It was the starting day of Yukon Quest race, a dog sled race. Approximation miles are 100 miles and it is from Fairbanks, Alaska to Whitehorse, Canada. 24 mushers are resistered and they are from US, Canda, Russia, Norway etc. Even a Japanese lady is resistered. I hope everyone finish the race safety and they have their best run. (Saori)
2012-02-01
February 3rd is Setsubun in Japan. According to the lunar calendar, winter ends on this day… The solar calendar was adopted during the Meiji Period in Japan, so it’s still very cold around Setsubun now. On the day of Setsubun, people open the doors of their house and drive the demons out of their homes and gardens by throwing handfuls of beans and shouting [Bad Luck out! Good Luck in!] Eating rolled-sushi is also a popular custom, and you can get them at any supermarkets and convenience stores, etc. on the day. I am going out on Friday, so I will throw beans and eat the rolled sushi tomorrow night instead! (Risa)
2012-01-31
We started to have customers from Japan so now we started to getting busy. In Fairbanks, it is colder than usual. The coldest temperature I saw is -43F but on the news it was reported it went down to -50F. There is a big temperature board near University of Alaska Fairbanks. We went to see the temperture there to take picture of how cold it is. Even local people were there and taking picture. There were even young people wearing bellying suits on and taking pictures…. Unfortunately, I can’t share the photo though.. I’m sorry I missed it. I hope it gets little bit warmer. At least it back to usual temerture. ( Saori )
2012-01-30
How was your weekend? I went to Fukuoka to discuss the final arrangements for the wedding next month. Saturday was really busy during the day, but my mother and I went to a Mexican restaurant [Elborracho] for dinner. It was the first time for us to go there, but it was a good choice. If you are sick of Japanese food and looking for something different in Fukuoka, here is the restaurant information; http://www.elborracho.com/ (Risa)
2012-1-27
Hello everyone from ALASKA. I arrived here on 24th and it passed already 3 days. I went to snow-shoe hiking and aurora viewing. All the activities come with cold first but they were still nice experience. The cold here is okay than I expected but the cold when I was waiting the aurora viewing. The cold almost killed me....From tomorrow, we have big groups from Japan so I will busy with office work. Alright, hi from Alasaka. I will update again soon.
2012-01-26
We got a mail from Saori, and she arrived Alaska safely. According to our co-worker in Fairbanks, it was minus 30 degrees even during the daytime today. Japan was also hit by a cold wave, and we had heavy snowfall in the last couple of days. As it seems like it’s going to be very cold again next week, I have to email my friends to bring very warm clothes. They are arriving on Friday next week, and I am very looking forward to seeing them! (Risa)
2012-01-24
I leave to Alaska today for a business trip. I’m excited and also I’m little nervous. It is my very first time to go to the freezing cold and snowing hard place. I can’t imagine how it will be like… I try to see and feel much and learn a lot from the work experience there. I update how it’s like there. (Saori)
2012-01-23
How was your weekend? My mother and I took a baking lesson yesterday and made an apple pie from scratch. It was the first time for me to make piecrust, and it was much harder than I expected. Our teacher learned the recipe from a German baker, so we used bread flour instead of cake flour. Because of that, the dough was a bit chewier, and I liked the texture very much. I don’t know if I’ll make it again or not…but, I would like my mother to make it again and give it to me…! (Risa)
2012-01-20
It is Friday today!!! How are you going to spend your friday night and weekend? Going to have a drink? Spending relaxing time? Hanging out with your friends? I’m going to yoga to have a relax time for the night and I preparing for a business trip on weekend. Have a good Friday night and weekend ;) (Saori)
2012-01-19
We will hold a wedding next month, but my grandmother can’t attend because it’s held in Fukuoka (about 3 hours away from Kyoto), so she took us for dinner last night. My parents and uncle & aunt also joined us, and we went to a Japanese restaurant, [Sangencha] in Gion area and enjoyed the dinner all together.
