Sushi Rice

Sushi Rice is made with white short grain Japanese rice, which has a consistency that differs from long-grain rice. The essential quality is its stickiness or glutinousness.


Below is a step by step Recipe to make Traditional Japanese Sushi Rice

Ingredients
• 3 cups short-grain rice
• 4 cups water
• konbu
• 5 Tbsp rice vinegar
• 5 Tbsp sugar
• 4 tsp sea salt

Method

1. Rinse the rice in a strainer or colander until the water runs clear.
2. Put rice in medium-sized saucepan with 4 cups of water.
3. Wipe kombu clean with a damp cloth and place on top of rice in water.
4. Cover and heat over medium heat until boiling.
5. Remove kombu and discard. Reduce heat to very low and cook for 20 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed.
6. Turn off heat and let the rice stand with the cover on for 10 minutes.
7. Have the vinegar dressing already prepared during this time. Dissolve the sugar and salt in the vinegar over a low heat.
8. Cool the vinegar dressing to room temperature.
9. Using a flat wooden spoon or shamoji, spread the hot rice in a thin layer in a wide and shallow wooden or plastic bowl (hangiri). To keep the grains separate, toss the rice with horizontal cutting strokes (this will avoid mashing the rice).
10. While tossing the rice, sprinkle vinegar dressing generously over the rice. You may not need to use all of it (be careful not to add too much liquid as the rice becomes mashy).
11. Cool the rice to room temperature.

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Japanese Sushi

Peninsula Savings – Mornington Peninsula Attractions Pass

There are great savings to be had with the Mornington Peninsula Attractions Pass. The Mornington Peninsula Attractions Pass (adults $49, children $39, valid for 3 months) includes entry to the following popular Mornington Pensinsula Attractions:

Peninsula Hot Springs

Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens

Cape Schanck Lighthouse

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park

Most Popular Blog Posts for December 2010

December 2010 was a big month for Japan Australia Blog. The following were the most popular blog posts for December 2010.

Japan's Traditional Kimono

Green Tea Antioxidant Wonder

How to Learn Japanese

Japanese Sushi

Travel to Japan

Working in Japan

Picture of the Week Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima (広島市) is a beautiful city in Japan that reminds me of my home town of Melbourne in Australia with its green parks and trams. Hiroshima City was destroyed by a nuclear bomb when it was bombed in 1945. Hiroshima City was completely rebuilt after the war and now tourists from all over the world flock to this city. The highlights include Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum, Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome), Hiroshima-jo castle and Miyajima.

This picture is of the Genbaku Dome or Atomic Bomb Dome, which is just across the river from the Peace Memorial Park. The building which was a hall is where the bomb directly exploded.

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Is Sushi Healthy

Is Sushi Healthy? It really depends on the type of sushi you eat. Avoid any sushi that is deep fried or tempura. Some of the rolls like California Roll and Prawn Tempura Roll are also really bad health wise. If you stick to traditional style sushi it can be a nutritional powerhouse. The best sushi and fish to look for are Salmon and Tuna. These are oily fish and contain omega 3 fatty acids and lots of nutrients. The best rolls to go for are Salmon Roll, Avocado Roll and Cucumber Roll. Try and eat sushi with nori or seaweed as this contains iodine and many other healthy minerals.

Japanese Sushi

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Picture of the Week Yokohama Chinatown, Japan

Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan after Tokyo and is located by the sea close to Tokyo. Yokohama has a lot to offer including the futuristic Minato Mirai 21 harbourtown, Yokohama Marine Town and Chinatown. Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan and one of the largest in the world.

This picture is of one of the main entrances to Yokohama Chinatown

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The Complete Asian Cookbook

The Complete Asian Cookbook by Charmaine Solomon is the perfect introduction to the food of Asia. With over 800 recipes from 16 countries, clearly presented in step-by-step instructions. This cookbook is about real Asian food, created with a minimum of fuss in a Western kitchen from readily available ingredients.

The great thing about this book is that it`s got all the Asian basics in it with things like green chicken curry and satays. The Complete Asian Cookbook teaches you how to put the flavours together without giving you a list of 30 ingredients. Some of the cuisines highlighted in the book include Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, India, Pakistan and many more.

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Japanese Bento Boxes

A Japanese bento (弁当) is a single portion takeout or home packed meal very common in Japanese cuisine. The typical Japanese bento lunch box consist of a meat, rice and some vegetables and/or pickles. The meat can be a variety of fish such as salmon, or fried chicken, pork cutlets, sausage, hamburger. The rice can be plain or consist of a topping sprinkled on called “furikake”. Most bento`s are eaten cold but it is not a problem to heat them up in the microwave depending on what they contain.

