June 2009 Archives

The rainy season (TSUYU)is coming in Japan now.
This is the season that it is rainy(AME NO HURU JIKI) almost everyday for 2 to 3 weeks before beginning of summer.
The rainy season comes from Okinawa where is located in the southwest area in Japan, and move to northern area gradually.
The rain of rainy season is soft, but it remains for several days. It is not like squall.
But last few years, the rush rains (HAGESHII AME) just like squall happen to a local target.
It is said that it's because of influence of global warming.
CHIKYUU ONDANKA.

 

Then, the rainy season is uncomfortable. but we can see hydrangeas blooming beautifully when you go out with holding umbrella.
UTSUKUSIKU SAITE IMASU.

I have heard that hydrangeas is the plant whose original country is Japan, and it is also popular in other countries.
NINKI GA ARIMASU.

 

This is the hydrangeas in my yard.
Its name is "hydrangea macrophylla forma normalis" and this is typical original type of hydrangeas.
Many other hydrangeas having various colors and forms were born from improvement of this original type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This blue color of hydrangea is beautiful.
I think this color is suitable in rain (AME NO HI GA NIAU)rather than the hot days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is "fireworks in SUMIDA", a popular type.
HAYATTE IMASU.
When I see it from far, it looks like stars. It is very beautiful.
HISHI NO YOUNI MIETE,TOTEMO KIREI DESU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is hydrangea macrophylla.
Hydrangea macrophylla live in Japan for a long time, and is also called "OTAHUKU".
"OTAHUKU" is the mask used classic Japanese musical drama, and shows women's face that has thick, round cheeks.
HOH NO MARUI JOSEI NO KAO DESU.

 

 

The sky is like that everyday while the rainy season.
MAINICHI KONNNA SORA DESU.
I recommend not to travel in Japan (NIHON WO RYOKOU SURU)
while this season even if hydrangeas are beautiful.
2weeks later, the nice season---summer will come!
SUTEKI NA NATSU GA KURU KARA!

 

 

The hydrangeas are very common plant in Japan.
ARIHURETA SYOKUBUTSU DESU.
It grows by cuttage, so sometimes I receive it from neighbors.
It doesn't need careful treatment, so it is often planted at parks, temples and schools. I often happen to see blooming hydrangeas here and there.
The following photo of OTAHUKU is taken at hillback near a junior high school.

 

 

 

 

By the way, this is hydrangea arborescens in my yard.
Hydrangea arborescens is not the Japanese hydrangeas.
The color of the blossoms change from lime green into white, and then back to lime green.
This is my favorite one.
WATASHI MO DAISUKI NA HANA DESU.
Do you know this type of hydrangea?
MINASAN MO SHITTE IMASUKA?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, it is going to be sunny!
HARETE KITA!
The sunny while rainy season is rare and worthful(KICHOU DESU)
I've got to wash laundry and clean the room!
SENTAKU SHITE, IE NO SOUJI SIYOU!

 

 

Japanese Goods eBay Auction

 

 

June 21th is Father's Day.
6GATSU 21NICHI HA CHICHI NO HI DESU.
According to my memory, Mother's Day on May and Father's Day on June can be celebrated in many parts of the world.
Did you give your father any gifts?
MINASAN HA NANIKA PUREZENTO SHIMASITAKA?

 

In Japan, almost all people give something to their parents in Father's Day and Mother's Day, so various reccomended items are ranged in department stores.
The popular gifts are flowers and sweets for mother, and clothes and alcohol for father.

 

I have given pare goods for them such as beer glasses, underwares, and hats of sakiko whose web site is linking with this blog.
And you can check these presents inside box at the top photo is sent on this year.

 

 

←
This is my favarite green tea in Shizuoka prefecture.
OKINIIRI NO SIZUOKA NO OCHADESU.
The powdered green tea is added.
MACCHA NO KONA GA MAZETE ARIMASU.
The balance of taste---the mixture of bitter and sweetness is great!
ZETSUMYOU!

