High Tech Vegetables
Food safety is a big issue in Japan especially after several incidents where poisonous chemicals have been detected in foods imported from China. However, the lack of land in Japan makes producing food in Japan not very economical. This is very true for vegetables and if you're in Tokyo, you'll notice vegetables are not cheap.
I found this piece introducing "High tech vegetables" in Japan. It's similar to hydroponic methods but this one doesn't need a lot of water. Without any soil and chemicals, you don't need to wash the vegetables before eating.
There's also a lot of ideas put in to make this possible in small and tight places like Japan. However, these vegetables still cost 1.3 - 1.5 times more expensive.
I found this piece introducing "High tech vegetables" in Japan. It's similar to hydroponic methods but this one doesn't need a lot of water. Without any soil and chemicals, you don't need to wash the vegetables before eating.
There's also a lot of ideas put in to make this possible in small and tight places like Japan. However, these vegetables still cost 1.3 - 1.5 times more expensive.
Sony Vaio P series
I know many of you have heard about the latest netbook from Sony. It's the Sony Vaio P series. Something about this ad i can't get my mind off.
It reminds me of the 1st iPod nano revealed by Steve Jobs which fits nicely in a jean's pocket. You can see it here. However, it's the front pocket for the iPod and the back pocket for this Vaio.
By the way, you can get the Vaio P series now and the current cheapest price in Japan is 82,499yen.
It reminds me of the 1st iPod nano revealed by Steve Jobs which fits nicely in a jean's pocket. You can see it here. However, it's the front pocket for the iPod and the back pocket for this Vaio.
By the way, you can get the Vaio P series now and the current cheapest price in Japan is 82,499yen.
Give "Aburi-sushi" a try...
One problem I often heard not only form my foreigner friends, but also some Japanese is that they don't eat sushi because it's raw. Well, there's a good news, because not all sushi are made with raw fish. Some sushi, like "Unagi" is not raw, and you can also choose "Aburi-sushi" which the fish meat is passed over fire. Here's a photo how they make the "Aburi-sushi".
Yes, they actually burn the sushi with a burner. This way the fish meat is not raw anymore although it's not fully cooked. But at least for those who don't like raw meat, it's a lot better. Here's a photo of "Anago" "aburi-sushi".
Although not all fish can made into "Aburi-sushi", most red meat fishes can be found as "aburi". So next time you go to a sushi shop, check out "aburi" in the menu.
Yes, they actually burn the sushi with a burner. This way the fish meat is not raw anymore although it's not fully cooked. But at least for those who don't like raw meat, it's a lot better. Here's a photo of "Anago" "aburi-sushi".
Although not all fish can made into "Aburi-sushi", most red meat fishes can be found as "aburi". So next time you go to a sushi shop, check out "aburi" in the menu.
enjoying Sumo
There's so many sports that originated from Japan, but in my opinion Sumo is the most famous.
It's not easy to understand how Sumo, but you don't really need to fully understand it to enjoy it. Just remember the last one standing is the winner. if you're interested to know more, read here.
Currently, the Grand Sumo tournament is on at Ryougoku Kokugikan. Tickets can be bought there or in advance online.
How to get there: get off at JR Ryougoku station (JR Soubu line) or Royougoku st. (Tokyo Metro Ooedo line)
It's not easy to understand how Sumo, but you don't really need to fully understand it to enjoy it. Just remember the last one standing is the winner. if you're interested to know more, read here.
Currently, the Grand Sumo tournament is on at Ryougoku Kokugikan. Tickets can be bought there or in advance online.
How to get there: get off at JR Ryougoku station (JR Soubu line) or Royougoku st. (Tokyo Metro Ooedo line)
Dars "Gyaku-choco" for someone special
Dars "Gyaku-choco" by Morinaga is a new chocolate just appeared recently ("Gyaku" means reversed). Here a photo of it.
Take a closer look at the photo. I didn't edit the photo in anyway so the label is originally typed in reverse. Thus this is "Gyaku-choco".
In Japan, the women gives chocolate to the men for Valentine's day. This is normal in Japan which is the opposite for the rest of the world. Morinaga had a brilliant and came up with a "gyaku-choco" so that the men can present chocolates to the women on Valentine's day too (so Morinaga can sell more chocolate this way).
By the way, there's always the original Dars chocolate for any other days. More info here.
Take a closer look at the photo. I didn't edit the photo in anyway so the label is originally typed in reverse. Thus this is "Gyaku-choco".
In Japan, the women gives chocolate to the men for Valentine's day. This is normal in Japan which is the opposite for the rest of the world. Morinaga had a brilliant and came up with a "gyaku-choco" so that the men can present chocolates to the women on Valentine's day too (so Morinaga can sell more chocolate this way).
By the way, there's always the original Dars chocolate for any other days. More info here.
Congrats! Today is "Seijinshiki"!
