Half Year

This year has been going really busy and fast !!!
That is a great thing :)


It is not that I have forgotten to update this blog.
It just did not happen...


Oh, I feel bad.


We are currently working on a new project and I will be able to introduce you very soon !!!




By the way, I was showing how I make ginger tea to my in-laws the other day and they loved it.
It is very easy.
You just need a ginger root.  Peel a small piece and slice them.  Leave them in a teapot with tea leaves.
That's it !!!
You will feel your finger tips and toes warm :D


Great way to keep your body warm in air conditioned room !

Happy 2011 !!!

How was your winter holiday?
I am sure everyone had a great warm winter vacation.


In Japan the first seven days of January are traditionally New Year Holidays when I was a child.
Now it is the first three days.
It used to be from New Year Day to January 20th.
Our life is apparently getting busier and faster and I hope it is a good thing.


No matter how rapidly our life style changes, the Japanese New Year cuisine called osechi has not changed much.
I just love looking at them how pretty they are decorated.
Of course it is very delicious and healthy as well.

Wishing you a very wonderful coming year!!!

Autumn Leaves

It must be so pretty everywhere in Japan right now.
Trees are turning color.
Ginkgo trees are sunshine yellow and Japanese maple trees are burning red.
It is just picture perfect.
I wonder if it turns out yellow and red when you take a satellite photo of Japan.

Matsutake

I love mushroom dishes especially the ones in Japanese cuisine.
You can find enoki, shitake, shimeji or maitake mushrooms at American markets now these days, but not matsutake.
This mushroom called matsutake has an amazing aroma and just triggers your appetite.
I saw some at Japanese and Korean super markets in LA.  Maybe I should try them soon!

Sweet potatoes

It will be a perfect time to eat sweet potatoes soon in Japan :D
There are many different type of sweet potato dishes, my favorite one is called "sweet potato"......!


It is a sweet that is made out of sweet potatoes.  Basically it is mashed sweet potatoes mixed with sugar, milk, butter, cinnamon or vanilla that is formed in oval in most cases with yolk brushed over and baked.
We call sweet potatoes satsuma imo in Japanese and the sweet potato sweets "sweet potato."

It sounds more like "sui - to po te to" (sue e eat oh poe te toe)

Convenient Stores

I miss conbini or convenience (convenient) stores in Japan.
They have literally everything you need.
If you forget something, you just need to go to one of conbinis.
You can find anything you need.
They have anything from food to underwear.
It could be your office.
You can buy post stamps.
You can make photo copies and send faxes.
It could be your kitchen.
They heat up your bento box.
They have both hot and cold canned drinks.
They are just so convenient!!!
Yes there is Famima in LA, but it's just different...

Hanabi

There are so many festivals in Japan during the summer!

I love going there in my yukata, which is a summer kimono!

My favorite ones are firework festivals.  Japanese fire works come in many colors and they are huge in the sky.

They are usually held by the rivers and the reflection on water is amazing.

Would it be great to have a ice cold beer or sake watching fire works outside with your friends?