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Japanese Culture | Hot Spots | Products

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Contents September 2017 No.31

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It’s getting g hot at this restaurantt

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Feature: A Autumn foliage f li

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Restaurant: Drumming up a good time

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Ingredient: Chikuwa

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Hot Spot: Pablo cheese tarts have arrived

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Travel: Nagoya

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Local Event: Annex Photo anniversary

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Only in Japan: Joyful themed trains

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Beauty: Tokyo Beauty Studio

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Book: Inheritance from Mother

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Featured Products: Lunch box accessories

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:[HɈ 7PJR 9LZ[H\YHU[! Millie Creperie

EDITOR’S NOTE

Nina Hoeschele

Greet the changing seasons No matter whether you mourn the loss of hot weather or find the cooler temperatures to be a relief, it’s hard to argue that autumn is a beautiful season. And in Japan, the autumn spectacle is particularly colourful. This month we’re featuring some of Japan’s most beautiful places to view the autumn leaves. Take a look and let nature inspire you!

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter facebook.com/bentoboxmag

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Cover photos: ©JNTO Editors Nina Hoeschele, Amanda Plyley, Yumi Nishio Editorial coordinators Nina Hoeschele, Yumi Nishio Writers Amanda Plyley, Amanda Taylor, Ariel Litteljohn, M Crowson, Nicholas Jones, Sarah Dickson, Sylvester Pilgrim Designers Chieko Watanabe, Midori Yamamoto Photographer Kazu Maruyama Advertisement & marketing Kazu Maruyama Publisher Kazu Maruyama

Bento Box Communication Inc. | 3003 Danforth Ave. PO Box 93628, Toronto M4C 5R4 Phone: 416-964-0981 | www.bentoboxmag.ca | Email: info@bentoboxmag.ca

ISSN 2368-9153

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AUTUMN FOLIAGE

Feature

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Japan’s famous scenery reaches breathtaking levels as the leaves change in autumn.

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Hot Spot | Don Don Izakaya

By Amanda Plyley

Drumming up a good time More than your average izakaya: this established downtown hot spot blends east and west to create the perfect setting for pints with peers.

Stir-Fried Seafood Noodle A new twist on tradition! With Ă…H]V\YM\S UVVKSLZ Z[PY MYPLK seafood, garlic, seaweed and IVUP[V Ă…HRLZ [OPZ PZ yakisoba at the next level.

Ginger Fried Chicken Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, mouth-watering karaage is a fan favourite that pairs nicely with warm sake or cold beer.

Hungry for more? Let’s dig in!

Stepping into the second-floor space of Don Don Izakaya—just one block west of Yonge-Dundas Square—kicks off a feast for the senses. As you part the noren (traditional Japanese fabric that acts as a curtain to mark entrances or divide rooms) and enter the dimly lit restaurant and bar, you’ll be met with hearty greetings from staff amidst the clinking of glasses and the deep rumble of the massive drum that sounds as you join a dining room full of patrons. Your mouth will water at the smell of the fusion concoctions being cooked up in the open kitchen, and you might even feel the heat of the flames as you’re led to your table. No doubt about it: there’s a tangible excitement in the

air before you’ve even sat down.

Don Don Izakaya opened over five years ago and has been demanding “more” ever since—literally. It takes its name from the Japanese phrase don don (meaning “more of”) and represents everything an izakaya should be about: more food, more drinks, more people and more fun! Expect a lively atmosphere perfect for groups of friends celebrating special occasions or just out for a night on the town. Japanese aspects like private tatami rooms, imported seafood and decorative sake barrels are complemented

by Western nods such as hip hop over the speakers and local sports on TV. Visit for a bite to eat and a few drinks—if you’re lucky, you may even get to bang the drum.

Smoky Hay Sashimi

DONDON Special Black Croquette

It’s getting hot in here! Fresh sashimi is lightly seared on a bed of fiery hay while flames rise to the beat of the drum.

Breadcrumbs, shrimp and mayonnaise are all that is needed to produce this uncomplicated yet intriguing menu item known for capturing attention and bringing diners back for more.

Sake Bomb

Polar Beer

Sake Bombs are an action-packed way to enjoy your two favourite drinks at the same time: beer and sake. .L[ Z[HY[LK I` KY\TTPUN `V\Y ÄZ[Z VU [OL [HISL \U[PS the chopsticks begin to move and your sake cup falls into the beer glass below. KAPOW. Taste explosion!

