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Archive for the ‘Japanese Culture’ Category

Weird Japan (32) Petanque on the Kamogawa River Bank in Kyoto!

May 9, 2013

Now, what game are they playing?

No, you are not in Southern France or even New Caledonia if you prefer a nearer destination!
You are on the bank of the famed River Kamogawa in Kyoto!

The Japanese, especially senior citizens have the knack to adapt traditional French and other countries’ games such as croquet into “gate ball”.
But I couldn’t hide my admiration when I espied those happy senior citizens spending their weekday afternoon playing petanque exactly like they back home in France!
And they were really skillful at it, especially the grand ladies who would put many a French matron to shame!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

BULA KANA in Fiji
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

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Tags:Japan, Kyoto, Petanque, Tourism, Weird japan
Posted in 笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kyoto, Tourism | 2 Comments »

Weird Japan (31) Pain Clinic!?

May 9, 2013

Just came back from a short stay in Kyoto where among the usual great settings i found a few interesting hidden sights!
Have you ever heard of a “pain clinic”?

You will discover it on Karasumaru Street.
Dragon, my worst half, explained to me that the establishment meant they are a general practice hospital covering all sicknesses, hence the mention of “pain”!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Hospitals, Humor, Japan, Kyoto, Tourism, Weird japan
Posted in 笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kyoto, Tourism | 5 Comments »

Eating on the cheap in Japan: Maccaroni in Shizuoka Railway Station!

April 4, 2013

Returning from a short business trip to France last Tuesday it struck me that life had become more expensive in my home country than in Japan!
This was more acutely felt when I walked past some restaurants inside (big) Shizuoka Railway Station, especially when their food is regularly shown outside with very fine plastic models often offering a more trustful image than pictures on menus!

I thought it might be a good idea to talk about the cheaper but still good food available in this country and Shizuoka. I will try and show you a few examples in the days to come. After all not anyone can afford great sushi everyday!
The place I’m introducing today is called Maccaroni with 2 “C’s” and is an “Italian” restaurant cum cafe.
It is very easy to find in one of the alleys in Asty building leading to the entrances to the tracks.
As for prices count 120 yen per Euro or 94 yen to the dollar (that might change a little in the future as the Euro is falling down!)

A pint of beer costs between 390 and 490 yen and (small) glasses of wine for 290 yen!

Mozzarella cheese, Basil and tomato sauce spaghetti for 790 yen and Bolognese style spaghetti in stewed sauce for 840 yen.
All prices are tax included.

About 20cm wide pizzas:
Margherita for 940 yen and Chorizo and meat sauce for 990 yen.

Oven-baked casserole of escargots and mushrooms in garlic and basil sauce for 820 yen, large oven-baked cheese-stuffed eggplant for 720 yen and and Italian raw ham with Grissini for 790 yen.

Antipasti misto salad. seafood spaghetti and soft drink for 1290 yen.

Tomato, mozzarella cheese Caprese salad for 720 yen and and fresh fish carpaccio for 620 yen. Now, that is cheap even in Japan!

For the beer lovers:
Fish and chips for 720 yen, seafood fritters for 620 yen, fried potato and onion rings for 720 yen.

Coming soon with another place in the same area soon!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:レシピ, Cheap food, Cheap meals, 美食, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Agriculture, レシピ, 美食, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism | 6 Comments »

Roof Gardening in Shizuoka City #4

February 21, 2013

The silverberry tree has disappeared! LOL

I was recently asked by a good Japanese friend of mine to re-design her roof garden she had built some ten years in the view of creating a tree and flower space above her new apartment building.
The plan is to transform at least half of it into a vegetable and fruit tree garden.
I may not talk about the many reasons behind this project as this is part of a confidential venture, but I can at least describe my work as a journal.
I certainly hope to share views with like-minded souls in Japan and abroad!

February 12th, 2013

The new home for the silverberry tree!

Worked more than 4 hours first in the company of Ms. Kinoshita and later with Ms. Muramoto.
Replanted silverberry tree/gumi in corner of forefront right tree raised bed.
Finished pulling out all hedges of vegetable raised beds.

Marked with a spade before pulling out the hedges.

The whole T-shaped raised bed after we pulled out the hedges.

