Drunk city official busted for molesting high school girl on train

YOKOHAMA -- A drunk city official has been arrested for molesting a 16-year-old high school girl sitting next to him on a train here Thursday night, police said Friday.

Yasuhiro Honda, 40, an official of the Yokohama Municipal Government's urban development bureau, is accused of violating the Kanagawa prefectural ordinance prohibiting people from creating a nuisance.

He admitted to the allegations during questioning. "I wanted to fondle her body," he was quoted as telling investigators. (Mainichi News)
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I don't know how many times I have heard of such groper incidents...enough that I dream about it. In fact just two nights ago I had a dream that I was attending some jam-packed conference, at which the man sitting next to me, a Caucasian man started to press his arm and side of his body against my chest...at which point I screamed out and started to chew him out. Everyone was shocked by the sudden outburst!

If in fact I was ever groped, I would really let the guy have it. Most men expect a woman to be so embarrassed, ashamed, and helpless while being molested. Me, on the other hand, would fly into a rage and really give it to him, a firm strong punch to the nose followed up by knee action to the groin. When I was a child, my brother taught me many self-defense moves...how lucky I was!

Hydrophobic, biphasal drink?

This is the coolest drink I have had in ages! You know the Italian soda available at most franchise coffee shops? Well, this is heaps better than that!!! Granted it comes at a 650yen (around USD) ...but it is made with high-quality ingredients!

The bottom is pureed and sweetened raspberries...the top is Canada Dry club soda. The way I drank it? First I drank the soda water at the top until 1/2 of it was gone...finally I mixed it all up and enjoyed a very thick raspberry soda shake! YUMMMM...you can make this at home with strawberry or raspberry puree. Oh, and did I mention how anti-oxidant rich berries are?

Bumble BB

This was really beautiful - big fluffy, fuzzy bumblebees swarming a lavender bush...I stopped a moment to take pictures of it. Hard to do with my phone, considering the resolution is poor and there is no zoom function.

Nevertheless, I leave you with this thought for the day.

"Live fully, love deeply, and learn humbly."

host club...ewwww

Today is busy, so I will just post this.

J-dorama fans out there

If you are wondering where to find a website to buy Japanese dramas easily and cheaply, you can do so at the following website:
http://www.coolwin-video.com/movie/

I have ordered from them in the past and the service was much faster than I had anticipated! Considering the price, I am not sure if they are real or not but the picture quality seems quite good. I would not get the VCDs, the DVDs seem of higher quality and authenticity.

Plagiarizing painter plummets from grace

Yoshihiko Wada was once regarded as one of Japan's finest painters, but the recent disclosure that dozens of his works are virtual copies of an obscure Italian artist has exposed the 66-year-old Mie Prefecture native as nothing more than a bulls**t artist, according to Josei Seven (6/22).

Among works being sold as Wada's are 30 that are clearly copies of those by little-known 77-year-old Italian artist Alberto Sughi. Artwork prices are roughly determined by the size of paintings, with a small Wada work about 16 centimeters by 22 centimeters worth around 150,000 yen to 170,000 yen (around 1500USD), according to a gallery's art appraiser. A poster-sized Wada work, meanwhile, could fetch around 1.5 million (almost 15,000USD) yen on the Japanese market.

No such riches await Sughi, though. He is virtually unknown in Asia and the United States, though his name does carry a certain amount of value in Europe. Until the exposure of Wada's wickedness, Sughi was unheard of in Japan. Studio Sughi would like to clarify that Alberto Sughi's paintings sell in Italy, Europe and the United States at prices between 20,000 euros and 50,000 euros.
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Ooops, I wanted to post this a week or so ago but never got around to it. This has been a hot topic in the arts world since it broke out about a month ago. What a blessing for Sughi but tragedy for Wada, well all I have to say is, serves him right. I was shocked to find the two paintings SO strikingly similar - you would think someone copying a living artist would at least change the plagiarized painting to some extent. My goodness what a kerfuffle!

Don't waste my time, bucko!

Would you hire someone who sent you such a introductory e-mail? (see below) I suppose the standards for hiring ESL teachers in China is lower, considering this man taught there for two years! Come on, if you want to get a job as an English instructor, at least get your e-mail spellchecked before you send it out.