 

 

 

This product is difficult to get otherwise you don't live in Shizuoka because it is produced by small local stores.
NAKANAKA TE NI HAIRI MASEN.
The rare green tea in Shizuoka is very pleased even in Japan.
TAIHEN YOROKOBARERU NO DESU.

 

 

 

 

In this year, I gave gifts for father and mother at the same time.
Green tea is just like a extra gift. Actually, the main gift is "pedmater."
OMAKE MITAI NA MONO DESU.
It is the small machine which counts how many steps did you take in a day when you wear it on your belt.
My father and Mother love walking, and they walk around the park everyday for their health.
MAINICHI KOUEN WO ARUITE IMASU.
So I thought it would be good to count the number of steps like games.
HOSUU WO HAKATTEMITE HA DOUKANA?

 

 

 

These days, pedmaters tend to be digital.
Moreover, what I gave can be counted in a bag or a pocket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

←
This is for my mother.
It has the same function with father's one, but I changed into this which has design of Hello Kitty not to mistake to father's one.

 

 

 

 

This pedmeter has a function that we can have a virtual experience of walking all areas in Japan by calculating how much length did you walked from the number of steps.
According to this pedmeter, the distance to do is about 18,850km.
18,850 KIRO TO NATTE IMASU.
How many years does it take even father and mother walk 2 to 3km per a day?
NANNEN KAKARU NO KANA?
Well...it is impossible to do until they live, isn't it?
I've make a mistake!
But it's OK...
I hope this will be a chance for them to think "we try until finishing walking in Japan!".
NIHON ISSHUU SURUMADE GANBARU ZO!

 

 

 

←
During tripping in Japan, the pedmeter introduces the showplaces and special products in that area. By this function, we can feel as if we actually visit this area.

 

 

 

 

Now, there are also other unique pedmeters.
I found the product,"Pocket Pikachu".
This pedmeter has an assumption that Pikachu, one of the famous character in Pokemon, is in the pedmeter, and the more you walks, the more behaviors Pikachu take.
IRONNA SHIGUSA WO MISERUYOU NI NARIMASU.
Besides, some cell phones for elders are popular bacause these have the function as pedmeter.

 

 

Then, I will go out to mail this gofts from now.
IMAKARA YUUBINN DE OKUTTE KIMASU.
I hope my parents will like it...

 

 

 

 

 

 

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      There is Hamana lake in Hamamatsu.
HAMANA KO NIHA HAMANA KO GA ARIMASU.
The area is about 70㎞^２, and the average depth is 5m.
Hamana lake is located the coast of pacific ocean.
Because of this location, fresh water and seawater are mixed in Hamana lake.
So over 440 fishes include both freshwater fishes and sea fishes live there.
440 SHURUI MO SEISOKU SITEIMASU.

 

I went UOTTO which is an aquarium that we can see these interesting creatures in Hamana lake.
SUIZOKUKAN"UOTTO"NI ITTE KIMASITA.
There is located by Hamana lake, and it is quite smaller than other aquariums in Osaka or Okinawa.
But there were not so many tourists and customers, and there was enough for my kids to enjoy.

 

                                                                    All fishes in this aquarium live in Hamana lake.
SUBETE HAMANA KO NI SUNDE IMASU.
I didn't know that these tropical fishes↑ live in Hamana lake. I was surprized!
BIKKURI!

In this aquarium,we mysteriously can put our hand into the water tank.
We cannot touch fishes, but kids are very pleased and try to do so.
DONOKO MO OOYOROKOBI DESITA.
But...why the water never overflow from the hole?
I still can't understand. Don't anybody know why?
IMADA NI WAKARANAI...MINNA, WAKARU?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

→sometimes fishes come into the hole to put hand in.

 It looks fishes like to do so.
Are they playing?
ASONDE IRU NO KANA?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This aquarium UOTTO established when Fishery Technical Research Institute was rebuilded.
"UO"in UOTTO means fish"魚" in Japanese.
One jr. high school student living in Hamana came up with this name.
JIMOTO NO TYUUGAKUSEI GA NADUKETA SOUDESU.

