Kyoto

Walking a small path.

Visiting Kiyomizu Temple.

Power Spot? - Well of Kiyomasa, Meiji Shrine

The other day, I went to Meiji Shrine.

It's so peaceful walking under trees.

Then, I remembered about the Power Spot which was introduced on the TV Program about 6 months ago...

I took a photo of the well. A guard man told me that you can get a luck if you keep the photo on the display of your mobile phone.

I keep it since then.

Did I get luck so far? ... Yes !!!

I wish you luck! :)

Pizzeria-Trattoria Napule / Midtown

My friend's birthday lunch at the terrace of Trattoria Napule.

What do you do in Summer 3

Tokyo Bay Great Fireworks last night.

After 20:00, the Illumination of the Tokyo Tower changed.

When the next?

■Jingu Gaien Fireworks

Date: Thu. 19th Aug.

Time: 19:30 - 20:30

Place: Meiji Jingu Gaien, Shinjuku-ku

■Azabu Juban Matsuri

Date: Fri. 20th - Sun. 22nd, Aug.

Time: 15:00 - 21:00

Place: Azabu Juban Shotengai

Old photos

Just found old photos.

When our dog, Kota came to our house.

He was so cute.

It's really my pleasure when I can give some small tips to foreign friends who visit Japan.

A couple of months ago, a friend of my best friend from NY came and visited Japan with her family.

I just got an email from them that they had a good time in Tokyo and the rest of their time in Kyoto, and also they loved the restaurant we went together in Tokyo, so, I'd like to introduce it.

During their stay in Tokyo, we spent a fun evening together.

As my friend who lived Tokyo for 3 years, she knows Japan well, and had already given her lots of information where to go and see, and eat, so, I took them to Roppongi Hills, a relatively new spot, for dinner and Tokyo night view.

Firstly, we took an elevator and went on 52 floor to see the view. If you have time, theres's another elevator which takes you higher - to the roof of the building.

Then, we went to the restaurant called "寅 - Tora ( tiger )" near the Mori Japanese Garden.

They grill fresh food, vegetable in season, fish and shells and meat on the charcoal stove in front of table.

The other day, I took my friend from LA.

We enjoyed clams and also few kinds of sake.

Huge clams!

Even Ice cream!

Mom's taste - Japanese Chicken rice

I love Singapore Chicken rice. My favorite restaurant is 海南鶏飯食堂 as many of you might know.

My friend from junior high school told me that she always remembers Chicken rice she ate at my house many years ago. So, here's the simple recipe of my mom.

If you use ordinal rice (Uruchi mai) instead of glutinous rice (Mochigome), that's fine. If you use glutinous rice, it will be Okowa, tastes more sticky.

Preparation ( for 4 cups of rice )

Chicken thigh - 1/2 piece

Glutionous rice (Mochigome) - 3 cups

Rice (Uruchimai) - 1 cups

Spices

Soy sauce 1/2cups ( or a little bit less, you adjust it with your taste)

Sugar 2 small spoon

Sake 1 big spoon

Water 1/4 cup

Powdered Broth

1. Cut chicken small in dice.

2. Put all the spices in a pot, then, add chickens.

3. Once it's cooked, turn off the heat and leave chickens in a pot.

( Chicken has to be well-cooked as it will be added in the last minute).

After washed rice, you put 1/2 cup of broth above ( from the chicken and soy sauce) and 3 1/2 cups of water ( actually, you can follow your rice cooker). Then, if flavor is not good enough, you can put a pinch of salt .

Once is it cooked you add chicken.

Hope you enjoy!

What do you do in Summer 2

Getting ready for Summer.

Fireworks in Kamakura

Wed. July 21st

19:00 - 20:00

Venue: Yuigahama, Zaimokuza

**********************************

Sumida River Fireworks Festival

Sat. July 31st

19:05 - 20:30

Details ↓

http://sumidagawa-hanabi.com/index_eg.html

What do you do in Summer?

Yokohama Minato Fireworks Show (Yokohama Sparkling Twilight)

Sunday, July 18, 2010

19:00p.m. - 19:40p.m.

Venues: Red Brick Warehouse, Osanbashi Pier, Yamashita Park and Yamashita Wharf

************************************************

Amalfi DELLA SERA

My favorite restaurant in Shichirigahama.

It would take only one hour from Shinagawa.

http://www.be-value.co.jp/index.files/amalfiDELLASERA.htm

Cooking demonstration /Dishes in July ( Fumizuki/Fuzuki )

I visited a Japanese cooking class.

Using foods in season Japanese chef demonstrated cooking.

Eating food in season is very good.

Not only you can enjoy season, but, also it contains lots of nutrition.

And, also it will help you maintain yourself healthy during that season! For example, lots of food in summer have role to cool your body down from heat.

Tanetsu - Japanese restaurant in Tokyo Mid Town

We went to Japanese restaurant called "Tanetsu". They are originally from Kitasenjyu.

There're some tables at the terrace, but, unfortunately, it was raining when we arrived.
So, we took the counter seat.
But, that turned out good.