I am looking for an English teacher for two contract classes I cannot teach and let me tell you, there are very few qualified teachers out there.

hi, i have taught english (TOEFL) in china for 2 years. though I have not expeirience in this field, but I have learnt it for more than 2 years.
If interested, pls reply me.
Regards

for all your mobile phone owners out there...

LONDON (Reuters) - People should not use mobile phones outdoors during thunderstorms because of the risk of being struck by lightning, doctors said on Friday.

They reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who was using her phone in a park when she was hit during a storm. Although she was revived, she suffered persistent health problems and was using a wheelchair a year after the accident.

"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England.

feeling green

And no I do not mean feeling envious, I mean really green and sick to the stomach feeling. I felt a bit nauseous all Thursday and Friday of last week, for no apparent reason. Therefore I decided to go all out (most people feeling under the weather do not go up and get Indian) and get some Indian saag at Raja, the place I had deemed not as good as New Mira. BUT now I have changed my mind!

The taste at Raja is great - the naan is mildly sweeter and my curry as delightfully spicy. In fact New Mira disappointed me last time I went. Oh and did I mention how friendly the Raja staff are to me? The man even gave me a special coupon they'd stopped giving out long ago. How very kind of him!

So here is to giving everything - people, food, and whatever...a second chance! You may not like it the first time around but you might like it on your second or third try. Who knows.

looking forward to rainy days

Perhaps when you had seen the title to this blog entry, you thought I was mistaken? No, I meant it...somewhat - basically I dislike rainy days but I am happy that it helps make my green bean plant grow stronger and healtheri day by day...also one of my favorite cafe offers a rainy day free coffee or tea with any lunch order. A small gesture but it helps make the rainy season just a little more bearable!

So when it is rainy, think of all the great things that happen and maybe you won't feel as down. Notice my beautiful coffee - how the cream is swirling in such a beautiful way.

Tomoko's wedding!!!

What a beautiful bride she was...and as I had prayed for, it was radiant weather last Saturday! Could not have been finer! The weather forecast called for clouds and rain, but none came to rain out her big day! Hurrah. This is the outdoor chapel set up at Hotel Okura.

Look at the cake - isn't it the greatest?! Japanese people do not like unnatural colours or unnecessary preservatives, therefore avoid using colouring agents. What appears to be grass was actually 抹茶, matcha green tea! What an ingenious idea and cute cake made to remind everyone of how they met. He was her tennis coach, hee hee.

My film camera's batteried pooped out in the middle of the event, so besides that small bummer, it was an honor and delight to be able to attend. They are such a unique couple - Hiro and I enjoy their company very much. I hope they will have endless days of happiness to come.

close those doors gals!

Like America or Canada...
I recall back in my uni days there were stories of a sexual predator going around Toronto and Scarboro, attacking women who lived alone. I shuddered at the thought because I sometimes slept with the windows wide open!

Now in Tsukuba there have been reports of similar events (in addition to burglary) happening in the past month or so. How incredible - again, another thing to shatter the myth of Japan as a safe haven. Girls, no matter where you live whether it is Canada, America, Japan, Europe...wherever, do not sleep with your doors unlocked or windows open! The heat might be unbearable but think of the up side: the heat will be like a sauna for your skin, keeping it revitalized and young looking! Rock saunas are all the rage in Japan now.

Whenever I get a post parcel delivery, I yield a heavy pole to answer the door, ready to wield it and whack out someone posing as the mailman. Violence is unusual for me but in times of safety, I wouldn't even hesitate a split-second. There are even reports of people posing as police officers these days - now that is scary! みんなさん　気をつけて. (watch out everyone!)

still hunting...

Recently we went condominium hunting on the weekend (we went almost every week!). It is unexpectedly not a cakewalk like we had envisioned!!! First of all, we are searching off-season meaning the pickings are slim. Secondly, our criteria (around 60m2, less than 10 years old, less than 1000USD a month) is similar to that of many other couples...so sometimes we found a place we liked, but after just a week of consideration, the place was snatched up by others. No time to think - just nod yes and sign here, please!

