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?

Red Beans

Japanese people love sweetened red beans.  They go well with anything!

You can wrap it with a rice cake or wrap rice cakes with it ;)  It tastes amazing with ice cream, especially the green tea flavor.  An-pan or red bean filled bread is also popular.  

It is not only sweet but it is really healthy too.  People say that they have lots of vitamin B1.  That helps to reduce fatigue, stiff shoulders, muscle ache, etc.

I am sure eating too much would not help so much...but it is good to know that at least it is some way healthy!

Print Club

The photo booth called Print Club in Japan is getting more and more popular.
I used to take photos with my friends and brothers all the time.


Recently the photo booth machine offered "a beautiful skin."
Your face looks really smooth and shiny on the photos.
That is amazing.  I look completely different!
I mean I look how I want my skin to look like in the reality.


Now they have one that makes your eyes bigger!!!
I have never tried this one before, but that is almost like getting plastic surgery virtually.
You will not be able to tell who they are anymore.
I wonder if people use them for driver's license or passport...