Natsubate 夏ばて

It has been hot in Japan. We say Supper hot summer "mousho" 猛暑 This summer is "mousho".

We sometimes ask my friends in summer. "Natsubate 夏ばて shiteru ?" Natsubate means weariness from the heat in summer. And Losting our appetite because of the summer heat and "natsubate"is often used as same meaning.

When we have lost our appetite in summer, we eat light meal or foods that supply energy for us.
Representative light meal is cold Japanese noodle,  Soba or Somen. It is so simple to eat. It is eaten with "Mentsuyu" 麺つゆJapanese soup base. 
Eel (Unagi  うなぎ)  is representative food that supplys energy in summer.  I like both. 
I have good appetite anytime. However, I sometimes lost my appetite in hot summer like this year. 

I have necessary foods in hot summer. They are Edamame 枝豆 (boiled green soy-beans) and Suika すいか(watermelon) And it is important to supply water and salt content in order to suffer heatstroke. 

What do you eat to keep our energy and prevent natsubate in your countries?  
 
  

Doll Festival ひな祭り - Sakuramochi

Today, the third on March is a day of Doll Festival. It is for girls. Family that have daughter display the dolls for Hinamatsuri in the room. Hinamatsuri is called seasonal festival of peach (momo) 桃.


I feel spring's coming in Japan. It is cold in March in Japan, however, we can see some flowers of spring. Peach or Japanese apricot (Ume) 梅....
I love Japanese sweets and Sakuramochi さくらもち is eaten on Doll Festival. Japanese "momo" is same as pink of color. We can call pink Momoiro 桃色in Japanese. The color of sakuramochi is pink. It is covered with leaf of Sakura. The taste of leaf is salty. Since the pink rice cake is sweet, harmony of taste is excellent.

We put away the dolls after March 3. Because a popular belief says that daughter could marry soon when the dolls are put away soon. I think it is just a superstition. However, every parents always hope their daughters become happy.                

Saint Valentine's Day in Japan

 14th in February is Saint Valentine's day. We can buy a lot chocolates for Valentine's day in department stores in Japan. Many women select chocolates for their boyfriend, co-workers and themselves. Valentine's day is special event in Japan. 

I went to a famous department store in Tokyo this weekend. The store was crawling with so many women. And there are so many counters in the store. Belgian, Italian, Swiss, German, America, Japan, UAE...... I saw delicious chocolates of a lot of countries and could taste them. I was satisfied with some piece of them. All of them were so delicious. 

Since Valentine's day in Japan is one of commercialism, I always haven't send chocolates to my friends for a long time. The chocolates are so expensive. I know they are famous maker's ones. When I went to Belgian, I ate delicious chocolates of Neuhaus or Pierre Marcolini. I love them. However, too expensive in Japan. The frenzy is strange for me. 

However, I yielded to temptation this year and bought chocolates that made in Japan for my family and off course myself. The box and chocolate's shape is so cute. The price is not expensive. I especially liked the box. Also chocolates are so delicious!

Is Valentine's day special event in your countries ?

Chocolate box is decorated with paper cherry blossom (Sakura)

               

Hiyashi Chuka 冷やし中華

What do you want to eat in summer ? There is a dish that I want to eat in summer. It is Hiyashi Chuka. It is cold noodle and so popular dish in summer for Japanese. I ate first Hiyashi Chuka this summer. It was so delicious!

Normal toppings are ham or boiled chicken, cucumber, kinshitamago (sliced tamagoyaki) and tomato and so on. I think Hiyashi Chuka is probably original Japanese dish. Sauce is especially tasty. There are two types of sauce, one is sesame taste and another is soy sauce and vinegar taste. I like both taste.  

I like other Japanese cold noodle, Somen or soba, however, Hiyashi Chuka is my favorite menu in summer.             

Senbei せんべい



When I go to a trip abroad, there are some Japanese foods that I want to. Miso soup, natto (Fermented beans) Udon or Ramen, etc. These are difficult to bring in foreign countries. (However, we might eat Japanese foods in some countries now...) But I definitely bring a Japanese snack for trip.

It is senbei. Senbei is most useful food to bring because they are so light. Basic senbei's taste is soy sauce and the shape is circle. It is so simple taste. There are a lot of kinds of senbei. Soy sauce taste wrapped with sea weed (Nori), salt, cheese, sugar... I love all kinds of senbei.

I always enjoyed cuisine of each countries in my trip. I like to try to eat local foods. However, when I eat local cuisine every day, I sometimes get tired of them because they are oily or heavy for our stomach. Especially sweets, chocolate, cakes too sweet for Japanese. Sometimes I want to eat Japanese foods, not oily and simple foods. A piece of Senbei and a cup of green tea makes me happy in a whole trip. It is portable and it can be packed in suitcase. It is difficult what we bring our favorite other Japanese foods. Some pieces of senbei and teabag of green tea are essential items for my trip. ( A cup of green tea is necessary to eat senbei, I think...)

