Archive for the ‘Japanese culture’ Category
Shichigosan
Monday, December 5th, 2011 by lewisShichigosan is the day we celebrate for 3 and 5 years old boys and 3 and 7 years old girls. So I took my 3 year old son Oscar to the local Shrine in his fabulous Hakama. He could barley walk in his Zori shoes so I took them off and put his normal shoes on…. Shichigosan day is on 15th November but I choose the nearest Sunday so that my parents also could join us.
According to Wikipedia, Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period amongst court nobles who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. The ages three, five and seven are consistent with East Asian numerology, which claims that odd numbers are lucky. The practice was set to the fifteenth of the month during the Kamakura Period
Over time, this tradition passed to the samurai class who added a number of rituals. Children—who up until the age of three were required by custom to have shaven heads—were allowed to grow out their hair. Boys of age five could wear hakama for the first time, while girls of age seven replaced the simple cords they used to tie their kimono with the traditional obi.
By the Meiji Period, the practice was adopted amongst commoners as well, and included the modern ritual of visiting a shrine to drive out evil spirits and wish for a long healthy life.
Do you have such tradition in your country?
Oscar dressing in his Hakama
Oscar and I at the shrine
Making a wish
T x
The true origin of food
Sunday, November 27th, 2011 by lewisIt makes sense that we check the packaging of food to find out who made the food and where it is from. But how do we know where the food is really from? There was a story in Japan a few years ago about a famous variety of eel from one of the southern islands. It turned out that the eels were actually Taiwanese and that they were brought into Japan for a very short period so that they could then be re-packaged as originating from that area - and not from Taiwan.
This kind of thing can make you feel that big companies are not completely honest with consumers about the true origin of the food they sell to us. My mother loves shopping at the supermarket, but she still prefers market places. This is because the market stall holders in Japan can tell you exactly where the food was from. In many cases in Japan they produced the food themselves on small lots hear their home.
It really is a huge responsibility to correctly inform people where food is from and how it was made.
How about in your country, do you have any of these concerns?
Japanese Food With Label
Tomono x
Fine Sake, Fresh Sushi and Beautiful Parks -Visit Kanazawa
Sunday, June 12th, 2011 by tomonoOne of the places I would like to go back to one day is definitely Kanazawa in Japan. A few years ago I visited for my friend’s wedding shower. It was also just before I was leaving Japan, so Ihave happy memories of it as a girls trip.
We borrowed my friend’s mum’s posh Range Rover. The car was full of goodies but nobody imagined that this trip will be a long one…. When we were approaching to Kanazawa, it started snowing heavily so we were forced to either get off the motorway or put the chains on tyres. We did not have a satnav so our choice was the chain option…. Two of us were Sunday drives, one of us had no idea about vehicle and Beth was the only person who frequently drove and knew about car but guess where she comes from… Philippines!!! probably she never experienced snow in her country and I’m positive that when it snowed in Japan her husband was driving!
Yeah we used the biggest puppy eyes to get by and made our safe way to Onsen hotel after a long journey.
There is a beautiful park called Kenrokuen http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kenrokuen/e/index.html which is located near Kanazawa Castle. Before the long snowy winter, they assist pine trees with ropes to prevent from damages by heavy snow. Some people might find that when they hear that news each year, they feel that winter is just around the corner.
Kanazawa is not only for the pretty park but fine Sake and super fresh fish! So don’t forget to pop in the little fish market called Omicho market and Sushi lunch.
Mouth watering sushi and sashimi
At the fish market
More sake that you can shake a stick at
Girls’ Day
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011 by tomonoThe 3rd March is The Doll’s Festival (also commonly known as ‘Girls’ Day’) in Japan.
This tradition started sometime in Heian period to wish girls to have a healthy and happy life.
We normally display beautiful Hina Ningyo dolls and peach bloosoms - if you have girls at home. There is also a custom to have Shirozake which is made from fermented rice and a bowl of soup with clams in a shell and perhaps Hina, which are rice crackers.
Do you have similer event in your country? I’d love to know!
We also have ‘Boys’ Da’y in May which is a national holiday, but I wonder why Girls’ day in NOT a national holiday…. I wonder…
Little Tomono enjoying Hina Matsuri
Peach Blossom (photo courtesy of my friend Tony Brace)
What do you live on?
Monday, February 28th, 2011 by tomonoPotatoes? Bread? Pasta? Beans?
I love Japanese sticky rice and used to have it 3 times a day, however my English husband is not keen on having rice that often and it is not so easy to get delicious Japanese rice, so having Japanese rice is a kind of treat for myself.
A friend of mine held the pot-luck lunch party last week. The tTheme was was to bring something that went well with Japanese sticky rice.
I brought Beef Soboro which could be seen on top of rice as donburi (a bowl of rice with meat on top), but arranged with some celery so that mummy can secretly feed kids vegetables!
There was an Aubergine dish called Nasu no agebitashi, a chicken dish called Tori no nanbanzuke, a mackerel dish called Saba no misoni, a spinach dish called Horenso no gomaae, and finally a Japanese curry!
I looked like a balloon after this fabulous lunch, but needless to say, I was also able to eat up a lovely desert too!
In addition to that, a friend made Oscar a really cute lunch in an Obento box. An Obento box is usually prepared with lots of rice and cooked meat and veg.
