Japanese 100 Yen Shops

Japanese 100 Yen Shops or hyaku-en shoppu have steadily gained in popularity over the last several years. 100 Yen shops are located everywhere in Japan and stock a variety of items ranging from clothing to stationary, houseware to food, with each item priced at 100 yen. Please note with the current Japanese sales tax of 5% the total cost of one item will actually cost 105 yen. This corresponds to roughly one US dollar per item, making the shops a great source for travellers and residents on a budget.

The biggest and best 100 Yen Shop in Japan is the Daiso chain which first opened in 1991 and now have around 1300 stores in Japan. One of the largest 100 Yen Shops in central Tokyo is Daiso Harajuku in Takeshita Dori, just a few steps from Harajuku Station. Large 100 Yen Stores can be found all over Japan in major cities and include: Daiso Sapporo Chuo (South 2 West 2, Odori Station), Daiso Nagoya Sakae Skyle (Sakae Station), Daiso Osaka Nihonbashi (Nihonbashi Station), Daiso Kobe Promena (Promena Kobe, Kobe Station) and Daiso Fukuoka Kotsu Center (Fukuoka Kotsu Center, Hakata Station).

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Essential Japanese and Asian Sauces for your Pantry

The key to Japanese and Asian cooking is using the right ingredients. The following are the essential sauces needed for your pantry to make Japanese and Asian food.

1. Kikkoman Soy Sauce: Soy Sauce comes in both normal and light varieties. Light soy is best for vegetable dishes or noodles. Darker soy is best for dipping sauces. Try dark soy with a little minced ginger or chopped red chilli for a great dipping suace.

2. Mizkhan Mirin: Japanese cooking rice wine. Is used extensively in hotpots such as nikujyaga, nimono and teriyaki.

3. Mizkhan Rice Vinegar: This is a sushi rice essential. It can also be used to make ponzu sauce by adding soy, cooking sake and a bit of dashi.

4. Yeo`s Pure Sesame Oil: The nutty roasted flavour is the secret to great Asian Cooking. Sprinkle a little in soups, broths, stir-fries, meat dishes and noodles or add to dumpling fillings. It is also great in salad dressings and marinades.

5. Kewpie Mayonnaise: This iconic Japanese mayonnaise with its extra-creamy rich flavour is a household favourite in Japan and is now sold in most western supermarkets. It is perfect with sushi, seafood or chicken.

6. ABC Chilli Sauce: This Indonesian chilli sauce is a distinctive blend of chillies, garlic and sugar. It is a great all-rounder. Try it with grilled seafood, as a glaze for roast chicken , in fried rice and noodles, or o its own as a dipping sauce.

7. Lee Kum Kee Panda Oyster Sauce: Lee Kum Kee invented Oyster sauce in 1888, and its Panda brand is renowned for its great taste, smooth texture and appetising aroma. Use this classic sauce as a marinade, in stir fries, or as an everyday dipping sauce.

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Obon

Obon (お盆?) or just Bon (盆?) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. "Shichigatsu Bon" (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around 15 July in areas such as Tokyo, Yokohama and the Tohoku region. "Hachigatsu Bon" (Bon in August) is based on the solar calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August and is the most commonly celebrated time. Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratitude one should feel toward one's ancestors.

The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold made especially for the festival called a 'yagura'. The yagura is usually also the bandstand for the musicians and singers of the Obon music. Some dances proceed clockwise, and some dances proceed counter-clockwise around the yagura. Some dances reverse during the dance, though most do not. At times, people face the yagura and move towards and away from it. Still some dances, such as the Kagoshima Ohara dance, and the Tokushima Awa Odori, simply proceed in a straight line through the streets of the town.

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Fireworks Summer Spectacular in Japan

Get ready for the Fireworks Summer Spectacular in Japan. Hanabi, the Japanese word for fireworks, is synonymous with summer in Japan, and a must-see event for travellers and visitors to anywhere in Japan during the summer. Fireworks in Japan are now a major summer tradition with most fireworks taking place along the many rivers located throughout Japan. There are over 500 firework events held in Japan during the summer and can be found everywhere from big cities to small villages. Going to a fireworks event is a big opportunity for the Japanese especially younger Japanese to embrace their traditional culture. Many people will show up in a yukata (summer kimono) and enjoy traditional snacks, foods and drinks from the numerous street side vendors located along the riverside. Most fireworks events are free and open to the public. Get there early with a good strategy to secure the best viewing spot as most people will start early to get prime locations.

This is my entry to this month's Japan Blog Matsuri

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What does teaching English in Japan involve?

What does teaching English in Japan involve? It really depends on what type of teaching you pursue. In Japan there are eikaiwa (conversation schools), English schools and ALT English teachers. Eikaiwa mostly teach conversational English but we were also required to explain grammar and teach grammar to higher level students. The students usually range in age from about 2 years old in kids classes to 90 years old. Typical working hours will fall somewhere in between 10am to 9pm and the classes are usually around 45-50 mins long. The most famous eikaiwa schools are Nova, GEOS and AEON.

ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) mostly work in Elementary and Junior High School as an assistant to the main JTE (Japanese Teacher of English). Most of the time the JTE will explain the grammar in Japanese so the kids have a better understanding but can put you on the spot with a grammatical question. I recommend teaching in Elementary or JHS with an ALT company as this was the most rewarding experience for me and you get the chance to participate in real school life with real students. I would highly recommend contacting ALTIA Central Japan if you are interested in working as an ALT in Japan as they were the best company in Japan for ALTs.

Whatever teaching you do it will pay to have a good understanding of English grammar.

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The easiest and quickest way to send money home from Japan

The easiest and quickest way to send money home from Japan is to set up an account through Lloyds of London. The Go Lloyds account takes a little time to set up but once you have set up an account you can send money home directly through any ATM in Japan and it usually takes 1-2 business days to arrive. There is a small fee that is applied to the receiving bank (around $8) and the exchange rates used are usually 1-2 cents higher through Lloyds. The other alternative is via the post office but I have found this inefficient and difficult at times. The post office money transfer can take several weeks to arrive and in one instance I had my money arrive via London to Australia more than a month after sending it. Used at your own peril.

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Getting a Phone in Japan

Getting a phone in Japan can be quite an easy process if you know the basic steps. Softbank and NTT Docomo are the two biggest mobile phone companies in Japan. Both have English support and phones available with English. Softbank tends to be a little cheaper with Docomo offering better coverage across Japan. I could speak Japanese so didn`t have any problems getting a phone, but most stores usually have someone who speak a little English. You will need to bring along your passport and have your gaijin registration card before you can sign up. Some places also require a hanko stamp but this is rare. Phones on the cheaper end will cost zero yen and you can select from several different monthly plans depending on the amount of use.

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