 

←This is the entrance.
The entrance fee is 300 yen for adults, and free for under high school students.
NYUUJOURYOU OTONA 300 YEN, KOUKOUSEI IKA HA MURYOU DESU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

←There is the big water tank like this.
KONNA OOKINA SUISOU MO ARIMASU.
The water tanks like tonnel are not rare in Japanese aquarium.
I rather surprized that rays and sharks swim in Hamana lake.
The depth of this water tank is almost same as it of Hamana lake, and almost all fishes swimming in this water tank are sea fishes.
OYOIDE IRU NOHA HOTONDO KAISUIGYO DESU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

← This fish is cute, isn't?
KONO SAKANA, KAWAIIDESUYONE?
I took a picture because he was watching me for a while.
His face is like a chatracter of animation...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                          Frankly speaking, there are not so many water tanks in UOTTO.
UOTTO NIHA SONNANI TAKUSAN NO SUISOU HA ARIMASEN.
Instead of that, there are the space for kids to touch small shells and crabs, and space for experiments about fishes.

 

←This is an experiments to snow how the hermit crabs' body be by using the clear bottle.
TOUMEI NO BIN DE JIKKEN TYUU.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

←The littleneck clam is into the bottle.
BIN NO NAKA NI ASARI GA IMASU.
This is the experiment to snow how they cleanup the water in the bottle by dropping the starch and impurities from rice.
Shells can cleanup their living area by just a live!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sea is connected with one,
UMI HA HITOTSU NI TSUNAGATTE IMASU.
but I guess there are a lot of aquariums in the world.
IRONNA SUIZOKUKAN GA ARUNDAROU NA.
I want to go there some day...
ITTEMITAI DESU...

 

 

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Do you know the word "SETOMONO"
This is dish which is made from Pottery.
It is generally called "SETOMONO" in Japan.
There is "Seto" city in center of Japan which is famous for pottery  YAKIMONONO MATITOSITE YUUMEI since 1300years ago.
Dishes that are made here were delivered through Japan. SHOKKIGA NIHONJUUNI HAKOBAREMASHITA.
That is why; we call "SETOMONO" for Pottery.
There are "Shino" and "Oribe" near "Seto" which are also famous for pottery through the world.
Great potteries are created here now too.


It takes about 1 hour by car KURUMADE 1JIKAN with highway from my house to Seto.
I went there for everyday dishes with my family.

 

 

←You can see this view after you get off the highway.
We saw many chimneys for Pottery CHIISANAKAMAMOTONO ENTOTSUGA MIEMASHITA around there.

Dishes which are made in Seto, are gathered at big place and sold there.
There is no expensive Pottery by famous artist, but there are a lot of everyday dishes SHINAKAZUGA HOUFU from factory.
Those are very cheep!! TAIHEN YASUI!!
I like dishes, so I COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT TO BUY. AREMOKOREMOHOSHIKUNARIMASHITA.

 

These are the bowl with various pattern.
We normally use it for rice FUTSUUHA KORENI HAKUMAIWO IREMASU.
We change the pattern in family and the thickness in season.
we are enjoying the choice of dishes.
One dish is 150yen ～500yen. It was so cheep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

←

This rectangle dishes are for grilled fish. YAKIZAKANAWO MORITSUKERUMONODESU.
Nowadays some people use it for appetizer.
One dish is 500yen ～100yen.

 

 

←These are the chopstick rests. OHASHIOKI.
We also change it in season.
Because of prettiness like small display, some people collect them.
One chopstick rest is 100yen ～300yen.

 

 

I bought some dishes OSARAWO SUUSHURUI KAIMASHITA with white and dark blue picture, like first picture.
I thought they are simple and can be used for Japanese food and Western food.
The point was, it was thin and light so that I can put a lot in cupboard.
The shop that I bought them was so cheep because it has the factory downstairs.
One dessert dishes is about 150yen.
My family use dishes every meal MAINICHI  WAGAYANO SHOKUTAKUNI NARANDEIMASU since i bought.

 

By the way, I found this box in front of the shop.→
This is the recycling box for broken dishes.
Instead of throwing them away, the shop collects them here and crushes them and make new one again.






