Yummy Japanese Food : Melon Pan

Have you eaten great Japanese sweet bread, Melon pan?

This video will show you what melon pan is and how to make miniature melon pan.

I would like you to enjoy my video clip!

Let's practice Katakana together.

Please feel free to download this for your practice!

Tokyo Stories: 深夜食堂 Season 1-1

Have you heard of "Tokyo Stories", 深夜食堂？

It is one of the most famous Japanese drama,

adapted from manga series originally.

深夜＝Shinya, which means midnight.

食堂＝Shokudo, which means diner.

食堂 in Japanese refers various places to eat such as restaurants, eateries, bistro and diner. In this drama, 食堂 refers to a diner where people enjoy food with beer.

As I mentioned, the manga was adopted into television drama, which as 5 series so far. Each series has 10 episodes.

The setting of this drama :

The setting of this drama is Izakaya (Japanese pub) in Shinjyuku, Tokyo. It is open from 12am to 7am. The master offers limited menu, while he cooks anything customers want if he has enough ingredients to cook. Sometimes, customers themselves bring ingredients and ask him to cook.

Every episode focus on a particular customer, who is worried about his/her life such as job, love, and life itself. The master never gives tips to them. Instead, He serves a dish, which touches the customer's heart.

The story is simple, but it provides us with lessons about our lives.

You might learn "what is our life?" "What is sadness and loneliness?

Where can you watch the drama?

You can watch it through Amazon Prime or Netflix. Besides, This was  adapted into Korean and Chinese dramas.

Be careful! This is such a dangerous drama!!

Whenever watch this drama, I felt so hungry because the drama was on TV midnight. It is literally "FOOD PORN" I felt even sick...

In Japanese, we call it 飯テロ, meshi-tero, food terrorism.

In this blog, I will explain dishes offered by the Master one by one.

You can learn Japanese and enjoy a miniature world.

I do hope many of you to enjoy your indoor lives.

What you need is "Imagination"

Episode 1: "Red wieners and Japanese sweet rolled omelette"

Red wieners/sausages=赤いウインナー (Akai winnar)

There are many kinds of decorated wieners in Japan. Usually, they are put in a lunch box, bento. One of the most famous ones is octopus wieners. (the length is about 2.5 inches)

We call タコさんウインナー

タコさん＝Mr. Octopus

It's so easy to cook this:

1. Cut lengthwise at two-third of wiener.

2. Rotate wiener by 90 degree and cut again.

3. Stir fried them, so that octopus legs gets curved

Japanese sweet rolled omelette＝卵焼き(tamago-yaki)

卵＝egg

焼き＝stir-fried

It is more difficult to cook this than it looks.

1. Break eggs.

2. Stir egg on the pan to make it scrambled

 so that omelette becomes fluffy.

3. Roll the thin omelette on the pan and move forward.

   And, pour the rest of egg.

4. Break bubbles if they come up, 

    so that the omelette looks fine.

Japanese love this artful presentation of tamagoyaki.

This special pan needed:

You can cook these at home.

But, how about this?

Here is the miniature version that I made.

Check it out!

Let's learn Japanese from Ghibli movies (2) Would you like something to drink ?

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation company and well-known for producing creative and thoughtful works. Hayao Miyazaki is a world famous animator and has created many fantastic movies such as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and so on.

The themes in his movies range from environmentalism, to independence of children, love, and war. Not only children but also adults enjoy his works and rethink who we are and what living in the world means.

While there are numerous aspects or angles to watch his works, one of the most important keys is, I believe, "eating." (diet).  Miyazaki may think eating (food) is the most important for living things. I see some mouthwatering food in Ghibli movies, which always make me feel hungry and nostalgic. 

Now, I would like to introduce you dishes that I like in the movies.

Be patient! I bet you are getting hungry for sure. Besides, You can learn Japanese too.

Today, I pick one scene from Kiki's delivery Service. Kiki found a big city and is wondering if she lives in the city. Meanwhile, Kiki helped a woman (Osono-san) give the pacifier back to the customer. Osono invites Kiki to her shop and talk with each other.

Let's take a look at conversation both in English and Japanese.

You might find something very interesting.

A cup of coffee served by Osono 

( Kiki's delivery service )

    via                                                          via

< English version >

Osono:	Osono:
	Would you like some hot chocolate?
Kiki:	Okay.
Osono:	There you go.
Kiki:	Thank you very much, ma'am.
Osono:	And, this is for you, little guy.
	So tell me if I'm right.
	I'm guessing you are a witch in training.
Kiki:	I really love it here.
	But people don't seem to like witches in this town.
Osono:	Depends on the people
	Now, take me, for instance.
	I just met you and I know I like you.
Jiji:	Meows!