That’s not a typo! Ice-cold Sapporo Beer is topped with arctic-temperature beer slush to create a pint with purpose: it’ll keep itself cool until you get to the bottom.

Don Don Izakaya 130 Dundas St. W., Toronto 416-492-5292 | dondonizakaya.com OPEN: Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30 am-4 pm Dinner Sun-Thurs 5 pm-12 am F r i-S a t 5 pm-1 am

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Ingredient | Chikuwa

By Amanda Plyley

ă Šă §ă‚“ă Ťă ŻćŹ ă ‹ă ›ă Şă „ç´ ć??。 é­šă Žć—¨ĺ‘łă Œă Žă‚…ă Łă ¨čŠ°ă žă Łă &#x;ă Ąă ?ă‚?。

CHIKUWA 獚蟪

ingredients and wrapped around a metal stick or, more traditionally, a bamboo branch. The loaded skewer is then steamed or broiled before the stick is removed and the resulting long, hollow log is sliced into small rings to be cooled in the fridge or added to hot soups.

ă€?ă Ąă ?ă‚?】

Totally tubular You can stop searching for the perfect protein-packed snack— [OPZ ÄZO` 1HWHULZL PUNYLKPLU[ OHZ NV[ `V\ JV]LYLK When the inevitable mid-afternoon snack craving hits and your stomach rumbles like thunder rolling in, what do you typically reach for? Maybe it’s an apple or a banana, a small bag of chips or a slice of leftover pizza.

Perhaps it’s a tall glass of water to quell the hunger pangs ahead of dinner plans. But if there’s one thing you’ve never quite considered grabbing from the fridge, this might be it: a hollow, rubbery, flesh-coloured, tube-shaped food product comprised of fish paste, salt, sugar, starch, natural MSG and egg white.

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Yep, you read that right. We’re talking about chikuwa (literally “bamboo ringâ€?). It’s an inexpensive, convenient and well-liked Japanese ingredient meant for snacking or for simmering in hot broths. Found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores across Japan, chikuwa comes cooked, packaged and ready to eat—which is great, considering it’s fairly labour-intensive [V THRL H[ OVTL >OP[L Ă„ZO HUK [OH[ TLHUZ anything from pollock to eel to mackerel to shark) is ground down to produce surimi Ă„ZO paste) before being mixed with the remaining

:V Q\Z[ ^OH[ PZ [OL HWWLHS VM [OPZ M\UR` ÄZO cake? Well, there are several reasons it’s a fan favourite in Japanese cuisine. Low in fat but comparatively high in protein, chikuwa makes a quick and healthy snack on the go or a great side dish paired with a cold drink at the end of H SVUN KH` -PYT HUK ÅH]V\Y HIZVYILU[ P[Z HU ideal stovetop ingredient because it maintains its composure at high temperatures and takes on surrounding flavours to boot, adding an extra little something to dishes like udon, oden, yakisoba and Japanese curry. And chikuwa is nothing if not versatile: its hollow middle offers up a unique opportunity to get creative in the kitchen. Asparagus and other veggies are popular fillers, but in some sushi restaurants it’s not uncommon to stuff the hollow with cheese and deep-fry the log in tempura batter. Hungry yet?

There’s no shortage of chikuwa variations to taste, so get started if you’re a seafood lover.

Try kawa ZRPU JOPR\^H ^P[O JYPZW` Ă„ZO ZRPU wrapped around the skewers, or ebi chikuwa if shrimp is your preference. Have a go at take (bamboo) chikuwa, which stays on the bamboo stick after being cooked, or add more protein to your diet with tofu chikuwa. In fact, a great WSHJL [V Ă„UK HSS [OL JOPR\^H `V\ JHU OHUKSL PZ Tottori Prefecture. It may be the least populous prefecture in Japan, but Tottori boasts consistently high rates of chikuwa consumption JVTWHYLK [V [OL YLZ[ VM [OL JV\U[Y` 9VSS P[ Z[\Ńœ it or simply cut it and dig in—whichever way you slice it, chikuwa is here to stay.

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Hot Spot | PABLO cheese tarts

By Yumi Nishio

Enjoy Pablo in Toronto!

n e p O ow

Yes, you read it right! It’s here—the popular cheese tart specialty IHRLY` ÄUHSS` VWLULK P[Z KVVYZ [V ;VYVU[VUPHUZ SHZ[ TVU[O

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ablo is arguably the most popular cheese tart shop in Japan. The bakery started in Osaka in 2011 and has 39 outlets across Japan, with both cafĂŠ-style and takeout-only locations around the country.

