FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 10

Often overlooked, from salted edamame and tofu to fermented miso and natto, the humble soybean forms the foundation of the Japanese diet. Rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, soy enriches the body and leads the way to a healthy lifestyle.

For Week 10 of Friday Favorites, the JASH staff is pleased to share our favorite edible soy products:

1. Aburaage (油揚げ)

2. Edamame (枝豆)

3. Koya Tofu (こうや豆腐)

4. Miso (味噌)

5. Natto (納豆)

6. Yuba (ゆば)

Read staff comments below for a few tasty ways to enjoy the health benefits of soy as you head into the weekend.

Here’s to healthy eating!

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IKUYO

Image by Huffington Post

Miso (味噌)

Miso is one of the soybean foods made from boiled and mashed soybeans mixed with salt and koji. Koji is a type of mold helps the soybeans to ferment. Miso come in three main varieties that are dependent on the type of koji used. First is kome miso, the most popular variety, which uses rice koji. Second is mame miso which uses soybean koji and has a red color and rich flavor. It is called haccho miso and is used in parts of the Tokai area including Aichi prefecture, which has a strong relationship with Texas. Lastly, there is mugi miso which uses barley koji. It has a distinctively sweet taste. Mugi miso is used in Kyushu area, and I like Kagoshima mugi miso because it is used in my hometown.

While most grocery stores in Japan offer various kids of miso from around the country, most people still enjoy making the miso they grew up with at home. Homemade miso is called temae miso. This is often used as an idiom meaning that a person praises their own creation or deed such as “I don’t mean to brag but…”. This idiom is generally used in a derogatory sense when one speaks of oneself.

Miso soup is one of the most representative of the dishes that are cooked with miso. Miso contains easily digestible essential amino acids that rice lacks. For this reason, miso soup is indispensable for compensating for the protein-poor diet of Japanese people who live on rice.

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KEIKO

Image by foodspark.com

Natto (納豆)

My favorite soy food is natto. Natto is a traditional Japanese dish that is made from fermented soybeans and is usually served as a breakfast food. Most would consider it an acquired taste as it has a strong odor and slimy texture.

While it is uncertain how natto came to be, people in Japan have been eating natto since at least the Heian period (794-1185). At the time, they would pack the soybeans into rice packets for fermentation. The current process for making it is a little more straightforward: after washing a soaking the soybeans, they are steamed before being mixed with special bacteria- Bacillus subtilis natto and left to ferment for up to 24 hours.

Natto is considered to be very healthy and contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium and iron, and fiber. Its fermented state also good for the bacteria in your gut because it is rich in probiotic bacteria.



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LAUREN

Image by Zesmerelda

Edamame (枝豆)

Edamame is probably my favorite soy-based food. I started eating it after my older brother returned from being stationed in Okinawa. He had grown rather fond of the snack and insisted that I share a bowl with him whenever we hung out. Its easy to prepare, so my family, friends, and I can make a large portion and much away when we are together. We also have great fun popping the beans out of the husk

Edamame is a popular izakaya-style snack that is cheap, filling, and better for you than other bar food. The soybeans are picked while they are still young and are usually served boiled and salted.

This dish is thought to be rich in protein as well as containing several beneficial vitamins and minerals such as iron and manganese.

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MEGUMI

Image from kyoto.graphic.co.jp

Yuba (ゆば)

My favorite soybean product is yuba. When the boiling soy milk in a pan, a film forms on the liquid surface. The film is collected and dried into sheets known as tofu skin or yuba. In Japan, they also eat fresh yuba called nama yuba, with a little soy sauce and wasabi, just like sashimi.

Dried yuba is commonly eaten in simmered dishes in Japan, but the way I like it most is to make it one of the hot pot ingredients. It is the easiest way to eat it, as all you need is to put it into a pot without rehydrating it or cooking it.

Yuba is not only eaten in Japan but also in China and Korea. Although it is not as cheap as tofu in Japan, it is very inexpensive in China and I developed a taste for yuba while I lived in China.

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MIDORI

Image from 白ごはん.com

Koya Tofu (こうや豆腐)

My go to meal while Houston has been under quarantine is called koya tofu (こうや豆腐) and it combines freeze-dried tofu with shiitake mushrooms and fresh vegetables. The recipe dates back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when Buddhist monks on Mt. Koya accidentally created freeze-dried tofu and found that it is good way to preserve fresh tofu.  

You can buy koya tofu kits at most asian markets.  

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PATSY

Aburaage (油揚げ)

One of my favorite soy-based products is aburaage, deep-fried tofu pouches, which is made by cutting tofu into thin slices and deep-frying it twice.

Aburaage can be used in different ways – it can be sliced and added to soups, simmered dishes, and steamed rice, used in whole in a bowl of udon, or quartered and pan fried for a bento lunch box.

I enjoy it most in Inari Sushi. When preparing aburaage for inari sushi, it must first be cooked in a dashi broth before being stuffed with vinegared rice.

Aburaage is a versatile and filling way to get energy for the day.

Moreover, an offering of aburaage to the fox—messenger to the Shinto Okami of fertility, rice, agriculture, business and money—will help keep the god Inari from releasing her wrath.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 9

Like many across the world, the JASH staff has turned to cooking during quarantine—not just for sustenance but for comfort and entertainment, too.

For Week 9 of Friday Favorites, we share with you what we have been cooking:

1. Japanese Potato Salad (ポテトサラダ)

2. Kanitama (かに玉)

3. Koya Tofu (こうや豆腐)

4. Potato and Beef Croquettes (コロッケ)

5. Wan-fone (奄美風豚骨)

6. Zosui (雑炊)

Read staff comments below for a few easy-to-follow Japanese recipes to add to your cooking repertoire.