Left one small part in left corner vegetables raised bed as we cannot take the tree away for design balance reasons. Will “close” the tree off the vegetables with a wooden slat.

The left-hand T-shaped raised bed after the hedges have been pulled out. The trees will have to be moved to the rim garden or into a large pot. Big work!

back-breaking work it was!
I don’t want to think about all the soil sifting work waiting for us…

Viewed from the corner.

Cleaned the herb raised beds around the rosemary bushes. Will plant the lavender beside all rosemary bushes for enhanced practicality and design.

Have already moved available planters/containers to “research corner”.
Planters/containers will be placed between corner and triangular vegetables raised beds for increased area and flexibility.

Decided for a complete change concerning the raspberry, blueberries and blackberry. The raspberry will be planted on the forefront tree raised bed between the silver blue conifer and the silverberry/gumi tree. The three blueberry trees will be planted in same raised bed behind the silverberry/gumi tree. Finally the blackberry tree will be planted at the front extremity of the right corner vegetable raised bed for continuity in a “berry tree corner” and also compensate the fact that the left half of the wooden bridge will be devoid of roses.
Cleaned the herb raised beds around the rosemary bushes. Will plant the lavender beside all rosemary bushes for enhanced practicality and design.

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ROOF GARDENING

Best New York Gardening Blogs
Battery Rooftop Garden Blog (UK)
Green Roof Growers (Chicago)
Mitsukoshi Roof Top Garden – Ginza by Tokyobling’s Blog
NYCFARMER’S BLOG
The Tattooed Gardener
Town and Country Gardening
My Botanical Garden by Tamara
My Food and Flowers
Vienna Roof Garden
Leaf and Twig

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Garden, Gardening, Japan, Japan Culture, Roof Garden, Shizuoka
Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, 観光, Gardening, Japan, Japanese Culture, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

Roof Gardening in Shizuoka City #3

February 18, 2013

The trees at the corner of the triangular raised beds before being moved out.

2013 February 8th

We visited Jumbo Encho ( a very large company found all over Japan. Very practical!) to buy seedling trays and pots for vegetables and herbs as well as transparent plastic sheets to protect seedlings and soil less mix for the same. We also bought a much needed pair of boots for myself!

We continued work on the garden for about 3 hours. The work was mostly about pulling out all those low hedges!

The silverberry tree will be moved to replace the dead plum tree in the forefront right raised bed.
The 4 trees at the corners of the triangular raised beds will be replanted in pots.
The large conifer blue heart will be moved to the rim garden just behind the wooden bridge.
Plowed the soil inside the big pots placed at the four corners of the “herb square”.

2013 February 10th

We continued again work on the garden for about 3 hours in the company of Ms. Kinoshita.
We finished pulling out hedges off the four triangular raised beds.

The first tree in its new pot!

We transferred the four trees at the corners of the triangular raised beds into large pots placed at various spots in the garden.

The secoand tree in its pot under the wooden bridge!

And the last two pots!

We agreed on a second order and last seed order from Tane No Mori Company.
All seeds of vegetables, herbs and flowers organically produced.
Will order them by e-mail:

Flowers:

オレンジジェムマリーゴルド/Orange Gem Marigold
カレンデュラミックス/Calendula Mix
ハイビスカス/Hibiscus Roselle
クリムソンクローバー/Crimson Clover

Herbs:

セージ/Sage
ジャーマンカモミル/German Chamomile
コリアンダー/Coriander
ゼファフィノフェンネル/Zefa Fino Fennel
ラベンダー/Lavender
レモンバーム/Lemon Balm
タイム/Thyme

Vegetables

ぶらいとライトチャード/Bright Light Chard
リーフセロリ/Leaf Celery
キャベツフィルダークラウト/Cabbage Filderkraut
ブロッコリーパープルスプラウティング/Broccoli purple Sprouting
ブロッコリーロマネスコ/Broccoli Romanesco
ペイティドマオウンタイン玉蜀黍/Painted Mountain Corn
四葉キュウリ/Suyo Cucumber
プスタゴールドピーマン/Puszta Gold Pepper
長ナスジャパニーズピクリング/Japanese Pickling Eggplant
白ナス/Snowy Eggplant
ブラックチェリートマト/Black Cherry Tomato
ホワイトチェリートマト/White Cherry Tomato
グリーンゼブラトマト/Green Zebra Tomato

Check TANE NO MORI HOMEPAGE. Written in Japanese but worth looking for its pictures. You can download their pamphlet! Only organic seeds on sale!