There are currently nine overseas outlets, located in South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. And now there is one in Canada, too—the chain’s new Bay and Dundas location right here in Toronto.

6U [OL Z[VYLZ ÄYZ[ KH` VM I\ZPULZZ -YPKH` (\gust 18, eager fans lined up outside as early as four hours before opening, waiting to get [OLPY ÄYZ[ IP[L VM [OL WVW\SHY 1HWHULZL KLZZLY[ (The store was also giving out free tarts to [OL ÄYZ[ J\Z[VTLYZ PU JLSLIYH[PVU VM IV[O *HUHKHZ [O IPY[OKH` HUK [OL Z[VYLZ ÄYZ[ day of business—which might have added some fuel to the length of the queue.)

caramelized top layer. To fully enjoy the experience, why not spend some time in the cosy cafĂŠ area inside of the shop? Customers can LUQV` H ZSPJL VM [OL [HY[ ^P[O [OLPY JVŃœLL HUK tea, or sample the sundaes and shaved ice on the menu. Curious patrons also may try slurping up the original cheese tart smoothie!

Toronto city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam attended the opening ceremony, where she congratulated and thanked Masamitsu Sakimoto, founder and CEO of PABLO Japan, for JOVVZPUN ;VYVU[V HZ [OL SVJH[PVU MVY [OLPY Ă„YZ[ Canadian shop. As the councillor noted, Pablo will be a great addition to the City of Toronto, especially as part of the newly established (and still growing) “Little Tokyoâ€? strip.

7HISVÂťZ JOLLZL [HY[Z JVTL PU [OYLL Ă…H]V\YZ! original, matcha and chocolate. The bakery HSZV VŃœLYZ H WYLTP\T JOLLZL [HY[ [OH[ OHZ H 14

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PABLO Canada Dundas Store 114 Dundas St. W., Toronto c WHISVJHUHKH JVT 67,5! +HPS` HTÂś WT

Opening for the School Coordinator !responsible for the Administration requirement)

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Travel | Nagoya

By Sylvester Pilgrim

NAGOYA 尾張名古屋は城でもつ。金の鯱が見下ろす城下町。

Spend the day in Nagoya and you will experience the harmony of old-world charm and modernday splendour.

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Welcome to Nagoya, population 2.24 million and the capital of Aichi Prefecture. Located approximately 2.5 hours by shinkansen (highspeed bullet train) from Tokyo, Nagoya is lively with a vibrant atmosphere. As with numerous places in Japan, the city skilfully combines modern architecture and old-world construction. Among the modern-day features are Oasis 21 and the aquarium, while from yesteryear Nagoya Castle is perhaps the most prominent ancient building in the city.

Oasis 21 is a sunken open-air shopping complex with many restaurants and stores, including a bus terminal, and is located next to the Nagoya TV Tower. The street level has the Field of Green, which is an open-concept space with sectioned lawns. A myriad of trees, shrubs and light posts decorate the

area. On the upper level is the Spaceship Aqua, which is an oval-shaped, frostedglass-bottomed structure overlooking the Field of Green and giving a spectacular view of the area.

A short walk from Oasis 21 will take you to Nagoya Castle. It was built during the Edo period and was founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu to counter attacks from the southwest as well as to secure an important position on the Tokaido Road. The castle is most famous for its two golden shachihoko: mythical beasts which sit atop the main keep and look like crosses between tigers and fish. Each floor of the building showcases both samurai and civilian life in the Edo period. You can also see a mock-up of an ancient street, complete with a bookstore, arms seller and stables.

All photos ©静岡県観光協会

From samurai swords to playful penguins

All sorts of attractions

Hitsumabushi There is more to this local dish than meets the eye and more than one way to enjoy its unique taste.

For those who like marine life, Nagoya Public Aquarium is recommended. This is a great place to watch dolphins, whales and seals swimming underwater. You will be dazzled by a school of sardines performing an aquatic ballet, gliding to and fro in unison and parting as SHYNLY ÄZO WHZZ [OYV\NO ;OLYL PZ HSZV [YHKP[PVUHS entertainment such as the orca training or the dolphin performance. In the penguin exhibit `V\ JHU ZLL [OLZL \UKLY^H[LY Å`LYZ L_LJ\[L precision turns before launching themselves IHJR VU[V [OLPY PJL ÅVLZ ( NSHZZ [\UULS ZOV^Z stingrays swimming beside you and overhead, and much more.