Enjoy.

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IKUYO

Image from Ikuyo Katayama

Wan-fone (奄美風豚骨)

My father’s hometown, Amami Oshima, is located in the East China Sea between Kyushu and Okinawa. Wan-fone, the Amami Oshima Style Cooked Spareribs, is actually a very important food for celebrations in Amami Oshima, especially on New Year’s Eve. It is a very soft and juicy, country style pork dish which is based on my family’s recipe. I believe it is a good challenge for cooking lovers to learn about different food culture while we continue to be under quarantine.

*Please note: if you do not have a pressure cooker, use a deep pot and cook the meat until soft.

Ingredients:

• 200ml of cooking sake 

• 1-1.5 tablespoon of natural salt 

• 1 pack of tonkotsu (cut pork spareribs):
  3.5 lbs. - I usually buy this at H-mart

Directions:

• Soak the tonkotsu in water for at least 30
  minutes.

• Clean and rise the meat well.

• Rub the pork with salt and leave it in the refrigerator overnight.

• Rinse the meat quickly, then place into a pressure cooker* and add enough water to cover the meat.

• Boil for 1-2 minutes without a lid, then drain the water and rinse the meat. It is important to take the foam off of the meat.

• Put the meat back in the cooker and add cooking sake and fresh water, just enough to cover the meat.

• Close the lid, then cook with high heat until
  pressure becomes high.

• Switch to low heat mode and cook for 30 minutes
  with pressure.

• Turn off the heat and leave the cooker until
  completely cool.

• Skim off the fat that appears on the top.

• Warm before serving.

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KEIKO

Image from Keiko Tsubokura

Kanitama (かに玉)

Since the beginning of quarantine, I have been trying to intake protein to keep up my strength and maintain my health. One of my favorite meals is called kanitama. Kani means crab and tama mean egg in Japanese. Egg is the easiest protein for me to make and it is low in calories. This dish is like an omelet, so feel free to add some items from your fridge.

Ingredients:

• crab meat

• egg

• green onion

• salt and pepper

• ketchup (optional)

• sambal oelek sauce (optional)

Directions:

• Cut the crab into small pieces and chop the green onion.

• Mix together the egg, chopped green onion, and crab pieces.

• Add salt and pepper to taste.

• Cook the mixture in a pan.

• Decorate with ketchup. (If you like spicy, mix ketchup and sambal oelek sauce.)

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LAUREN

Image from Lauren Hurley

Potato and Beef Croquettes (コロッケ)

My favorite Japanese meal that I’ve prepared during the stay at home order has been potato and beef croquettes or korokke.

Being from a non-Japanese household, my family does not enjoy eating a majority of Japanese meals, so when I do make something, I need to appeal to their non-adventurous tastes. Thus, korokke with katsu sauce.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 large potatoes

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1/2 onion

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 lb. ground beef

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 tbsp white wine

• 3 tbsp milk

• oil for deep-frying

• flour

• beaten egg

• panko bread crumbs

For katsu sauce:

• 3 parts ketchup

• 1 part Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

• Chop onion finely and saute with butter in a skillet until tender.

• Add bay leaf and beef, cook until brown and crumbled.

• Add salt, pepper, and wine. Cook for 3-5 minutes.

• Remove the bay leaf and set aside.

• Boil peeled and chopped potatoes until tender. Drain then mash.

• Combine meat and onions with potato. Add milk and mix until thick and soft. Set aside to cool.

• Prepare oil for frying, approx. 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Separate potato mixture into equal, oval portions.

• Coat each oval with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in this order.

• Fry until crispy brown. Remove from oil to drain.

• Serve with shredded cabbage and katsu sauce.

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MEGUMI

Image from Megumi Hirose

Japanese Potato Salad
(ポテトサラダ)

Potato salad is a regular favorite in many houses in Japan. Every household has its own way of making it and typically has a secret ingredient, kakushi aji, that makes it the family’s own taste of potato salad. In my recipe, vinegar is used as the secret ingredient. Other seasonings used as the secret ingredients are such as a pinch of sugar, miso paste, soy sauce and consommé seasoning. My mother's potato salad has onions, cucumbers, carrots, and ham in it, but some may have chopped boiled eggs instead of ham, or both of them, or without onions- it all depends on the family.

Since it is easy to make various shapes with potato salad, people like to make “Potato Salad Christmas Tree” or “Potato Salad Christmas Wreath”, which are garnished beautifully with cut vegetables, as a Christmas dish in Japan.

*Any mayonnaise, but Kewpie Mayonnaise can make the most authentically Japanese flavor.

Ingredients:

• 400g potato (about 0.9 pounds)

• 1/2 white onion  

• 1/2 english cucumber

• 1/2 carrot

• 5 slices ham

• 160 mL mayonnaise* (about 3/4 cup)

• a pinch of salt

• 1-2 tbsp. vinegar (optional)

Directions:

• Boil potatoes. When tender, drain and mash. Set aside to cool.

• Thinly slice the onion and add salt to remove the milk. Rinse thoroughly and drain. Set aside.

• After cutting the carrot into half-moon slices, boil until tender. Drain and set aside to cool.

• Thinly slice the cucumber and add salt to remove the water. Wait about 10-15 minutes, then squeeze the slices firmly. Set aside.

• Slice the ham thinly and set aside.

• Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix with mayonnaise.

