something with green tea taste

I like something with green tea taste.

Today I went to Starbucks, and had the Green tea Frappuccino.
I guess it is sold only in Japan, because when one of my friend who lives in U.S.A came back , she said it is only in Japan, so she really wanted to.

The other day I went to the Italian restaurant where they serve green tea tiramisu.I had never eaten those kind of tiramisu. It is unexpected taste,but it is ok. As I mentioned before , I like the green tea icecream so much, too.

I like green tea, but I hate green tea with sugar. But I like very much something sweet with green tea taste. Is it contradicting?

Umm yummy.

http://www.ujicha.com/e-index.html

From the internet cafe

This is kazumi from the internet cafe.

When I go travel in foreign country, I sometimes use internet cafe.
It is a just fot computer..
But here in japan since I rarely go there, I did'nt know the quality which made me surprised.
Because it is so comfortable to be in , and beautiful.
I can use my own space with big black sofa, can read manga(japanese cartoon books), can sleep well.
I guess difference of internetcafe in Japan and in foreign countries are manga books.
There are so many kinds of manga in most of the internet cafes. Because of manga is kind of Japanese culture. There are some manga cafe in Japan, too. I mean, no-computer...

Since we have separated space by ourselves , many people who has missed the last train that couldn't go home ,stay all the night in the internet cafe. Actually they are selling tooth paste and brushes. To my surprise , they have shower room, too...
It it much cheeper than to stay in hotel.

set up "kotatsu"

We set up "kotatsu".
It is a Japanese furniture , low table with heater.
As it is getting colder, we need it.
I think most of people have one kotasu in their house.
We take off our shose inside house, that's why we have a furniture like this.

I show you kotatsu.



This is a flame of kottatsu.
Under the center part, there is a heater.







Then cover by thick Futon or blanket.









Place table cover.







We put our legs , it will keep warm.
Once we are under kotatsu, as nice warm, it gonna be difficult to be out.
We say, even cat likes kotatsu.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kotatsu

Labor Thanksgiving Day

Today is a national holiday called Labor Thanksgiving Day.
It is not like Thanksgiving in the U.S. or Europe.
Not so big event , for me just a holiday.

To spend on holidays in Japan is totally different that in U.S. or Europe.
I mean, on holidays here in Japan-except on new years day- most of shops and department store are open. People go to shopping on holiday like Christmas. Everywhere is so crowded on that day. But in U.S. and Europe they close on Thanksgivingday , Christmas, and Easter.
Buses will stop on that day. It is bad time to travel around the time.
I just know after Thanks giving they have big sale.
It' so different, although I don't know much about it in the other countries like Asia or Africa.

virtual pet

Do you know "Tamagotchi"?
It is a kind of game which you can have a virtual pet.
Unless you have to take care of it , it will be bad , at last died sonner.
It is also made in Japan. I remember about 9or10years ago it was big boom of "Tamagotchi."
It was reported many people was waiting for the shop open to get it from the midnight.
I heard not only Japan but also in other countries they are sold well. more than 40million of Tamagotchi was sold so far.

I read one article which is about new Tamagotchi.
They made new version of Tamagotchi , start to sell from tomorrow.
It was fun 10years ago.
I have already got tired of Tamagotchi, I don't have any interest of new one.
Maybe just I became too old to play it.
But I think many people gonna buy it .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamagotchi

japanese only
http://tamagotch.channel.or.jp/

Pansy

We planted some pansies in our garden.
They are so cute.

I hope they grow well.

Marathon

Today we have a good news .

Naoko Takahashi who is the Sydney Olympics marathon gold medallist has participated in Tokyo International Women's Marathon today. She got a National Honor Award because she was the first woman athlete who got the gold medal. I watched her run by TV, it was so wonderful race, at last she won. She is a very popular athelete who called "Q-chan" be her nick name. I like her so much, so I was happy. Because 2years ago when she ran the same course, since she was'nt runnning well, she could'nt participate at Atlanta Olympic. To our surprise, she had a mustle problem today, but she did!! Her smailing was so blight.

This morning I read another article of marathon.5or 6 years old of kindergarten kids ran full marathon -42.195km-! Can you belive that? 11of 13 kids finished up about 7hours.They are running 4or 5km every morning on bare foot. I was so surprised.

Well, I ran marathon on last Jamuary.
It took 6hours and half. hahaha almost same as kid.
When I finished up it, my leg was so tight.
As I didn' t practice much before the race, felt so tired and got a fever.
At that time , I would think never run again, but now I wanna try it again.
Just need practice, absolutely...