Bento can be very simple or very elaborately arranged. In Japan, there is a bento style called kyaraben or “character bento”, where the bento is designed to look like popular Japanese cartoon characters (anime) such as Anpanman, Doraemon and Mickey Mouse.

For an easy Japanese bento lunch box try some boiled white rice or onigiri (rice ball) with a rolled omlette and a few small main dishes like karaage (Japanese fried chicken), hamburger, tonkatsu (deep fried pork cutlet), gyoza (dumpling), spring rolls, mini sausages, potato or pasta salad.

A Japanese bento is usually in a boxed-shaped container. Containers or bento boxes usually range from disposable mass produced boxes to beautiful hand crafted lacquerware. A traditional bento box in Japan is shokado bento (松花堂弁当) which is a black-lacquered Japanese bento box.

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Picture of the Week Tokyo Disneyland Japan

Tokyo Disneyland is a theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Chiba, Japan near Tokyo. The park was constructed in the same style as Disneyland in California. There are seven themed areas in the park. Made up of the World Bazaar, the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and two mini lands, Critter Country and Mickey`s Toontown.

This picture is of the main icon of Tokyo Disneyland, Cinderella Castle.

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A Short Stop Over in Tokyo, Japan

If you have a 13-hour layover at Narita Airport, Tokyo Japan do you have enough time to actually go into Tokyo and see a few sights?

The answer is Yes, a short trip into Tokyo is very possible. The best way to get from Narita Airport is on the Narita Express train (http://www.jreast.co.jp/), which takes 53 minutes to reach central Tokyo Station. It is best to try not to achieve too much in the time you have, but you can still see at lot of the major attractions of Tokyo.

Ginza, is one of Asia`s best and most exciting shopping districts and is located right near Tokyo Station, as is the Marunouchi Building (http://www.marunouchi.com/), an upmarket retail and dining complex. Nearby is the Tokyo Imperial Palace and its lavish gardens.

If you fancy a splurge, there is a special Tokyo City Transit Tour (http://www.tctour.co.jp/) designed for visitors on a stopover. A minivan with an English speaking guide collects you at Narita Airport and takes you into Tokyo for a tour of the city. It`s not cheap at USD $270 a person, but you get to see the major sights of Tokyo in a short period of time.

(Source: Escape, Sunday Herald Sun, 2010)

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Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe Onigiri (Rice Ball)

This month`s Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe is Onigiri or Japanese rice ball.

Onigiri is a popular snack food or takeaway option for a quick meal. It is kind of like the sandwich in the West.


Ingredients
• 5 cups hot cooked Japanese style short-grain rice
• 4 sheets dried nori seaweed

For the Filling
• dried bonito flakes (moistened in soy sauce)
• salted salmon grilled
• umeboshi (pickled plums)
• 2 Tbsp black sesame seeds toasted

Method

1. Wash and cook the rice. Onigiri is made while the rice is still hot.
2. Slightly toast the nori sheets and cut sheets crosswise into 1-inch widths.
3. Toast the black sesame seeds in a dry frying pan.
4. Prepare your different fillings
     - the salted salmon should be broken up into small pieces
     - pit the umeboshi (pickled plums)
5. Form the triangles – When handling the hot rice, keep your hands moistened with salty water to season the rice slightly and keep it from sticking to your hands.
6. Place a handful of rice (about ½ cup) across the bent fingers of your left hand. Make an indentation in the rice and tuck in about a tsp of one of the fillings (Salmon. Plum, or Bonito flakes).
7. Use your index finger, middle finger, and thumb to mold the triangular shape.
8. Set the rice triangles down on their bases and cover each with a strip of nori seaweed.
9. Sprinkle one or both ends with the sesame seeds.

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The Frankston Undercover Market

The Frankston Undercover Market is on Saturday 11th December 2010 at the Heart Arcade, 16-20 Wells Street Frankston. The market will feature Arts, Crafts, Food, Gifts, Jewellery and new & second hand goods. The Frankston Undercover Market is open from 10am to 2pm and will be held once a month on the second Saturday of the month from October to March. If you are interested in having a stall, please call 8707 0768.

How to Sell Handcrafts at Local Markets for Fun and Profit

Frankston Waterfront Sand Sculpting Exhibition

Sand artists from all around the world have returned to the Frankston foreshore for the annual Frankston Waterfront Sand Sculpting Exhibition. This year`s theme is Creepy Crawlies. A spectacular exhibition of sand sculpting featuring giant creepy crawlies such as beetles, bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, ladybirds, spiders, slugs, scorpions and many others. There will also be activities to keep the family entertained. The event opens on 26 Dec 2010 and runs until 26 April 2011.

