Category Archives: Photography

レシピ, 美食, Desserts, 静岡市, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Halloween, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

10 Halloween Treats in Japan (Shizuoka Prefecture actually!)!

October 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Shizuoka Prefecture is famous for its melons!

Halloween is around the corner and all shops have certainly turned orange, the color of pumpkins!
It can sometimes become boring but if you try to stay positive there are many pictures to take and many ways to celebrate!

Here are 10 of my favorites here in Shizuoka Prefecture!

1) Halloween Bento!
Note the orange pumpkin inside it to justify the name!

2) Halloween Chou!
The Japanese cannot imagine a dessert without some kind of chou, chou a la creme, or chou cream popping up in their heads!
This particular ones are filled with chocolate custard. All home-made!

3) Halloween Donuts!
Discovered in a department store in Numazu City!

4) Halloween Melon!
This is my favorite! I couldn’t introduce it just after the top picture!
Shizuoka Prefecture is known all over Japan for its melons!

5) Halloween Gratin!
A large one for he whole family!
If you want the recipe, I’ll be glad to send it to you!

6) Halloween Kabocha Croquettes!
Sophisticated French gastronomy in Japan!

7) Halloween Kabocha Gratin!
A bit of a repeat, but the design is so cute!
I can also send you the recipe on request!

8) Halloween Apples!
Taken during the Daidogei Street performance Festival!

9) Halloween panckes!
Another way to prepare pancakes with kabocha!
I can send you the recipe on request!

10) Halloween Pop Corn!
The ultimate American Junk Food!

For a better view!

Wait until Christmas for another surprise!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Shop with Intent by Debbie
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: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanes Culture, Japanese Education, Japanese students, Kindergarten, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kindergarten On The March!

October 10, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

I noticed these kindergarten kids as I went out of Cenova Departement Store at 10:15 a.m. this morning!
Cenova Department Store, owned by Shizutetsu Company is also the starting point of the Shizutetsu Railway Line running from Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku to Shimizu Ku, a kind of surface underground.
It is a very busy line during rush hours.
But in between it is quite a pleasant ride.
Thoese kindergarten kids were obviously on a field trip to learn how to buy tickets and ride trains!

According to the color of the caps they were two classes of the same school accompanied by three teachers.
Please not the flap protecting the nape of the kids. It is becoming more and more the norm due to the hot weather. Temperatures rose to 30 degrees Celsius today! To think we are going to freeze in winter!

The kids were extremely well-behaved, orderly and quiet but obviously excited at the prospect of riding a train!
Note that the kids all carry colorful rucksacks very probably containing drinks, lunches and small clothes and wnd what else!
The kids also wear the same shorts (except for one who must have had a good reason! LOL) and shirts be they boys or girls with their names tagged on.
Japan, and especially Shizuoka, is extremely safe, but kids are well protected!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Old Shizuoka City Hall: Another Cultural Asset saved from the Developers’ clutches!

October 9, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

If you go to the modern Shizuoka City Hall in Aoi Ku you will notice an old building topped with a dome on its right.
The whole building had been the city Hall of Shizuoka City from 1886 to 1986, just a century.
Having lived 38 years in Shizuoka City I witnessed the building of the new City Hall (which had to be restarted after it was discovered that its foundation was too low!) and shared the worries of the local citizens when the mayor in place, Shingo Amano (you will not find his name in all records as he had to step down in second mid-term after one too many financial scandals!), wanted to pull down the whole edifice to leave place to another of his expensive “monuments”.

The edifice created by a guest British architect was finally saved out of the mayor’s friends’ clutches when various citizen groups finally woke up and started a damaging campaign forcing the mayor to relent (the beginning of end for him actually!).

The building has since then been used as a meeting hall, library and document vault.
You can actually visit most of it on your own without permission.
It is a great place to explore for photography buffs with old stairs, panels. windows and waht else!

Try and catch the dome under a red dusk sky! I’m sure you will have plenty of striking pics to show back home!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Buildings, 美術, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kikugawa City, Museums, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism

Kikugawa Red Brick House saved from the developers’ clutches!

October 8, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

If you walk straight out from the only exit of Kikugawa City JR Station you are bound to walk past a square old building all made of red bricks.
Now, this is a noteworthy discovery as such buildings, mostly official at the times, were destroyed during WWII and most of those you may discover, especially in Yokohama and Hokkaido, are copies.
This building in Kikugawa City is the real article!