Senbei is one of popular souvenirs for tourists who come to Japan. When you visit Japan, please try eating it.              

Onigiri おにぎり is Japanese soul food

The national football team battle in Asian Cup in middle east area now.  I read a topic in newspaper about national team. First game was barely draw game. It is weakness for Japanese team not to able to shoot one goal. Italian, Zacceloni is new director and he instructed the players to eat Onigiri after the first game. I thought his instruction was right. I think onigiri is one of our soul foods. When we ear it, we can get energy.
Onigiri is just a rice ball. It is very simple, however it is so delicious for us. 

Probably first onigiri in our life is each mother's handmade onigiri. Japanese mother make putting it in her love for their children. The shape is ball or triangle. I love onigiri and sometimes eat one or two as lunch. A lot of onigiri, various types are sold in convenience store.
I brought my mother's onigiri for lunch box when I was a child. My mother's onigiri is triangle. I loved my mother's onigiri. I remember I was happy to eat it.

National football team won last game and they play against Korean national team next week. I hope they win by onigiri power.   

ラーメンたべたい！ (Ramen tabetai)

There is a food that almost Japanese like. Sometimes I have an urge to eat it. It is Ramen. Ramen らーめん is very popular Japanese food. It is originally Chinese food, however, I think Ramen becomes a typical Japanese food.

There are some taste, soy sauce, miso, salt. tonkotsu, . A lot of ramen shops ラーメン屋 exist in Japan. They have own original ramen. A lot of people wait to eat delicious and special ramen in front of popular ramen shops. People can wait for a long time to eat it. Almost ramen shops are small and hold less than 20 people. There is a counter that have about ten seats and some tables.
Ramen is of course delicious, however, I think there is another reason that ramen is popular. It takes about 30 or 40 minutes to order and eat it. It is very easy to fill and satisfy our stomach quickly. I think it is modern soul food for Japanese.

"I want to eat Ramen !" ラーメンたべたい！ I say one in a week. I love it. After you eat it in Japan, you must eat it again and say "Ramen Tabetai!".

A song "ラーメンたべたい" is one of my favorite songs. The song was composed by Akiko Yano who I love. Her piano performance is always amazing and fantastic.

ラーメンたべたい　Akiko yano

Sanma (さんま・秋刀魚)

It becomes recently cooler in morning and night. Wind is different from summer one. I can feel the beginning of autumn.

We feel change of season for food. Sanma is pacific saury (mackerel pike) and typical fish in autumn for Japanese. The shape of sanma is thin and like a sword. In Japanese character "Kanji" 漢字 , we write as 秋刀魚. 　 *秋 (autumn) 刀 (sword) 魚 (fish)

We like salted and grilled sanma. We will eat definitely grilled sanma once in autumn. When we grill it, smoke and smell are appetizing. The gut of sanma is very bitter, however, the bitterness is tasty for people who love grilled sanma. I can eat it, but I don't like so much. Since price of sanma is reasonable and cook easily, everyone can enjoy eating many times. The catch of sanma decreases this year as a recent news report. The price will be expensive.

Food is very necessary to find new season for us. There are a lot of delicious autumn foods in Japan.

Casutella カステラ of Nagasaki

I love a Japanese cake, Castella カステラ. It is simple taste, however, soft and so delicious. I ate a piece of castella recently. I felt happy.

This cake was introduce to Nagasaki from Portugal in 16 century. It is classic sponge cake and very popular in Japan.

Nagasaki is historical and important place for Japanese. It is the oldest trade port. Japan dealt with Portugal, Holland or China. A lot of other countries products, language or culture were introduced into Nagasaki and Japan. There are some Japanese words that are derived from Portugal or Holland. And many Christians live in Nagasaki because of historical background.

Tomorrow is a memorial day of atomic bomb in Nagasaki. We must not forget tragedy for World War Ⅱ. I will pray for world peace tomorrow.

Nagasaki City / Peace & Atomic Bomb

Mugicha (Roasted barley tea)

This summer is very sweltering hot. We want to drink a lot of cold beverages in such hot summer.

I think Japanese like tea. There are some kinds of Japanese tea in Japan. You might think we drink cold green tea 緑茶 in summer. Certainly a lot of bottle of cold green tea are sold at supermarket. I buy it and drink at office to cool down. However, we usually drink another special tea in summer, mugicha 麦茶 at home. I keep mugicha in refrigerator and can drink anytime. A cup of mugicha is so nice to drink after taking a bath or at the time to come home.