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20051120p2a00m0sp011000c.html

Are they SUSHI???

No....
They are USB memory called "sushi disk."

Most of equipment of PC are simple colored by white or black. But one company have selled these Sushi are so humorus that they are popular among young women . Because of they made one by one by hand, they are bit expensive, for example one tuna(128MB) is 8200yen (about75$), and the whole set of this picture is 71700yen(about640$)!!!! Someone said it's market price!

Would you like one???

japanese only
http://sa-store.com/shop.php?category_id=25&item01_id=37

Haiku in English

I have't known "Haiku " is quite popular in English.

Haiku is a kind of poem, which have to include the word of season, originally Japan about 600-700years ago. Since we have four seasous, and have loved beauty of season, nature.

In Japanese we usually write 3lines by 5letters, 7letters, 5letters.
There are some famous poet in our history, we learn at junior high, and high school ,and we had to make some haiku as a homework.

In foreign languages, there exist no rules in how to write Haiku, I guess. Some people have idea of how to write, but other people have different idea.
Since I have just checked some website-only in English-many of them are consist of 3lines but not all. Maybe the style of 3lines is standard, although, I don't know any other languages.

I made one...

Need my coat
Miss the sunshine
Feel the winter

Thank you :D

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku
http://www.ahapoetry.com/haiku.htm

Birthday

Today is 77th birthday of him. Guess who is he?

The answer is Mickey Mouse.
You know, Walt Disney created that character.
I like Disney pretty much. When I was a university student, I used to work at Tokyo Disney land as a part time job. At that time I worked as a server in the restaurant. Everyday everyday so many people came to the park all over the Japan. But Mickey's birthday is not usual. On 18th of Novemver the people who are addicted Disney or Mickey Mouse came to the park with their expensive cameras. They are so crazy about him. Today I am sure many people have been to Disney land.

Some of my friends are big fan of Disney. They know about movie, park, everything a lot.
They spend money and time so much. One of them said to me if there had been Walt Disney, her life must have been different. I like Disney, but not so much. I am a little bit jealousy, because I don't have something which I can be crazy like them.

Well, I think Mickey Mouse is like a kind of an American symbol. Now I can't imagine U.S.A without Mickey.
I wonder Hello Kitty is a Japanese symbol. Could be, could be :)

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/index_e.html

Mottainai

Do you know the word “Mottainai”?

This is the word which shows the concept of recycle and reuse in Japanese.
For example, when I was eating if I left food which we couldn't eat, my parents would say “Mottainai! Farmers are growing rice with great effort. Or when I was talking with my friends if we wasted something which we could still use ,we would say” Ghost of mottainai is coming.”

There is no exactly same word in English. (Maybe like "What's waste!!") But nowadays the word”Mottainai” is getting used international. Because Nobel Prize-winning Wangari Maathai who is the environmentalist from Kenya has introduced the word to the U.N.

It might be difficult ,if you can, remember the word "Mottainai". It is very useful word!

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0422-30.htm

Ramen

Today I ate Ramen. It is noodle originally from China. Now it is very popular in Japan, there are so many kind of soup. My favorite soup which is called Tonkotsu is made from pork bone. It is so yummy.

There are so many Tonkotsu Ramen restaurants. I went to one of them, which has very strange style to serve. Their motto is to eat so delicious, you shouldn’t care your face while you are eating. If you go inside the restaurant, you will see the counter with partition like a polling place. Sitting on the chair, you have to fill a form to order how thick the taste , how hard the noodle, which kind of the leek , how much garlic ,and so on. After Ramen comes, the small curtain in front you is closed. There is a water tap in your parted space, so if you want more water , you don't have to ask the server. Even if you go with someone, your face isn’t looked by anybody when you are eating.

Isn’t interesting style？Anyway the Ramen was soooo delicious!!

Happy wedding!!!

Today we had a very happy happy wedding in Japan.

The youngest and only a daughter of Royal family -former princess- has just got married. She got married with the man who is the officer of Tokyo Metropolis, and became a citizen like us. She lost privilege as a Royal Family and got some right to be a citizen, like the suffrage.

I absolutely can't imagine the person who was a member of royal family have to live a life like us -needless to say it not totally same as us. She is going to live in the apartment which has only 1 bedroom, living room, and kitchen.

