Undercover Boss

I watched a tv show “Undercover Boss” last night on channel 10.  It’s the first time to watch this show (I think there’s one previous episode the other day) and yesterday boss was Seven Eleven’s CEO.  He traveled around the country worked undercover in stores, bakeries, coffee outlets, in the distribution centre etc.

I thought it was a really interesting concept.  Especially Seven Eleven is the company I used to work while I was a student in Japan, and my mum still works there.   I emailed her as soon as I finished watching the tv show.

I know there are many many food waste 3 times per day at convenience stores (not only Seven Eleven) and it happens everyday nonstop.  In Japan the shops throw away onigiri, bento, pasta… everything as soon as they are expired.  I’m not sure about America, but in Japan each item has a sticker of “expiry time”.  If there is a bento with an expiry sticker saying “15:00 22/Feb”, and if it’s 15:01, shop staff must throw it away in the bin.  It’s the safety standard thing.  But, of course, food doesn’t go bad immediately after the expiry time, they are still edible.  But at the time I was in Japan, it was a company policy that any expired food must not be taken or eaten by shop staff.  They must be thrown away.

I think it’s very good that this American CEO is considering to build up the charity process for the expired food.  I just can’t stand watching the food which are still edible thrown away to the bin…

Japan should also consider the charity or do something about the waste – expired food –  It could save people’s lives.

aa

Sushi Plane

I heard on the radio today that Telstra is doing a competition, called “Sushi Plane”, to win a trip to Tokyo!

I know I shouldn’t enter to the competition, (as I’m Japanese and can go to Japan anytime…) but everything about Japan interests me!  So, I just visited the website and browsed what the sushi plane is about.

It seems that the winners of the competition fly from Sydney to Tokyo on 10 August 2010, and they have to compete each other to become a sushi plane champion…  by going through a series of funny games :p  All the details are kept mysterious until you win a seat on the plane!

There are two judging steps, and I really don’t think I will go through the telephone interview and all that, but I did try making myself into cartoon character on their website: MANGA-ME.  You just need to drag your photo to the app…

This cartoon is too cute to be me!  Anyway, I like this cartoon UME in pink kimono :p

Anyone who is interested in travelling to the busiest, craziest city in the world should apply!

(By they way, Tokyo really is the busiest city in the world ↓↓

http://www.worldatlas.com/citypops.htm)

Hot Spa

It is really cold … yesterday morning I noticed the grass on the ground was frozen!

I’ve been having a neck pain for the last couples of week… Not only neck, actually.  I have headache, backache and dizziness too! (>0<)  My neck and shoulder have been always pretty stiff since I was a kid, and I’m used to it already, but now I really feel there is something wrong ☆ I don’t have this much pain usually…  It could be because of the cold weather, my posture, playing with computer too much, thinking too many stuff, etc etc.  I gotta relax!!

Today during the day, what I thought was to take a hot bath tonight.  I couldn’t wait!  As soon as I finished baking a cake for tomorrow delivery, I filled the bath tub with hot water.  ….but, it didn’t turn out to be as nice as I expected.  The water wasn’t hot enough (it should be around 40° or over, always!!), and the bath tub was not made for keeping the water warm!  As soon as the hot water went into the tub, it started to cool down.  The whole bathroom was kinda cold too 🙁

In Japan, bath tubs are usually made with special material that keep the water warm.  And deeper!  I could swim in the tub when I was little.  The bath tub in my house is quite shallow, and I couldn’t warm up my shoulder ..  Oh well, it is Australia here, not Japan (><)

I miss Yufuin…  (my little honeymoon trip in Yufuin, in Japan → I wrote about it here, here, here, and here. ) Oh, and Yamashiro Onsen.

Oh, by the way, I heard that there is a ryokan (Japan style hotel) in Melbourne, called “Shizuka”.  Has anyone been there before? ( I found the website here : http://www.shizuka.com.au/)  It looks nice… but I bet it’s expensive :p

World Cup and Buffet Dinner

Sign….  I was watching FIFA World Cup Argentina vs Korea last night.  It was really disappointing….   I mean, I was kind of Korean side but their performance was not so well against Argentina.  My husband told me that Argentina is pretty strong team, and their coach is Diego Maradona who is well-known as the “Hand of God” goal in 1986.  I didn’t know about him until last night (as I don’t really watch sports) but I’m sure many other people around the world do.  

Anyway, I was also watching the Japan game against Cameroon the other day.  I should have enjoyed watching it, but I became so emotive and couldn’t stand watching after Honda’s goal.  Next day I was told by friend that Japan won, and I was relieved. 🙂

By the way after I had dinner at Miss Maud in Murry Street the other night, I noticed that they’re doing $229 hotel specials for two people which includes one night stay and dinner + breakfast buffet for two people.  I knew about this since long time but I totally forgot about it.  I think it’s really a good deal, as I like breakfast buffet here.  I believe my dad and bro will enjoy the Miss Maud pastries and other food if they stay at the hotel.  But, I don’t think they’d enjoy the dinner buffet.  I know Japanese people and I don’t think they will like this type of food for dinner.  Some people may enjoy it, but not my dad. 🙁

(treat for two website)

I like the buffet at restaurants in Burswood complex.  Although my dad didn’t like the casino on his last visit, I think he will enjoy the atmosphere of the whole complex and the food at Atrium, Sirocco, the Emporium and Carvers.  Few years ago HIS (a Japanese travel agent in Perth) was doing a super cheap deal for stays at Burswood Hotel.  I don’t remember how much it was, but it was really cheap.  I hope they do the same deal for this year..  I may as well give them a call and ask!

