Monthly Archives: March 2011

Noh Masks

Noh Mask Artist: Roger Voltz

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Roger Voltz standing in front of his artworks at the recently exhibition in Shziuoka Bank Shizuogin Gallery Yonki.

“I would like to leave a legacy for the younger generation to continue.”

Roger Voltz (63, a French citizen born in St. Denis in the suburbs of Paris, came to Shizuoka City in 1973 to settle down after a long travel through the woorld.
A University language lecturer by trade he had always been attracted by the Japanese culture.

Apart of becoming in martial arts he has been carving Noh masks for the last 18 years.
Noh Theater is one of the oldest forms of theater in Japan (originating out of combination of Chinese performing arts, known as sarugaku, and traditional Japanese dance called dengaku、　during the Muromachi Era, 13th~16th Century) and has attained great fame in World Performing Arts for its intricate dances, music and acting.
The actors are exclusively male and usually only the main one wears a mask(s) on stage.

Akobujou/阿古父尉/Old Man

There are five Noh Theater “Schools” all possessing their own original masks.
But the same masks have to be duplicated according to rules and traditions as obviously these original masks are really worn, invaluable relics they are!

Hanjo/班女/Lady Han

So far Roger has carved and exhibited 20 masks under the guidance of his Master, Kishinosuke Atsumi.
5 of them were exhibited at The Exhibition held with three more artists at the Shizuoka Bank/Shizugin Gallery Yonki March 10th~16th.
He is far from being a new face in the art as he has already exhibited in the Shizuoka Prefecture Museum and in Mariko.

Kantan Otoko/邯鄲男/The Man form Kantan

Carving the masks in wood is a long and intricate process taking 8~10 months in Roger’s cas as he can create them only during his spare time.

Yamanba/山姥/the Old Mountain Crone

Each mask weighs 130g~150g for female characters and 150~180 g for male counterparts.

Hashihime/橋姫/Princess Hashi (the mask of jealousy!)

Each mask is carved out of a block of either hinoki/檜/Japanese cypress or kusunoki/楠/camphor tree, both valuable wood in this country.
The process was kindly demonstrated with maks carvedin different stages at the exhibition:

The “four main stages”

A rough picture is drawn on a block weighing around 1 kg.

A rough mask is carved with help of hard paper measures.

The face is gradually carved in more details with the help of hard paper model.

The finished product hollowed out to fit the face of the actor with holes for the eyes and mouth!
It will then be careful painted.

I’m planning to interview Roger in his atelier soon to show you a more detailed explanation!

If you want to contact Roger directly for more information, write to him at rvoltz@mta.biglobe.ne.jp !

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Earthquake, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Mark & Kunie Thornton Collecting Food In Numazu City!

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Mark & Kunie/邦恵 Thornton!

Baird Brewery Fishmarket Taproom

It all started with an earthquake happening before a wedding ceremony!
Mark (from York, England) and Kunie (from Shizuoka Prefecture) were supposed to celebrate their long due wedding ceremony on Sunday march 20th when all had to be postponed after the terrible earthquake and tsunami that ravaged the north east of Japan.

Numazu City Fishing Harbor

Mark’s family just couldn’t come, and he and his gentle wife were left with an empty date.
But it takes more to rock those two off their feet.
If they couldn’t celebrate their wedding yet, they could make this momentous day a very useful one.

Baird Beer!

There is a great place in Numazu City called the Fishmarket Taproom where Bryan Baird brews his beers (he even had one ready for Mark and Kunie’s wedding party!) under the vaunted name of Baird Beer, which has recently been rewarded with international rewards.

Baird Beer’s labels!

Now Kunie has relatives (a cousin among them) in Yaizu City.
Yaizu City (with Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City) is one of the main tuna fishing harbors in Japan, a calling port for all tuna fishing boats including those from Miyagi Prefecture, the most devastated area in the recent earthquake.

Our heroes and Taproom’s staff!

Fishing boats are already busy collecting food and other necessities for Miyagi Prefecture. Mark and Kunie thought they could add a little contribution of their own to turn that fated Sunday into a day to remember for a useful and much needed purpose.