January – December open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm
February – April open Monday to Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, Friday to Sunday and public holidays 10:00am to 6:00pm

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for concession, $7 for children (4-12) with children under 4 free.

Located at the Frankston Waterfront (Melway Ref: 100A A8). Tickets available at the gate (cash only) or prepay with card at the Frankston Visitor Information Center, Pier Promenade.

The Frankston Undercover Market

Picture of the Week Cherry Blossoms in Japan

The cherry blossom or sakura is the unofficial national flower of Japan. There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan with most blooming for just a few days in Spring. The Japanese celebrate that time of year with hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties under the blooming trees. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April.

This picture is of a tree in Kagamigahara Shiminkoen in Gifu, Japan.

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Pocky

Pocky is a Japanese biscuit stick usually coated in chocolate. There are many different flavours of Pocky in Japan including almond, strawberry, milk, chocolate mousse, green tea, honey and banana. Pocky is extremely popular in Japan especially among teenagers. It has also spread to other East Asian nations and has a significant presence in both South Korea and China. It has just started becoming popular in Western countries such as Australia, Canada and the United States. In these countries it can be found in Asian supermarkets or grocery stores. My local supermarket has also started stocking it in the Asian food section. In the US it can be found at most large supermarkets such as World Market, Wegmans and Wal-Mart in either the international section or Asian food aisle.

Pocky can be found in dozens of varieties as mentioned above. Some of the more unusual flavours include kiwifruit mango, grape, melon, tangerine, Kobe wine, sweet potato, pumpkin, and soy bean.

Special variations of Pocky also sometimes appear and these include Decorer Pocky (features extra decorative icing) and Dessert Pocky (features sticks covered in cream)

There is also another types of chocolate biscuit stick similar to Pocky called Fran. This is a different brand, but is also delicious and the stick is thicker than Pocky.

How to Learn Japanese

Japanese is not too difficult to learn but It does take a lot of motivation and practice to successfully learn the language. The best way to learn Japanese is by taking a class, enrolling in a course or investing in a good textbook. If you can't take classes then the self-study method with the correct resources is a good way.

The best way to learn Japanese is through a variety of methods. You need to work on your grammar, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Its best to think of these as separate categories and focus on each specific category as these require different methods and techniques.

Start by learning the basics through grammar. These books really helped me:

• Shin Nihongo no Kiso I & II

• An Introduction to Modern Japanese by Osamu Mizutani & Nobuko Mizutani

• Japanese Demystified by Eriko Sato a self-teaching guide

These books cover both polite Japanese, which is extremely important to learn in order to speak Japanese effectively and causal Japanese, which is great for everyday conversations.

I also recommend trying to learn a certain amount of vocab or kanji each day as this helps you build up your vocab and kanji ability. I tried to learn 5 kanji per day or about 20 a week and did the same with vocab. 

Watching Japanese anime or any Japanese TV program is a good idea for improving your listening skills and also your vocabulary. Keep a notebook and jot down any new words you hear. Then look them up and find out the meaning.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

How to Speak Japanese Fluently

Japan`s Traditional Kimono Now An Endangered Species

The traditional Japanese art of Kimono making is now in trouble of becoming an endangered species. Most craftsmen are over 80 years old with few of the younger generation interested in the art, it is likely their skills will die with them. A few hundred years ago, thousands of craftsmen were making kimono, but today only three families in Japan are left carrying out this traditional work. Leading figures are warning that within a decade the art could die out. The industry is struggling to find ways of passing on its craftsmanship to a new generation. The art involves more than 1000 different processes for each kimono and can take 40 years to master a single technique.

Kimonos are rarely worn by young Japanese, who prefer modern Western clothes. Even if a formal occasion does demand a kimono, most are likely to put on a machine made version of the kimono, which is much cheaper than a traditional handmade kimono. Traditional handmade kimonos usually cost between USD$2,200 and USD$12,400. Mitsukoshi, one of Japan`s oldest and best known department stores, has a kimono salon with more than 30,000 handcrafted costumes. They are currently trying to attract young women with more modern products. One idea or plan is to collaborate with a famous Italian fashion brand to produce bags to go along with kimonos. Hopefully in the near future, Japan`s kimono industry will be saved by being worn by the world`s super-models.

