Japan
Dining Japan Style
Dining at the tiny counter at Kappo Sakamoto in the Gion district of Kyoto, I glance up at our chef, Ryuta Sakamoto, who’s quietly preparing our next course. Sake in hand, I decide to break with etiquette and ask if he knows a good place to buy a bento box. Later, I discover that Hishiiwa opened in 1830 to supply food to the teahouses in Gion and that by “good”, he means “seriously good”. The Japanese are so understated in their recommendations. Never let their lack of hyperbole put you off. A few days later in Tokyo, when I ask the innovative chef Yoshiaki Takazawa for his favourite restaurant in Japan, he mentions Le Musée in Hokkaido and describes its cooking as modern. I do a bit of online research and discover that, along with Takazawa, Le Musée is at the cutting edge of a new style of Japanese cooking where a traditional, minimal approach is fused with innovative ways of cooking to express each seasonal ingredient. I immediately want to go and eat there.
At the Kaboku Tearoom in the Ippodo Tea Shop, the staff show you how to make different types of green tea and serve them with seasonal Japanese confectionary.
The restaurant chef, Ryuta Sakamoto
He pauses, considering the problems my lack of Japanese might create: “We always pre-order our bento boxes from Hishiiwa. They’re very traditional, but always good.”
Japan is a country that rewards gentle perseverance and a willingness to try anything. Over the years, I’ve been introduced to some wonderful Japanese chefs, all of whose restaurants are worth a visit in their own right.
It has a very light, smooth flavour, which I prefer. You can really taste the difference.
Sports
Martials Arts to Sumo are the tradition sports
Japan Style
Traditional martial arts, such as judo, kendo, karate-do, and aikido, thrive in modern Japan thanks to the devotion of those who practice them. In judo, which literally means “the gentle way,� the key to overcoming an opponent lies in taking advantage of their strength. Now popular all over the world, judo has firmly established itself as an official Olympic event since its first inclusion in the Games in 1964. Following in the footsteps of judo, kendo (Japanese fencing) has also succeeded in attracting a loyal overseas following in recent years. Kendo competitors wear armor-like protective gear and use bamboo swords to attack and defend. Karate-do came to Japan from China through the Ryukyu Kingdom (present-day Okinawa). Karate-do competitors do not wear any kind of protection and fight using only their hands and feet.
Children practicing judo, which has been an Olympic sport since the 1964 Tokyo Games (Kodokan)
Sumo, Japan’s national sport, has a history spanning more than 1,000 years. As it used to be held as a way of giving thanks for harvests, sumo still involves many rituals Japanese samurai practicing kendo, Japanese fencing using bamboo swords (Tokyo Metropolitan Government)
Many different sports are played in Japan. Traditional martial arts like judo and kendo are popular, as are sports imported from overseas, such as baseball and soccer (football).
Shop
Unique items found only in Japan can become a perfect gift to take home.
Japn Style
Those who like anime and manga surely know what the most famous anime goods store in Japan is, right? Animate boasts the biggest anime shops in Japan. This time, we visited Animate’s biggest location, Animate Ikebukuro. The first thing we thought when we entered Animate Ikebukuro was, “Wow, this store is spacious!” Those who have been to an Animate in Japan know, but for those who don’t, the buildings are made with the size of Japanese people in mind, and they are crowded no matter what day it is. So for foreigners who are built bigger than Japanese people, they may be a bit hard to walk through. Though, being that this is the main store of Animate, it’s so spacious that even those with a larger build can skip down the halls with ease. However, be cautious that Animate is a store for adults, and because it’s always packed with customers, frolicking too much is a definite no-no. Let’s take a look at what each floor of this anime and manga goods paradise has to offer. 1F: Magazines, Food, New Arrivals The first floor sells anime and comic magazines, food, and products that have just arrived. The anime magazines are a nice point, but what is really worth mentioning is the food. For sale were soda-flavored candy themed after the anime Sword Art Online called “Soda Art Online,” Evangelion-themed cookies, drinking water themed after Super Sonico, and more.
2F, 3F, 4F: Comics, Light Novels, Doujinshi, Drawing Tools In addition to comics and light novels that are the basis for many anime, a huge number of both new works and
Mitsuwa Marketplace, and it included an abundance of Japanese shops, a Food court (cash only) and a supermarket with Japanese goods. Fun stop on our trip. The Gundam statue is huge and a great photo op. The surrounding area is a large park that hosts concerts and festivals. Behind the statue is a mall with a good shopping selections.
5F: Trading Cards, Figures, Collectibles, Small Toys This floor features a large variety of figures and dolls. In addition to figures, unexpectedly enough, bottles of alcohol with popular anime characters on the labels are also for sale on this floor.
For more information go online and check our page.
SkyTree of Tokyo
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/ e3064.html
The Tokyo Skytree is a new television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo. It is the centerpiece of the Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, not far away from Asakusa.