Note: we are not looking for an apartment because they tend to be flimsily built - steel contruction. The place I live in now is a cheaply built apartment...sigh, if only I had known...I would have gotten a smaller but better constructed condo. Condos (called 'mansions' here in Japan, ha ha ha...the irony of it!) are reinforced concrete, quality will cost ya! Benefits of condos: less noisy, cooler in summers/warmer in winters due to better insulation.

This is the latest place we like, it is a little pricey but worth it.
2LDK (living room, dining, and kitchen)
63.36m² condo
2006/08 finish date was extended to September '06
20,000yen (or more for fire insurance)
10万円4,000円 (the first figure is the rent; the second one is maintenance fee)
2ヶ月1ヶ月 (the first one is 2 month's worth rent as deposit money; the other is one month's worth as a 'thank you' gesture...totally bogus if you ask me!)
UPDATE 6/26...SHOOT, it is sold out.

So in the beginning, a couple has to pay a LOAD of money just to rent a place. My current place cost about...thinking...3000USD up front plus the first month of rent. OUCH. For a lousy two-year contract. You have to renew every two years, pay another absurd sum of money. Crazy system if you ask me! Also, especially if you are a foreigner, you need a respectable guarantor to vouch for you.

hmm, kind of grotesque if you ask me...

Workers ready the season's first shipment of cubed watermelons Thursday at a farm co-op here. Demand for the cubic fruit is high despite the 13,000 yen price tag, but they're usually used only for display since they aren't considered tasty. (The Japan Times)

What the heck??? More than 100 dollars a pop and they do not even taste that good? Forget about it, I am putting my money somewhere else! Are you a big watermelon eater? I absolutely love them - as a child I could eat a whole watermelon (one of those big ones) by myself. Do you spit out the seeds or swallow them? I used to spit them out but now I just gulp it all down...yum!

chocolate for you?

Recently I sent my father a birthday package full of sweets and other foods (especially nostalgic ones) he cannot get in Honduras. To save on packaging space, I took most everything out of the original boxes...unfortunately, due to that, a little whoopsie happened.

My father mistook the curry roux blocks for chocolate! He ate it and thought it was a little bit strange, perhaps not chocolate. I had to write him back, telling him it was blocks of curry roux. How funny!

In America and Canada, curry roux is quite pricey. Here in Japan it is relatively cheap, especially when on sale. As with most prices, I suppose it is all about supply and demand. Though the roux is packed with all sorts of unhealthy oils and preservatives, it is the easiest way to make Japanese curry, one of everybody's favorite dishes!

cheesy and totally predictable, but...

This is the newest series I am addicted to. The name of it is, "kurosagi" which means a kind of black swindler. This man is avenging the death of his family - his father was driven to murder suicide when he was robbed of millions by a "shirosagi," white swindler.

The plots are simple and barely plausible yet I find it interesting. These days I am picking up more and more vocab, phrases and natural expressions from such TV dramas. I am a very audio-visual person so learning this way works well for me.

Hirotsugu-san tells me the plots are way predictable and far-fetched at times to let stressed out Japanese people relax after a long day at work. They can turn their brain off and enjoy the fantasy of such dramas. I am not sure about that but do keep in mind that I should take most of the things I see in dramas with a 'grain of salt.' It is informative about Japanese culture and customs but not necessarily accurate.

Japanese dramas I have seen:

• Lunch no Joou
• Ace wo Nerae
• Nobuta wo produce
• First Love
• Anego
• Stand up
• Friends (Korean/Japanese)
• Seikei Bijin
• Strawberry on the Shortcake
• Kamisama mou sukoshi dake
• Hana Yori Dango
• Koi shite shinitai
• Kurisumasu nante Daikirai
• Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi
• Peach Girl
• Attention Please
• Busu no Hitomi...
• Kurosagi (now)
• GTO
• Kimi wa petto
• Densha Otoko
• Kamikaze girls (movie)
• Pride

ohhh durian

My amusing durian story: In Taiwan I ate some durian...after which I experienced hiccups and some slight burping. Not that I ate too much of it, simply because durian tends to give people kind of gas or something of that sort. In any case, we happened to take public transportation that night...on the train I told my mom and fiance that my breath reeked of durian, especially after I burped.

