The Official STAY JAPAN Traveler

THE OFFICIAL TRAVELER Food Recipes Pg.30-32

Farm Stay Pg. 5 Kawagoe Food Guide Pg. 11 The Way of the Tea Pg. 18 35%OFF! GUESTHOUSES COUNTRYWIDE GO TO TRAVEL CAMPAIGN Autumn 2020

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35% OFF Selected Guest Houses 2

Autumn 2020

Editor’s Note

Auburn, russet, lurid, carnelian, gamboge: colors of autumn that warm you without the need to go out of your home for pumpkin spice latte. In fact, this entire issue is dedicated to bringing fall from the outside right to you.

While reading this issue, I suggest listening to the specially curated playlist (p. 40) that makes you feel like a dog jumping into a pile of crunchy leaves. You’ll be transported into Japanese culture and learn about Autumn in Japan with Food Folks (p. 28) and Under the Apron (p. 36).

The recipes shared in Food Folks make it easy to incorporate Japanese ingredients into our everyday cooking. The results are scrumptious, so don’t be shy to tag us on Instagram @stayjapan when you make them. While you’re there, be sure to check out our page, STAY JAPAN Media, for more content.

Teresa Fong, group editor imterryf

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Whats Inside...

Read Japan Featured Articles

6 Life of a Farmer 11 Kawagoe Food Guide 18 The Way of the Tea

Japanese Food

The best of this months new trips

24 28 30 32

Ask the Expert Food Folks Sweet Potato Salad Recipe Sweet Potato Wagashi Recipe

Explore Japan

The best of this months new trips

36 Under the Apron: Wataya 42 Autumn Fashion Trend 2020 44 Autumn Top 16 Songs 46 Japanese Tongue Twister

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CREDITS & VOLUNTEERS Head Editor

Giovanni Perez

Executive Editor Caroll Hirose Lilly Rose Teresa Fong

Content Editor

Kenneth Valencich

Content Writer Alex Loke Daiki Shimizu Emi Chubachi

Illustrator @vege.pop

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Life of a Farmer

Fukushima, Japan | instagram: @geperez

Words by Giovanni Perez

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I did it. I packed my under armor sports bag and put on as many clothes as I could fit in and drove to Fukushima to become a Japanese Farmer.

Fortunately, I can work from anywhere, as long as I have my laptop. I am a person who needs to physically work. A person who needs to talk with people.

So I did what I thought would keep me from going insane and became a Japanese Farmer.

My job requires me to work from 9-6 Monday through Friday.

Japanese farmers work all day, preferably starting from 5 am.

I still had my regular job so I shifted my schedule to help where I can. I decided to go to a farm in Fukushima and help out some of the locals.

My Daily Routine - 5:00 am Wake up - 5:30 am Japanese farmer experience - 7:00 am Finish - 8:00 am Eat breakfast - 8:30 am Shower - 9:00 am Start my actual job.

While most people are sleeping, Japanese farmers are already hard at work.

Regardless of weather conditions or even how they feel, they know that someone is waiting for the delicious rice to be in their plate.

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First Day My first day as a Japanese Farmer I dived into what seemed like body torture. It’s called “mizo kiri,” a technique used to create divots in the rice fields for proper water irrigation. Keep in mind, I have a heavy-set athletic build where I have played various sports in my lifetime.

This was different. Extremely different.

I saw the 65-year-old Japanese Farmer plow through one side of the rice field as if he were taking a morning stroll.

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I got my special farming boots, gloves, and my heart ready. Little did I know what was going to happen next. I was given the handles to the machine.

“I Died” There’s hardly any strength used to push the divot machine because a small motor is attached to the side.

There is however a bigger factor.

Wailing in the Rice Field The rice field is still filled with water, making the ground feel like quicksand. With every step you take, imagine a bunch of small hands holding you from taking your next step. Now the divot machine isn’t going to steer itself, so you have to make sure it’s going on a straight line.

Also, you can’t walk in the same line as the machine because you’ll end up running the divot you made. Which means you are making a C motion walking for hours on end.

I finished one line, but I was huffing and puffing so much I started to see black spots.

Alright, I’ll admit it. I was

defeated. The Japanese Farmer quickly came to my side and under his hat, I can see him smiling. What he meant was, welcome to the Japanese Farmer life. He finished the rest of the three outer lanes and I regained consciousness. I need to try again and not let him down.