After you have wound your way through the JP[` ZLLPUN [OL KPќLYLU[ ZPNO[Z ^O` UV[ ZHTWSL some of the cuisine the area is known for?

One such dish is hitsumabushi. It consists

of chopped eel on rice and tastes similar to teriyaki. You can enjoy this dish three ways; the easiest is to eat it as is. Alternatively you can WV\Y H ZWLJPHS KYPLK ÄZO IYV[O V]LY P[ MVY HKKLK ÅH]V\Y -PUHSS` `V\ JHU JVTIPUL P[ ^P[O ^HZHIP HUK NYLLU VUPVU MVY H ZWPJPLY ÅHPY 5H[\YHSS` P[ comes with broth, wasabi and green onion, so you can try all three ways.

Nagoya is a city of many splendours at affordable prices, making it easy to lose yourself in its radiance.

NAGOYA 【名古屋】

A beautiful bayside city located a 2.5-hour bullet train ride from Tokyo or less than an hour from Osaka.

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Local Event | Annex Photo anniversary

By Ariel Litteljohn

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help educate their retail partners and other Z[VYLZ ;OL (UUL_ 7OV[V *VUJLW[ Z[VYL recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, treating loyal customers and neighbours to H KH` MPSSLK ^P[O JLSLIYH[PVUZ HUK NP]LH^H`Z PUJS\KPUN [OL HTHaPUN OV\YS` NP]LH^H` VM H -\QPMPST 0UZ[H_ 4PUP PUZ[HU[ MPST JHTLYH :V ^OH[ L_HJ[S` PZ H ¸7OV[V *VUJLW[¹ Z[VYL `V\ TH` ^VUKLY& >LSS P[ PZ -\QPMPST»Z WYVQLJ[ [V PUZWPYL H ¸7OV[V 9LUHPZZHUJL ¹ >P[O V]LY `LHYZ as a leader in the photography imaging I\ZPULZZ -\QPMPST PZ MPUKPUN ^H`Z [V RLLW photography alive and relevant and to ensure that their various products and other offerings are evolving alongside the tastes VM [OLPY J\Z[VTLYZ 6UJL PUZPKL ]PZP[VYZ NL[ to experience an engaging and interactive retail space that offers cutting-edge printing JHWHIPSP[PLZ PUZ[HU[ WYPU[ RPVZRZ HUK Z[H[PVUZ HZ ^LSS HZ H ]HYPL[` VM YL[HPS VMMLYPUNZ ;OL

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Annex Photo continues to bring the joy of photography to the neighbourhood by OVZ[PUN VJJHZPVUHS [OLTLK +0@ ^VYRZOVWZ *OLJR [OL (UUL_ 7OV[V UL^ZSL[[LY MVY [OL SH[LZ[ UL^Z HUK THRL Z\YL [V MVSSV^ (UUL_ Photo on social media (on Instagram and -HJLIVVR HZ 'HUUL_WOV[VZ[VYL [V Z[H` \W [V KH[L

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TOKYO PULSES WITH IDEAS THAT CONNECT THE OLD WITH THE NEW

gotok yo.org

Only in Japan | Joyful Trains

By M Crowson

Character training )YPUN ZVTL QV` [V `V\Y JVTT\[L I` YPKPUN VUL VM 1HWHUÂťZ THU` [OLTLK YHPS JHYZ äš—ă Łă Śćş€čśłă€ čŚ‹ă ŚćĽ˝ă —ă „ă‚­ăƒŁăƒŠă‚Żă‚żăƒźă Žă ¤ă „ă &#x;䚗り牊ă &#x;㠥。 happiness to the children of the Tohoku region in the wake of the 3/11 disaster. Old-school HUPTL MHUZ JHU HSZV IL KLSPNO[LK I` ;V`HTH Prefecture’s bright blue Doraemon streetcar. It’s no dokodemo KVVY HU`^OLYL KVVY I\[ P[ PZ H UPJL [YPI\[L [V -\QPRV - -\QPVÂťZ ^LSS SV]LK charHJ[LY ^OV ^HZ UHTLK [OL JV\U[Y`ÂťZ ¸HUPTL HTIHZZHKVYš PU ;YH]LSSLYZ PU[LYLZ[LK PU the edgier, 90s-era Evangelion, on the other OHUK OH]L WYVIHIS` HSYLHK` OLHYK HIV\[ [OL ;@7, ,=( :OPURHUZLU [OL -\R\VRH bound, Evangelion-themed bullet train, which YHU \U[PS ZWYPUN VM [OPZ `LHY 0[ \ZLK [V WSH` the anime’s theme song when it pulled up to the platform, and even featured an exhibit of show memorabilia in the front car—a dream for Evangelion fans who managed to hop on before the line said farewell.

