Tag Archives: Shizuoka Prefecture

観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese fashion, Shizuoka, Tourism

Japanese Ladies fashion in Shizuoka 3: Knee Cap High Stockings!

April 19, 2012 dragonlife 3 Comments

typical black ensemble in Shizuoka City!

Knee cap high stockings are definitely the norm this year.
The colors are mostly black and beige with some variations in the latter.

Stockings are either just arriving at knne hight or completely above them.
Girls/ladies will wear the same stockings at different height depending upon their mood even withi a single hour!

The advantages of such a fashion are multiple:
They bring extra warmth and comfort in winter when they are worn in spite of the cold.
They can adjusted at different heights.
They are easy to complement with other clothes.
They also tend to “thin and extend” the legs!

Japanese girls like to walk in pairs and possibly wearing the same clothes.
They think they have a better chance to attract attention while not running the danger of being singled out. It is called “pair look” in Japan.
They always make a point to stop many times together to look more sexy!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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,

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!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japan, Japanese fashion, Shizuoka, Tourism, Uncategorized

Japanese Ladies Fashion In Shizuoka 2: FLORAISON

April 19, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Manager Sakura holding a 3.1 Philliplim skirt

As to answer requests in particular from Sissi, Quizoxy and Bena nDR in particular, I though it might be helpful to introduce the best fashion boutiques in Shizuoka as well!

FLORAISON in Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, is one of the boutiques owned by the very top fashion retailer in Shizuoka Prefecture, namely IMAIZUMI Co Ltd. (in Japanese, but have a look at the pictures!).

Staff Natsumi holding a CARVEN one-piece dress.

Although IMAIZUMI Co Ltd. as a whole covers all upscale fashion for all ages, FLORAISON specializes in elegance for adult ladies from young to not so young.
Their brand list, both made up of creations from famous houses and little-known small designers is impressive:
3.1 Philliplim
CARVEN
Sacai
MUVEIL
Ilian Ioeb
SEE BY CHLOE
SHARE SPIRIT
Marylin Moon
Athena NY and many others!

A small view of the dresses available.

FLORAISON was opened fairly recently in 2008 and has been looked after ever since by Sakura San, a young and ever-energetic manager.
Her BLOG is a must-see! Although written in Japanese it is a goldmine of photographs on fashion and gastronomy!

Elegant bags for career women and young ladies!

The boutique offers the whole gamut from shoes to bags, accessories and all imaginable clothing according to seasons!
Although the designers are quite stable their creations come and go quickly, so regular visits are on the calendar!

Their shoes are not only elegant but so practical!

And beautiful belts and scalves for the last touch!
Actually they also offer a very interesting range of original accessories, but I will have to take more photos!

FLORAISON
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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観光, Fashion, Fashionistas, Japanese fashion, Japanese Ladies Fashion, Shizuoka, Tourism, 流行

Japanese Ladies Fashion in Shizuoka 1: “Cutie” waiting inside the station

April 18, 2012 dragonlife 17 Comments

Sissi at With a Glass mentioned she would like to see more pictures of Japanese fashion, especially ladies, when she found one inserted in a report on a Japanese Festival!
I agreed it might interest quite a few people in spite of the title of this blog.
Mind you, it is a slightly risky job to take such pictures although a mobile phone camera is easier to use and less conspicuous than a real camera!
I don’t want to ask people to pose (unless they ask!), so I do have to be discreet and has too miss out a lot of great pictures!
Shizuoka is actually considered the hardest Prefecture to sell in Japan and it is a constant trial area for the big Tokyo companies. “If you sell in Shizuoka, you sell everywhere!” has become a proverb in Japanese fashion.
The weather being mild all year round fashion is easy to wear here although Shizuoka Fashionistas are vain and fashion slaves to the point of wearing long booots on the 1st of September even if it 35 degrees outside!
I am not inerested in taking pictures of anorexic and obese fashionistas (I wouls have to start another blog!) who have no sense of balance or harmony either!
Let’s hope I do not get arrested in my efforts to discover some cute ladies to show you!

I called this particular picture,[ “Cutie” waiting inside the station], as “cutie” is a fashion genre indeed. The young lady (18+?) above is not a complete “cutie” with frills in hair and the like, but the socks and the skirt definitely are.
I must admit she is actually quite cute!

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美食, Drinks, 観光, 農業, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism

Food & Drink Bloggers in Japan (Spring 2012)

April 10, 2012 dragonlife 8 Comments

The number of foreigners and Japanese nationals who write about the food and drinks in Japan in English (or at least answer comments in English) has remarkably increased lately.
I thought it was about time to start some kind of round-up to help people discover these deserving foodies and their blogs!The list below is far from exhaustive, but I’m planning to update and announce it regularly!
Of course if you know more foodies residing in Japan, do please direct them to me and I will introduce them gladly!