< Japanese version >

おソノさん(Osono-san)：	座って… コーヒーがいい？ハイ
	(Suwatte... coffee-ga ii? hai)
キキ(Kiki) ：	…ありがとう (Arigatou)
おソノさん(Osono-san)：	キミはこれ (kimiwa kore)
	フーン 自分の町を見つけるってわけか
	(Fu-n, jibun-no machio mitsukeru tte wakeka )
キキ(Kiki) ：	ここの方は魔女が好きじゃないみたい
	(Kokono katawa majyoga suki jyanai mitai)
おソノさん(Osono-san)：	大きな町だから いろんな人がいるさ
	(ookina machidakara ironna hitoga irusa)
	でも 私はあんたが気に入ったよ
	(demo watashiwa antaga kiniittayo)
ジジ：	ヒッ…！

First of all, let's focus on the words; キミ (Kimi) and あんた (Anta) uttered by Osono-san. In Japanese, there are various ways to address others in terms of different levels of politeness.

"You" in English is literally translated "Anata" in Japanese, but we rarely use this because this sounds rude or too direct. Instead, we usually address people's name with さん (san), さま (sama). Otherwise, we address their status such as teacher, mother and so on.

Here are some examples of ways to address others:

きみ (kimi) --- 

This is a closer way to address someones, especially younger people. In general, male bosses use this when they address female workers. (but they should be close to some extent.)

あんた (Anta) ----

This is a familiar way to address someone. This is not polite expression and sounds differently in terms of accents.  Generally, women use this word.

Well, did you find a big difference between English and Japanese version?

Yes, as you might notice...

Osono-san in English version serves hot chocolate, while one in Japanese version does coffee. What do you think this happens? In my opinion, it is said that children should not drink coffee in America and the English version avoids showing the scene to children. 

When I was twelve years old,  I was flying to America. On the plane, I asked a flight attendant to have a coffee. However, she said she couldn't because I was too young. This experience supports my idea above, I guess.


Comparing the movie in two languages, we can find so many interesting things. I believe it is one of the ways to enjoy Ghibli's movies. *What surprised me the most when I watched the English version for the first time was JiJi's voice.

Which do you like to have, coffee or hot chocolate if you were Kiki?

Japanese Sado: the way of tea : A tea gathering style

Tea ceremony is one of Japanese traditional culture. It is called 茶道 (sado) in Japanese and is sometimes translated as "the way of tea" in English.

Sado has a lot of schools in Japan, but three of main schools are called "omote-senke" （表千家）, "Ura-senke"（裏千家）and "Mushanoko-ji-seke"（武者小路千家）respectively.

My school does not belong to any of them above. My school is called "Edo-senke"（江戸千家）, which Fufaku brought to Tokyo, Edo.

Styles of serving tea are also various. It depends on seasons, the numbers of guests, and the purposes to hold a tea ceremony. We sometimes have a big tea gathering in a large room, or we have a small gathering in a small room / or house (hut).

Now, I would like to introduce one of the tea gathering styles.


野点（Nodate)

no=outside, field
date= originally it comes from a verb 点てる(tateru)
In sado, we say " Ochawo-tateru", which means "making tea"


In English, Nodate is called "outside tea ceremony or gathering"
What does nodate look like?

Let's read a catoon from Sazaesan.
(If you don't know Sazaesan, Please visit this site.

The host spreads a red cotton carpet.

The host and guests are sitting on it and enjoy green tea.

But, as you see,

one of their guests is a big dog.

He is looking forward to a cup of macha. hahaha

The first guest is called "Sho-kyuaku"（正客・しょうきゃく）

The second guest is called "Jikyaku" （次客・じきゃく）

Sho-kyaku (the first guest) sits in the nearest place to the host.

IN this cartoon, the stray dog is the first guest!

From my Japanese blog

Or, you don't have to sit on the carpet.

In some gatherings, people use red benches rather than a red carpets.

Even a host does not sit down on the tatami-mat.

The style is called "Ryu-rei", where the host makes tea on the table, 

sitting on the chair. So, this is favorable for people 

who don't like or can't sit on tatami mat.

When it comes to tea gathering, people tend to think it is

very formal and serious, but it depends on the situations.

You can enjoy macha with sweets

under the trees or sitting on the bench.

I hope many of you to have an interest in Japanese tea ceremony.

Thank you!

Let's learn Japanese from Ghibli movies: A dish from Castle in the Sky (1)

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation company and well-known for producing creative and thoughtful works. Hayao Miyazaki is a world famous animator and has created many fantastic movies such as Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and so on.

The themes in his movies range from environmentalism, to independence of children, love, and war. Not only children but also adults enjoy his works and rethink who we are and what living in the world means.