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ROOF GARDENING

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Garden, Gardening, Japan, Japan Culture, Roof Garden, Shizuoka
Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, 観光, 農業, Gardening, Japan, Japanese Culture, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

Roof Gardening in Shizuoka City #2

February 17, 2013

The first triangular raised bed to be cleared of its hedge!
All by hands!

2013 February 1st

Daffodils peeping out of the T-shaped raised bed at the far right corner.

The pond, located at the forefront and left of the garden and its flower bed.

We found some healthy daffodils, two varieties of them we couldn’t keep in future vegetable raised bed so we chose the best of them and transferred them to the flower bed along the pool.

The daffodils in their new bed.
They are very sturdy and are starting growing!

2013 February 6th

The three blueberry (all different varieties) and raspberry tree/bush in their pots!

We discussed whether the tall and wide blackberry bush could be planted inside the tree raised bed on the right forefront.
We had first planned to replant all the berry bushes along the rim of the garden, but this is very much bound to change!

One thing is sure though; the red currant and white currant (I’m still waiting for the black currant!) will be replanted in the right corner of the rim garden/raside bed!

The silverberry tree at the corner of the right T-shaped raised bed.

The silverberry (gumi/茱萸) found in the far right corner-shaped raised bed should be moved either to the corner of the tree rim garden behind the currant trees or into a large pot.
Actually we might change our minds about that, too!

RECOMMENDED LINKS FOR ROOF GARDENING

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Garden, Gardening, Japan, Japan Culture, Roof Garden, Shizuoka
Posted in Agriculture, Ecology, Environment, Gardening, Japan, Japanese Culture, Roof Gardening, Shizuoka | Leave a Comment »

Robert Yellin’s Newsletter: Hatano Hideo Exhibition

February 16, 2013

Greetings from Kyoto!

It’s been quite some time since our last newsletter and we hope this finds you well; all is very well—and cold—here in Kyoto in this old illustrious home. It hasn’t snowed that much at all this winter, yet a few days ago we did get a light dusting and the gallery garden was magical. I do hope before the sakura bloom we get at least one more snow fall here in the ancient capital. And then comes magical spring, any season for that matter is magical in Kyoto, we hope you can visit us one day in person.

Hatano Hideo Exhibition

Hatano Hideo

In the meantime though online now we’re having a ‘White As Snow’ Hagi exhibition by Hatano Hideo.

Hatano(b.1971) creates Hagi pottery that is at both classical and very contemporary.
Hideo’s father is Yamaguchi Prefectural Intangible Property Hatano Zenzo, with whom he has studied, in particular about the beauty of Hagi’s warm glazes.
Hatano graduated from Tama Art University having studied sculpture, and then moved to Kyoto where he studied at the Kyoto Municipal College of Pottery Technology and also at the Kyoto Municipal Technical Research Institute.

In 2001 his work was accepted for the first time at the Japan Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition, where he has shown nine times. He has also been selected for the juried Tanabe Museum’s Contemporary Tea Forms Exhibition (six times). His main exhibition venues are leading department store galleries such as Mitsukoshi and Tenmaya.
We are pleased to show 41 recent works by this rising Hagi star: http://www.japanesepottery.com/gallery.php

Other Works of Note

Other works of note on the gallery are also a Hagi work by the Miwa Hanako, in a work titled Jyo or Purification. The crystal form she told me is that of a snow crystal, you can view it here.

Another Hagi work by Hanako’s uncle, Kazuhiko, can be viewed here.

It was sad to hear that Miwa Jyusetsu passed away late last year at 103, Kazuhiko’s father and Hanako’s grandfather; one of the last, if not the last, giants of the 20th century, more about him can be read here in a past Japan Times article I wrote: click here.

And about Hagi in general: here.