With the help of the staff, including Chris Madera, they thought up a simple project:
Call all friends on Facebook and ask them to bring canned and tinned food (and others) directly to the Taproom from 12:00 on Sunday 20th. A great idea in its simplicity as canned food can last almost indefinitely and be warmed up for hot meals!

They announced other efforts already on the way!

Yes, charity does cost money, even through the Red Cross, but everyone donated without a fuss and socialized for a very long drink.

And the donations started coming!

View of the Taproom

Donators from all countries busy ordering!

Half the donators were Japanese.
Talk of international cooperation!

It soon got crowded and we were still early in the afternoon.

And donations kept piling up!

What can make you happier than providing a little help?

A well-done job needs a toast!

In spite of all the hardships there are thousands (and more) people deeply aware of what’s needed in times of crisis.
It is those “little gestures” that make this world a little easier to live in!

Mark, Kunie, gals and lads, a profound thanks from all!

Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

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Bento, Japanese Gastronomy

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/17): Healthy Pasta Salad Bento!

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All these gastonomic reports for my official work at Agrigraph Japan is not always helping my health and the Missus has to think about my waistline from time to time!

Thinking of heath and balance the Missus prepared her favorite pasta/spaghetti (she is an addict!) and once the had cooled down seaoned them wit some dressing of her own.
She added smoked salmon, capers and kawairedaikon/daikon sprouts and some lemon.
Simple and colorful!

The salad dish too was simple, colorful and healthy:
On a bed of carrot salad a semi-hard boiled egg, liced plum tomatoes, cucumber and penty of cress. I added sesame dressing I keep handy at work.

Dessert? No need, really! LOL
Very, very healthy! Alright, and tasty, too!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES

Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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Earthquake, Japan, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Making the Most of Cancelled Events!

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Solliciting Celebrities’ appeal!

Many events in Shizuoka have been cancelled as respect for the victims of the catastrophic earthquake which jolted Japan on March 11th.
This week-end should have seen two days of Shizuoka Flower Fest.

This Saturday and Sunday, the SBS/Shizuoka Broadcasting Services Radio has decided to appeal to everyone for donations from 10:00 to 17:00 to help the victims of the East Japan Earthquake as it has been officially named.

The City had already erected numerous tents and booths in Gofuku Street and Aoba Park in Shizuoka City and left them standing for the appeal.

SBS TV and Radio appealing for donations.

The Shizuoka Spring Festival, the biggest event of its kind in Shizuoka City, due to occur on April 1st~3rd has been cancelled and money donations will be called for again on a big scale.

“Charity Booth”

Unfortunately once again “politicians” were not up to the task (it seems to be, but for some rare exception a global disease…).
Instead of postponing the campaign, the candidates for the Mayor election due to occur in a few weeks decided to proceed spending no less than 18,000,000 yen of official subsidies (txpayers’ money): 180,000 Euros or 280,000 US $!
Shame on them!
They ought to look up to Governor Kawakatsu…

Selling goods for money donations.

More booths with disaster photos and official maony collection.

Let’s forget these people who call themselves the servitors of people and do what we can!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Earthquake, Japan, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011):Collecting Money at Beer No Yokota Bar!

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–Service: very friendly
–Facilities: very clean
–no-smoking-logoNon-smoking!
–Strong points: The beer!

Shizuoka People know what it is like to suffer from earthquakes and other seisms and they do take it with a bit of fatality and a pinch of wisdom.
But they certainly don’t forget their compatriots in need in other regions of Japan.
All kinds of spontaneous money collections are occuring, small or big.

One of them has been going on since the very beginning at Yokota No Beer Bar!

No frills, no fanfare, just a cut whisky box with a hand-written sign appealing for charity!
Anyone can have a look at the money inside.
No worry, nobody will steal it!
The money will go regularly to the Red Cross.
That’s all!

Wisdom, fortitude, concern? Take your pick!

