tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47626147427992562162024-02-20T17:17:38.589-08:00Nihon 85My 85 days in Japan (^-^)/Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-32528954129715203672011-03-19T06:52:00.000-07:002011-03-19T06:52:58.518-07:00Post earhquake updateDear all,<br />
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My 85-days in Japan were cut short of two weeks due to the tragedy of the earthquake and tsunami. After much thought I decided to come home early and now I am now home in NY in the company of my husband, reflecting on everything that has happened in Japan. <br />
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Even though I am now physically in NY, my heart is still in Japan.<br />
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Over the two months that I stayed in Japan I fell in love with the country and with its people. My love is now coupled with deep admiration and respect of their shared humanity. Its all in the details of how they have coped with this tragedy. For example, the shelves in the convenience store in my town had no food or water, yet nobody looted or took advantage of the elderly couple that was selling vegetables next door.<br />
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If any of you got to enjoy or love Japan through this blog, I urge you to donate some money to the <a href="http://www.redcross.org/">Red Cross</a> or <a href="http://www.americares.org/whatwedo/emergency/japan/japan-earthquake-tsunami.html">AmeriCares</a> to help bring much needed provisions to the disaster victims. Even the smallest amount will help.<br />
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My thoughts and prayers are with Japan.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-76758531932910922402011-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:002011-03-06T22:13:23.332-08:00Weddings at Meiji JinguWhile Natalie was here, he spent a lovely morning at Meiji Jingu, the Shinto temple dedicated to emperor Meiji. In my previous visits to Japan this temple has always been incredibly crowded. This time, we visited the temple during low season and it was so pleasant and peaceful. Here are some selected pictures:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIaURySx2waPgOS1LHvVmJviZe6tiHjWEW1kZkta95hnbO-GtnRpdwv8WmAy4YXpViEkYL6lTljatovSBjM0Swvz61xw8Crf4rE2yYzmFUlmY-CIfDCrf6zCfdMROZWQ5zUhhlMyrfXU/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIaURySx2waPgOS1LHvVmJviZe6tiHjWEW1kZkta95hnbO-GtnRpdwv8WmAy4YXpViEkYL6lTljatovSBjM0Swvz61xw8Crf4rE2yYzmFUlmY-CIfDCrf6zCfdMROZWQ5zUhhlMyrfXU/s400/IMG_1914.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So quiet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardening tools on Temple Grounds</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishes left as Meiji Jingu</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We went to Meiji Jingu on a Saturday so we got to see many Japanese weddings taking place. It was so beautiful and different to Western weddings. Here are some more pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rfwCPa2RouDh2DPOmSlvLdQGFUcmNVRVV4UJ8H3uOegoImmyNkn5jBw-rgNYfVvg7PtBLW4XxUg7dlDNpDkAcDba9fzBbZxiRim8RmXcYqGUWqkH6InZwO6FcIglSVC22YNUtGN8ZuI/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rfwCPa2RouDh2DPOmSlvLdQGFUcmNVRVV4UJ8H3uOegoImmyNkn5jBw-rgNYfVvg7PtBLW4XxUg7dlDNpDkAcDba9fzBbZxiRim8RmXcYqGUWqkH6InZwO6FcIglSVC22YNUtGN8ZuI/s400/IMG_1921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedding Guests</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4hJhYPItUX8inok_oUDT1LWuJyWUJCBouW56OyL_BCnPtUsnkz5j9z_4vBD2BZS-X-P6DcuZjX6iuGWuNXem_K8t5Kvy0VgqcbLpU4fBlVn8AoolsUqIfewJbkWd6ZWxpxnGZRlnOGY/s1600/IMG_1941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4hJhYPItUX8inok_oUDT1LWuJyWUJCBouW56OyL_BCnPtUsnkz5j9z_4vBD2BZS-X-P6DcuZjX6iuGWuNXem_K8t5Kvy0VgqcbLpU4fBlVn8AoolsUqIfewJbkWd6ZWxpxnGZRlnOGY/s400/IMG_1941.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-83052918253666683382011-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:002011-03-04T09:00:47.519-08:00Sugamo: Harajuku for granniesWe had a guest speaker in marketing class that gave a lecture about Sugamo Bank. To make the long story short, we learned that Sugamo is a section of Tokyo nicknamed "Harajuku for Grannies" because the elderly come to visit this area.<br />
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Grannies and gandpas walk around a street called Jizo-Dori, named after the nearby temple that has a famous Jizo (a statue of a bodhisattva). Jizo-dori caters to these older Japanese folks and it gets particularly busy on the 4th, 14th and 24th of every month (auspicious days for older people). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jizo-Dori, Sugamo</td></tr>
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So why would I want to go hang out among the geriatric? Very simple, the professor told us that on these 3 dates of the month a lot of traditional food stalls open up to cater to the traditional tastes of the older Japanese. That means that I could find TASTY SENMBEI (rice crackers) and other traditional Japanese food. So today I hopped on the JR line and headed to Sugamo.<br />
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As soon as I got there I saw tons of elderly people. If I could do a bell distribution of the age of people walking Jizo-Dori today I would be on the end of the left tail (yeah, I am a stats dork).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grams and Gramps!</td></tr>
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And another thing I saw right away was the amount of shops selling senbei. My food tour started with a piece of freshly grilled senbei. It was crunchy, sweet and salty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senbei Heaven</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crunch</td></tr>
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Most shops in Jizo-Dori carry inexpensive clothes for older people. The most interesting of these stores is Maruji. Maruji sells red underwear that elderly Japanese believe to be lucky and keep them warmer than other underwear. I saw three Maruji stores in Jizo-dori, so clearly they are very popular!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy busy Maruji</td></tr>
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After scouting food for a while, I saw various stalls selling some kind of very flat Okonimiyake (if you know the name of this food please let me know). One particular stall had a long line, which in Japan is indicative of a good stall. So I queued up and got a ginger okonomiyake. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnuWXrko6iptPA76UI2yPOLvIFwzvWQGsUkKJyacyy_pKWyrFKlPmgBwq_KqZwXOu64EjpywWy5zB7UOJk5c_6X7roJDwzHKeT8pvkZocmUdzbRA5rGcuSSnP8iQVPPtbDCaFZatrcOQ/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnuWXrko6iptPA76UI2yPOLvIFwzvWQGsUkKJyacyy_pKWyrFKlPmgBwq_KqZwXOu64EjpywWy5zB7UOJk5c_6X7roJDwzHKeT8pvkZocmUdzbRA5rGcuSSnP8iQVPPtbDCaFZatrcOQ/s400/IMG_2232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was mine. Can you see the steam coming for it? </td></tr>
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It was delicious! The flat dough was soft and the sweet sauce went really well with the bite from the pickled ginger. An awesome find for 150 yen.<br />
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My next snack were some fried sweet potatoes. They were pretty good but the best part was the sweet couple selling them. Not only were they so sweet to me and put up with my horrible attempts at speaking in Japanese, but they also were happy to let me take pictures. <br />
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In fact, they insisted I take a picture of the sweet potatoes they were using. So here it is.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx07DrTOs__QoUSLG9hiEsRxqVP9Rl_ECEdr8m82Bd16nL05mv9aWjJlKNC47GoJ98vMAyPZb2lTVtRTCNg45hx6zzRi4NfTViRHYtO3Xw1ET7eN9O9jFwsfrr1iTvn3qG-xGCCzpnBBI/s1600/IMG_2220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx07DrTOs__QoUSLG9hiEsRxqVP9Rl_ECEdr8m82Bd16nL05mv9aWjJlKNC47GoJ98vMAyPZb2lTVtRTCNg45hx6zzRi4NfTViRHYtO3Xw1ET7eN9O9jFwsfrr1iTvn3qG-xGCCzpnBBI/s400/IMG_2220.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
The next item was amazake (sweet, hot sake with very little alchoholic content). I am in love with amazake and start looking for it in any commercial street like Jizo-Dori. Sorry, no pictures of that, my hands were full!<br />
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So what other things do old folk want to shop for? Pickles! This was such a cute daikon radish stand it made me smile. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Bif6DlB7fQwQksTzH7OmxElUp-rqUu-uVIh-rFkt_MSZjms0XaMwHUALGtq_sGlCRbHHdZ_33gfRF9gukGOHQNKo-QJ0AnWzMS4b9kcn-2OtYpCVGg1TzX-rr15RtGnM38myAbbRtc/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Bif6DlB7fQwQksTzH7OmxElUp-rqUu-uVIh-rFkt_MSZjms0XaMwHUALGtq_sGlCRbHHdZ_33gfRF9gukGOHQNKo-QJ0AnWzMS4b9kcn-2OtYpCVGg1TzX-rr15RtGnM38myAbbRtc/s400/IMG_2203.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cute Jizo</td></tr>
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Lastly, I got this pastry. Not sure of its name, but I got "castella" flavor. It was freshly made and warm, with a nice creamy center. Once I finished it I was completely full. I walked around for a while longer and bought some more senbei for the road.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0NWKb7_VqhgCu_ZwBjI8skjyktx_YFV8QWiLdwlBsh9EhxHhNabsEDG_BnjfjfAPOtSBpTsgCJ2kpUalMQ3IowtuRNFw0YHvjzzjbPR4v1ggHVh5MVNorAXzAWNshdbfZBFkdy5t8wQ/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0NWKb7_VqhgCu_ZwBjI8skjyktx_YFV8QWiLdwlBsh9EhxHhNabsEDG_BnjfjfAPOtSBpTsgCJ2kpUalMQ3IowtuRNFw0YHvjzzjbPR4v1ggHVh5MVNorAXzAWNshdbfZBFkdy5t8wQ/s400/IMG_2206.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyY1aVNcAvXOMnilXn7WLrz8Awc182T_tXClLJ7fUZ551A7qL1Z7hG41q5TLrjGlmG2_2LUf3jO1o3g8rtaj0-J2vrxyzN1I2AhhxrVXuWOAiH5y6snYDP5MpgOVNsnTe7DGckUbQK0U/s1600/IMG_2208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMyY1aVNcAvXOMnilXn7WLrz8Awc182T_tXClLJ7fUZ551A7qL1Z7hG41q5TLrjGlmG2_2LUf3jO1o3g8rtaj0-J2vrxyzN1I2AhhxrVXuWOAiH5y6snYDP5MpgOVNsnTe7DGckUbQK0U/s400/IMG_2208.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-81347931545679108492011-03-01T06:37:00.000-08:002011-03-01T06:37:23.613-08:00Spring in KamakuraDuring Natalie's visit we spend a beautiful early spring day in Kamakura. Here are some selected pics.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxDQYiNrxAamOwmQalajYs7nR8sexHjhnDCC_U-spLmddiEsZBnJCTuMlNJKHDtCmelV2yvTem_dLUK5Hdu1ZUMCmUT_4O3dVCI7REObe-HiBO-3A-uWIh95TO022X8CwqTdr6WwSLE/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUCxDQYiNrxAamOwmQalajYs7nR8sexHjhnDCC_U-spLmddiEsZBnJCTuMlNJKHDtCmelV2yvTem_dLUK5Hdu1ZUMCmUT_4O3dVCI7REObe-HiBO-3A-uWIh95TO022X8CwqTdr6WwSLE/s400/IMG_2119.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shinto priestess</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqj9x_k9O4P8e_3hcKMzjY8dRCIVr81ZMVCuaSs0ClpxA2wBZnF8DfEB_wwjactWJgJcGET7aCBjS0gtRFcw1-_XZ-eA5Yyly6vlxU5PxuX4swUhKv9-suL6nfKkGKwvM4dtd6_1Fla4/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqj9x_k9O4P8e_3hcKMzjY8dRCIVr81ZMVCuaSs0ClpxA2wBZnF8DfEB_wwjactWJgJcGET7aCBjS0gtRFcw1-_XZ-eA5Yyly6vlxU5PxuX4swUhKv9-suL6nfKkGKwvM4dtd6_1Fla4/s400/IMG_2127.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb7mJyKKkeZiXi3T6EVzWiyo2-gH-6uKr5_-zL9DoeLPl_0pPlEaORYkvnmK_a3YsnV96iSee1yFFueNCWXqfH5Q7GI1PNGCIh4tVzHzyA3SLnuD5gdJcIbHE3ID492XyEAl0KkszOe0/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEb7mJyKKkeZiXi3T6EVzWiyo2-gH-6uKr5_-zL9DoeLPl_0pPlEaORYkvnmK_a3YsnV96iSee1yFFueNCWXqfH5Q7GI1PNGCIh4tVzHzyA3SLnuD5gdJcIbHE3ID492XyEAl0KkszOe0/s400/IMG_2129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazake (sweet, hot, low alcoholic sake) for 250 yen</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa2sWDXNhIag6oaHVhfKg74RjarjhiNZltVsqTRE1vor52EyzAiJQFqhKBgVDM_65-mE-c4cNl6Kbf1uojXmcbv7tKBpvGhl8F-7dUBaq6Z5VbY_mh2ditBX60wc4mkwPC78pk2rvrk8/s1600/IMG_2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa2sWDXNhIag6oaHVhfKg74RjarjhiNZltVsqTRE1vor52EyzAiJQFqhKBgVDM_65-mE-c4cNl6Kbf1uojXmcbv7tKBpvGhl8F-7dUBaq6Z5VbY_mh2ditBX60wc4mkwPC78pk2rvrk8/s400/IMG_2138.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butaman (pork teamed bun) and local beer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeKF1ORl9Qp8llOADU-CD8FIZG0gM6Zy5lM5rtIkZ7f0tqKFZD-eVv-rdAEJ9bIldR3VvgXQq3F3-7W0iWoggrE_X3B3kR4FyRmdwZ8MKBX-nuJfhZVAn9dj78iCKTukQgBNsAOez80A/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeKF1ORl9Qp8llOADU-CD8FIZG0gM6Zy5lM5rtIkZ7f0tqKFZD-eVv-rdAEJ9bIldR3VvgXQq3F3-7W0iWoggrE_X3B3kR4FyRmdwZ8MKBX-nuJfhZVAn9dj78iCKTukQgBNsAOez80A/s400/IMG_2147.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello :-)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3dIExbPm605itypQ92ZEttOTjKBfir1IDAOoXDLUfbl9qrmy0ytNxQp_6FmfY6oSi1TlB_IQgc67FOAuUcDA9cNwb17iM_yRrQU6H0emNoRXlBK63022lUiiaNNgXflAnyjmEy-dA/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKe3dIExbPm605itypQ92ZEttOTjKBfir1IDAOoXDLUfbl9qrmy0ytNxQp_6FmfY6oSi1TlB_IQgc67FOAuUcDA9cNwb17iM_yRrQU6H0emNoRXlBK63022lUiiaNNgXflAnyjmEy-dA/s400/IMG_2156.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dai-butsu</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring is coming </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-6936975656110413722011-02-27T06:07:00.000-08:002011-02-27T06:07:14.134-08:00Kiddy Land, where I get my cute toy fix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrk-9R76Lqiz3oClfHN6nBxA-oEelL9-_k3hWGBD2QLt6r27sfToq4wIe91NhU1WCMaucJQ9BD9CUgUi5u-k9-eovjcs7aGeGLX8h7bqwcSfvjfSehA6GCh9b2rU56lRSZdCZfkxhZwHc/s1600/IMG_1273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrk-9R76Lqiz3oClfHN6nBxA-oEelL9-_k3hWGBD2QLt6r27sfToq4wIe91NhU1WCMaucJQ9BD9CUgUi5u-k9-eovjcs7aGeGLX8h7bqwcSfvjfSehA6GCh9b2rU56lRSZdCZfkxhZwHc/s400/IMG_1273.