Exhibitions on the Horizon

It seems the winter season has us longing for snow, and the only place we can find it on a daily basis is on Hagi works. Long ago in my original ‘Yakimono Sanka’ (Ode to Japanese Pottery) book I wrote a haiku that went, ‘Fuji’s pure white snow, melted on a body of clay, Hagi Sake cup!’ For some reason all the haiku I wrote that were in the Japanese edition were forgotten to be included in the English version. Haiku, which pottery can be a visual version, were written about Iga, Bizen, Ki-Seto, Shigaraki, and the Momoyama period.

Exhibitions on the horizon for us include Arimatsu Kuugen (Shino) in April, Iga’s Fujioka in the autumn along with Ajiki Hiro’s 99 Mandala Guinomi Part Two also in the autumn, in between we’ll be adding other exhibitions and update you via this newsletter then. Please note though that there are many ‘mini-exhibitions’ on the gallery often as well as works updated to the gallery many times each week, we invite you to explore the gallery pages at your leisure.

We thank you as always for visiting and supporting our gallery and the living potters of Japan, they are deeply appreciative as well.

Sincerely,

Robert Yellin (Robert@e-yakimono.net)

Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery
Ginkakuji-mae-cho 39
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu
JAPAN 606-8407
Phone- Int’l: 81-75-708-5581, fax: 81-75-708-5393
Within Japan: 075-708-5581, fax: 075-708-5393
hhtp://www.japanesepottery.com

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Art, Japan, Japan Culture, Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Pottery, Robert Yellin, Tourism
Posted in Art, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Pottery, Kyoto, Pottery, Tourism, Traditional Japanese Handcrafts | Leave a Comment »

Shizuoka Expat Blogger: Ashley Harvey telling about his experiences in “This is MY LIFE”

February 8, 2013

These days more an more expats write in blogs about their daily life in Japan and naturally Shizuoka.
They share unique life experiences with readers all over the world and offer a true glimpse on life in Japan!
Ashley Harvey hails from New Zealand and is an ardent fan (me too!) of the Crusaders Rugby Team.
He has lived for quite some time in Shizuoka Prefecture working mainly in education.

Do visit his blog : This is MY LIFE!

He is a lucky man being blessed with Ayako, his sweet wife and a growing family.
He has a lot to tell and share about Japan and Shizuoka from festivals to train sushi, a million crows ambush and Mount Fuji views!

His hobbies are sports, especially rugby, cricket and soccer, education (I’m taking a risk here! LOL) and taking the mickey out of French men who remind him about rugby history!
he is a good friend of mine, actually!

Leave comments and I’m sure you will discover a fast new friend!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City
This is MY LIFE by Ashley Harvey

Tags:レシピ, Education, Expat's life in Japan, 静岡, Humor, Japan, Life in Japan, mandarines, Shizuoka, Tourism
Posted in 笑い, Education, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Shizuoka, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

The Best Aoshima Mandarines in Japan: Mr. Kuniaki Oishi in Okabe, Fujieda City!

February 7, 2013

Mrs. Reiko Oishi/大石礼子さん and Mr. Kuniaki Oishi/大石邦昭さん, Aoshima mandarines producers in Okabe, Fujieda City!

Shizuoka Prefecture, among other products such as green tea, wasabi, strawberries and a lot more, is celebrated all over Japan for its oranges!
The other day my good Australian friends, Nick and Yayoi Shannon, who live in Okabe, Fujieda City called me as they wanted me to meet a neighbor of theirs who had just been awarded the top prize by the Japan Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister for its Aoshima mandarines!

The Oishi’s Farmhouse!

Interestingly enough it became a real expedition last Sunday as we were joined by another good friend, Robert Hirai, an American friend who is a photographer when not working as a navigator on ships!

Time slip!

Mr. Kuniaki Oishi and his wife are the 7th generation of farmers living and working in the mountains of Okabe in Fujieda City, an area celebrated for its great agricultural and wild game. They also represent the 4th generation as Aoshima Mandarines growers.

Shizuoka Governor Heita kawakatsu/川勝平太県知事 tasting Mr. Kuniaki Oishi’s Aoshima Mandarines!
The paper article mentions that they are 1,000 yen worth (10 US$!) each!