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Nattokinase

Japan has a new super food called nattokinase. Japan has long been known for its healthy and nutritinous diet. Recently, American researchers have discovered the benefits of a 1,000 year old Japanese remedy for dissolving harmful blood clots. This all natural clot buster is called nattokinase and it`s a remarkable enzyme commonly used in Japanese cooking. The main component of this enzyme is natto which is a popular food in Japan. Natto is a fermented soybean made from boiled soybeans and active bacteria. The natural nattokinase enzyme softens and dissolves blood clots so they can be flushed out of your body before they can harm you. Nattokinase also pumps up the production of your body`s own clot-dissolving enzymes.


This enhanced clot-dissolving ability can help:

 Prevent hardening and narrowing of artery walls
 Dissolve heart damaging blood clots
 Increase healthy blood flow and improve circulation
 Prevent blocked and bulging veins
 Clear fuzzy thinking
 Reduce high blood pressure
 Enhance bone density
 Help relieve joint pain
 Provide antibacterial protection from disease

Check with your doctor before taking nattokinase. Nattokinase is a safe and natural way to help dissolve damaging blood clots and to keep the “river of life” flowing freely through your arteries and veins.

Source: Dr. Michael Cutler`s Natural Health Answers

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Picture of the Week Todai-ji, Nara, Japan

Todai-ji (東大寺) or Great Eastern Temple, is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nara, Japan. The temple is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its Great Buddha Hall is the largest wooden building in the world. It houses the world`s largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, known in Japanese as Daibutsu (大仏).

This picture is of the main temple complex.

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Green Tea Antioxidant Wonder

Green Tea is the antioxidant wonder. Japan and Asian cultures have long appreciated and used the health benefits of green tea. Western cultures are only now beginning to recognize the health preserving benefits of green tea. Researches now know that green tea is a powerful antioxidant with compounds that can shield you from many harmful diseases including cancer and heart disease. It is now known that green tea improves cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of cancer and helps with weight loss.

Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, but is harvested at a younger age. It is consumed fresh, rather than roasted like black tea. Green tea is thus less processed and retains more of its nutrients and antioxidants than black tea.
One of these compounds is EGCG, which is a substance with 25 to 100 times the antioxidant power of vitamins C and E. In fact, just one cup of green tea has more antioxidants than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots, or strawberries.

Green Tea has been proven helpful at:

Protecting joints against osteoarthritis
Preventing total body inflammation
Lowering your LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Preventing excess hormone activity
Shielding your body from abnormal cell growth
Protecting against lung cancer
Aiding weight loss
Improving your metabolism
Boosting your immune system
Improving skin cells
Destroying harmful bacteria that can poison your system
Preventing tooth decay

I recommend drinking quality Japanese Green Tea such as Sencha, which has a perfect balance of sweet and bitter flavours, and Gyokuro, which has a naturally sweet aftertaste and soft aroma.

Green Tea is really an antioxidant wonder that can help you with its health benefits and antioxidant power.
Source: Dr. Michael Cutler`s Natural Health Answers

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Frankston`s Christmas Festival of Lights

Celebrating its 13th year, Frankston`s Christmas Festival of Lights is a wonderful opportunity to bring the family together and celebrate Christmas. The event is on Saturday, 27 November 2010 from 5:00pm to 10:00pm at Davey Street, Frankston (Melway ref: 100A C8). The festival will come to life again this year with host, Network Ten`s Mike Larkan, for an evening of fun, festivities and family entertainment.

The highlights will include:

Santa`s House – where children can meet Santa
North Pole – Children`s Activity Centre
Art and Craft
St Luke`s Anglican Church Live Nativity Scene
Meet and Greet Shrek
Live on Stage – Scooby Doo
Rides and Amusement
Sound and Light Show – lighting of Christmas Tree

Make sure you don`t miss Frankston`s Christmas Festival of Lights

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Japanese Miso

Miso is a paste from Japan made from crushed soybeans, barley, rice or wheat and a mold known as koji. Miso is fermented anywhere from a few weeks to a few years. The most common types of miso are red, white, barley and soybean. Miso was introduced to Japan by Buddhist monks in the 7th century, and has several well known health benefits.


Red miso is a mixture of white rice, barley or soybeans fermented for one to three years. It contains the highest levels of protein. White or yellow miso contains a higher percentage of rice koji and less soybeans, is sweeter than red miso and contains a higher percentage of carbohydrates and a lower percentage of protein. It is only fermented for a few weeks and has a shorter shelf life than other varieties, usually up to two months refrigerated. Soybean miso is a reddish-brown, chunky miso, made only from soybeans with a fermentation period of at least a year. Miso is regularly used by vegetarians, but some varieties of miso are blended with dashi (bonito) stock, so check the label if you are vegetarian.

What are the health benefits of miso?

