Early spring in Nagasaki Part 2

My second day in Nagasaki was sun-blessed. I was looking forward to eating breakfast at a hotel. It was buffet, and I chose cod ovum, sardine sausage, pickle, and miso soup with seaweed cultivated in Nagasaki. After checking out the hotel, my next destination was “Oura-Taishudo”. I paid 300 yen at a reception desk and felt that my heart was purified by fresh morning air during walking up stone stairs graving histories.

The wooden building in Gothic style is the oldest church in Japan. The church sacrificed to 26 martyrs was tidy. and a soft light shining from stained-glass window behind apse was amazing like sunbeams streaming through leaves.

I’m an atheist, but I suddenly dropped my knees and joined my hands in prayer. A receptionist told me that this holy church lost its roof, front gate, and stained glass because of blast of the atomic bomb during World War II, and my heart bleeded for the story. The church was rebuilt in 1952 with government subsidy. It took 5 years to complete it. I checked souvenirs such as sponge cakes and traditional Nagasaki glasses before going down stone slopes.

Next destination was “Nomo Peninsula”. I drove my car coastwise. When I reached a winding road, I found some desert outdoor stalls. vegetables and fruits cultivated in the area were packed into plastic bags, and there was a box beside the bags. It described “100 yen for each”. I couldn’t beleive that those fresh foods lined on a table without staffs. I can’t see such scenes in Tokyo. Additionally everything was only 100 yen. It made me happy, and I bought at 3 stalls. Of course I tasted them immediately. They were amazingly delicious.

2 hours later, I arrived at “Nomozaki Park”. I went to a restaurant for lunch. My order was Sashimi plate and grilled turban shell and lobster. Everything was homegrown. I think I don’t need to explain the taste.

My trip on 2days/1night was spiritual comfort.

HOME

A summer tradition, “Fireworks Exhibitions”

We can see fireworks all over the world these days, but I believe that Japanese fireworks is the best.

About 900 fireworks exhibitions take place every year in Japan. Most of them are “sky rockets”, and big scale exhibitions have more than 30,000 shots. Fireworks artists compete their skills once a year, and audiences go to see the artistry. They’ll be around 1 million people sometimes. Fireworks, which we see with our family, friends, or lovers under the summer night sky, is more beautiful than any other countries and powerful.

Last year I went to “Isesaki Tonegawa fireworks exhibition” in Gunma Prefecture on 12th of August. The audiences were only 100,000 even though this exhibition has 35,000 shots. The number of audiences is much smaller than the average, because the place was out of city and not easy to access. Poeple might avoid to go there. On the other hand I could see the fireworks very close thanks to the avoidance. 1.5-hour showtime brought the curtain down with applause, and I came back to Tokyo. I always feel silence and loneliness at night after fireworks, and this feeling let me go to the next fireworks exhibitions.

Is it too much emphasis to say that a country, which has this kind of fireworks exhibitions everywhere, is the best?

HOME

Joetsu International ski resort

Last weekend I went to Joetsu International for snowboarding with my friends.

Joetsu International is located in Niigata Prefecture, and it takes about 1.5 hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo. There are many ski resorts in Japan, and Joetsu International is one of the famous resorts. Many foreign snowboarders and skiers go there every year, and it has a lot of spark.

Unfortunately this winter is too warm, thus some resorts were already closed. The weather have much effect on Joetsu International. A mountain surface appeared on the foot, and it hurt my board. Many troubles may happen on this case. However once I went to the top, the view was totally different. I could enjoy snowboarding enough even though the snow surface was frozen. Nonetheless its closing time was much earlier than usual. If you don’t stay there, you can’t enjoy enough.

I had a much fun rather than snowboarding on this trip. It was food because Niigata is along the Japan Sea. Winter yellowtails are amazingly delicious in this season. A piece of meat with a lot of fat is ideal for Sashimi. Other dishes were delicious too. The remarkable thing is “Japanese Sake”. Niigata is very famous for rice, and its taste made from the rice is unbeatable by other Sakes.

I was cheerful mood with drink, ate with great gusto, and came back home. It was a perfect combination, wasn’t it?

HOME

Early spring in Nagasaki

I had a short trip to Nagasaki for 2 days/1 night.