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Cooking with Mama Miyuki in Sendai
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Watch Japan in Tokyo
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with Dominic Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscenec in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonbayashi in Shizuoka City!
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu, shizuoka Prefecture
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture
A Modern Girl from Niigata and all over Japan!

KANSAI TRIBE
(Western Japan: Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Kyoto, Wakayama)
Yellin Yakimono Gallery by Robert Yellin in Shizuoka Prefecture, just moved to Kyoto!
Colorfood Daidokoro in Osaka (Englis & French)
Dominique Corby In Osaka (in French, but can answer and read in English)
Nagaijin in Osaka
Kyoto Foodie in Kyoto
Our Adventures in Japan by K and S Minoo in Osaka
Japan Food Addict by Mai in Kyoto

CHUGOKU
(“Central Country”: Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi)
Get Hiroshima Blog in Hiroshima
The Wide Island Review, The JET Programme Webzine Of Hiroshima Prefecture (includes food & drink articles)

SHIKOKU
(Shikoku Island: Kagawa, Kochi, Ehime, Tokushima)
Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony in Kochi Prefecture
Still Clumsy With Chopsticks in Kochi Prfecture (Continuation of Obachan’s Kitchen & Garden Balcony)
Rocking in Hakata by Deas Richardson

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Finding Fukuoka
Food from Fukuoka, Kyushu and Japan by Fumiko Soda
Fukuoka Sake Guide by Daisuke Ito

OKINAWA
(Okinawa Archipelago)
HWN Pake in Okinawa in Chatan, Okinawa
I’m sorry to say that Nate has just passed away and that his blog has disappeared, but I’ll keep it there as it is in his memory!
Dojo Bar in Naha
Eating Okinawa
Okinawa Hai!
Total Okinawa

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Earthquake, 農業, Food, Japan, Radioactivity, Shizuoka, Tourism

Fukushima: The Aftermath

March 8, 2012 dragonlife 12 Comments

Next Sunday will see the anniversary of another catastrophe which happened on the 11th day of a month, namely the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami also called 東日本大震災 in Japanese which wrecked havoc on the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Fukushima prefecture.

A lot has been said, written, filmed and argued about it, but only recently the true images of this sad event are emerging.

I live in Shizuoka City in supposedly the most dangerous zone in Japan when it comes to earthquakes and tsunamis and I have been living through a few of them for the nearly 36 years I have spent in this region, arguably one of the richest in Japan.

ABOUT THE MEDIA COVERAGE

I had just arrived in New Caledonia when the earthquake struck.
The pictures and videos shown on French were that of an apocalypse and repeated at nauseam. Frankly speaking, I believed it was the end of Shizuoka until I noticed in small letters on the screen that Miyagi Prefecture had been hit instead.
We called relatives in Shizuoka who answered that although they did feel the tremors there was no danger there.
Fortunately we had come to New Caledonia through the Kanku (Osaka) Airport, so coming back to Japan was not a problem.
On the other hand the situation at Haneda and Narita Airports was hectic to say the least.
As soon as we arrived some expats asked me why I came back… “Sorry, mate, but this is my home!”…
Naturally the media, Japanese and foreign, were in a frenzy with contradicting, when not outrageously inept reports.
I lost most of my respect and trust for the TV media in particular when I saw Alain de Calvron, a “senior and most respected” reporter for TV Channel France 2 reporting “live” on Fukushima from Osaka (750 km away!) from second or third hand news…!
The media had a scoop and they were going to make the most of it…

THE EMBASSIES REACTION

Of course I found my mail box bombarded with all kinds of messages…
The French Embassy was urging me no less than to evecuate Shizuoka Prefecture (450 km away from Fukushima…) and possibly either momentarily move west or even back home. I was informed that some plane seats were being readied (at a price…) by the French Embassy in case I wished to go back home. I found later that the 900 French nationals who left were for the most related to the staff of the French Embassy…
On the other hand, we were ceaselessly told that volunteers at the Embassy were working like heroes to ensure the safety of their compatriots and their families…
Later when things calmed down and people started realizing that all was not as relatively bad as some people would make us believe, the French Embassador announced officially on TV, Internet media and in personal messages that he and the Embassy should not be held responsible for the panic shown by many French nationals as they had only advised their compatriots to take precautions…
I will not say anythiong about the other Embassies here, or I would have to write a book!