Japanese Bagels

The first bagel was baked by a Jewish baker in Vienna, Austria in 1683, and since then bagels have become a popular bread product in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom – especially in cities with large Jewish populations.  As each country has different ways of making bagels, Japan also.

A “Bagel” is dense, hard bread which is boiled then baked in hot oven.  Japan follows this method too, but they add something extra.  Although most normal bakeries sell only standard bagels such as plain, cinnamon raisin etc, but bagel speciality shops sell varieties of bagels in different flavours.  Some shops twist the dough to add more tough texture (so it’s not a ring-shape), some shops cover the bagel with mochi (mochi bagel), and some shops don’t shape the dough (it looks like a bun).

Of course there are normal-looking bagels too.

Please try Japanese bagels if you have a chance to go to Japan!  

By the way, I heard that Malaysian bagels are deep-fried..   Is it true?  I think it’s a donut, not a bagel :p

(photos from http://sysouer.exblog.jp/ and google search)

Life with Pets

People who had/have pets may understand this, but they are not just animals who stay in your house.  They become part of your family!

I used to have two Shiba (♀:sisters) in Japan, and we were always together as if we’re sisters.  Unfortunately one of them was killed by a car accident when I was 10, but the another one lived for 18 years in my house.  These two dogs looked so alike (as they share the same mother Shiba) and my parents tried to remember which one is which by the different colored collars.  But, I could totally tell which is Mimi and which is Lulu by their faces.  🙂  They had different personalities too.

After I left Japan I couldn’t be with Mimi much, but my family took care of her well.  She was so old, but loved going for a walk (like other normal dogs) until the day she died.  It was really hard news for me to bear, and I felt so sorry that I couldn’t be there with her.  But I believe she enjoyed her long life.

I love animals, but I’m not sure if I’m going to have a pet in Perth.  As Mimi was in my life since I was 6 years old, we had such strong bond and I still think she is the best.  It’s really fun to have a pet, but very hard at the same time when they die.  

Oh, but it’s really a good thing to know that there are few things I could do to be with animals without owning them.  Belmont Pet store, for example, is looking for Puppy Minders who can look after puppies from Saturday afternoon and take them back to the shop on Monday morning. They give you a carry cage, food, etc and you just need to be available to answer your phone on the Saturday to confirm.  😀

By the way I love this shop “Three Dog Cafe”.  It started from America as the world’s original bakery for dogs, and now there are many shops across America, Hong Kong and Japan.  Although their products are all for dogs, they look so cute and yummy!

They even sell bagels!  Oh my gosh..

Have you watched the movie “Hachi”??  This film is based on the true story of an Akita dog in Tokyo, Japan.  I don’t know how many times I cried after watching this…  You can find the statue of “Hachi” (called “hachi-koh”) in Shibuya, Tokyo.  The statue has been the symbol of Shibuya train station for a long time.

Mr Hatoyama

Ummm… it seems that our Prime Minister is a little fashion icon in Japan!  I didn’t know Mr Hatoyama is such a fashionable man!

I’m sure his life isn’t that easy as a PM.  Wearing this colorful, vivid shirt gives me a positive, bright image of him, and Japan’s government somehow.

Shirtsmyway, an online shirt shop, has replicated the colourful shirt and named it “The Hatoyama Shirt”, and now offers US$500 apiece!  

“Prime Minister of Japan & Fashion Hero.”  According to the website, only 50 of the Special Limited Edition shirts will be made.

Kit Kat in Japan 3

Beauty + chocolate?  It’s like… every girl’s dream coming true! I

Kit Kat in Japan is now selling special collaborative items – with TBC : one of the most popular beauty salons in Japan.

The flavors of the “Kit Kat x TBC” are Aloe Yoghurt and Bitter Almond.  Sounds delicious!

And, there are new flavors in Japan’s Kit Kat in addition to my previous posts Kit Kat in Japan and Kit Kat in Japan 2.

Japan’s Robotics Invention

Using technology originally developed for ASIMO the robot, Honda produced a personal mobility device U3-X.  Housed within the large wheel are a series of smaller wheels that can rotate independently, allowing the awkwardly perched user to go forward, backward, side-to-side or diagonally.

I always get overwhelmed by Japanese technology…  I mean, there are similar products such as Segway and Winglet, but Honda keens to point out that this U3-X is portable (less than 10 kg) and easy to use, with fold away footrests and seat cushions.

Segway

Honda U3-X

Maybe we will see elderlies using this compact U3-X around the house in near future 🙂

(Youtube)

Celebrating PacMan’s 30th Birthday

You may have played this Pac-man game before, an arcade game developed by Namco.  Or you may at least have heard the name before.  This game was first released in Japan on May 22, 1980.  Which means…. it is Pac-Man’s 30th birthday today!

If you go to www.google.com today, you can enjoy Pac-Man game for free!

And…

If you double click the “Insert Coin” button, you will get …

Ms. PacMan joined to the game. 😀

You can also play the game after today by finding the logo here in Google’s logo archives. Just look it up in the 2010 April-June section. That’s where it will be filed, in the future.

Pom Poko – Ghibli

It sounds like I’ve been watching Japanese cartoon at home almost everyday, as I’ve just wrote about Tales of Earthsea, but I do enjoy watching cartoon quite often.  I rented this Ghibli film “Pom Poko” (1994) just recently and I must say I did enjoyed the whole story.

Well, I’ve already watched this film few times in the past, but watching it again here in Perth reminded me of all the feelings about Japan and made me to rethink about the cohabitation of humans and animals.

The story is about tanuki, Japanese raccoon dogs, trying to survive the late 1960s.  A gigantic and ongoing suburban development near Tokyo, Japan, threatens a group of wild tanuki.  As the development is cutting into their forest habitat, tanuki had to think what they should do to protect their land from humans.