Kombu (kelp) Marinated flounder and vinegared radish and carrot. It was nice as a starter.
Clear soup of clam. It’s a traditional dish for New Years, but I think it was my favorite.
Sashimi – prawns, trevally, and flounder. There were three kinds of dipping sauce, and I liked eating them with a salt and wasabi the best.
Marinated Tuna Sushi. It was really delicious.
Steamed sticky rice with salmon roe.
Grilled Spanish mackerel and boiled black beans. We usually eat the black beans at New Years.
Steamed soft roe, boiled octopus, and some vegetable dishes. The octopus was so tender that my grandmother also could eat it. She said she ate octopus after many years!
Tofu and Tempura (abalone and maitake mushrooms) with a clear coup.
Sea cucumber with grated turnip.
Boiled Kyoto vegetables with a thickened crab soup. It was a soft and tender taste, and I liked it.
Rice and Miso Soup. The chief chef’s parents grow the rice in Shiga, and it was sooooooo delicious. We all ate 2-3 bowls of rice!
Orange jelly and strawberries.
We could choose from 2 desserts. The both of them were nice.
We went to the same restaurant about a year ago and liked it very much, so I was glad we could go there again this time. Thank you, Granma! (Risa)
2012-01-18
It is on News this last 2 days that the precipitation in this year is very low. There is no rain in 200 areas. I think about when it rained in Kyoto…mmm, I don’t feel it rained that much. It rained more in Kansai area than Kantou area. According to the record, this year is the second year of low precipitation. Because of it, vegetables don’t grow good and the price of vegetables is going high.mmm not nice. (Saori)
2012-01-17
Last weekend, I went to Ise Grand Shrine with my family for Hatsumode, the first visit of New Year in Japan. We make wishes for the new year. Ise Grand Shrine is one of the famous shrine for Hatsumode. It was already the second week of the new year, but there were still many people to make wishes. In the Meiji period, people weren’t allowed to leave from your town. Therefore, it was allowed to everyone to visit Ise Grand Shrine for Hatsumode. That’s why the shrine became very famous and improved as a tourist site. It is effected from the time and modern day, the shrine is one of the most visited shrine. Ise Grand Shrine is in Mie prefecture, but it’s only 2-3 hours train trip from Kyoto. If you are interested in the shrine, check the web site, http://www.isejingu.or.jp/shosai/english/index.htm . (Saori)
2012-01-16
How was your weekend? My cold and the pain around nose are finally almost gone, so I went out on Saturday and Sunday. I’ll have a wedding on Feb. 11th, and I am getting busier these days… I should be careful not to catch a cold again! (Risa)
2012-01-13
I kept talking about the weather here so I talk about something else today…the story goes back to 4 days ago, but 9th of January is the day for cerebrating to be adults. It’s called Seizin shiki. 20-years-old guys and girls dress up for the day and gather at your hometown. Girls wear special kimono, called Furisode, therefore you can get more chance to see the traditional clothes everywhere. Last year, we lost many people from the earthquick. That’s why the cerebration was little different from usual. We started with praying for people and appreciating for our lives. The day was more deep feeling day. (Saori)
2012-01-12
The national university entrance examination will be held this weekend, so the test takers are making their final preparation for the exam now. There is a shrine called [Kitano Tenmangu], where Sugawara Michizane, the God of learning, is enshrined, in Kyoto Nishijin area, and lots of students and their parents visit the shrine during the entrance exam season every year. The shrine is also famous for Japanese cherry blossoms, so if you are interested, why don’t you visit there? Here is the details; http://kitanotenmangu.or.jp/english/ (Risa)
2012-01-11
It is colder in Kyoto today. From the last night weather forecast, it is snowing. It hasn’t started snowing yet here, but it starts to get colder and cloudier. Many people recommend cheery blossom’s season to visit Kyoto, but winter can be a good season to visit. The temples covered by snow are one of the best shot! A problem is you need luck to see the temple with snow……. It doesn’t snow that much like before because of global warming (Saori)