I started trailing behind him to show him that I was ready to give him another go. He glanced back at me with the same smile he gave me before and moved the handles of the divot machine towards me. I reached for both the handles, he let go completely, and …

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Guesthouse

Vintage 100 y/o House Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima

After exhausting myself with work in the city, I decided to move to the countryside and live a life close to nature where I can harvest fresh produce from the garden. That’s where I have opened up this 100 y/o farm stay guest house with the concept of meeting new people at my farm.

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Kawagoe Food Guide Saitama, Japan | instagram: @awayfromorigin

Top 5 Sweet Potato Snacks

Words by Natasha Taliferro Autumn 2020

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If you’ve ever asked a Japanese local about Saitama, they probably said that there’s nothing there. Saitama is the only prefecture in Japan not known for anything special— there’s even been a movie and comic made about it (e.g., Tondesaitama / Fly Me to Saitama)! Saitama is, unfortunately, the sleeper town of Tokyo. Many Japanese salary men and women live in Saitama and commute every day to their jobs in Tokyo.

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However, “nothing” is Saitama’s charm! From the rolling mountains of Chichibu to the traditional Edo streets of Kawagoe, if you look hard enough, Saitama can offer at least a little sparkle and wonder. When visiting Japan’s popular and fast-paced Tokyo, an hour train ride to Kawagoe, Saitama for some sweet potato heaven is a great day trip. Here is a Kawagoe Food Guide of the top five sweet potato snacks that you must try.

Top 5 Sweet Potato Snacks in Kawagoe

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Imokoi Manju (いも恋まんじゅう)

Manjū, which is red bean paste (あんこ, anko) wrapped in pounded rice flour or mochi (も ち), is a great sweet—sometimes savory—treat offered all over Japan, but Kawagoe’s special manjū pairs sweet potato with red bean paste. The Imo-koi Manjū) (いも恋まんじゅう) is a steamed yeast bun filled with a generous dollop of red bean paste atop a hearty chunk of sweet potato, wrapped with a special mixture of mountain

potato (山芋, yama-imo) and mochi.

The imo-ai manjū is a twist on a Japanese classic that is distinctively “Kawagoe.” You can find this manjū for under 300 yen by walking down Koedo Kawagoe Street and popping into the traditional sweets restaurant and shop, Kasho Umon Ichibangaiten (菓 匠右門 一番街店).

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Sweet Potato Ice Cream (さつま芋アイス)

In Japan, you can find almost any flavor of ice cream. From squid ink-flavored to fish-flavored, Japan does ice cream the quirky way. If you’re not interested in testing your palate on cold, fishy milk (I’m not painting a good picture here, am I?), why not be kind to your taste buds and get a cutely swirled helping of sweet potato ice cream?

Saitama is the hottest prefecture in Japan, with Kumagaya in northern Saitama setting Japan’s heat index records every year. One of the best ways to cool down while sightseeing is to stop and eat cold ice cream. The light purple sweet potato ice cream can be found near the Tori no Kane (鳥の鐘) bell tower on Koedo Kawagoe Street.

The flavor is offered by itself or half-and-half with vanilla ice cream.

Many visitors get the half-and-half swirl for Instagram aesthetics, but forgo the swirl if you want the full sweet potato experience.

The ice cream comes on a cone with a cute little heart on top for only 300 yen.

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Sweet Potato and Apple Pie (さつま芋とアップルパイ)

Another top snack to try from the Kawagoe food guide during the blistering hot summer or balmy winter is to stand in line for sweet potato and apple pie. I know it sounds like a weird combination that maybe doesn’t go together too well, but the treat has gathered a following that leaves lines around the building and the pies sold out by the end of the day. For 380 yen, the flakey crust of these palmsized pies wraps around equal parts sweet potato and apple slices.

They are only found at Kamadashi Mitsuimo Hoku Hoku (窯出し蜜いも ほくほく), a cute little shop near Kashiya Yokocho Candy Alley (菓子屋 横丁).