In this film, you can enjoy listening to lots of old Japanese songs including antagata-dokosa (a traditional warabe uta of Kumamoto prefecture) , and the appearance of famous Japanese monsters and mythological creatures.  In Japanese folklore tanuki has supernatural shape-shifting powers to trick humans. In this film tanuki transform themselves into Japanese monsters and mythological creatures to scare people: such as rokurokubi, noppera-bo and fujin raijin.

The film ends on something of a bittersweet note for the tanuki.  Throughout the film there is a lot of comedy as well as ecological messages.  The film reminds me of old Japan, especially the time I was a kid.  Japan has changed a lot, I think.  No one would believe that I was climbing on trees, catching zarigani (crawfish), fighting with wild monkeys and playing with beautiful medaka (killifish) just 10 years ago near my house!

(Pom Poko Characters )

Tales of Earthsea

The other day I rented a DVD of Tales of Earthsea (Japanese name ”ゲド戦記” Ged’s War Chronicles) from one of the video shop, and I quite enjoyed it.  It is a Japanese anime film which was first released in Japan by Studio Ghibli on July 29, 2006 and is set to be released on August 13, 2010 in the US by Walt Disney Pictures.

This film is loosely based on a combination of plots and characters from the books written by JRR Tolkien (who also is an author of famous books such as Lord of the Ring) (wiki) and is directed by Goro Miyazaki, the eldest son of Hayao Miyazaki.

I love the drawing of the film: colors, images etc.  I love all Ghibli anime.  And I enjoyed watching this Tales of Earthsea by knowing that this film is directed by a son of Hayako Miyazaki as his first work as a film director. (and he also drew this poster shown above)

“Nausicca”, “LAPUTA”, “Grave of the Fireflies“,  “Totoro”, “Kiki’s Delivery Service”, “Porco Posso”, “Only Yesterday”, “Pom Poko”, “Whisper of the Heart”, “Princess Mononoke”, “Spirited Away”, “The Cat Returns”, “Howl’s Moving Castle” etc…

Which one is your favorite? 🙂

Hearty Tofu Dish (Tofu An-kake)

Tofu has been one of my favorite food since I was little.  I remember my 10th birthday, my grandma was asking me

“ume, what do you want to eat today?”

then I answered “tofu miso soup!  I want to pour it over steamed rice!”

Everyone was shocked and laughed, as they were expecting to hear some food that kids normally like, such as sushi or ebi-fry (prawn katsu).

“Tofu miso soup is so easy and cheap to make.  Don’t you want something special today?” My mum said.  But the tofu miso soup was what I wanted to eat that day 😀

I make tofu dish quite often here in Perth too.  The simple one is miso soup.  It’s easy to make and very hearty.  In summer I make tofu salad and hiya-yakko (chilled silken tofu eaten with some condiments and soy sauce/ponzu sauce) very often.  Low in calories, high in protein, and it contains some nutritious stuff such as isoflavone : which can act as estrogens in the body and have protective functions.  Good for women!

Yesterday I had a craving for the warm tofu dish that I ate at a sushi bar back in Japan.  This sushi bar is owned by my friend’s mother, and she knows me very well since I was a baby 🙂  At the sushi bar, they have different menus everyday.  All the menus are decided depending on what items they got from the fish market on each morning.  Other than sushi, they also serve some izakaya type of menu.

She served me this warm hearty tofu dish with ginger-sauce.  I loved it!  The crunchy texture of diced carrots and broccoli matched with silky tofu.  I think some people wouldn’t like this as its taste is little bold, but I don’t mind eating this everyday.  A nice supper dish.

< recipe > serves 4

• 600g silken tofu
• 100g broccoli florets (about 6 pieces)
• 1 carrot, small
• 100g chicken mince
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbs sake
• 5 g ginger
• 1 tbs sesame oil
• 2 tsp corn flour + water

By the way, I read an article about tofu sold in Perth.  The person who wrote the article (Japanese) used to live in Perth with his wife, and the wife started to have a heavy allergy reaction each time she eats tofu here.  It never happened to her back in Japan, he wrote.  I don’t know what is the reason: maybe the tofu here is made in different way from what they do in Japan, or there is some additional ingredient in the tofu she ate…  but what they assumed is that there may be genetically modified soybeans used in the tofu.

Most of soybean products sold in Japan, including miso paste, abura-age, natto and soy milk, state “genetically modified soybeans are not used in this products” on their packages.  I’m not sure if it is all true (I hope so) as 85% of soybean products around the world seem to be actually using genetically modified soybeans.  Anyway, thinking that the tofu I eat here may contain genetically modified beans makes me feel not good, but I have no problem with the tofu in Perth so far and I will probably continue eating them as usual.

The Blood Type AB and Pisces

It may be not a good way of describing myself, but I am a quite difficult person.  I sometimes don’t even understand myself, and can’t expect what I will do in future.  I may do something that I never thought of doing it, out of sudden.  I like it when someone tells me “Ume, you are strange.”.  I like being different from others..