Suddenly I burped and I could smell the durian wafting out of my own mouth...as I laughed, the woman in front of me cringed in disgust and edged her way away. Oops. Note to self: do not ride too closely to other passengers after having eaten durian! My mom and I once bought durian in HK and ate it in the hotel...a big no no! Some hotels in Malaysia even post signs forbidding people from bringing in durian!

my house smells rotten!

This is durian...I had a strong craving for it and found it at the local supermarket. Unfortunately I opened it before it was soft enough...so it is stringy and not so sweet. Durian is the king of fruits; mangosteen (another one of my faves) is the queen of fruits.

Durian really smells...kind of like compost or something, dirty gym shoes? Anyway the first time I tried it, I was turned off...it took a few more times before I took to it. The texture is like custard/avocado and it is really rich and creamy in texture.

I really pricked my hand when opening it and found a great tip from the internet - one should open durian from the bottom end! I see, I see! Pictured behind the durian is my student who was repulsed by both the taste and smell. What a pity - it's really expensive, this stinky fruit!

slippery suckers

Gosh darn chopsticks. I am still working on my chopstick technique. Last Wednesday was the ultimate challenge - picking up cherry tomatoes (kind of oily from the salad dressing) with chopsticks. It really aggravated me, the way the tomaters slipped around and refused to be taken up. Grrr.

Anyway, how's your chopstick technique? Try picking up beans or cherry tomatoes! If you don't have fun, at least the people around you will have fun laughing at you!

Dinner, again...

Before I forget, this was last Wednesday's dinner...one dish, the main dish was not featured because it looked so strange. To the right is shredded daikon red miso soup - to be frank, it was horrendous and I will never make it again. I had to push myself to finish the last drop in my bowl. The middle is blanched and dressing-ed string green beans. To the left is shredded tenderloin chicken, wakame seaweed salad topped with sesame sauce with daikon and carrots underneath.

Dinner's ingredient tally...

This was last night's dinner...the sesame-dressing white fish salad *not pictured, was tasty but looked less than appetizing! The left is a hijiki (seaweed) salad by Harumi Kurihara, my favorite chef. The second pic is unique, tomato miso soup - a recipe given to me by a great student who shares my passion for cooking. I loved it but my boyfriend is partial to standard unadulterated miso soup, ha ha - go figure. To the right is broccoli (blanched beforehand) pan-fried with baby asparagus and lean bacon in olive oil...topped off with chili pepper.

The final count? 20 ingredients, most of which were vegetables. My body feels great now. One of my friends thought he was diagnosed with stomach cancer - luckily he found out it was a false alarm. I hope he and other such bachelors will take better care of themselves and eat more fruits/veggies!

I can sing a rainbow...

Sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow tooooo...shoot, gosh darn mommy and babies class has really gotten to my head. Anyhoo, I sent my mom this so that she could personally pick out her favorite colour. I will use that yarn to make her a very beautiful crochet something...will post it later in my blog. I am also making something similar for Hiro's mother.

Crocheting is much easier than knitting...I think I will continue with it instead of picking up the knitting needles anytime soon. Why don't you try it today? Then again, I must admit, it is TONS cheaper just to buy crochet clothes these days. The only thing special about mine is that it includes one special material, care and love. Hee hee.

when skies are gray and dreary

What do you do when you feel blue? As for me, I try to avoid contact with others human as much as possible. Why, you might ask?

I fear that my sadness might be contagious, especially considering I am incredibly, terribly, horrifically (is this even a word?) poor at disguising my feelings.

Anyway I felt particularly down the other day and avoided blogging in order to keep others from catching the depressing vibes. Now I am back to my 元気, genki (upbeat, energetic) self and hope that you are too!

Interestingly enough, in the end, the solution to my blues is just talking with a good friend over coffee about my なやみ, nayami (worries, concerns) and thinking things over from a more objective and less dramatic point of view. Thanks to a great friend and long talk with Hiro, I feel much better.

and the winner of the Mikami Cup...

Drumroll please...

A girl who gave a very moving speech detailing the tragedy brought upon her family in the past year. Her father, in debt from various gambling activities, went to a loan company...which triggered a vicious cycle of borrowing more and more money. Finally his loans exceeded 40,000USD (within a span of less than 2 years!) before he admitted it to his wife who threatened to divorce him.