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Sweet Potato Udon (さつま芋うどん)

Have you had enough of small snacks and are looking for something more filling? Why not try sweet potato noodles? Sweet potato udon noodles are offered at Okanoya (岡野屋), a small udon restaurant located on the backside of the traditional Edo area of Kawagoe, near Kashiya Yokocho Candy Alley (菓子屋横丁). The supple noodles are a deep shade of purple and are offered with most of the meal sets (teishoku, 定食) at the restaurant; however, to get the full experience, order the Imozaru Udon set (芋ざるうどん) for about 1200 yen. The udon is offered on a small bamboo platter with a bowl of thin broth (usually a mixture of soy sauce and other Japanese flavors such as ginger or wasabi). Although the noodles are made from Japanese sweet potato, they do not have a strong sweet potato taste. Rather, they offer a great, chewy pairing with the thin broth and sweet potato tempura (天ぷら).

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Coedo Sweet Potato Beer (さつま芋ビール)

Even if you don’t consider yourself a beer-drinker, Kawagoe’s special sweet potato beer is a fizzy drink that is great to try at least once. This is why it goes fifth on the Kawagoe food guide. Although the taste of the Coedo brand beer doesn’t scream “sweet potato,” the light beer with hints of the beloved white potato is a great thirst-quencher on a hot day.

As someone who is not a fan of beer, even I found myself reaching for a cold bottle of Coedo “Beniaka” sweet potato beer to sip on.

You can find a bottle of Coedo beer along Koedo Kawagoe Street near the famous bell tower near Kashiya Yokocho Candy Alley (菓子屋横丁) for about 400 yen.

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Other Snacks

Other than the 5 top snacks listed above, there are many other great sweet potato food souvenir (お土産, omiyage) shops along the main street with snacks you can get for friends and family back home—or to eat all by yourself! My personal favorite is the sweet potato karinto (かりんとう). Karinto is best when fresh from the deep fryer because the warm filling of red bean paste or sweet potato is a delicious balance against the oily crust.

You can visit Kawagoe’s traditional Edo street, Koedo Kawagoe, and eat your way through by walking about twenty-five minutes from Kawagoe Station, or by taking a bus from Kawagoe Station.

From Tokyo Station, it’s an hour train ride on the Marunouchi and Fukutoshin Lines by subway, or the Yamanote and Tobu-Tojo Lines on the local trains for under 1,000 yen.

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Guesthouse

Nature Lovers Retreat Zao City, Sendai

Indirect lighting is applied to a three-dimensional bed that mixes Japanese and Western styles, to create a fantastic space. The living is a simple, calm space where you can enjoy while drinking tea on the wood deck and bathing in the natural sunlight, away from the city.

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The Way of the Tea

An Exploration of Japanese Tea Ceremonies Words by Cory Rotolo

Japan | instagram: @stayjapan

The first time I participated in a Japanese tea ceremony is something I can never forget.

It was such an immersive, yet relaxing experience; it reminded me a lot of the flow state one enters when doing yoga or karate.

Steeped in tradition, perfected and refined throughout its several centuries of existence, Japanese tea ceremonies, or Sadō (literally translating to “the way of tea”), can provide you an unique experience like no other. It can be participated in as a form of self-discipline, self-improvement, or simply a form of relaxation. I’d like to encourage everyone to try otemae, the performance of a tea ceremony, at least once!

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There are three aspects to Sadō that lend themselves to its unique characteristics and give it its identity. I believe the more you know about these elements, the more enriching your experience can be. If you ever find the opportunity to join, here is my breakdown of the ceremony so you can get the most out of what Sadō has to offer!

During Japanese tea ceremonies, the etiquette of those performing the ceremony and the aesthetic design of the tea house are of equal importance. The tea house, and by extension its decorum, tries to avoid monotony as much as possible.

The Tea House While a typical tea house may look sparse at first sight, a lot of thought and effort is put into the placement and design of the objects on display. Furniture is placed sparingly, yet imperfectly to replicate the randomness of nature. The idea here is to reward the participants for familiarizing themselves with the space.

not create uniformity.

This lack of uniformity in tandem with the room’s simplicity, provides an environment where the guest can become inspired, and project their imagination into the room. With that in mind not even two columns in the tea room should be made out of the same tree!

For example, if you were designing a tea house and intended to display live flowers, then you should probably avoid a picture of flowers. Additionally, different colors and textures, and great craftsmanship are placed into each utensil to continually please the eyes. The color and glaze should also vary from each bowl and container used as to Autumn 2020

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The Etiquette Rules and etiquette for Japanese tea ceremonies are generally strict. However, they were created to enhance the participants’ experience by making them aware of their surroundings. Every movement should remain fluid and efficient. When handling a bowl, one must move slowly and gently, avoiding any jagged movements.