Today is a public holiday because of the special day called "Seijinshiki". It is a day to celebrate everybody that turned 20 years old, meaning that they are acknowledged as adults (and not children anymore) by the society. The second Monday of January is reserved for this day and known as "seijin no hi" (or Coming-of-age day in English). There's a gathering ceremony held in every town centers, and everybody that turned 20 was invited. Typically, the men and women will wear colorful Kimono (especially Furisoude Kimono) on this day. Here's some shots I took this morning as they rush for the train in a full Kimono.
I bet you can't really see so many people running in Kimono often.
When Japanese turned 20, they can vote, legally drink, buy and smoke cigarettes and also apply for loans. However, driving licenses are obtainable after turning 18 years old.
I bet you can't really see so many people running in Kimono often.
When Japanese turned 20, they can vote, legally drink, buy and smoke cigarettes and also apply for loans. However, driving licenses are obtainable after turning 18 years old.
First snow in Tokyo tomorrow (maybe)
The weather forecast at Yahoo! Japan stated that it'll probably snow tomorrow marking the first snow of the season for Tokyo.
Other parts of Japan (especially those facing Japan Sea) already had their first snow in December. The forecast showed only Tokyo and Niigata will be expecting snow tomorrow. The forecasted temperature for tomorrow is high of 6 and low of 1 degree Celcius. Tokyo is not very strong against snow as train systems usually paralyzed by heavy snow.
Check out here to see how it snowed last year.
Other parts of Japan (especially those facing Japan Sea) already had their first snow in December. The forecast showed only Tokyo and Niigata will be expecting snow tomorrow. The forecasted temperature for tomorrow is high of 6 and low of 1 degree Celcius. Tokyo is not very strong against snow as train systems usually paralyzed by heavy snow.
Check out here to see how it snowed last year.
a time for "Ozouni"
"Ozouni" is what Japanese eat typically on new year's day because it has "mochi" in it. I had a chance to taste one yesterday.
It's one of the easiest Japanese food to make and according to my Japanese friend, people eat it during new year because "mochi" is abundant and it's easy to prepare, so giving a chance for housewives to relax and rest during this festive season.
The "Ozouni" I had yesterday had "mochi", "komatsuna"(spinach), "kamaboko" in a "dashi" (also used when making Miso soup) and "shouyu"(Japanese soy sauce) soup with a scent of "yuzu". There's many variation of "Ozouni" different all over parts of Japan. Some even have chicken and also miso.
Here's the wiki on it.
It's one of the easiest Japanese food to make and according to my Japanese friend, people eat it during new year because "mochi" is abundant and it's easy to prepare, so giving a chance for housewives to relax and rest during this festive season.
The "Ozouni" I had yesterday had "mochi", "komatsuna"(spinach), "kamaboko" in a "dashi" (also used when making Miso soup) and "shouyu"(Japanese soy sauce) soup with a scent of "yuzu". There's many variation of "Ozouni" different all over parts of Japan. Some even have chicken and also miso.
Here's the wiki on it.
Big big "Maguro" in Tsukiji market
Maybe many have heard about the auction of "Maguro" (means tuna), and many would also like to see it for themselves. However, don't be surprised because the auction is off limits to the public (foreigners and also Japanese).
Still your chances of seeing big big Maguro in Tsukiji is not so slim. You can still catch one (with the camera shutter, of course) if you're there before 10a.m. Here's a few shots I got from my trustworthy phone camera.
How to get to Tsukiji market?
1. Walk 5 minutes from Tsukiji st. (Hibiya line)
2. Walk 2 minutes from Tsukiji-Shijo st. (Ooedo line)
After those photo session, check out stores nearby for some fresh and cheap sushi and sashimi. By the way, Tsukiji market is also known as "the kitchen of Tokyo" because it supplies most of Tokyo's foods.
Still your chances of seeing big big Maguro in Tsukiji is not so slim. You can still catch one (with the camera shutter, of course) if you're there before 10a.m. Here's a few shots I got from my trustworthy phone camera.
How to get to Tsukiji market?
1. Walk 5 minutes from Tsukiji st. (Hibiya line)
2. Walk 2 minutes from Tsukiji-Shijo st. (Ooedo line)
After those photo session, check out stores nearby for some fresh and cheap sushi and sashimi. By the way, Tsukiji market is also known as "the kitchen of Tokyo" because it supplies most of Tokyo's foods.
Fukubukuro shopping in Mitsui Outlet Park Iruma
Call it "Fukubukuro", "Lucky bag" or "Happy bag", you know you want it and I want it too. So I was up at 6.30am and on my way to Mitsui Outlet Park Iruma because they are having "Fukubukuro" sale from 9.30am (30 minutes early than usual sale). When I got there, already there was long lines.
However, I managed to get 2 bags for myself. Among the best deals were from Furla with items worth 70,000yen at only 15,000yen. What a way to start a new year.
However, I managed to get 2 bags for myself. Among the best deals were from Furla with items worth 70,000yen at only 15,000yen. What a way to start a new year.
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