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Tomato ramen - a unique taste of ramen

It is an undeniable fact that we love ramen.

There are so many ramen shops all over Japan and we can purchase one of our favorites among various kinds of ramen at supermarkets.

In fact, in addition to the main four tastes of ramen: tonkotsu, soy sauce, miso and salt, we have "tomato" ramen in Japan.

Actually it's like a tomato pasta; noodles in tomato broth soup.

 

a ramen shop "Taiyou no tomato men next"

We might have heard about "Tomato ramen" before, but it's not so commonly eaten in Japan. It's a "unique food" to Japanese people. And we can scarcely find "tomato ramen shop."

But you can buy this cup noodle at supermarkets and convenience stores!

Izakaya - a mix of a restaurant and a bar

The night at Shibuya, Tokyo's famous downtown area.

Exhausted workers who are suited up enter "izakaya" in droves to have their evening drink.

Japanese people like to have a break from business and create a connection with their clients and business parters over drinks.

Shibuya is a busy town and there are as many izakayas as stars on the night sky.

What is "izakaya?"

Simply, it is like a mix of a restaurant and a bar; we go there mainly for drinks.
The word "izakaya" literally means this: "i - stay,"  "zaka - drinks" and "ya - shop/restaurant."
Technically, "zaka" is a transformation of "sake."

Though it depends on each izakaya, we can eat every kinds of food.
Recently, Italian, Spanish and French styles are getting popular.

Izakayas are not only for work, but also for a gathering with friends.

I prefer going there with my friends because I can totally relax all the time.

I went to izakaya in Sakuragaoka, Shibuya yesterday. Though Shibuya is usually crowded, Sakuragaoka area is a little bit calmer.

And this izakaya, "Tsubakido" is very nice!

Amazing food and drinks!

Cheers!

Natto - fermented soy beans

Strange, sticky and with a strong smell. 

This is "natto."

I know that it is gross if you see natto for the first time.

Natto is fermented soy beans and said to be nutritious because of natto bacteria; a good-for-you bacteria, which is not only rich in protein and vitamins but also high in fiber. 

And I'm sure, trying "natto" is the biggest hurdle for foreigners because of how it looks.

But most people in Japan really like to eat this. 

As for me, I eat everyday! 

You can easily get it at supermarkets and convenience stores, and the average price is "100 yen" for a set of three packs. 

And today, I'll show you how to eat it!

First, open a package and take out the special sauce(like soy sauce) and mustard(though I don't like it) which normally come with natto and mix together.

Then, keep mixing them until it gets even stickier.

Now, everything is ready!

Some people would put it on rice, which I sometimes do.

Others mix it with sliced green onion or a raw egg.

Go ahead and have a try!

Asakusa - a remnant of old Japan

We Japanese rarely wear kimono and don't eat sushi so much(though I like sushi.)

We wear the same clothes as everyone else in the world and eat various kinds of foods: Japanese, Italian, French, etc.

We live in a modern life and economy is developing rapidly.

In this ever-changing world, Asakusa district in Tokyo represent a remnant of old Japan. That's why a lot of foreigners like to visit Asakusa.

We never take rickshas (jinrikisha in Japanese)in our daily life, they are only used by travelers. 

Look at this interesting picture! 

The combination of the rikisha and the town redolent of old Japan forge an unique atmosphere.

Its atmosphere attracts even Japanese people.
I also love it!

Hatsumoude - make wishes for the New Year

Though most Japanese people have no religion, people like to celebrate events and want to rely on god at each event in the year(such as Christmas).

Hatumoude means visiting a temple or a shrine for the first time in the year, especially in January for making wishes for the New Year.

While temple is for Buddhists and "shrine" is for believers of shinto, it doesn't matter to most Japanese people.

Look at that crowd !

The picture of "sensouji(one of the famous temple)" in Tokyo

They go to a temple or a shrine and throw coins in a special box in front of the main hall and pray. 

Before or after they do this, they sometimes buy omikuji(fortune paper) and omamori(good-luck charm.) 

The examples of "good-luck charm."

I rarely go to "hasumoude," but this year I visited a temple to make a wish today, because this year is my fresh start. 

Like me, some of us rely on this tradition, when we feel like going there. 

The images of "omikuji."

By the way, I got my fortune and it said "Now is the worst." 
But it also has another meaning: that things will be better in the near future. 

Elegant words for year-end and New Year; toshikoshi,shinnnen and sanganichi

Japanese is so difficult, even for me.

However, I think the words for year-end and New Year are so easy to remember because of their sounds.

Most of the words rhyme superbly and elegantly: toshikoshi, shinnnen and sanganichi.

1, Toshikoshi
Toshi - year
koshi - across

Wait for the midnight at New Year's Eve to celebrate New Year.

2, Shin-nen
Shin - New
Nen - Year

Yes, "New Year!"

3, Sanganichi
San - three
Nichi - day

The first three days of the New Year.
We usually have days off these days except clerks of supermarkets and clothing shops; most companies in Japan don't work in this period.


Toshikoshi,shinnen,sanganichi!
See? It's easy!

Otoshidama - a money gift for kids in Japan

Money makes money. 

Money makes the world go round. 

It is all about money.

Yes, I know, money is so important!

I was so surprised that there are so many proverbs about money.

In Japan, we have a custom of giving money to kids in oshougatu, it is called "otoshidama."
As I wrote in my former post, osyougatu is for family. So family and relatives gather on this occasion and the adults have to give money to each kid. We normally give them when the child enters a kindergarden or an elementary school, but it depends on each family to decide when they start to give.

The image of "otoshidama."

Yeah, I used to be given a lot of money, and it was one of the exciting moments in the year.

But time is money, all kids grow up! 

Oshougatsu - the most important custom of the year

Happy New Year! 
In Japanese, "akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!"

Have you made a New Year resolution? This is a new start!

The beginning of the year, January 1, is called "shougatsu" in Japan. We usually add "o(honorific prefix)," and say "oshougatsu."

We usually spend oshougatsu with our family in Japan. On this family occasion, we eat "osechi ryouri." "Ryouri" means "dish" and is used in the present day, but "osechi" is complicated. Roughly translated the word, "osechi" is the derives from "sekku," the moment of a seasonal change, and at each moment people in the past had a custom of offering some food to god, and every such dish was called "osechi." But now the word "osechi" is used exclusively for dishes eaten at the beginning of the year. In addition, these dishes include sea and mountain food. 

Each dish has meaning and is juxtaposed colorfully.

 

And this year's osechi was amazing!