Sunday, May 27, 2018

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto Book Review

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto
Living in central Japan, Kyoto is one of my favourite places to visit with its deep history and traditional architecture. Kyoto is considered by many to be the cultural heart of Japan with its ancient shrines, temples and Zen gardens.

The city has managed to survive many of the wars that have affected Japan and even a lot of its modernization in certain areas, giving us a time capsule of Japan’s rich architectural and cultural history.


The Book’s Content 


Houses and Gardens of Kyoto takes you on a journey via over 500 photos of traditional Japanese architecture and gardens spanning the centuries. The book features a variety of traditional Japanese houses, from aristocratic summer villas, temple residences, and merchant townhouses, to ryokan inns, private retreats and tea houses.

The book covers Kyoto’s traditional houses from every period of the city’s history and their associated outdoor spaces, which come in many forms from courtyard gardens and picturesque stroll gardens to “dry landscape” stone gardens and “borrowed scenery” gardens that make use of distant landscapes.

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto Cover


My View 


Why I really like this book? The beautiful photos make the book almost feel like a photo album, but it doesn’t stop there as the informative text turns the book into a fascinating historical study of Kyoto.

The book is split into six chapters with each exploring a style of traditional Japanese house which include aristocratic villas, temple residences, merchant townhouses, traditional ryokan inns, private retreats and tea houses.

It is easy to read and flick through with its compact size and the beautiful images really show you all the finer detail of Japanese architecture and garden design. I like how each house has a brief description under the name telling you about its location, when it was established and who it was built for, or its owner. The text is very informative and tells you all you need to know about each of the fascinating houses. The detailed map at the very end of the book allows you to pinpoint where each house is located in reference to the other in Kyoto.

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto Kinkakuji

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto Inside


I checked out the new hardcover edition which is a smaller and more compact version of the original book, which is perfect for me as a traveller and photographer on the go. This new edition also contains a new forward by architectural historian, Matthew Stavros, which places these exquisite houses within the broader context of Japanese history.

About the Writer 


The author, Thomas Daniell is a practicing architect, originally from New Zealand, who has been living and working in Kyoto since the early 1990s. He is a contributing editor for the architecture journals Mark and Archis and is widely published.

The vibrant collection of photographs is from Akihiko Seki, a photographer born in Tokyo, who has spent over 20 years working outside of Japan. Since taking early retirement, he has traveled with his wife and cameras throughout Japan and Asia. He is the photographer and author of Asian Resorts and also photographed and co-authored Ryokan: Japan’s Finest Spas and Inns.

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto is a great collection of exquisite classic Japanese houses and garden styles that will serve as a lasting inspiration to anyone interested by Japanese architecture and design.

Houses and Gardens of Kyoto is available now from Tuttle Publishing.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

Ume Sake Kit Kat

Ume Sake Kit Kat
After the success of Sake Kit Kat back in 2016, Nestlé Japan has announced the release of an all-new Japan-exclusive Kit Kat for Fall 2018! Ume Sake Kit Kat - Plum Wine Kit Kat is made with Nanko plums from Wakayama Prefecture.

The new Kit Kat has been developed with the help of former Japanese soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata, now an accomplished sake connoisseur and acclaimed sake brewery Heiwa Shuzou in Wakayama.

Heiwa Shuzou was founded in 1928 in a valley in Wakayama where the temperate climate and high-quality soft spring water produces top-notch sake. The brewery not only produces sake, but a range of special fruit-flavoured sake made with locally grown fruit from Wakayama Prefecture.

Wakayama Prefecture located south of Osaka on Japan’s main island of Honshu produces about 40% of Japan’s plums (ume) and is known for its delicious tasting fruit. Only Wakayama’s best local Nanko plums, considered the best in Japan have been used for this new Kit Kat giving it a superior flavor. The plums are known for their soft pulp and extremely rich flavor.

Heiwa Shuzou uses these Nanko plums to produce their “Tsuru-ume Suppai Umeshu”, a delicious plum wine made with a sake base rather than the traditional shochu base.

Plum wine, called Umeshu (梅酒) in Japanese, is a popular summer/fall drink made with plums (ume) and shochu, a white distilled spirit usually made from rice, barley or sweet potatoes.