Miso is rich in micronutrients such as tryptophan, manganese, vitamin K, vitamin B12, and Zinc. Miso is also a vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. It is also packed with protein and is a nutrient-rich salt substitute. Japanese research has also found miso to be a good source of antioxidants. Most Japanese will consume miso as either a soup (miso soup) or as a sauce accompaniment to dishes.

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Picture of the Week Matsumoto Castle, Nagano, Japan

Matsumoto Castle (松本城 Matsumoto-jō), also known as the “Crow Castle” because of its black exterior, is one of Japan`s premier historic castles. The castle is located in the city of Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture. The castle is 15 minutes on foot from the train station and costs ￥500 for admission.

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Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe Gyudon (Beef Bowl)

This month`s Easy Japanese Cooking recipe is Gyudon or Beef Bowl.

It is a very popular item served by some of Japan`s fast food restaurants and is easy to make at home.

Preparation Time: 5-10 mins
Cooking Time: 7-8 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
• 6-8 cups hot cooked rice
• 225g thinly sliced beef
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger juice

Sauce:
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup dark soy sauce
• 1/3 cup mirin

Method

1. Boil plain white rice
2. In a large frying pan, heat vegetable oil over a high heat
3. Cook the onion for a few minutes until soft
4. Add the beef slices and cook for another minute or until the meat is no longer red
5. Mix the ingredients for the sauce together and add sauce to pan
6. Continue to cook for another minute and then remove from heat
7. Stir in the ginger juice
8. To serve, put portions of hot rice 1.5 to 2 cups per serve into individual donburi bowls and cover with cooked beef and onions.

In Japan, a lot of people like to eat their gyudon with pickled ginger and top it with a lightly beaten raw egg mixed into the rice.

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Picture of the Week Hida Beef Sushi in Takayama, Japan

Takayama (高山市) is famous for its miso, ramen, mountain vegetables and Hida beef. Walking through the city is a taste sensation. A speciality is Hida beef sushi.

This is a picture of the raw beef sushi that costs 500 yen in Takayama.

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The Traditional Japanese Meal or Banquet

The traditional Japanese meal or banquet is divided into consecutive courses according to the method of preparation. For example, a grilled dish comes before a steamed dish, and a steamed dish before simmered foods, and so on. The bare minimum of the meal consists of miso soup, rice and pickles (tsukemono).

The Japanese meal is a symphony of flavour, colour, texture and seasonal produce. It is fresh and prepared so that the foods natural flavour is enhanced. The traditional basic formula of a Japanese meal is “soup and three”. That is soup and three main dishes as follows:

1. Fresh, uncooked fish (sashimi)
2. A grilled dish (yakimono)
3. A simmered dish (nimono)

These dishes will be followed by boiled rice, pickles, tea and fresh fruit as dessert.


The following is an outline of a complete traditional Japanese meal or banquet.

BEGINNING               Appetizer (zensai)
                                 Clear soup (suimono)
                                 Fresh, uncooked fish (sashimi)

MIDDLE                    Grilled foods (yakimono)
                                 Steamed foods (mushimono)
                                 Simmered foods (nimono)
                                 Deep-fried foods (agemono)
                                 Vinegared or Dressed salad (sunomono)

END                          Boiled rice (gohan)        *
                                 Miso soup (miso-shiru) * served together
                                 Pickles (tsukemono)     *
                                 Green tea (ryokucha)
                                 Fresh fruit

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Picture of the Week Takayama, Gifu, Japan

Takayama (高山市) is a city located in Gifu, Japan. It is a small beautiful city known for its traditional architecture and crafts. Takayama lies in the ancient Hida district tucked away between the mountains of the Japan Alps. It is a great place to spend a few days or to use as a base to visit the mountains or surrounding onsen hot springs.

This picture is of the Hida Takayama folk village, which is near Takayama.

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Daiso Japan

Daiso Japan, the discount superstore is coming to Australia and a shopping center near you. Daiso originated in Japan with the 100 yen store and now has 3200 stores worldwide in 24 countries. The first Australian store will open shortly in Melbourne, and offer over 120,000 different products at the bargain price of $2.80. Some of the products on offer include mugs, vases, dishes & plates, homeware, snacks, drinks, stationary, clothing, cosmetics, bags, toys, and loads of weird and wonderful products from Japanese culture, all items at a flat price of $2.80. The products are Japanese quality items at bargain prices. Daiso buys in bulk, so it can offer the consumer lower prices. It will provide real competition for the likes of Big W, Kmart and Office Works with its products and prices.

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Japan 100 yen shops

Chopsticks

Chopsticks are the traditional eating utensils of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and the Northern provinces of Laos, Thailand, and Burma. They are generally believed to have originated in ancient China and then spread over Asia with the influx of Chinese immigrants. Chopsticks are usually made of bamboo or plastic but can also be made of metal, bone, ivory and various other types of wood.