Can you imagine how Japanese mum cope in busy morning to make those for children? I remember my mum used to wake up so early to make me such healthy Obento with fresh fish, rice and vegetable.
But that was how I was raised and I know giving children the healthy freshly cooked meals are the best for them!
Enjoying Obento Box
Healthy varied diet
More yummy food!
Imperial Garden in Tokyo
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 by lewisA good friend of mine lives near Shibuya in Tokyo. Skyscrapers are everywhere, a motorway is just above your head but just walking into a little alley there are lots of houses next to each other and it is surprisingly quiet.
One morning she took us to Imperial house and garden. It’s located just few minutes away from business and financial capital of Japan Marunouchi. It was very strange to see massive garden and space and skyscrapers are next each other.
As soon as we started walking, we started to sweat pints! The strong sun also makes me feel bit nauseus….
After we had been walking for about 30mins, Oscar started sleeping in his pram so I asked my friend “ Can we quickly go for nice lunch before he wakes up?”
She took us back to ‘Maru building’ and we had a lovely Tempura course lunch in a fully-air conditioned room.
I love Buckingham Palace, but the Imperial garden in Tokyo is definitely on my must-visit place list!
It’s free to enter, so please try if you live near there or visit Tokyo!
Imperial Garden Tokyo
Walking through the bean tunnel
Entrance to the gardens
Beautiful flowers in the garden
Tomono x
Do you like Japanese gardens?
Monday, January 10th, 2011 by tomonoI was taken to many gardens when I was little but never appreciated them, and all I thought about was what kind of local dish I could try for lunch and dinner later….
However, when my family came over from UK, we visited to Ritsurin park in Kagawa Prefecture.
It was such a warm sunny day in March and made such a lovely memory with my 4year old nephew Joshua. I think that was the time I started getting interested in Japanese gardens.
Every season they attract you with seasonal flowers and beautiful landscape. I wish I could go back there for Sakura season one day!
Koi Carp
Having fun with my nephew
Green, green, green
Happy New Year from Cocoro!
Sunday, January 2nd, 2011 by tomono2011 is the year of the rabbit!
How did you enter 2011? Some of you might have been partying! Not me, I was in bed reading a book with my hubby and nodded off at 12:05! How great to be tired mum!
We have O-sechi Ryori on 1st January, which is traditional Japanese food. It usually comes in a box with three layers. My mum usually serves it with a big plate of sashimi (raw fish) and Ozoni soup (rice cake in miso soup). O-sechi Ryori contains many dishes with vinegar and salt, which helps to preserve it for longer, so Japanese mums don’t have to cook anything once it’s made and can have some rest! What a good idea, hey?
Do you have any traditional food to have on New Year’s Day?
But this year I was in the U.K., so we had some Indian Curry!!
I wish you a happy and prosperous 2011!
Tomono x
p.s. Don’t forget Cocoro sales is still going on till 31 January! And of course no effect of VAT rise!
Traditional O-sechi Ryori
Ozoni - Miso Soup with Rice Cake
And more O-sechi Ryori
Sashimi - Served with O-sechi Ryori
Lovely Japanese Cafe in London - Tombo
Monday, November 29th, 2010 by tomonoWhere’s your favourite Japanese restaurant? We haven’t got any authentic Japanese restaurants where we live, so every time I visit London, I try new Japanese restaurants.
A friend of mine Yuko introduced me to a place called Tombo cafe in South Kensington. It it a small cozy cafe you can get an Obento box take away, or eat in along with nice Japanese tea and cake. The food they serve reminded me of my mum’s home cooking. Earthy, healthy and unpretentious.
For that day’s lunch deal, I had a choice of salmon or chicken or Tofu and picked 3 side dishes.
The tea I ordered was free to refill so I a had nice relaxing time reading a book of essays by Mariko Hayashi.
There were lots of high chairs for children, so I’d love to take my son next time!
Tombo Cafe
Home style cooking
If you find a nice Japanese restaurant near you, please tell me all about it!
Tomono x
Okinawa - Paradise in Japan
Monday, November 1st, 2010 by tomonoI love traveling and experiencing new cultures. But I recently asked myself “did I ever explore my own country”?
Luckily, the company I used to work for used to take us on company trips at least four times a year. We were able to stay at luxury hotels and had excellent entertainment which we did not have to pay anything at all! How great, hey?
The hottest place in Japan is Okinawa. It’s about 640km away from the other main Japanese islands. Because of its warmth, lots of baseball teams spend winter time for their training during the off season.
I visited Okinawa a few years ago on one company trip. I tried the local food called Tonsoku ramen, which is noodle soup with pig legs….. I tried but I just could not finish. People say its full of collagen and good for your skin but I can’t face pig toes or the thought of munching on them…..
I was so fascinated by its culture and how beautiful the sea was. I personally thought the sea was more beautiful than Fiji or the Hawaiian islands.
I rarely see Japanese people dance in the restaurants but people from Okinawa are different! They enjoy drinking very strong alcohol called Awamori and dancing along with Sanshin guitar. The atmosphere is just great, listening to music, enjoying local foods and feeling the tropical air.
If you are looking for different beach holidays, try Okinawa. There are so many things you would enjoy!
Tomono x
"I am so happy that someone in England is making baby kimonos!!"
Zen, Cornwall
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