Mugicha is aromatic and tasty. Also it is so healthy. Mugicha is suitable for Japanese sweet cakes. When I drink cold mugicha, I feel Japanese summer.

Takoyaki たこ焼き

Paul of octopus is a topic during world cup 2010 in Japan. It is surprising talent (Is it a coincidence?)

Octopus 蛸 is one of well-known ingredients in Japan. We eat some mollusks, octopus or squid for traditional Japanese food.

Takoyaki たこやき is very popular food for us. Originally it is a food of Osaka, west area (Kansai area) in Japan. It is eaten in Tokyo now. (I think culture of west and east, Osaka and Tokyo, is very different.)

Takoyaki is a grilled dumpling and small piece of boiled octopus (tako). It is very Japanese worcestershire sauce, mayonnaise, a piece of dried bonito (Katsuobishi), and dried green laver (aonori) are put on takoyaki. Combination of these flavoring is excellent. *Aonori あおのり is one of seaweed.

When I was a child, takoyaki didn't prevailed in Tokyo. I had never eaten it. However we can eat anywhere in Japan now.

If you visit Osaka, you must try to eat Takoyaki and Oconomiyaki. They become typical Japanese cuisine.

Q,P Mayonnaise マヨネーズ

There are a lot of delicious seasonings in Japan. Soy sauce or Miso is typical Japanese taste.

I think mayonnaise made in Japan is so delicious. I saw a topic that Japanese mayonnaise, Q.P mayonnaise is sold well at Amazon in US.

In Japan two mayonnaise mainly are sold, one is Q.P Mayonnaise and Ajinomoto's mayonnaise.
Mayonnaise is sold in plastic squeeze bottle. Kewpie doll is a mascot of Q.P and it is so cute.

Japanese love mayonnaise. it is used in Japanese food well. We call people who especially are addicted to it and eat it well, Mayolar マヨラー. It is new Japanese word and recently is used in daily life. However, mayonnaise is high calorie. Too much eating is not healthy. I like it and sometimes use for sauce of salad. It is very delicious and convenience seasoning.

Strawberry Shortcake

I think that most well-known cake for Japanese is Strawberry shortcake. The shape is different from other countries one. I love it and sometimes I want to eat. I have eaten it when I was a child. Strawberry shortcake was one of favorite cakes for especially children at this time.

Strawberry (Ichigo 苺) is very popular fruits. It is sweet and has acidity. Ichigo gari いちご狩り is a event in spring. Ichigo gari means picking fresh strawberries. We normally can eat them that we want to eat per one time ichigo gari within limited time, for example, 30 minutes. I have gone to Ichigo gari several times. Picking and eating fresh strawberry in the air is so nice.

Strawberry shortcake is made of sponge cake, whip cream and strawberry. All ingredients are tempting. Japanese shortcake is delicious. If you visit Japan, please try to eat.

Taiyaki たいやき

There are a lot of Japanese cakes (wagashi 和菓子). Taiyaki たいやき is one of hot cakes and shape is a fish that is called Tai 鯛 (bream). The mold is made in the shape of fish. Taiyaki is sold at the special stand,"taiyaki-ya" 鯛焼き屋. It is one of food of cold season, however, we can eat all the year around. Bean paste is put in the body of taiyaki. Taste is simple but it is so delicious. Tai, bream is thought as a lucky fish in Japan. It is eaten as congratulatory food. Japanese "Medetai" めでたい means happy or auspicious. "Tai" of Medetai rhymes with "Tai" as fish.

There is a song of Taiyaki. The song is "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" . It was a song in TV program for children in 1975. And it became big hit in the year.

I ate Taiyaki today. Taiyaki is well-known cake in Japan. I recommend you to eat it when you visit Japan.

Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun

Udon うどん - Japanese Noodle

Autumn season comes. It gets colder. What do you eat when you catch a cold in your country?

I catch a cold now. What do I want to eat? I want to simple Udon, based on dashi(stock) and soy sauce soup. Udon is a one of Japanese hot noodle. There are a lot of kinds and regional varieties. When I don't want to eat much because of illness, Udon is the best food for me. Because it is not oily and easy to eat.

I think Japanese people like noodles. Other noodle, Soba is very special Japanese noodle. We can eat it like hot Udon. However, it is cold noodle (Zaru soba) and we eat putting the noodle in special dashi soup. Zaru is a Japanese bamboo basket and Zaru soba is put on soba noodle on the basket.

When you eat noodles in Japan, it is OK to suck and make a noise. It is not bad manner. The noise sounds delicious for Japanese people. If you visit Japan, I recommend to eat some Japanese noodles. They are so delicious and Japanese particular food culture.