As for Royal family, there are so many opinions, because of the money they are spending is coming from our tax. But I think, at the same time, we can get some happily news from them. We have terrible news everyday like murder or economic. Such a time it's great to hear something good news.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20051115p2a00m0na027000c.html

Dr. Nakamatsu

Dr.Nakamatsu is an very famous inventor who invented a lot of things like Floppy Disk. I think ,I don't know why but ,he is more admired by people in foreign contries than in Japan. Actually he got many awards in overseas.

The other day he got another award of his reserch of food. He has been taking pictures what he ate for 35years. More than 12000 pictures. Recently some people like to take pictures what they ate to upload on their blogs. As you know(maybe?), I like, too. Especially when I go traveling abroad, I always take pictures of food. But he did more than 35years!!! According to his reserch for long time , people have a possibilityto be alive until 144years old. It is good for your health to have a meal one day. For me it is impossible....

Osechi -Japanese New year's food

"Osechi" is Japanese New Year's food, we prepare at home at the end of December,and we eat New Year's day. But it is takes a time to make all, nowdays many people prefer to order and buy at shops like department store, supermarket. This year they alerady started resavation.
They have variety of "Osechi", you can choose it. We never bought in our house, my mother always make it.

Well, today I read an article that they are selling "Osechi " for their dog. Actually they had before. But this time they made "Osechi" costed 50000yen (about$450).Tooo expensive! I can't believe it. Who gonna buy it!!!!

shoe cream??????

As I have a plenty time today, I baked one kind of cake. They are called "chou a la creme" in French. "Chou" is "cabbege" , the shape is similar to cabbege, that's why they was named.

But we call them "syu cream" in Japan. We have to be careful, if we go to U.S.A. Because the pronunciation is exactly same as "shoe cream".

Foods from foreign countries

green tea with sugar and milk
soy sause with lemon
rice with lemon
sushi with cream cheese

These are some foods I found in other countries.
Ummmm, I can't imagine green tea with sugar.
When I travel abroad, I sometimes go to Japanese restaurant.
But most of time I feel something difference, although I did like them.

The other day, I watched one TV show.
One Japanese man went to Europe and then opened a Japanese restaurant. But at first Only few people came to eat. Later he got advice from local people. He changed the taste a little ,which made his restaurant popular.

We can eat many kinds of foods from all over the world without going there. Although, I just guess, some of them are changed taste to be liked by our tongue.

If so, what I am eating here in Japan is maybe sometimes differnt from originals...
Maybe, maybe, maybe..

It can't help it, to success as a restaurant.

Autumnal colors

Here in Japan we have four seasons which are characteristic, now it is Autumn. What is character in Autumn? I think the color. The leaves of many kinds of tree are turning red or yellow. We call it "Koyo".
A lot of people go to parks or mountains to enjoy seeing the hermony and contrast of the colors.

The other day I went to see koyo. This is the picture. It is nice, isn't it? According to the newspaper, the peak of the colors is going to be at this week end. I hope it will be fine weather then.

Lunch boxes to go

Lunch boxes to go are called ”obento”. Many people bring obento from home or buy at some shops for lunch. There are many shops they sell only "obento". Sometimes I use those kind of store. It is not expensive.

The lunch box of this picture is a menu called “ chicken nunban(fried chicken with marinaded by sweet veneger and mayonese sause , included rice)”, and it costs 460yen(about4$).　When I went to forign country, I was always missing those kind of shops!

New year's greeting cards

Well, today I went to the post office to pick up postcrds for new year. We send new year's card each other on January 1st insted of Christmas cards. It is called "Nengajo". They have started selling postcards from November 1st. It is time to have to think about new year's greeting. Time flies.

Before we had to write cards one by one, but recently many people have a computer at their home, it is much easier to write many cards. But the amount of new years card was getting decrease. Needless to say, many people send greeting cards by web mail.

Pork ginger

Today's dinner was pork ginger(butaniku no syougayaki).
It is so easy to cook, and yummy.

Wanna try???

http://japanesefood.about.com/od/pork/r/butanoshogayaki.htm

King Kazu

Kazuyoshi Miura is a famous soccer player called "king kazu" in Japan.
He went to brasil at the age of 16 by himself. Before we have a pro soccer league, he was like a pionner as a playher. But to him pity, he haven't been able to play at world cup final, but he is still playing.

He is now 38years old. Many player used to play with him have already retired. He is keep playing. The other day it was a last game for him at J-league. He deicided to join in anoter team in Sydney. He has left for Australia. Now many people are encoraged be his play. Maybe so am I.

one day tour with a dog

Today I heard a interesting news.
One travel agency made one day tour with a dog (pet).
The owners and their dogs took a bus, after they arrived park, they ate lunch, then the professionable dog trainer taught some skill to have a dog.