This structure complements the natural beauty that the tea house conveys. It is also done to show respect for the host and his/her utensils.

Many tea utensils are very rare, unique, and highly coveted. So, etiquette must be established on how to properly handle them. This etiquette is evident in nagori, a critical part of the tea ceremony, which gives criteria on how to properly show appreciation for any of the host’s tea utensils. These rules include holding the object a specific way, or raising the item to admire its construction and delicacy.

Despite the rigid guidelines, these strict rules give Sadō its simplicity. As a participant, since your movement is already predetermined, the only thing remaining for you to do is to observe and appreciate the ceremony.

The Japanese Tea Experience One of the coolest things about Sadō is how engaging it is.

There is a response or feedback to every action carried out by its participants. This ritual manifests itself in the form of “little rewards” that stimulates all of the senses. Here’s how: 20

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Aesthetic Guest’s sense of sight is instantly engaged upon setting into the garden surrounding the tea house. Guests are treated to the beauty of nature and the aesthetics of the exterior of the tea house. The host takes special care to arrange the garden, so it appears as natural as possible.

The host may even go through the trouble of repositioning leaves along the path to the tea house for aesthetic pleasure.

The interior of the modest structure (which I mentioned in the tea house section) also compliments the natural beauty of the garden outside. Upon first entering the tea room, a guest can admire all of the decorations the host used to adorn the room and later observe all of the craftsmanship of these items up close.

Sounds

Sound is another important element in the tea ceremony.

The rustling of the trees in the garden, and the sound of flowing water is soothing and welcoming. Water sounds are a recurring theme in the ceremony. Guests are treated to the sound of boiling water in the hot water container or tetsubin.

Additionally, there are also the sounds of pouring the water into the chawan tea bowl and waste water into the kensui rinse water receptacle along with the replenishing of the water in the tetsubin at the end of the ceremony.

Dialogue between host and guests are also taken into consideration, so the host will often select a beautiful scroll to hang up along with a flower arrangement to provide material for pleasant conversation.

Other notable sounds include the satisfying tap of the tea scoop on the chawan and the sound of the final audible sipping of matcha tea. And of course, there is the silence. After all, sometimes hearing nothing at all is a pleasing sound.

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Touch The textures present in Sadō do much to enhance the experience.

Before entering the tea room,guests usually wash their hands and face outside in a water basin. The cool water runs down their face and hands, helping to create a sense of renewal. Once inside the tea house, there are a myriad of textures to experience; the roughness of a bowl, or the glaze on a tea caddy all appeal to our sense of touch. Other unique textures include the texture of the tatami bamboo mat- and the smoothness of the bamboo utensils.

Fragance

A sense that is commonly overlooked is the sense of smell.

Incense is used to constantly engage the guest. The art of burning incense has ancient roots and a good host will take care to select an appealing fragrance that is not too overpowering. And of course, the smell of matcha is also one of the defining elements of Sadō.

Fragrance is such a simple yet crucial component of the ceremony.

Flavors

Lastly, we come to flavors. There is a broad range of tastes to experience.

In most cases, matcha tea is the main component and traditionally served with wagashi, a treat made of mochi and fruits. These Okashi Japanese confections come in several different flavors and are usually sweet, cakey, and moist. The sweetness of the confections creates a nice contrast to the darker flavors of the tea.

The matcha tea itself is also very flavorful.

The tea can take on a darker and sweeter flavor when made Koicha style, or it could taste lighter but more bitter when made in the Usucha style. The moment one finally gets to taste the matcha tea is arguably the climax of the Sadō experience, so please enjoy it to its fullest! I recommend drinking it slowly to appreciate all of its nuanced flavors.

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Guesthouse

Kazemaru Trad. Japanese Stay Goshogawara City , Aomori

Stay at this gorgeous traditional Japanese private house. We are interested in welcoming people from all over the world to show you how we do things in the rural side.

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the

ASK EXPERT

with Lilly

1. What’s the best part of your daily schedule in Japan?

The best part is how busy I am doing things I love. Aside from working a job that I overall enjoy and am appreciated in, I fill my free time with hobbies and passions. Living in a different country can get overwhelming and lonely if you sit idle. I make the weeks feel like mine by structuring them with activities such as dance classes, volunteer clubs, bouldering, and occasional yoga classes. On weekends I’m usually traveling or spending time with friends.