2012-01-10
I was so sick and experienced racking pain in my head and cheekbone and behind my eyes on Friday night…and, I went to a clinic on Saturday. I don’t know which clinic I should go, so I consulted my doctor and was told to go to see the ENT doctor. According to him, I have inflammation of the sinus due to a bad cold I caught at the end of last year… I never experienced the severe pain before, so the first 2 days were like a real disaster… I think it’s recovering a little by little, but I am going to see the doctor again after work tonight. The clinic will close at 6:30pm, so I have to hurry! (Risa)
2012-01-06
It was very cold in this couple of days. In some part of Kyoto, it even snowed. Compare to last couple of days, it’s warmer and nice sunny day today, but it’s still cold here. I hear you feel winter in Japan colder even you are from up north, because of humidity in Japan. I’m easier to feel cold so I’ve never felt so. How do you feel cold in Japan? (Saori)
2012-01-05
Happy New Year! Our office was closed from Dec. 30th to Jan. 3rd, but I was sick in bed for the first half of the holiday… The cold this winter is very sticky, and it takes ages to recover fully… I’m still having a runny nose and coughing especially at night. You should take the precaution of gargling a lot to prevent a cold, but I heard gargling isn’t so common in foreign countries… Is that true? (Risa)
2012-01-04
I’m Saori, a new member of this company. Nice to meet you, everybody. It was my very first day, but I enjoyed the day. For many Japanese, today is also the first day of work from new year’s vacation. I don’t know how many people is exciting to go back to work though. I wish everybody had a good day as well. (Saori)
2011-12-29
Today is the last working day this year and we will meet you again on Jan. 4th next year. If you send us reservation forms or inquiry mails during the holiday, we will get back to you upon our return. We hope you will have a prosperous New Year! (Risa)
2011-12-28
2 more days at work this year. How was this year for you? For me, bad things happened in quick succession in December… I caught a cold twice in a month (I am still suffering from it), I was stressed out from the wedding preparations, and I broke a vase when I went to my aunt’s gallery last weekend… What else? I think there are more, but I can’t remember as there are too many! I hope the coming year will be a happy one for all of us! (Risa)
2011-12-26
How was your Christmas? It’s been very cold here in Kyoto as the weather reporter said…and, we had the first snow of this season even in the downtown during the weekend. I hope you had a nice Christmas, but I had a lousy one… I caught a bad cold and was sick in bed half of the weekend. I am still sick, so I will have an early night tonight… (Risa)
2011-12-22
I was surprised and shocked to see the weather forecast for the weekend… Snow! Snow! Snow! Tomorrow is a public holiday here, so we have a 3-day weekend this week, but it’ll be freezing cold and might snow… I hope the snowfall won’t cause traffic chaos during the weekend! It’s a bit early, but Merry Christmas to you all! (Risa)
2011-12-20
I was talking with one of my co-workers today and realized there are only 10 day left until the end of 2011!!! I don’t know why, but I feel time has passed more quickly than usual this year. I can’t believe Christmas is coming up soon. Have you finished your shopping & wrapping? I know a friend of mine is rushing around in New Zealand, but I hope you guys are not! (Risa)
2011-12-19
How was your weekend? I caught a cold and was sick on Saturday, but I took a baking lesson and made [Frankfurter Kranz] yesterday. The taste was very nice, but there are lots of things you have to do during the process…so, I don’t know if I’ll make it again at home…maybe I will buy one… Our baking teacher is going to Germany indefinitely next year, so we only have 2 more lessons left. I forgot what we will make next month, but I am looking forward to it. (Risa)
2011-12-16
It’s very cold today and it might snow even in Kyoto tonight… If you are planning to go to Arashima Hanatouro this weekend, be sure to wear very warm clothes not to catch a cold..
