Early Sakura

It is mild day in early spring. I am sure I am not only Japanese who is looking forward to Sakura (Cherry blossom) in bloom. This early flowering Sakura is to be blooming.

Strawberry Amaou

I picked out a pack of quality strawberries as my Friday reward this week. They are shining and look lovely! (＾。＾*))
Amaou, this new brand of strawberry became available in local supermarkets. It is sweeter than another strawberry and very big. I have heard that Amaou is derived from;

A: Amai (Sweet)

Ma: Marui (Round)

O: Ookii (Large)

U:Umai (Tasty / Juicy)

In a supermarket, it is about 500-800 yen (2-3 pounds) for a pack. In some quality fruits shop, it could be about 500 yen (2 pounds) for each.

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is like a pancake shaped like a fish. It is a kind of common snack. Originally, anko (red-bean jam) is inside, cream taiyaki and cheese taiyaki are also popular nowadays.

Tai is name of a high grade fish. It is said Tai brings good luck. It is often cooked in a happy occasions. It would come from the word "medetai", which means happy or congratulation. Yes, it is a pun. Taiyaki might be an easy way to bring good luck.

Tendon set

Today's lunch at soba restaurant. Tendon set of this restaurant includes Tendon (bowl of rice topped with Tempra), soba (buckwheat noodle), salad and Tsukemono (Japanese pickles). We can choose either hot soba or cold soba, I chose hot soba today. The crispy prawn made me smile! (^_^)

Yakitori

Yakitori (Grilled chicken) is one of the most popular foods in Japan. Skewered breast, liver, wing etc. It suits beer very much. If the yakiori is grilled by charcoal, it is especially good!! (^o^)/

Hina-Matsuri : Dall festibal

The 3rd of March is doll festival, which celebrates girls' growing up.

These dolls are about 80 years old.
A set of dolls called "Ohina-sama". Ohina-sama is traditional dolls displayed in this season. When a girl is born, it is common that her grand parents buy a set of dolls for the girl. Even when a girl has grown into an old lady, she can celebrate the festival as a girl.



"Sakura mochi", typical sweets in Spring, especially during the doll festival.　　Anko (red beans jam) covered by rice cake, wrapped with salted cherry leaves.
Another typical food for the day is Chirashi-sushi, but I have no sushi today. (;_:)





Peko-chan wear a Kimono in doll festival season. Peko-chan is a famous trademark of a confectionery company.

Cute rabbits in a pub

Japanese style pub with a friend on Saturday evening. There are a lot of cute Usagi (rabbits) in this pub. A rabbit is on a plate, another on a cup, chopstick rest... I enjoyed some dishes with Umeshu (plum brandy) today.

Takenoko (bamboo sprout), taste of early spring.

Daikon (Japanese radish), steamed with dashi (thin fish stock).

Spring vegetable tempra and Usagi.

Yuba (Soy milk skin) and another Usagi.

Desert and Usagi (on the cup).

Ski in Yuzawa in Nigata

I went skiing first time in 10 year. It usually takes just 1.5 hour from Tokyo to Yuzawa in Niigata prefecture. Due to the heavy wind and snow, the Shinkansen (super express) was delayed. We had to sit on the train more than 4 hours to be back to Tokyo.

Fish & Shellfish at Izakaya

I went for a drink to a izakaya (Japanese style pub) run by fish shop. Food stuff is very fresh. (*^。^*)
We usually share food with friends.

Nokke suhi: Tuna, Salmon roe, Sea urchin, Crab flake on top.
Kabuto-ni: Head part of the fish stewed with soy sauce.









Steamed aubergine & Fish and daikon (Japanese radish) boiled with soy sauce.

Soft roe
Fresh Sashimi ( raw fish )
Sushi



Shishamo: small fish


Fish sausage

Spring vegetable Tempra

Mt. Fuji from Tokyo

Zoom in from mid Tokyo! It is clear day.

This ↓ is Mt. Fuji I took from the air last December. I think there are at least two things every Japanese loves. One is Sakura (cherry blossoms), another is Mt.Fuji. I have never met any Japanese who dose not love Sakura nor Mt. Fuji.

Snow in Tokyo

Snowing heavily in Tokyo.

Chirashi sushi

Chirashi sushi is a type of Sushi. Some kind of raw fish, egg, vegetables are arranged on top of the the vinegar rice. This one has plenty of items, I cannot see the rice. This is not home made. It was a good deal, I think.

Shimesaba

Home made Shimesaba. It was so nice!
Shimesaba is a kind of Sushi in the wide sense. Soak the Saba (mackerel) in vinegar and wrap with kobu (seaweed). Leave it for one day before eating. This cooking method is originally for preserved food.

New Year decorations

We can see some of the New Year lucky items everywhere this time of the year.

Kadomatsu
Kadomatsu is a pair of pine tree decoration displayed on the gate or entrance of most of Japanese houses and buildings from the end of a year through 7th of January. It is thought Oshogatsu time is over around 7th.

Kagamimochi
Kagamimochi is made from rice cake, and looks like a Snowman. Displayed on Tokonoma (display place in tatami room) or Kamidana (altar in house) from the end of the year through the day of Kagamibiraki (braking Kagamimochi to eat). Kagamibiraki is on 11th of January in Tokyo area, but I think its custom is different in each area.

Shabushabu

Gorgeous food keeps on coming in Oshogatsu. Now is the Shabushabu time!

Put the donabe (special earthen pot) on the centre of the table, and boil vegetables, seafood and beef in it by one own. Dip in gomadare (sesame sauce) or ponzu (citrus sauce) as one likes to taste. Beef for Shabushabu: One of the unique points of Japanese food is to slice meat very thin.

Big crab!

Osechi ryori : Traditional New Year food

It is custom that Japanese families get together in Oshogatsu (New Year) and enjoy osechi-ryori (traditional new year food) together.

We believe Osechi-ryori brings us good luck. Most of them are like pun related to its name or its shape. For instance, Kobu (Sea weed) stands for "Yorokobu" (delight) and Nimame (stewed beans) stands for "Mameni kurasu" (living healthy). Kazunoko (herring roe) is symbol of big family, and Kuri-kinton (steamed chestnuts mixed with sweet potato paste) is thought to make us rich because it looks like gold coin.

Osechi-ryori is full of superstition. We have no Kurikinton this year. My family cannot expect to be rich this year... 　

Special chopsticks for happy occasions.

Basic items for New year food.

Nimame (stewed beans),Tatsukuri (roasted small fish) and Kazunoko (herring roe.)

Assorted lucky food.

Onishime (stewed root vesitable)

Osekihan (Steamed rice mixed with red beens for happy occasions)

Sweets: wrapped with lucky things designed paper, Shishimai and Daruma.

We were eating the whole day. Stuffed... ＼(>o<)／

Hatsumoude

It is Japanese tradition that visiting a shrine or a temple at begining of a year. I went to a local shrine in my home town.

The gate of the shrine The shrine building

Temaki zushi ( sushi )

Temaki zushi is hand rolled Sushi. It is good for enjoying Sushi at home. They are fresh tuna and another fish. Prepare nori (seaweed) on the palm, put some vinegar rice and fish on it. Wrap and dip a little in soy sauce, and then taste! So nice!!