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> I have been meaning to write about Kiddy Land since the very first weeks of my stay in Japan, it is one of my favorite places in Tokyo. Kiddy Land is a store tucked in a cute side street in Omotesando known as Cat Street. It is basically 3 floors full of the cutest animated characters the funkiest little toys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47NMsXg2mwfyNklu0llWuuy6N43aTREn1RgZA4K7RfRvN3n7nLgmEA-iCXxn3Zhd28lSdhE3IB-SiQPDbqgtjC6Q81pDmkUbpgeOyDazDpe3BlDOlNNmhNd1utvzZmtN_wGfXoY2e7SY/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47NMsXg2mwfyNklu0llWuuy6N43aTREn1RgZA4K7RfRvN3n7nLgmEA-iCXxn3Zhd28lSdhE3IB-SiQPDbqgtjC6Q81pDmkUbpgeOyDazDpe3BlDOlNNmhNd1utvzZmtN_wGfXoY2e7SY/s400/IMG_1275.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> The first floor is filled with various cute characters like the San-X classics like Rikakkuma. They have a section devoted to Studio Ghibli films like Totoro and Ponyo. Let's just say that I lingered in this section of the store A LONG TIME and it took all my will to move on without buying any Totoros.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How cute is this Totoro baby set?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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The second floor is split between toys for boys, like Lego and trains, and funky little toys (a good much made for dorks). Naturally, I went to the funky/dork section for A LONG TIME too.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onigiri and Bento Box playing cards</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNaM-86Zc6YzINfoSHekn9P-512W9sWQxUmBEHrmukKV1HIhZDOCVw2RUhYa7jvUqKpvcoZhJv0pPLoYLItK7reflHrJw5pj50h8pHQw41eAf78RRN5Uclte22PTlSHHhVI6ZWBEyqpY/s1600/IMG_1279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNaM-86Zc6YzINfoSHekn9P-512W9sWQxUmBEHrmukKV1HIhZDOCVw2RUhYa7jvUqKpvcoZhJv0pPLoYLItK7reflHrJw5pj50h8pHQw41eAf78RRN5Uclte22PTlSHHhVI6ZWBEyqpY/s400/IMG_1279.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature Hello Kitty plastic food, you never know which one you will get!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0EnR89OjM1V2_aCB3JO5LS7DqzBRCSYf6dVHEzGBD76Bp2QlYVk-EsKGlH09_C-Lfy_kwHOcakAK9PfDKKxtQ4KohL0L8sW0UwpLFwfY1NzNY9HMXbyEVr8nG9kAK_RWMkM7v7R3Hws/s1600/IMG_1280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0EnR89OjM1V2_aCB3JO5LS7DqzBRCSYf6dVHEzGBD76Bp2QlYVk-EsKGlH09_C-Lfy_kwHOcakAK9PfDKKxtQ4KohL0L8sW0UwpLFwfY1NzNY9HMXbyEVr8nG9kAK_RWMkM7v7R3Hws/s400/IMG_1280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of the miniature Hello Kitty plastic food</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidO0GGrlysmiODdEXkAN9gh_PhmEbl0Ch9_PuudwJRIk3ZpTsTTE0yhuHYr6NuhasunUdtsHjIu00NTExJ5u2Ejg6HMZX1gtutzCRQ8zwXSoXA-8hnXGwP5BuP9EmUzP57QPkzXcJkXA0/s1600/IMG_1281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidO0GGrlysmiODdEXkAN9gh_PhmEbl0Ch9_PuudwJRIk3ZpTsTTE0yhuHYr6NuhasunUdtsHjIu00NTExJ5u2Ejg6HMZX1gtutzCRQ8zwXSoXA-8hnXGwP5BuP9EmUzP57QPkzXcJkXA0/s400/IMG_1281.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Display of miniature Rikakkuma plastic food</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZyX9PhXdmjn1kCUCE08js-DSxBbxD4LcpcVVBnE0Ga-dq7soKH3c3tSzCLXr5TYtDIpTApi58j_bTWo24hQcAnAAExhhVBllr3r-p6aE_OgC2KAmyzgVsGvrF7Xc5GIqhEimiwQvEn0/s1600/IMG_1283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZyX9PhXdmjn1kCUCE08js-DSxBbxD4LcpcVVBnE0Ga-dq7soKH3c3tSzCLXr5TYtDIpTApi58j_bTWo24hQcAnAAExhhVBllr3r-p6aE_OgC2KAmyzgVsGvrF7Xc5GIqhEimiwQvEn0/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yoshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!</td></tr>
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The second floor also has a whole row of machines where you put in coins and get fun toys to hang from cell phones, as well as other funky collectibles. I am a total sucker for these machines and I gladly give them all my money in exchange for cell-phone accessories.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pu_Qt5rcIzRrU_xvpf1dP87lAuFjW9oHB7Uqqw5C5DZBHPBLAXsFUCyojgDHyk_Hshkf9Xual4nCVCC1T0ZQw2HXsDhlSTx-JtJbbr7dV25686mpiux2KNMBgUGRkVM27e2Z3gG6JkY/s1600/IMG_1286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pu_Qt5rcIzRrU_xvpf1dP87lAuFjW9oHB7Uqqw5C5DZBHPBLAXsFUCyojgDHyk_Hshkf9Xual4nCVCC1T0ZQw2HXsDhlSTx-JtJbbr7dV25686mpiux2KNMBgUGRkVM27e2Z3gG6JkY/s400/IMG_1286.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZsiZyrXT_0CeGHKvIOw6ASJxaQ-POHnZ3gSXMD8hZYixpzhJ6HGuZexpE8LmPu6lJlxTLh1A8Gp7LkjlRqTWTaWjUUeWWOvjKuJKT1VhVALEKb1BKID5OQlztsC938KsXNS1FYRp0K8/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZsiZyrXT_0CeGHKvIOw6ASJxaQ-POHnZ3gSXMD8hZYixpzhJ6HGuZexpE8LmPu6lJlxTLh1A8Gp7LkjlRqTWTaWjUUeWWOvjKuJKT1VhVALEKb1BKID5OQlztsC938KsXNS1FYRp0K8/s400/IMG_1285.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These cats stack up on top of each other</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Q3xPWYfZ7vHTNDqAwozh1_ZxJIb5C7AEZSHQxA9s9yLsb8cNDSS7hYMLu9p303aeaVzK9WdhLaKbI-sozoZ3YnD2tsumvhz8cG150CN0D_JuS4s6FOLUM9Z-rHJq2d6uX3keClOuYg/s1600/IMG_1287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Q3xPWYfZ7vHTNDqAwozh1_ZxJIb5C7AEZSHQxA9s9yLsb8cNDSS7hYMLu9p303aeaVzK9WdhLaKbI-sozoZ3YnD2tsumvhz8cG150CN0D_JuS4s6FOLUM9Z-rHJq2d6uX3keClOuYg/s400/IMG_1287.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For 200 Yen (~$2.40) you can get a deeply apologetic Salaryman for your phone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlctbbADTXDZTVG0-7NSNvKxqR52019N8WD_UdRw0CKSnNgJSuIvis7-n35zzy6XmV7HnGCTlrBIQ4-ye4wvgor9x-MwxD6_e_Bp42xtGYIjQiTlZM3vSyU45XMDlDMRQX9RU_yHe-io/s1600/IMG_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlctbbADTXDZTVG0-7NSNvKxqR52019N8WD_UdRw0CKSnNgJSuIvis7-n35zzy6XmV7HnGCTlrBIQ4-ye4wvgor9x-MwxD6_e_Bp42xtGYIjQiTlZM3vSyU45XMDlDMRQX9RU_yHe-io/s400/IMG_1288.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">StarWars accessories. How awesome is this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was not able to take pictures of the last floor. But it is basically devoted to the Sanrio and Peanuts brands. It's full of Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, Cinnamon Roll and Snoopy. Pretty sweet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what did I get at Kiddy Land? Check out my Mameshiba edamame phone accessory. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zu7MtUEV1jzODJdja597s3YErfCnl41Mdf4cSMF3w76vYBvtasvQowVUTGCVgAZ8nYnAOxhoo3nmE0DsqMn9CVdHYoX-rnJpsStnh1q9qYlSUU-FpOE-2MfUit1Fzmld2bOR274zG4Q/s1600/IMG_1297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Zu7MtUEV1jzODJdja597s3YErfCnl41Mdf4cSMF3w76vYBvtasvQowVUTGCVgAZ8nYnAOxhoo3nmE0DsqMn9CVdHYoX-rnJpsStnh1q9qYlSUU-FpOE-2MfUit1Fzmld2bOR274zG4Q/s400/IMG_1297.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still in the pack</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSvbhQb9LZ5wPAlk-UcFTsr_zZeAbVUohNTKleM-w5iMDmkJ3ZzBmp4cjS66rLzryfHKoRm2ppXPT1rT6JXwrm4F3T8Mto862eWjEMkjEO9dDtMlGBdMubKrVfMp3HdnF6PHrIKAyEqs/s1600/IMG_1298b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSvbhQb9LZ5wPAlk-UcFTsr_zZeAbVUohNTKleM-w5iMDmkJ3ZzBmp4cjS66rLzryfHKoRm2ppXPT1rT6JXwrm4F3T8Mto862eWjEMkjEO9dDtMlGBdMubKrVfMp3HdnF6PHrIKAyEqs/s640/IMG_1298b.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first sight, it looks like a little plastic edamame</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cehKdg7HP2Cs6V_JW0nWg7_VY9kLtbLZtVpya7o-sbsmKPv26IUlfGcyXqFFVmAnmNmHqQeNrFe-fvZU2bWSSv0BP1rKLDyQ425muuxe6eB2R6_b3qGZKHA5Nv-2lqDbWoYQilsrE4k/s1600/IMG_1299b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cehKdg7HP2Cs6V_JW0nWg7_VY9kLtbLZtVpya7o-sbsmKPv26IUlfGcyXqFFVmAnmNmHqQeNrFe-fvZU2bWSSv0BP1rKLDyQ425muuxe6eB2R6_b3qGZKHA5Nv-2lqDbWoYQilsrE4k/s640/IMG_1299b.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprise! You can pop them out and the go right back in!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OqDJSdwbLVzt8o5bNSMfGpdpAuUuXFlwgH9SvNGKNAdBHLm_a90ZykZn-v1ItmecYsTMiZZdtuSdRwf1CopYiifJakEDXqwjsXD-jZy-C9yKzSZEp-vL_WKs3ER-v8Ug5Hjd5X-zpCY/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OqDJSdwbLVzt8o5bNSMfGpdpAuUuXFlwgH9SvNGKNAdBHLm_a90ZykZn-v1ItmecYsTMiZZdtuSdRwf1CopYiifJakEDXqwjsXD-jZy-C9yKzSZEp-vL_WKs3ER-v8Ug5Hjd5X-zpCY/s400/IMG_1301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the piece de resistance ... Mameshiba, a dog shaped bean is in the middle!</td></tr>
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This Mameshiba edamame is part of the "Mugen" series. Mugen means infinite in Japanese, referring to a bunch of toys designed to be played with over and over again. Other Mugen favorites are designed to simulate the feeling of popping bubble wrap and opening beer cans. If you are in Tokyo, make sure you go check out Kiddy Land!<br />
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To see more toys of the Mugen Series click <a href="http://stealthisdesign.com/tag/mugen-series/">here</a>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-81338900880230429592011-02-23T20:35:00.000-08:002011-02-24T06:48:09.433-08:00Asa Geiko: Summo Morning PracticeYesterday I had one of my most interesting experiences while in Japan. I went to see sumo morning practice "asa geiko". Since Natalie is visiting Japan in February there are no sumo tournaments going on right now. I still wanted her to experience this aspect of japan, so the solution was to go straight to the source and see sumo morning practice at a sumo stable.<br />
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Yes, that is right, the building where a group of sumo wrestlers live and train is called a "stable". We called Fujishima-beya, a stable here in Tokyo and they welcomed us to visit them during morning practice from 6 to 9 AM.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main entrance to Fujishima-beya</td></tr>
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It was bright and early when we reached our destination in Uguisudani station and we knew we had reached the beya when we heard the rikishi grunting from the street adjacent to the beya. We were really nervous when we rang the door to the beya. When one of the rikishi opened the door we totally froze but he was nice and let us in.<br />
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We got invited in and sat on the tatami mat to watch the practice. Unlike sumo matches at the stadium, where fights last less than 30 seconds and are followed by long periods of religious rituals, the practice was intense, with matches happening quickly and successively.<br />
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The practice hall is a long room with a raised tatami floor were the beya owner and the coach sit. And the clay pit with the rope delineating the sumo ring "dohyo".<br />
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The first thing we saw were rikishi charging and resisting. One rikishi charges from outside the ring, while another rikishi tries to hold ground and act as resistance as he gets pushed across the circle. They would then switch roles and repeat. They would then practice falling by doing shoulder rolls.<br />
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Then, two rikishi that appeared senior started practicing. They would fight over and over with almost no breaks in between. I had never seen rikishi up close like this or fight continuously before, and I was amazed at the physical exertion of the practice and the athletic ability of the rikishi.<br />
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</div>I had already concluded on previous sumo watching that rikishi have an incredible amount of muscle underneath their fat. Being so close to the rikishi made me realize this again in a whole other level. Their leg muscles looked like tree trunks, it was incredible.<br />
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So what do the other rikishi do when there are two rikishi practicing in the ring? They are all practicing really really hard outside of the ring. This rikishi is holding a marble/stone ball and then he would proceed to do sqwats with it. It was incredible, it made my four-day-a-week gym routine look like baby's work. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW_cBJ2xsXzTF6lmWVIoaX7o7J74_gkEJ3uL_HmRriJESBVWT3ZWynuFjiYs28r8hE9OEkBdoBS8Cc2pfAo0K6FbqZ8BYudgYbMF5WGZtetMCtgr5D6a0eV2e5GuRI88YEgD-oKljjfk/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW_cBJ2xsXzTF6lmWVIoaX7o7J74_gkEJ3uL_HmRriJESBVWT3ZWynuFjiYs28r8hE9OEkBdoBS8Cc2pfAo0K6FbqZ8BYudgYbMF5WGZtetMCtgr5D6a0eV2e5GuRI88YEgD-oKljjfk/s400/IMG_2069.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rikishi training on the side</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Here I will add my girly comment of the day. You would think that a practice room that includes 20 guys sweating like machines would be the stinkiest place on earth. I was very surprised but the room had a very pleasant and earthy smell. It smelled like clay and tea seed oil, which the rickishi use on their hair.<br />
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Lastly, at the end of the practice the coach went into the pit and the rikishi started practicing "dohyo-iri", which involved raising their legs high and then stomping on the ground to drive evil out of the dohyro. They would do sets of ten, over and over and over again. I was surprised that they where able to do that after all the other practice that had taken place earlier.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dohyo-iri</td></tr>