It was erected as soon as the Tokaido Railway Line opened a station in Horin No Uchi (as of Hori no Uchi District in Kikugawa City) ine 23rd Year of Meiji Era (1890).
many buildings of the same architecture were also built at the same time along Kikugawa Station platform, Yoshizawa Arch Bridge, Kanaya Station and Makinohara Tunnel as offices, warehouses and else but they all have disappeared and the Red Brick House in Kukgawa City is the only one left.
For long the land had been ogled by developers and only 2 years ago the rumors were pretty bad until an NPO took charge of it with the blessings of the city as Cultural Asset!

The original front facade although it is now oriented away from the street.

If one looks carefully one can see the traces of the adjacent buildings and walls which have all disappeared!

The place can be visited on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00 except on third week-ends.
It is still being cleaned and ordered inside but it is still worthy of a visit and of a glimpse of the past!

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Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

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笑い, 観光, Humor, Japan, Japanes Culture, Japanese fashion, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

The 10 (and a few more) weirdest sights in Shizuoka City, Japan! So far…..

October 6, 2013 dragonlife 1 Comment

1) KILLING WITH A SMILE?

Japan is the safest country in the world, but it also produces the best knives and swords in the world, too!
Advertising such a business with a smiling (with a vampire tooth jutting out) manga girl is both novel and disquieting! LOL

It is actually the sign of the oldest knives and cutlery shop in Shizuoka City!

2) Beware of the Wild Boars at Bus Stops! (real!)

I discovered that sign inside a bus stop shelter in Yuugashima, Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture!

“Beware of the Wild Boars!”
It’s not a joke!

Mind you, they make for good food, too! Wild boar buns are a local specialty!

3) Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka: Mother and Daughter!

Maybe I could say that it is never too early nor too late to become fashionable!
Today was a hot day and being a Saturday a lot of people were aout shopping.
Such a mother and daughter is still very much unusual in Japan, considering the mother is nearer fifty than forty of age…
I can’t feel the presence of a man in this family…

Note the shoes! I’m pretty sure they were bought in the same shop!

And both are very proud of their thin long legs!
Definitely a rare occurence but I’m not one to complain!

4) The Punk and The Pinky or The Riot and The Cutie?

Some girls seem to have just come out of a manga story…
I chose not to take their faces for privacy breach reasons but actually they are cute enough as they are!
Probably just out of high school!
Actually Shizuoka City is famous/notorious for Japanese cutie/punk fashion all over Japan!

5) Tsunami Capsule Shelter Pucapuca in Shizuoka!

It is the Japanese new invention!
Called Tsunami Capsule, Tsunami Shelter, Pucapuca, Runfun, etc, it is supposed to protect you from tsunami as it is devised to float atop any moving water without capsizing!
The cost: a whooping 1,000,000 yen!

And it is made by Ton Craft company in Makinohara City, Shizuoka prefecture!

6) Pepsi good for Hair?

Somme “collaborations” should be avoided!
Found this near my office…

7) Fancy a Drink Before a Break-in?

I love the name of this bar in Ryogae-Cho, Shizuoka City!
Mind you, a couple too many drinks there could encourage me into some illegal activities!
They serve Guiness which explains the shamrock!

8) Acid Milk!

A few years ago we used to see those big ads in Japan for “Homo Milk” standing for “Homogeneous Milk”. That is, until someone pointed out this might mislead some people into the wrong conclusions…

I found this truck in front of a kindergarten this morning on the way to my classroom.
After some investigation I found out (with the help of my Japanese student), that yoghurt is also called fermented milk in Japanese!
Acid Milk simply stands for Yoghurt!
Even so, it might be a good idea (but I suppose it is too late!) to think of a change of name, unless some people (again!) think of an even worse possibility! LOL

9) Gremlin?

Don’t misread me! I’m not trying to be disparaging or criticizing!
The (very young) lady was barely 140 cm tall and all so compact!
I noticed her inside Shizuoka JR Station as I was waiting for my train to Shimada (work. I would come back later).
She was a jumble of fashions mrap to goth and whatever in between although she seemed very sweet when I heard talk to the girlfriend she had been waiting for.
A fashion almost uniquely found among high school students out for fun!
Her garb is so zany and colorful.
So, why not?

10) What kind of school is that?

Would you believe that most pupils at this elementary school go to top Unversities?
Found out that the City of Shizuoka made that sign when I questioned the Headmaster who wouldn’t take reponsibility for it!
They have pasted a correction above it since then!

11) Junk Food Bar in Shizuoka City!

Someone will have to explain the meaning of the word “junk” to some people here! LOL
Maybe they are confusing junk food with fast food, although I would like to know what they mean by “soul” as well!