Beer No Yokota
Shizuoka Shi, Aoi Ku, Gofuku-Cho, 2-5-22, Social Kadode bldg 2F (behind the City Hall)
Tel.: 054-255-3683
Opening hours: 17:00~24:00 (15:00~24:00 on Saturdays)
Closed on Thursdays
HOMEPAGE

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Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Earthquake, Japan, Shizuoka, Tsunami

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011) Panic-buying abating in Shizuoka

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(Cheap brand) bread gone…

The past week has been marked by some panic-buying, especially in Tokyo, but here in Shizuokka people are slowly becoming more reasonable in spite of the fears provoked mainly by foreign media and alarmist Embassies who haven’t realized that their apocalypse announcements have been closely watched by Japanese viewers.

No so many instant noodles gone yet.

Shizuoka is nonetheless the most earthquake-prone area in Japan, but its citizens are gradually accepting the situation with a lot of calm in spite of their private concerns.

Still more than half of the larger instant noodle meals left.

I paid a visit to the nearest Shizutetsu store, part of a local mega supermarket chain to have an idea for myself of the situation.

Half of the protein biscuits gone. They are French…

Interestingly enough only 3 types of merchandise were sought after:
Toilet paper, Fresh bread and instant noodles.

Breads and cakes almost gone…

I understand the buying of toilet paper and instant noodles, but fresh bread? How long can you keep it?

Plenty of juice, milk and yoghurt left.

No panic for fruit and vegetables!

Maybe bananas are going faster…

Stacke of meat and fish.

I hope that my friends abroad will understand that the Japanese are markedly wiser in the event of a major catastrophe!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Bento, 弁当

Today’s Lunch Box/Bento (’11/16): Square Dance Bento

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When I saw those two rectangular boxes aligned together i couldn’t help thinking of a square dance as I have never heard of a rectangular dance! LOL

The rice dish was simple enough in concept as the Missus steamed it with mixed beans, chopped carrots, corn and hijiki/sweet seaweed and mixed the whole together once cooked. It made for some interesting color combination and satisfying eating!

Although the side dish looks a bot complicated it was pretty straightforward, too!
Boiled broccoli, boiled eggs and boiled spinach inside a double layer of inari/fried tofu pouches, boiled white cauliflower, plum tomato, boiled kabotcha and home-pickled cabbage (in amazu/sweet vinegar).

Some Shizuoka-grown Benihoppe/Red Cheeks strawberries for dessert added the finishing touch to a very healthy (and tasty) bento!

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Clumsyfingers by Xethia
Adventures in Bento Making, American Bento, Beanbento, Bento No1, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box, My Bento Box, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat; Bento Lunch Blog (German); Adventures In Bento; Anna The Red’s Bento Factory; Cooking Cute; Timeless Gourmet; Bento Bug; Ideal Meal; Bentosaurus; Mr. Foodie (London/UK); Ohayo Bento

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Uncategorized

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011) The Worst Scenario Has Been Avoided!

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Dear Friends in Japan and all the world, thank you so much for your concern and messages!

The situation is slowly but sureley improving:
The government officially announced that the worst scenario, e.g. a complete meltdown, has been avoided. Of course they keep pouring seawater into the reactors to cool them down and re-install electricity that will keep the whole thing safe again!

Life is almost normal where I live in Shizuoka in spite of the general psychosis unresponsibly spread by the Embassies of France (my own country!), Germany, Switzerland, US and others. Take what they say with a big pinch of salt!

On the other hand, incredible efforts are poured into organizing help and commodities at all costs.
In our own Prefecture of Shizuoka, reputedly the most dangerous region (the whole of Japan is dangerous, full point…) has been organizing help since Saturday 12th under the orders of Governor Kawakatsu who has certainly shown more speed and concern than some “politicians” up in Tokyo!

I’ll keep you informed and will answer all your questions, but there is no need to over worry!
Helping people in the North East of Japan and rebuilding the country is more important!

Yes, they can!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011): Charity Bring a Can Party at Taproom, Numazu City!

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Bryan & Saori Baird

Mark Thornton just created a Facebook Site to contribute help to people inMiyagi Prefecture!

Charity Bring A Can Party
Sunday, March 20 at 12:00pm
Location: Numazu Fishmarket Taproom, Baird Brewing Company
Numazu, Japan
HOMEPAGE

We can send goods to Miyagi prefecture to help with the shortages there. Our friends in Yaizu have a fishing boat which is taking supplies to the Tsunami stricken areas. Please come along, bring canned food to donate and have some fine beer. We`ll be there all day. Tell your friends.