I took a bus from Nagasaki Airport to the city center. One of the purposes of this trip was to visit “Ginrei”, which was the oldest restaurant opened in 1930 in Nagasaki. Unfortunately it moved to a different place, so I couldn’t drink fantastic soda. I still remember that one day in summer I drank the soda in an exotic atmosphere caused by antique glasses and music boxes. Suddenly the soda disappeared in front of me. This let me down.

I had to give up to seek it because of stream of time. Instead, I drop in on a next cafe, “Fujio” and sipped a cup of coffee in a classic atmosphere on the premises. I felt a different exotic atmosphere from “Ginrei”. It healed my soul. After that I explored Teramachi and ate lunch at Tofu cuisine “Umenohana“, which my friend in Nagasaki recommended me. I ordered full-course lunch.

The menu contained “boiled Mitsuba & Yuba”, “Tofu dumpling”, “Sashimi”, “Minced duck & Tofu pan”, “Yuba & Mozuku”, “Yuba gratin”, “Yuba-Chazuke”, “pickle”, and “gluten bun”. This is a lot, isn’t this? however most of them were made from soybeans, so it tasted soft anf healthy. I made for Inasayama Hotel after the lunch. This hotel had scenic night view, which was my purpose too.

At late night I drank brandy in the lounge, and the beauty of the night view I saw was more than my expectation. Surface of Nagasaki Harbor and the city center was totally quiet. It was just like gem-strewn sparklem, and my first day ended.

HOME

A laid-back town, Yoyogi

This is where I’ve lived for more than 25 years. It’s located next to Shinjuku in Tokyo. You may think that Shinjuku is a noisy city, so Yoyogi must be noisy too. However it’s not. My friends call an “urban countryside”. Famous things are “Meiji Shrine” and “prep schools”.

Meiji Shrine was erected in 1920 for the Meiji Emperor. Japanese have a custom to visit shrines in the beginning of year especially Meiji Shrine. Every year around 3 million poeple visit for their ambitions and prayers.

Yoyogi is also called “students’ quarter”, because there is the largest prep school, which turns out many Tokyo University Students, and vocational schools. If you come here during daytime, you can see students everywhere.

I think these 2 factors are well known to Japanese, but a rest is not known. Yoyogi was famous for “jazz music” more than 20 years ago. At the moments people, who loved jazz, get together here and hung out on weekend. Now I see a few jazz bar around the station. You can hear cozy music on weekend still now. “NARU” is the most popular jazz bar in Yoyogi. If you have a time to spend one night here, why don’t you visit the bar?

HOME

Dog’s life in Japan

There are many kinds of dog all over the world. Chihuahuas and miniature dachshunds are boom in Japan. Indeed, I have a chihuahua. I’m far gone on him.

Recently people feed dogs and spend lots of money for them. Do you know the size of dog market in Japan? It is about $3.4 billion. Owners buy foods, clothes, accessories and even nailariums. This is crazy, isn’t this? If you stroll around Tokyo, you can see several dog’s cafes, which deal with excellent food like I can eat.

I sometimes search for dog’s products on the Internet. There are plenty of things. However everything looks same. Even if I find nice clothes or accessories, those are quite expensive and usually from Italy. I wish some Italian dog’s brands were here with reasonable prices. Then the market will be enlarged, because Japanese people love European design. In fact girls love Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, and more. All of those are from Western Europe.

Ginza & Azabu are parts of the most expensive areas in Japan. People, who live around these areas, are rich mostly, and they have dogs. I know one shop in Azabu, they must make lots of profits. If you are an investor, I recommend you to invest Japanese pet industry. (Sorry for the money talk…)

What I wanna say is that Japan is now a dog’s country. I’m happy on it.

HOME

The western-style city, Yokohama

I think there are 3 western-style cities in Japan. Nagasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama fall under the category. These cities started to trade things with foreign countries earlier than other cities, thus a variety of cultures flowed into the cities. This time I would like to remark Yokohama. This city is very close to Tokyo, but the atmosphere is totally different. I tried to find the reason, but it’s not obvious still now. One thing I kinda like is its geography and disposition of buildings. It faces a harbor, and all kinds of buildings stand together such as hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, and offices. Usually amusement parks don’t exist with office buildings in Japan, so I feel something special with Yokohama probably. Additionally the harbor is just in front of these buildings. Yokohama is unique to me.