I’m not really a spiritual person, but I’d say my character is reflected by both blood type and star sign.  (and of course from my parents and the environment I grew up)  I’m Pisces, and my blood type is AB.  There is a popular belief  in Japanese culture that person’s ABO blood type is predictive of their personality, temperament, and compatibility with others.  I don’t normally believe in such things, but I really think that my personality exactly matches with the typical AB’s personality.  AB people are often considered as “moody” “different” “has two faces” etc etc.  … well, it doesn’t sound good at all, but I think it’s me.  Here is an interesting story about the blood type AB:

“The Blood Type AB Individualized Lifestyle 

Type AB blood is rare – it’s found in less than five percent of the population. And it is the newest of the blood types. Until ten or twelve centuries ago, there was no Type AB blood type. Type AB resulted from the intermingling of Type A with Type B. Type AB is the only blood type whose existence is the result of intermingling rather than environment. Thus, they share both the benefits and the challenges of both Type A and Type B blood types. Type AB has a unique chameleon like quality – depending on the circumstances, this blood type can appropriate the characteristics of each of the other blood types. Type AB is sometimes A-like, sometimes B-like and sometimes a fusion of both. Today, as we look back at this remarkable evolutionary revolution, it is clear that the genetic characteristics of our ancestors live in our blood today. ”

(from http://www.dadamo.com/bloodtype_AB.htm )

My mum is blood type A, and my dad is B.  I have a bit of both of them, eg I think the way like my mum does, but I do things like my dad does.   Personally I like to be unique, and yes I quite like my character.  I really think that I’m little strange and unique from other people. 😀  … To think about it, I’ve never met anyone with the blood type AB in Australia.   

Besides the blood type, Pisces, my star sign, also indicates that my mood is changeable.  And it is correct.  Here is the story:

Pisces:  Two fishes are tied together.  One is trying to swim toward the surface, and the another one is trying to swim toward the bottom of the sea.  Affected by the water flow direction, they can be moved toward the surface or bottom easily.  In the real life, Pisces can be easily affected by the environment and other people around.  And, it’s said that Pisces people have two faces as there’re always two fishes inside them.

I’m writing this because I found it’s interesting.    Actually I’ve never met anyone who is Pisces and the blood type is AB.  Anyone??

Egg Free

  

New Life in Hakodate

I received a letter from a former student of mine whom I used to teach English in 2005.  I was in Japan that time to stay with my family after graduating cookery school in Perth.  I wanted to work while I was in Japan to yearn some money as well as to gain experience in cooking.  I got a job at a hotel as a cook in the bakery department and it was pretty busy (and super strict environment), but I also wanted to do something related to English.  I started a kids English teacher job shortly after starting the job in the kitchen.  I wasn’t planning to be such a busy person as it was supposed to be my home-coming holiday and was going to stay in Japan for only up to 8 months.  My husband (boyfriend that time) was in Perth and I felt guilty leaving him, but I really wanted to be in Japan as I couldn’t go back to Japan often while I was a student at TAFE.  

During the period, I bought a car (you will need a car to live in Shiga) and worked everyday.  Plus, I had to – … well, I wanted to – cook dinner for my family everyday as my parents were divorced just a while ago and there’re only my dad, bro and grandma at my house.  It was busy, but I felt good being with my family 🙂  The job as an English teacher for kids was totally new thing to me.  I never thought I would be a teacher!  But there was an opportunity and I thought I would try.  I’m not a “kids” type of person and I didn’t really know how to be with kids, but I tried and I had such wonderful experience. 

My students were between 3 and 7 years old, and 3 years old boy couldn’t even talk Japanese much :p  But amazingly 5 years old boy could speak English very well!  I think his English pronunciation was much better than mine :p  

… anyway, I stayed in Japan for 7 months, and then came back to Perth.  When I was leaving the teacher job, my students and their mothers were saying things such as ” we’ll miss you” and “please keep in touch” .  I started the job just for curiosity, and I didn’t think that it’d be such emotional good-bye when I quit.  Since then I’ve been in touch with them and they still call me “sensei” (teacher) 🙂

The letter I received was from Kiryu, who was 6 years old back then.  The letter was saying that they no longer live in Shiga, are now living in Hakodate city in Hokkaido.  His mother and I were pretty close too, and they sent me some photos.  Oh my gosh, Hokkaido is such a nice place –  I’ve been to Sapporo city (the capital city of Hokkaido) with my family once, and I loved everything… the atmosphere, food and the climate.  

According to the mother, the food in Hakodate is amazing (especially seafood) and Hakodate is famous for shio ramen (ramen noodle in salt broth) (Sapporo is famous for miso ramen (ramen noodle in miso broth).  Their new house is at the foot of Mt. Hakodate-yama, and is surrounded by famous tourist attraction places.  I am definitely visiting them!  😀

(photos from the mother)

A Little Change on Umeboss Website

You may have noticed already, but there is a slight change on this website.  On the side bar, there is a “Search For” button followed by “Recipes”.  There used to be 20+ recipe posts shown under the “Recipes” , but now only 10 are shown and you can click “More Recipes” to view other posts tagged with “recipe”.

Now it looks little tidier than before (?).

How did you spend this Easter holiday?  In my case, my husband’s friend and his family visited here from New Zealand and stayed at our house this weekend.  They will go around down South by hired caravan for 10 days from Tuesday.  I wish I could go with them!  While they stayed here, I cooked some food for them… chunky Japanese curry with beef and lots of vegetables, potato salad, coleslaw,  yakiniku, miso soup, salmon carpaccio (I will post the recipe soon), creamy chicken gratin etc etc.  And, I made chocolate cakes, almond jelly, cookies, bagels, etc.  Too much! I know!  I was too excited to have a guest. :p

Parmesan Cheese bagel!  A cheese bagel is also known as a “volcano bagel” in some countries such as Japan, as the melted cheese looks like volcano eruption.

April… it should be a peak time for hanami (a Japanese custom of enjoying cherry blossoms along with the arrival of Spring) and there should be many people at parks…  So shame I couldn’t see them (><)

My Favorite Japanese Music Video This Month

Monkey Majik is a Japanese band composed of two Canadian brothers, Maynard and Blaise Plant, who both perform vocals and guitar, drummer Tax and bassist DICK. The band is sometimes referred to as a “hybrid-band”, as half of the members are foreigners and the lyrics are sung in both English and Japanese.  (I wrote a little about them on here)

I like their songs, and some of them are rated within monthly top 10 of J-pop songs in Japan.  Their latest single, the first song released after their 10th anniversary, is “sakura”.  This song was rated #1 in iTune in J-pop category.