THE PEOPLE OF TOHOKU

Tohoku people are hardy, and most probably the hardiest people in the Japan Archipelago, and their sheer tenacity, courage, resilience and toughness saved the day for the Japanese Government which is still dragging its feet…
I saw more people crying visiting the region than tears on the Tohoku citizens7 faces.
Had it been Tokyo with its large expat community and commuters it would been hell on earth…
We tend to forget what happened during the Great Kansai Earthquake in Kobe when people were seen setting fire to their houses to claim insurance money… Tohoku people are Japanese, but they are also an example for the whole of their country who should take heed in these days of easy life…
As I said the Government was and still is found wanting, but a lot of help came from citizens, Japanese and foreign alike, people who understood the pressing needs of struck fellow humans. I know many Pakistani and Indian and other Asian citizens from near and who immediately travelled by their own means to Fukushima and other struck areas to bring and cook food for free. Dominique Corby, the owner of Michelin-starred 6eme Sens Restaurant in Tokyo summoned help from his fellow chefs and also organised much-needed food on site. I had the occasion to talk to him later and he told me he couldn’t stop crying… he is presently organising an enormous Charity Dinner in Tokyo this month.

My good friend Pat at Think Twice is adding the following comment which I find poignantly to the poiint!
-The hardships of the people of Tohoku continue. Many thousands will probably never be able to return to their homes, and so many families have lost loved ones. The unimaginable sorrow experienced by so many people will be with them all their lives. The tireless work of the local people including city officials, medical staff, the police and firefighters, and even the SDF, continues despite the infighting and inaction of the national government. And there have been so many volunteers from all around the country trying to help in their own way. Help is still needed. Some towns were so devastated that they were faced with the equivalent of 20 years of garbage generated in one hour.
The situation in Tohoku remains bleak, but we can often see the children of Tohoku on TV programs, and there appears to be a sense of pride, a sense of strength in the new generation, many children seem mature beyond their years. It will take one or two generations before Tohoku is restored, but its future is in good hands

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS

Unfortunately there is not much I can say about that!
Kan (“No, he can’t!), the Prime Minister at the time (who was only too happy to pass the hand later), completely panicked to the point of telling all that his studies at University had not trained him to deal with such an occurence!
He left all comments, answers and actions to his subordinates with the express orders not to panic anyone by telling the truth… You should read what some well-informed magazines are at last uncovering about the guilty reaction of the government!
And during that time mayors and public servants who had lost families, friends and colleagues in the struck areas were trying hard to bring solace to their citizens…

TEPCO/TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY

A lot has been said about the sheer criminality of this Government-subsidized and protected private company.
A sole example should convince one and all that the people in charge of such a company should be jailed for life:
The wall surrounding/protecting the Fukushima Nuclear Plants was erected 5 meters lower than contracted to save money!

NUCLEAR RADIOACTIVITY

Of course (again), many foreign governments and “NPO’s” were quick to seize the opportunity in their endeavors to cease all producing public electricity with nuclear energy. I will not discuss whether nuclear energy is needed or not and will not answer comments pertaining to it. On the other hand, I would like to point out a few things to set the record straight:
-Since the advent of Chernobyl (and Three Mile Island) the Japanese Government had set the limit for acceptable radioactivity to 500 becquerels.
-European countries were adopting a higher limit of 1,800 becquerels until Fukushima when they hurriedly lowered their numbers to conform with the Japanese standards…
-The Japanese Government will set the limit to 100 becquerels for food this month. What is going to happen if the Japanese Customs decide to check all imported food?…
-Where does Germany buys its own electricity from?
-The Japanese have started drilling methane hydrate off their shores for a promising new source of energy while closing all nuclear plants. Unfortunately, there are such exploitable deposits only in Japan, Siberia, Canada and Gabon, and Japan is the only country capable of exploiting it so far…

HERE IN SHIZUOKA

As I said above Shizuoka Prefecture is considered the most earthquake and tsunami prone region in Japan and the only equipped with an official early-warning and research seismic center.
Shimada City and the Shizuoka Prefecture Government were the first this month to volunteer to burn debris from the affected areas in Tohoku first as a test case. If this proves to be a safe endeavor, it will continue on an accelerated basis.

THE GOOD NEWS: YES!

Cruise finds Fukushima pollution: Good News-Sea radiation levels near Fukushima are not harmful, by Jonathan Amos of the BBC!

Just found this article written by Jonathan Amos for the BBC

Marine organisms were collected for evaluation

Radioactive elements from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant have been detected in seawater and marine organisms up to 600km from Japan.

But the scientists who made the discovery stress the natural radioactivity of seawater dwarfs anything seen in their samples.

The results come from a research cruise in June last year led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

The initial findings were presented to the biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting.

“Just because we can measure radioactivity doesn’t mean it’s harmful,” WHOI’s Ken Buesseler told the gathering in Salt Lake City.

“There’s a pretty good news story in here – that the levels [of radioactivity] offshore are not of significance to human health in terms of exposure, or even if you were to eat the seafood offshore,” he added.

CONTINUE HERE>>>
—————————————————————————————————————-
This is unfortunately a very short commentary on this event concerning all, but I sincerely hope it has brought a few needed precisions and contributed to the truth.