The most remarkable thing is “Ramen Museum” located in Shin-Yokohama. Ramen is the third noodle next to Soba and Udon in Japan. Several famous ramen shops from all over Japan are gathered and operate together inside of the museum. Shops are reviewed every year. It means you can taste different ramen everytime.

Anyway Yokohama has several aspects and cultures. When you come to Tokyo, Yokohama will be your great sightseeing spot.

HOME

Japanese education system

When do your school begin? In Japan it’s on April and ends on March. We usually have summer vacation from the end of July to beginning of September and winter vacation from the end of December to beginning of January. You may have an entrance exam when you go to private schools and colleges. We do too. Mostly the exam holds between January and March. Job hunting is also set in the same duration.

Recently many Japanese students have tried to go to study abroad. The destinations are mainly US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Schools in some countries begin on January or September, and I think this is majority. I felt strange when I joined in foreign school programs, because I always saw cherry blossom when my school began. This is one of aspects.

The most remarkable point is the way of our selection of major. Normally a person, who wanna be a Japanese-language teacher, goes to department of Japanese. If you wanna deal with marketing field, then you probably go to department of marketing. However Japanese system is totally different from this. We focus on a value of university, because it directly connect to the employment rate. It doesn’t matter what you study.

Indeed, I studied political science and now work on Internet business. This is funny, isn’t this? A friend of mine in US asked me, “Why did you study political science? It doesn’t relate to your business.” Correct! She was right! This has been Japanese education since the World War II ended.

This system is changing little by little. Some people consider the relation between study and work especially among young age. It is little bit late, but now we should realize an importance of career for the global competition.

HOME

Public Bath “Sento”

Do you have a public bath in your city? If you do, I think it’s a unique culture like Japan. We call “Sento”. It’s different from hot springs. I can’t explain the difference obviously, but hot springs use natural water from deep underground, on the other hand “Sento” use tap water. In short “Sento” is just like your bathroom.

Of course most of houses have bathroom, but Japanese prefer to go to hot springs or “Sento”, because it makes us feel a sense of liberation or we can talk to someone. I used to go to “Sento” when I was a kid.

The system is simple. You pay money at the entrance and go inside. The entrance is divided for men and women. You need to bring all amenity goods including a bath towel. A bathtub is huge. About 20 people get into a bath together. Usually a paint of Mt. Fuji is drawn on the wall. Japanese habitually drink coffee milk after taking a bath. If you do so, everyone thinks that you are “Japanese”.

However I haven’t been to “Sento” for more than 10 years. I don’t know why. Now it’s hard to find “Sento” in Tokyo. Many “Sento” closed their business due to a wave of the day. Rest of “Sento” have to raise fare. This circulus vitiosus estranges people, but we still go there and enjoy the moment.

As long as you stay in a hotel, you don’t need to go there or never notice the existence. Why don’t you drop in on “Sento” someday. It is one aspect of our culture and history.

HOME

Japanese mom-and-pop candy store “Dagashi-ya”

When I was a kid, I used to go to “Dagashi-ya” as soon as my parents gave me an allowance. Mostly I spent all there. Do you think I wasted money? Maybe I did, but the moments was precious to me. There were many attractions as well such as lotteries, card games, and more. The place was my playground.

Recently “Dagashi-ya” has been decreasing. There is no store around my house. It’s too sad. Maybe its business is not profitable and hard to manage. They sell not only snacks but also dreams. When I was a kid, I felt it, but “Dagashi-ya” is not wiped out of existence.

We can still visit the stores in other areas. Specially Kuramae of Ohedo-Line is famous in Tokyo. A few years ago Nishi-Nippori was the most famous place of “Dagashi-ya” in Tokyo, but stores were demolished by an urban-development project.

I wanna take my kids to “Dagashi-ya” although I don’t have any kids right now. I have some regrets in my life, but “Dagashi-ya” is my precious thing, and it will tell my kids the same feeling as mine.

HOME