• Add salt and/or vinegar to taste.

• For garnishing, cut the carrot and ham in the shape of your preference with the cookie cutter, and slice the cucumber thinly into a long strip if you wish to make “Potato Wreath”. 

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MIDORI

Image from 白ごはん.com

Koya Tofu (こうや豆腐)

My go to meal while Houston has been under quarantine is called koya tofu (こうや豆腐) and it combines freeze-dried tofu with shiitake mushrooms and fresh vegetables. The recipe dates back to the Kamakura period (1185-1333) when Buddhist monks on Mt. Koya accidentally created freeze-dried tofu and found that it is good way to preserve fresh tofu.  

You can buy koya tofu kits at most asian markets.  

Ingredients:

• 4 dried shiitake mushrooms

• 4 pieces of koya tofu

• 10 small shishido peppers

• dashi broth

Dashi Broth:

• 1 tsp of hondashi 

• Pinch of salt 

• 1 tbsp sake 

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 66 grams (6 tbsp) sugar

Directions:

• Soak shiitake mushrooms in 1 c of water for 30-45 minutes, then remove the mushrooms and reserve the liquid.

• Dip the freeze-dried tofu in shiitake water until soft then gently wring out like a sponge.

• Dissolve hondashi, sugar, soy sauce, sake and salt in a small saucepan and add 2 c water. Place over low heat and bring to a simmer.  

• Add the tofu, shiitake mushrooms, shishido peppers. Simmer on low heat until the broth reduces. 

• Serve as a soup or slice the tofu into strips and arrange on a plate. 

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PATSY

Image from nhk.or.jp

Zosui (雑炊)

Soup is my go-to comfort food, and when combined with rice, there is nothing more soothing!

During quarantine, I have been eating Zosui regularly. The Japanese rice soup, which is cooked in a savory dashi broth with vegetables, egg, and sometimes meat or seafood, is not only comforting but also nourishing.

Moreover, with pantry ready ingredients, it can easily be made it in no time!

Ingredients:

• Dashi broth

  • 1 dashi packet

  • 3 cups water

  • 2 tsp soy sauce

  • 1/2 tsp kosher/sea salt

• Vegetables (whatever is in your refrigerator!)

  • recommended:

    • 2 shiitake mushrooms

    • 1/4 of a carrot

    • 2 green onions/scallions

• 1 1/2 rice bowls of cooked Japanese short-grain rice

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 tsp toasted white sesame seeds

• 1/8 tsp white pepper powder

Directions:

• Add water and dashi packet to large pot. Cover with a lid and slowly bring to boil on low heat. After a few minutes, shake the packet to release more flavor.

• Continue to heat. Once boiling, cook for 3 minutes and then remove dashi packet and discard.

• Keep the lid closed and set aside.

• Thinly slice the shiitake mushrooms and carrot. Also dice the green onions and save for use as garnish at the end.

• If using cold cooked rice, put in fine-mesh sieve and rinse under running water to remove excess starch. Shake and drain well. If using freshly cooked rice, you can skip this process.

• Add carrots to the dashi broth and cook covered until tender, approximately 4-5 minutes.

• Once the carrot is tender, add soy sauce and salt to the broth.

• Add shiitake mushrooms and well-drained cooked rice. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

• Beat the egg in a bowl. Slowly drizzle a small amount of the beaten egg over the soup surface.

• Add some green onion and sesame seeds.

• Sprinkle with white pepper powder and serve!

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 8

National Chocolate Chip Day has JASH craving sweets. For Week 8 of Friday Favorites, we share with you our favorite Japanese confections.

1. Castella/Kasutera (カステラ)

2. Cream Puffs (シュークリーム)

3. Ganache (生チョコ; なまチョコ)

4. Pucchin Pudding (プッチンプリン)

5. Shaved Ice (かき氷; かきごおり)

6. Strawberry Daifuku (苺大福; いちごだいふく)

Read staff comments below for our top choices for Japanese sweets.

Enjoy!

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IKUYO

Image from Beard Papa

Cream Puffs (シュークリーム)

Cream puffs have been my favorite Japanese sweet since childhood. A pastry shop used to be near the house where I grew up and they sold cream puff there for only 100 yen ($1) at that time.

I still love them and enjoyed eating different flavors of cream puffs at convenient stores when I lived in Japan. The cream puffs at convenience stores were usually cheaper and easier to get than at pastry shops. My favorites are the cream puffs with fresh cream.

Here in Houston, I buy cream puffs from Beard Papa as a special treat. Although they are originally from Japan, I had it for the first time in Houston. You can choose what shell and cream filling and they will stuff the cream puffs in front of you. My favorites are original shell with vanilla cream filling, and original shell with green tea cream filling. Recently, I tried crispy almond shell with vanilla cream filling, and it was really great!

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KEIKO

Image from Glico

Pucchin Pudding (プッチンプリン)

My favorite sweets is Pucchin Pudding (プッチンプリン) by Glico. It is Japanese pudding cup that has been sold since 1972.

While you can eat the pudding from a cup with spoon, this particular brand has a unique shaped cup and it has small tub on the bottom. When you flip it over on a dish and click the tub, the pudding will slide out, leaving the shape intact and caramel on top. This makes sure that the pudding maintains its perfect shape to enhance your appetite!

The name “Pucchin” comes from the clicking sound the tub makes. I have never seen this product in the US, so I have a huge craving for プッチン!