Why I decided to write about this song is not only because the song is nice, but also the music video!  In the music video, the vocal Canadian wear kimono and samurai wig, and the whole story is referring to one of the most famous TV series in Japan. I grew up watching the series.

Glorious Edo-style music video!  If you knew this tv series ( called tooyama no Kin-san ), you’d be excited to see this video…  so funny!  Well, not supposed to be funny, the video is well-performed.  I just had to laugh when I saw a little OOO at the right bottom of the music video.  It says ” aoi me no Kin-san (青い目の金さん) = Kin-san with blue eyes” instead of ” tooyama no Kin-san (遠山の金さん)”.  😀

Aoi-me no Kin-san

TV Series Toyama no Kin-san

Current Trend in Japan Mobiles – Smart Phones-

Current technology is amazing….  Think about it.  The Mobile phones we were using about 10 years ago are so much different from our current mobiles.  The looks, facility, data capacity and technology on the current mobiles are amazing…

In Japan, despite the decrease of sales on the normal mobile phones, the sales for so called “smart phones” are increasing every month.  A smart phone is a mobile phone offering advanced capabilities beyond a typical mobile phone, often with personal computer like functionality. The most well-known smart phone is iPhone.  It connects to internet, and has lots of apps to do so many things.  A touch panel mobiles are also considered as ” smart phone” in Japan.

NTT docomo Japan‘s Xperia is one of those smart phones that is getting attentions. It connects to internet (WiFi), has GPS system, high quality movie display etc, and also a face recognition system.  Which means, you can browse photos on the screen, touch the face of the person and go to the person’s page.  There, you can browse all the history (phone call, emails etc) between you and the person as well as her/his photo gallery.  At the photo gallery, the screen can show the each person’s name on the photo.  Touching on the name takes you to another person’s page, or chose to make a phone call.

Fujitsu sells “style free mobile phone”.  When the phone is in the basic style, you can use it as a touch-panel mobile phone.  Once you slide it to open, you can use the keyboards.  And, you can actually separate the phone into two pieces.  This phone can be connected to a projector too.  Separating the phone into two pieces makes things easy.  You can talk while looking at the display unit, you can take a photos from a distance, you can type the keyboard away from the screen (easy use), etc.

Furthermore, this phones has 12200000 pixel camera, free touching writing facility (you can write or draw directly on the screen and it automatically translates to a letter or an icon.

Sometimes I can’t catch up with current technology…  As we can’t use Japanese mobiles in other countries （Ｇalapagos Syndrom）I will probably continue using iPhone in Perth, but I sometimes get overwhelmed by the current apps.  You can do so many things on a piece of machine.  As the world says, ” the future is here”.

Simple Food

It may be because I’m trying to do so in my head, but my mind is already in Japan.  Wouldn’t it better and more fun if I think about Japan a lot and tell myself “hey you are going to be there in few days!”  It’ll make myself feel more exciting once I arrive Japan.  🙂

What certainly enhanced this feeling was this sekihan (red sticky rice)

Sekihan is sticky rice cooked with azuki beans, and it’s a traditional Japanese dish for celebrations.  My friend cooked it for me when I visited her house last week 🙂   As you can tell from the photo, it was so delicious…!  

Sekihan with soup and pickles: it may look like a tiny meal, but this is how I like the meal to be!  I always thought a meal in Australia is such huge portion.  I’m even happy to just eat a bowl of steamed rice with pickles and a bowl of soup every night!  (especially after watching Grave of Fireflies)

Too much is not a good thing, I believe.  “Just right” or “little less” is the best. (腹八分目)  It’s not only for food, but other stuff as well such as toys, clothes, time, etc.  If there is a limit, whatever it is, you will appreciate it.

I’m seriously thinking to stay in a temple while I’m in Japan!  Even one day, experiencing monk’s life in a temple may clean up my mind and spirit.  … I don’t think staying in a temple will happen to me this time, but I hope to visit a temple and sit down there, listening to myself.  While I was a elementary school student, it was a school’s event that all students had to visit a temple to listen to a monk’s story.  Back then I kind of didn’t like it and thought “why we had to come here in such a hot day” etc.  I didn’t appreciate it.  So were other students.  Now, however, I miss it, and appreciate the monk who took his time to do even though we (students) weren’t keen to the story.

Bagels from … Ham Company?

The Nippon Ham group established structures for large- scale meat production, processing, and export, and it operates subsidiaries around the world.  (English site)  Most of processed meat products you get to see at supermarkets in Japan are Nippon Ham’s.

.. I wasn’t searching for this meat company, I was actually googling “bagel shop in Japan”.  Then I found this “delicious soft bagels and pizzas online shop – Nippon Ham”   … Nippon Ham = bagels??  

I clicked the Nippon Ham site, then I found that this company now doesn’t sell only ham and bacon, but also salad, pizza, bread, curry, dressing, and even bento boxes! :p

You can see bagels are now getting to be one of common food people eat at home everyday in Japan.  These bagels from Nippon Ham are well-packaged for commercial sales, and of course Nippon Ham is not the only company which sells bagels in supermarkets.  Plus, bakeries, hotels, restaurants and cafes also serve bagels as standard menu.

I will try to eat many bagels in Japan for the next few weeks 🙂

My Friends are Everywhere..