Illustration by Chieko Watanabe

Japan’s famous for its train-centric transpor[H[PVU Z`Z[LT HUK [OVZL [YHPUZ YHUNL MYVT sleek, cutting-edge lines, like the shinkansen, to down-home local lines that take their sweet [PTL Z[VWWPUN H[ L]LY` Z[H[PVU @LHYZ HNV 0 lived in Tottori (the least populated prefecture in [OL JV\U[Y` HUK ZVTL VM V\Y SVJHS [YHPUZ OHK H SP[[SL L_[YH JOHYHJ[LY¡SP[LYHSS` ;OL WYLMLJ[\YL PZ known for its GeGeGe no Kitaro trains, inspired I` [OL THUNH VM [OL ZHTL UHTL JYLH[LK PU I` :OPNLY\ 4Pa\RP ;OL THUNH PZ IHZLK around a world of ghosts and supernatural creatures, and each station along the train line is decorated with characters with names like

5La\TP 6[VRV 9H[ )V` HUK 4LKHTH 6`HQP ,`LIHSS -H[OLY ;V\YPZ[Z JHU [HRL [OL [YHPU HSS [OL ^H` [V 4Pa\RPZ OVTL[V^U VM :HRHPTPUH[V and see a street lined with his manga characters. There’s even a museum dedicated to Mizuki’s work.

The GeGeGe no Kitaro [YHPU PZU[ [OL VUS` character-themed line in Japan. In fact, Japan 9HPS OHZ H ^OVSL OVZ[ VM ¸1V`M\S ;YHPUZ š LHJO created to delight a particular audience. Pikachu and his fellow PokÊmon are featured in the bright pastel colours of the PokÊmon with You trains, a line designed to bring hope and

Not a big fan of anime or manga characters? @V\YL PU S\JR ILJH\ZL UV[ HSS [OL 1V`M\S ;YHPUZ are cartoon-themed. One of the most popular lines is Niigata’s Genbi Shinkansen, which, IYVRLU KV^U SP[LYHSS` TLHUZ ¸TVKLYUš � HUK ¸ILH\[`š 瞎 3P[LYHSS` H TV]PUN T\ZL\T [OL [YHPU PZ ^YHWWLK ^P[O ]PIYHU[ WOV[VNYHWOZ I` Mika Ninagawa. Inside, exhibits showcase work I` JVU[LTWVYHY` WHPU[LYZ ZJ\SW[VYZ HUK ]PZ\HS HY[PZ[Z ^OPJO `V\ JHU LUQV` H[ V]LY RPSVmetres per hour while noshing on local treats in the cafÊ. Now that’s character-building.

6Y MVY HU VSK [PTL` YPKL `V\ JHU OVW VU [OL VKKS` UHTLK 6`RV[ ;VR`V ZWLSSLK IHJR^HYKZ which is designed to mimic the interior of Grandma’s rustic, traditional home among the rice paddies.

How to train your travel character You probably already know how to ride a train ‌ right? We hope so, anyway. But if you plan to build character on these special lines, here are some handy tips for you.

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DO NOT

DO

DO NOT

expect a silent ride.

take photos.

steal the advertisements.

)VNNSL `V\Y MYPLUKZÂť TPUKZ ^P[O H ZOV[ VM `V\ and Pikachu riding the rails.

Even the ads complement the theme—taking one is like stealing a piece of the puzzle.

These trains aren’t just for kids, I\[ RPKZ ^PSS KLÄUP[LS` be in the mix!

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SEPTEMBER 2017

21

1-Day Kyoto & Nara Tour 1 Visit the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto and Nara, including World Heritage Sites.

2 Spend time in two ancient Japanese cities on this 1-day tour which is a long-time bestseller.

3 This is a 1-day tour combining the ‘Kyoto Morning’ and ‘Nara Afternoon’ tours, with lunch.

TOUR BASIC INFORMATION Departure city: Kyoto Tour time: Daily Visits: Kyoto, Nara Duration: Approx. 11 hours Includes: English-speaking guide, lunch, admission charges and transportation expenses noted in the itinerary.

PRICE

CAD $

175

*Price is valid for the month of September 2017 *Price may fluctuate due to change in exchange rate.

