Click-a-Japan

Churaumi Aquarium

Farah — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:54:41 +0000

Thanks to my friend Krissy, who inspired me to write about this.

She told me how she enjoyed viewing our photos of our 2009 Okinawa trip album, specially those photos of the Churaumi Aquarium.

Churaumi Aquarium is one of many popular attractions at Ocean Expo Park in Okinawa.

A gigantic tank called “The Kuroshio Sea Tank” has the largest fish in the world, the whale shark, and the world’s first successfully bred-in-captivity manta can also be seen. But I won’t write about these, cause you can read more details at their official website.*

Here are some of our photos:

The entrance to the Churaumi Aquarium

Kuroshio Sea - the gigantic tank, which has a volume capacity of 7,500 cubic meters

Here with my husband and his family

*
Here is a link to their official website:

Churaumi Aquarium

Thank you Jon Rawlinson for allowing me to share your video.

A life in Japan (a video on You Tube)

Farah — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 14:02:44 +0000

Here is a one hour and 20 minute documentary on “what foreigners say about Japan”.

Personally, I watched this and smiled because there are so many things that I can relate and understand what they talked about.

If you have an hour, I recommend that you – Watch this !

Then, you will know- why I am still living in Japan after almost 20 years.

I recommend this to many of my friends living here.

Here is the link with English Sub-titles.
Thank you to PetriStorlopare in You Tube for this.

Hanami 2012

Farah — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:48:28 +0000

Hanami with friends at Shinjuku Gyoen

I just had to jump as always...

The following Text was taken from my other blog entry:

The beauty of this flower is appreciated by most Japanese – I think that many Japanese people love the “Sakura.”

For many, it reminds them of a new start - that comes with Spring.

April in Japan is the “beginning of a new year” ; it is “the start” of a new year for students, and for fresh graduates who will enter their new companies, a new life.

So, the blooming of the cherry blossoms can mean a lot to more people who are in this phase of their lives.

The beauty of these flowers is also so much appreciated because – we wait for it to bloom for a year, and it only stays for about a week or two.

Personally, when I am in Japan, I enjoy my birthday because the sakuras are usually in full bloom.

Hanami comes from the words- “Hana” – flower, and the verb “Miru” – to watch or view, therefore, it means” flower watching.”

Hanami links:

This is Hanami – 2010 Video of Hanami

Or check out the Flowers Tab in my Blog

Arigato !

Green Tea (Matcha) Kit kat

Farah — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:15:50 +0000

For years I have always seen the Green Tea Kit Kat at the Airport, specially at Narita.

Honestly, I never tasted it until a week ago because for me, Kit Kat = chocolate.

The Green tea , (Matcha) flavored Kit Kat has been popular amongst many tourists who stop by Narita Airport or those people who leave Japan and buy them as “souvenirs”.

This one in the photo, is the new Green Tea Kit Kat, with a new package.

According to the Nestle, Japan page, it has been on sale since February 13, 2012.

Inside this package, we have 12 mini Kit Kats…

Out in the Market - Feb. 13, 2012

This is the same package I saw at the supermarket recently. Kit Kat Green tea tastes sweet, a mild green tea flavor coats the wafers. It’ s like a mixture of white chocolate- and green tea. It is a different kind-a Kit Kat.

The package says – “Sweet taste for Adults”

Am going to send some to my sister and brothers back home. I hope they like it.

Akihabara 2012

Farah — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:07:59 +0000

It’s been years since we visited Akihabara, maybe nearly two years…am not really sure.

2012 Akihabara

Akihabara was popularly known as the Electric town – when most stores were loaded with Electronics, and Electric Appliances…. such as televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, and more.

It is near the Tokyo station on the JR line. (Japan railways)

Many people – call this place “Akiba”.

Lots of foreigners come here to buy “Tax Free” goods such as computers, electronic gadgets, radios, music players, appliances such as televisions, and even rice cookers.

But in the past years, Akiba has changed.

The train station is so much busier with it’s new look.

There is the biggest Yodobashi Camera chain store right next to the station. They sell cameras, computers, books, telephones, music players, stereos, musical instruments, and many related products.

There are a few bigger buildings surrounding the station. These buildings have a variety of coffee shops, restaurants, and other places to wine and dine. But of course, there are still some shops for appliances, computers around Akiba.

With all these changes – Akiba is now more popular amongst many fans of anime, AKB 48, anime, manga, and costume play or cosplay.

The music idol group, AKB48's Goods shop and Cafe

Maid Kissa (Kissaten) or Maid Coffee shops

Sweet

Tokyo Sky Tree and Asakusa

Farah — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:50:52 +0000

One day in January, I decided to take some pictures of the New Tokyo Tower, called – “Tokyo Sky Tree”.

“Tokyo Sky Tree” will formally open to the public in May 2012 at the Narihirabashi/Oshiage area of Sumida Ward. It boasts a height of 634m and the tower will be one of the world’s tallest.

Please click this link to view my album “Tokyo Sky Tree and Asakusa” at my Flickr Photostream.

If you want to see all the 80 photos in that album (the Photo-stream) in one click, use this link. It will tell you how I spent one afternoon.

I do hope you enjoy Asakusa and the Sky Tree.

After you check out the photos, you may want to read about:

Asakusa at my other blog entry.

TOKYO SKY TREE

Kaki Fry – Fried Oysters, anyone?

Farah — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:22:03 +0000

When I was younger, I was allergic to shrimps.

