2011 was a rough year on us, in multiple ways. As we have been celebrating Japanese New Years traditions, Angela has been teaching about Resolutions to her English students. The Wanderinghokies resolutions include updating this blog more regularly, making a concerted effort at learning the Japanese language (at a rudimentary level), and to travel internationally more. We have a slightly bigger budget this year and plan on wandering throughout Asia when we have some time off. If coming to visit this year please let us know when, as we are trying to book ourselves solid!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
New Years Resolutions
2011 was a rough year on us, in multiple ways. As we have been celebrating Japanese New Years traditions, Angela has been teaching about Resolutions to her English students. The Wanderinghokies resolutions include updating this blog more regularly, making a concerted effort at learning the Japanese language (at a rudimentary level), and to travel internationally more. We have a slightly bigger budget this year and plan on wandering throughout Asia when we have some time off. If coming to visit this year please let us know when, as we are trying to book ourselves solid!
Monday, January 9, 2012
Okonomiyaki お好み焼き
Most people view pancakes as breakfast food, though IHOP and Ron Swanson might disagree. Since moving to Japan, we have eaten many random foods we would have never considered as palatable in the states. I can say, without a doubt, that we have definitely expanded our food horizons (and our definition of edible).
It seems like everywhere you turn in Japan, there are large food advertisements, enticing you and your taste buds to try something new. It’s great, but we still don't always know what we are eating. Our recent food adventures have taken us to Okonomiyaki お好み焼き, which we have seen defined on many menus as “Japanese Pancake.” I’m not sure I would call it a pancake, although it is kind of flat and in the shape of a circle. Perhaps a thin, circular, grilled casserole would make for a more accurate description.
I’ll be honest….it looks kind of horrible. In fact, it looks kind of disgusting the first time you see it, so we have always avoided these okonomiyaki restaurants. This all changed last fall while we were in Kyoto. I think we were really just tired of walking, but whatever the reason, we stumbled into an okonomiyaki restaurant. What a pleasant surprise! It turns out we picked a good place to start eating okonmiyaki, as it originated in nearby Osaka. Though it is prepared differently in various regions of the country, the notion of the “pancake” remains the same. Basically there is some flour batter and you can add whatever you want to the dish!
We chose mochi, shrimp, and beef, and watched as cabbage and noodles were added as well. Some restaurants allow you make your own on a grill in the middle of the table, but we like paying other people to make our food. In any case we tried a new food that is delicious, and in true Japanese style, we properly drizzled our meal with a copious amount of mayonnaise!
It seems like everywhere you turn in Japan, there are large food advertisements, enticing you and your taste buds to try something new. It’s great, but we still don't always know what we are eating. Our recent food adventures have taken us to Okonomiyaki お好み焼き, which we have seen defined on many menus as “Japanese Pancake.” I’m not sure I would call it a pancake, although it is kind of flat and in the shape of a circle. Perhaps a thin, circular, grilled casserole would make for a more accurate description.
I’ll be honest….it looks kind of horrible. In fact, it looks kind of disgusting the first time you see it, so we have always avoided these okonomiyaki restaurants. This all changed last fall while we were in Kyoto. I think we were really just tired of walking, but whatever the reason, we stumbled into an okonomiyaki restaurant. What a pleasant surprise! It turns out we picked a good place to start eating okonmiyaki, as it originated in nearby Osaka. Though it is prepared differently in various regions of the country, the notion of the “pancake” remains the same. Basically there is some flour batter and you can add whatever you want to the dish!
We chose mochi, shrimp, and beef, and watched as cabbage and noodles were added as well. Some restaurants allow you make your own on a grill in the middle of the table, but we like paying other people to make our food. In any case we tried a new food that is delicious, and in true Japanese style, we properly drizzled our meal with a copious amount of mayonnaise!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A Walk in the Neighborhood
Last night we went for a walk and took some pictures of a few New Year’s decorations in our neighborhood. Enjoy a tiny taste of our town as it celebrates the coming of 2012.
A local shrine decorated.
The fire stations shimekazari 標飾り.
A local restaurant celebrates extravagantly.
Our New Year’s shimekazari!
A local shrine decorated.
The fire stations shimekazari 標飾り.
A local restaurant celebrates extravagantly.
Our New Year’s shimekazari!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Shishimai 獅子舞い
Last week, one of my students asked me if Shishimai visited us last year. I didn't know what that was, so he explained it to me. Shishimai is the Japanese Lion dance, where a Red Lion dances to bring good luck in the New Year. And I believe to ward off bad spirits and to bring a blessing to your house. It is an Asian tradition, and varieties of the Lion dance exist in China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. They are pretty different in each country (based on my extensive wikipedia research). In our region of Japan, one person dresses as the Red Lion, but in other countries sometimes it is 2, 3, or 4 people. Last year, we had just moved into our house, but I remembered hearing the Japanese bamboo flute and drums. We were too busy moving in to really investigate further, and figured it was something happening at our local shrine. Apparently, it was Shishimai!
This year, I am excited to say, we were visited by Shishimai! We thought we would not receive the visit, as Jan. 1st came and went. However, on Jan. 2nd our doorbell rang and the Red Lion, along with a group of five or six musicians were at our door. James came running into the bedroom, yelled "Shishimai is here," and I think I woke up faster than I ever have! I ran down stairs just in time. We tried to come outside, but they motioned us to go back in and then asked if they could come in. Before we knew it we had a red lion dancing in our house to bring in the New Year. AJ was not entertained and was a bit freaked out. It was awesome. Then someone with a mask came in and danced, but I'm not sure what that was. After it was over, we thanked them, and then they invited us outside to take some pictures. When we were outside, the Lion was trying to bite AJ, which I think means good luck. I wish I had been more awake, but it was still a great way to start the year!
This year, I am excited to say, we were visited by Shishimai! We thought we would not receive the visit, as Jan. 1st came and went. However, on Jan. 2nd our doorbell rang and the Red Lion, along with a group of five or six musicians were at our door. James came running into the bedroom, yelled "Shishimai is here," and I think I woke up faster than I ever have! I ran down stairs just in time. We tried to come outside, but they motioned us to go back in and then asked if they could come in. Before we knew it we had a red lion dancing in our house to bring in the New Year. AJ was not entertained and was a bit freaked out. It was awesome. Then someone with a mask came in and danced, but I'm not sure what that was. After it was over, we thanked them, and then they invited us outside to take some pictures. When we were outside, the Lion was trying to bite AJ, which I think means good luck. I wish I had been more awake, but it was still a great way to start the year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)