February 2012 Archives

When I came to this shop first time, I thought that I lost my way.

because there is only field and dilapidated house, and warehouses around here. couldn't see any shops!!

That is the gardening shop!!!! ↑↑↑

now you know why I couldn't find it easily!!

There are many the houses and warehouses which were made with tin of 40 or 50 years ago. 

In Japan, unless it is a much palatial residence and a building which is historically worthy, an old house is destroyed and is rebuilt newly.

It is unusual for Japanese to live in a building old with a reformation repetition like Europe.

The easy building dressed and built for the high-growth era of Japan is in the fate which disappears these days.

In particular, it is not beautifully strong, either and there is also no historical value. 

but some people can feel nostalgic by like this old style things.

These days, popular "foppish general dealer" and "foppish cafe" use the nostalgic well in Japan.

Young people is charmed by the stale touch which cannot be taken out in several years, and the cheaper space which can be taken out only to that time and where it feels and wonderful warmth is felt.

The refined which the paint of tin came off and rusted tastes, and is deep sentiment. 

Here is front of the shop↑↑

If a store is established in the center of a town, the charge of a tenant will become high, but it could open at a low price fairly in case of this housing in the middle of a field,I guess.

inside of the shop↑↑

I bought two flowerpots on that day. 

It was Sunday morning, this shop was very busy!!

there are many people who come to see a store even from a distance to find something new.

There must also be many people fascinated with this nostalgic air. like me!!

Hoshi-imo is dried sweet potatos.

It is the best season to eating it while autumn to winter which dry season.

We can buy Hoshi-imo at supermarket but my daughter is saying the best is the green tea shop where is near by my house.

Hoshi-imo is made to usually dry with a drying machine but this Hoshi-imo is made with sun drying and all handmade.

We should call this tea shop and order the Hoshi-imo, then they call us when they made it!!

Look at this amber color!!　↑↑

amazing nature power isn't it??

That is just dried but taste is soooo good and very very sweet taste!!!!

I bought lots!!! it is much better than junk snacks!!!

and tea shop lady said, ''you like Hoshi-imo very much!!? that is good for you!!! because this Hoshi-imo is very healthy!!'' 

also she gave us dried radish strips!! and she said ''this is good for you too''!!!

That is Japanese radish. cut it then dry. we call it ''Kiriboshi-daikon'' in Japanese.

She said, try it!! that is handmade!! she put it in Miso soup every morning, because it is in rich iron!!

then I tried it!!! put in Miso soup!! that was very delicious!!

dried sweet potatos,→Hoshi-imo

dried Japanese radish..→Kiriboshidaikon

ohhhh, I have Hoshigaki(dried persimmons) at my house!!!

Do you like persimmon?

in Japan, we eat persimmon when it is hard, like apple or eat Hoshigaki.

Do you know how to make Hoshigaki?

use astringent persimmon, peel it and dries outside and makes it dried fruit.

That's all process to make ''Hoshigaki'' !!!

An astringent taste not only falls out, but only by drying, it becomes very sweet.

The method of preservation of "drying" is very simple, and wonderful that nutritive value also becomes high and becomes delicious.

In Japan, that of "drying food" is a little boom now and the net and basket for drying vegetables, fruit, and a fish are also sold.

We had tea time with dried foods!!

We love this lazy and slow time:))

An interesting thing was delivered to Miko's house.
What do you think about the thing that like a sheet on my hand?

I previously told about "Collar stiffener" , which Apis corporation ,the sponsor of this blog ,sells as a best-seller.
The item forms collar's shape by being put into collar's pockets.
I explained about it in my previous episode, so check it out, please.→

Collar stiffener needs a certain pocket to be inserted, otherwise it isn't useful.
But it's such a convenient item, that there are many demands of customers who want to use it with their shirts that have no pocket, I heard.
So, Apis corporation developed a new product named 「col-poshe」.
It's a glueable pocket for Collar stiffener!!!