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</a></div> After the morning practice was over, the rikishi gathered in a circle, recited things in Japanese that I unfortunately could not understand. Then they bowed at the shrine in the practice room and left.<br />
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Natalie and I thanked the coach and owner and stepped outside into the crisp cold and bright day feeling like we had stepped out of a dream. It was very clear that we did not belong there (two non-japanese girls in a heya with 15 rikishi, you bet that we do not belong there) and we had the feeling that this was an authentic experience of their every-day lives, not a show for tourists.We felt like we witnesses something that few people (let alone Westeners) are able to see. It was very special.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-43311745731075437752011-02-21T08:10:00.000-08:002011-02-21T16:17:01.972-08:00Good Slurps - Jangara Ramen!Its been really fun to have my friend Natalie visit me in Tokyo. She is one of my best friends from college and even though college seems like it ended yesterday, this actually means that we have been friends for 10 years!<br />
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This is Natalie's first trip to Japan, so there are some things she must see, like Asauka Temple and Meiji Shrine. And there are some things she must eat, like .... ramen!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu4qsRK8Srtw2m3dOXCmLvtVDqoIHSGVx_bUmw38WJuenFAecoGONxblIsu8ZT3W2W7H0D-qojPVddiINKmyP0PvEixwGiaLjWi2nZygUjfjeUdqBFZULOp9MxQF6XMSNKNXi9hWINLo/s1600/SAM_0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifu4qsRK8Srtw2m3dOXCmLvtVDqoIHSGVx_bUmw38WJuenFAecoGONxblIsu8ZT3W2W7H0D-qojPVddiINKmyP0PvEixwGiaLjWi2nZygUjfjeUdqBFZULOp9MxQF6XMSNKNXi9hWINLo/s400/SAM_0268.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When in Rome ... Pose like the Japanese and eat like the Japanese!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5Nw4N3LHLN9R74eG178p6pZCAZenZUkHLaBfa2LD0l8bktnqWGKalGjewix_w0mTQCsao6NFgzBLdc_50k622z3b78Mf7llVPdWjPrfLndN_5B-vsYlI5zBYffyV4BqworQifnFVn-I/s1600/IMG_1943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5Nw4N3LHLN9R74eG178p6pZCAZenZUkHLaBfa2LD0l8bktnqWGKalGjewix_w0mTQCsao6NFgzBLdc_50k622z3b78Mf7llVPdWjPrfLndN_5B-vsYlI5zBYffyV4BqworQifnFVn-I/s400/IMG_1943.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramen chefs hard at work still have time to pose for me ;-)</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jangara is a famous ramen shop serving Kyushu-style ramen (specialized in tonkotsu or pork-flavored broth). There are about five Jangara Shops in Tokyo and we visited the one located near Harajuku station. We had the ramen gods on our side, when we got to the store there where only 8 people ahead of us and two minutes later the line of people behind us was turning around the corner. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIcPgiddPQhGoqiPKCDsGolxw67qtwxs8i5lmyfl-NzMOOCJlpCeean3SFivjR0qbdqcuaFSjBCyttPoGh21_RooydYKDJDJOsEjq3Qz2orsHKRsYr4IbFpb5RvGPMbXQBtNXXbHkvsY/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIcPgiddPQhGoqiPKCDsGolxw67qtwxs8i5lmyfl-NzMOOCJlpCeean3SFivjR0qbdqcuaFSjBCyttPoGh21_RooydYKDJDJOsEjq3Qz2orsHKRsYr4IbFpb5RvGPMbXQBtNXXbHkvsY/s400/IMG_1946.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SLURP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Jangara's menu is set up so you can customize in to ways. The first is the amount of toppings you get and the second is the level of spiciness. Natalie and I decided to go with the Jangara classic with all the toppings. We sat down and waited patiently for our ramen while these nice little plastic ramen bowls kept us company.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRetkARRrh57QOVFebVsvHHaJlzGCg13z_y4R2SrTqyRhzI55n5n1PS3SgEqUxplCwOTJwP8vMLZNT01b95jiQC1-3JSUVO9Xehitwi7IHhCetabAnP0OoYOkC4v4hHDgh1M2WFvt9ws/s1600/IMG_1950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRetkARRrh57QOVFebVsvHHaJlzGCg13z_y4R2SrTqyRhzI55n5n1PS3SgEqUxplCwOTJwP8vMLZNT01b95jiQC1-3JSUVO9Xehitwi7IHhCetabAnP0OoYOkC4v4hHDgh1M2WFvt9ws/s400/IMG_1950.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then our ramen arrived, it was so good! This is by far the best ramen I have had so far on this particular trip to Japan and I am happy to report that I finished my bowl. There where two things in this ramen that made it so memorable. The first was the broth, its is incredibly flavorful and rich but not overpowering or too heavy. The second was the generous ball of mentaiko (spicy roe) that they added to the ramen. It was tasty, went really well with all the other flavors and gave the ramen a nice spice kick. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anatomy of Jangara Ramen</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcEXicwydEd1ixSWm02TLUOWSyFJ0tP7gdVz8mYPmyKjXWWbLoOwhragRze_XNin6GJpH9OzZloVWIuVO-U-AAl3qSU0I3gLnW8_Ud56u6PX_sm-BbOL8X4p5bVc9flSWI9kC60iF1w8/s1600/New+Picture+%25284%2529.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcEXicwydEd1ixSWm02TLUOWSyFJ0tP7gdVz8mYPmyKjXWWbLoOwhragRze_XNin6GJpH9OzZloVWIuVO-U-AAl3qSU0I3gLnW8_Ud56u6PX_sm-BbOL8X4p5bVc9flSWI9kC60iF1w8/s400/New+Picture+%25284%2529.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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The chasu was good, it was very thick and sweet in comparison to all other chasu I have had. It was a little too sweet for me, so I could have used only one piece of chasu instead of two but needless to say it was very nice and interesting. The egg I am sad to report was not soft boiled, so it was nothing special. The noodles were very think and not curly, I could have had my noodles a little bit more al dente (note to self: need to learn how to request that in Japanese).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR4D6bjqaHL7JO9q5yW7wzdBn_jXZQFvSc13uHcQYH-xJQ3ayyRoH-tWuGGMLHiD7T8qXXMpObJLAxOBAVXHu4bM_8iidmf2EXT7w7K9mVus36bFUW7kfjR-tbrkjTQGGVo6nfZwjYpY/s1600/IMG_1952V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR4D6bjqaHL7JO9q5yW7wzdBn_jXZQFvSc13uHcQYH-xJQ3ayyRoH-tWuGGMLHiD7T8qXXMpObJLAxOBAVXHu4bM_8iidmf2EXT7w7K9mVus36bFUW7kfjR-tbrkjTQGGVo6nfZwjYpY/s400/IMG_1952V2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A closeup of the deliciousness</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOYlaQ4To4P_rzkZjmhhjLxwyxK5WLZg1cFu5KCWW5FOoTXdRoGMHwDehFQRWec782j6t11Q3Vl_4-i23Eu2wG6RmN9O7UiMlrb_FDmO3tElx4kaHW97dPgH5R08ZLv-sHKMq8qV12cs/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div> We clearly where on a roll with the food that day, because we found a very tasty Anpan store in Omotesando later that afternoon. We shared a white bean anpan and it was delicious. The crust was thin and crisp and the bean paste was warm and not overly sweet. Not only as the anpan good but the shop was really beautiful too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNzGSvlNE8cqES-ISCNyGQuxibPREtSUR-bU_Sm08xgFc9QAqeG-YCrnCr_yPbZ3gkCHCrBhgFk0kJsiucqHQo2MWsHD3gQ90w1y3taxPbPqSQHwJ1ppwhVJt9wueKDG8sWJA8N-3Kkg/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNzGSvlNE8cqES-ISCNyGQuxibPREtSUR-bU_Sm08xgFc9QAqeG-YCrnCr_yPbZ3gkCHCrBhgFk0kJsiucqHQo2MWsHD3gQ90w1y3taxPbPqSQHwJ1ppwhVJt9wueKDG8sWJA8N-3Kkg/s400/IMG_1957.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The anpan shop. I wish I knew its name!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Cmm4_CrkT7shu1_LrD6XXxiukt9fkSObHC1OUBA0th06NVGppOw5gZtvBCFYRVvYFW_HvhyphenhyphenoE2nq-Gdmd9ulI_z6Xcu4TZydfL7TL2IgKwA4QGm1jyGAZN6DArQyJz3WQpoFD4lmVJI/s1600/IMG_1954.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Cmm4_CrkT7shu1_LrD6XXxiukt9fkSObHC1OUBA0th06NVGppOw5gZtvBCFYRVvYFW_HvhyphenhyphenoE2nq-Gdmd9ulI_z6Xcu4TZydfL7TL2IgKwA4QGm1jyGAZN6DArQyJz3WQpoFD4lmVJI/s400/IMG_1954.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHwi4nJzHJk-U6b4mLzT_uoTqFcu0mPguqW0VunMoTv6XSRC6dwCYMQ76rP6m6CGWRGzJ6ClBOR4GUcZX2yNDp35W0pCrRoReqSdqoxpzCWLjz0Cwf0qBzF99sSB9jmvdbGrZivEQHnI/s1600/IMG_1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHwi4nJzHJk-U6b4mLzT_uoTqFcu0mPguqW0VunMoTv6XSRC6dwCYMQ76rP6m6CGWRGzJ6ClBOR4GUcZX2yNDp35W0pCrRoReqSdqoxpzCWLjz0Cwf0qBzF99sSB9jmvdbGrZivEQHnI/s400/IMG_1955.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful anpan molds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJMIHRRXWO94YObtf0FmgqDv8Aw_x_jbxH5SzR9qqKl0waH8d3bXcXVueNzmIZR861GFkby7Rkp2rnLmMf5NvHTe3xg_QcIdpnxcy64vPqX61hKn7jZ3eb139wn0jmm8mp2qnuHhbCjY/s1600/IMG_1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJMIHRRXWO94YObtf0FmgqDv8Aw_x_jbxH5SzR9qqKl0waH8d3bXcXVueNzmIZR861GFkby7Rkp2rnLmMf5NvHTe3xg_QcIdpnxcy64vPqX61hKn7jZ3eb139wn0jmm8mp2qnuHhbCjY/s400/IMG_1958.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bean anpan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-39513645044786944542011-02-14T01:28:00.000-08:002011-02-14T07:33:13.087-08:00Weekend trip: Part II - Mt. KoyaKoyasan is a sacred Buddhist mountain south of Osaka with over 100 temples. Hiking the ancient pilgrimage trail and spending the night in a Buddhist monastery has been in my bucket list for a long time. Paul, Richard and Rob decided to come too, so I had hiking buddies!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaH-W46VO8Vpg70-m1BctTHl6dshcAW4Wr3VM0poF21ckK1jYiq9wGpMMeeptYFSUNjSWc_g3BwM7amQkRlcAP9Jg5BGBZ7jXSr4jXUNy50LmgBR96L1_iTNy-tbcA0Qi9cs6A1Lk1i8/s1600/IMG_1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaH-W46VO8Vpg70-m1BctTHl6dshcAW4Wr3VM0poF21ckK1jYiq9wGpMMeeptYFSUNjSWc_g3BwM7amQkRlcAP9Jg5BGBZ7jXSr4jXUNy50LmgBR96L1_iTNy-tbcA0Qi9cs6A1Lk1i8/s400/IMG_1710.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statues at the beginning of the trail</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxioqnH6fK5MLBlVZXGNGP1MKTr0EI0bITO8v1MFspqfdg9r-ItWqfwGtHR87uyGLx6gAV4I_sw6Nrda5Pnp97j21zi0kjORyNnL6zphw3ltg3z-rnGfVnsQDdTyJHr16wxRZ5k3_WI4/s1600/IMG_1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxioqnH6fK5MLBlVZXGNGP1MKTr0EI0bITO8v1MFspqfdg9r-ItWqfwGtHR87uyGLx6gAV4I_sw6Nrda5Pnp97j21zi0kjORyNnL6zphw3ltg3z-rnGfVnsQDdTyJHr16wxRZ5k3_WI4/s400/IMG_1714.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The pilgrimage route leading to Koyasan is called the Choishi Michi, a 20 kilometer, 800 meter elevation hike marked by 180 pillars marking ever cho (cho = 108 meters). We started our hike around 10 am.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVJIKH0OD3FCNSwfja-d-3aeUcUQB5F0YQC30L4Eaq4XF1FsKLltGZPwfWRqUGvY-XvtvbJQQyYvTB4c9neUUz_BFpRO4ojDn_pH-MaxvPi0ZZGCizU6hKJXfqQa1RfoHZcpXbj5f9EQ/s1600/IMG_1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVJIKH0OD3FCNSwfja-d-3aeUcUQB5F0YQC30L4Eaq4XF1FsKLltGZPwfWRqUGvY-XvtvbJQQyYvTB4c9neUUz_BFpRO4ojDn_pH-MaxvPi0ZZGCizU6hKJXfqQa1RfoHZcpXbj5f9EQ/s400/IMG_1716.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtZHf_Dx7TdHbZlT713OryHabxopYU2HiG6DJPilM9rPKVXFx9dowWmhYgnqKBw8VOU6wfaLAty-nTAXsqw5v9qbvj7P4wNKOZMO2SXP6F69AmYfx7HVolLkVpCaRmk2EdCWlsP7JZUE/s1600/IMG_1718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtZHf_Dx7TdHbZlT713OryHabxopYU2HiG6DJPilM9rPKVXFx9dowWmhYgnqKBw8VOU6wfaLAty-nTAXsqw5v9qbvj7P4wNKOZMO2SXP6F69AmYfx7HVolLkVpCaRmk2EdCWlsP7JZUE/s400/IMG_1718.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Cho, 179 to go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The trail started steeply and then it levered. We got some nice views of the surrounding area. The air was cold and crisp and the day was clear. It was a beautiful day to hike.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cho marker, I had already lost count</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TstXaBnxHWP1tB5tOzyVKdqbeISZMP6CULbHj7-aSZ9rMPRV7Lk7AO47ni4boF2gPMzuZRoVCWSlgsRmftScWIKitiQKhYq-VOyVZzM7fOF-1IZslE7AZqg9JujXPFdJpMoghuOESrU/s1600/FBPic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TstXaBnxHWP1tB5tOzyVKdqbeISZMP6CULbHj7-aSZ9rMPRV7Lk7AO47ni4boF2gPMzuZRoVCWSlgsRmftScWIKitiQKhYq-VOyVZzM7fOF-1IZslE7AZqg9JujXPFdJpMoghuOESrU/s400/FBPic3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFWkkyk4tOgXt_jgrMo0RGFDIoIPzC4FyO14KxAUwVndXDcYCDcTiSRveU77LpyBoxeIF83eG269rvbl1IYT8IXZhKKTWTmP6YDyJdhY-EOffJXdKdFYawrXZ-U52Hm7RNzIcmyMGX1E/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFWkkyk4tOgXt_jgrMo0RGFDIoIPzC4FyO14KxAUwVndXDcYCDcTiSRveU77LpyBoxeIF83eG269rvbl1IYT8IXZhKKTWTmP6YDyJdhY-EOffJXdKdFYawrXZ-U52Hm7RNzIcmyMGX1E/s400/IMG_1737.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail runs into a golf course. Ha!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0KrpnmkiAsmccxuzH1CylCog0s7pDNwvC3MSiq7s9vKwZwvB-OqKanhZyqyu2NcKTl-ESBINHI8OT_gOzUUFf5PiyP9tbKsJiaC05j9OlG7hDh9SJW2WQPvhSJPVL5Fyr36PRomqMvc/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0KrpnmkiAsmccxuzH1CylCog0s7pDNwvC3MSiq7s9vKwZwvB-OqKanhZyqyu2NcKTl-ESBINHI8OT_gOzUUFf5PiyP9tbKsJiaC05j9OlG7hDh9SJW2WQPvhSJPVL5Fyr36PRomqMvc/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYqR-cOWU5tA1-F_MrJ_0A3iusgAtxAhj2TsI9uYhXyxlIIe26f3t6Suxd6AUmMQAaMXFEYWkGU1NM42E5PW8E_Lru1GHho8Ax2vhee03DFkb5_XEukHpAEHKilhDvKFYWrDtbbvIFyg/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYqR-cOWU5tA1-F_MrJ_0A3iusgAtxAhj2TsI9uYhXyxlIIe26f3t6Suxd6AUmMQAaMXFEYWkGU1NM42E5PW8E_Lru1GHho8Ax2vhee03DFkb5_XEukHpAEHKilhDvKFYWrDtbbvIFyg/s320/IMG_1744.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I guess he got cold too</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Further up the hike, we started to see signs of snow. This was certainly unexpected because snow is not usual in Koyasan, even in the winter. The unusally cold winter we are having in Japan threw a few surprises our way and slowed down our pace for the last three kilometers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY3OSb3YuhKjyr_GtpLjDBfmzI_MbCEl2gnXqt6jpOfZ14TElDKRWIBYj_8UzzwlrQxfzCCfgXCliC5HE02cdh8YC6k2YdfbcovOKf24rVPzqIyZrx-i1ajSubyQl42EPJYaIkDjsEOc/s1600/FBPic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY3OSb3YuhKjyr_GtpLjDBfmzI_MbCEl2gnXqt6jpOfZ14TElDKRWIBYj_8UzzwlrQxfzCCfgXCliC5HE02cdh8YC6k2YdfbcovOKf24rVPzqIyZrx-i1ajSubyQl42EPJYaIkDjsEOc/s320/FBPic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