Here in Japan , I guess there are no public trains or buses except a guide dog. So everyone who joined the tour looked so happy. The cost of the tour is 12000yen(about $100) for one person and a dog included a lunch.

They said it is first tour like that. I worry about the smell of the dogs, although I like dogs so much.

Nodo Jiman

Today I would go to the city festival, but it was so rainy that I have decided to stay at home.

My parents are always watching "Nodo Jiman" on Sunday noon. "Nodo Jiman" is popular TV show and an amarteur singer contest by NHK on every Sunday. Usually it is broadcasted live and from across Japan. Each week they visits a diffarent city or town, they held an audition. As it is a very popular TV show, you can watch this program from all over the world by satellite TV. I could watch it in U.S.A.

I don't wacth it so often. But I really enjoyed today, because NHK held this sometimes in overseas, and it was from Mexico today. They showed some Mexican culture like food, music , dance. There are many Mexicans who study Japanese, and Japanese who live there.

Until 2years ago, I didn't know much about Mexico. But after I got some friends from Mexico,I have been interested their culture, and I travelled Mexico for 2weeks. Today's "Nodo Jiman" remainded me of that trip. If I have a chance, I want to go there again.

Sukiyaki

Today' s dinner was Sukiyaki.
It is one of typical Japanese dishes.

Ingredients (beef, tofu, shirataki noodles, leeks, vegitables, mushrooms) are　tasted with soy souce , sugar, sake, mirin(sweet cooking sake) in one pot.

You might know the name of this dish by the title of a song by Kyu Sakamoto. I don' t know why the song　was named "Sukiyaki" in English. Because originally the title of this song means like "Let' s walk with looking at top " in Japanese.

http://japanesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa053100a.htm

Sumo

Today I got up early to watch sumo, but not a sumo match, I went to watch the morning exercises. They came to my town for the Fuyubasyo　(November tournament). It has not started yet but they already came here to prepare for it. They have 6 big tournaments a year. Usually they do early morning exercises. After that they have breakfast. They have a special dish called Cyanko. Now we can eat that at some restaurants which are managed by ex-sumo wrestlers. Well, sumo is a traditional sport in Japan. It is a match fought by 2 wrestlers in a Dohyo (sumo ring). They have many rules called Shikitari. Sumo wrestler put on only a silken loincloth called Mawashi, and their hair style, called Mage, is old fashioned.

These years sumo is getting popular overseas. They held a tournament in Las Vegas last month and the number of wrestlers from foreign countries is increasing little by little. They are so strong. Some old people think it is not nice if only wrestlers from overseas can be the strongest wrestlers called Yokozuna , because sumo is a national sport in Japan.

This morning I saw about 10 sumo wrestlers and 3 coaches. One of the coaches was a Yokozuna. They are so big. I saw one wrestler from Russia. He seemed to understand it well. For us the world of sumo is tough. I can’t imagine how hard it was for him to get used to it.

http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/

Cultural day

Today is Cultural day, and national holiday.
We have many events today. At some place like museum, it is free to enter. Some schools are holding school festivals.

Well, it is said that it tends to be good weather on cultural day. Today, too. We have nice day. That's why many people have a wedding celemony on this day.


I want to go some place somewhere cultural. So last night I checked Web, but I couldn' t find a good place to go near my house. Because my house is in countryside. To tell the truth, not small town, we have a million population, but don't have special character.

But from tomorrow we have a pretty big festival in my town , I will go to enjoy it !

Pet

One of my friends got a cat the other day. I saw te picture of cat on her blog. He(the cat) is so cute. He has white fur. I never have a cat in my house. We had a dog before. He died about 10years ago. Since then we don't have any animal as a pet. Because we were so sorry when he died. But nowadays we are thinking have a pet-maybe a dog. As my parents have retired already, they have plenty time to take care it. I heard before , the animals is sometimes used as an animal thrapy to cure old people etc . We are still not sure we gonna have or not. I hope we can.

Talking in my sleep!

When my freinds come to my place to stay at night, or I go to travel with my friends, they almost always said tome "Last night you were talking when you were sleeping." As they said, it was so clearly that they could imagine what I was dreaming about.

Yesterday my brather came to here for his work, he was talikng in his sleep just like me , I guess. It sounded that hewas working hard. Because he said something like this -"Thank you for your help."

Some of my friends said I talked too much. Sometimes I said impression , thought and regret of that day.

I know , I know, but I was unconscious. I can't help it. Maybe I can't have secrets.