Suddenly, my daughter said, " I want to go to the bathroom."
So I took her to the other floor and found the room HEYAWO MITSUKEMASHITA which people can experience of painting on the dish.
"Do you want to try?"
Then 4years daughter tried painting. It was the first time.
People usually try it by school trip in Japan.
When I was high school student, I tried and painted the flower of the plum on the Japanese tea cup.

She was given the tool of painting.
At first, she drew the draft by pencil on white dish.
She drew the princess and needed to paint with the brush after the draft,
But it is pretty difficult to draw with the brush for kids.
So she could not paint the princess like the draft.
Probably, kids should paint directly with the brush.

 

 

The good way of painting is showing the contrast of light and dark beautifully like above the bamboo picture.
It is like Ink and wash painting so that it is very difficult. MUZUKASHIIDESUNE

 

 

 

 

This paint is made from cobalt and iron.
Now it is gray, but it is going to be blue after burning it.









After she finished painting, person from factory took her dish to the kiln.
He put the glaze on the dish and burned it with other dishes and finished!! KANSEI!!!
It takes 10days to get the dish. It was sent to my house.
(One dish is 1000yen without the postage.)
After all she painted the picture of her and her brother.
What would they say, if they see this 20years later living different life

 

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I want to eat "Sushi". OSUSHI GA TABETAI!!
Then I went to running sushi restaurant.
I usually hesitate to go to normal sushi restaurant with kids.
But running sushi restaurant is fun and kids are very welcome. KOZUREMO DAIKANNGEI.

By the way, "sushi" is very popular in other countries.
What about running sushi restaurant? KAITENSUSHI HA DOUNANODESHOU?
I remember that it was on the TV, when running sushi restaurant was opened in U.S.
But it was unusual...




←This is inside of running sushi restaurant.
There are a lot of customers around the chefs who wearing white uniform.









Sushi which was made from chef is on the colorful dishes and put on the moving belt in front of customer.
Sushi is waiting to be taken by customer on the moving belt.
Of course you can order to chef what you want to eat and chef makes in front of you and hands you.
TEWATASHITEMORAUKOTOMO DEKIMASU.











Prices depend on color of dishes in running sushirestaurant.
There are different colors of dishes and you can figure out how much the sushi is.
OSUSHINO NEDANNGA WAKARUNODESU.
At last, waiters or waitresses count each color of dishes and give you a bill.
Normal sushi restaurants are expensive in Japan too, OSUSHIYASANHA NIHONDEMO NEDANNGA TAKAINODESUGA,
But it is easy to go to running sushi restaurants. KIGARUNI HAIREMASU.
They are pretty cheep and you know how much you already ate.




Moving belt is not so slow but also not so fast.
When you are thinking what you want to eat, sushi is passing...
Then you say, Wait, I'll take it!! MATTE, TORIMASU!!










This is a warmed young yellowtail. SUKOSI ABUTTA HAMATINO OSUSHI.
with sweet soy sauce.
This dish is 200yen, I think...?!











This is a fresh horse mackerel, AJINO OSUSHI. 300 yen.
Chef fries this figure of horse mackerel later.











Let's eat! ITADAKIMASU.
Tuna with soy sauce and wasabi.
Hum... Yummy..!! OISII!!














Kids are really interested in running sushi restaurant. KODOMOMO OMOSHIROGARIMASU.
So family comes very often.
That is way there are fruit and desert, like pudding for kids.










Kids also love Rolled Sushi. KODOMOMO DAISUKINA MAKISUSHI.
Since sushi is popular in other countries, rolled sushi is getting popular in Japan.
Young people like it, but old people...









This is a fried shrimp sushi.
This is not traditional sushi. DENTOUTEKINA SUSHIDEHA ARIMASEN.
Nowadays new style of sushi is getting more and more in running sushi restaurant.









I ate a lot. I was so full. ONAKA IPPAIDESU.
This restaurant was first time, but it was cheep and delicious.

I told the waitress "check please"
She had a small machine and shaded the dishes that we ate,
and she counted so quickly.
"What...???"
I didn't know that there were dishes with bar cord in new running sushi restaurant.
I thought, running sushi industry is also improving everyday life.
HIBI SINNKASITERUNONE.