After 6 hours of hiking, we turned around the corner and were rewarded with the view of the Daimon, or main gate! The bad news was that our monastery was 2 kilometers away from the Daimon, so we had to pick up our stuff and keep hiking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBOXp0HLxXAWcqGvARipCwOkaOE3PrJZYh43L89G4lvMWvrvg9-uI9gSysApp7qUfD919iocbYRDMUdXVstPMvGTZFRnYfEIplN4eQg-cuzcnWFXKKH-UCuYFJWe-cHw4aZH-HkSYfdk/s1600/IMG_1759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBOXp0HLxXAWcqGvARipCwOkaOE3PrJZYh43L89G4lvMWvrvg9-uI9gSysApp7qUfD919iocbYRDMUdXVstPMvGTZFRnYfEIplN4eQg-cuzcnWFXKKH-UCuYFJWe-cHw4aZH-HkSYfdk/s400/IMG_1759.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Daimon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCtqHToxPwfgzSXEBBf6MyFldqzCvHnJBGesICSvxvzYXUbFBCRNxqmnpRAzZTAkusiTfNz4cFGS004PRP5pCUwqj-hvW8W6C93-gfyruI8O6FfPQTXdRBWdIwCy-MF7j2AUO12YfMeE/s1600/IMG_1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCtqHToxPwfgzSXEBBf6MyFldqzCvHnJBGesICSvxvzYXUbFBCRNxqmnpRAzZTAkusiTfNz4cFGS004PRP5pCUwqj-hvW8W6C93-gfyruI8O6FfPQTXdRBWdIwCy-MF7j2AUO12YfMeE/s400/IMG_1763.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various temples at Koyasan</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP4BItb60moZDbwkdEh5dVHy4W4pyaOjUyxAzlYp3jMPumliYEKvCAOuOfhlGn0mrUHefaFD7R-WrhqTpIoKDPVCZSbKC6FcOtrGrlRXUhVY5byg0MKF8Wgg0TySukWwNxZCVdpq2mVI/s1600/IMG_1765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBP4BItb60moZDbwkdEh5dVHy4W4pyaOjUyxAzlYp3jMPumliYEKvCAOuOfhlGn0mrUHefaFD7R-WrhqTpIoKDPVCZSbKC6FcOtrGrlRXUhVY5byg0MKF8Wgg0TySukWwNxZCVdpq2mVI/s320/IMG_1765.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPSqOll7DBPu6CmkI7v4wktiGYrc6koCYcstoW16Yu9dFQ4pCv1cw9S7UfvYu561i6n4C5COU4jW5QR2EJTY8lZ7fSPdAAMmra5Dxa_lisCc9vVOlt5lRfV_s-M5PTZiOmIJuaYQCKc8/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPSqOll7DBPu6CmkI7v4wktiGYrc6koCYcstoW16Yu9dFQ4pCv1cw9S7UfvYu561i6n4C5COU4jW5QR2EJTY8lZ7fSPdAAMmra5Dxa_lisCc9vVOlt5lRfV_s-M5PTZiOmIJuaYQCKc8/s320/IMG_1769.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finally arrived to Eko-in, the monastery where we were going to spend the night. The bath was very simple but after 6 hours of hiking it felt so great. We changed into our yukata and got ready for dinner at the monastery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJfSg4pxA6RTw20U-EJLgydFG2V7j565-gFENRtlDgZlCfooK-B-FKbvdX6ijTzaIlrVmbg6Yw1_h1RwVKsrMc_njxLIlheH5Sbd1zn4UWh2l1h9MyYahCWYvePQjTJf5a_0L3TSAfUg/s1600/IMG_1775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJfSg4pxA6RTw20U-EJLgydFG2V7j565-gFENRtlDgZlCfooK-B-FKbvdX6ijTzaIlrVmbg6Yw1_h1RwVKsrMc_njxLIlheH5Sbd1zn4UWh2l1h9MyYahCWYvePQjTJf5a_0L3TSAfUg/s400/IMG_1775.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eko-in</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Part of the experience of staying in a buddhist monastery is to eat shojin ryori, the vegetarian food that monks eat. I am in love with shojin ryori. It was very traditionally Japanese, with a lot of umami flavors and so pleasing to the eye as much as the palate. We also lugged up the mountain bottles of "nama sake"(unpasteurized fresh sake) from the brewery in Kobe, so it felt pretty good to open the bottles and toast.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bZElVBbN7cTvuFGOl4Bbmln10-YT3LZZUQsDuZjOSr7pWhOmmG8GiS24yyP5ce8YIfhhG2R75mU-AzAMlmX9dnyaWRH4pJwsnWNiDxRIbWy1NHu-PRpDGe8X9YjuxQjrFEdzdQlEZzU/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bZElVBbN7cTvuFGOl4Bbmln10-YT3LZZUQsDuZjOSr7pWhOmmG8GiS24yyP5ce8YIfhhG2R75mU-AzAMlmX9dnyaWRH4pJwsnWNiDxRIbWy1NHu-PRpDGe8X9YjuxQjrFEdzdQlEZzU/s400/IMG_1785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuScBkkTDZ7w2__C2H9sc75-SjbpBEb-C2shIIOyWKZURdZCV_SlVmngmKjw0xqkRGq3mN8SHZP5vdErxz-4P-ZbU8dMMvcN7lg6E6nahjiXUdDZylFv_w9CnZzHWTAY1OULyaG4G8t_8/s1600/IMG_1786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuScBkkTDZ7w2__C2H9sc75-SjbpBEb-C2shIIOyWKZURdZCV_SlVmngmKjw0xqkRGq3mN8SHZP5vdErxz-4P-ZbU8dMMvcN7lg6E6nahjiXUdDZylFv_w9CnZzHWTAY1OULyaG4G8t_8/s400/IMG_1786.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-npmmOT2Bn7fD7xo4mWGUSyqmsWLtp2z_yduZAggBa5f0WCuQjywNcx_C71hIVyg0G6W1oNR13ozkOfsE613ff-L7czU2LqGnkxeUZDo-QW9B7Hg22ZY70PF1lWUNnVdyVYqvg2lytjg/s1600/IMG_1789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-npmmOT2Bn7fD7xo4mWGUSyqmsWLtp2z_yduZAggBa5f0WCuQjywNcx_C71hIVyg0G6W1oNR13ozkOfsE613ff-L7czU2LqGnkxeUZDo-QW9B7Hg22ZY70PF1lWUNnVdyVYqvg2lytjg/s400/IMG_1789.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKOUF_FbGSsBX2e2jVF6CURCQBhunL3CdYMkTrp6NW1p22lKkjnq07Sjhb232Ly2Hy8o-VJx4u_ppp4fuQAxXsuGghSd5AQSLqDrijzN5qvXg1v5p7F4vED7r6iD8yQxLxtALHFbLHLY/s1600/IMG_1791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKOUF_FbGSsBX2e2jVF6CURCQBhunL3CdYMkTrp6NW1p22lKkjnq07Sjhb232Ly2Hy8o-VJx4u_ppp4fuQAxXsuGghSd5AQSLqDrijzN5qvXg1v5p7F4vED7r6iD8yQxLxtALHFbLHLY/s400/IMG_1791.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soup, seaweed and oshinko (pickles)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA8fLJ33cQXf5wY7XaFZF4nISKs78M0RE0Gb8Snjmj3-25gCHA7TIIhiX82sNJOFv2RPmRpwQYdrT6nyExG5y26StIDioduJxPv410imaTnxD0NLzS6kEDkgp9ZVLZFme1DBSY2nu-9Q/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwA8fLJ33cQXf5wY7XaFZF4nISKs78M0RE0Gb8Snjmj3-25gCHA7TIIhiX82sNJOFv2RPmRpwQYdrT6nyExG5y26StIDioduJxPv410imaTnxD0NLzS6kEDkgp9ZVLZFme1DBSY2nu-9Q/s400/IMG_1792.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu with wasabi and seaweed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eUDkXKOEjGtS2z9iIFB7cR3TiX5THEmYUQNPVuJaclYhEeg31uOdahvKwZuVLe8qQkLb7cNVw6VWWcRY1Cz6qv3mFvg40FJv8snvm2WnWWswyCxFimJhqXwQLKauHu6PyVOoxLRN7VQ/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eUDkXKOEjGtS2z9iIFB7cR3TiX5THEmYUQNPVuJaclYhEeg31uOdahvKwZuVLe8qQkLb7cNVw6VWWcRY1Cz6qv3mFvg40FJv8snvm2WnWWswyCxFimJhqXwQLKauHu6PyVOoxLRN7VQ/s400/IMG_1794.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Udon noodles in the pot and yuba and vegetables</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6tOfrBq8gxrfcTXY0gskhGb9ju5lobakVlOTKNYOKV1pKm__Ho3wezBSnwt-tnY0__MRSq_4HuQyN6TIV0KUqlxSJaOAfvi5zTxZNmun3we-Zpbem1Eqr4L8pOBxki-5j2CI5OC5OtE/s1600/IMG_1797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6tOfrBq8gxrfcTXY0gskhGb9ju5lobakVlOTKNYOKV1pKm__Ho3wezBSnwt-tnY0__MRSq_4HuQyN6TIV0KUqlxSJaOAfvi5zTxZNmun3we-Zpbem1Eqr4L8pOBxki-5j2CI5OC5OtE/s400/IMG_1797.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the Nama Sake I lugged all the way up the mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The next day, we woke up early to attend the morning Buddhist prayers and the fire ceremony. I really wish that we had more explanation about the prayers so we could understand what was going on. After the prayers, we had Japanese breakfast and left Koyasan via the cable car that connects the mountain to the train station below. Now I need to start planning my next hike.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHGWlCdn3ONnWUq79WI8DO90THMfajGDPK0cIZoP7-phakmwnFCxbya3MmCyvrsqDypVQPrDRX8ZexJJsUUdt3VHXHAVVuPrCsZ8sQkjoTFWV8kCrZundh1UpKEuqZh03Zg64taXwr2s/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfHGWlCdn3ONnWUq79WI8DO90THMfajGDPK0cIZoP7-phakmwnFCxbya3MmCyvrsqDypVQPrDRX8ZexJJsUUdt3VHXHAVVuPrCsZ8sQkjoTFWV8kCrZundh1UpKEuqZh03Zg64taXwr2s/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYSYR8UGkPXF969suw4VNGpeDrXsSSS7Jk4aikBVKstnRMAY2xiFgJJkCJXtR4RQldQTfHHDGJMVPTNs-mZk-H7sQSam02hEpldr9oyCo9pXerDssMvCmrUeCSZ-bUoqusc1771zSros/s1600/IMG_1818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYSYR8UGkPXF969suw4VNGpeDrXsSSS7Jk4aikBVKstnRMAY2xiFgJJkCJXtR4RQldQTfHHDGJMVPTNs-mZk-H7sQSam02hEpldr9oyCo9pXerDssMvCmrUeCSZ-bUoqusc1771zSros/s400/IMG_1818.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fire ceremony</td></tr>
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</a></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-88046898254577101112011-02-13T07:46:00.000-08:002011-02-13T07:46:51.437-08:00Korean Lunch!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioPK3pfbkKxqk4-1XAes62eTqNRgMCQQ6x_YHNpt1oNIopEOqtiOaHI0XAv2ZBSfs1D4inkCrh0xGjD0MPCn2EbrQmMaPF5ruGss7c1cLepJ9xLmn-FVVssJeEfYw2TQP7e4gl9qoiY8/s1600/IMG_1827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioPK3pfbkKxqk4-1XAes62eTqNRgMCQQ6x_YHNpt1oNIopEOqtiOaHI0XAv2ZBSfs1D4inkCrh0xGjD0MPCn2EbrQmMaPF5ruGss7c1cLepJ9xLmn-FVVssJeEfYw2TQP7e4gl9qoiY8/s400/IMG_1827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Thanks to Kyoo and Young Chul for yesterday's lunch! After finding out that I love pollock roe, (know as myeongran jeot in Korean and as mentaiko in Japanese) Young Chul planned "mentiako lunch". I was in heaven!!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was my first opportunity to try real Korean food in Japan. There is a lot of Korean influenced food here, they sell "kimchi" in the cafeteria. However, the Japanese take on Korean food is not spicy at all, it sweeter and saltier than real Korean food. Kyoo and Young Chul's food was mailed by their families in Korea, so I am a really lucky girl because I got to try it!!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panchan!!!!!!!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh9GK4yTzdcPznGGmd4od8tFnJ-8k_r3qJ3rbF0MLdtLje3blHbkdzFoEUuh0CyRytjiX6q4i-I34I0VNQPFXBsYAtlajxIK6aDFXhEVkybKI0HbeNnxPqTH0xQc5WS1Rbt7WrYTEAhY/s1600/IMG_1830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh9GK4yTzdcPznGGmd4od8tFnJ-8k_r3qJ3rbF0MLdtLje3blHbkdzFoEUuh0CyRytjiX6q4i-I34I0VNQPFXBsYAtlajxIK6aDFXhEVkybKI0HbeNnxPqTH0xQc5WS1Rbt7WrYTEAhY/s400/IMG_1830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panchan outside of their containers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The pollock roe I tried yesterday was so good, incredibly soft, subtle flavor and great level of spice. Young Chul added sesame oil to the roe, it was a fantastic combination so I am doing that from now on to all pollock roe that crosses my way.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollock roe (myeongran jeot or mentaiko) and squid</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL5DFOfI2ngSAP8bzKWBjBkPY-glFEy9ig6OTnDPsUIM99nw83WHND5A0gTp4VjJhaTtKnfzmCgKW67Wvz_6mOoH53WEH0DC6PVduxG05wMbWGlV-aWbJ05cf5kh_IAxyhedpsdUhjaI/s1600/IMG_1828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL5DFOfI2ngSAP8bzKWBjBkPY-glFEy9ig6OTnDPsUIM99nw83WHND5A0gTp4VjJhaTtKnfzmCgKW67Wvz_6mOoH53WEH0DC6PVduxG05wMbWGlV-aWbJ05cf5kh_IAxyhedpsdUhjaI/s400/IMG_1828.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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Kyoo and Young Chul are such great hosts! Of course the only one that did not know how to cook anything was me :-(. So I tried to help by washing dishes and bringing some dessert. I got some very traditional Japanese desserts based on mochi and azuki bean paste. They were very tasty, especially the one on the right!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0RerHY670dExqPgCDTbxqyDQ0BZKv8iJg4a0-W5WV_2EF7t3rDlTZMAiI6_nhPmMNhN3eTk2X-hj2MuIjA5mnZSATLr62HzGnPesfpCveHRcQyFPiWkQNBGx11wqwgBozBi0ohp6dX0/s1600/IMG_1831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0RerHY670dExqPgCDTbxqyDQ0BZKv8iJg4a0-W5WV_2EF7t3rDlTZMAiI6_nhPmMNhN3eTk2X-hj2MuIjA5mnZSATLr62HzGnPesfpCveHRcQyFPiWkQNBGx11wqwgBozBi0ohp6dX0/s400/IMG_1831.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-10043715881432328312011-02-11T07:19:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:19:33.486-08:00Weekend trip: Part I - OsakaTime to hit the road! Or in Japan ... time to hit the Shinkansen! We planned a trip to Osaka, Kobe and Koya-san. The first part of the trip consisted of total food, drink and karaoke debauchery in Osaka and a great visit to a Sake Brewery in Kobe. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkhyDeD_viLX20uPYKhsc969hH0FVTk1Lpw2GTmrp6lXX8QYrM0YqHrAvQ_dCyGycHubOlFzuX2arsbZw-K5VTReKhJ_5oAgF0dclXsAhH72n7ZT4hxbeWNTRPjvx23H4m4fRMKBlbhg/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlkhyDeD_viLX20uPYKhsc969hH0FVTk1Lpw2GTmrp6lXX8QYrM0YqHrAvQ_dCyGycHubOlFzuX2arsbZw-K5VTReKhJ_5oAgF0dclXsAhH72n7ZT4hxbeWNTRPjvx23H4m4fRMKBlbhg/s400/IMG_1547.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>On my way down to Osaka in the shinkansen I got an "ekiben", which translates to bento boxed lunch from the "eki", or train station. Eating ekiben on the shinkansen is very popular with the Japanese and I absolutely love ekiben. This one was an onigiri ekiben with some nice winter vegetables, an egg and some chicken. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy field views from the shinkansen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>According to the Tokyoites people from Osaka have a funny accents. My Japanese is too bad to corroborate one way or the other, but what I can say for certain is that Osaka rocks some of the best street food in Japan.<br />
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As soon as we got to Osaka, we headed to Dotonbori in Namba ward. Its a very popular pedestrian street full of restaurants and neon lights. Our goals for the night were to find takoyaki (octopus-filled dough), okinomiyaki (how to explain? the closest would be a pancake filled with vegies and seafood?) and fugu (blowfish). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Glico Man</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsubaraya!!! Good memories of eating fugu with Sternies here</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table> Walking down Dotonbori we say this line for Takoyaki. So we knew it had to be good and we lined up too. Check out this video of this guy making takoyaki, he has mad skills.<br />
