with Japanese influence and "a smile," as Nancy Cushman described them to the Improper.

In this month's issue of Boston Magazine, the Tokyo Tea is featured, a drink with tequila, long-leaf green tea, bittered Midori, and lemon. The Improper highlights a cocktail named for the Japanese band in "Kill Bill:" The 5,6,7,8 has vodka, crème de violette, lemon, and mango foam. There will be "dozens" of seats over looking the kitchen and beverage area, too.

O Ya alum Hart Lowry is moving over to the new Japanese tavern, the Improper notes. The menu at Hojoko will feature shareable dishes, sushi, sandwiches, fried food, and robata-grilled items, including pork and shrimp potstickers with a foie gras-umeboshi sauce, nori, sesame, and yuzu powder. BoMag says to expect "creative maki rolls," and not the expensive nigiri and shashimi that populates the O Ya menu.