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Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India
Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London
Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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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Bento, 美食, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, 農業, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Tourism

Bento designed by Gentil Restaurant, Shizuoka, at the 2nd Mt. Fuji Network Forum!

March 3, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

The 2nd Mt. Fuji Network Forum was being held at Grandship on the 2nd and 3rd of March 2012 for an international seminar on children with congenital heart diseases.
As Ms. Keiko Kubota, Chef at Restaurant Gentil, had devised a bento for the participants using exclusively products of Shizuoka Prefecture I deemed it of great interest!

Granship really looks a ship!

The official event board organised by Shizuoka Children’s Hospital!

A room had been specially designated to promote some Shizuoka Products!

Extravagant strawberries from Fujieda City!

Shizuoka Matcha Chocolates by Gentil!

Azuki wagashi cakes by Shimmizuya in Shimada City!

Yummy!

Mr. Shiratori, the 16th generation of the oldest wasabi growing family in Japan, in Utogi, Shizuoka City!

Famous green tea from Kawane!

Crafts of Shizuoka including geta!

Handcrafted book covers!

Yamabuki Nadeshiko Organic Health Tea by Osada Tea Factory in Mori Machi!

Real flowers including cherry blossoms!

The doctors havin a break and waiting for their bentos coming all the way from Yui!

The water served at the seminar came from the Tenkei Source in Ryuugagandou, Hinasa Machi, Hamamatsu City!

The bento box/lunch box!

Even the chopsticks came from Shizuoka, namely in Tenryu, Hamamatsu City!

Pamphlets introducing the contents in Japanese and English had been readied!

The picture was hand-drawn by Ms. Keiko Kubota!

Alright, what did we have?
All Shizuoka products, even the rice and salt!

Cherry shrimps/Sakura ebi steamed rice!

Hanpen, oden, carrot, konyaku, rape flowers and hijiki seaweed!

Tempura: Sweet potato, horse mackerel, green pepper and Sakura ebi/sakura shrimps!

Kamaboko/steamed fish paste, tamagoyaki/Japanese omelet, spinach hitashi and tomato!

A very healthy lunch for doctors!

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Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London
Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Cuisine

Japanese Gastronomy: Himono/干物-Dried Fish

February 27, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

How many people outside Shizuoka Prefecture know that half (yes, half!) of all dried fish are caught and processed in our Prefecture, notably along the shores of the Izu Peninsula?
When will i convince everyone that Shizuoka Prefecture is THE true gastronomic region of Japan? LOL
To those guys living in Tokyo, may I remind them that Mount Fuji, Izu Peninsula and wasabi are all in Shizuoka Prefecture? Please someone stop me! (Would you belive I have been challenged on the veracity of the last?)

I chose a fish called “isaki” or “Chicken Grunt” (who came up with that English name?) that is quite common on our shores.
The recipe naturally applies to loads of fish!

CLEANING THE FISH:

Using a strong short sharp knife (the Japanese use the same knife to cut and gut medium size fish), first get rid of the scales as much as possible.
Wash once under running clear cold water.
Cut along the back (not the belly! very important) from the tail to the head as shown on above picture deeply enough to reach the main bone.

Once the knife has cut all along the back and reached the head, cut the head in half along the same cutting line.
The head of a isaki being small it is quite easy. It might require some strength for bigger head fish like seabreams. Call the MOTH then! (not the moths, the “Man”! LOL).

Open the fish and continue cutting in half all the way through.

Take out all innards carefully so as not having them getting in contact with the flesh!
Depending upon the season, you might be lucky to get male sperm sacks (shirako). Don’t throw that away. They are great simmered with soy sauce, mirin/sweet sake, japanese sake and chili pepper! (see pic below).

Open the fish and clean it under running clear cold water.
Take water off with some kitchen paper or a clean piece of cloth.
Sprinkle with salt and dry outside under the sun until it has reached a nice aspect. You could also smoke it.
It can be preserved inside an airtight plastic bag and frozen, although eaten quickly it will taste so much better!

The Japanese grill their himono/dried fish pasted with a little soy sauce or tare. Beautiful with beer!

Great also grilled with a little salt!

If grilled with salt don’t forget the freshly grated daikon (and lemon juice, and soy sauce…)

The male sperm sacs (shirako) make for a great snack with your beer or sake once simmered in soy sauce, mirin/sweet sake and Japanese sake (and a little chili pepper)!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, 47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities, 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,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, 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,
Susan at Arkonlite, 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,

Must-see tasting websites:

美食, 観光, Gastronomes, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Gastronomy, Restaurants, Tourism

Food & Drink Bloggers in Japan (Winter 2012)

February 24, 2012 dragonlife 4 Comments

HOKKAIDO TRIBE
(Hokkaido Island)
Meishu no Yutaka by Carlin

TOHOKU TRIBE
(Northeastern Japan: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Slow Food From Japan by Nigel Fodgen in Miyagi Prefecture.