As I’m from Osaka College of Foreign Language, my friends from the school are all interested in other countries and traveling the world.  I was taking Studying Abroad Course (major in Animal Science) and most of my classmates flew to America to go to universities after graduation.  I, on the other hand, chose to come to Australia instead of America.  Major reason for this was that I thought Australia was surrounded by big nature and wild animals. 🙂  (which is true)

I was browsing the college website the other day and I noticed there’re photos of my classmates on the site.  It recalled the memory of my last home-coming trip – I had a small gathering with my classmates in Osaka and could catch up with them.  After that, they seem to be doing fine and some of them are again going overseas for further career 🙂

One friend, who is also from Shiga prefecture, went to America to study animal behavior at an university.  Since then she got a job at one of her work-experience place and now she is working as a dog trainer in America 🙂  It had been her dream to be a dog trainer and she seems to be so happy.

Another friend, Haru, she studied preschool education in New York and moved to Hawaii after graduating an university to work as a kindergarden assistant teacher.  Then she went back to Japan, worked in a International kindergarden for awhile, and now she is flying back to America, Portland to work as an assistant teacher for one year.  She is so determined 🙂

Another one, who also chose to come to Perth, Western Australia with me after graduating the Osaka college, worked in Japan for few years after graduating from school in Perth.  Few days ago she flew to Ireland!

I’m not planning to go overseas and work at this point.  I will probably stay in Perth and just lead my life here 🙂  But in future, maybe when I’m much older, I would like to go to other countries and do some voluntary work.  It is one of my dream! 🙂

Photos from Japan

These may be silly photos, but I just post them on Umeboss so that I can delete from my computer’s desktop :p 

You can watch NHK news on SBS every weekdays (early morning and night time), and I watch it sometimes.  Watching your country’s tv show make you feel home 🙂  I always thought this Otenki onesan, weather woman, on NHK news REALLY look likes my friend!  She is cute…

Some people who understands Japanese kana (a syllabic Japanese scripts) may be able to read what’s on th e weather board…  The sunny signs with orange color is creating two katakana  “エロ” = erotic….  What a coincidence..   

This photo was taken by my mum, on a subway.  This man fell asleep, and unluckily his wig fell down… :p  I wonder what he did when he woke up.  This photo has been my mum’s caller ID on my phone (^口^)

Grave of the Fireflies

You can watch this film on SBS tonight, 12:20  (midnight) !!! (Perth time)

Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓, Hotaru no Haka) is a 1988 animated film written and directed by Isao Takahata. This is the first film produced by Shinchosha, who hired Studio Ghibli to do the animation production work. (wiki)

I believe this is one of the most powerful anti-war movies ever made.  The story is about a brother and a sister, Seita and Setsuko.  Their mother is caught in the air raid during World War ll, and dies from her burns. Having nowhere else to go, Setsuko and Seita move in with a distant aunt, but the aunt didn’t welcome them.  In the end they leave the house and move into an abandoned bomb shelter.  They’re so alone, and Seita (brother) tries to protect young Setsuko, but they have no food and no parents.  As time goes by, Setsuko suffer from hunger, and she passes away 7days after the war ends.

The story is very sad, and educational to people who don’t know about “war”.  I’ve seen this film many times at elementary school and home, and it told me that a war gives nothing but sadness to people who live normal lives.  This film makes me cry every time I watch.  One of my favorite film of Ghibli.

You can watch this film on SBS tonight, 12:20  (midnight) !!!

Funcy Japanese Drinks

As you may know, there is a wide range of products available in Japan.  Some of the products, you don’t even imagine that exist in this world!  Although I was born and grew up in this country, these things surprise me every time I go back to Japan.

Because of many businesses running across Japan, there are so many competitions going on between those companies.  Drink is an example.  A company produces a pet bottle of green tea named “oishii ocha” (delicious tea) and another company produces green tea named “ureshii ocha” (happy tea).  Naming of drinks is also a war, as company B can’t use a name which has been already taken by company A.  So, you get to see drinks named “o~i ocha” (hey, tea), “kore ocha” (this is the tea” etc etc 🙂

A drink company, Sangaria sells some unique drinks.  Standard drinks such as tea, juice and soda …

and …

Beer for kids! 

… NO, of course this is just a soft drink (non-alcohol)  :p  Looks like beer, and the name is “kodomo no nomimono” (kid’s drink).

Sangaria’s popular drink, Osaka’s cafe style mix juice drink is now available as sake (Japanese alcohol drink).  Sangaria’s mix juice is one of my favorite, and now I’m curious to taste this sweet sake drink!

Doraemon iPhone App

Yahoo! Japan released 16 free iPhone Apps simultaneously at Japanese iTunes Store. By locating each app on the screen correctly, like solving a number slider puzzle, you can depict a face of the most famous character in Japan, Doraemon.

5 out of 16 are practical function buttons, such as calculator, kitchen timer and clock.  Other 11 are actually Doraemon comic stories!  For example, if you press “Time Furoshiki” button, you can read the episode from original Doraemon comic book on iPhone screen.  (those comic stories are written in Japanese) 

I love Doraemon and I installed all of them right after I knew about this.  Reading those comic recall a memory of childhood. 🙂

And, just few days before knowing this Doraemon iPhone app, I was watching DVD of Doraemon movies.  In Japan, current Doraemon cartoon on tv had been changed a lot compared with the one I used to watch while I was a kid.  The voices of Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka-chan, Jaian and Suneo all changed as well as illustration of the cartoon.  I liked the original voices, and watching DVD was really fun to me.  I remember watching those Doraemon cartoon on tv and cinema back in Japan.  🙂

There are many Doraemon movies, but my favorite is the very first movie episode :  Doraemon: Nobita\’s Dinosaur 2006.   (>v<)

Bagel and El Salvador

Happy anniversary~~!  