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LAUREN

Image from Monster Ice

Shaved Ice (かき氷; かきごおり)

My favorite Japanese sweet/dessert is shaved ice (かき氷; kakigori). While most places in the U.S. have snow cones and the like, Japanese shaved ice is quite different.

Texture wise, kakigori is much softer, shaved in thin sheets that maintain its pleasant, icy crunch as opposed to the U.S.’s chipped ice pieces. This allows the flavoring to soak into the treat rather than just running over it and sitting at the bottom. As for the syrup, many of the places I would visit for kakigori in Japan would create their own out of fruit and condensed milk instead of using artificial syrups.

Lastly, toppings! Kakigori places tend to offer a variety of topping options such as fruit, soft serve, or condensed milk. When I would buy matcha kakigori, I would also order it with anko, sweet bean paste.

The closest I have gotten to kakigori in the U.S. is Hawaiian shaved ice or buy purchasing pre-made containers of shirokuma ice from Seiwa Market.

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MEGUMI

Image from Gnavi.co.jp

 Ganache (生チョコ; なまチョコ)

My favorite Japanese sweet is Japanese ganache called 生チョコ (なまチョコ; namachoco).  

It is a mixture of chocolate and fresh cream and has a soft texture. In western countries, ganache is used to make truffles and other chocolate candies, or as a filling in cakes. In Japan, however, ganache is processed to be eaten as soft, unrefined chocolate.  　 

This style of ganache was first produced by a small confectionery store called Silsmaria in Yokohama in 1988. Nowadays, various Japanese confectionery stores, chocolate companies and even convenience stores sell a wide variety of the treat. 

Although it is difficult to purchase this type of ganache outside Japan, as it requires refrigeration and has short shelf life, you may be able to find Meiji’s Meltykiss (Premium Chocolate), which offers a similar smooth texture, in Asian grocery stores in the US. 

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MIDORI

Image from Ishimura.co.jp

Strawberry Daifuku (苺大福; いちごだいふく)

My favorite sweet from Japan is strawberry daifuku. It is created with a large strawberry and azuki bean filling covered with soft mochi. 

Although it is unknown who invented this treat, it is a comparatively new product and therefore created quite a sensation.  Nobody had ever come up with the idea to combine fruit and azuki bean paste jam although these two ingredients existed as reasonable and convenient items for a long time.

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PATSY

Image from Sakaeya

Castella/Kasutera (カステラ)

I grew up in a household where Japanese kasutera was talked about as the ultimate treat.

Cake without icing seemed sacrilegious at a young age. However, over time, I have come to appreciate the divine simplicity of this traditional Japanese confectionery.

Made with sugar, flour, egg foam and mizuame syrup (yes, no butter or oil), kasutera is lighter than pound cake and finer than spongecake. It was introduced to Nagasaki, Japan by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century, and its name is derived from the Portuguese Pão de Castela, meaning “bread from Castile.”

Today, it is common to find the subtly sweet kasutera in many variations, with flavors such as chocolate, matcha green tea, brown sugar, or honey.

Kasutera is usually sold in long rectangular boxes that make lovely gifts.

It can also be molded into various shapes. Baby Kasutera, a bite-sized version of the cake, is a popular festival food.

For me, kasutera is a taste of nostalgia,!

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 7

For Week 7 of Friday Favorites, we share with you our favorite Yuru-Kyara (ゆるキャラ) mascots in celebration of Japan’s Local Character Day.

Established in 2014 by the Japan Local Character Association, May 11 marks Local Character Day because 5, 10, and 1, or go, tou, and chi, combine to form the word gotouchi (ご当地; ごとうち), meaning “local governance.”

Cute character mascots in Japan are used to promote a place, region, event, organization or business, and they make good money. Osaka alone has over 40 mascots representing the prefecture!

There is even a Yuru-Kyara Grand Prix held yearly to recognize Japan’s Yuru-Kyara “All Stars.” The public can vote for the character they find the cutest, funniest or even creepiest.

While Kumamoto Prefecture’s beloved Kumamon may be the first Yuru-Kyara that comes to mind, here are others that we love:

1. Chihana-chan (ちはなちゃん) - Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture

2. Choruru (ちょるる) - Yamaguchi Prefecture

3. Greboo (ぐりぶー) - Kagoshima Prefecture

4. Hikonyan (ひこにゃん) - Hikone Castle, Shiga Prefecture

5. Konyudo-kun (こにゅどくん) - Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture

6. Kun-kun (クンくん) - Kanagawa Prefecture

Read staff comments below for our top choices for Japanese mascots.

Enjoy.

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IKUYO

Image from greboo.com

Greboo (ぐりぶー)

Greboo is my favorite mascot from Japan. He represents Kagoshima Prefecture.

He was introduced to showcase the beautiful nature in and around Kagoshima as well as the delicious food.

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KEIKO

Image from choruru.jp

Choruru (ちょるる)

My favorite mascot is from Yamaguchi Prefecture. His name is Choruru.

Choruru was created for the 66th annual National Sports Festival of Japan and 11th annual National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities which were held in Yamaguchi prefecture in 2011.

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LAUREN

Image from Mondo Mascots

Konyudo-kun (こにゅどくん)

My favorite Japanese mascot comes from Yokkaichi City in the Mie Prefecture, which is where I used to teach English. His name is Konyudo-kun.

According to the city’s website, Konyudo-kun was derived from Onyudo, a traditional giant monster puppet that appears in the city’s annual festival. The mascot was created in 1997 to commemorate Yokkaichi’s 100th anniversary.