KANTO TRIBE
Watch Japan in Tokyo
(Eastern Japan: Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa)
Little Japan Mama in Tokyo
Japan Eats (featured on request)
47 Japanese Farms Through The Eyes of Its Rural Communities By Sara and Roshni in Tokyo
Eating Out in Tokyo with Dominic Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass by Melinda Joe in Tokyo
Tokyo Foodcast by Etsuko Nakamura in Tokyo
Sake World by John Gauntner in Tokyo: The inernational Reference for Japanese Sake!
Tokyo Terrace by Rachael in Tokyo
Gaijin Tonic in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture
Nonjatta by Chris Bunting in Tokyo
The Soul Of Japan in Kanagawa Prefecture
Sake, kimono and Tabi In Tokyo
Tokyo Kawai, Etc… in Tokyo
Blue Lotus in Tokyo
The Japanese Food Report by Harris Salat in Tokyo
The Sake Chronicles in Tokyo
Watashi to Tokyo by Mari Kanazawa in Tokyo
Japanese Food-Food Lover’s Guide by Yukari Yamamoto in Tokyo
Gaijin Life by a Canadian gentleman in Tokyo
Leo’s Japan Food Blog in Tokyo
Eating Out In Tokyo With Jon
Fugu Tabetai in Tokyo
Japan Style in Tokyo
COCO’s Oriental Kitchen by angela Cooper in Tokyo
Free Online Japanese Food Recipes in Tokyo
Reminiscenec in Tokyo
Cooking Japanese Style By Naoko, in Tokyo

CHUBU TRIBE
(Central Japan: Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi)
Good Beer & Country Boys in Aichi Prefecture
Damonde Life by Matt Ryan in Hamamatsu & Enshu
Mangantayon in Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka Gourmet, Shizuoka Sake, Shizuoka Sushi, Shizuoka Shochu in Shizuoka Prefecture
Bryan Baird’s Beer & Brewery in Numazu in Shizuoka Prefecture

KYUSHU
(Kyushu Island: Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima)
Not yet!

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Izakaya: Dinner at Uzu In Shizuoka City! (Winter 2012)

February 23, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kan sawara/寒鰆/Winter Spanish Mackerel Sashimi!

Service: Excellent and very friendly. Very Japanese atmosphere.
Facilities: Excellent washroom facilities. Great cleanliness overall
Prices: reasonable.
Strong Points: Great sake from Shizuoka and Japan Great Shochu. Home-made umeshu. Mainly local products, especially organic vegetables.

Izakaya are the best places to visit in Japan if you wish to know and taste local food and products.
Naturally they come at different prices and levels, but here in Shizuoka it is a true embarrassment of choices!
We are lucky to have recently moved near arguably the best izakaya in Shizuoka Prefecture, Uzu, so it is only a question of visiting it regularly for a dinner of Shizuoka (and elsewhere) specialties!

It is located away from the busy center of town and not easy to find, although really famous!
The day’s specialties are always announced in calligraphy outside!

Some of the great sakes waiting for you inside!

Uzu!

A beautiful noren/暖簾/entrance curtain!

The snack coming with the first drink!
For once we sat at the counter in front of the kitchen!

While the Missus had her wine I ordered a 5-sake sampling set! You can choose your sakes when ordering such a set!

Most of the earthenware used for serving are locally made!

likewise for individual plates and bowls!

The sashimi is always superlative in Uzu.
So what did we order?

Kan sawara/寒鰆/Winter Spanish Mackerel Sashimi!
This is a difficult fish to find in Shizuoka Prefecture and Uzu serves one a year. We were surely lucky!

For a closer look!
It was served slightly seared for more savors!

Rainbow Trout from Kunugi Rainbow Trout Farm in Fujinomiya City!

For a closer look!
So tender and served with grated wasabi from Umegashima, up the Abe River in Shizuoka City!

After the sashimi it was time to sample some meat!
Mangenton pork cutlets with plenty of chopped leeks!

The pork from Sanoman Co in Fujinomiya City is served as deep-fried cutlets!
I know a lot of friends abroad who would jump in the sea for that!

Uzu always serves extraordinary local organic vegetables: Giant burdock (oura gobo) roots chips salad!

This burdock comes from Matsuki Bio Farm in Fujinomiya City!

We followed this with a vegetable of the sea: Mozuku/水雲、海蘊、藻付、海雲/an edible weed that comes by the name of Cladosiphon okamuranus

A very thick variety from Okinawa!!

We were still a bit hungry and opted to order the Giant Hokke!
Hokke/法華 goes by the unusual name of Arabesque Greenling and comes from Hokkaido! Ours was a truly enormous sample!

Grilled to perfection, it is savored with grated daikon, soy asuce and lime!
It certainly needed the two of us to finish it!