I purposefully make these commitments that get me up and going because they override my natural tendency to stay inside and nap. The biggest advantage to moving somewhere new is reinventing how you spend your time.

2. Do you feel safe and secure in Japanese society as an American woman?

One of the main reasons I prefer living here is because of how I feel generally safer in my daily life. I have to give credit to Japan for allowing me to do things that are nearly impossible in my hometown in America. Some of those things are: 24

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-being able to walk alone in public (even at night) and have a very high chance of getting to my destination safely -travel on my own and be able to rely on strangers if I am lost or need help -generally being left unbothered while pumping gas or riding public transportation It kind of blows my mind how simple those tasks are, but having these basic freedoms to move about my daily activities peacefully has greatly improved my quality of life.

3. What’s been your favorite place you visited so far?

This is too difficult since I’ve visited 27 prefectures, so I’ve decided to do a top 3.

1.Miyagi prefecture during the winter: I have nothing but fond memories and feelings of this place. It was a beautiful mixture of countryside and city. The chill but lively vibes of Sendai captured my heart and Zao Fox Village in the countryside was one of my happiest memories in Japan. It wasn’t too cold, and there was still beautifully satisfying snow around.

2.Gifu prefecture: I’ve visited this prefecture in fall, winter, and summer. In the fall, Gifu left my heart full of wonder and joy with perfect weather and aesthetic fall foliage.

In winter, the fresh, pure snow and white landscape was like a dream. In summer, the heat is absolutely dreadful, but Gifu is packed with crystal clear, icy rivers to jump into and refresh your soul. Of course, Shirakawa-go was the highlight of my visits.

3.Kagoshima prefecture: I visited Yakushima and got a lifetime fix of hiking through otherworldly nature. This place was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke” as well!

4. Was the transition from America to Japan difficult?

Proficiency in the language goes a long way.

The most frustrating moments I’ve had throughout my time here is not being able to understand a process due to language barrier.

Thankfully, those moments are now rare because of my leveling up in the language.

The difference in culture, however, is a whole other obstacle. For the first few years, I tried being as “Japanese” as possible (whatever that means, honestly) in order to “fit in” as best I could and not cause any “inconvenience” to others.

However, growing up in a different environment does not make you an inconvenience to others. It makes you a normal person. You should never feel pressured to become a different person because of where you live. Of course, it’s smart to abide by certain rules and customs to avoid offending the community. So yes, take off your shoes before entering a house, don’t scream on the phone while riding the train, and wait for the “kanpai” before you sip a drink at a party. However, micromanaging every little thing you do and running it through a never-ending filter of “am I being Japanese enough” is highly unnecessary.

Sometimes it can feel like there’s a spotlight shining on you simply because you are “different”. Instead of cowering to the curtains, use that to your advantage to showcase your unique, wonderful qualities. It has actually helped me make countless meaningful friendships here! Remember to be kind to others, and be extra kind to yourself.

5.What’s the music scene like in Japan?

It depends on where you go. In Osaka, the hip hop and R&B scene is quite prominent. There are usually a couple of Japanese songs a year that get extremely popular and you can’t go anywhere without hearing them. Other than that, Japan enjoys popular music from America and around the world, and there’s been an increase in KPOP fans, too.

Something I find awesome about Japan is that there’s a lot of music stores, and you can easily spend hours going around putting on headphones to listen to new music of every genre. I recently visited a store to listen to a bunch of artists and bands that I never heard of to see if I could find anything I like, and had a blast.

I noticed there were a lot more J-Rock type artists compared to J-Pop and other genres.

Music shows (which are called “lives” here) are pretty tame. People aren’t jumping up and down and screaming the words with the artists, and instead stand quietly and bop their heads politely. This difference in culture sometimes makes me feel self conscious when I want to cheer for my favorite bands, but it’s still a great experience!

About Lilly

Hey, I’m Lillian. I’ve been living in Japan for over 4 years, and I’m excited to share my knowledge and experiences with those who are curious about life and travel in Japan. I’m here to give you the inside scoop and answer your questions in as much detail as possible. See you when you come STAY JAPAN! Autumn 2020

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Photographer: Tri Phan | Instagram: @ james_bryant10

Location: Shirakami Sanchi, Aomori Prefecture

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Food Folks

We always love introducing you to the unique products of Japanese cuisine, especially seasonal ones. We do this so you can enjoy a more pleasant experience when you go to a local restaurant or to a banquet in a fancy stay. Japanese people, as is well known, love connecting food with their lifestyle events.