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MEGUMI

Image from city.hikone.lg.jp

Hikonyan (ひこにゃん)

My favorite mascot from Japan is called Hikonyan. Hikonyan is the mascot of Hikone Castle, located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. 

Hikonyan is supposed to be a fantasy cat wearing samurai helmet, and his name is the combination of hiko from Hikone Castle and nyan, which is “meow” in Japanese.  

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MIDORI

Image from yurugp.jp/

Kun-kun (クンくん)

My favorite mascot from Japan is Kun-kun.

Kun-kun the sniffing detective dog is the mascot Kanagawa Prefecture’s animal quarantine services.

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PATSY

Image from city.chiba.jp

Chihana-chan (ちはなちゃん)

While it is difficult to choose only one favorite, recognition is certainly owed to the mascot of Chiba City, Houston’s Sister City in Japan.

Chihana-chan, the Oga Lotus fairy, represents Chiba’s famous flower.

The Oga Lotus was first bred from 2000-year-old seeds discovered by botanist, Dr. Ichiro Oga, at archaeological ruins in Chiba City.

Now, the Oga Lotus blooms in Chiba City Park from June to July.

Houston’s Japanese Garden is also home to a Oga Lotus, gifted by Chiba City to Houston to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Japanese Garden.

A special shout out is owed to another Chiba mascot — Nazo no Sakana (Mysterious Fish) of the Chiba Lotte Marines Nippon Professional Baseball Team!

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 6

Japan is well-known for having an abundance of vending machines offering liquid refreshment, and Japanese convenience stores offer an extensive selection of cold drinks sold in plastic bottles and hot beverages sold in cans.

For Week 5 of Friday Favorites, we share with you our favorite beverages from Japan.

1. C.C. Lemon (C.C.レモン) - Suntory Beverage & Food Limited 

2. Calpis (カルピス) - Calpis Co., Ltd.

3. Koucha Kaden Royal Milk Tea (紅茶花伝) - Coca-Cola Japan

4. Oronamin C - (オロナミンC) - Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

5. Rich GreenTea (生茶) - Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd.

6. Skal (スコール) - Southern Japan Dairy Cooperative Co., Ltd.

Read staff comments below for our top choices of Japan’s beverage industry this weekend.

These and other delectable sips can be found in Houston’s local Japanese markets, Daido and Seiwa, as well as beloved Japanese “dollar store” Daiso. Specialty beverages are also now available at Shun Japanese Restaurant’s pop-up bodega. Enjoy.

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IKUYO

Image from Southern Japan Dairy Cooperative

Skal (スコール) 
Southern Japan Dairy Cooperative (南日本酪農協同株式会社)

SkaI is one of my “must have” items!

Skal was the first carbonated milk soda produced in Japan and has been sold since 1972 by Southern Japan Daily Cooperative Co., Ltd. The name means "squall" or storm and is also the Danish word for a toast: skål. Although this drink is a soda, Skal has 0.4mg of milk protein per 100ml. 

Mr. Kinoshita, the president of the company, went fishing with a cooler which had beverages including milk and sodas. When he opened the cooler, he found that the milk and sodas had spilled and were mixed together. He was inspired by this combination of milk and soda to create a new product for children who dislike drinking milk.

Skal comes in a variety of flavors, but having drunk the original growing up, it is still my favorite.

Skal is more popular in Kyushu, and it can be difficult to find it in eastern Japan. Fortunately, DAIDO Japanese market in Houston carries Skal original. The ingredients and the manufacturing method of this drink have not changed since 1972, so I am able to enjoy my favorite drink exactly like I did as a child.

I hope everyone in Houston enjoys Skal, too.

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KEIKO

Image from Otsuka

Oronamin C (オロナミンC)
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (大塚製薬株式会社)

My favorite Japanese drink is Oronamin C, created by the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company. It is the most famous energy drink in Japan. You can get it from supermarkets, convenience stores, or vending machines. It comes in tiny brown glass bottle, so it might look a bit strange.

People never pour it in a glass. Instead, like other energy drinks, they tend to drink it straight from the bottle. I enjoy drinking Oronamin C because it has a sweet soda taste. As the portion is super small, I always want to drink more. I do not drink it very often, but I will after playing sports or following a hard workout.

Oronamin C's slogan is genki hatsuratsu (元気ハツラツ) which means “Full of Energy.” I always feel Full of Energy after I’ve had an Oronamin C, and I hope you will too.

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LAUREN

Image from KIRIN

Rich GreenTea (生茶)
Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. (キリンビバレッジ株式会社)

My favorite Japanese beverage is the Rich GreenTea (生茶；なまちゃ; pronounced namacha) crafted by Kirin Beverage Co., Ltd. While most people associate Kirin with their alcoholic products (beer), the brand has a variety of non-alcoholic options that are quite delicious.

I have a serious tea addiction, and with so many options in Japan, I can almost always some readily available. Hot, cold, sweet, unsweet; does not matter, so long as it is good. That being said, this particular tea came out with a revised recipe not long after I moved to Japan and I have been in love ever since. It is a versatile beverage that is good both hot and chilled, which was a bonus for me in those scalding Yokkaichi summers.

Flavor wise, this tea lacks the bitterness that most associate with bottled green tea without having to be sweetened. It has a pleasant aroma that is not as overpowering or tangy as many other brands. I also like how the liquid itself is cloudy green with visible specks of ground leaves. Pleasant on the eyes, the nose, and the tongue, I encourage you to try Kirin’s Rich GreenTea from Seiwa Market.