The Kanji of the year 2011 was announced at Kiyomizu Temple on Monday. It is chosen by the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society through a national ballot and the character with the most votes is selected to represent the events of the year. This year’s Kanji was [KIZUNA] (bonds in English). After national disasters such as Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, big typhoons, and the flood in Thailand, etc., people across Japan have rediscovered the importance of their bonds with family and friends. Do you agree? Do you have the other Kanji in mind? (Risa)
2011-12-15
My husband and I felt like eating Italian food (especially pizza) last night, so we called our favorite restaurant, but, the whole restaurant was reserved…, so we went to a Thai restaurant near my office instead. We enjoyed our meal very much, but we deiced to go to the pizza restaurant again soon (I think it’ll be next year though…) (Risa)
2011-12-14
My uncle and aunt went to Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro 2011 last Saturday. The waterfront, bamboo forest and historical cultural assets of the Saga Arashiyama area are illuminated by lights beautifully, and lots of people visit the event from all over Japan every year. It started on Dec. 9th and will last until Dec. 18th. If you are interested, dress warm and go there! If you can, I recommend you to go there on weekdays. (Risa)
2011-12-13
I could finally upload the pictures today…Here are the dinner photos at [KYO SEIKA] last week.
Roast pork belly.
Sashimi (flounder) salad. It’s a popular dish among the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Singapore, etc., and they eat the dish at New Year.
Chinese style steamed egg with crab sauce. I think it was my favorite.
Steamed Chicken with very spicy sauce. It was really hot!
Sweet-and-sour foie gras. It was very different.
Duck meat ball soup with various mushrooms.
Lobster with chili sauce. It was a bit hard to eat the unshelled lobster, but the taste was good.
Stewed beef with Kyoto vegetable. The beef was so tender.
Spinach noodle. It was a very soft and tender taste.
Almond jelly. It was simple but very delicious.
Chinese dessert.
Chinese tea with many kinds of fruit like strawberries, kiwis, apples, and blueberries, etc. Very cute, isn’t it?
Chinese food is sometimes too heavy for me, but the dishes served at this restaurant weren’t oily at all…and, I could eat them all. If I have a chance, I would love to go there again. (Risa)
2011-12-12
I brought my camera and downloaded the photos…but, I can’t upload them on the website… so, I will try again tomorrow.
One of my best friends came to my place yesterday and planned our year-end party on Dec. 30th. We booked a table at a French restaurant [NAGATAKE] in Shijo area. It’s very popular, so it was the first time for us to get a table after we tried a few times before. I will let you know how it was next year! (Risa)
2011-12-09
My uncle and aunt took us to a nice Chinese restaurant [Kyo Seika] last night. It’s only 3 years old (the owner had his restaurant in Shizuoka before and moved to Kyoto in 2008), but it’s popular and very hard to make a reservation now. I always wanted to go there, so I was glad they gave us the opportunity last night. I took pictures, but I forgot to bring my camera today…so, I will post them on Monday, I promise! (Risa)
2011-12-07
It’s getting colder these days, and I see quite a few cold sufferers around me. I went to the hospital to receive influenza vaccine yesterday. I caught a bad cold last winter, so I hope I won’t get anything this winter! (Risa)
2011-12-05
How was your weekend? I decided to have a restful month this month, so I had a relaxing weekend… I went for lunch and coffee with my friend on Saturday afternoon (we found a nice café/restaurant [CAVA] in Kitayama area!) and my friend visited me for coffee yesterday. I didn’t go a single step out of my house yesterday…It was very unusual for me! (Risa)
2011-12-01
Kobe Luminarie which is a light festival held in Kobe every December will start today and last until Dec. 12th. The festival started in 1995 to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year, and it is the 17th anniversary this year. Major streets in the Sannomiya area are closed to auto traffic during the event (a few hours each evening) to allow pedestrians to fill the streets and enjoy the lights. If you are interested, here is the information (Japanese only though); http://www.kobe-luminarie.jp/ (Risa)