How did it end? All went well...her mother's sister lent them the money, interest free and he paid back all the money he owed. However her mom had to find a job and works 8 hours a day, even her brother (not even out of high school) has to work, and she herself can no longer go abroad to volunteer in a developing country as she had dreamed. Right after graduation from university she is off into the work field. What a sad story. As a questioner, I had to be particularly sensitive and not ask her any potentially offending questions. What I really wanted to know (but refrained from asking) is if she resents her father from this incident. She interviewed him to write the speech but in fact he did not want her to speak about such a shameful, face-losing topic in front of all sorts of strangers. In the end, she stuck to her guns and gave the speech. What a strong and impressive girl she is!

I have heard of other cases where men frequent hostess bars in Ginza and other posh districts in Tokyo, only to rack up bills and end up in financial disaster. You would think that they 'get some booty' in the end but in fact, at the classy hostess clubs, you won't get very far with the gals. More on hostess bars in the future.

cute dog, right?

As innocent as this dog may seem, what lurks behind it is deeper than what anyone could even fathom. This chihuahua is present in various commercials by Aiful loan company, preying on Japanese people's weakness for all things cute, convincing all sorts of people to use money they don't have!

Another commercial uses the Takefuji dancers, a scantily clad group of girls seductively dancing and prancing around. How this has anything to do with loans is beyond me. "What the #$@&!!!" is how I reacted the first time I saw it on T.V...wondering how the two could possibly correlated.

You can read the following links for some articles on this issue in Japan.

Vivian, the inquisitive questioner

This is a picture of one of Meiji University's buildings...the metal on the side is not evidence of an unfinished building - though it might look like a scaffolding, in fact it is abstract architectural art. Despite this (in my opinion) tacky tangled metal work of art, I really loved the interior of the building. All the chairs are ergonomical beyond ergonomical...I did not even know how they worked until I magically slid into the seat. Great chairs! Each room was well-equipped with the latest tech and more, all thanks to generous donations.

Yesterday I was a judge/questioner for the Meiji University 'Mikami Cup' speech competition, a nationwide competition in which various contestants from elite universities gather to give speeches in English. It was such a unique first experience for me! I loved it - back in my H.S. days, I received a Varsity letter from participating on the Speech and Debate teams. ^_^ Therefore, I was particularly honored to have been chosen! What an exhausting yet exhilarating day it was!!!

10 students were scheduled to speak but one fell ill the day before and was absent. It was mighty impressive, seeing students give speeches in a language other than their own! They gave one extemp speech and presented a prepared speech as well. The results were based on a combination of the two scores.

As for me, I was a hard questioner...some contestants gawked at my very unexpected questions, now that is the real test of their English understanding! Mr. Ogawa, my senior, told me to ask very surprising questions, ones that they could not possibly anticipate. What fun it was - admittedly a bit mean, but easy questions would have made things so boring. Furthermore, it made it much easier for the judges to see their true English level. (see, I even look intimidating in the pic to the R)

Nothing like Sunday morning breakfast

Perhaps not one of my best photos (a bit blurry) but if you squint hard enough, you can make out what everything is.

- 100% grapefruit juice (collagen and vitaminC)
- Rose milk tea (courtesy of Andrea)
- One strip of very lean bacon...hmm, too healthy and lacked that fatty oomph
- Sunnyside up egg (soft-cooked)
- Rice
-Salad with cucumber, Italian dressing, freshly cut basil, and tomato

grr...slow blog engine

Sorry for the sparse blog posts these few days - my blog site has been running at turtle's pace, making it incredibly difficult to post pictures and even type!

Hydrangeas are great, I learnt just recently that their color depends entirely on the soil composition - what percent acidity, or something like that!

I plan on buying one and doing some tests on it. Poor thing, I might kill it. Well for the sake of science and Vivian's stupid curiousity...

what wise women they are

A few things I learned today at knitting club:

In the past , many Japanese couples did not go on honeymoons as they do now. If they did go on some kind of honeymoon, for the most part, it was a domestic trip, not like the trips these days people take to Europe or sunny beach destinations.

Also, have you ever eaten an umeboshi? This is a Japanese pickled plum and it is quite tasty in a rice ball or simply pl;ahted on top of rice sprinkled with some sesame seeds. After one eats the fruit part, you are supposed to take the seed out of your mouth, crack it open with some blunt object and then eat the white part in the seed. It is supposed to be good for something but I could not remember.