In Japan, chopsticks are called hashi and written as箸.

Types of Chopsticks

There are many different types of Chopsticks. Very long chopsticks (30-40 cm) tend to be used for cooking, especially for deep frying food and are called saibashi in Japan. Shorter chopsticks are usually used as eating utensils.

There are so many different types of chopsticks out there that it can be difficult to choose. Metal chopsticks are used in Korea and are quite good as they are durable, easy to use and clean. Japanese and Chinese will use either wooden or plastic chopsticks. Bamboo and wooden chopsticks are very cheap, low in temperature conduction and provide a good grip. In Japan disposable chopsticks or waribashi are very popular with restaurants and fast food. These come as a piece of wood that is partially cut and must be split into two by the user. Plastic chopsticks are also very cheap, low in temperature conduction and are resistant to wear, but don`t provide the grip of wooden chopsticks and can be harder to use to pick up food as they tend to be slippery.

My family in Japan prefer the wooden type which are short to medium length and are lacquered and last a very long time.

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Nori Japanese Seaweed

Nori or seaweed is a type of algae, traditionally cultivated in the harbours of Japan. Today nori is farmed, processed, toasted, packaged and sold in standard size sheets. Nori has a lot of health and nutritional value and is regarded as a "Super Food". Nori is packed full of much-needed vitamins and minerals, including some relatively rare trace elements. Nori is rich in iodine and iron and quite high in protein. It is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and riboflavin (B2). Not only does it have all these nutritional riches, it is also a low-fat food!

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Picture of the Week Gujo Hachiman, Gifu, Japan

Picture of the Week Gujo Hachiman, Gifu, Japan

The main claim to fame of Gujo Hachiman in Gifu Prefecture is its Gujo Odori Folk Dance Matsuri held from early July to early September. The townsfolk continue nearly four centuries of tradition and let their hair down for some frenzied dancing. During the four main days of the festival from 13 to 16 August the dancing goes on through the night.
This picture is of a Shrine famous for its pure water. Most travellers to Gujo Hachiman stop by to taste its wonderful water.

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Blossoms And Shadows

Blossoms And Shadows a novel by Lian Hearn, is a fascinating historical epic that follows one woman as she lives through the tumultuous years of Japan's 19th century cival war. This is the story of the birth of modern Japan as told by a young woman Tsuru who breaks every stereotype of the Japanese lady. This is a fascinating period of Japan's history with Japan in the mid 1860s in a grip of a revolution almost as tumultuous as the French Revelution 100 years earlier, yet we in the West know very little about it. This book lets readers feel they are there among the revolutionaries, guided by the engaging character of Tsuru.

The authors passion for all facets of the Land of the Rising Sun shines through in her description of the social customs and her honourable warrior characters.


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Travel Visa to Japan

You will need a valid passport and if your country has an agreement with Japan which includes most Western nations then you do not require a visa as you can obtain landing permission on arrival without a visa. This is usually good for a stay of up to 90 days, although certain European nationalities are permitted to stay for 180 days if they note a longer stay upon entry. In some cases you might also be asked to prove that you intend to return to your home country, which can be done via a return plane ticket. You are also required to complete an immigration card, which is usually handed out on the flight be landing and must be handed in at customs upon entry.

Once in Japan, you must carry your passport with you at all times. All foreigners (except those on government business) over the age of 16 are electronically fingerprinted and photographed as part of immigration entry procedures into Japan. This may also be followed by a short interview conducted by the immigration officer. Refusual to any of these procedures will mean denied entry to Japan.

Travellers entering Japan for longer than 90 days are required to obtain a Certificate of Alien Registration within 90 days of arrival. The ARC or gaijin card as it is known must be carried with you at all times in lieu of your passport. This card must be surrendered upon exit from Japan, unless you hold a re-entry permit.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Japan hikes taxes on cigarettes to curb smoking

Japan has this month just imposed a record 40 percent tax hike on cigarettes in a bid to curb the nation's smoking rate which is the highest among major industrialized nations. In Japan approximately 36.6% of men smoke and 12.1% of women smoke. The price rise will increase the price of Japan's most popular brand, Mild Seven, by a third to 410 yen or USD$4.93 a pack.


In the weeks leading up to the tax increase, smokers across Japan stocked up on their favourite cigarettes with many of my smoker friends purchasing a years worth of cigarettes to bet the price rise.

Smoking is still allowed in most public places in Japan, but authorities have tried to discourage smoking in public areas such as airports, train stations and government buildings. A lot of places in Japan now have designated smoking rooms with most Japanese smokers complying.