Put it on back of a collar after taking it from the sheet.
The adhesive tape which sticks to fabrick was developed by Apis Corporation,
because normal one comes off right away.
 
I tried it on my shirt.
My shirt is made of thin fabric, so I could never form the collar as I wanted.

Insert a Collar stiffener after attaching Colposhe on a collar.
I am wondering why it doesn't come off.
The adhesive strength is strong, so it has no concern about coming off.

I formed the collar's shape for myself with the collar stiffners in Colposhe.
Let's see.
Apis corporation's collar stiffener is fun, because it is made of flexible material to bend many times.

Today, I took pictures of myself as a model (Hahaha)

It keeps the shape, even if I unbutton, so it doesn't give a bad impression.
I feel like my shirt is a completely different clothes, now and wearing it becomes much more fun than before.

Now, I made the collar stand up with another sweater.
It's impossible to keep the shape of the collar like that without the collar stiffener.
This is quite fun, and very interesting!

Colposhe had been sold at Mitsukoshi in Ebisu in Tokyo for the first time.
It is able to be attached on any clothes like a polo shirt, a Hawaiian shirt, a coat, or a jacket.
That was why it was very popular there.
I heard someone bought it for his turtleneck sweater.
I see...it can be used for anything to form any shape, and there is no rule.
So,

It's also a good idea.
This is my favorite cap.
By bending its short brim upward, it's getting cuter like a beret cap.

Did you notice that colposhe was attached on the brim?↓

Colpshe is sold for \630 per sheet.
You can buy it on this page. ↓↓↓
　　　　　　　Japanese Goods eBay Auction

It is basically single-use item, but you can keep it for a while on unwashable item like a coat or jacket.
It can be used in many other different ways with your various idea.
Why don't you try it?

Do you know what is ''Yaku-doshi''(critical age, unlucky year)??

It is believed that evil is the age 24,41, 60 years etc also before and after 3years from those age which falls on on the body easily.

Since it is the old thought handed down from China, there were many Japanese people who do not care at all about ''Yaku-doshi'' for long time,but now many young people worry or think about it because they are interesting ''spirit power'' or ''power spot''.

"Exorcism" exorcises evil spirits so that a calamity may not fall on on the body at the temple or shrine. 

The Hattazan is located at Iwata city where is next to Hamamatsu city.

This temple is very famouse in local people but we from Hiroshima didn't know it.

We went to there on January 2nd, there were very very traffic.soooo many... then we decided to go back to home today then come back another day.

Here is another day...photo is Sonei temple↑↑

a temple called Soneiji (尊永寺 (そんえいじ) ) is located in the mountain of a power spot called Tayama. It was built by the Emperor of those days in A.D. 725. ↑↑↑

Hattazan temple is a splendid temple more than it was imagining.

And very long way..

ohhhh nooo, look at the picture↑↑↑

stairs...stairs...stars.

My daughter said, "I count it" and ran up!!

then she told me ''there were 240 steps!!!''. well done!!!

The place which went up stairs had Hondo(the main temple).

Before going into Hondo, a hand is washed by Seisui (holy water) and the body is purified with the smoke which burned the scent.

then pray at the Hondo.

It is supposed that a calamity can be avoided but if you would like to avoid a calamity seriously more, pay money specially and get a Buddhist priest to pray.  

My kids bought good-luck charm.

They will put it in their school bag.

On another way to which it gets down from Hondo, we found the small cave.

 This cave is a hole for a Buddhist doing ascetic practices.

Inside is a dome about 2 meters in diameter. dark and silent.

Furthermore, when we walked, there was the dumpling store of the noted product of this temple.

This dumpling a "charm-against-misfortunes dumpling" has the unusual form stuck in five skewers.

you can buy it to go and eat at there.

100 yen per stick.

these green tea is free!!!

very very very delicious dumpling!!! 

This is very nice sweet after long walking!!!!