The Oishi’s being used to those foreigners living nearby readily took in their stride this invasion with great smiles and true hospitality!
Interviewing them was more a pleasurable and enriching chat than anything else.
Although he received the 2nd top accolade from Shizuoka Prefecture in 2011 and the very top national prize in 2012, Mr. Kuniaki Oshima (71) struck me with his modesty: “I can only say that I finally started to master my skills at the age of 60″! Farmers certainly could impart a lot of wisdom and humility to us city dwellers!

The “maturing shed”!

Before visiting Mr. Oishi’s fields, we were invited to have a look inside the maturing shed!
The harvest is done in December, which meant we did not interfere too much with the grower’s work.
Mandarines are stored inside a shed to mature for two months before being marketed.
Incidentally, Aoshima mandarines are a variety born a long time ago in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Maturing certainly requires skills and precise storing conditions.
The temperature is maintained as low as 5 degrees Celsius and a regular air circulation must be sustained throughout the whole shed where the mandarines are carefully stored in the dark.

Moreover, the shed must be absolutely clean and dry and totally free of insects!
All the wood inside the shed is “dead”, meaning that insects will not find it amenable to their nefarious activities!
We were kindly offered to taste the mandarines out of their boxes.

Although sweet, the balance in sweetness, acidity and “umami” was beyond words!
The Japanese, judges and growers alike, are very picky in their survey and Mr. Oishi had to satisfy no less than 12 different criteria from shape and sweetness to biting/chewing impression!
Needless to say that coming top in 6 of them, especially overall taste, helped him acquire the top reward!

Then we all embarked in one car and a small truck for a visiting expedition of the Oishi’s fields covering one full hectare on very steep slopes over 400-meter altitude in the nearby mountains!

On the way I noticed these electric wires to keep civets, monkeys, deer and wild boars away!

Recently wild boars have become a real plague!
This cage trap can catch a female and at least three cubs which will be culled and have their meat distributed around!

A very Japanese contraption consisting of one “rail” to easily carry harvest inside boxes that descend along terribly steep slopes. They have been used for quite some time now but bear in mind that people still had to walk up and down unpaved roads to reach their fields not so long ago!

Access to the fields is done by small trucks up tortuous roads but all the work has to be done on foot!

Although we are at an altitude of only 400 neters the landscape made the climb all the worth for it to us city dwellers!

It’s lucky that the harvesting is done in winter as the scorching heat in summer allows work only during the first and last few hours of the day!

For all the size of the mountains, space is limited as sun exposure is vital.
Moreover, a big difference of temperature between daytime and nighttime is the first condition for sweet fruit!

Organic agriculture is impossible in these conditions but Kuniaki Oishi uses only the strict minimum of pesticides and fertilizers he buys from the local government agricultural offices.

Even so it is back breaking work as the fields and trees have to be provided with mulch and protected with plastic sheets at various times of the year!
No wonder growers never get fat in this area!
And they are so fit!

And trees have a limited life.
This twenty-year old tree with almost a ten-centimeter thick trunk will have to be cut and replaced in twenty tears time!

It certainly makes you humble to realize all the work behind those fruit we take for granted!
Mr. and Mrs Osihi, thank you so much for your hospitality, patience and great smiles!

Kuniaki Oishi
Aoshima mandarines Grower/Producer
421-1115 Fujieda City, Okabe Cho, Niufune, 192
Tel.: 054-668-0618
Mr. Oishi’s products are sold at the JA stores and other shos, as well as through a very limited private list of customers.

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Agricultural Products, Agriculture, Aoshima Mandarines, レシピ, 美食, 静岡, Farming, Food, Fruit, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, mandarines, Okabe, Oranges, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism, World Cuisines
Posted in Agriculture, 美食, 蜜柑, 青島蜜柑, 観光, 農業, Fruit, Fujieda City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Mandarines, Okabe, Oranges, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, 果物 | Leave a Comment »

Japanese Gastronomy: Local Products at Makai Ranch in Fujinomiya City!

January 28, 2013

Service: Very friendly and familiar
Equipment & Facilities: Spotless clan. Superb washroom
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Very healthy food mainly made with local products. Dairy products. Souvenirs

Shizuoka Prefecture is a large Prefecture by Japanese standards and its peculiar shape make it feel even larger. It takes no less than three hours non-stop to cross it by normal train!
Yesterday I had the occasion to travel (by car) again to Fujinomiya City located on the western slopes of Mount Fuji, which means it is protected from the cold weather coming from the east and is a thriving agricultural area in an already very rich prefecture.