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Japan, Shizuoka

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (March 2011) News

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To all the friends who got worried about my dear ones and me during the last past few days, I would like to extend my grateful thanks and recognition!

It does look bad to unaccustomed people/viewers, and it is bad, but not as much as some people would like to announce.
True to say, nearly 12,000 citizens are dead or missing and more than 100,000 people have been displaced in a catastrophe of unseen proportions in modern Japan (although it suffered even more greatly in the unrecorded past).
To compound misery, there have been accidents at a few thermonuclear electicity plants.

Now, I would like to reassure everyone about the latter in spite of the hysterics shown by the German and French Embassies in particular: the radiation is not enough to be harmful to humans, and I hope it will stay so.

Moreover, one has to keep his/her perspective: what would have happened if Japan were not the most sophisticated country in the world when it comes to earthquake disaster prevention? Most of the victims disappeared in the incredible tsunami, not so many during the earthquake itself.

On the other hand, there was no rise in crimes, no looting, no riot, but a great patience and wisdom in spite of the overwhelming worries. Restaurants offered free meals in affected areas, small town mayors are working their hearts out for their citizens (“We will fight! Gambaru!”), and everyone is starting cooperating and gathering food and commodities all over Japan.

Japan will survive and become once again a model to emulate.
Mark my work, Japan and the Japanese will come out the stronger out of this ordeal!
Yes, they can!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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Uncategorized

Food Humor: Not tonight, Darling!

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My good friend, Bernard Heberle, who has been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2011 seems to have some time on his hands despite the mountain of work. An amateur of food humor, he regularly sends me photos featuring some pretty/nasty art on food.
I thought it would be a shame not to feature them from time to time to add a light note/seasoning to this blog!

Promised! This is the last banana picture I publish…

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Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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熱海市, 観光, Tourism

Atami, The Hot Spring City of Yore 3

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Atami resort harbor/marina.

Strolling in Atami City, that is in the downtown area by the sea can be interesting indeed if you know where to look!

Don’t look up but down for directions!

Difficult to get lost!

There 7 hot springs (including the one in fornt of the JR station), but I couldn’t find them all…

3rd one. Don’t put your hand inside!

4th one. The temperature was alright!

The 5th one. A little beauty!
I couldn’t find the last two. Pity, when you realize they have been used for hundreds of years!

The other major Atami attraction is the Baien Koen/梅園公園/plum tree Park!
It was created more than 120 years ago and subsequently doanted to the city!
let’ have a stroll!

I forgot to chck how many kinds. I can assure you you need a few visits to exhaust theme all!

Now, this is Japan!

Take your time and enjoy the sights!

Flower trees everywhere. You should come on bright sunny day!

A man-made waterfall! Great in summer!

A view from “inside” the waterfall!

Plum tree blooms…

Interesting tree…

Beautiful color!

Can you see the daffodils?
Spring is near and we shall to think and come back again in the summer!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
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熱海市, 観光, 農業, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism

Atami, The Hot Spring City of Yore 2

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Botarga/Mullet Roe/Karasumi/カラスミ!

The shopping streets in Atami City are quite old-fashioned. You almost seem to slipped back 30 years when you stroll along them browsing old-fashioned shops of every kind.

Once out of Atami JR station you will find two parallel streets going down sharply on the right. There you will find the epitome of land and sea products of the region.
Will you follow me?

Atami is located at the northern tip of Izu Peninsula, which means an access to an incredible number of fish. Can you believe that Shizuoka produces 50% of all dried and semi-dried fish in Japan?
And of a great quality!

These dried fish are shirasu/白子/sardine whiting. Rare of that size (and not cheap!)!

The himono/干物/dried fish on the left are not cheap either: globefish/fugu/河豚!

One Japanese confectionery typical of Atami is Onsen Manju!

Onsen manju/温泉万寿/means hot spring steamed sweetmeat cake. Many shops are competing with each other!

A great array of fresh fish paste cakes you eat either as they are, or as oden! Very tasty!

A giant Japanese brochette! The sugn says to be carful and not to push the dispaly with your hands (appe\arently some did with a disastrous result!)!