All photos ©JNTO

HOW TO PURCHASE Reservations can be made by either telephone or email. Please contact JTB International (Canada) Ltd. at Phone: 416-367-5824 | Toll-free: 1-800-268-5942 | Email: jtbtoronto@jtbi.com | Website: www.jtb.ca

ITINERARY

8:25

Depart from Sunrise Tours Desk inside Avanti

Kyoto Imperial Palace* See the Kyoto Imperial Palace, 40 which was used as the emperor’s min residence until about 150 years ago.

(across from Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit) Pick-up service is available at hotels in Kyoto City.

All transportation on this tour is by bus.

Mon

Nijo Castle*

50

min

A World Heritage Site. Tour the historical castle completed in 1626, which was built to provide lodging for Tokugawa Shogun and as an arena for the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The impressive, elaborate carvings and décor in the Ninomaru Palace are a must-see.

Kinkaku-ji Temple

45

min

A World Heritage Site. The wooden architecture is covered in gold leaf and is surrounded by a beautiful pond.

Todai-ji Temple (Great Buddha) Nara Park

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine*

On Mondays, this tour will visit 40 Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead of min the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It is famous for housing the god of scholarship. This shrine’s main hall is a designated national treasure. The shrine is especially great to see during the plum blossom and autumn foliage seasons.

Lunch

50

From Kyoto to Nara

min

Japanese/Western-style buffet lunch min

90

Head to Nara via the Nara Keinawa Expressway

A World Heritage Site. This is the 60 symbol of the Nara period and one of min the world’s largest wooden structures with a huge main hall and bronze “Great Buddha” that are impressive to see.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine

40

min

This Nara period shrine is designated as a World Heritage Site. The deer of Nara Park are thought to be the shrine messengers. The tour will not enter areas with paid admissions.

Nara Nagomikan

20

min

The largest souvenir shop in Nara.

Enjoy yourself in this spacious shop and look for the perfect souvenirs.

18:30–19:30

Drop-off Service

To hotels in Kyoto City

*Nijo Castle is closed on Tuesdays in January, July, August and December (closed on the following day if Tuesday is a holiday). If the castle is closed, or if the tour is during the year-end/New Year’s holidays, Ryoan-ji Temple will be visited instead. *As Kyoto Imperial Palace is closed on the following dates, tours on these dates will visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine instead: Mondays, Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday, May 14–17 for the Aoi Festival, New Year’s holidays, and whenever there is an Imperial Household event. *The tour will visit Nishi Hongan-ji Temple instead of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine on September 25 and December 25.

For more information, please contact JTB International at 1-800-268-5942 (toll-free) or email at jtbtoronto@jtbi.com www.bentoboxmag.ca

SEPTEMBER 2017

23

Beauty | Tokyo Beauty Studio

Discover Asian cosmetic secrets at Tokyo Beauty Studio

Tokyo Beauty Studio was opened in 2008 as a home esthetics studio. Since then, its detail-oriented spa services have attracted many beauty-savvy clients and its reputation has spread by word of mouth. Now located in J-Town, with more space to cater to its growing clientele, Tokyo Beauty Studio is offering a wide variety of services, such as facials, permanent makeup, massage and aromatherapy hand treatment. For this summer, the most popular service here is eyelash extension. The resident specialist, Misaki, will take care of not only the lashes but the general eye area to help clients maintain fuller eyelashes even longer.

Owner Keiko, who is also a beautician herself, has obtained the CIDESCO Diploma which is a pres[PNPV\Z X\HSPÄJH[PVU for Aesthetics and Beauty Therapy.

Keiko’s hands will perform miracles on your face and body as you relax in a chic private room.

Pick up Hydrating Radiance n Facial Treatment Serum ($ ($42) $42)) For anti-aging ng gc ca car a e. ar are. e. T Thi Th his sseru h eru eru erum um is is care.

This serum MVYT\SH[L [L LK [ K [[V V P TWY V PTWY V P TW WYYV]L W V]L V ] ÄU ÄUL L SSPUL PUL PU LZ Z MVYT\SH[LK [V PTWYV]L ÄUL SPULZ and wr wrinkles. rink inkles les es.. es

Tokyo okyo Beau Be Beauty eau uty S Studio tu udio 3160 60 Steeles les es Av Ave A eE E., ., Unit ., Unit 102, Markham (J-Town) tokyobeautystudio.com kyobeau utys tystud ystud tudio. io io. o..com o co 905-604-6594 5-604-6 659 594 | Tex Text: T ext: 647-643-3939 *By appointm appointment tment tm ent only ent on n

