I'm in Tokyo! The weather is absolutely gorgeous. Clear blue skies with temperatures that are a little warmer than Kobe.
I arrived on Tuesday and may end up moving here. I'm here for a possible job. I'm very excited at the possibilities. In the last year or so I've made a lot of friends here and many friends from Kobe have moved here for work.
I'll be sure to take pictures so I can share more of Japan with all of you. With this weather it's the perfect environment for taking pictures.
Sorry for such a short post. Will update very soon :)
Have a wonderful day and week!
January 19, 2011
January 15, 2011
Sights and tastes of 2011
Just wanted to share a few things from this month and year. As I mentioned before 'osechi ryori' is a traditional meal you eat at New Years here. Here's one part of the 'osechi ryori' I had the delight in eating. This dish is 'kamaboko' or fish cake with shiso (known sometimes as the Japanese basil) and ikura or salmon-roe. I really liked the blend of textures and flavors. The firm, sweet fish cake combined with the savory flavor of the ikura with a finishing hint of shiso taste and aroma.
About a week after New Years is 'Ebisu-sann' or Ebisu festival. This is when many people go to shrines where Ebisu, a god known for business and prosperity.
Making my way to the shrine
I
I wish I had more to share but the first half of January has been quiet. Things will change, maybe drastically from here on out. Hope you are all enjoying food and sights that you love.
About a week after New Years is 'Ebisu-sann' or Ebisu festival. This is when many people go to shrines where Ebisu, a god known for business and prosperity.
Making my way to the shrine
I
I wish I had more to share but the first half of January has been quiet. Things will change, maybe drastically from here on out. Hope you are all enjoying food and sights that you love.
January 9, 2011
New Year
Sorry that I haven't been writing as frequently as I did in December. I seemed to have stumbled upon a writer's block of sorts. Also, I wanted to make sure to include pictures so I had to upload pictures from my camera first in order to do so.
Here are just a couple pictures from December in Kobe. The city isn't decorated for Christmas as much as one would hope, especially when it's such a beautiful city architecturally speaking. But I guess each city can't run a complete deficit with electricity. Especially if the energy for the lights aren't from alternative power sources.
Nonetheless, Kobe continues its annual tradition (ever since the Great Hanshin Earthquake) of a Luminaries show for two weeks in early December. Instead of candles in paper bags as often seen in the States, it is a whole street with many lights above your head. I missed it the last few years but Kobe tries to add its holiday charm.
Decoration in front of department store
Chinatown
Now that Christmas and New Years are over, it's back to the everyday life which are filled-at least for me-with attempts to keep my new year's resolutions. Have you made yours? My main focus is work. Currently it's a big 'lack' of work but I intend to turn that into a 'presence' of work. Good luck to all if you with your resolutions!
I'll keep this post short and I'm hoping to share more of what Kobe is and has to offer in the near future.
Here are just a couple pictures from December in Kobe. The city isn't decorated for Christmas as much as one would hope, especially when it's such a beautiful city architecturally speaking. But I guess each city can't run a complete deficit with electricity. Especially if the energy for the lights aren't from alternative power sources.
Nonetheless, Kobe continues its annual tradition (ever since the Great Hanshin Earthquake) of a Luminaries show for two weeks in early December. Instead of candles in paper bags as often seen in the States, it is a whole street with many lights above your head. I missed it the last few years but Kobe tries to add its holiday charm.
Decoration in front of department store
Chinatown
Now that Christmas and New Years are over, it's back to the everyday life which are filled-at least for me-with attempts to keep my new year's resolutions. Have you made yours? My main focus is work. Currently it's a big 'lack' of work but I intend to turn that into a 'presence' of work. Good luck to all if you with your resolutions!
I'll keep this post short and I'm hoping to share more of what Kobe is and has to offer in the near future.
January 1, 2011
MMXI
Happy New Year or 'Akemashite omedetou'!! Its' hard to believe it's already 2011!
Japan was one of the first few places for New Years to occur. Hawaii is one of the last so it's a very big difference between both. I got to wish my mother a happy new year via Skype when it became New Years in Hawaii:)
Culturally speaking New Years is a much bigger deal than Christmas. Many stores and businesses are closed for a few days allowing for the many Japanese to travel to their hometowns and spend time with family.
New Years is a time of lots of food which is probably the most exciting part. To bring in the New Year it is tradition to eat 'toshikoshi soba' or moving into the new year /year end noodles. Soba are buckwheat noodels and is thought to symbolize longevity because the noodles are long. Families prepare in advance for the food they'll eat on New Years day with 'osechi ryouri'. This food is placed in stackable lacquered boxes. Each dish has a symbolic meaning such as health, longevity and good harvest for the year. It is thought that this tradition came about because stores were closed for the new years holiday and famlies needed to make lots of food.
Below is a picture of typical 'osechi ryouri'.
Another dish that's prepared is 'ozoni' which is either miso soup or a clear broth with some vegetables and 'mochi' or rice cake. If it is prepared with miso then it is either white or red miso and some areas of Japan includes azuki beans.
Japanese people visit shrines or temples for their 'hatsumode' or first shrine visit within the first couples days of the new year, sometimes even right after the new year has begun as shrines ring bells to ring in the new year and many food stalls are set up a long the road to the shrine.
Besides, these festivities many people relax at home with their families, write new years cards,watch special tv shows and wish those they know a happy new year.
Recent temperatures here in Kobe have been a little bitter. Due to the humidity the air feels much colder than the actual temperature. Therefore while New Years is a time of celebration there are little reasons to want to step out into the cold besides these traditional festivities.
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful New Year. May this year be filled with health and happiness for you all.
Japan was one of the first few places for New Years to occur. Hawaii is one of the last so it's a very big difference between both. I got to wish my mother a happy new year via Skype when it became New Years in Hawaii:)
Culturally speaking New Years is a much bigger deal than Christmas. Many stores and businesses are closed for a few days allowing for the many Japanese to travel to their hometowns and spend time with family.
New Years is a time of lots of food which is probably the most exciting part. To bring in the New Year it is tradition to eat 'toshikoshi soba' or moving into the new year /year end noodles. Soba are buckwheat noodels and is thought to symbolize longevity because the noodles are long. Families prepare in advance for the food they'll eat on New Years day with 'osechi ryouri'. This food is placed in stackable lacquered boxes. Each dish has a symbolic meaning such as health, longevity and good harvest for the year. It is thought that this tradition came about because stores were closed for the new years holiday and famlies needed to make lots of food.
Below is a picture of typical 'osechi ryouri'.
Another dish that's prepared is 'ozoni' which is either miso soup or a clear broth with some vegetables and 'mochi' or rice cake. If it is prepared with miso then it is either white or red miso and some areas of Japan includes azuki beans.
Japanese people visit shrines or temples for their 'hatsumode' or first shrine visit within the first couples days of the new year, sometimes even right after the new year has begun as shrines ring bells to ring in the new year and many food stalls are set up a long the road to the shrine.
Besides, these festivities many people relax at home with their families, write new years cards,watch special tv shows and wish those they know a happy new year.
Recent temperatures here in Kobe have been a little bitter. Due to the humidity the air feels much colder than the actual temperature. Therefore while New Years is a time of celebration there are little reasons to want to step out into the cold besides these traditional festivities.
Just wanted to wish you all a wonderful New Year. May this year be filled with health and happiness for you all.
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