It’s been almost a year since Bagelier officially started.  I want to take this opportunity to say thanks to my customers and friends who have been supporting me for this small business 🙂

Oh, and, I would like to state here again that our bagel dough needs to be rested for more than 10 hours, slowly in the low temperature environment.  Therefore, all orders need to be placed at least 2 days prior to the required delivery date.  I know it’s not really convenient 🙁 but that’s how we develop the natural sweetness and flavor in the dough.  Sorry for the inconvenience…  I really appreciate your understanding!  🙂

Different subject, 

I received an email from my friend who is in El Salvador.  She flew there on Christmas day, and was so looking forward to meet her in-laws for the first time… but, it seems that she is not really enjoying this long holiday.

She is so angry that everyone over there doesn’t throw away rubbish in the bin even though there is a bin.  There’s garbage everywhere even in the bus.   Besides people don’t even care.

She was saying that “what goes around comes around”.  In Japan we say “if you spit towards the sky, the spit will drop on your face.”  People should take care of their own country.  

She had to compare El Salvador to Japan, and was giving me an example of Lotte Gum.  Each gum is wrapped in a paper with “Please dispose of your litter thoughtfully” message.  It is a kind of etiquette and also education to people.  This is just an very small example, but she realized that these small things have built the present Japan …  

The reason why this holiday hasn’t been great for her is not only the garbage issue, she has been a victim of pickpocket!  :p  It seems that it’s not unusual to have a pickpocket in this country, and police doesn’t even bother looking for her wallet…  Lucky she still has her passport and return ticket to Perth!  I hope she arrive here safely…  

“I Survived A Japanese Game Show”

“I survived a Japanese game show” started on channel 7.  This is an American reality show that saw its first season premiere on ABC June 24, 2008. details

Obviously it is a fake show, yes.  We don’t have such tv show in Japan called “MAJIDE” and they made it up for this American tv show.  Besides, the host of this “MAJIDE” show (the guy on the photo above) is an actor.  (his official website)

Watching this really makes me want to scream…  all the audiences and casts (Japanese) look so weird!  :p  Please don’t mistake that all Japanese people are that crazy!!

On the other hand, the games that American people has to do on the “MAJIDE” show are pretty normal stuff you see on tv in Japan every day :p  Wearing weird clothes, jumping around, etc etc.  Japanese comedy shows are very funny, but sometimes I don’t get :p

You can see from Takeshi Castle (風雲！たけし城).  This show was aired from 1986 to 1989 in Japan, long time ago, and it was already crazy funny.  In Aus, this tv show was shown on “V” (called “MXC”) on Foxtel before, and now is on Fox8 channel, however the story of the show is totally different on “MXC”.  They dubbed it into English, and what they talk about in the show doesn’t make sense at all.  I don’t know much about the original Takeshi Castle, but English dubbed version sucks…  

I missed Japanese tv shows so much when I just came to Perth.  Very different here.  But, I don’t say I like all the Japanese comedy shows.  Some of them are too much :p

『How Could You?』 by Jim Wills

When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh.  You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was “bad,” you’d shake your finger at me and ask “How could you?” – but then you’d relent and roll me over for a bellyrub.

私がまだ子犬だった頃、私はあなたが喜ぶような仕草をして、あなたを笑わせました。あなたは私のことを「うちの子」と呼び、私がどんなに靴やクッションを破壊しても、私たちは最良の友となりました。私が悪さをすると、あなたは私を指差し、その指を振りながら、「どうして…?」と問いました。しかしすぐに、あなたは微笑み、私を転がしておなかを撫でてくれました。

My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because “ice cream is bad for dogs,” you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

あなたがとても忙しかったので、私の破壊癖は思ったより長く続きましたが、 それはお互い時間をかけて解決しましたね。 あなたに寄り添い、あなたの信念や、誰にも秘密にしている将来の夢に聞き入った夜のことを 私は今でも覚えています。 あのとき私は、これ以上幸せな人生はないと、固く信じていました。私たちはたくさん散歩をし、公園で走り、ドライブし、途中でソフトクリームを食べました。 （あなたは「アイスクリームは犬の体に悪いから」と言って、私にはコーンしかくれませんでしたがてん） 私はいつも陽だまりでうたた寝をしながら、あなたが一日の仕事を終えて家に帰ってくるのを待ちました。

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love.

次第に、あなたは仕事や出世のために費やす時間が長くなり、やがて人間のパートナーを探すようになりました。私は辛抱強く待ちました。あなたが傷付いた時や落ち込んだ時にはあなたを慰め、あなたの決断が間違っていても決して非難せず、あなたが家に帰ってくると、おおはしゃぎして喜びました。あなたが恋に落ちたときも、いっしょになって歓喜しました。

She, now your wife, is not a “dog person” – still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a “prisoner of love.”

彼女−今はあなたの奥さんですが−は、「イヌ好き」な人ではありませんでしたが、 それでも私は彼女を受け入れ、愛情を示し、彼女の言うことを聞きました。あなたが幸せだったから、私も幸せだったのです…やがて人間の赤ちゃんが産まれてきて、私も一緒に、その興奮を味わいました。赤ちゃんたちの、そのピンク色の肌に、またその香りに、私は魅了されました。 私も、赤ちゃんたちを可愛がりたかったのです。しかしあなたたちは、私が赤ちゃんを傷つけるのではないかと心配し、私は一日の大半を他の部屋やケージに閉じ込められて過しました。私がどれほど赤ちゃんたちを愛したいと思ったことか。でも私は「愛の囚人」でした。

As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them, especially their touch – because your touch was now so infrequent – and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered “yes” and changed the subject. I had gone from being your dog to “just a dog,” and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.

