Let’s talk about Japan

Japan is a wonderful country: safer than the UK, its people friendlier, the food and transport system better, and much more to do. Today let’s know more about Japan.

Seeing Mt. Fuji in Spring

 

1. Population

Japan has a shrinking population problem that has occurred within the past 10 years. Due to their overworking and consumer culture lifestyle, it is evident that there is a decline in Japan’s birth rate. Most parents are in their 30s or older with very few young children, whereas in the UK there are many young parents and so a decline in population wouldn’t be an issue for many years to come. This is also an interesting article from The Guardian.

2. Transportation

As a common sense in the UK, the public transport services can be slightly late. So 9 out of 10 times UK public transport will be late and without ever issuing an apology. In Japan, if the train or bus is late, then the driver apologises to the waiting passengers. Japanese people can live their lives to a schedule because they know 9 and half times out of 10, the train would arrive on time.

3. Travel in Japan

Traveling around in Japan is relatively easy as there are English signs posted practically everywhere, and along with some of the most basic Japanese phrases. The Japanese are very friendly and willing to help, and are perhaps the most genuinely acceptant towards foreigners in the world. You can walk around without being glared at or made to feel uncomfortable.

4. Culture

One aspect of life greatly lacking in the UK is a sense of culture and identity. Although Japanese are immersed into Western culture and lifestyle, they still hold cultural community events every year. The summer festivals and the picnics under the Cherry Blossom trees are a “must see” when visiting Japan.

Have you been to the dream wonderlands in Japan?

“It’s a small world afterall…” Some of you may have heard this lyrics every time you visit any Disneylands in the world. Although Disneyland is originally come from the west, Japanese culture plays an important roles for Disneyland.

Because Disneyland can apply the culture of where it’s operated, such as Hong Kong Disneyland uses the cultural strategy to bring the concept of Feng Shui to build Hong Kong Disneyland. For Japan, we can see that many Disney characters are associated with Japanese people, such as Disney recently launched the animation “Big Hero 6”.

Click to see the link from my previous blog about “Big Hero 6“.

Japan operated Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disneyland is catagorised into 7 zones of attraction, which are World Bazaar, Adventureland, Westernland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toontown and Tomorrowland.

©Disney
Source: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3016_land.html

Tokyo DisneySea divided in to 7 zones of attraction as well, which are Mediterranean Habor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery,Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon and Mysterious Island.

©Disney
Source: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3016_sea.html

If you like the theme parks, which the exciting simulators, you’ll like Tokyo DisneySea. For instance, Tower of Terror that I’ve experienced last year. It is like the ghost castle. You’ll be taken to the top of the tower by the ghost elevator and then, the elevator fell down…so scary but you’ll be relived after screaming lol

Absolutely, for those of you are the big fan of Disney Parades, you shouldn’t miss it out.

Let’s go find the best Unadon in Japan

Do you know Japanese people loves eel (Unagi in Japanese). Today, you can find the famous Unadon in Nagoya, which is located in the middle of Japan.

Unadon is grilled Japanese eel served on rice. I’ve been to one of the most famous Unadon restaurants in Nagoya, “Horai-ken”. I went there on the weekday about 11 a.m., and there’s a long queue. I thought that I have to be patient otherwise I’d be more regret if I miss it.

In front of the restaurant ©Kun

Here it comes. My Unadon.

A set of Unadon ©Kun

You can see that this dish is quite big. So, traditionally, Japanese people will divided it into 4 sections.

1. You can eat it as it served.

2. As you can see, there’re seaweed, wasabi and spring onions. These are served with your set. Then, you can place all of those ingredients on the top of Unadon you’ve divided. You’ll taste it in the different styles with more ingredients.

3. This time, you can place all of the ingredients and hot tea. As you can see the red bottle on the bottom left of the photo.

4. This time is your preferable choice. Now, you can eat in your style from the above 3…Sounds fun, isn’t it?

I personally like the second style, because I like seaweed.

This’s my first time trying grilled-Japanese eel, and I found out that the smell of it’s so good, I can feel little smoke charcoal smell in this menu, which is so good and I can’t find any better Unadon.

Japan Tour – Ride the time machine back to the past

Have you actually been to Japan? Today, you can even go back time to the historical period of Japan. Sounds wonderful, isn’t it?

One of the oldest villages, which is named Shirakawago, is located in the middle of Japan, Takayama. This village attracts many tourists from the worldwide because of its style which is unique of the house style and the atmosphere of the village itself. Shirakawago is recorded by UNESCO to become the world’s herritage village.

The view of Shirakawa-go, world’s heritage village ©Kun

This photo was taken in October last year, it was Fall. But for winter, you can imagine that the whole village will covered by snow, and everything is white…so much more stunning.

Source: http://gochisou-deshita.net/2013/03/31/shirakawa-go-in-the-winter/

Amazingly, it’s very interesting to see the different culture and feel like you turn back time to the historical time, because it seems like this village is distinguished from the outside world. They maintain the way they live since the past time, so impressed.