Sourced from The Associated Press Japan 2010

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Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe Hiyayakko Japanese Chilled Tofu

This month`s Easy Japanese Cooking recipe is Hiyayakko Japanese Chilled Tofu

Chilled tofu is called Hiyayakko in Japan and is the most popular tofu dish. All you need to do is place toppings on top of chilled tofu and it`s a great appetizer to serve during the warmer summer months.


Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cooking Time: 0 mins
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
• 2 blocks silk tofu
• Dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi)
• Chopped green onion
• Grated ginger
• Soy sauce
• Karashi mustard

Method
1. Cut tofu into halves.
2. Serve the tofu in individual bowls.
3. Put grated ginger, dried bonito flakes and chopped green onion on top of tofu. Place as much as you like.
4. Pour some soy sauce onto the tofu before eating. Also put some karashi mustard on the tofu if you would like.

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Amusement in Japan

Karaoke

Karaoke (カラオケ) was invented in Japan and is the most popular form of entertainment for young Japanese. Most cities in Japan will have some kind of Karaoke Bar or Karaoke Box. The bigger cities will have karaoke boxes that occupy several floors of a building. You and your friends can rent a room to yourself for an hourly rate that often also includes all you can drink, with refills ordered through a phone on the wall. The major chains all have a good selection of English language songs along with the classic Japanese pop songs and enka.

Pachinko

Pachinko is a form of gambling that involves dropping little steel balls into a machine. Pachinko is extremely popular among middle aged Japanese men. Prizes are awarded depending on where the little steel balls land. Pachinko is worth giving a try just for the unusual experience alone, but be aware because most pachinko parlours are full of ear splitting noise and a toxic cloud of nicotine smoke.

Baseball

Baseball is hugely popular in Japan and is easily the most popular sport. Baseball was first introduced to Japan around 1870 by an American professor. Baseball is played in most if not all Junior High Schools and High Schools in Japan with the National High School baseball tournament the most watched sporting event on TV during the summer. Japan has its own professional baseball league known as Nippon Professional Baseball with several Japanese players such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui going on to become top players in Major League Baseball in the US.

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Steve Biddulph in Frankston

Steve Biddulph, the author of Raising Boys and child psychologist will make an appearance at the Frankston Arts Centre on Monday, 25 October. Steve Biddulph offers simple practical ways to help boys to grow up to be happy, positive, caring and motivated. The event will be held at the Frankston Arts Centre, Playne Street, Frankston from 7:30pm – 9:15pm and costs $10 per adult. Bookings are required as places will sell quickly. To book call 9784 1060 or visit http://www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au/.

Pet`s Day Out

Pet`s Day Out is on again this Sunday, 10th October 2010 from 10:00 am to 4:00pm. Treat your pet and family to a fantastic FREE day of tasty treats, entertainment and displays. Free children`s activities include: Amusement Rides, Face Painting, Giant Animal Farm, Reptile Display, and Pony Rides. The event will also feature special guest Dr Chris Brown from “Bondi Vet”, who will host the PETstock Pet Parade. Pet`s Day Out will be held at Ballam Park, Cranbourne Road, Frankston (Melway Ref, 103 B5).

Travel to Japan

Japan

Japan the "Land of the Rising Sun" is a country where the past meets the future. Japan has a traditional culture that stretches back millennia, yet has also adopted (and created) the latest modern fashions and trends. Japan is a country of contrasts with beautiful temples and gardens along with ultra modern and high tech cities. There is a surprise around every corner and you will never get bored in Japan. The Japanese are well known for their politeness and thrilled to have visitors to their country. They will be incredibly helpful to lost and bewildered foreigners and are always willing to lend a hand and help you out.

Holidays

The most important holiday in Japan is New Year (Oshougatsu), where much of the country shuts down from December 30 to January 3. In March/April, Japanese head out en masse for hanami or “flower viewing), a festival of outdoor picnics and drinking that is cleverly disguised as cherry blossom viewing and a great time of year to visit Japan. The longest holiday in Japan is Golden Week (April 27 to May 6), which is a collection of four public holidays within a week and a time where everybody goes on vacation both inside Japan and abroad. Trains, hotels and tourist places are extremely crowded during this period and prices are a lot higher than usual making this a bad time to travel in Japan. Summer time brings a spate of festivals including fireworks and obon.

Climate

The Japanese are very proud of their four distinct seasons with the best time of year for travel being either Spring or Autumn.

Spring is one of the best times of year to be in Japan with the warm temperatures but not hot and not too much rain. March-April brings the famous cherry blossoms and lots of fun and festivals.