Ume Sake Kit Kat


The new Ume Sake Kit Kat highlights this special combination with (梅酒) ume-shu on the packaging, which perfectly describes the unique blend of ume (梅) plums and sake (酒).

Ume Sake Kit Kat
Ume Sake Kit Kat

According to Nestlé, the new Kit Kats delicately balance the sweet, deep flavor of ripe Japanese plums with white chocolate, giving them a strong aroma and a refreshing aftertaste. The description on the Kit Kat box reads, “The fragrant taste of sake, wrapped in the gentle sweetness of white chocolate. Enjoy the rich satisfying flavor of sake”.

Ume Sake Kit Kat


Ume Sake Kit Kat will go on sale at souvenir stores around Japan from mid-September with each nine-piece pack selling for 700 yen (USD$6.40).

Nestlé Japan https://www.nestle.co.jp/ 

Credit: Nestlé Japan

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Tokyo Geek’s Guide Book Review

Tokyo’s Geek Guide
Tokyo is ground zero for Japan’s famous “geek” or otaku culture – a phenomenon that has now swept across the globe. In fact, many people are now visiting Japan not only for its famous temples and shrines, but in search of geek hot-spots such as high-tech Akihabara and trendy Harajuku in Tokyo.

Japan’s geek culture comes in many forms, from Japanese manga in bookstores and anime cartoons on TV to giant Gundam transformer toys and video games.


The Book’s Content 


Tokyo Geek's Guide is a comprehensive Japan Travel Guide for those interested in this subculture and Tokyo’s geeky underworld. The book provides a detailed run-down on each major Tokyo district where geeks hang out. Covering 11 of Tokyo’s best geek neighbourhoods (Akihabara, Jimbocho, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shimo-Kitazawa, Shinjuku, Nakano, West-Tokyo, Ikebukuro, Roppongi and Odaiba), this is the most extensive guide to the best places for geeks in Tokyo.

Tokyo’s Geek Guide


The book provides full details of the iconic shops, restaurants, cafes and clubs in each of the geek hot spots, including directions to each location, maps, urls, and opening hours. If that is not enough, 400 fascinating colour photos bring you around Tokyo on an unforgettable trip of Japanese manga, anime and geek culture.

Insider tips are also provided from interviews with geeks on the street and local otaku experts to give you the best insider tips and insights from those in the know.
Tokyo Geek's Guide Page 4

Tokyo Geek's Guide Page 5

My View 


Why I really like this book? It dives right into everything otaku from the start and covers all the bases for everything that you need to know. It takes you on a tour for the best places for restaurants, cafes, shops, clubs, museums, manga, anime, video games, toys, cosplay, festivals and events in Tokyo.

The book is easy to read with its compact A4 size and soft cover. The bright and colourful pictures throughout the 144 pages show you all the things you can do, see and enjoy in the world of otaku culture in Tokyo.

About the Writer 


The author, Gianni Simone is the Japan correspondent for Vogue Italia as well as a regular contributor to The Japan Times. His writings have also appeared on Flash Art and CNN Travel websites and in Zoom Japon and San Francisco Arts Quarterly magazines. Residing in Yokohama with his family, he has around 25 years’ experience living and working in Japan.

Tokyo Geek's Guide is the ultimate guide to Japan’s otaku culture. If you are interested in Japanese manga, anime, gaming, cosplay and idol culture at its very source, this is a must have book for you.

Tokyo Geek’s Guide is available now from Tuttle Publishing.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Premium Matcha Sweets at Mister Donut Japan

Premium Matcha Sweets at Mister Donut Japan
Mister Donut Japan has teamed up with Uji tea shop Gion Tsujiri in Kyoto to release a tasty range of new matcha donuts and drinks as part of their Misdo Meets series. The limited edition 9 premium matcha products are available for you to enjoy from April 6th until the end of May in Japan.

The Uji district of Kyoto has long been famous for its premium quality matcha which is known for its deep flavor and sharp fragrance.

The theme of this new matcha series is “deep matcha” and the products certainly live up to that with the perfect combination of deep matcha flavor with the sweet donuts. The donuts are made using flavor combinations typically found in traditional Japanese sweets, such as kinako (soy bean powder), azuki (sweet red beans), mochi (rice flour dumpling), and warabimochi (starch dumpling).