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The takoyaki came out piping hot! It was absolutely perfect: hot, goooey and crunchy. I was pretty happy.<br />
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Next, the guys wanted to eat fugu. Osaka is know for its many fugu restaurants so we set of to find one in the smaller alleys and streets parallel to Dotonbori. Poorly cut fugu will kill you in 24 hours and there is no cure, so fugu chefs train really hard to earn their licenses.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Rl-G8vlVIWr4McXqnMDnTlMDcmCm3aLnOVkroBhkQKf0Ii5a19IX1v-i0n9mnKfSTKZhKG9fIALpNjHYm5boBgru2kHss2_BgIkCDMhxEYQqGl9Bim4tPZANToO6UjYli1nv7hS-10/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP4Rl-G8vlVIWr4McXqnMDnTlMDcmCm3aLnOVkroBhkQKf0Ii5a19IX1v-i0n9mnKfSTKZhKG9fIALpNjHYm5boBgru2kHss2_BgIkCDMhxEYQqGl9Bim4tPZANToO6UjYli1nv7hS-10/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwHQ2imChpuiJOg0OzybxQ_0HwNFwKmMC3pcjm_-af8ZU4NXtKb674ONBhQ4sMqUZURvGH0w-Yw0V45rQHA6CfmfHimjUACR10xmoTFwep7B4fQMqIwNpLo1morgoLAwzCPZNVKy0hCo/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpwHQ2imChpuiJOg0OzybxQ_0HwNFwKmMC3pcjm_-af8ZU4NXtKb674ONBhQ4sMqUZURvGH0w-Yw0V45rQHA6CfmfHimjUACR10xmoTFwep7B4fQMqIwNpLo1morgoLAwzCPZNVKy0hCo/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU91Qb7R0FkOeeZxpNx2-0AxEAY_3xfdEk-Enml-_BprXXjiWA1ndt8eLLNQnRioMHC6PyVwbQTmV782RuY_cClk4nosS35Xx0B7drzI9Xtz0vx2RCS7MzB-ZCXaiUppPXoyKx1K20beQ/s1600/IMG_1572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU91Qb7R0FkOeeZxpNx2-0AxEAY_3xfdEk-Enml-_BprXXjiWA1ndt8eLLNQnRioMHC6PyVwbQTmV782RuY_cClk4nosS35Xx0B7drzI9Xtz0vx2RCS7MzB-ZCXaiUppPXoyKx1K20beQ/s400/IMG_1572.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How much for the fugu in the window?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF1oFL4eXwBhbWxGYUBK_0krQixkE1WZ2yx-4qyLRWywuYbFiUwYceJNhnP7WXMvkBCX3KxRuyCgBQQ1IiIcsJuykiFGczyDP-bY_4HNPTy9M-lrjDMmolQdk3_Mf_06rtXz_1vSl4ts/s1600/IMG_1590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVF1oFL4eXwBhbWxGYUBK_0krQixkE1WZ2yx-4qyLRWywuYbFiUwYceJNhnP7WXMvkBCX3KxRuyCgBQQ1IiIcsJuykiFGczyDP-bY_4HNPTy9M-lrjDMmolQdk3_Mf_06rtXz_1vSl4ts/s400/IMG_1590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> We ended up in this small fugu place with a really nice owner that specialized in fugu hotpots. I passed on the fugu this time, feeling that I already defied death once and I want to see Brendan really badly, so I am not risking it again. The guys ordered fugu sashimi and were overall disappointed. We do not know exactly why, but the fugu sashimi did not result in the tongue-numbing feeling that is expected.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF18FXEkHsxkwsZZOCUtfQS8FQfsQkKb75j3eMRSNh3zlDIIYrCnMFp2joUKGcO3A1gMwktOgUQMHFsxGFA4QSGhxJhUaF9k_BBT4QXhnvhSpQe7ocwbsL_gtT3ZwxDZA0teIYK85zocE/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF18FXEkHsxkwsZZOCUtfQS8FQfsQkKb75j3eMRSNh3zlDIIYrCnMFp2joUKGcO3A1gMwktOgUQMHFsxGFA4QSGhxJhUaF9k_BBT4QXhnvhSpQe7ocwbsL_gtT3ZwxDZA0teIYK85zocE/s400/IMG_1591.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Itadakimasu!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">This restaurant also had "hire-sake" and this was a new experience for me. It is pipping hot sake with a roasted fugu fin in it. Of course as soon as I heard of it I had to try it!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaGhoHiGLcuQR2gF0xlLspv1-8bEXZtINNXLyIasVLm5qJ1MmZfP3wGwCTfDERp_3h2wSSbVpG7qz-JfP1HqOzbKCMf9oBoDZanFUSv1ma9_Qxu_7M9NcOITWFFjEGF8mUPQVPyo2eD0/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfaGhoHiGLcuQR2gF0xlLspv1-8bEXZtINNXLyIasVLm5qJ1MmZfP3wGwCTfDERp_3h2wSSbVpG7qz-JfP1HqOzbKCMf9oBoDZanFUSv1ma9_Qxu_7M9NcOITWFFjEGF8mUPQVPyo2eD0/s400/IMG_1593.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three little fugu fins inside the sake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmpfMPvSFfFkZGkJK4DJi7ZMkteA_vkvUFeTTo9gFOUY6B58ChLdeAXlJYnyrehdaACfN4HkeWTRSPh7IbM3g0g1FMsuHHzZ3ey0aW_AmQN71_DaEbiGrbfht0Dz4gHapjzjeAD_Wcck/s1600/IMG_1594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmpfMPvSFfFkZGkJK4DJi7ZMkteA_vkvUFeTTo9gFOUY6B58ChLdeAXlJYnyrehdaACfN4HkeWTRSPh7IbM3g0g1FMsuHHzZ3ey0aW_AmQN71_DaEbiGrbfht0Dz4gHapjzjeAD_Wcck/s400/IMG_1594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After setting it on fire, you remove the fins</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Znyfi6OhFvhq8XGczJP90nEyIL_EG-lI5INT5KW_-gQxIbQLndaKLwGz_okhHGCwTEM_1mcJaWlfdkGKizux5prvD2_Y_wD4iuEtJiQ16SRiAjsL42yyTigCiC-FA6mq8vqa3X-VliU/s1600/IMG_1599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Znyfi6OhFvhq8XGczJP90nEyIL_EG-lI5INT5KW_-gQxIbQLndaKLwGz_okhHGCwTEM_1mcJaWlfdkGKizux5prvD2_Y_wD4iuEtJiQ16SRiAjsL42yyTigCiC-FA6mq8vqa3X-VliU/s400/IMG_1599.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom's up!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yeah, I won't be trying that again ... the taste of the fin is not overpowering, but I think I prefer my sake and my fish flavors separate. I am happy that I did it though.</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We were still hungry and after walking around and not finding any good street okinomiyaki, we ended up in a yaki niku restaurant. I am SO glad that we ended up at that restaurant .The quality of the meat was great.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt879QPnyT4SrHYHa6yByJTeKo_xwDPNden9XDEtTUTPZl2CVqIjhqTjX08a9yuomOdzeOQ2qnlBGddSz4U15y3YvKQxMW1tq-I7Ko0ItHDvoUtTBx00S23sFDgvrhbk7w-uLriAqhsRU/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt879QPnyT4SrHYHa6yByJTeKo_xwDPNden9XDEtTUTPZl2CVqIjhqTjX08a9yuomOdzeOQ2qnlBGddSz4U15y3YvKQxMW1tq-I7Ko0ItHDvoUtTBx00S23sFDgvrhbk7w-uLriAqhsRU/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various beef cuts we grilled</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The meat was so tender and marbled that it did not need any of the sauces they offered us, just a bit of salt and pepper. The highlight of the night was the beef sushi. The raw beef was so tender it just melted away, and the chef combined it with a small topping which I suspect was shredded daikon soaked in some sort of citrus. The citrus flavor was perfect with the beef, and the texture of the sushi rice was fantastic. I need to go back to this place!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD61dABJW3UckJXETiKMWBaWHvynleFdBZ2FXwWG62jjrba_hiKbxFdDl0IokuEiKhowB3qJmQrv5mYmW5xmjee-FyQK4BwZvteQY64fSbx2kgANvAH1_QH_hb6kynUFUQMkLHwOd5jf8/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD61dABJW3UckJXETiKMWBaWHvynleFdBZ2FXwWG62jjrba_hiKbxFdDl0IokuEiKhowB3qJmQrv5mYmW5xmjee-FyQK4BwZvteQY64fSbx2kgANvAH1_QH_hb6kynUFUQMkLHwOd5jf8/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beef sushi that changed my life ... it really was that good</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Lastly, we ended with a dessert called "shochu pudding". I do not usually like dessert but I was scraping the bottom of this one. Just thinking about this dinner makes my mouth water. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpbq4G3rsgfQBYFAvR55It2Q5YLKNHvj2lJDfz-CtHCpIP3fXzGPrPhCiAp3zw1GZRZ7BAXvDimipDhNYfXTsTDc0vNn5CPI54pzxjYd57a2bNcKQ8-fTy7Dea3_j7jrZ2V9XoQmvFN0/s1600/IMG_1628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpbq4G3rsgfQBYFAvR55It2Q5YLKNHvj2lJDfz-CtHCpIP3fXzGPrPhCiAp3zw1GZRZ7BAXvDimipDhNYfXTsTDc0vNn5CPI54pzxjYd57a2bNcKQ8-fTy7Dea3_j7jrZ2V9XoQmvFN0/s400/IMG_1628.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
After dinner we went for a couple of drinks at an "Irish Pub", where the "Irish" bartender would forget his role once in a while and reveal his French accent, he he he. The place was quite fun and the bartender gave us an awesome recommendation for a Karaoke bar where we wrapped the night. The owners of the bar were awesome, it was pretty epic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNFy9kVojv7HBQOiJX0bKgnv3Wb0yn3UNxlI-i381qjGVaaVmKXCQD4TzY2SIWdfUx8LoXvw5oK62Mnck7Kjtw4obApAMXFTZvyooAgmAQVwb7EAv7QLlJFa6kK1vgSu-s3UuxxfsC8/s1600/IMG_1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNFy9kVojv7HBQOiJX0bKgnv3Wb0yn3UNxlI-i381qjGVaaVmKXCQD4TzY2SIWdfUx8LoXvw5oK62Mnck7Kjtw4obApAMXFTZvyooAgmAQVwb7EAv7QLlJFa6kK1vgSu-s3UuxxfsC8/s400/IMG_1651.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This blonde girl was totally digging Richard, after his Elvis cover who can blame her</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQZTL9hF0qbVJ0ZH4YSZxk0mIEluQcDRt3CiC811IwD-My3-8lIAit4Q8uqippKcoePmyqMR5ltPupa8-L8BieXqiqZ2IbuyPfXtAuG70DQsHJJG58WwzBpUClLH7vAAerNyn7tK-NVc/s1600/IMG_1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQZTL9hF0qbVJ0ZH4YSZxk0mIEluQcDRt3CiC811IwD-My3-8lIAit4Q8uqippKcoePmyqMR5ltPupa8-L8BieXqiqZ2IbuyPfXtAuG70DQsHJJG58WwzBpUClLH7vAAerNyn7tK-NVc/s400/IMG_1688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYINIPqmmyqW2Tj8OqQNIkqttVGZsjR8hwVWNfxEsWGF4F7L0VyptqJpPDQEFr6yj-EChD9T9dp58rSK2CScUt2HQbE8ydwJCKnIRUBz0n0prcAU4PUv2553uFl-54PFp7lUWp0QOFGsY/s1600/IMG_1658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYINIPqmmyqW2Tj8OqQNIkqttVGZsjR8hwVWNfxEsWGF4F7L0VyptqJpPDQEFr6yj-EChD9T9dp58rSK2CScUt2HQbE8ydwJCKnIRUBz0n0prcAU4PUv2553uFl-54PFp7lUWp0QOFGsY/s400/IMG_1658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, it was EPIC</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMcwL1eGNS1_yYzyfSnBm4bepZJQiofV-_Tldrq_-wFhke5rrK90AjKVvajUNcytYuTTR0lh9DCcn58LfHj-is3QfC05CkINhsUUWP00aOSX7Mg75xCJ0BwZ3jHdrjKmhvVin_jIG0Os/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMcwL1eGNS1_yYzyfSnBm4bepZJQiofV-_Tldrq_-wFhke5rrK90AjKVvajUNcytYuTTR0lh9DCcn58LfHj-is3QfC05CkINhsUUWP00aOSX7Mg75xCJ0BwZ3jHdrjKmhvVin_jIG0Os/s320/IMG_1659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W0xx0IGyxyKQrQAr17JSQ8emv5a9ABx1lQ39bh-lBKxFW0N-RhaS-t6pNYxsGEAEx49df2GYu7NK-MVAzNV-4lHxZByB0Ql-py8nvVosAHCQ8a9yTdPTbGSMb6cIACucVUHzA2x9je8/s1600/IMG_1672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6W0xx0IGyxyKQrQAr17JSQ8emv5a9ABx1lQ39bh-lBKxFW0N-RhaS-t6pNYxsGEAEx49df2GYu7NK-MVAzNV-4lHxZByB0Ql-py8nvVosAHCQ8a9yTdPTbGSMb6cIACucVUHzA2x9je8/s320/IMG_1672.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFxm2ih_mhMtbwxfuen8bdg3LWyUQ-uJ35hMpOdRRoBO8rsLFggX-L4J4_Bt2P6wObxi8bCyhQyMz8eb_8Ox9vrg7uREtFJHFTYoUQDt4PJpYEAlEFzbfVcXDrle0-EOSPpV57M4eCPI/s1600/IMG_1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFxm2ih_mhMtbwxfuen8bdg3LWyUQ-uJ35hMpOdRRoBO8rsLFggX-L4J4_Bt2P6wObxi8bCyhQyMz8eb_8Ox9vrg7uREtFJHFTYoUQDt4PJpYEAlEFzbfVcXDrle0-EOSPpV57M4eCPI/s400/IMG_1691.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bar owner was also called Richard, here is is with his wife </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-75043383073745715512011-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:002011-02-03T15:33:41.482-08:00Hyaku-en ShopAnyone that visits Japan should visit a "hyaku-en shoppu", translated to 100 yen shop. They are the Japanese equivalent to the dollar store and they are fantastic! They are full of good quality products and they put the US dollar store to absolute shame! (Bad U.S. dollar store ... baaaaaaaad...)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hi0-_9XB54s-dwjg0ydge-CGOqAltpNpDT2OTl-1YPuVmAG9MZZHdohwWdR3I4RpIO63Ki_syP-mtpIeDjFmn5t4qb9BhR7kj-Uz3mSKJ7E9jHO_HOnnmBKg-15Wk6EKSBuT8B5oytU/s1600/IMG_1251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hi0-_9XB54s-dwjg0ydge-CGOqAltpNpDT2OTl-1YPuVmAG9MZZHdohwWdR3I4RpIO63Ki_syP-mtpIeDjFmn5t4qb9BhR7kj-Uz3mSKJ7E9jHO_HOnnmBKg-15Wk6EKSBuT8B5oytU/s400/IMG_1251.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Hyaku-en shop in Harajuku*</span></div><br />
I heard there was a 3-floor hyaku-en shop in Harajuku, so of course I had to check it out! Please note that apparently you can't take pictures at the hyaku-en shop, so I really could not see through the lens and these are taken by having me just move the camera in the general direction some of these items and just hoping for the best!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB2_mAMyHnKvrwLRe-Njtd4wzyH0OA4gPICzp6iIihVpO47VRIFRhxouJ0Ih1D4bvHM-eX8BPsqv_D-GuXOxX6xDwVoMbhB-Hqwbf9It2eq7qkfcwxpPCShLi0Ph3NzC6wGjSH_GpCCo/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB2_mAMyHnKvrwLRe-Njtd4wzyH0OA4gPICzp6iIihVpO47VRIFRhxouJ0Ih1D4bvHM-eX8BPsqv_D-GuXOxX6xDwVoMbhB-Hqwbf9It2eq7qkfcwxpPCShLi0Ph3NzC6wGjSH_GpCCo/s400/IMG_1238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> There is a section full of cute accesories for keitai (cell phone). Most Japanese, male and female decorate their keitai with little hanging straps full of cute little characters. So of course it makes sense that you can "deck out" your phone for 100 yen.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYRYtiKTluu2okVQMrI_TnYRl8yr-HaWrlDR-BuUvau12ecTfVo0o49yEXDFiNOkEx2_kfuIxMz4zRuNKNflYsYDPzpxyuYvsN9JOfWutAskJvVNqerh9B9W-32bfHMRQH4sf5EaBrAg/s1600/IMG_1240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYRYtiKTluu2okVQMrI_TnYRl8yr-HaWrlDR-BuUvau12ecTfVo0o49yEXDFiNOkEx2_kfuIxMz4zRuNKNflYsYDPzpxyuYvsN9JOfWutAskJvVNqerh9B9W-32bfHMRQH4sf5EaBrAg/s400/IMG_1240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> *Some food-themed and plush animals to hang from the Keitai*</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_kcpQYuAa5s-ZdoGc81wnm6VnSi1UH7t1OdZiMHDfRXZzvKjTTpsC3CvDJ_XtoNVfNMbye_CIIbUj3d27mRt4M5EaNLEM-UKQqa7oIREd3mxLGGzr4aZNKL1S1iAv7kqkbcE7FcJSSE/s1600/IMG_1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_kcpQYuAa5s-ZdoGc81wnm6VnSi1UH7t1OdZiMHDfRXZzvKjTTpsC3CvDJ_XtoNVfNMbye_CIIbUj3d27mRt4M5EaNLEM-UKQqa7oIREd3mxLGGzr4aZNKL1S1iAv7kqkbcE7FcJSSE/s400/IMG_1241.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*These cure little apple doubles up as cute accessory and phone screen cleaner*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another cool section of the shop is the food department. By far the funniest item for me was this banana cutter, followed by a banana plastic case where you can put a banana so it does not get squeezed in you bag, or something like that. I am sorry I have no picture of the banana case, the guard would not step away and I could not take a picture!!!.