Store ore Hou Hours: urs: rs s: Mo Mon–F Mon–Fri n ri 10 am–7 pm :H[ HT¶ WT ࠮ :\U HT¶ WT [ HT T¶ ¶ WT T ࠮ ࠮ \U HT¶ WT ࠮ : *Last st appoin appointment ntmen tme t tim ttime ti me o one ne hour before closing

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Hit the books | Inheritance from Mother

By M Crowson

A long-awaited death Inheritance from Mother

More by the authors

A True Novel 1960s New York: Taro, an ambitious T immigrant, tries to V]LYJVTL OPZ WHZ[ HZ H WVVY VYWOHU HUK KL]LSVWZ H lifelong obsession ^P[O H YPJO NPYS

by Minae Mizumura Translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter Two sisters struggle to deal with their domineering mother’s illness L]LU HZ [OL` YLÅLJ[ VU [OLPY V^U SPML JOVPJLZ

Author info

Minae Mizumura was born in Tokyo, moved to New York at the age of 12 and studied French literature at Yale University. Mizumura has won major literary awards for all four of her novels.

Juliet Winters Carpenter studied Japanese literature at the University of Michigan and the Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies in Tokyo. In 1980, Carpenter’s translation of Abe Kobo’s novel Secret Rendezvous (Mikkai) won the Japan–United States Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature.

How does a woman come to terms with her mother’s death, especially when her mother’s love has always been conditional and often cruel? This is the struggle that faces the two sisters in Minae Mizumura’s Inheritance from Mother. The story opens with a chapter titled, “The Long Telephone Call in Lieu of a Wake.”

The sisters have a whispered conversation about how much money they can get back from the group home where their mother once lived—Natsuki speaks while hiding from her husband and daughter in her sound-proofed piano room, Mitsuki alone in her house while her husband is away on business in Vietnam. ;OLPY TV[OLY 5VYPRV ^HZ H KPѝJ\S[ ^VTLU and her relationship with both daughters was so strained that Mitsuki recalls how, when 5VYPRV ^HZ ÄYZ[ Y\ZOLK [V [OL ,9 4P[Z\RP ZH[ PU the waiting room, thinking: “Mother is dying. My mother is dying. Finally she’s going to die.”

In fact, Noriko doesn’t die until months later, HUK [OL LTV[PVUHS HUK ÄUHUJPHS JVZ[ VM [OH[ long, drawn-out illness takes its toll on both ZPZ[LYZ LZWLJPHSS` 4P[Z\RP )\[ K\YPUN [OH[ ÄYZ[ [YPW [V [OL ,9 4P[Z\RP PZ JVU]PUJLK [OH[ 5VYPRV»Z 26

SEPTEMBER 2017

The Fall of Language in the Age of English

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on her deathbed, and the words become a dark, persistent refrain in her life, a shameful wish she can only share with her younger sister, Natsuki. The sisters are close despite (or perhaps because of) Noriko’s manipulative, competitive mothering style. As a child, Natsuki was the favourite because she was beautiful.

Noriko trained her to become a pianist and marry wealthy. But when Natsuki falls out of favour Noriko begins to dote on Mitsuki. Mitsuki is in frail health, her marriage is in trouble and she’s unhappy in her job translating French patents. When her mother’s health begins to deteriorate, Mitsuki bears the burden of all the hospital visits, even as she deals with her own poor health. And to make matters worse, one day Mitsuki stumbles upon evidence that her husband is cheating on her. Again.

Mitsuki met her husband in Paris when they were both college students studying abroad, HUK ^OLU ;L[Z\V WYVWVZLK [V OLY PU ÅPJRLYPUN candlelight in his shabby apartment, Mitsuki thought he was the perfect match for her romantic, artistic soul. But there were warning signs early on, signs she ignored for years.

0U [OPZ JVU[YV]LYZPHS LZZH` JVSSLJ[PVU Mizumura warns against losing SPUN\PZ[PJ KP]LYZP[` PU a world dominated by the universal SHUN\HNL VM ,UNSPZO

While Mitsuki was content to live a modest life full of art and literature, Tetsuo was obsessed with the idea of moving into a high-priced condo in the most fashionable part of Tokyo, and of the fame he increasingly received as a dashing professor and scholarly author. Mitsuki stayed with him, repeatedly putting her own desires on hold—she turned down a dream job from a mentor to write a new translation of Madame Bovary because it didn’t pay well—in order to help him achieve his.