You will not find this side view of Mount Fuji just in front of Makai Ranch in usual pamphlets because of its collapsed flank! It is nonetheless worth the trip!

Foreigners are certainly made welcome!

This is Japan, not Germany!

It is not America, either! LOL

The Buffet Restaurant was our destination on the way to a local farmer we were going to interview in the afternoon!

Have a good look before entering as there is a lot to see and sample!

This is another restaurant inside the same premises. Come early!

Milk, milk, milk!

Take your time to visit the many stands inside offering some great healthy food made local ingredienst and milk from the ranch: Cheese cakes!

Ice cream made on site!

You will have the pleasure to discover other products created by neighboring farmers such as delicious Japanese sake!

Top class milk!

Cheese made on the ranch and at other dairy farms!

Even German craft beer by Stephan Rager in Fujinomiya City!

Premium ham and sausages!

We did not have the time but the ranch activities is a must for children and adults alike!

The entrance to the Buffet Restaurant called Itadakimasu/Bon Appetit!

Some of the food ingredients waiting for you!

All self-service!

Plenty to choose from and as much as you like!

You will find the pictures and introductions of the main local farmers contributing vegetables, meat, fish and fruit to the restaurant above the kitchen!

I have already interviewed quite a few of them!

All kinds of hot soups for all tastes!

The system is simple enough. You pay at the entrance where you will be given a ticket/coupon for one main dish. As for starters, salads, soups, drinks Non alcoholic), bread, rice and desserts you can take and re-take as much as as you want with no time limit between 11:00 and 15:00!

My first plate of starters with corn potage!

Already a meal in itself!

My main dish: Local chicken in honey mustard sauce!

Bring your main dish coupon there and point to the dish of your preference!

As much as freshly home-baked bread as you want!

The desserts!

Choose and make your own tea!

That was all I could eat! But I can assure that many people came again and again!
Great value for very healthy and tasty food!

MAKAI RANCH/MAKAI NO BOKUJYO/Buffet Restaurant Itadakimasu
418-0104 Fujinomiya City, Uchino, 1327
Tel: 0544-54-0342
Fax: 0544-29-1027
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Opening hours: Ranch (09:00~17:00, 08:00~18:00 from April to October)
Buffet Restaurant (11:00~15:00)
Closed either on Wednesdays or Thursdays
Free Car Park available
Ranch visit: Adults, 700 yen, Primary school and under, 500 yen. Special prices for groups (this applies for entrance fees only)
Activities are paid separately.
Pets are allowed but have to be left in a special guarded pet area for a monthly fee of 300 yen.

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:レシピ, 美食, Dairy Products, 静岡, Food, Fujinomiya City, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism, Travel, World Cuisines
Posted in Agriculture, レシピ, 美食, 野菜, 観光, 農業, Food, Fujinomiya City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Recipes, Restaurants, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

Gastronomic Destinations: Kamakura & Enoshima (January 2013)!

January 22, 2013

Just came back from a 3-day trip in Kamakura City, Kanagawa prefecture!
Here is a simple picture report on what you could find in and away from the touristic landscape of this famous city not far from Tokyo which deserves a good visit!
Note that this is the off-season now and I would advise you to visit it at such a time as crowds can be a real pain in that beautiful corner of Japan!

Tobira Restaurant

Tobira
Kamakura City, Komachi, 1-6-20, Tobira Building, 2F
Tel.: 0467-25-0505
Opening hours: 10:30~19:00
Closed on Mondays or on Tuesdays if Monday is a National Holiday

You will find Tobira on the left just outside kamakura City JR Station.

The boxed lunch as served!

The boxed lunch opened!

Plentiful and yummy!

They also serve a great omuraisu/rice omelet!

A lunch fit for a Westerner’s appetite!

that omelet is a real delicacy, fluffy and light!

You will find this sign in the main street of Kamakura City atop a famous cake shop. See below:

Kamakura is famous all over Japan for its biscuits, especially “Rabbit Half Moon#!