To be continued…

UZU
Shizuoka City, Otowa-cho, 3-18
Tel.: 054-249-6262
Business hours: 17:00=23:00
Closed on Mondays and first Tuesday
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Cruise finds Fukushima pollution: Good News-Sea radiation levels near Fukushima are not harmful, by Jonathan Amos of the BBC!

February 23, 2012 dragonlife Leave a comment

Just found this article written by Jonathan Amos for the BBC

Marine organisms were collected for evaluation

Radioactive elements from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant have been detected in seawater and marine organisms up to 600km from Japan.

But the scientists who made the discovery stress the natural radioactivity of seawater dwarfs anything seen in their samples.

The results come from a research cruise in June last year led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI).

The initial findings were presented to the biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting.

“Just because we can measure radioactivity doesn’t mean it’s harmful,” WHOI’s Ken Buesseler told the gathering in Salt Lake City.

CONTINUE HERE>>>

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Eel Restaurant “Atsumi” in Hamamatsu City!

February 22, 2012 dragonlife 2 Comments

Shiroyaki Unagi

Service: traditional and friendly
Facilities: old-fashioned but clean
Prices: Slightly expensive (“real” eels are expensive anywhere in Japan!)
Strong points: True traditional Japanese eel restaurant.

Hamamatsu City is famous all over Japan for some of its large companies (Yamaha, Kawai, etc) but it also known all over the country for one of its gastronomic specialties, eel, or unagi/鰻!
Eels have been a favorite food in that City for untold ages to the point that they have developed different competing “schools” as pertains to its preparation!

One of the most celebrated restaurants is Atsumi in Naka Ku, the downtown area.
Even in freezing weather customers form a queue a long time before they open for lunch!

It was first opened in 1907!
The English and Japanese noren/entrance curtain proves it is also popular with expats!

Be it downstairs or upstairs, it looks venerable indeed!

Only the signs are modern!

Very traditional surroundings. Old fashioned but clean, the more for it that the establishment is entirely non-smoking!

These critters will end up in our plates and bowls!

The Missus ordered “Kabayaki/蒲焼 style” set. The eels are dipped into “tare/sauce” while being grilled over charcoal.
The tare makes the difference, and it is a good indication of the proficiency of the chef!

The Missus ordered it with some tare on the rice, too.

I ordered the “shiroyaki/白焼き lunch set”.
Shiro stands for white, and yaki for grilled.
Shiroyaki means that no tare was applied on the eel while being grilled.

But I ordered it on top of rice seasoned with tare for perfect balance!

The great thing about shiroyaki style is that you can season each piece of eel with grated garlic, ginger, onion or wasabi before savoring it!

The liver/kimo” of the same fish is served in a clear and delicious soup!

And they always serve a Shizuoka fruit for dessert!
In this case muskmelon!

Eel Restaurant ATSUMI
430-0934 Hamamamtsu Shi, Naka Ku, Chitose Machi, 70
Opening hours: 11:30~13:40, 17:15~19:30 (could close earlier if run out of eels!)
Closed on Wednesdays (with two more holidays either on Tusdays or Thursdays. Reserve beforehand anyway!)
Reservations highly recommended
Credit Cards OK
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)
Entirely non-smoking!

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Japanese Traditional Local Festivals: 5th Annual Miwa Cherry Blossoms Festival in Shizuoka City!

February 20, 2012 dragonlife 19 Comments

Recent times have seen a revival of local festivals in Japan, especially in the rural areas, probably because people wanted to forget the sluggish economy and come back to more basic social gatherings after long years spent away in dehumanizing cities.
My good friend Neil had mentioned that his neighborhood in Miwa was organizing their 5th Annual Sakura Festival yesterday so I rode my bicycle for a good 45 minutes from home till the other side of the Abe River in Shizuoka City!

I left my bicycle at Neil’s place and walked till the Miwa Primary School where I found this banner announcing the Cherry Blossoms Festival!

For once that the weather was fine I walked on the causeway along the Abe River.

It is still winter and the water was pretty dry in all senses of the word!

I finally espied the site!

The Festival has been scheduled on the 3rd Sunday of February whatever the conditions or weather.
Unfortunately the last three weeks have witnessed unseasonal cold and the early-blooming Kawazu Cherry Trees had not blossomed yet!

For a closer view!

On the other hand the Japanese plum trees were still very much in flowers!

And the kumquats were everywhere for a picking!

We are full in leek season! Great to fight colds!

Plenty of beautiful colors to be found in private gardens!

But someone had made sure we had some cherry blossoms on site!

Neil had been designated as the sound engineer of the event!

You can’t have a festival in Japan without drums!

I wonder what those fox masks are for!

Robust ladies!

Oranges and tea on sale!
Notice the “dustbins”!

The site was small but certainly crowded!

Local bonsai on sale!

Local farmers selling their produce!

What are they preparing here?