Their open kitchen was very beautiful and you can see their works.

All the vegetable, fishes in season are served in various way.

Hope we can come back shortly!

Happoen - Japanese garden

If you are close to Shirogane, and want to relax one afternoon in Tokyo, here's Japanese garden of Happoen.

There're many carps in the pond and the hydrangea is blooming.

My friend from London wanted to visit here.

So, firstly we visited here and then, we went to Sheraton Miyako which is only 5min. away from here on foot for tea. ( also, you can enjoy little Japanese garden view from the lounge).

Ready for summer?

I went to 2nd Calligraphy lesson.

Today, instead of words, we mainly practiced painting for summer.

Painted summer flowers and other icons for summer on cards, fan, and table mat.

It was really fun and yes, now I am ready for sending summer greetings.

First Japanese Cooking Lesson in English

Last night we had first "Japanese Cooking Lesson" in English.

We firstly went to a super market and let student to choose ingredient listed, then, made dishes.

I worked as an assistant and it was a great experience.

Menu

Rice: Mixed Rice (Takikomi gohan)

Soup: Kenchin Soup

Main dish: Grilled Salmon

Side dish: Spinach with Sesame Dressing

Dessert: Fruit & Milk Jelly

Everyone enjoyed the class.

Traditional Japanese meal is called "1 soup and 3 dishes" - that means rice, soup and 3 dishes ( main dish and 2 side dishes ) as you see here.

In that way you can eat various food and eat with balance.

Today, our main dish is fish (sardine ) with lotus. Cooked pumpkin and vinegared food are side dishes.

Home-made Cooking

Basically, we use soy sauce and sugar for flavoring.

Here's simple dishes.

"Nikujaga" -- "Beef and Potato"

It's like Japanese style pot-au-feu.

Stir-fry sliced beef.
Then, add some water with powdered bonito bouillon.
Add some potatoes, onions, and carrots.
For flavor, you add firstly sugar, then, some soy sauce.
Cover it with a drop lid for about 15min. until all vegetables get soft.

We often make some vinegared food, then.

This is the one with squid, okura and cucumbers.
Vinegar and also Okura make the smooth blood.

We visited the exhibition.
Cup and saucer, tea pot, plates, bowls, flower vase, mirror.. one of my favorites is flower vase you can hang on a wall.

Chatting with potter is fun part of visiting an exhibition.

I bought a pot of moss you see on the shelf. (the right one!)

Looking for a nice pottery? - announcement of solo exhibition

An Exhibition of Masaaki Ito will be held from June 3rd to 8th at Kagurazaka

Gallery Saka

June 3rd - 8th
11:00 - 19:00 ( 8th will be close at 17:00)

2 Tsukiji-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

3min. walk from Kagurazaka Station

access:
http://www.gallery-saka.com/html/access.html



If you're looking for a nice pottery for your table, here's my favorite one!


A little bowl can be used at every meal.
I put Tofu with herbs ( Long Onion, Myoga, and Kaiware, and Ginger) today.
I also use it for soup, yogurt, etc..



Also, it goes well with western food.
This is beef with red-wine learnt from my friend in Paris.

Calligraphy Lesson

Calligraphy Lesson.

This Kanji character means "Wind".
Towards summer, this character makes you feel cooler.







If you take some classes of Calligraphy, you can also take class for drawing.

A day trip from Tokyo - Takao

About 50min. away from Shinjuku, from the center of Tokyo, there’s a place called Mt. Takao, where you can enjoy hiking.


http://www.takaotozan.co.jp/takaotozan_eng1/index2.htm

Ukai Toriyama, Japanese grill restaurant, is located in that area, too. You can get a shuttle bus from Takaosan-guchi station.
You can enjoy there every season.

Lots of my friends from U.S., Australia, HK, etc… like this place, and they will go again next time when they come back to Japan.




You can choose chicken or beef.

First Green Tea Leave of the season

First Green Tea Leaves of the season are on sale right now.

It is said 88 nights after the first day of spring is the time to start new green tea leave picking. 88 days after the first day of spring is around May 2nd, every year.
It is said that drinking first green tea of that season on that day gives you a long life.

* If you find a tea shop, you can see a sign or new “新茶”.

* You can find lots of Maccha sweets, too.

Plum Wine

This season, I decided to make a Plum Wine.
I picked up 30 plums yesterday (about 500g) .

Having checked the basic recipe, you can use Crystal Sugar and White Liquor.

But, you can use Honey or Brown Sugar for sweet, and Sake, Shochu, Brandy... for liquor.

Here's my Plum Wine 2010 !

View of Tokyo

Weather is so pleasant in Tokyo area in May.
People go out on weekends.

Tokyo in Twilight

Tango no Sekku – Boy’s day

We just had holiday called “Golden Week( 4 national holidays in a week)” and May 5th is the national holiday called Children’s Day. May 5th was traditionally a festival for boys known as Tanogo no Sekku. (March 3rd is a festival for girls called Hinamatsuri) And, Carp-shaped streamers called Koinobori and doll with armour like Samurai are decorated for blessing boys of the house.