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MEGUMI

Image from Calpis Beverage USA

Calpis (カルピス)
Calpis Co., Ltd. (カルピス株式会社)

My favorite Japanese beverage is Calpis, which is called Calpico in the US as Calpis sounds awkward to English speakers. 

Calpis is an uncarbonated probiotic drink, which has a slightly acidic milky flavor that is similar to Yakult. It was first released in Japan in 1919, about 100 years ago, and it is still a very popular drink you can find anywhere in Japan. Calpis was originally sold in a glass bottle as a concentrated mix, and we had to add water and ice to it when we drank it. It was an especially popular drink for Japanese kids during the summer.

Nowadays, there is a variety of types of Calpis, such as diluted Calpis Water and carbonated Calpis Soda in plastic bottles, cans, or cartons, as well as the original concentrated Calpis in a plastic bottle and a carton.

The new flavors, such as kiwi, pineapple, kyohou grape, and seasonal fruit flavors, are also available. Since we can even buy ready-to drink Calpis Water from vending machines wherever and whenever we wish, Calpis is no more ‘a drink for Summer’, but ‘a drink for all year long’. I also buy Calpis Water from vending machines or convenience stores a lot when I’m out in Japan, however my favorite is still concentrated Calpis mixed with water to my liking.

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MIDORI

Image from Suntory

C.C. Lemon (C.C.レモン)
Suntory Beverage & Food Limited  (サントリーホールディングス株式会社)

I rarely drink soda because I cannot tolerate highly carbonated drinks. But I loved the refreshing flavor of C.C. Lemon by Suntory. It is semi-carbonated and does not have an overly sweet taste.

I was actually shocked when I read an article that revealed its sugar content is equivalent to 15 sugar cubes per 500ml bottle.

To satisfy a market need for healthier beverages, Suntory has also developed a diverse lineup of C.C. Lemon products, such as a low-sugar version, a version with more lemon juice and version with vitamin C or honey instead of sugar.

Unfortunately, because C.C. Lemon is only available every once in a while at Asian groceries in Houston, I have not had one for almost ten years.

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PATSY

Image from Coca-Cola Japan

Koucha Kaden Royal Milk Tea (紅茶花伝)
Coca-Cola Japan (コカ・コーラ)

One of Japan’s most popular drinks is Royal Milk Tea.

Created by Lipton tea company in 1965 as part of a “royal recipe” series, milk tea is now sold in Japan as bottled, canned, and freshly brewed drinks.

One of my favorites is Koucha Kaden Royal Milk Tea. The name comes from the classic noh treatise Fushikaden (風姿花伝).

It has a lovely balance of black tea to 100% milk and is my go-to sweet drink splurge. I also enjoy having royal milk tea-flavored pastries and treats!

As the brand campaign says, “enjoy at your leisure!”

ごゆっくり。

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 5

In an extended celebration of United Nations World Book Day, Week 5 of our Friday Favorites series bring you reading recommendations from the JASH staff.

1. Across the Nightingale Floor Tales of the Otori — by Lian Hearn

2. Choucho Musubi (ちょうちょむすび) — by Yoshitomo IMAE

3. The Gate (門) — by Natsume SOSEKI (夏目 漱石)

4. The Dancing Girl of Izu (伊豆の踊子) — by Yasunari KAWABATA (川端 康成)

5. Katamimi no Ooshika (片耳の大シカ) — by Hatoju MUKU (椋鳩十)

6. Suiccho Neko (スイッチョねこ) — by Jiro OSARAGI (大佛次郎)

All books can be ordered through Kinokuniya or purchased through Amazon.

Happy reading!

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IKUYO

Image from Amazon

Katamimi no Ooshika (片耳の大シカ)

by Hatoju MUKU (椋鳩十)

A large one-eared deer serves as the protector of the island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture. 

Local hunters saw the deer as a prize kill. Frequent attempts were made on the deer’s life, until a storm forces the deer and hunters to explore conflict and coexistence.

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KEIKO

Image from Amazon

Choucho Musubi (ちょうちょむすび)

by Imae Yoshimoto (今江祥智)

The family of Pepone the leopard is searching for a way to help him grow whiskers. 

Despite the concerns of those around him, whisker-less Pepone learns to embrace his individuality.

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LAUREN

Image from Amazon

Across the Nightingale Floor

Tales of the Otori

by Lian Hearn

Takeo is orphaned when a warlord massacres his village.

Explore a land of incomparable beauty torn by civil war; an ancient tradition undermined by spies and assassins; and a society of rigid castes and codes subverted by love.

This is the first book in a stunning trilogy of historical/fantasy novels.

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MEGUMI

Image from Amazon

The Dancing Girl of Izu (伊豆の踊子; Izu no Odoriko)

by Yasunari KAWABATA (川端 康成)

A young male university student on a solo summer excursion encounters a group of traveling performers and becomes taken with the young dancing girl of the itinerant quartet.

This well-known short story is by Japan’s first Nobel Prize-winning author.

Kawabata combines the beauty of old Japan with modernist trends to create a lyrical and elegiac memory of early love. 

English translation available.

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MIDORI

Image from Amazon

Suiccho Neko (スイッチョねこ)

by Jiro OSARAGI (大佛次郎)

Despite warnings from his mother, Shirokichi the kitten swallows a grasshopper while yawning. Follow Shirokichi’s adventures as the grasshopper continues to chirp from inside his belly.

This children’s book is recommended reading by the National School Library Council and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

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PATSY

Image from Amazon

The Gate (門; mon)

by Natsume SOSEKI (夏目 漱石)

Sosuke, a humble clerk, and his loving wife Oyone lead a quiet life on the margins of Tokyo, following years of exile and misfortune from having married without the consent of their families.