Here is a look and short description of the 9 products available right now at Mister Donut in Japan.

Pon de Ring Double Uji Matcha (¥151) 


The popular ‘Pon de Ring’ donut is Mister Donut’s signature donut and is made with rice flour giving it a very chewy texture. This special matcha edition is made and coated with Gion Tsujiri’s rich Uji matcha giving it a double matcha hit.

Pon de Ring Double Uji Matcha


Pon de Ring Uji Matcha Kinako (¥151) 


This ‘Pon de Ring’ donut is also made from Gion Tsujiri’s rich Uji matcha and is coated with kinako (soy flour chocolate) giving it a real traditional flavour.

Pon de Ring Uji Matcha Kinako


Uji Matcha Whipped Cream (¥151) 


One of Mister Donut’s fluffy donuts is filled with Uji matcha whipped cream and coated with Uji matcha chocolate. If that is not enough, it is even dusted with some kinako (soy bean powder) sugar powder for accent.

Uji Matcha Whipped Cream


Choux Cream with Uji Matcha and Azuki (¥183) 


This fluffy and chewy profiterole style donut is layered with sweet azuki beans and whipped cream. It is also coated with matcha chocolate using Gion Tsujiri’s rich Uji matcha and kinako sugar powder.

Choux Cream with Uji Matcha and Azuki


Choux Cream with Uji Matcha and Brown Sugar Syrup (¥183) 


Another profiterole style donut which is filled with brown sugar syrup jelly and whipped cream made from Gion Tsujiri’s rich Uji matcha. It is also coated with soy flour chocolate and kinako sugar powder.

Choux Cream with Uji Matcha and Brown Sugar Syrup

Brown Sugar Donut with Uji Matcha and Mochi (¥194) 


This brown sugar donut contains sweet azuki beans, Uji matcha from Gion Tsujiri and a mochi rice flour dumpling.

Brown Sugar Doughnut with Uji Matcha and Mochi


Brown Sugar Donut with Uji Matcha and Warabimochi (¥194) 


Another brown sugar donut with the center filled with a brown sugar syrup jelly, warabimochi and Uji matcha from Gion Tsujiri.

Brown Sugar Doughnut with Uji Matcha and Warabimochi


Uji Matcha Au Lait (¥302) 


Uji Matcha Au Lait

Uji Matcha Au Lait Whipped Cream (¥356) 

Uji Matcha Au Lait Whipped Cream


To accompany the donuts, we have two special beverages made with Uji matcha from Gion Tsujiri.

Head to your nearest Mister Donut shop in Japan and give these tasty treats a try. I am sure you will not be disappointed.

I am happy to say that I have tried a few of these goodies already and really enjoyed them. How about you? Please leave your comments below.

Mister Donut Japan https://www.misterdonut.jp/ 

Credit: Mister Donut Japan 

Premium Matcha Sweets at Mister Donut Japan

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon in Japan

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon in Japan
Coca-Cola Japan has been busy in recent months with a wave of exclusive new products and limited-edition releases hitting the shelves. Hot on the heals of Peach Coca-Cola is the release of the world’s first frozen Coke slushie packs in Japan.

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon has been eight years in the making and will be a frozen version of the popular lemon-flavoured Coke. The drink will be sold frozen and unfrozen, allowing those who don’t want to drink it straight away to pop it into their freezers at home to enjoy at their leisure.

The slushie comes in a handy portable resealable pouch which is believed to be a world-first for frozen beverages. The packaging allows customers to massage the pouch to get their desired level of crunch, while also enjoying the taste of Coca-Cola with “a refreshing sherbet sensation”.

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon in Japan
Credit: Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola is banking on the drink being a hit and a summertime favourite that it is also going to release a range of Fanta frozen drinks in classic orange and grape.

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon will go on sale at stores around Japan at a recommended retail price of 130 yen (USD$1.20) from 16 April.

I will definitely be giving this one a try. How about you? Please leave your comments below.

Coca-Cola Japan 

Coca-Cola Frozen Lemon in Japan
Credit: Coca-Cola