Brown Rice 玄米 (Genmai) - Macrobiotique Diet

We eat every day and food that we eat is very important for our body. I read about macrobiotic diet and cooking book.

Macrobiotic diet is recently known in Japan. A Japanese philosopher recommended macrobiotic diet and it become well-known around the world now. Brown rice （玄米）or millet (雑穀) become recently popular among especially Japanese women. One of reason is loosing weight, however, another reason is health.

Traditional Japanese food is originally very healthy. Brown rice is one of these foods. When we eat brown rice, it is organic and chewing well is very important for assimilation.
Brown rice tea 玄米茶 (Genmai cha) is good for health. It is aromatic and one of my favorite tea.

I cooked genmai dumpling reading macrobiotic cooking book yesterday. It substitutes ground brown rice and tofu for meat. Genmai risotto with porcini that I cooked few weeks ago was so delicious !

One of triggers that I am interested in healthy foods is my disease and of my parents. I feel daily food that I eat form my body afresh. I will cook delicious and healthy food.

Mos Burger

There are a lot of fast-food restaurants in Japan. Especially young people like and eat these foods. Low price is one of reason that they like. I hardly eat fast food in daily life. I don't like hamburger or these junk foods. However, I sometimes want to eat hamburger or fried potato. When I think so, there is my favorite fast-food restaurant to go to eat. It is Mos Burger.

Mos Burger is Japanese fast-food restaurant. Teriyaki burger is my favorite menu. Mos rice burger is special menu of it. Its bun is rice.
And the place of origin is mentioned in the restaurant. It is good point for me.

There are a lot of normal menu as fast-food restaurant. When you visit Japan and you want to eat hamburger, I recommend you try it.

Mos Burger Japanese site

Nigauri (苦瓜)

This vegetable is Nigauri. (苦瓜) It is so bitter taste. It is one of special products in Okinawa that an island or other islands in south area of Japan. We also call it "Goya" that is a dialect in Okinawa. Goya was not well- known and eaten in mainland a few years before, however, becomes popular now. We can usually buy it at any supermarkets.

Goya chanpuru is Okinawan cuisine and becomes popular among us. I sometimes cook it and so delicious. It is also very healthy food.
I recently heard that planting Nigauri at home is one of natural prevention for global warming. Vine of Nigauri is like a green curtain to prevent sunshine from getting in through window. It is strong plant and not difficult to nourish. We can eat the fruits. It is isseki nicho
(一石二鳥). 一石二鳥 means "kill two birds with one stone".
　
I like the bitterness of Nigauri. Goya champuru is a essential food for me in this season.

和洋折衷(Wayou Setchu) Compromise between Japanese and Western styles

I think we can eat a lot of foods that have variety. Also we like to research new and original tastes. We are creating many foods that are taken over other countries’ taste. Japanese word, 和洋折衷, means things that compromised between Japanese and Western styles. We have made some foods of 和洋折衷. These foods express our originality.

For example, Anpan あんパン is very standard food for Japanese. It is a bun filled with bean paste and sold in almost bakeries. It is so delicious and one of my favorite foods when I was a child. Anpanman is an anime character that is known well for Japanese children. Bean paste (餡) is Japanese traditional food. However, bun is western food.

There are cakes that is used powdered green tea (Matcha). They are so delicious. Cake is western food, but Matcha is Japanese food. Western and Japan culture grow into one.
Tarako (たらこ) spaghetti is a kind of pasta in Japan. It is mayonnaise and soy sauce based and so delicious. Tarako is ovary of cod and tastes salty. It is Japanese typical ingredient. We normally eat it with hot rice. If Italian eat tarako spaghetti, they might say it is not Italian food. It is certainly not Italian food. It is Wayou Setchu food.

Some Wayou Setshu foods take root in our food culture. They are not traditional, however, another kind of Japanese foods.

初鰹 Hatsugatsuo

We say that it is good for health to eat foods in season. We call these foods in season "Shun" 旬 no tabemono (food). "Shun" is especially important for Japanese life and we use this word for each season.

Katsuo (Bonito) is "Shun no tabemono" now. We call it "Hatsugatsuo" 初鰹. We normally eat it as one kind of sashimi. We call it Katsuo no Tataki. Katsuo no Tataki is raw, however, only surface of a piece of Katsuo is grilled. The relish of Katsuo is grated garlic. I like sashimi and Hatsugatsuo is so delicious.

There is a famous Haiku of Katuo.

目に青葉　山ほととぎす　初鰹

(Meni aoba Yama hototogisu Hatsugatsuo)

It expresses early summer in Japan.
We can see a lot of green leaves (青葉) outside, Lesser Cuckoo (ほととぎす) chirps in mountains and Bonito is in season (初鰹）.

What is "Shun" of early summer in your countries ?