This time, I’ll introduce the custom of Tsukimi or “Moon Viewing.”

How to be A Part?

1. Eating Tsukimi Dango is one way. It’s a traditional Japanese pastry that is believed to grant good health and happiness. Tsukimi Dango has a round, dumpling-like shape and is made from rice flour. Decoration and placement of the dango goes along with eating. How you present Tsukimi Dango to the Gods is crucial.

2. Other foods that would accompany Tsukimi Dango are sweet potatoes, edamame, pumpkin, chestnut, other Autumn products, and Susuki, or pampas grass, which is thought to protect the surrounding area from evil.

3. Tsukimi has also taken on a different meaning because of the visual similarity between the round moon and egg yolk.Many restaurants enjoy creating seasonal meals in the autumn, like Tsukimi hamburgers, soba, curry, and much more. Next time you see one of these items on a menu, you’ll have a little background on Tsukimi!

4. In the two following recipes you will be able to use sweet potatoes, one of the autumn products also mentioned in the offering for Tsukimi.

Tsukimi Moon Viewing This special custom came from China to Japan around the Nara Period (AD 710-794), when aristocrats started enjoying moon viewing parties. This high-end pastime was transferred to the common people in the Edo Period (AD 16031868). People gave the gods offerings of freshly harvested products, such as rice, fruits, and vegetables.

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When is Tsukimi?

It differs by the year, since it’s based on the old Japanese calendar, where it lies on the fifteenth of the eight month. This day is called Jyugoya and is considered the best day of the year to enjoy gazing at the moon.

This year was the first of October. If you look close enough, you might be able to see a rabbit pounding mochi rice cake with a mallet, which is a local folklore held by the people of Japan.

Japanese Word Lesson

Autumn is in full swing, that means chestnuts and sweet potato galor! Do you know the words for these in Japanese ?

Which is the correct spelling?

1 くり 2 くるみ 3 りく Sample Sentence watashi no atama ha

mitai.

私の頭は＿＿＿＿みたい。 My head looks like a chestnut.

1 まさついも 2 さつまいも 3 もさいまつ Sample Sentence aisu

ha

oishi.

＿＿＿＿アイスはおいしい。 illustration @vege.pop

Sweet Potato ice cream is delicious.

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Answer: 1,2

Sweet Potato Salad 40 MINS

4 PPL

40 MINS

Sweet potatoes, known as satsumaimo (さつま芋), are one of my autumn/winter guilty pleasures. Northern Japan gets particularly cold and the lament-like song of the baked sweet potato seller is like the soundtrack of the seasons. With the song going like “yaki-imo, ishi-yaki-imo”, these vendors have toasty purple sweet potatoes, freshly baked on a stone oven behind their cart. One bite will tell you why the Japanese love them. They’re creamy and, with a tinge of salt, it goes down your throat like velvet.

Sweet potato is such a versatile ingredient and, with the subtle sweetness lingering at the end of each mouthful, there are great opportunities to enhance it as a savoury or sweet dish!

This dish is one of the easiest, yet most filling foods to make. When the cold starts rolling in, remember to whip this out for a quick fix!

Alex’s Recipe INGREDIENTS -

500g sweet potato 4 eggs, boiled ½ onion, sliced 2 slices of bacon or preferred meat 4 tbsp Kewpie mayonnaise Spring onion, for garnishing

Peel and slice the onion and place it in cold water for 20-30 minutes so that the spiciness of the onion disappears.

Skin and slice the sweet potato, microwave for 6 minutes or until soft enough to mash.

Boil the eggs until they are hard boiled.

Separate 3 egg yolks from the egg white. Dice the egg white into small pieces. Leave one egg aside for garnishing.

Cut the bacon into bite size pieces and cook till crispy or golden brown.

Once the sweet potatoes have cooled, mash them and add salt and pepper to taste.

Strain the onion and add to the sweet potato mash, along with the bacon, mayonnaise and 3 eggs.

Make sure that the egg yolks are well incorporated into the mash. Mix well.