赤ちゃんたちが成長するにつれて、私は彼らの友達になりました。彼らは私の毛にしがみついて、よちよち足でつかまり立ちをしたり、私の目を指で突付いたり、耳をめくって中を覗いたり、私の鼻にキスをしました。私は彼らの全てを愛し、彼らが私を撫でるたびに喜びました。何故なら、あなたはもう、めったに私を触らなかったから…必要があれば私は命を投げ出しても、子供たちを守ったでしょう。私は彼らのベッドにもぐりこみ、彼らの悩み事や、誰にも秘密にしている将来の夢に聞き入りました。そして一緒に、あなたを乗せて帰ってくる車の音を待ちました。 

以前あなたは、誰かに犬を飼っているかと聞かれると、私の写真を財布から取り出し、私の話を聞かせていたこともありました。ここ数年、あなたは「ええ」とだけ答え、すぐに話題を変えました。私は「あなたの犬」から「ただの犬」になり、私にかかる全ての出費を惜しむようになりました。

Now you have a new career opportunity in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family,” but there was a time when I was your only family.  I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with “papers.”

You had to pry your son’s fingers loose from my collar as he screamed “No, Daddy! Please don’t let them take my dog!” And I worried for him and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too.

そして、あなたは別の街で新しい仕事を見つけ、みんなでペット不可のマンションに引越しをすることになりました。あなたは「自分の家族」のために正しい決断をしましたが、かつて、私があなたのたった一人の家族だった時もあったのです。私は久々のドライブで、とても嬉しかった・・・保健所に着くまでは。そこには犬や猫たちの、恐怖と絶望の臭いが漂っていました。あなたは書類に記入を済ませて、係員に「この子によい里親を探してくれ」と言いました。保健所の人は肩をすくめて、眉をひそめました。彼らは知っていたのです、歳を取った成犬たちが−たとえ「血統書」付きでも−直面する現実を…

あなたは、「パパやめて、ボクの犬を連れて行かせないで！」と叫ぶ息子の指を 一本一本、私の首輪から引き離さなければなりませんでした。私はあなたの子供のことを心配しました。何故なら、あなたはたった今、このことを通して 友情、誠実さ、愛、責任、そしてすべての生命への尊重の意味を、彼に教えたのです。あなたは私の頭を軽くたたき「さよなら」と言いました。あなたは私から目をそらし、首輪とリードを持ち帰ることさえ、丁重に断りました。あなたにとって守るべき期日があったように、今度は私にも期日がやってきました。

After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked “How could you?”  They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you – that you had changed your mind – that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

あなたが去った後、やさしい女性係員が二人やってきて言いました。「何ヶ月も前からこの引越しのことを知っていたはずなのに、里親を探す努力もしなかったのね・・・」と。彼女たちは首を振りながらつぶやきました。「どうして・・・？」保健所の人たちは、忙しさの合間に、とても親切にしてくれました。もちろんゴハンはくれました。でも、私の食欲はもう何日も前からなくなっていました。最初は誰かが私のケージの前を通るたびに、走り寄りました。 あなたが考えを変えて私を迎えに来てくれたのだと願いました。今回のことが全部、悪夢であってほしいと願いました。 そうでなければ、せめて私を気に留め、ここから助け出してくれる誰かが来てくれればと…。しかし、幼い子犬たちの愛情を求める可愛らしい仕草には敵わないと悟った年老いた私は、子犬たちの明るい運命を脇目に、ケージの隅に引っ込み、ひたすら待ちました。

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.

She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured “How could you?”

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn’t be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself – a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my “How could you?” was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

ある日の夜、係員の女性の足音が近づいてきました。私は彼女の後に続いて通路をとぼとぼ歩き、別の部屋に行きました。しんと静まり返った部屋でした。彼女は私を台の上に乗せ、私の耳を撫で、心配しないで、と言いました。私の心臓が、今まさに起きようとしている事実を予期し、ドキドキと鼓動しました。しかし同時に、安心感のようなものも感じました。かつての愛の囚人には、もう時は残されていませんでした。生まれついての性格からか、私は自分のことより、係員の彼女のことを心配しました。彼女が今果たそうとしている責務が、彼女に耐え難い重荷となってのしかかっていることを、 私は知っていたからです・・・かつて私があなたの気持ちをすべて感じ取ったように−。

彼女は頬に涙を流しながら、私の前肢に止血帯を巻きました。私は、何年も前に私があなたを慰めたときと同じように、彼女の手を舐めました。彼女は私の静脈に注射の針を挿入しました。私は針の傷みと、体に流れ入る冷たい液体を感じ、横たわりました。私は眠気に襲われながら彼女の目を見つめ、「どうして…?」と呟きました。

おそらく彼女は私の犬の言葉が分かったのでしょう、「本当にごめんなさい…」と言いました。彼女は私を腕に抱きました。そして、「あなたはもっと良い場所へ行くのよ。」「ないがしろにされたり、虐待されたり、捨てられたり、自力で生きていかなけらばならないようなところではなく、愛と光に満ちた、この世界とは全く違う場所に、あなたが行くのを見届けるのが私の仕事なの…」と、急ぐように説明しました。私は最後の力を振り絞り、尻尾を一振りすることで、彼女に伝えようとしました。さっきの「どうして…?」は彼女に対する言葉ではなく、あなた、私の最愛なる主人である、あなたへの言葉だったのだと…。私はいつもあなたのことを想っていました。これからもあなたのことを想うでしょう…そして私は永遠に、あなたを待ち続けます。

THE END 

Happy New Year~

明けましておめでとうございます！！

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 🙂

It’s the beginning of another year…  My New year’s resolution is ↓↓↓

• be nice to everyone !!
• don’t get angry, calm myself first before talking ( :p )
• visit at least one city in Australia (maybe Melbourne)