One great thing about Japan is that most (Japanese-style) restaurants display their cuisine as plastic models in their shop windows! At least you have a good idea of what is available!

More seafood left out to dry to become tasty himono! Traceabilty garanteed!

More, including rare tuna himono (bottom right)!

Now, the beautiful kinmedai/金目鯛 (Top righ) is expensive (but not by Tokyo standrds!)!

Izu Peninsula and Atami City are also famous for all kinds of citruses!

Golden oranges/貴金柑　(front) are beautiful and expensive!
They tend to come up with a new variety every year in that region!

Now, if you want to eat sushi, you will know that the seafood is fresh!

Although this is a sushi chain of the cheaper kind, they have the merit to explain clearly the varieties and the prices (very reasonable!)!

Now, what are these?

Karasumi/カラスミ/Botarga, or mullet roe! You can find anything more traceable. This is a truly expensive gastronomic marvel, even in Shizuoka!

A last long look at the shops and then we’ll go to another toursit attraction!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

熱海市, 観光, Tourism

Atami, The Hot Spring City from Yore 1

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Atami must be the most famous hot springs city in Shizuoka Prefecture and in Japan! And one of the oldest to boot.
It has always been a favorite destination for Tokyoites in particular.
Shizuoka people do visit the city but in amrkedly smaller numbers.
The main reason for this state of affairs is that Atami is at the eastern extremity of the Prefecture.

The welcoming hot spring just outside the JR Railway Station.

The City counts 7 different hot springs more or less connected to Mount Fuji.
be careful not to touch the water! It is truluyscalding hot!

But you can take a foot bath at areasonable temperature.
Bear in mind that at 16:00 the bath will be emptied!

If you don’t believe, take a plunge! You won’t come back alive! It does look hellish, after all!

The city is celebrated for its plum tree flowers especially in February (and March if you are lucky!)!

One main attraction is the MOA Museum. You had better take a day bus ticket to keep expenses low as the city is half along the coast, half perched on top of steep cliffs. Walking is just a bit too tough. Buis is best!

One can enjoy great vistas from the MOA Museum and other sites atop the nearby mountains!

The park around the Museum is worth a leisurely walk in all seasons!

There are some great photos to be taken outside!
Unfortunately the inside is almost completely prohibited to cameras!

Inside the museum lobby.

Do have a look at the vistas from inside!

One of the rare sights allowed to photographers!

A grand view of the Atami Harbor! The locals call it the Japanese Napoli! LOL

The actual entry of the Museum!

They also have plenty of plum trees in their own park stretching over the mountain slopes.

Difficult to right focus!

It is a vast park that provides qith plenty of physical exercise!

What did I tell you?

Next we shall visit the local markets!

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi

笑い, Food Humor, Humor

Food Humor: Indecent Banana!

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My good friend, Bernard Heberle, who has been elected the best patissier in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2011 seems to have some time on his hands despite the mountain of work. An amateur of food humor, he regularly sends me photos featuring some pretty/nasty art on food.
I thought it would be a shame not to feature them from time to time to add a light note/seasoning to this blog!

The pear and strawberry ladies are going to get me arrested for publishing that picture…

RECOMMENDED RELATED SITES:
Warren Bobrow, Bread + Butter, Zoy Zhang, Hungry Neko, Think Twice, Frank Fariello, Mangantayon, Hapabento, Elinluv Tidbit Corner, Tokyo Terrace, Maison de Christina, Chrys Niles,Lexi, Culinary Musings, Wheeling Gourmet, Comestiblog, Chronicles Of A Curious Cook, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Palate To Pen, Yellin Yakimono Gallery, Tokyo Terrace, Hilah Cooking, More than a Mount Full, Arkonite Bento, Happy Little Bento; 5 Star Foodie; Jefferson’s Table; Oyster Culture; Gourmet Fury; Island Vittles; Good Beer & Country Boys; Rubber Slippers In Italy; Color Food daidokoro/Osaka;/a; The Witchy Kitchen; Citron Et Vanille, Lunsj Med Buffet/Estonian Gastronomy (English), Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Chrisoscope, Agrigraph, The Agriculture Portal to shizuoka!

Please check the new postings at:
sake, shochu and sushi