For garnishing, dice some spring onion and top the remaining egg as garnishing.

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Sweet Potato Wagashi 4 PPL

50 MINS

20 MINS

Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets that are often paired with a cup of green tea. They’re found in many variations and shapes, with flavours usually being anko 餡子 (red bean paste) or shiroan 白あん (white bean paste). However, I decided to use sweet potato as the filling instead, and it came out surprisingly good! It’s sweet, so it fit well with my afternoon tea routine.

Alex’s Recipe INGREDIENTS

1st. STEP Bring the water to a boil and put in agar powder and sugar.

JELLY -

250ml water 2g Agar powder 25g sugar Slices of red cabbage for colouring.

Lemon juice

FILLING

- 50g glutinous rice flour/ 白玉粉 shiratamako - 50g rice flour/ 上新粉 joushinko - 100ml water

SWEET POTATO PASTE

- 24g sweet potato paste (per wagashi) - Rice flour - Some hot water mixed with agar

Turn off the heat, quickly steep the red cabbage until the colour bleeds out. Make sure it does not bleed for too long, as the smell of red cabbage is strong.

Split the liquid into 4 flat trays and slowly add different amounts of lemon juice into each tray. Lemon changes the colour of the cabbage dye due to acidity, so use until you are happy with your combinations!

Leave in the fridge to cool.

Once cooled, cut the jelly into small cubes. You can mix them together or keep them separate.

2nd. STEP Mix the glutinous rice flour and rice flour together, add water slowly until it forms together into a ball.

Split into 4 sections and roll it up in your palm. Lightly press it down until it’s a little flat.

Boil for 10 minutes and transfer to ice water to prevent the filling from cooking further.

FINAL STEP Add rice flour into the paste until it does not stick to your palm.

Sticky paste is not fun!

Flatten the paste into cling wrap and add the filling in the middle. Roll into a ball.

Remove from the cling wrap and place on a flat surface. Lightly coat with hot water containing agar.

Decorate the wagashi with jelly.

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Photographer: Fatimah Patel | Instagram: @fatimahpatel

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Under The Apron at Wataya Coffee Shop

A cafe, a common area, a share kitchen, an event space, a community center, a spectacular owner, in a city that is famous for it’s delicious seafood and wonderful people. Welcome to Wataya Coffee Shop.

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Go Visit !

Why did you open Wataya Cafe ?

It was an extremely cold and snowy winter when I found myself in a log house that was both a small workshop and a coffee shop. I met a warm-hearted coffee roaster who was between roasting coffee beans and restarting his espresso machine.

He suddenly stretched a fresh cup of golden brown espresso from his hand towards me. The roaster had made an espresso just for me.

An espresso can warm the heart even on incredibly cold nights. The color, the aroma, and

the freshness of the espresso were enough for me to go into a trance. I still remember it now, the beauty of sharing a drink with another person you may not even know.

It’s all part of the experience: talking about the wonders of life, sharing a laugh, and sharing a moment. After that day, I knew I wanted to create the same type of space for someone else. That’s why I made “Kamaishi Public House Wataya” Coffee Shop.

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Best Part About Owning a Cafe?

It’s great when people come to my coffee shop unannounced and I have the pleasure of meeting them for the first time. At Kamaishi Public House Wataya, there is a common, natural space that has been mysteriously created by the various people who enter.

No matter the day, I know that, when I step behind that counter, I will meet someone new. It fills me with joy when visitors, young or old, regardless of where they work or where they are from, have a space for everyone to meet. In other words, this cafe = “Public House.”

Any Funny Stories to Share?

“ We may not What’s the origin of the have known each name “Wataya”?

A friend and I were other yesterday, thinking of names when decided to use the first but we met today we two letters of our names: Ya.” It’s easy for and we’ll be “Wata anyone to hear and, when good friends put together, it rolls off the tongue nicely: “Wataya.” tomorrow.” The word “Ya” has the

In the two years since I built Kamaishi Public House Wataya, I have both heard and experienced many wonderful stories.

I’ve seen everything from friends who haven’t met for 35 years, to strangers who got married from coming to this cafe, to children who couldn’t leave the house but somehow were able to push through and get a job. I will cherish all of these

stories, even the one with the writer who came to me to write about my cafe. There are many more like that that I couldn’t possibly fit into one magazine.