Americans will understand that “Jumbo Dog” probably means “Jumbo Hot Dog”, but what is a “Got Burger” or “Junk Rice”?

They are quite insistent about it with “Junk Food & Bar” pasted on the entrance door!
Actually, they serve a very good open hamburger!

12) Don’t set the Department Store on Fire!

Seen at Cenova Department Store in Shizuoka City!
The fact that is the safest country in the World sometimes leads to excessive precautions and warnings!
Hazardous Materials (probably wrong choice of word there…) should be prohibited anywhere!
I totally agree with banning smoking!
But who would try to set a department store on fire?

The fact that the sign is almost at ground level be hind a constantly moving sliding glass door might explain why people haven’t paid any notice!
I wonder what the Chinese and Korean translations say?

13) Have a care or I’ll bite!

Note the sushi standing bar in front of the girls!

In these times of waist-high cinched tutu-like skirts and dresses, this young girl almost stands out as an anachronism!

Mind you, compared to her friend that fashion is utterly practical although the white pants might get dirty vey quickly!

14) Snow White?

No, although the skin of this young lady was incredibly white, she wasn’t an albino (very rare in Japan!)!
Her hair was not bleached but dyed as it had a nice lustre to it!

She was also incredibly fit, and I had a hard time following her from the other side of the street discreetly until I could take a pic of her even from the back!
Were I younger she might have been my type! LOL

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 1

October 6, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

A tall kura in Shizuoka City

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditonal Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

Can you spot the small one in far distance? Discovered in Numazu City!

Except in Kyoto and other touristic regions, or unless designated as cultural properties, most large ones have been pulled down as the land they stood on was far more financially valuable.

Only yesterday I cycled to one I knew just to find out that the owner who used it as a restaurant had just replaced it with a car park and moved his restaurant on the first floor of an adjacent building!

Very small, even by Japanese standards, I wonder how it has survived all that time!

During WWII those warehouses helped to conserve a lot of precious data as they were sturdy enough to resist bombing and fires.
Where the people could not afford to build one on their own, very often the village and even the cities had one built to at least protect the rice harvest.
On the other hand almost all Buddhist temples had one thus protecting a lot of cultural assets, especially in the light that a great majority of the population was literate.

Can you spot the one covered with ivy behind the old traditional Japanese restaurant?

It is probably owned by the restaurant.
As Numazu City is a harbor it was probably used to also shelter nets and other valuable fishing equipment as such structures could even withstand tsunamis.

Can you spot the one behind the car park of the neighboring clinic?

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn it is still owned and used by the private clinic!
Also in Numazu City and very near the sea you never know, it might prove as a blessing!

I also discovered this cute little one in Numazu City!

In Kyoto such kuras would find many uses from store to restaurant, atelier and what else!
If I had the money I would immediately transform it into a cozy little restaurant!

This one is quite well-known in Shizuoka City.
It is owned by a defunct local cosmetics company.

It is part of a big property including a house and garden and could easily be transformed into a grandiose project.
Unfortunately it is not on sale as the family owning it apparently does not want or might not be allowed to sell it!

I almost missed that one in the center of Shizuoka City as it is completely hidden as three sides in spite of its large size!

Now, this is ancient, and judging from its generally good state it is still used. As what, I have no idea!

I was lucky to find this one, too, as the owners have completely vacated the premises including the near store which must closed quite some time ago.

It is tall and big and could easily separated from the rest of the property to be developed as store and restaurant/cafe/atelier but I’m afraid that developers will soon raze the whole lot!

Still looking around as this is a big prefecture with a lot of history.
If you find any in your neighboring I’ll treat you to coffee!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism

Wall Design: Numazu Ni Primary School

October 4, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

I did a lot of walking in the back streets of Numazu City yesterday, but it certainly was worth it!

i suddenly discovered this wall right in front of me!
I wondered what kind of building it was until I got nearer and found out it was of the building annexes of Primary School!

Numazu Ni (2nd) Primary School is a very large one by Japanese standards.
Being located close to the sea I understood the reasons behind the remarkable design!

A bright sun and the sea?

Coming closer I was impressed to find out it was a giant mosaic!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Numazu City, Photography, Shizuoka, Tourism

Street Statues in Numazu City

October 4, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

People Dance

If you walk along the main street leading from Numazu JR Station to the Numazu harbor you will notice quite a few statues erected by the city with the help of local artists.
Yesterday I took those pictures walking along the right side. There are more on the left side and hope to show some of them soon.
I think this is a great initiative from the city and it does soothe the heart.
Itoh City in northern Izu Prefecture is also a good example I will ave to investigate soon!