This delicately emotional tale of “life endured rather than lived” explores the stages of maturity and evolving relationships with family and society.

Considered one of the central masterpieces of 20th-century Japanese literature, as well as Soseki’s favorite work.

English translation by William Sibley.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 4

Studies have shown that in times of stress, certain junk-food snacks (when consumed in moderation!) can “activate the brain’s reward system and generate feelings of well-being.”

For Week 4 of Friday Favorites, we share with you the salty Japanese snacks we turn to for a satisfying pick-me-up.

1. Happy Turn (ハッピーターン) - Kameda Seika

2. Jagariko Salad (じゃがりこサラダ) - Calbee

3. Karamucho (カラムーチョ) - Koike-ya

4. Karl Light (カールうすあじ) - Meiji Seika

5. Polinky Cod Roe (ポリンキーめんたいこあじ) - Koike-ya

6. Umai-bo (うまい棒) - Yaokin

Read staff comments below to prepare yourself for a bit of munching pleasure this weekend.

These and other savory treats can be found in Houston’s local Japanese markets, Daido and Seiwa, as well as beloved Japanese “dollar store” Daiso. Specialty snacks are also now available at Shun Japanese Restaurant’s pop-up bodega. Enjoy.

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IKUYO

Image from Meiji

Karl Light (カール うすあじ) 
Meiji Seika (明治製菓)

Karl chips are a popular corn puff snack sold by Meiji Seika in Japan. Meiji started selling the corn snack in 1968, first offering cheese and chicken soup flavors. In its nearly 50-year history, some 200 different flavors have been produced.

Karl has a unique character, the Karl Ojisan, Uncle Karl. The TV commercial series were very popular when I was a child.  The lyrics of the Karl theme song, which were sung by Michiya Mihashi, a famous Minyo singer in Japan, are very funny and nostalgic.

My favorite is Usuaji, the lightly salted flavor. In the past, I was able to find Karl in Houston. However, in May 2017, Meiji Seika suddenly announced that it would be slashing production of Karl and focusing sales on Western Japan. Stores in Eastern Japan began pulling Karl from their shelves. This news shocked many Japanese people, as reported by Japan Times. You can read the article [here]. Following the announcement, it has become difficult to find Karl in the US.

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KEIKO

Image from Koike-ya

Polinky Cod Roe (ポリンキー めんたいこあじ)
Koike-ya (コイケヤ)

Polinky are a puff corn snack created by Koike-ya. They are light and crunchy in texture and are shaped in mesh-like triangles similar to Chex in America. The most popular flavors are sweet corn and cod roe (mentaiko).

The mentaiko flavor is my favorite. Spicy cod roe adds umami to the sweetness of the corn, creating a delicious balance. Mentaiko is a popular flavor in Japan and is used in a variety of products including pasta sauce and snacks.

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LAUREN

Image from Kameda

Happy Turn (ハッピーターン)
Kameda Seika (亀田製菓)

My favorite savory Japanese snack is Happy Turn created by Kameda Seika. The company started producing the snack in 1976 and has since created a variety of flavors including takoyaki, umeboshi (pickled plum), and wasabi mayonnaise. But my favorite continues to be the original.

These light, crispy senbei (rice crackers) are not like the typical senbei in shape, texture, or flavor. The crackers have a lighter, softer crispiness to them and a sweet and salty soy sauce taste that is really addictive. Each snack is individually wrapped which is a great way to ensure that you don’t eat the whole bag at once.

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MEGUMI

Image from Calbee

Jagariko Salad (じゃがりこサラダ)
Calbee

Jagariko are a potato snack similar to chips that have been shaped into strands. Created by Calbee in 1995, these little buckets of deliciously satisfying crunches have been made into a variety of flavors such as butter potato and cheese as well as regional specialties like Kansai takoyaki and Hokkaido butter corn.

My favorite flavor is the salad flavor which includes carrot and parsley seasoning, making this snack taste similar to a crunchy baked potato.

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MIDORI

Image from Amazon

Umai-bo (うまい棒)
Yaokin

Umai-bo is a brand of Japanese corn snacks sold by Yaokin since 1979. Translated as “delicious stick,” this tasty treat is shaped in a hollowed out rod with a texture similar to Cheetos Puffs. The mascot is a cat, Umaemon, whose name is a pun on that of a popular animated character, Doraemon.

Like many other Japanese snacks, umai-bo come in a variety of flavors, both salty and sweet.

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PATSY

Image from Koike-ya

Karamucho (カラムーチョ)
Koike-ya (コイケヤ)

As a fan of all things spicy, my go-to Japanese snack has long been Karamucho.

Karamucho has delighted the tastebuds of those in Japan who crave spicy snacks since 1984.

Created by Koike-ya, Japan’s first mass producer of potato chips, Karamucho (a combination of the Japanese word for “spicy hot” (karai; 辛い) and the Spanish word for “a lot” (mucho)) was the first spicy snack flavor introduced in Japan.

While initially rejected by wholesalers as not suitable for the Japanese palette, the brand was popularized by convenience stores. A grandmother character ヒーおばあちゃん (hi~ obaachan) later developed for the brand would make Karamucho a top seller.

It is even said that Karamucho kick started the spicy food trend in Japan!

Karamucho comes also comes in chips. You can even find a “furikake” version to sprinkle on your rice.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 3

As this week’s “FRIDAY FAVORITES” falls on Good Friday, we reflect on our blessings and turn our thoughts to our families and our hometowns. So this week, we share with you some of our best-loved spots in the areas in and around our hometowns in Japan.