Tonjiru soup for free!
Very thoughtful of the organizers!

Ashikubo Green Tea!

Sweet dango/balls!

Boxed lunches and wagashi cakes!

Chirashizushi bento!
All bentos are really home-made before put on sale!

Okonomiyaki!

Grilled sausages!

Deep-fried sweetmeat buns!

Yakisoba!

Candy Floss!

Grilled mochi cakes!

Local Benihoppe strawberries!

Home-made umeboshi!

They even had a small flea market!

Oden!

Dorayaki!

Very traditional dance!

Another very traditional dance!

And very traditional drinking!

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Izu Peninsula Hot Springs Resort: Hotel Isaba in Heda!

December 4, 2011 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: A bit stiff but friendly and attentive
Facilities: A bit old-fashioned but clean. Excellent hotspring bathroom
Prices: Expensive
Strong points: Excellent private hotspring bathroom and open-air hotspring bath with great view on the sea. Excellent breakfast
Overall: 72/100

The best time to check in a hotel in Heda is at sunset when you can admire the sinking sun over the horizon from your windows!

It is the more striking when you squid fishing boat cutting the sea under a sinking flaming orb!

Hotel Isaba is one of the most popular hotspring resort hotels in Heda, Izu Peninsula, thanks to its location overlooking the great sea expanses.
One can choose a room Japanese-style or Western-style.

The hotel is a bit kitsch and definitely from another age but comfortable with all amenities.

The better rooms have a nice, if small, kind of terrace opened onto a great sea landscape.

Cozy place to enjoy a drink or a book in summer!

The private hotspring bath, small by Western standards is big and deep enough for two adults!

Like the terrace it opens onto a sea landscape particularly striking at dusk and dawn!

The dinner served inside your room over a table large enough for 4 adults is a big affair!

Complimentary home-made blueberry aperitif.

Live abalone you grill by yourself after listening to the maid’s instructions!

It’s dancing over the fire!

Chyawanmushi/Japanese hot salted pudding and Japanese pickles.

Mishima Pork shabu shabu.

Varied appetizers.

Sashimi plate from Suruga Bay!

Italian-style lobster.

Simmered “Medai” seabream and taro.

“Menuke” fish Sautee.

Plenty of rice and miso soup!

And dessert!

The specialty of the house: Suruga Bay sea-salt sorbet!

Wake up early enough in the morning to enjoy a great ocean view!

And catch the sight of the returning squid fishing boats!

And then first pay a visit to the large hotspring bath on top of the hotel!

Don’t forget to scrub yourself before taking a dip!

Large bay windows will allow you to enjoy a great view again at the same time.

But your hotspring experience will not be complete with another body-relaxing dip in the “rotenburo/open-air bath” outside the main bathroom whatever the season or weather!

A great souvenir picture!

Breakfast is simply enormous and should last you half a day!

And very healthy too with local ingredients!

Seaweed soup.

Horse mackerel from Suruga Bay.

All kinds of tidbits to accompany the rice, and a little dessert.

Tamagoyaki, Sweet and sour tofu, pickles and crab miso soup.

And plenty of rice, the traditional way!

HOTEL ISABA
400-3402, Shizuoka Ken, Numazu Shi, Heda, Bihama Kaigan, 3878-20
Tel.: 0558-94-3048
Fax: 558-94^4270
HOMEPAGE (Japanese)

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Deep-sea Fish Restaurant: Uoshige in Heda, Izu Peninsula!

October 30, 2011 dragonlife 4 Comments

Service: Very friendly and family-style
Equipment: Old and basic. This is real rural Japan!
Prices: Reasonable
Strong points: Deep-sea gastronomy!

Heda is real rural Japan but it has so many merits making it a must visit in Izu Peninsula:
The small but very efficient Heda Tourism Office will provide you with all kinds of information including the full list of restaurants serving the real local food!
And the local food includes a true local specialty: deep-sea fish!

Some time ago the locals decided to create their own brand of “hanpen/はんぺん/fish patty with the deep-fish caught in their nets chasing other fish. Throwing back these fish into the sea was simply stupid waste and unecological. Some of them found their way on the plates in the form of succulent and rare sashimi or deep-fried fish but the rest were minced and mixed with local vegetables into patties to be first deep-fried into “hedatoro hanpen/ヘダトロはんぺん/Heda Fish Patties before being served cold or heated! The other reason, would you believe, was to find a way to have children eat vegetables! These Hedatoro Hanpen of course are made in every home according to individual recipes!

We decided to visit Uoshige among the 8 recommended restaurants because we found that it was a meeting point popular with bikers who come in great numbers to enjoy the roads and views of Izu Peninsula!

Live Takaashigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crabs in the aquarium just as you enter the establishment!

Poster of the local deep sea food served according to seasons!