One should not chill melons soon after purchase...let the bugger ripen well until fragrant, then chill before serving. Duh, I should have known that...baka BB I am. (baka means stupid)

Shingoster Cafe, a hidden gem

Is this cute or what? This comes from Shingoster, a cafe a student recommended to me a long time ago. (and kindly gave me a postcard...you know who you are!) I now know why it is her favorite cafe - it has such a cozy and intimate feel to it, great for chatting on a more personal level.

It is hard to locate because it looks like a regular old-fashioned Japanese house. Inside there is a gallery of pottery and other interesting artsy, appealing-to-the-eye items. The coffee was pleasantly strong and the sugar cubes were layed out ever so carefully.

I think such charm keeps customers coming back - things that make it different from other cafes. Although the actual cafe part is located in the dim attic of the house, it is surprisingly nice. Cafes in Japan are especially great (granted coffee comes at 5 bucks a hit)...this is why I, at times, loathe Starbucks and other such franchises - they drive away all the charming cafes I love so much.

getting things off my chest

How often do you hold things in? If you have a general problem or grudge with someone in your life are you quick to be vocal about it or do you restrain yourself and hope it goes away? I often find that the longer I hold things in, the more time it has to simmer inside me unhealthily.

That is why I try my best to be frank with people. As a former student told me, "Vivian you are really bad at lying." What can I say? I cannot help it - I dislike sincerity from others and try my best to be truthful. Though I must admit, such honestly does at times, get me into trouble...tact is the key word.

Sorry if I have ever offended you, I do not mean to offend - please do not take it personally. ^_- Anyway I feel much better after having talked to my friend and fiance about something bothering me, I hope that you are able to have someone to share your worries with. It might seem noble to keep things in, but perhaps, in the end, one is only hurting him or herself while doing just that.

the power of ONE, is in you

You know the how it is, some people whine about being home alone on a Saturday night. Perhaps I used to feel this way though no longer. Sometimes people are so busy searching for 'something to do' or 'someone to go out with' with so much desperation that practically anyone or anything will do. Silence once bothered me a great deal but now I have learned it's hidden beauty. Instead of being with someone I would rather not be with, I prefer to cozy up to a book or go out (alone) to a nice restaurant. Why waste their or your time? It might sound selfish but if your heart is not into it, why bother with the pretense? People are sometimes so fake by having friends they backstab or badmouth - if so, why stay friends?

So next time why don't you try out dining out alone (while reading a book or newspaper...or just people watching!) or going to the cinema, solo...you might find yourself awkward at first, but after time you might grow to love it. I wonder how married life will change this. My fiance too is independent and often goes to the cinemas by himself...in fact it is probably better than going with me because I am awfully noisy (he claims!). Are you married? Do you like going out solo? Does dining out alone scare you?

flowers, flowers, flowers!

The rainy season is here! (it lasts until the middle of July, I believe...but I am praying for good weather for Tomoko's wedding on the 24th) Although it is only natural to feel gloomy, I feel upbeat and full of hope. Everywhere I turn I see あじさい, ajisai, hydrangea flowers blooming and in full bloom! It is great...there are all kinds of them: pink, lavender, green, all shades of blue, and more. The nice thing about hydrangeas is that they look different from the moment they start to open to until they start to die.

ps: the flowers in the middle are not hydrangea, just some random flowers I felt particularly shutterbuggy about.

Cucina Italiana, Japanese Italian kitchen

I had lunch with Yukari, her friend, and Miko (Yukari's dog) at Cuchina Italiana, formerly Grain's cafe located across the street from the Ninomiya Park parking lot. The owner is a friendly woman who uses fresh ingredients in all the dishes. The place has evolved a great deal since I first moved here. The first few times I went, I could not speak Japanese at all (neither could she speak English) so I became her memorable English-speaking customer.

It was my first time to have omelet rice (as pictured), at this very little cafe, which is probably why I often have a desire to order it each time I go. While eating it, I fondly reminisce (sp?) back to the days when I was new and exploring Japan. The great thing about the omelet rice here is that you are able to choose what kind of sauce accompanies it - garlic& tomato, demiglace sauce, or cream sauce...yum!