Summer starts with the dreary rainy season in June and turns into a steambath with hot & humid conditions in July-August.

Autumn which starts in September is also an excellent time to be in Japan with cooler temperatures and the beautiful fall colours which can be seen in the mountains.

Winter is a great time to go skiing/snowboarding or hot spring hopping. There is usually heavy snow in the mountainess areas and cold winds and temperatures through out most of Japan.

Getting Around Japan

Japan has one of the world`s best transport systems, and getting around is usually a breeze with the train being the most popular method. I usually use www.hyperdia.com to look through transport schedules and prices. Japan`s railways are fast, efficient and cover most of the country.
The best option for visitors who plan to do a lot of travelling in Japan is the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited travel on almost all JR trains, including the shinkansen, for a fixed period of 7, 14 or 21 days (excluding the Nozomi superexpress). This pass can only be purchased outside of Japan.

Eating in Japan

Japanese cuisine is renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients with the key ingredients of most meals being rice, soup and a main dish. Seafood features heavily in Japanese cuisine. Travelling within Japan will lead you to discover the local specialities of each region. Japanese fast food restaurants offer decent quality at reasonable prices with Yoshinoya, Matsuya and Sukiya great for gyudon (beef bowl) and Coco Ichiban specializing in Japanese style curry rice dishes. American fast food restaurants are also very prevelant including McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Wendy`s.

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Famous Japanese Movies

There are lots of good Japanese movies that you could watch to improve your Japanese. I highly recommend some of the animated movies as the Japanese used is aimed at young children so therefore a lot easier to understand. Check out Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke (Japan`s number one movie until Titanic) all by Hayao Miyazaki, who is Japan`s most famous director. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea released recently is also a great movie and well worth watching. These movies are also great to watch if you want to see a good movie or are interested in Japanese movies or culture. They are also readily available in Emglish.
The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Famous Japanese Books and Novels

There are many great Japanese books and novels that are really interesting and give you a great insight into Japan and Japanese culture in general. Japan`s most famous author is Natsume Soseki. His books are read and have been read by Japanese with most people reading them during their school age. Soseki`s most famous novels are Botchan and I am a Cat. They are readily available in English and are great novels in their own right. I read them when I lived in Japan and studied Japanese and they gave me a good insight into Japanese culture and Japan. Other famous and popular Japanese stories include Momotaro "Peach Boy" and Kintaro "Golden Boy".

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Otaku

Otaku is a Japanese term used to describe people with obsessive interests usually related to anime, manga or video games.

In modern Japanese slang, the term refers to a fan of any particular theme, topic or hobby. Common otaku include anime otaku (fan of anime), cosplay otaku and manga otaku (fans of comic books), pasokon otaku (computer geek), gemu otaku (video games), ota (fans of Japanese idols). The term can basically be used and applied to anything obsessive such as music, cooking, martial arts, etc.

Although the term otaku can have negative connections, in Japan otaku have started becoming cool and even describe themselves and the term proudly and accepting their position as fans. Otaku have even been portrayed positively in Japanese culture and movies such as “Densha Otoko” (Train Man), a love story about a geek and a beautiful woman who meet on a train have  made an interesting look into the otaku culture. Its popularity in Japan and positive portrayal of the main character who is an otaku has helped reduce negative stereotypes about otaku, and increased the acceptability of some otaku hobbies. In fact, the “Densha Otoko” story has enjoyed a compilation in novel form, several comic book adaptations, a movie, a theme song by a popular Japanese band and a TV series.

The former Prime Minister of Japan, Tara Aso has also claimed himself to be an otaku, using this subculture to promote Japan in foreign affairs.

A subset of otaku are the Akiba-kei, men who spend a lot of time in Akihabara in Tokyo and who are mainly obsessed about anime, idols and games.

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Japanese Breakfast

At the heart of most meals are three basic bowls: rice, soup and a main dish. A traditional breakfast will contain a bowl of steamed rice, miso soup and grilled fish. They will be accompanied by side dishes of rolled omelet (tamagoyaki), pickles (tsukemono), natto and salad. The typical traditional breakfast beverage is green tea. Japanese rice is made with white short grain Japanese rice, which has a consistency that differs from long-grain rice. The essential quality is its stickiness or glutinousness. This is usually sold in Western supermarkets as either short-grain rice or sushi rice. Western style breakfasts are also very popular now in Japan and these usually consist of toast, bacon or sausage, boiled or fried eggs and hash browns or chips. Breakfast cereals are also increasing in popularity.

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Easy To Follow Steps To Create Over 108 Top Japanese Recipes!