You can have a opportunity to stay for more than 1 night at their home. It’s a great time to live like old traditional Japanese, such as wearing Yukata (a traditional Japanese costume) and walking around the village like Japanese people.

You can offer the Japanese traditional meals, by using natural and clean ingredients, which are found within in the village, like these;

Traditional Japanese dinner ©Kun

In the morning, you can go out to breathe the cool breeze outside their home. Can you imagine? Fresh air, nice people and just listen to the sound of nature…are the best!

In an early morning ©Kun

I can tell you that 1 time is not enough for this beautiful historical village…I’ll be again.

Where to buy Japanese ingredients in Cardiff?

Do you want to cook Japanese food at home more? Japanese food often needs special ingredients. So, where can you buy Japanese ingredients in Cardiff?

The supermarket “Cardiff Korean and Japanese Foods” is along the Woodville road in Cathays. They sell a wide variety of ingredients such as wasabi, Japanese curry roux, Japanese rice (more sticky than other countries’ rice), seaweed, tofu, miso, soba, maccha (green tea) icecream, mochi, ramen and even sake! You can also buy Korean and Chinese ingredients here.

So, what do you want to cook? How about ‘Teriyaki’? ‘Teriyaki’ is very convenient source. It can be used for chicken, salmon and hamburger steak (meat patty). If you make ‘Teriyaki’ source, you need sugar, sake, soy source and mirin. Instead of sake, you can use white wine. But mirin doesn’t have any substitute. So, why not to have mirin in the shop?

You can buy not only Japanese ingredients for cooking here. Your top choice may be Japanese snack foods as well (because we can’t cook the snacks…!). For instance, you may know ‘Koala’s March’ which is bite-sized biscuits filled with creamy chocolate and printed Koala. Now, ‘Hi-Chew’ is very popular, especially in the US. ‘Kakinotane (rice crackers)’ goes very well with drinking beer!

source: http://www.lotte.co.th

source: http://www.hi-chew.com

source: http://www.kameda-netshop.jp

Enjoy your Japanese food!

Cardiff Korean & Japanese Foods

116 Woodville Road, Cathays, Cardiff

How to cook Japanese food easily in the UK?

Do you want to eat Japanese food at home?

Today, we will tell you how to cook one of Japanese dishes, which is called ‘Niku Jaga (meat-potato)’. It is said that ‘Niku Jaga’ originally came from ‘British beef stew’. So, we’re sure you will like it!

source: http://www.asahikei.co.jp

‘Niku Jaga’ is one of typical dishes at home and recognised as Mom’s home cooking in Japan. Each family has a different recipe for it. But, today’s recipe is very easy (and tasty!). Moreover, the ingredients are not special in the UK. So, why not try it?

Ingredients (for 2-3 people)

• Bacon: 6 slice
• Potatoes: 2-3 (middle size)
• Carrot: 1 (If you have)
• Onion: 1
• Soy source: 2 and a half table spoons
• Sugar: 1-2 table spoons
• White wine (cheap one!): 1 table spoon

1. Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces. Chop the potatoes and carrot into chunks. Cut the onion into comb-shaped pieces.

2. Make a pot hot with oil (1 table spoon). Fry the bacon in the pot. Put the sugar, soy source and white wine.

3. Add the onion and fry it. Then, add and fry carrot and potatoes. Turn the flame down to ‘medium’. Then, put a cover and wait for 20 minutes. Stir the ingredients, sometimes (if you take away oil on the surface, it become healthy).

Let me know how was your Niku-Jaga!

Did you know a relationship between Wales and one of popular Japanese cartoons?

Do you like cartoon? You may have heard of ‘My neighbor Totoro’ or ‘Spirited Away’. These are produced by one of animated cartoon companies in Japan.

The company is named “Studio Ghibli”. This is founded in 1985. ‘Spirited Away’ might be the most popular one of their films in the world as it was awarded in animated feature film category of Academy awards in 2003.

This year, their latest film ‘The Tale of The Princess Kaguya’ was also nominated in the category. Unfortunately, the Oscar was for ‘Big Hero 6’ (which is produced by Disney. The boy, Hiro is half-Japanese!). But we’re sure you will be deeply touched.

The story is based on the oldest Japanese fairy tale. The life of a girl is illustrated beautifully. Many of our friends in Japan told us that the story telling was great and the animation was breathtakingly beautiful. Some of our friends have watched it a few times!

Then, do you know that Wales is the place of Ghibli’s first film “Laputa Castle in the Sky” released in 1986? You can find some similarities between Caenarfon castle in North Wales and the castle in the film. Actually, the director of the film, Hayao Miyazaki, visited Wales and Cardiff before producing this film.

Their DVDs are available at HMV in Cardiff city centre. They have a corner of Japanese cartoon. Trust me! Their works are not only for kids. So, which film of Ghibli is your favorite? Tell me!