While there are numerous aspects or angles to watch his works, one of the most important keys is, I believe, "eating." (diet).  Miyazaki may think eating (food) is the most important for living things. I see some mouthwatering food in Ghibli movies, which always make me feel hungry and nostalgic. 

Now, I would like to introduce you dishes that I like in the movies.
Be patient! I bet you are getting hungry for sure. Besides, You can learn Japanese too.

 Meatballs-laden Soup (in "Castle in the Sky")

via

Let't take a look at the conversation between Pazu and a clerk in English.

Pazu：Meatballs for the Boss.

A clerk：You are working late tonight, Pazu.

Pazu：Yeah, things are really busy for change.

A woman：Back to work?

Pazu：Yup!

Now, let's read the conversation in Japanese. (from the original movie)

パズー(Pazu)：おじさん、肉団子二つ入れて。

                     (Ojisan, Nikudango Futatsu Irete.)

店員(ten-in)：珍しく残業かい？

                                (Mezurashiku Zangyo-kai?)

パズー：うん、今日は久しぶりに忙しんだ。

                  (Woun, Kyowa Hisashiburini Isogashinda)

女性(jyosei)：まだ仕事？

                             (mada shigoto?)

パズー：うん。

<words>

肉 (niku)=meat

団子 (dango)＝ball

珍しく (mezurashiku) ＝for change, after a long time

残業 (zanggo) ＝overwork
まだ (mada) =still
仕事 (shigoto) ＝work

Comparing two versions in English and Japanese, you might find something interesting. While Pazu says "meatballs for the boss", he doesn't mention "the boss" in Japanese. This might happen because in English version, the fact that Pazu has to work late under his boss is emphasized and the English one needs to mention he has to bring dinner to his boss. 

On the other hand, the Japanese original version doesn't mention who will have the meatballs. So, I had thought the meatballs were Pazu's dinner not for his boss before I watched the English version.



<Recipe>
Meatballs-laden Soups

Ingredients:
・minced pork
・carrot
・onion
・potato
・celery
・diced tomatoes
・ketchup
・stock cubes
・salt and pepper


Cut all vegetables into dice and add a pan with water and stock.
Make meatballs and grill them on the pan before adding to the soup.
Season with salt, pepper and ketchup.
Simmer for a while and done!

If you add soy source and sliced ginger instead of ketchup,
the soup gets more Japanese like.

Japanese Yokai (supernatural creature) : Kitaro

Yokai（妖怪・ようかい） is a general term for supernatural creatures such as ghosts, monsters and fairies in Japanese folktales. Some really like a human being, others have a long necks, or several eyes. (They look like monsters or devils.) Many Yokai are indigenous to local areas in Japan and some are regarded as a god to protect natures. Therefore,  Yokai range from helpful or generous ones to human beings to aggressive or violent ones.

Shigeru Mizuki is the most famous cartoonist who drew Yokai ( supernatural creatures). His favorite work is "Gegege-no Kitaro" Kitaro is half human and half Yokai. He has a justice and always protects us from bad Yokai.

Here,  I would like to introduce characters from Gegegege-no-kitaro. Some are scaring and others are funny. You might find a Yokai that you like.

This is Kitaro, a main character in Gegegeno-kitaro

Now, the followings are his profile.

Let's read Japanese!

1. 鬼太郎は日本人と妖怪のハーフです。

（きたろうは、にほんじんとようかいのハーフです。）

He is mixed with Japanese and yokai.

If your father is American while your mother is Japanese,

you can say, 

「わたしは、父がアメリカ人で母が日本人のハーフです。」

watashi-wa chichiga American de

hahaha nihonjinno half desu.

2. 彼の片目は盲目で、髪の毛でおおわれています。

(Kareno-katame wa moumokude, kaminokede

oowareteimasu.)

 He is blind in one eye, which is coverd with his hair.

 盲目（もうもく）moumoku=blind eye

In fact, one of his eyes became a Yokai, 

called medama-no oyaji. 

medama=eye

oyaji=father

so, the eye is Kitaro's father, called  "one eye doctor"

 3. 彼のトレードマークはちゃんちゃんこと下駄です。

Kareno trademark wa chanchanko to Geta desu.

His trademarks are chanchanko and geta.

ちゃんちゃんこ

chanchanko is a padded sleeveless kimono jacket.

In tradition, people who become 60 years old,

they wear a read jacket and wish for their longevity.

げた

Geta is a pair of wooden footwear,

which people wear in Kimono.

４.鬼太郎は仲間を呼ぶためにオカリナを吹きます。

Kitaro wa nakamawo yobutameni ocarina wo hukimasu.

Kitaro plays the ocarina to call his friends.

This ocarina transforms into a stick to fight with enemies.

As I show you, Kitaro is a kind and very strong boy.

But, you know what the strongest point that he has?

: Justice and Love