Once you start you’ll never stop eating them!

They also make some exquisite wagashi for vegans!

You will find plenty of shops selling Shonan Craft Beer!

No, you cannot eat clothes sold upstairs, keep to ground level!

All local beers and japanese sake!

Kamakura City is also famous for its sembei/rice crackers!

Hot work, even with temperatures below zero outside!

O Sakana Tei Japanese Restaurant

248-0025 Kamakura City, Shichirigahama, 3-1-9
Tel: 0467-31-9890
Opening Hours: 11:30~15:00, 17:00~22:00
Closed on Thursdays
Cards OK

Kamakura Craft Beer

O Sakana Tei is an old but very traditional Japanese Restaurant serving great sushi at very reasonable prices.
The specialize in local sardine cuisine!

Great craft beer indeed!

The specialty of the house: Deep-fried sardine sandwiched in shiso/perilla leaves!

Sushi plate!

Another sushi plate!

Delicious Japanese soup with sardine surimi balls!

Kamakura sake?

Only in name as it is brewed in Gunma Prefecture for a private label!

Tobicho Japanese Restaurant

251-0036 Fujisawa City, Enoshima, 1-6-7
Tel.: 0466-23-0041
Opened from 11:00 a.m. till evening
Reserve!

This time we managed to have lunch at Tobicho, a place where you will have to join endless queues on week-ends or in peak seasons!

Have a good look at the seafood they also sell outside including local shirasu/sardine whiting!

Like in most Japanese restaurants you can also have a look at a plastic model of the dish you are looking for displayed outside!

A great way to allure customers inside, isn’t it?

Very simple and explicit menus, too!

This is the limited seasonal menu that the Missus chose!

Simple, but beautiful and yummy!

Salmon, octopus and albacore secured on thin slanted slices of cucumber!

My order!

Japanese style crab omelet on a bowl of rice topped with shirasu!

During our visit to a temple in Enoshima Island we found this food store atop the mountain…

What is he cooking?

Paper-thin senbei/crackers made with real fresh octopus!

A very rare treat!

If you have the time do try and visit the natural grottoes at the back of Enoshima Island which have been used by humans since AD 552.
You will even find a dragon hidden inside!

Atop Enoshima you will find a small diner (Japanese-style) with a terrace overlooking the sea called Uomitei/魚見亭.
A great place to enjoy craft beer.

This one is called Shonan Enoshima Beer!

Unfortunately it is brewed in Niigata Prefecture as a private label!

Back in Kamakura City we couldn’t escape from the beautiful sembei/rice crackers!

Ocean Harvest COCOMO Italian and Oyster Bar
248-0016 Kanagawa Prefecture, Kamakura City, Hase, 2-8-8
Tel./fax: 0467-33-4584
12:00-25:00(Last Order-24:00)
■Lunch Time
12:00-15:30(Last Order-15:00)
■Cafe Time
15:30-17:00(Last Order-16:30)
■Dinner Time
17:00-25:00(Last Order-24:00)
Closed on Wednesdays
HOMEPAGE
Credit Cards OK

Along the Shonan Beach there are some restaurants of note and our favourite is Cocomo, an Italian oyster bar!

Local vegetables Banya Cauda!

Succulent grilled oysters!

Their fries is a must!

They also eminently enjoyable pasta!

KOSUZU Soba/Buckwheat Noodles Restaurant
Kamakura City, Komachi, 2-83-4
Tel,: 0467-25-6210
Opening hours: 11:30~18:30
Closed on Mondays

Back in kamakura City, away from the touristic center and along the way to the Tsuruoka Hayata Jingu Shrine stands a very good soba/buckwheat noodles shop we regularly visit, namely KOSUZU!

This is the hot soba the Missus ordered!

For a closer view of a real healthy meal!

For my part I ordered cold soba with all kinds of toppings!

For a closer view!

A pot full of soba soup will be served to accompany the leftovers inside your bowl! Yummy!

Vegans and all must try the exquisite warabi mochi (soft rice cakes)!