Now the cafe has become more popular than - with its newfound popularity and some renovations, it lost the former quaintness I once loved, but I still go on occasion. Some things, like people, even with their imperfections and flaws, are just fine as is! Without those bits they lose their charm and appeal. ps: the picture is of a moth...I took it on my way back home...the real^life size is actually huge!

it is edible?!

Look at this interesting rice cracker, it has one fascinating aspect...the swirly cover on it. At first I thought this was some kind of paper covering but as it turns out, it is edible seaweed! What a shock...it is bland and lacks texture...either way, it's fun to look at.

brownies in my *new* pan!

This is the most amazing stuff!!! My first experience with silicone baking pans was in Germany, using my auntie's pie pan. It was love at first use!!!

This kind of pan does not need to be greased before baking, on top of that, things bake up crispily...amazing. The silicone pan can also be used for cold things like jellos, mousses, and the like.

They used to be rather expensive, 'luxury' goods but now they are available almost anywhere. In the States they are easily bought online, in Japan I found one at a home goods, kitchenware shop.

Nobu's brass band concert

I do not have a good picture of Nobu (Hiro's colleague) and he would probably take offense to me using his photo on my blog, so you will just have to imagine what the rest of him looks like. This is a ladybug of some sort crawling on his hand, taken from our ski trip last winter.

After the trip to the ramen museum we enjoyed the concert. It was an enjoyable and refreshing experience - the clarinet player was really skilled. Since I used to play it, I was especially impressed with her fluid notes fly up and down the scales! Nobu played a nice solo piece on his trumpet. Also, one piece, 'Brazil' made me want to jump up and dance. Fun times, fun times.

going back into time...

Enter the Yokohama Ramen Museum and you will feel as if you have leaped into another era. Japan as it was back in the day, very interesting! Here we had bowls of super greasy miso ramen (ha ha, so much for eating healthily), とんこつ tonkotsu (pig bones cooked in broth until the stock becomes white) ramen, and とんこつ rice bowl. Talk about testing the limits of my stomach capacity!

For non-Japanese, I would imagine it is quite hard to navigate and understand anything because NOTHING, I mean NOTHING was in English or even Chinese/Korean. At the least most tourist destinations have Korean and Chinese but I was surprised to see how foreigner unfriendly the place was. Lucky for me, I had a personal tour guide, Hirotsugu...hee hee. Anyway before noon the place was relatively sparse...as soon as noon hit, the place was swarming with tour groups (from Taiwan) and more. Aghhh, get me outta there. We left as soon as we could after that.

If you want to make your own customized cup noodles, you can do so for a mere 300-yen (3 dollars) there. Though the line is a bit long so it depends on how badly you want to make it.

eggstatic for breakfast!

Which one looks more appetizing to you? The one to the left or the one to the right? At Hiro's mom's, we had a very Western breakfast...melted cheese and ham on toast and a 目玉卵, medamatamago, sunny-side up.

I garnished my egg with ketchup and Hiro used Bulldog sauce. It was a first for me, to see someone use such a unique condiment for eggs. Hideko-san taught me how to make many foods: Japanese style potato salad, sunomono octopus and seaweed salad, hamburger steak a la Yamada, and more. It was wonderful to get cooking lessons, and of course, all in Japanese! ^_~

ha, I tricked you!

In fact the only real orchid is this one. Did you guess correctly? Orchids are so beautiful, as are lilies! My uncle George is a big fan of such orchids - his house is full of them, tons which bloom throughout the year. They are such a joy to watch. (oh and the syrupy juice which oozes out from them is sweet, just like honey!)

thank you, Naoko!

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of Japanese sweets. Instead of giving up sweets for good, I am not opting for more Japanese sweets because they tend not to have cholesterol or so much fat!

This is a kind of clear mochi, sticky rice cake. It does not have much flavor, just mildly sweet...it essentially gets its flavor from the sweetened きな粉, (kinako) soybean flour it is dipped in. Kinako is known for having isoflavones (sp?) and more...yummy!

Isn't the packaging just the cutest? I suppose it is a waste of resources but I really enjoy it. After eating it, my mouth was a powdery mess. Too bad you can't see a picture of that, hee hee.