Mitsuki discovers Tetsuo’s betrayal just as Noriko’s illness is ramping up into crisis mode, and she’s faced with a storm of feelings for the [^V WLVWSL PU OLY SPML ^OV VќLY [OL JY\LSLZ[ forms of love. Mitsuki deals with Noriko with help from her younger sister, but ultimately decides that she must face the crisis in her own marriage alone—or at least, that’s her intention.

The book is a sweeping saga that explores troubled families, class anxieties and, most of all, the struggle to be an independent woman in contemporary Japan.

www.bentoboxmag.ca

:,7;,4),9

27

Fe atu r E D Products

Fall in love with lunch Your packed lunch never looked so good!

These wonderful tools will help you bring your creative ideas to life.

Omusubi-nyan: The purr-fect lunch accessory If you would like to make cute rice balls that will impress your kids and friends, try these tools! The kits include everything you need to make your own kitten and panda rice balls. You just need to prepare the rice, then add ingredients like nori (seaweed), cheese and ham as the ďŹ nishing touch. Fill the rice into the

Go-panda: For a bear-y cute meal

mould and shape it. To make the kitty or panda faces, place nori, cheese or ham on the silicone sheet, press down the cutter and use the cut-outs to decorate your shaped rice balls. Use soy sauce or coloured rice seasoning to jazz up your creation. The rice mould has handles that make it easy to use with hot rice.

Make yourself an adorable panda sandwich Take a slice of bread, cut it using the mould or patterned cutter, and ďŹ nish it with chocolate, peanut butter or jam.

DISCOVER the FLAVOUR of

JAPAN Join the conversation on Facebook

facebook.com/bentoboxmag

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FUJISAN RAMEN

on Queen

Special crepe The Japanessice combination of offers a clas ingredients

Staff

Balan savouryce the sweetness bite, li with Salmonke this Smokeda crepe

Sarah Dickson

SSara a h lived in Tokyo from 2010 to 2014, where sshe taught English to cool business types.

She also spent a lot of free time eating gyudon, shopping at Uniqlo and unsuccessfully lear ning Japa nese. Now living in Toronto, she enjoys writing and annoyin ing her friends with stor ies that start with, “W “Wh W en I lived in Japan…. ”

A taste of Harajuku

Millie Creperie’s name may have been inspired by the French thousandlayer crepe cake, but it represents thousands of possibilities.

F

or anyone who’s ever been to Tokyo, Takeshita Street in Harajuku is a must-see.

Not only for the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of kawaii culture up close, but for the subtly sweet treats available to enjoy as you weave through the crowded pedestrian street lined with novelty shops and cosplayers.

That’s the kind of vibe that Christinn Hua wanted to bring to Kensington Market when she opened Millie Creperie in 2013. A self-described food enthusiast with an insatiable sweet tooth, Hua wanted to create a place where people could enjoy a different kind of sweet treat, inspired by the limited availability of Japanese desserts at the time, as well as the way Japanese pastry makers have taken French crepes and made them their own through the addition of distinctly Japanese flavours like matcha and yuzu. It was important to Hua for her business [V Ä[ PU[V [OL ULPNOIV\YOVVK ^OPSL JVU]L`PUN

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the Japanese influence that Millie’s menu items are drawn from. “I wanted to borrow some of the design esthetics from Japan while still fitting into Kensington Market,” explains Hua. The resulting décor of Millie Creperie is minimalist and functional, fitting with her desire to create a place where people can stop in for a treat as they explore one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Among the delicious crepes and parfaits on Millie’s menu, the Japanese Special featuring classic strawberries with azuki (red bean), green tea gelato and matcha sauce and topped with whipped cream in a handheld crepe is a bestseller. If you prefer something trendier, opt for the stunning Charcoal Stardust crepe cake, a black cake with edible 24-karat gold flakes that give this dessert its cosmic appeal. You can also try one of Millie’s out-of-this-world parfaits,

including the recently added Alien and Milky Way. Not craving something sweet? Millie also offers a number of savoury crepes like Wasabi Chicken or Okonomiyaki.

The staff at Millie want to ensure that everyone has the best possible taste experience, and will happily guide you through the menu and offer samples to help even the pickiest patron leave satisfied. “If they have never had green tea before, I’d force them to have a taste,” Hua explains. “You never want someone to walk out with something they thought they’d like and then not [like it].”

Millie Creperie Kensington Market location 161 Baldwin St., Unit 6 | 416-977-1922 milliedesserts.com OPEN: Sun–Thurs 12:30 pm–8:30 pm Fri–Sat 11:30 am–10:30 pm