I ordered deep-sea fish sashimi set lunch!
All meals are served with “shiokara/塩辛/preserved salted squid”, but they were kind enough to serve my lunch without it as this is one of the very rare foods in Japan that don’t agree with me!

Freshly steamed rice and beautiful miso soup full of local seaweed!

The sashimi that you will not find anywhere else!
On the left very tender, “Mehikari or Torobchi/めひかり・トロボチ/Brighteye” and on the right both tender and crispy with fine soft bones, “Megisu/めぎす/Large-eye Sillago”!

“Mehikari or Torobochi/めひかり・トロボチ/Brighteye”!

“Megisu/めぎす/Large-eye Sillago”!

The Hedatoro Hanpen/Heda Deep-Sea Fish Patties!

They even have a leaflet all over town introducing the 10 restaurants and shops serving/selling them!

Uoshige’s patties are arguably the most celebrated as many TV Channels came all the way to report on them. Very light, tender, healthy and so yummy!

These patties are also made with “Mehikari or Torobchi/めひかり・トロボチ/Brighteye” and “Megisu/めぎす/Large-eye Sillago”!

Tofu, o-shinko/Japanese pickles and local mandarine to finish!

The Missus had the enormous Tendon/天丼/Tempura Bowl Lunch Set.
I did have to help her finish it!
Can you see the shiokara/塩辛/preserved salted squid in front…

Her very generous tempura consisted of large prawns/kuruma ebi/車海老 and two other deep sea fish:

Gehou/げほう, or officially Toujin/トウジン/Caelorinchus japonicus (Temminnck and Schlegel)!

Donko/どんこ, or officially Nodoguro/のどぐろ/ I could not find the Latin name, rare as it is!

Succulent little monsters that many a Japanese wouldn’t mind crossing the country to taste!

If I have not convinced you yet to visit Heda, look forward to more articles very soon!

UOSHIGE SHOKUDOU/魚重食堂
Heda, Numazu Shi, Shizuoka ken (in front of the bus stop and Tourism Information Bureau)
Tel.: 0558-94-2381
Business hours: 11:00~15:00, 17:00~19:00 (Snack open on the 2F from 19:30)
Closed on Tuesdays
Smoking allowed

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Shizuoka Seafood: Heda Fishmarket in Izu Peninsula!

October 29, 2011 dragonlife 2 Comments

Although a small village, not even a city as it is part of enlarged Numazu City, Heda in the north west of Izu Peninsula is nonetheless a major shipping harbor in Shizuoka Prefecture with more than 1,400 years of officially-recorded history!
It is the only place where for example you still can see live Takaashigani/高足蟹/Japanese spider crab, the largest crab in the world!

Yesterday I had the occasion to visit the Heda Fishermen Cooperative Direct Sales Fishmarket/戸田漁協直売所.
It is not big as more than 95% of the fish and seafood caught in Suruga Bay by the fishing boats of Heda will at once been dispatched far and away (especially Tokyo!). But at least that little establishment gives you an idea of what beauties are caught in the vicinity!

Let’s have a good look at what we have here…

Enormous te-naga ebi/手長海老/Scampi/Gambas!

Megisu/目鱚/a variety of sillago found in very deep sea, a specialty of the region!

Aka ika/赤烏賊/Red squids caught overnight! I actually saw the boats coming back home!

Madai/真鯛/True Seabreams!

Kawahagi/カワハギ/Threadsail Filefish/Leatherjackets, a most underestimated delicacy!

Budai/ブダイ/Calotomus japonicus (Valenciennes) and Kasago/カサゴ/False kelpfish; Marbled rockfish (smaller one)!

Ridiculously low prices for such fresh beauties!

Warasa/ワラサ/Young Japanese Amberjack!

Kinmedai/金目鯛/Spledid Alfonsino, a top-class fish on Tokyo tables!

More warasa at ridiculous prices!

Takahasigani/高足蟹/Japanese Spider Crab! A small one, although it already reaches almost a meter from leg tip to leg tip!

Sazae/サザエ/Turbo shells! Another expensive delicacy on Tokyo tables!

Live Iseebi/伊勢海老/Spiny lobsters!

Izu Peninsula is celebrated for its extravagant salt: Ida Shio/井田塩 gathered in Ida near Heda!

Top-class nori/のり/seaweed!

Izu Peninsula produces half of all sun-dried fish and seafood/Himono/干物 in Japan!
Aji no Himono/鯵の干物/Dried Horse Mackerel!

Kinmedai Himono from Heda! Again ridiculously low-priced!

Saba Himono from Heda/鯖/Mackerel!

And this is only one of many reasons to visit Heda!

Access: Go down at Mishima JR Station, take the local train/Izu hakone Line to Shyuzenji at the local station just beside the Mishima Station Entrance (30 minutes, 510 yen). Take a bus from Shyuzenji Station to Heda, terminal No 6 (54 minutes, 1,000 yen)

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