It can also be brought to practical uses sometimes as shown by this lost hat somewhat hung onto this cat’s tail!
Just another proof of how peaceful this country is!

Numazu City has always been a very active fishing harbor in Japan and it is full of sea birds!

Caught under the tree shade from another angle. I’m sure professional photographers would come up with an infinity of possibilities!

Energetic and happy dance!

Another gull about to take off?

Or just landed?

An imposing big-shoed teacher of matron?

Will walk along the left side of the street next time!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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静岡市, 駅弁, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Edo Era Travelers in Shizuoka City (Sumpu)!

September 18, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

The City of Shizuoka (as of the Prefecture) was always called so, but until the end of the beginning of the modern era it was called Sumpu/駿府.
The city grew in importance when the Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa/徳川家康 decided to retire there in the beginning of the 17th Century.
There used to be a castle called Sumpu Jyou/駿府城 but the later Shogun ordered it to be burnt.
In recent years a two-third size copy has been (and is still) built as faithfully as possible.
This makes for a very interesting venue as it includes parks, a museum and an event space.

Now, if you walk along the moat behind Shizuoka University Junior School you will espy some people sitting on a bench just beyond a traditional lantern tower!

Can you see them?

They are not people but statues!

Bronze Statue of Yaji-Kita
弥次喜多銅像

Actually it is a modern statue of two main characters of “Tokaidochu Hiza-kuri-ge (Travels on Foot on the Tokaido),”
Yaji (left) and Kita (right), a story/play written 200 years ago by Jippensha Ikku!
An ideal spot to take pictures of the past as the statues faithfully represent two people of the Edo Era, a time when travelers walked all the way from Yedo/Tokyo to Sumpu (174 km)!

Yaji!

Note that the garb is taht of typical travelers of the time.

the gentle face of a grand old man!

Kita!

Obviously the face of a younger and more exhuberant companion!

The “chonmage/丁髷/hair knot” in fashion then!

In that time men used to shave their pate unless they were practically becoming bald! LOL

Everyday necessities were carried in small boxes.

Tobacco box and pipe.
Note the footwear!

Sandal and calf wear.

The moat and pavement.

Will report on Sumpu Castle next time!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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
The Wine Wankers by Stuart in Australia!
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-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

観光, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shimada City, Shizuoka, Tourism

Hungry Goblin!

September 13, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

What is that goblin ogling at for the top of a roof with a sake flask in his hand?

A big fat green worm!

Oumuraya Brewery poster at Shimada JR Station.

If you want to take your own picture, go down at Shimada City Station, take the north exit.
Oumuraya Brewery is only 10 minutes away by foot!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

笑い, 観光, Food Humor, Humor, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Weird Japan (35): Killing With A Smile?

September 8, 2013 dragonlife 4 Comments

Another picture for Quizoxy!

It is actually the sign of the oldest knives and cutlery shop in Shizuoka City!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Must-see tasting websites:

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Bourgogne, Burgundy, Chalon Sur Saone, 美食, 観光, France, French gastronomy, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Photography, Tourism

Tourism Off the Beaten Tracks in France: Chalon Sur Saone (June 2012) Part 1

June 15, 2012 dragonlife 6 Comments

Ancient houses, bars and cafes around Saint Vincent Square in front of Saint Vicent Cathedral.

In spite of being the second town in Bourgogne/Burgundy, France, Chalon sur Saone does not receive the acclaim it deserves. It is by far the oldest city of importance in Bourgogne as its river harbor and markets date back centuries before the Rommans invaded Gaul.
Did you know that it is also the birthplace of photography where Nicephore Niepce invented the first camera and took the first picture ever?
It is also the best protected gastronomic treasure of France. Just visit the Rue de Strasbourg with its 30+ restaurants in the Saint Laurent island surrounded by the Saone River and taste the great wines of the Cote Chalonnaise!
It being a very compact city it is so easy to discover at a leisurely pace.
Here are some photos taken during my trip back home (this is my hometown!)!

The gothic Saint Vincent Cathedral.

There are many ways and routes to visit the city.
But I always start with the old town located very near the Saone River and just wander round and round often retracing my steps back as many more opportunities for photography offer themselves!

Some of the well-preserved facades are over 600 hundred years old!

You will discover the latest fashions inside cute boutiques under the same facades!

No need to go and spend millions in Paris!
There you will find and buy what French ladies (and gentlemen!) really wear and at more attractive prices!
Chalon sur Saone and its suburbs house more than 100,000 souls and some major industries such as Areva and so on, meaning it is a major stop along the paris-Lyon-Marseille route where many businessmen form all over the world have to meet!