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is so funny for me to see this but then again bananas are so expensive here that I guess people feel like they need to protect them.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDTLoabqiYKg3P_smpGKpAU-ZZhPC0wv56KI6AW9YjCGtMIbDCHLffXEQK5t0JmYds_QxmpnVaTpTT5xPWAx9NZqFZp34-H7xu4TStPsMwviEZMLNEdHjLcnlBcZ9ktwWKLyAbj4_v9U/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDTLoabqiYKg3P_smpGKpAU-ZZhPC0wv56KI6AW9YjCGtMIbDCHLffXEQK5t0JmYds_QxmpnVaTpTT5xPWAx9NZqFZp34-H7xu4TStPsMwviEZMLNEdHjLcnlBcZ9ktwWKLyAbj4_v9U/s400/IMG_1244.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0VwEM6ySXM0261pWA3ZW5N9iVpcrFAYBpHIDZUPwVf7Kt3v9X4_0xwjsA2TmeFE2wbbw_rOai4C-Q-pU9a99PXS6J9dYjVQIL43IH6j2kGpUWdwDgLWS1zJzRYq0upuFfgYuFmR-EoI/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0VwEM6ySXM0261pWA3ZW5N9iVpcrFAYBpHIDZUPwVf7Kt3v9X4_0xwjsA2TmeFE2wbbw_rOai4C-Q-pU9a99PXS6J9dYjVQIL43IH6j2kGpUWdwDgLWS1zJzRYq0upuFfgYuFmR-EoI/s400/IMG_1246.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Cute little paper holders that moms in Japan use to create bento boxes*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsep20TE-shcqP66nnJo5Cn2E40wi0xaQNfWh2JUqRLpGx8qhvnFrw8UNB1Mg2W8JuDsnUfuriD3Mte8zms0IV0e9GT_x2ZNaHFQ5Un9FbxCjBzeOfi_0Pidtuvxeh9JdkSIWndpzQTc/s1600/IMG_1247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsep20TE-shcqP66nnJo5Cn2E40wi0xaQNfWh2JUqRLpGx8qhvnFrw8UNB1Mg2W8JuDsnUfuriD3Mte8zms0IV0e9GT_x2ZNaHFQ5Un9FbxCjBzeOfi_0Pidtuvxeh9JdkSIWndpzQTc/s400/IMG_1247.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">* Large-sized noodles make a filling 100 yen meal*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And of course, even though we are in the hyaku-en shop, the attention to detail is fantastic. Look at these kawaii sponges for dish-washing. Even such a common daily item is cute and beautiful in Japan.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO5zqDPGKMIxzlZq4yWJUVleUBoeyOsYfqwIzTfreadsH3BBk6mCEmEEVR-N0TaMDLtoLBtZljxycJn2uwllIkCfuNpOhJsssgKKJlaad0r7RoR7n9dH7jXZC-1aJjR7RZBVdB10SC4I/s1600/IMG_1249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO5zqDPGKMIxzlZq4yWJUVleUBoeyOsYfqwIzTfreadsH3BBk6mCEmEEVR-N0TaMDLtoLBtZljxycJn2uwllIkCfuNpOhJsssgKKJlaad0r7RoR7n9dH7jXZC-1aJjR7RZBVdB10SC4I/s320/IMG_1249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Kawaii!!!*</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-856203977569422192011-02-01T06:37:00.000-08:002011-02-01T06:38:27.286-08:00"Nest is Best": A visit to Kiuchi BreweryI had the pleasure to first taste Hitachino Nest Winter Ale at Momofuku Ramen in New York. Not only was the beer excellent, but it had a picture of an owl so of course I could not get over how cute it is. So after discovering that Paul, one of my buddies in the Keio IP exchange program also likes it a lot I decided to "google" the brewery.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kodawari.cc/?en_home.html">Kiuchi Brewery</a> is located in Hitachi in Ibaraki Prefecture. I randomly shot them an email through their website asking if a bunch of international "Hitachino Nest fans" could come visit the brewery. To our delight they where super enthusiastic about us visiting and trying their products, so we decided to give it a shot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwE_oXHV06ElDPC-mr3J5UPRV5JM2AcQdxwt5bFzUtnX8-mM_UPBHh1rrXYTGmJ8LTGFxb8AXWuvcqUIc7CZozpLcx1NOfk6bY8R3x3azsNGGG85B3oMdpCJUaYyF1q7PAiGW5FlFeCM/s1600/IMG_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwE_oXHV06ElDPC-mr3J5UPRV5JM2AcQdxwt5bFzUtnX8-mM_UPBHh1rrXYTGmJ8LTGFxb8AXWuvcqUIc7CZozpLcx1NOfk6bY8R3x3azsNGGG85B3oMdpCJUaYyF1q7PAiGW5FlFeCM/s400/IMG_1367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*How can you not love this owl? I dare you*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </div>After riding a mix of local trains, the metro and the Shinkansen (bullet train) for about 2.5-3 hours we got to Kiuchi Brewery. It is in a <u>VERY</u> rural area in Japan, so at this point we knew the trip was going to be awesome or a complete disaster. Turns out the booze gods were smiling on us.<br />
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Turns out that beer is a very recent development for Kiuchi, which has been brewing Sake at this location for 180+ years (it was established in 1823). The first thing that struck us was the traditional Japanese architecture of the brewery. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yzQ52RKzmrTZBs0gAlWZ37Dp5lYl1r1l0QT3Yf950ENXmke7acrEPoM4os_nJwRBXMkRaZ654Wi2Uc9jm37jBGe8u44U4i8FShH7AdOP0ZUcpQyv61v0s8degJodWbi-ErG9lKN91vo/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yzQ52RKzmrTZBs0gAlWZ37Dp5lYl1r1l0QT3Yf950ENXmke7acrEPoM4os_nJwRBXMkRaZ654Wi2Uc9jm37jBGe8u44U4i8FShH7AdOP0ZUcpQyv61v0s8degJodWbi-ErG9lKN91vo/s400/IMG_1369.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT6nyDDdNJ-HRNOncl7CfLaAE3FUtT7G3HS8QYyQobqo_-551pa0VJ7ZXY0k0GKYM4t0G7xFO9COssXOHNLmJgAA6YYJdDeI7pb7D_XP5XhwY5oehHtuJky6gUhd0zpiFCZ7C9fVkwgw/s1600/IMG_1452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyT6nyDDdNJ-HRNOncl7CfLaAE3FUtT7G3HS8QYyQobqo_-551pa0VJ7ZXY0k0GKYM4t0G7xFO9COssXOHNLmJgAA6YYJdDeI7pb7D_XP5XhwY5oehHtuJky6gUhd0zpiFCZ7C9fVkwgw/s400/IMG_1452.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YhqUWRwAqEc7dXfcP9Uto9EpLnesGNE8x5wntEr1IbG-mLuNuSJRfNgiF1K2T1vgSndFB9e3PU7L2eYJ7aTSRKxIOAoiHbqZce6ov9-Rwy5jC6Vc7uVFt2ySXLkmjmHKCD6ovF4uqDc/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YhqUWRwAqEc7dXfcP9Uto9EpLnesGNE8x5wntEr1IbG-mLuNuSJRfNgiF1K2T1vgSndFB9e3PU7L2eYJ7aTSRKxIOAoiHbqZce6ov9-Rwy5jC6Vc7uVFt2ySXLkmjmHKCD6ovF4uqDc/s400/IMG_1370.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">* The magic happens behind those doors*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>The brewery welcomed us and we decided to first have lunch at the soba restaurant that is part of the brewery. Its a good strategy to start a brewery tour on a full stomach.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zRm3Hq6g20E3pJmwJG9_bjBiCAHmi63P4nK2lQeqAS_P2TmiR01H0fnEpcbRm0nLU7c5E2M_Cjvzjr1un-QWjIQ4ZE0JA4Q0jcy7W_HmfhnjNKS9tT3rfUOx66y-U73u1BsFbM3mbi0/s1600/IMG_1372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8zRm3Hq6g20E3pJmwJG9_bjBiCAHmi63P4nK2lQeqAS_P2TmiR01H0fnEpcbRm0nLU7c5E2M_Cjvzjr1un-QWjIQ4ZE0JA4Q0jcy7W_HmfhnjNKS9tT3rfUOx66y-U73u1BsFbM3mbi0/s400/IMG_1372.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKhj-xR_NYltVi0jrqZXCxu7lc8PHvFTqCQQOfMzjSpNf2cx_cpWa9SDl47DtA07joMBxIWahrhqyufRCV_SMb8t0UBpAPKkJYeAZUxnLNXsDO52-2u-nfsCmSulxbAaM7Doo_pw0sMc/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKhj-xR_NYltVi0jrqZXCxu7lc8PHvFTqCQQOfMzjSpNf2cx_cpWa9SDl47DtA07joMBxIWahrhqyufRCV_SMb8t0UBpAPKkJYeAZUxnLNXsDO52-2u-nfsCmSulxbAaM7Doo_pw0sMc/s400/IMG_1385.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> We had to strategize on the best way to taste as many of their beers as possible, so we decided to each get a different one and share. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOTkcS4Sh79tdYTt1zKclM_rXcdwnRkxOQnCyQw5kQimpYEVt3RBzvil9PGMmE8OkhbqULqB5NTMtduTHVhAuIkHTJanzGdA4J3hjGID5ZlI_8EFc1Vd8bX4BC3cFeF3qVHIl109P-gA/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOTkcS4Sh79tdYTt1zKclM_rXcdwnRkxOQnCyQw5kQimpYEVt3RBzvil9PGMmE8OkhbqULqB5NTMtduTHVhAuIkHTJanzGdA4J3hjGID5ZlI_8EFc1Vd8bX4BC3cFeF3qVHIl109P-gA/s400/IMG_1388.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> I got the winter "celebration ale", a beer that is only brewed for new year's. It was fantastic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxcoTCzDq2Crop1QfK15bvxj7-LgW2SWD7JwtnM1ZaP30vY72kAPUW4ngri242guDSGN_4HsetCEmxNOUR4HnswvkZb-NMno5FoAsJlVMB9giAnZaK4n3C0E0BH5xLl_RgwGOC729hto/s1600/IMG_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxcoTCzDq2Crop1QfK15bvxj7-LgW2SWD7JwtnM1ZaP30vY72kAPUW4ngri242guDSGN_4HsetCEmxNOUR4HnswvkZb-NMno5FoAsJlVMB9giAnZaK4n3C0E0BH5xLl_RgwGOC729hto/s400/IMG_1392.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>They guys got a Weizen, Amber Ale and IPA. I really enjoyed the Weizen, it had a honeyed taste to it and I think it would be really enjoyable in nice weather. My lunch was also very good, it consisted of warm soba noodles and a dipping broth full of delicious winter vegetables. I have had hot soba and cold soba noodles, but never warm soba. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgBvrRiSvPKuJoNuwih5yi4gEmWz1sIfLD32-ML2Ny1Rg5G6c0jpuy66f9y5Mfyk5c74wNMnVnnPNm5ExUGqcpTgVYuveLpRIcgJW5fTatQTuVjgeBmRFER5oYpqbFSR0XP6Pe04NkyE/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgBvrRiSvPKuJoNuwih5yi4gEmWz1sIfLD32-ML2Ny1Rg5G6c0jpuy66f9y5Mfyk5c74wNMnVnnPNm5ExUGqcpTgVYuveLpRIcgJW5fTatQTuVjgeBmRFER5oYpqbFSR0XP6Pe04NkyE/s400/IMG_1399.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa1-SnMSxPNRJEAJX9GodBOjmJ0vPmykQEWvIEVJYitEnKtVJLCnYOdjXAKNpTZoTTktoPfGfBQ2qmF9dsI0U3PCTU18SBGxZTuirQ208FrbRoxeymv0oPDKqKVYXyso2EtB1kN2zN90/s1600/IMG_1400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqa1-SnMSxPNRJEAJX9GodBOjmJ0vPmykQEWvIEVJYitEnKtVJLCnYOdjXAKNpTZoTTktoPfGfBQ2qmF9dsI0U3PCTU18SBGxZTuirQ208FrbRoxeymv0oPDKqKVYXyso2EtB1kN2zN90/s400/IMG_1400.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOPkH69G0INuhmUQeGdIImaxm5nCDRhqTc67-2X8kYTEux_3dwqTvWRQ7xiCJcksYhVP-tKd6EQR3vk5qkLHi1T_xa_08LjEJZuVp6ebNraELlsbP72SNVWRomKyrUjVXhD1oonRvTk/s1600/IMG_1402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHOPkH69G0INuhmUQeGdIImaxm5nCDRhqTc67-2X8kYTEux_3dwqTvWRQ7xiCJcksYhVP-tKd6EQR3vk5qkLHi1T_xa_08LjEJZuVp6ebNraELlsbP72SNVWRomKyrUjVXhD1oonRvTk/s400/IMG_1402.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
The brewery tour started after lunch. Our awesome guide Tomoko-san guided us through the sake brewing process. We actually went INTO the brewery, it was awesome that they allowed us to go it and took the time to show us around.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZVn15z1LlF9xpAzXjBUYTZ_ohpjd-CKOcHQfs9EGQAyrrvl43_-NxjrGNITHqg7kSR1jPvesmluHTBKqykdFAVWvoKzcAFPspK8oEAig13WlVLHWKDS9wYvsI125blmok4Kw5hyphenhyphen-YYI/s1600/IMG_1403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZVn15z1LlF9xpAzXjBUYTZ_ohpjd-CKOcHQfs9EGQAyrrvl43_-NxjrGNITHqg7kSR1jPvesmluHTBKqykdFAVWvoKzcAFPspK8oEAig13WlVLHWKDS9wYvsI125blmok4Kw5hyphenhyphen-YYI/s400/IMG_1403.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">* A new cedar is hanged when sake is brewed*</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6WYaQDgOQMhSsNRdgzm6eNXL2rlFW787G20_qCP0-zB3X1Fn5WISoIBSzjFEEHypscycBriCt6Drfe9DZaIflOrC7GzYQKfqLsscJom19DvVP2MeJrawc2NpGHJ7k3-D1IIOxs7gu8k/s1600/IMG_1407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6WYaQDgOQMhSsNRdgzm6eNXL2rlFW787G20_qCP0-zB3X1Fn5WISoIBSzjFEEHypscycBriCt6Drfe9DZaIflOrC7GzYQKfqLsscJom19DvVP2MeJrawc2NpGHJ7k3-D1IIOxs7gu8k/s400/IMG_1407.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">* We left our shoes at the door and put on these plastic slippers, no nasties from the outside come into the brewery*</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tomoko-san took us through the sake making process! </span> </span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Fx61dzkss0KBSyWO1TiNUCdvLFeF8xNXeufrj46qfAelWA0s9bdTJ4HWY3m53eHklEuuet2lA0pKP8xJ19ffghn_LQ2fA5gmGDa7waJ5PYjhqzJW-JSM_7D7js2WU_TZSOHtvl_1AQ/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-Fx61dzkss0KBSyWO1TiNUCdvLFeF8xNXeufrj46qfAelWA0s9bdTJ4HWY3m53eHklEuuet2lA0pKP8xJ19ffghn_LQ2fA5gmGDa7waJ5PYjhqzJW-JSM_7D7js2WU_TZSOHtvl_1AQ/s400/IMG_1416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Washing and soaking*</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXH_ZUdKYV_U3guBHp9Bg1n3TbkiHfilkUm8NPg4KuLR1Gex6m54qLGuCcO05r_QKv8Qpq3u4pxKzQmj-7r_QpLeSYQHdu1jFtF5-u_Q-QW9GcJ8r2rHoHVBacDK4N1dJtvlN3C9luDY/s1600/IMG_1412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXH_ZUdKYV_U3guBHp9Bg1n3TbkiHfilkUm8NPg4KuLR1Gex6m54qLGuCcO05r_QKv8Qpq3u4pxKzQmj-7r_QpLeSYQHdu1jFtF5-u_Q-QW9GcJ8r2rHoHVBacDK4N1dJtvlN3C9luDY/s400/IMG_1412.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Steaming*</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8KRKAlsW48RSmSiSWUUR3rNhR2n8Bk2OKLyetGZts2fPEUW9jCJ9yeOCY1tOfDA7j94fhnESy7E13f0UhnTzxCEtSQ-2df99bO09yLmo3piLOW3gKcXbwLYVXLB3tG7EUWjd4C1OdAI/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8KRKAlsW48RSmSiSWUUR3rNhR2n8Bk2OKLyetGZts2fPEUW9jCJ9yeOCY1tOfDA7j94fhnESy7E13f0UhnTzxCEtSQ-2df99bO09yLmo3piLOW3gKcXbwLYVXLB3tG7EUWjd4C1OdAI/s400/IMG_1425.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Mashing*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FUdj5DpIjREmcVx-4B0JqvqtyIZ-nFC1diiIYb6JtaH_ibRB7vMaSnNjSWdA3PFr2NP8ZRLhZ_cB4ZtHMoO8aqHXUTn3WMGh7Z-cEwzI7Ivhbg_iUdKVPWrS3hXB4Y0RCGtNOu-WpW4/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FUdj5DpIjREmcVx-4B0JqvqtyIZ-nFC1diiIYb6JtaH_ibRB7vMaSnNjSWdA3PFr2NP8ZRLhZ_cB4ZtHMoO8aqHXUTn3WMGh7Z-cEwzI7Ivhbg_iUdKVPWrS3hXB4Y0RCGtNOu-WpW4/s320/IMG_1439.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">* Filtering*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMFjv2sUwXcOg6KnUnVQ_HTJARl805hPS83kZToeaAzkAmgWn1rq0S4O8BijQWbuPoZouLsHKo0ynu7XLTEPW2FucnGYnEELwY7UDIA8deP0o6dsTlac4zJkaxVmNaVYp6ZsEWTblgUA/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMFjv2sUwXcOg6KnUnVQ_HTJARl805hPS83kZToeaAzkAmgWn1rq0S4O8BijQWbuPoZouLsHKo0ynu7XLTEPW2FucnGYnEELwY7UDIA8deP0o6dsTlac4zJkaxVmNaVYp6ZsEWTblgUA/s400/IMG_1441.