What did you do before the Wataya Cafe?

I was actually a Psychiatric Social Worker. I packed up my bags and moved to Kamaishi City, Iwate, after the big earthquake and tsunami in 2011. The city of Kamaishi was majorly affected.

The tsunami caused many residents to

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flee their homes and start a new life somewhere else. Although fewer than 50% of residents have returned, I decided to renovate one of the abandoned houses and set up a cafe for everyone to enjoy.

meaning of “house” in English, which is exactly the type of cafe I was going for. A place where you can relax, meet people, and enjoy yourself.

What makes your cafe special?

At Wataya Cafe, you can drink various types of coffee, 100% fresh tomato and apple juice from the Tohoku region, Japanese Sake, craft beers, and more!

Although I don’t serve food, you are more than welcome to bring your own and enjoy it while tasting various drinks.

I use mineral water in everything I make here and all Japanese alcohol is sourced straight from the breweries for the freshest of taste.

What do you like about Kamaishi City?

I like the natural landscape, reminiscent of rural Japan, and the cityscape where you can see history unique to Kamaishi. I especially admire the friendliness of Kamaishi residents who welcome people from outside of the prefecture with open arms.

Describe your Cafe in three phrases.

Joyful smiles, Wonderful laughter, Great conversations.

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What else can you do in Wataya Cafe?

You can do so much more than just enjoy coffee.

You can use Wataya as a: - Share Space - Share Kitchen - Free Space - Event Space - And More!

I also use it as a place to continue to practice psychiatric social working, as well as hold exclusive events for how to cope for anyone 40

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interested in learning. I don’t charge to use my cafe, but many people still wish to donate proceeds to my cafe in some way. In a sense, this has helped provide more opportunities for other events down the line. We aim to be a house for anyone and everyone to try and experience something new and unique.

Any final comments you wish to add?

I would like to first show my appreciation for all the readers who take the time to read this. It’s such an honor to have my cafe in a magazine. Secondly, I hope that, after reading this, you feel a need to visit Kamaishi city, or even the Tohoku region in general.

If you ever have a chance to make it to Kamaishi City, please stop by Kamaishi Public House Wataya. The first drink is on the house!

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20 FALL 20 FASHION TRENDS

WIth so many options for color and coordination to choose this Autumn, it’s easy to get lost. This time around, we’ll focus more on simple coordinated colors.

The main color for Autumn this year is blue!

Men’s - Cool Blue Although autumn in Japan is filled with red and yellow, let’s not forget to also include blue and brown.

The Blue Blouson - A blouse-like jacket paired with a nice brown or white shirt or knit will keep your top half looking and feeling fantastic for almost any occasion.

Dark Blue - That dark blue jacket or shirt you have stashed in the closet will not only pair nicely, but will have you looking slimmer along the waist.

Ladies - Warm Red/Brown The trend for Ladies autumn fashion this year is a much warmer red/brown coordination.

Pairing it with the color for this year’s autumn, blue, will definitely have you looking your best!

Now that autumn is in full swing, it’s time to race to your favorite clothing stores and snag those blue and brown autumn colors to wear. Don’t forget to wear a jacket over them to easily switch up your entire look in seconds.

Enjoy autumn!

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Autumn's Top 16 with Emi Chubachi

1. The Last Day Of Summer The Cure

2. 若者のすべて FujiFabric

3. The Autumn Song ELLEGARDEN

4. Autumn Leaves BTS

5. Talking to the Moon Bruno Mars

6. Autumn Leaves - Deluxe Edition Ed Sheeran

7. 秋−さらば遠い夢よ Elephant Kashimashi

8. Autumn Sweater Yo La Tengo

Spotify

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9. 楓 SPITZ

10. 金木犀の夜 Kinokoteikoku

11. Vanilla Twilight Owl City

12. October Song Amy Winehouse

13. 10月のあなた Hana Sekitori

14. 茜色の約東 Ikimonogakari

15. 茜色の夕日 Fujifabric

16. 橙

ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION

Apple Music

illustration @vege.pop

Japanese Tongue Twister Nothing better then a bowl of wheat, raw rice, and raw eggs on a beautiful sunday morning. Try it out! Say it 3 times with out stumbling.

raw wheat, raw rice, raw eggs...

生麦 生米 生卵 namamugi namagome namatamago (なま むぎなまごめなまたまご)

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