Some やたい (yatai) food stalls you can always find at Japanese festivals:
Jagabata じゃがバター Steamed potato with butter
Yaki ikaやきいか Grilled squid
Okonomiyaki おこのみやきJapanese style pan-fried “pizza” with ingredients such as cabbage, pork, shrimp, octopus, squid (okonomi means “what you like” and yaki means “grilled”)
Takoyaki たこやきPan-fried balls with octopus pieces and veggies inside, usually topped with sauce, shaved bonito flakes and Japanese mayonnaise
Holding あんずあめ anzuame (apricot candy)
Jagabata じゃがバター Steamed potato with butter
Yaki ikaやきいか Grilled squid
Okonomiyaki おこのみやきJapanese style pan-fried “pizza” with ingredients such as cabbage, pork, shrimp, octopus, squid (okonomi means “what you like” and yaki means “grilled”)
Choco Banana チョコバナナChocolate covered banana
Kakigori かきごり Shaved ice with fruit-flavored syrup (and sometimes condensed milk)
Yakidango やきだんご Grilled sweet, sticky rice (mochi) balls on a stick
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Food, Keiji's Favorites.
It’s time for mizu asobi- playing in the water. The parks all over Tokyo have so many kinds of water fountains for kids to splash around in. This park is about 5 minutes away from Heiwajima station.
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Keiji's Favorites.
I’ve noticed that dragonflies, most frequently called 蜻蛉 tonbo in Japanese, are quite prominent in Japanese art. Dragonflies are often found as prints on fabrics used for kimono, yuukata and other traditional Japanese clothing and are often mentioned in haiku poems. In fact, Keiji has a jinbei with tonbo on it. There is a popular Japanese children’s song, called Aka tonbo, and the tune somehow always gets in my head when I hear the word tonbo.
I saw a dragonfly land on a post while we were at Nezu Shrine. It made me wonder more about the history of the dragonfly in Japan.
After a bit of internet surfing I found out just a little a bit about dragonflies. Japanese farmers used to believe that the dragonfly was the spirit of the rice plant and that they represented a good rice harvest. And Japanese warriors believed that dragonflies symbolize strength and that they bring good luck in battle. About 1600 years ago, the dragonfly was the symbol of a great Japanese warrior clan. In ancient mythology, Japan was once known as Akitsushimu, meaning “Island of the Dragonfly”. In Japan, dragonflies have become symbols of victory, courage, strength since they always fly darting forward. I’m still interested in finding more about this so anyone feel free to share some info about the dragonfly.
Here are the lyrics of the song, Aka tonbo in English:
Dragonflies as red as sunset
Back when I was young
In twilight skies, there on her back I'd ride
When the day was done
Mountain fields in late November
Long ago it seems
Mulberry trees and treasures we would gather
Was it only just a dream?
Just fifteen she went away one day
Married then so young
Like a sister lost, I loved and missed her
Letters never seemed to come
Dragonflies as red as sunset
Back when I was young
Now in my eyes, when I see dragonflies
Tears are always sure to come
Posted in: Japanese traditions.
I read an interesting article/interview in the NY times today about the importance of using leisure time wisely. It says the field of leisure studies is a big area of academic study. Leisure has many different definitions — some involving time, some relating to an activity being done, some relating to state of mind. The interviewee says I am most at leisure when I feel free, present and integrated. I always believed it’s important even for mothers to have some time to themselves even if only 15 minutes a day. It also made me think that planning my own leisure time is just as important as my planning the day’s schedule. I never really plan for short moments of leisure time and often I realize too late that I didn’t get to that time the way I would’ve really wanted. And just like the article says: Too often, leisure time that is not used in a satisfying way turns into idle time, or is used to do a single thing to excess…..We think we should just go with the flow, but too often we end up feeling stressed, overwhelmed and unfulfilled.
Here are more excerpts from the article:
Waking up every day is a new transition. Every minute is a transition. Taking a new job, retiring, going to school, finishing school, relocating, recovering from an illness, bereavement, having a new baby are just some of the transitions we encounter and there is an unknown associated with them. A satisfying leisure life can help an individual take control of part of that unknown. It also gives the opportunity for choice, which is often limited in other aspects of our lives, like during our work.
Improving our relationship with leisure can also reduce job stress, improve work-related skills, increase tolerance and understanding and enhance decision-making.
We need to plan for leisure — perhaps by doing one small thing every day, identifying long- and short-term leisure goals, putting enjoyable activities on the calendar — like we do other aspects of life. But before people start moving up leisure on the priority list, they need to appreciate and recognize the value and benefits of leisure, even when they have constraints (that may be internal or external). We all have obligations and other constraints that inhibit us from engaging in leisure that range from guilt to time or financial constraints. Yet the personal benefits and collective benefits short term and long term are worthwhile.
Check out the entire article Why Leisure Matters in a Busy World
Posted in: Daily Life.
I think everyone in Japan looks forward to sakura time. The news will have forecasts tracking when the blooms will appear in each area. We had our little hanami party at Ueno Kouen, Yoyogi Kouen, and Shinjuku Gyoen this year. Each park has such different atmospheres and their own character. But of the three parks I think Shinjuku Gyoen has the most picturesque spots. Ueno Kouen is where I can really imagine sakura time back in the Edo days. And Yoyogi Kouen is the party park. But wherever you end up at, hanami is always a good time.
Posted in: Events, Places.
There’s a place in Jiyugaoka called Sweets Forest. It’s like a cute little food court decorated as forest with fake trees, but there are only dessert stalls. We tried this lovely concoction of strawberry ice cream similar to Cold Stone Creamery on top of a fresh mini waffle from Mixn Mixream. I wish I had one right now.
Posted in: Food, Places.
Ueno Kouen
The ILCL is a nice spot to take the kids on a rainy day or just to rest while in Ueno Park. The recently renovated library has a decent selection of books in English and some other languages. There’s also a reasonably priced cafe with outdoor seating, good for lunch or a snack.
Posted in: Places.
The trio are all mothers now. We’ve been friends since the 4th grade and have gone through
a lot together. We all live far away from each other but we finally had a little reunion in NYC. Hopefully we can do it more often.
It was their first meeting but it didn’t take long for Ethan and Keiji to get acquainted with each other. Don’t they look rather suspicious in this photo?
Here is Myles at 1 week old! He made a rather surprise early appearance. But look how alert he is already.
Posted in: Family and Friends, Travel.
Bobby and Steve
We looked after these two little guys while in New York. To this day when Arisa sees a picture of a cat or any cat walking by, she calls it Steve or Bobby.
Posted in: Arisa's Favorites, Family and Friends, Keiji's Favorites, Travel.
Jeff, Melinda and 2-day old, Myles
Posted in: Family and Friends, Travel.