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4q8n2YJMjipyJT8ACRiuviegremRQt75dHqWiwWlJ_vQWMxPaHJSJg-e4Swzjo_iyVoFWsy_lrQOU0hcrsPvMgjBw9Ag1DRgmwaba13zQ3i3CmFBpBZTrYpGx3JczkzRIe7WiqsMWdg/s1600/IMG_1447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4q8n2YJMjipyJT8ACRiuviegremRQt75dHqWiwWlJ_vQWMxPaHJSJg-e4Swzjo_iyVoFWsy_lrQOU0hcrsPvMgjBw9Ag1DRgmwaba13zQ3i3CmFBpBZTrYpGx3JczkzRIe7WiqsMWdg/s400/IMG_1447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Aging*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">After the tour of sake making, we went to the section of the brewery where you can do your own microbrews. We were so excited and where willing to start brewing right away. But the brewing process takes four hours, we did not have enough time.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY2rNZ4uVsbdFKUHRhjc6cpGZQwGCU0eoUrjnmaJdpwFQ-BzJip8Jbo8fH0yI245Sht9JUfp4jYHcWxcb2JkHpccoyhBPmXNK-kQ-nd-j_HzyrbVa_8JXdmIgsDLQZ4obhTo3AU74kSk/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY2rNZ4uVsbdFKUHRhjc6cpGZQwGCU0eoUrjnmaJdpwFQ-BzJip8Jbo8fH0yI245Sht9JUfp4jYHcWxcb2JkHpccoyhBPmXNK-kQ-nd-j_HzyrbVa_8JXdmIgsDLQZ4obhTo3AU74kSk/s400/IMG_1457.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfqqwC9W8LOpjgRZHaoSo0_1oPI2EV9xQuTRERyK3asckE9yBB0Rfu56rtwqcxfd263eCysQXfTYD0QzMfXmHCcOoG5chfGkLX0hBQpJ3fztW4jj2TdOoBy-afaoDt2QxBHJGAOg-0Aw/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfqqwC9W8LOpjgRZHaoSo0_1oPI2EV9xQuTRERyK3asckE9yBB0Rfu56rtwqcxfd263eCysQXfTYD0QzMfXmHCcOoG5chfGkLX0hBQpJ3fztW4jj2TdOoBy-afaoDt2QxBHJGAOg-0Aw/s400/IMG_1461.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Lastly, Tomoko drove us to the expanding beer facilities, where we got to see the brewing tanks and meet the master brewer! His favourite Hitachino Nest beer? The New Year Celebration Ale.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAgQox0Jsy2WmueEsDhhBNdH5R7DbH0oArTedCyZ7bFJyeFEMEmWRqLs1lLNE0z9VCBVREZsPUoJoBL6gjBzUkOxxOPEkal7bujaT9hkk5dqgbQ2T7WkJxBUPGgAFC2izWeqRGJRPOq4/s1600/IMG_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAgQox0Jsy2WmueEsDhhBNdH5R7DbH0oArTedCyZ7bFJyeFEMEmWRqLs1lLNE0z9VCBVREZsPUoJoBL6gjBzUkOxxOPEkal7bujaT9hkk5dqgbQ2T7WkJxBUPGgAFC2izWeqRGJRPOq4/s400/IMG_1468.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">* Nest <u>IS</u> best*</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDr9EeO8X9q76LtcZfVSZV3lAh2Kht1jyq5K7TnB6r0F-xrWvAXXlnACkr9O8paw-urmVpGklfLACqRvdMm2l_IAF2Y8o1jjhZHaXvlvg2qkP8SgTaUrfQhsCajlyePjarXf_HmTZBhM/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDr9EeO8X9q76LtcZfVSZV3lAh2Kht1jyq5K7TnB6r0F-xrWvAXXlnACkr9O8paw-urmVpGklfLACqRvdMm2l_IAF2Y8o1jjhZHaXvlvg2qkP8SgTaUrfQhsCajlyePjarXf_HmTZBhM/s400/IMG_1472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Bxbfgc6mlmtj4cJkM7a4TZ2AuMeLIAPD7y5CNj-rypm2wEDaUAEC-icwrDh4M-oADeS0IaCjrzKzcx26PORMS7jyx4r1kKJmSBsjOaf-M37qNBwYDx-GMoxESZPWamiuvH2G04nMlHM/s1600/IMG_1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Bxbfgc6mlmtj4cJkM7a4TZ2AuMeLIAPD7y5CNj-rypm2wEDaUAEC-icwrDh4M-oADeS0IaCjrzKzcx26PORMS7jyx4r1kKJmSBsjOaf-M37qNBwYDx-GMoxESZPWamiuvH2G04nMlHM/s400/IMG_1478.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Nest Fans and the Brew Master*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </div> Lastly, we came back to the main brewery and finished trying their beers ( we recommend the Sweet Stout, very nice!). Then we moved on to sake, and ended with shochu. It was a fantastic experience!!! If you are traveling in Japan and want to have a fantastic, different and authentic day trip, shoot an email and visit Kiuchi Brewery. I promise you will not be disappointed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEjMG1gmUlcaBr1RW-F_qC_iHJm5wmd49s3W8NXMZ99chVPS0IqSxMJNVbqFg58kNbfQwf88w_-F_BCNaJiXoF3Zr948bIwZVnoWakJSrpjt_zBtHscqoiJ1Ea2L3kHrdrjHMCo8-LAo/s1600/IMG_1483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEEjMG1gmUlcaBr1RW-F_qC_iHJm5wmd49s3W8NXMZ99chVPS0IqSxMJNVbqFg58kNbfQwf88w_-F_BCNaJiXoF3Zr948bIwZVnoWakJSrpjt_zBtHscqoiJ1Ea2L3kHrdrjHMCo8-LAo/s400/IMG_1483.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK1LA_JTX9m-YfILrQQtl1bQakjMTO-TP0N97m_iox54QpQTbwAqCR9lgTyAypEX23lKzfrTi6SyTMiMuuU4n7kTk0RkYza2Gce3dcMkk0IWcPD0S0ogxTYe964hK9p9pQyySxPtf8WU/s1600/IMG_1380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK1LA_JTX9m-YfILrQQtl1bQakjMTO-TP0N97m_iox54QpQTbwAqCR9lgTyAypEX23lKzfrTi6SyTMiMuuU4n7kTk0RkYza2Gce3dcMkk0IWcPD0S0ogxTYe964hK9p9pQyySxPtf8WU/s400/IMG_1380.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">*Kanpai!*</span></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-48407568989716095042011-01-29T05:28:00.000-08:002011-01-29T05:28:43.392-08:00The Ramen Jiro DefeatMany of those seeking ramen experiences in Tokyo know of Ramen Jiro. Its sort of an institution here in Tokyo so of course we needed to go check it out. We went to the Ikebukuro Ramen Jiro, which according to the internet (which of course never lies), is one of the first Jiros to open and also one of the most renowned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wMyyjj49rSoc-M5eku800PnFLagqDPqZQ6_GXMZu0UaboypZvEl2B76-VcloZfL-qL2UYU2liwoWE8_JauxEdWDz3-aHGO9K-rZBR-XVS0uw3Z1xWY045hwKtgKPf2Y0QhlqSiQMwdE/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wMyyjj49rSoc-M5eku800PnFLagqDPqZQ6_GXMZu0UaboypZvEl2B76-VcloZfL-qL2UYU2liwoWE8_JauxEdWDz3-aHGO9K-rZBR-XVS0uw3Z1xWY045hwKtgKPf2Y0QhlqSiQMwdE/s400/IMG_1350.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> We got there at 1:30ish and the line was already there. Paul and Rob are at the end of the line.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjqrE3OUpGNlm5k2fyXlyEscAli76RAu4CsOE42HdyHnR9dZlVka-OwTYKiPZQr3mmdEIyMwIUswtLVxnfYYVloben3d7VZhQmJ5EHKiPuZbxNVmI3IbEW2ErcrFglzBNU1GTatwbSmo/s1600/IMG_1351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjqrE3OUpGNlm5k2fyXlyEscAli76RAu4CsOE42HdyHnR9dZlVka-OwTYKiPZQr3mmdEIyMwIUswtLVxnfYYVloben3d7VZhQmJ5EHKiPuZbxNVmI3IbEW2ErcrFglzBNU1GTatwbSmo/s400/IMG_1351.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>Without the line and knowledge that Ramen Jiro is here, most people would not give this shop a second look.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNMyBUT72kqVVS2HQ5SmWDfs8vSqQo47MCJQZlCJLrE77S7ujG_jvychhwJ7Y8y58Ug99VPsERI9cBLNDEMraVwL8KTn_9etuw9qLfq6I3vL_UPdp3xkpJA9aw6r-JqUblGFd8_cV8f8/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNMyBUT72kqVVS2HQ5SmWDfs8vSqQo47MCJQZlCJLrE77S7ujG_jvychhwJ7Y8y58Ug99VPsERI9cBLNDEMraVwL8KTn_9etuw9qLfq6I3vL_UPdp3xkpJA9aw6r-JqUblGFd8_cV8f8/s400/IMG_1354.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> People that come here leave their train tickets and company cards behind.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp4IuLxhQ6HXay9TmL0k4vDA1NeDO1s7l8nZ5jy7yCXBCtQ7yQvaI9IhrcCZ1L0WubDvNL7Xf-24Ur5YWha7eWMBHXCo8gNSBtEK112ivc89zI8avdFtauYbOvtV1I8aT7yS2rVZHqU4/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp4IuLxhQ6HXay9TmL0k4vDA1NeDO1s7l8nZ5jy7yCXBCtQ7yQvaI9IhrcCZ1L0WubDvNL7Xf-24Ur5YWha7eWMBHXCo8gNSBtEK112ivc89zI8avdFtauYbOvtV1I8aT7yS2rVZHqU4/s400/IMG_1355.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> While standing in line, we placed our orders and paid the ramen machine. If you look at the picture of this ramen machine carefully, you will see that the menu is super limited. You basically have the choice two of sizes of the same ramen: regular and big. Each of those can come with one round of extra pork, two rounds of extra pork, and/or an egg. That's all folks!<br />
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I ordered the regular size ramen with double pork and an egg.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiVnlWu-pzOMKflm27DHGtdfgqHkPUaXztTc1Q1rI_APd42NiH69XWtxPuqoeY6g3uYRiwDvE4s_Uq8qY59f-ot1Xvnb_7_9UfQlrc0a4Z6kyEfNHRLNA3uhk9-qETgtOfu7SScLCgK0/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSiVnlWu-pzOMKflm27DHGtdfgqHkPUaXztTc1Q1rI_APd42NiH69XWtxPuqoeY6g3uYRiwDvE4s_Uq8qY59f-ot1Xvnb_7_9UfQlrc0a4Z6kyEfNHRLNA3uhk9-qETgtOfu7SScLCgK0/s400/IMG_1357.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbce2wxQ2dyEDdIfKDjP3X_ufwnOGq1v7mm793xLF7k4Yblm_NUYG1CaPeiJXarPUB2POfS-CH7dVtE0qeR2jesRYfA7MhfjiWigJyFQyMgIYYXKgW3JXlx8DTHd_bEFk2PLhhJtGPiQ/s1600/IMG_1360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbce2wxQ2dyEDdIfKDjP3X_ufwnOGq1v7mm793xLF7k4Yblm_NUYG1CaPeiJXarPUB2POfS-CH7dVtE0qeR2jesRYfA7MhfjiWigJyFQyMgIYYXKgW3JXlx8DTHd_bEFk2PLhhJtGPiQ/s400/IMG_1360.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Ramen Jiro is tiny like most ramen shops, with a long counter full of customers slupring diligently on either side. After a ~20 minute wait, we were seated. We were so excited and hungry!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3LKyGG-vSfOqijNbfNuVU9e79Q1EpBRA-qHtHXMJlf9gJxahSWHCUn7rybbetVemcL_CFWGepJn4knGpSl5hfizocHWh5Jlnsq_BPdpX-Ykpo-IYkIdu-yfn6eTVY1O1faWl6noA5HM/s1600/IMG_1361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm3LKyGG-vSfOqijNbfNuVU9e79Q1EpBRA-qHtHXMJlf9gJxahSWHCUn7rybbetVemcL_CFWGepJn4knGpSl5hfizocHWh5Jlnsq_BPdpX-Ykpo-IYkIdu-yfn6eTVY1O1faWl6noA5HM/s400/IMG_1361.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then we got our ramen. To say that you get a big plate is an UNDERSTATEMENT. In fact, let me break the anatomy of a bowl of Ramen Jiro for you: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f;">Andrea's Breakdown of Ramen Jiro</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeCw9OKIUspwTKRNme2ZRtF14OQPWLyhf4ZKnKvTf8-WnW3xiq40L99ITSfp6aj6sAU9nF6xz6EcONEBawqkN6XWQNhhZ2y5VfaurHmwBqZJtVMNGyA59HssrZRDg4ECIDramoPztgyE/s1600/Ramen+Jiro+Anatomy.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeCw9OKIUspwTKRNme2ZRtF14OQPWLyhf4ZKnKvTf8-WnW3xiq40L99ITSfp6aj6sAU9nF6xz6EcONEBawqkN6XWQNhhZ2y5VfaurHmwBqZJtVMNGyA59HssrZRDg4ECIDramoPztgyE/s400/Ramen+Jiro+Anatomy.bmp" width="400" /></a></div>Ramen Jiro is a caloric bomb, I don't think that a breaded, deep fried "turducken" can have more calories than this ramen. Neither Paul, Rob or myself managed to finished the bowls of ramen. I did not have high hopes for myself, but I know Paul and Rob can eat their fare share. I think the most embarrassing thing was that all the Japanese guys around us finished their bowls to the last drop, in about half the time. <br />
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Despite our defeat, I still left a little piece of me in that shop. Can you see my NYU Stern card?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gX9-vft1wYvV7dqJNT_Dwyl9JYYS667YczhZ73J2PmLk-b6d2VUrfMG2KZ-8MdnA-IcOXFRphNXIgQJEpSU9Lek_tfGULkAXb_5-AVECmIHhDlcjRQ51QCfidS2a0gHEIkpc2TpwHyM/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gX9-vft1wYvV7dqJNT_Dwyl9JYYS667YczhZ73J2PmLk-b6d2VUrfMG2KZ-8MdnA-IcOXFRphNXIgQJEpSU9Lek_tfGULkAXb_5-AVECmIHhDlcjRQ51QCfidS2a0gHEIkpc2TpwHyM/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-47945666568011303442011-01-23T17:24:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:24:30.683-08:00The House of Blue LeavesA couple of nights ago we went to Gonpachi, the Japanese restaurant where the last fight takes place in Kill Bill Vol. 1 (known in the movie as The House of Blue Leaves). The restaurant has a very good atmosphere and the food is good, they serve yakitori, noodle and rice dishes. It was a fun experience!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs73PORBNOUHNOiMmIo9OfPhuk6X8U9upbhn0Kps_wpggW1TEVKgdBNdRELWkuzezJ8H_e740d8cdrLTr4L1lK4GcGogwmpwMObBBRBzF6BoK6IeBNBYk_hZlreuUsaLwFY_TCHs5ogEI/s1600/IMG_1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs73PORBNOUHNOiMmIo9OfPhuk6X8U9upbhn0Kps_wpggW1TEVKgdBNdRELWkuzezJ8H_e740d8cdrLTr4L1lK4GcGogwmpwMObBBRBzF6BoK6IeBNBYk_hZlreuUsaLwFY_TCHs5ogEI/s400/IMG_1200.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJ7EaezwvHzoBSiRmtYfOqoNuHWlYbMP5cD41_MWQVsLb6gqrzzloELPxGR_xjhKPxoIvxuUO7_DOCvdlegaJEWbF7BUKxsId4LKhcH_vDEOc0GTBGhe9P49T91gTT5qfW5D-ORsXBc/s1600/IMG_1204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gJ7EaezwvHzoBSiRmtYfOqoNuHWlYbMP5cD41_MWQVsLb6gqrzzloELPxGR_xjhKPxoIvxuUO7_DOCvdlegaJEWbF7BUKxsId4LKhcH_vDEOc0GTBGhe9P49T91gTT5qfW5D-ORsXBc/s400/IMG_1204.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRmIcTD2k0Rgdr7YwLVTK_qrK4dNwq_-1gOin-orXEnX44agOuT0b1kHvVZKbI3_DkPae5VU1qQMJ4tDRu-uaRq6E8sPo9Bc6-Mcr1W4_AXeOYNm1m89f_vGhxT7tBddPgeVKWqRI54A/s1600/IMG_1215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRmIcTD2k0Rgdr7YwLVTK_qrK4dNwq_-1gOin-orXEnX44agOuT0b1kHvVZKbI3_DkPae5VU1qQMJ4tDRu-uaRq6E8sPo9Bc6-Mcr1W4_AXeOYNm1m89f_vGhxT7tBddPgeVKWqRI54A/s400/IMG_1215.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gw2dlDtQxb7PNWcLCL8AA_Vw3civawF51Eb20fnC2M_ngXO6tpxLpEqXvWwZDUGlVrrbW5dv-sG9a0HHpbNFX1RLvXWaN6YGHeU93azLN2UPVjC2VyBkwzrWLvpONRIRdUxTJsSbkMI/s1600/IMG_1217b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gw2dlDtQxb7PNWcLCL8AA_Vw3civawF51Eb20fnC2M_ngXO6tpxLpEqXvWwZDUGlVrrbW5dv-sG9a0HHpbNFX1RLvXWaN6YGHeU93azLN2UPVjC2VyBkwzrWLvpONRIRdUxTJsSbkMI/s400/IMG_1217b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HEVoD7ImuoMEHPuaJekkF3lezNhgYRcx5Yx6zZl3aEeJZCsKOOQZDJWGfJS0tJANyEY0hquzVW1JSplmV2gOGUGfSPUcb6ksJ1IyKCJ3UkUDqe1Xr6c-4yLxItwqOrv9EidFaL2FlaI/s1600/IMG_1219b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HEVoD7ImuoMEHPuaJekkF3lezNhgYRcx5Yx6zZl3aEeJZCsKOOQZDJWGfJS0tJANyEY0hquzVW1JSplmV2gOGUGfSPUcb6ksJ1IyKCJ3UkUDqe1Xr6c-4yLxItwqOrv9EidFaL2FlaI/s400/IMG_1219b.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got vegetable skewers, hot soba noodles and oshiko (pickles). I love pickles. The restaurant was very dark, so the food pictures are not very good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILFLwS8YDHk7qGRVGvL7Q49BJGwcSc7wVb3Xz8roJtMhFmjK7mSRxdbxTdPAx9yC11VYAIjlhzHGlo2fSeh9CiVqbW6vSZqXd9xoxc86IxYRyt1SVK2CoVshHeROwhhzfM3SGTJjVirc/s1600/IMG_1223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILFLwS8YDHk7qGRVGvL7Q49BJGwcSc7wVb3Xz8roJtMhFmjK7mSRxdbxTdPAx9yC11VYAIjlhzHGlo2fSeh9CiVqbW6vSZqXd9xoxc86IxYRyt1SVK2CoVshHeROwhhzfM3SGTJjVirc/s400/IMG_1223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>And for Kill Bill fans, you can get your yellow Onitsuka Tiger shoes here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-10162343653838669842011-01-23T03:53:00.000-08:002011-01-23T03:53:33.159-08:00My lunch today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM5v0Zd9AWaH3bKLy2ou6m1VF4S4dRTWflOsszJMOrAGzndTEP1G-Jfu9RBXuTVvOxywNJV1_O8O5ckU-p82XTGX2S5A35oDn7J_hlkcg8rbaOp_LI7CyygnCWjSe5dJ3_Kl-C4WNMuA/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM5v0Zd9AWaH3bKLy2ou6m1VF4S4dRTWflOsszJMOrAGzndTEP1G-Jfu9RBXuTVvOxywNJV1_O8O5ckU-p82XTGX2S5A35oDn7J_hlkcg8rbaOp_LI7CyygnCWjSe5dJ3_Kl-C4WNMuA/s400/IMG_1311.JPG" width="265" /></a></div>One of the awesome things about Japan is the incredible food sections in the basement of major department stores. Know in Japan as "depachika", the joint words "depato" (department store) and "chika" (basement). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqpBWt5YIfTcBVOjbc-7ES1dVlHNP0PvfePAiiUJBqV13vyt1PEiiRyxdX42ptb1yp4U3juHVhyig3yapO9TCD9DbhV3QgUcCdZf3gAkFxDPJK4x4-E4jYyb4H_cT6JLw_WkYE0GR90c/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheqpBWt5YIfTcBVOjbc-7ES1dVlHNP0PvfePAiiUJBqV13vyt1PEiiRyxdX42ptb1yp4U3juHVhyig3yapO9TCD9DbhV3QgUcCdZf3gAkFxDPJK4x4-E4jYyb4H_cT6JLw_WkYE0GR90c/s400/IMG_1306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> I love trying the different bento boxes at the depachika, and today I tried the bento in this food stand.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0fAUdDJWxTK19dIx-USrfR44WueHfS1NXOsmSyvw3hL33nV651-ByT3eMYWB5afyO_WhF8YPw-vG-xAX6fIBnyCiBvPQYpkRCrAlEyWam3lWA4ZwfWliLV5yHWsTUr_hgUDs0_3dA8/s1600/IMG_1307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZ0fAUdDJWxTK19dIx-USrfR44WueHfS1NXOsmSyvw3hL33nV651-ByT3eMYWB5afyO_WhF8YPw-vG-xAX6fIBnyCiBvPQYpkRCrAlEyWam3lWA4ZwfWliLV5yHWsTUr_hgUDs0_3dA8/s400/IMG_1307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO_fB1YcWK_t0HiO3QAp41ge3VI42C2tMlIZHP2PL7YKvvlmA7x8x0bq2aLvhZtiD-rPD7z0UkpWXnV1i8eeC6WGnUxxGH6mjW-u5wkU-8MvZGSJpmdE7Ts_ShW2yVSNahyphenhyphen_C098QOj4/s1600/IMG_1313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQO_fB1YcWK_t0HiO3QAp41ge3VI42C2tMlIZHP2PL7YKvvlmA7x8x0bq2aLvhZtiD-rPD7z0UkpWXnV1i8eeC6WGnUxxGH6mjW-u5wkU-8MvZGSJpmdE7Ts_ShW2yVSNahyphenhyphen_C098QOj4/s400/IMG_1313.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>How awesome is my<span style="font-family: inherit;"> 525 yen (~$5.25)</span> lunch?!?! (^-^)/Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-76530340180623905252011-01-18T07:04:00.000-08:002011-01-18T07:12:15.387-08:00Sunday in Setagaya - Part II: ManekinekoAfter the market, he headed to Gotokuji temeple in Setagaya. This temple is very special because the manekineko, know as "beckonig cat" or "lucky cat" has its origins in this temple.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZVWRaeun3CDOenvy4bisoCihNz8UtadZzMlV53-HR6fP4sRQ5ljAWdmqwyfgJRgRcBjuDOxnncbL_JCnGV3H_NzlcbYneM44FuOFKbMyM-sSN91l6lJ2kUN7DmcIOz1HW8OfBJAHd6o/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZVWRaeun3CDOenvy4bisoCihNz8UtadZzMlV53-HR6fP4sRQ5ljAWdmqwyfgJRgRcBjuDOxnncbL_JCnGV3H_NzlcbYneM44FuOFKbMyM-sSN91l6lJ2kUN7DmcIOz1HW8OfBJAHd6o/s400/IMG_1179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0AXxjSE_0TVL7niW92QLrELJEiiw5mUFIZyRqPZN9Otpd8od0RzmTpoACdozP6z4xZJU6N9T6Lm5q4DQ0h5POpwOfnKoj7MavP5oFu5hJQhkBoyp5yIj3FFf-ainry2UuMK0ayKg-2s/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0AXxjSE_0TVL7niW92QLrELJEiiw5mUFIZyRqPZN9Otpd8od0RzmTpoACdozP6z4xZJU6N9T6Lm5q4DQ0h5POpwOfnKoj7MavP5oFu5hJQhkBoyp5yIj3FFf-ainry2UuMK0ayKg-2s/s400/IMG_1180.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The manekineko is meant to bring good fortune or luck. So there are many manekineko at Gotokuji that people have returned to the temple once they where no longer needed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh041O1GAzKaUCcMlmuasedYZkHmSV4wXSy7kG-WNF1QT9BeUucSpwm5tBMhQTG2GqHNgj-z8bVho7SsAUf_NyXOh2sE_6MeoCMAYHJbElWA5PBaKr4Y-ff13651CeyuhGBofhASEmEiS4/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh041O1GAzKaUCcMlmuasedYZkHmSV4wXSy7kG-WNF1QT9BeUucSpwm5tBMhQTG2GqHNgj-z8bVho7SsAUf_NyXOh2sE_6MeoCMAYHJbElWA5PBaKr4Y-ff13651CeyuhGBofhASEmEiS4/s400/IMG_1184.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm0s1ol99okFZnJU1-r7lWtbXp77D4IesCmjnW7CHqZTwnzVAbKRJTlU8WY-fu8ARLItcPQkE77F_dL4qhaVHlZnzZTJ_OObO17I5uSjFfiwZU_gDEn-sydywGj1AGOvpJzOjncCZ2HA/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm0s1ol99okFZnJU1-r7lWtbXp77D4IesCmjnW7CHqZTwnzVAbKRJTlU8WY-fu8ARLItcPQkE77F_dL4qhaVHlZnzZTJ_OObO17I5uSjFfiwZU_gDEn-sydywGj1AGOvpJzOjncCZ2HA/s400/IMG_1189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Yocchan explained that for the Japanese, when calling for people you do with your hand raised upward and bringing your fingers forward and under. So the manekineko is not really waving to say hi as most westerners think, it is actually calling for luck or fortune.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9K_iym-0K8oVryRgTT8DBMyokFdrvhfTAK68CA4xk08vJ9m4sxv_xriaV7M1M0OmzzXTfW8wDVomR7cii4H-4WFfpdAF2cO8XS8jjJafefksGLo0vCFHjwOe908XPxfC6mdzpO6dM-k/s1600/IMG_1185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9K_iym-0K8oVryRgTT8DBMyokFdrvhfTAK68CA4xk08vJ9m4sxv_xriaV7M1M0OmzzXTfW8wDVomR7cii4H-4WFfpdAF2cO8XS8jjJafefksGLo0vCFHjwOe908XPxfC6mdzpO6dM-k/s400/IMG_1185.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiDwADV7RwPT5j6sG_FGAe9aHuJSN9tAMcrHI7sCLXDwiK3LxksqQ29oboklNmRKKETomI8c2YsOpxuYCXhjpUOp-OrVQnM3OWX7DK4TZbx06mQEn4EZPsd7OnXDcjjd0Ss9qsEUxg6E/s1600/IMG_1176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNiDwADV7RwPT5j6sG_FGAe9aHuJSN9tAMcrHI7sCLXDwiK3LxksqQ29oboklNmRKKETomI8c2YsOpxuYCXhjpUOp-OrVQnM3OWX7DK4TZbx06mQEn4EZPsd7OnXDcjjd0Ss9qsEUxg6E/s400/IMG_1176.JPG" width="266" /></a></div> The plum trees are starting to bloom. I can't wait for to see them next week.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7pXcHsDzJeQVwPrEvnQEFcIsfY7EiNpa2FUt9elc5Lvi3ju5eevFAviTKKtQN_0iohGDjXxWKhqJjWaenRofBBcpMG4f91jdvPSN8cAgJ55WkAt5N_MvEg-2y4AmZfSDRR8e52Lmick/s1600/IMG_1191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7pXcHsDzJeQVwPrEvnQEFcIsfY7EiNpa2FUt9elc5Lvi3ju5eevFAviTKKtQN_0iohGDjXxWKhqJjWaenRofBBcpMG4f91jdvPSN8cAgJ55WkAt5N_MvEg-2y4AmZfSDRR8e52Lmick/s400/IMG_1191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Lastly, one more picture of Junchan because he is so sweet and I love his cheeks!!!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-26603107928030524762011-01-16T03:37:00.000-08:002011-01-16T03:57:15.563-08:00Sunday in Setagaya - Part I: The Yakitori MachineToday I met Yocchan, her husband, brother and Junchan to go to the antique/vintage market in Setagaya. It was an incredibly fun experience filled with good shopping and even better food!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloyZS7olvkf_A4-qwEy_vkq94-ckOLvuGpiKWOpmDRwFADCHdHvM6tSNzE_A7VRfxF1qg9ebB2KDLrJr-lRil5sd_cy-9njMBaPPBbRl9gh3NdKWI2qDzgVLxuXvPJzqcCxV93J2TDds/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloyZS7olvkf_A4-qwEy_vkq94-ckOLvuGpiKWOpmDRwFADCHdHvM6tSNzE_A7VRfxF1qg9ebB2KDLrJr-lRil5sd_cy-9njMBaPPBbRl9gh3NdKWI2qDzgVLxuXvPJzqcCxV93J2TDds/s400/IMG_1151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">First, we had warm, sweet sake to warm up in the cold day.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApbSIBDSxT0PtKMY4uT2VHwMDinEV3xVjmwM_Ox9TEAfINjQiMvvcPyo7Gr8fMA5sQkzFPLkwXdnZHQJTeVcZAEeNTs_M3R4MsKG42-njLBjxWXi9Orkt5SEPBVezq0qkqwS5QmSM05M/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCMLmAVTXafpRtKSa9N6Tt5MifSDZTmkSLXhrMjVPefWX_9lIfj0mE4ftCWmun2SqFm_GxDp8lFVy66es_YvjAfdWBBib5XElO1uWE8-mveAKoxiVteEPrdsaKw07hLodWefCgjxUValc/s400/IMG_1173.JPG" width="400" /></a><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xFbvGR02L1s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>We ate all sorts of delicious street food!!! Check out the video of the yakitori machine (^o^)/!!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrmi_r9kaHGNy74BB1nsoZkiSTw2nmP-ZdyO3fYxkasS6JV11mTOIkAPHeqqKyLyl7EU03kze3UUsagJfmUxWltfy_JeUsdpqahw-E-sZC0I93WLe9bG5mweYqt3eINzZvvuI81fCQpg/s1600/IMG_1166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrmi_r9kaHGNy74BB1nsoZkiSTw2nmP-ZdyO3fYxkasS6JV11mTOIkAPHeqqKyLyl7EU03kze3UUsagJfmUxWltfy_JeUsdpqahw-E-sZC0I93WLe9bG5mweYqt3eINzZvvuI81fCQpg/s400/IMG_1166.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDINxuIoKcO9rzA1akPieMqyFqwkMHd6hY8wUjJGl7f6LoyrT7-mIoGLY9G6WJzIQWfwT-MOz28GLg9yTn4ro0wNrhEgjiEPaPxahTDZOBI5YAmNnEwq7kiW5P6kedJYhkrywa7Yeb24/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDINxuIoKcO9rzA1akPieMqyFqwkMHd6hY8wUjJGl7f6LoyrT7-mIoGLY9G6WJzIQWfwT-MOz28GLg9yTn4ro0wNrhEgjiEPaPxahTDZOBI5YAmNnEwq7kiW5P6kedJYhkrywa7Yeb24/s400/IMG_1167.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-nVFGiH1nx-w3AWREnEv0u_sWgH3scYcwKt6Db_q-LvHKtHcQfv5Yc_TXVANSbNmIvdCpyqr0YKpenAN3M5xfASA_A7bDy2GYBrIVzNEYtv9loi66_fy4wefy96s6UkvZmPruvFSsIA/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-nVFGiH1nx-w3AWREnEv0u_sWgH3scYcwKt6Db_q-LvHKtHcQfv5Yc_TXVANSbNmIvdCpyqr0YKpenAN3M5xfASA_A7bDy2GYBrIVzNEYtv9loi66_fy4wefy96s6UkvZmPruvFSsIA/s400/IMG_1169.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">I learned that those big wooden vats and huge mallets are used to make mochi. Turned out that this seller was as curious about me as I was about him. After Jin explained him that I was a visitor from Ecuador, he was all smiles and was happy when I took his picture.</div>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-71547070378933198872011-01-13T23:55:00.000-08:002011-01-13T23:55:16.409-08:00AkachanYocchan and I met today for lunch and I got to finally meet Junchan!!! Jun is as cute and can be and incredibly curious. He is going to be a smart little kid!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS08vLdZh-DDpKONS3AJNQ-y5N8WTHZNFyIrt9dAJO1dPGuvS8f3Qp9ANeED7A_q4Zp2PcX-079wgY6r8CEO17tSh6BNPNsqvnZd9G_OvgZJ_tJMTZ3GW-TX9eGMvZc90rDU6h3H09Zk/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS08vLdZh-DDpKONS3AJNQ-y5N8WTHZNFyIrt9dAJO1dPGuvS8f3Qp9ANeED7A_q4Zp2PcX-079wgY6r8CEO17tSh6BNPNsqvnZd9G_OvgZJ_tJMTZ3GW-TX9eGMvZc90rDU6h3H09Zk/s400/IMG_1142.JPG" width="400" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-uhiv4NDOJBnHrXehgRfVvC-SVZom74qv55mdHW-TO8Jj-lLd-4MPIWshXA6qc0B2r6re2BAIwNJAWUjVaVhJORY7wdp4LZ3igfbBXDNvr3YLlUtOjFhhqdncstBRj17foJQuYDmi1s/s1600/IMG_1148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-uhiv4NDOJBnHrXehgRfVvC-SVZom74qv55mdHW-TO8Jj-lLd-4MPIWshXA6qc0B2r6re2BAIwNJAWUjVaVhJORY7wdp4LZ3igfbBXDNvr3YLlUtOjFhhqdncstBRj17foJQuYDmi1s/s400/IMG_1148.JPG" width="247" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGWVg2vGT4NNBPy-OBt-yc9YV05gFzAivXkUM1elIPqB_R12-bm-EnCvQpbD-XYCK9lR3F8EfzwGDIFBsruReH46hZhI2P8xW3B9tYOLxViUXY6zG9S93wN9R5jl6znwAT0OqB-887X8/s1600/IMG_1138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKGWVg2vGT4NNBPy-OBt-yc9YV05gFzAivXkUM1elIPqB_R12-bm-EnCvQpbD-XYCK9lR3F8EfzwGDIFBsruReH46hZhI2P8xW3B9tYOLxViUXY6zG9S93wN9R5jl6znwAT0OqB-887X8/s320/IMG_1138.JPG" width="315" /></a></div><br />
Lunch was delicious. It included soba, inari sushi and all sorts of other yummies.<br />
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It is the year of the rabbit, therefore all the rabbits...Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-17286345139011717192011-01-12T00:14:00.000-08:002011-01-12T00:14:09.481-08:00Green is for cardio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssdzX0jlB5lR-3IAUVWzaGhVOUNOOQm9cU7oy_PZDPGza26C0yTbIb4_aABoWXtL5eSarhFoIO_eI21fTQnxkB4zo9I0QWdyMHjXvAjSIwQdMwdZhV7zmXjfKfAltwCzcFQjfQxtnAHg/s400/IMG_1126.JPG" width="400" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO37HQxHRHLJ6nkR1TMxfsv2pmsgHn_QLRdoEKC9xsYM0m-YmrfLahXiNwbE2Aj59tTmYYSxOsuIolEU7-jflkpsiv6gmM1d2Y0Bvy8PIS7npUwZ7Wig_aQASKhzanYQas1WYaCOC_TpM/s1600/IMG_1134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO37HQxHRHLJ6nkR1TMxfsv2pmsgHn_QLRdoEKC9xsYM0m-YmrfLahXiNwbE2Aj59tTmYYSxOsuIolEU7-jflkpsiv6gmM1d2Y0Bvy8PIS7npUwZ7Wig_aQASKhzanYQas1WYaCOC_TpM/s400/IMG_1134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3FAhg7qVH4KO0VsND0PLWeoHvDFVMoDpFLb1ALVtWVdgqy_Hi0wnoI-pws9EypFJJ_hlhLtAOORbq4SdzvxY3Drb3VHYdj1vxgPfagpNk-TxXr17VeBOyKkoHMaoejBTdxIi6yatQGo/s1600/IMG_1132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3FAhg7qVH4KO0VsND0PLWeoHvDFVMoDpFLb1ALVtWVdgqy_Hi0wnoI-pws9EypFJJ_hlhLtAOORbq4SdzvxY3Drb3VHYdj1vxgPfagpNk-TxXr17VeBOyKkoHMaoejBTdxIi6yatQGo/s400/IMG_1132.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I went out for a walk in the new neighborhood. Crows in Japan are very common, big and scary. <br />
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I also found a supermarket where I can get "free pickle" tastings, and figured out the gym schedule. Classes in green are cardio, classes in red are weight training.Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4762614742799256216.post-30905471117517025662011-01-10T00:56:00.000-08:002011-01-10T01:23:39.373-08:00Coming of Age Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today is "Coming of Age Day" in Japan. So there where a lot of twenty-year olds wearing beautiful kimono around town. I was to shy to ask them to pose but still managed to get some pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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This was my lunch: "30 item balance lunch". I can't identify 10 items properly, but they where all very tasty!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c-iGH8Wy77t4hdjExFXm0bsXEKuOcQHgoegDfy0OI2FJZRtak_ohEhqHoMQF_yH979FlNjCRw2c5KUC2Ol-Yjvu7n7PmQ0WNwBscUwddtbHpz9EGrTs4hcxcHgJxPwDttOKZJWiMHtw/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c-iGH8Wy77t4hdjExFXm0bsXEKuOcQHgoegDfy0OI2FJZRtak_ohEhqHoMQF_yH979FlNjCRw2c5KUC2Ol-Yjvu7n7PmQ0WNwBscUwddtbHpz9EGrTs4hcxcHgJxPwDttOKZJWiMHtw/s400/IMG_1112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #073763;"></span>Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15667437606355603282noreply@blogger.com1