Not a day goes by in Tokyo that I do not observe something or someone that brings a smile to my face. This photograph of the front page of last Sunday’s Japan Times is one example. It introduces a story about the interest of Japanese people in Guinness World Records and attempting to set one or break an existing record ….. in this instance, the Most Baked Beans Eaten With Chopsticks in One Minute!
To read the complete story, click here: Breaking World Records in Japan
A small local Tenjin shrine tucked on a pedestrian walkway between a railway and apartment complex in the Umejimi neighborhood. Tenjin is the name of the deified spirit of the famous ninth century scholar Michizane Sugawara (845-903) and worshiped as the god of learning. The Umejimi Tenjin, and many others like it throughout Japan, is visited by children and their parents to pray for passing grades in exams and inscribe ema (small wooden plaques) with petitions for exam success and entry to the university of their choice.
The picturesque Yushima Tenjin shrine, Tokyo’s most famous shrine of scholars, is located near Ueno Park.
Omotesando Avenue is a long tree-lined boulevard in Tokyo’s fashionable Aoyama district. It is a haute couture brand shoppers dream. I lived in Aoyama in 2001-2 near here and spent many hours strolling the avenue. While shopping was beyond my budget, it was wonderful to window shop, “people watch” and marvel at the cutting edge architecture. It also offers many places to relax over good food and drink.
I recently met a new friend for lunch in Omotesando at Maisen, one of the most well known Tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurants in Japan, and then took a long walk up and down the avenue. The trip sparked many memories of my earlier time living in Tokyo.
During the festive winter holiday season, the avenue is very creatively illuminated and Keiko and I will soon return together one evening to enjoy the experience.
Although it is far from the American Black Friday shopping experience, Japanese shoppers respond to discounts and the malls and other shopping districts were very busy this weekend. I was startled at first when I realized we were in Japan listening to “Here Comes Santa Claus” and other American Christmas classics –– all in English –– as we did our weekly food shopping! Home. sweet home.
I love the traditional Japanese diet and one of my favorite meals is ramen noodle soup. It comes close to being the perfect meal! It’s not only delicious; it’s a wonderful dining experience too.
From being loudly welcomed and greeted by the aromatic smell of pork and garlic when entering a ramen shop to being seated at the counter where you can be mesmerized by the cook’s tossing of noodles to enjoying your meal accompanied by a cacophony of clanking soup bowls and impressively loud slurping, it is a unique dining experience.
I am working on my sluuuurping (“juru-juru”) skills!
CoCoICHIBANYA (“CoCoIchi” to fans) is a popular Tokyo chain restaurant specializing in Japanese-style curry rice where you can customize your meal by the size of the rice portion, spice level, and nearly 40 optional toppings.
Keiko and I had lunch at our local curry joint yesterday. I had mine with fried oysters, Keiko with pork cutlet. Offering counter service, the curry is fabulous, the service fast, and the price is right (cheap). They also deliver.
We have been informed that our container shipment of personal goods has arrived in Yokohama Japan weeks ahead of the estimated arrival date. Assuming normal customs clearance formalities, a delivery during the week of December 2-6 is anticipated. We prefer Friday the 6th to have a 3-day weekend to get everything unpacked and organized, no small undertaking given the extensive nature of the packing entailed.
It will be wonderful to be settled in the condo for the New Year.
That’s the good news.
It remains to be seen if everything will comfortably fit into our condo? The unpacking and organizing process will be like solving a life-size jigsaw puzzle!
Since we shipped little furniture and have purchased needed items in Japan, the arriving bookcases and small pieces will fit nicely in the condo. We are trying not to crowd the living area and tatami room.
Our bedroom has ample space for daily seasonal clothing. It will also accommodate a small desk. The question of sufficient storage space for other clothing and shoes, books, art/decorative items, a variety of other “stuff” and cooking/dining items is however one primary concern. The organization of the kitchen in particular will be a major challenge.
Another concern is space for my RC models and hobby tools that made the journey. Despite my successful sale or gifting of a large portion of the collection, it will require space for storage and a small work area.
Nonetheless, I am confident that our second bedroom is large enough to hold the complete 20′ container shipment with some room to spare. This will allow us to use it to store and stage everything without disrupting the other areas of the condo as we unpack and decide how to proceed.
Toma can’t wait for his missing toys to be unpacked!
I post this as Thanksgiving nears and I prepare to celebrate my second Thanksgiving in Japan. It is a different experience.
I have many fond memories of family Thanksgiving celebrations. Food, drink and song! For as long as I can remember as kid through adulthood, It was for me always a wonderful family time.
I still relive the year I took my four daughters to New York City for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I was working for ABC and had arranged for us to stay in the Plaza Hotel penthouse suite (of Eloise fame) –– it was leased by ABC –– the night before the parade. We watched the balloons being prepared in Central Park and the next morning, courtesy of NBC friends, had front row seats for the parade. In my mind, a proud father’s best Thanksgiving memory ever!
I have many reasons to be thankful; grateful for so many people who have enriched my life with their love, friendship, and support. For now, I am healthy and happy; life is good and I am living a dream-like adventure in Japan.
However, sentiments about family memories and giving thanks aside, Thanksgiving is a unique American holiday built on a fictional notion of Native Americans and the Pilgrims dining together in peace where the central character is a turkey supported by a pumpkin. For most Americans the holiday is really about food (and football).
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Japan and turkey is not available in food markets. Therefore, Keiko and I will quietly dine with a food substitute that you also find on Japanese tables on Christmas –– Kentucky Fried Chicken!
That is not a joke. As noted in an earlier post, the Japanese do celebrate Christmas in their unique way. On my first Christmas in Japan some years ago I was surprised to see a box of KFC on the table along with sushi and many other Japanese dishes.
When I asked about it, thinking it may have been purchased for me, I was told “no; it is in place of customary American turkey.” Many Japanese families actually place orders with KFC to insure its available for their Christmas holiday dinner table.
Keiko will need to work and I, without the distraction of NFL football, plan to spend Thanksgiving with a visit to a temple or shrine to reflect on my good fortune. I will miss watching the Macy’s parade but will prepare to hunt for Black Friday sales at the local shopping mall.
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
(Speaking of Christmas, stay tuned. We are having the Fujikawa clan for a holiday celebration on December 22 and I will prepare my traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes.)
To learn more about KFC as a Japanese Christmas tradition, click here: How KFC made Christmas all about fried chicken — in Japan