Since I avoided shrimps, I also did not touch anything related to crabs, shell fish, oysters, and anything I thought was related

to my allergy.

Little did I realise that I could eat oysters.

When I came to Japan, I was introduced to deep fried oysters, and that is “Kaki Fry”.

A few weeks ago, I made my first attempt at cooking this.

Thanks to Japanese food. about.com , here is the recipe, this time complete with my photos.

Ingredients:

16 oysters
2 eggs
1 cup panko (bread crumbs)
1/4 cup flour
oil for frying
salt and pepper
cabbage (side dish)

Eggs, Panko- bread crumbs, and Flour

Preparation:

Clean the oysters in salted water. Then, dry oysters with paper towels. Sprinkle salt and pepper over oysters.

Put flour, the beaten eggs, and panko in separate plates.

Coat the oysters with flour, eggs, and then panko. I do mine, eggs-flour-eggs-panko.

Fry the coated oysters in 350 degrees F oil until they turn brown.

Place some finely sliced cabbage on a plate and serve the fried oysters.

Well, hope you like my first try at this delicious deep fried oysters.

Happy Frying !

Greetings

Farah — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:50:05 +0000

More about Valentine’s Day here…

Year of the Dragon

Farah — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 13:11:33 +0000

English translation:

There is a river… There is a road…

Always
* This is our Nenga jo for this year…
You can read more about the Nenga Jo at the link below:
Nenga Jo

Lobster’s Life

Farah — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:57:42 +0000

On the morning of December 24th, just like everyone else, we went shopping to prepare our Christmas dinner.

We already had everything listed.

My Y always wanted to buy Lobsters, but they are very hard to find in Japanese supermarkets.

We were both surprised to see these lobsters.

Still fresh and moving all the way from Canada

So, we happily bought two lobsters and brought them home.

I put them in our bathtub so they could move around.

Meet my pets for a day - Lob and Ster

We went to our Christmas mass, and after returning home. We started cooking. When we boiled the water for the Lob and Ster. I started to think, what a pity for them to be cooked in the hot pot. I took my pets for a day – and handed them to Y. I left the kitchen cause I did not want to see them in the hot water. Y put them in, and after I walked back to the kitchen – they were already boiling in the water, and all red. I cried a tear for Lob and Ster.

Thinking back, everything we eat – Fish, Crabs, Shrimps, Beef, Pork, Lamb, and Chicken have the same fate as Lob and Ster. Then, I felt much better.

My “pets for a day” were so delicious !!! Thank you Lob and Ster !

Merry Christmas !

Christmas Cake 2011

Farah — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 09:28:09 +0000

Decorated the cake by ourselves.

This year, we decided to buy a plain cake and decorate it.

So we bought the fresh strawberries and whip cream.

It was so much fun making this together with my Y. He decided to beat the whip cream with the hand beater and refused to use the electric mixer. The texture of the whipped cream turned out so much better. Then, I cut the cake and put the strawberries in the mid-section. Then, we covered the whole cake with the snow-like cream and topped it with these sweet Japanese strawberries.

But since we really are not professional bakers – our decoration is very amateur but one thing is for sure – we really had so much fun decorating it together this Christmas day. Much more – it was delicious and had so much strawberries in and out

Wish I could share this with my family in the Philippines, specially my mom, who loves strawberries very much.

Christmas Cake 2010

More about the Christmas Cake tradition in Japan

Cleaning time for the Students

Farah — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:46:19 +0000

Back home when I was a child, I went to school but I never cleaned my school.

I do not remember if ever we were told to clean our school.

As a teacher here in Japan, one of the delightful surprises was seeing the Japanese children clean their school.

Each child has his own rag, and mini broom and dust pan.

Most Japanese Elementary schools and Junior High Schools have a time to clean.

The schedule is usually, after lunch, they have 30 minutes to play outside.

Then at about 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 , that is cleaning time.

When the “cleaning music” starts to play – they children and teachers put on their caps, get their cleaning gears and go to their groups.

It is so nice to see these children get their rags, brooms and dust pans – go out the corridors – and start cleaning.

I will let the photos explain for themselves – it is such a heart-warming feeling – to see all of them do things together for their school.

Soji no jikan – is cleaning time.

Grade 1 Girl on her knees - most kids wipe the floors this way.

More Grade One students in action

Some Grade 6 girls

Grade 3 boys in their assigned area

My Grade 5 students

My Grade 6 boys and girls scrubbing the floors

Every child has a cleaning group per week. They also have a leader – they start cleaning upon instructions of the teacher and/or the leader. Each child is assigned to a place, sometimes inside their classroom, sometimes, outside the classrooms or even around the school grounds – including the auditorium, the playground, and more.

The students and teachers clean everyday.

After 15 minutes, the chime rings – and this time , the members of the group fall in a straight line, then the leader will ask them their feedback or observations for that day. For example – One would say ” cleaning was fun, but today some kids were talking” or ” Someone did not do his best today, someone played around…” Then the leader would say ” Next time, let us do much better.” Then they all bow, and say – “thank you” to each other for their work.

Then they walk back to their classrooms. Each classroom has a big sink with usually 3 or more faucets. There they wash their rags, and hang them in the assigned area, usually under their seats – or at the rope in the corridor.

I love to watch the children clean and communicate after cleaning.

Recently, I also have started doing my share like wiping the tables, but I enjoy using the long broom to wipe away the cobwebs on the ceilings and corners of the walls.

I hope many countries will also have cleaning time because I believe that this definitely build the child’s character in a positive way.