Finally along the same street keep ypur eyes open for venerable shops such as this Japanese liquor shop!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:レシピ, 美食, Enoshima, 静岡, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Gourmet, Italian Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Japanese Gastronomy, Kamakura, Tourism, Travel, World Cuisines
Posted in Agriculture, レシピ, 美食, Enoshima, 酒, 観光, 農業, Fish, Food, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Kamakura, Recipes, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel | 5 Comments »

Weird Japan (30): Beware the Kites! The Birds, not the Toys!

January 19, 2013

Found this sign in Hasedera Temple in Kamakura City yesterday!

That sign was one of the may posted around the terrace atop the mountain on which the temple is perched.

A little mistake here: the talons of kites are dull as they are scavengers, not predators, although their grip might be painful indeed!

Kite is “tonbi” in Japanese.
Most signs were in English as the Japanese are very much aware of the problem!

Incidentally, real kites, i mean the toys, are also very popular in Japan!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Humor, Japan, Kamakura, Kite
Posted in Birds, 笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kite, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 50: How To Stay Warm and Elegant in Shizuoka City!

December 11, 2012

just walked past Floraison Fashion Shop in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City yesterday and noticed a new mannequin in the front window!

Can you see it?

That’s the one!
It certainly looked elegant but also very comfortable. I just had to investigate!

Here we are: Front first!

Next back!
Now, let me describe the whole apparel!

Cardigan by ILIAN LOEB (Japanese designer) in Alpaca, Nylon and wool.
Long enough to use as a one- piece together with a long white shirt/blouse by Frank & Eileen (US designer) made of cotton.
Wearing black thick tights means you do not have tp wear anything and be able to show your nice legs even in winter!

Beautiful light but warm and comfortable stole by MUVEIL (Japanese designer) made of wool!

Long leather boots by Lepepe (Italian designer)!

For a view of the zipper.
Note the low heels for easy walking!

Imaizumi Co. Ltd.
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 1-6-14 (behind Isetan Department Store)
Tel.: 054-271-8945
Business hours: 11:00~20:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG (Japanese)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese Fashionistas, Shizuoka, Tourism
Posted in ファッション, 観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese Culture, Tourism | Leave a Comment »

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 49: Casual Elegant & Warm for the Winter at Floraison in Shizuoka City!

December 3, 2012

As I mentioned before, Japanese ladies have always liked plain and uniform colors, especially black, grey and beige, once they had passed to the age of adults, meaning married or career ladies.
It is not easy to embellish the female body with such requisites and it does require some talent and combinations as a single style or creator is not always the ideal solution!

Yesterday I noticed this outfit in the shop window of my good friend’s boutique, Floraison, in Shizuoka City.
I was intrigued and inquired once again with the staff who are also good friends!

For a back view first!

Very interesting knit, elegant but warm with pockets for the hands in case of a sudden chill.
Created by ILIAN LOEB (Japanese Company), 100% wool.

The very light but warm miniskirt includes a black extension (you can see only half of it on the above picture) covering the stomach to keep it warm with the minimum of fuss.
Created by noeud (Japanese Company)
Wool + Acryl + Nylon + Polyester +Alpaca + Baby Alpaca.

FLORAISON

High-heeled Bottines by SEE BY CHLOE (CHLOE’S second Line/Brand-France).
Very elegant but still practical against the cold.
All leather.

Imaizumi Co. Ltd.
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 1-6-14 (behind Isetan Department Store)
Tel.: 054-271-8945
Business hours: 11:00~20:00
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
BLOG (Japanese)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese Fashionistas, Shizuoka, Tourism
Posted in ファッション, 観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese Culture, Tourism | 2 Comments »

Weird Japan (29): For More Sanity in the Toilets?

December 1, 2012

This title is going to attract a few unwanted visitors….

I noticed this large box of odor suppressant in the men’s (don’t ask me about the ladies’!) toilets inside Shizuoka Fujisan Airport in Shimada City!

Before finding catch names for such common and conspicuous products one should check all possibilities…!

Either they confused “sanity” for ” sanitary” or, more likely as the Japanese love to invent new words, it stands for a combination of “Sanitary” and “Safety”!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Tags:静岡, Humor, Japan, Japanese Cuisine, Shimada City, Shizuoka City
Posted in 笑い, 観光, Humor, Hygyene, Japan, Japanese Culture, Shimada Airport, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Tourism | 4 Comments »

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