1. AOMORI PREFECTURE - Aoni Onsen, Kuroishi City (青荷温泉)

2. KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURE - Sakurajima (桜島)

3. KANAGAWA PREFECTURE - Ito Hirobumi’s Old Villa, Yokohama City (旧伊藤博文金沢別邸)

4. KANAGAWA PREFECTURE - Miura City (三浦市)

5. MIE PREFECTURE - Ise Jingu (伊勢神宮)

6. TOKYO - Ryogoku, Sumida Ward (両国)

Read staff comments below for a virtual tour of our favorite places as you head into the holiday weekend.

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IKUYO

Image provided by Ikuyo Katayama

Sakurajima (桜島)
Kagoshima Prefecture

Sakurajima is one of the most active volcanos in Japan and is considered to be the heart and soul of people in Kagoshima.

Sakurajima is located across Kagoshima Bay, only 8 km east of my hometown Kagoshima City. Sakurajima erupts often and minor eruptions may take place multiple times a day. Sakurajima has already erupted 142 times this year. The frequent eruptions cause volcanic ash to fall in Kagoshima City. Therefore, the weather forecast is always sure to talk about the wind direction over Sakurajima. Even if it's sunny every morning, people leaving their homes with unconsciously check to see if there is smoke in the sky from Sakurajima.

Thanks to the active volcano, all the public baths in Kagoshima City are onsen, hot springs. Adults and children can enjoy the onsen at little cost. 

Sakurajima has looks very different depending on where you are, which is why people prefer to take their own pictures. My favorite view is the one where you can look over Kagoshima Bay at Yojirogahama Chosuiro, located southeast of the downtown area. You can see Sakurajima in all its splendor and without any obstacles.

I am always energized by its magnificent and powerful appearance. I believe the people of Kagoshima are encouraged by Sakurajima, especially during challenging times. I hope you feel the power of Sakurajima using the Sakurajima live Webcam here.

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KEIKO

Image provided by Keiko Tsubokura

Ito Hirobumi’s Old Villa (旧伊藤博文金沢別邸)
Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

My favorite place is “Ito Hirobumi’ Old Villa” in Yokohama. Ito Hirobumi is the first prime minister of Japan. He used to use this villa as summer residence. The original villa was built in 1989 and it is one story Japanese style house with a thatched roof. It is really spacious house and it also has great view of ocean and garden. When I visit there, I can easily imagine that He could be relaxed in this quiet villa to refresh from his busy work days in Tokyo. Also, I re-realize how Japanese architect is beautiful and detailed.The house are facing sea and can get sea breeze during summer.it is well designed.

They have a service for Green Tea and Sweets, so I can also enjoy them while sitting in the large tatami room and look out over the water and always I wish I had such a nice villa.

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LAUREN

Images provided by Lauren Hurley

Ise Jingu (伊勢神宮)
Mie Prefecture

When I was teaching in Japan, I lived in Yokkaichi City in Mie Prefecture.  It is a relatively small port city of approximately 300,000 people with a humid subtropical climate very similar to Houston.  The nearest major city was Nagoya, about 35 minutes away on an Kintetsu Express Train. Admittedly, it was a pretty dull place to live at times, but I loved hopping onto the train to Ise-Shima and explore the shrines of Ise.

Ise is home to what are considered some of, if not the, most sacred Shinto shrines in Japan, Ise Jingu. The Inner Shrine, Naiku, became the enshrined home of the goddess Amaterasu-Omikami over 2,000 years ago and the Outer Shrine, Geku, became the enshrined home of Toyo'uke-no-Omikami 500 years later.

It is hard to describe the beauty, tranquility, and awe that one can experience in this place.  There are these massive cedar and cypress trees shading the grounds that you can’t wrap your arms around without at least three or four others. While not nearly as ornate as some of the shrines one can find in Kyoto, there is an innate sense of spirituality and peace that you can feel in your lungs, your mind, your heart, and your spirit. It is humbling and awe-inspiring.

As you walk on grounds, you hear the crunch of gravel beneath your feet, the birds chirping, and the river gently rushing. You can feel the breeze and smell that subtle mixture of incense, water, and tree sap. It is calming and peaceful, even when there are people everywhere. The beauty of this place is in its soul, not its ornamentation.

You can see some of the rituals that take place in Ise Jingu here.

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MEGUMI

Ryogoku (両国)
Sumida Ward, Tokyo

 My favorite place in Tokyo is Ryogoku (area).

Ryogoku, where you can find the SUMO stadium (両国国技館), is known as the center of SUMO world. As a big SUMO lover, I have spent lots of time in Ryogoku, visiting the SUMO stadium to watch SUMO tournaments, as well as multiple SUMO stables to watch their morning practices. Actually, it is hard not to see SUMO wrestlers while you are in Ryogoku, except when all of them are away for the provincial tournaments. For SUMO lovers, it is a heavenly place!

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MIDORI

Images provided by Midori Ukita

Miura City (三浦市)
Kanagawa Prefecture

I was born in Yokosuka City, but I often visited the neighboring Miura City in my childhood for day trips to the beach or the aquarium or just for nice food. The city has a lot of charm!

Miura City is situated at the tip of Miura Peninsula and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. The city is so famous for having a harbor that is ideal for deep-sea fishing. In fact, it would be difficult to find anyone in Japan who does not know the harbor’s name.  

Despite the decline in catches over recent years due to overfishing around the world, the fish market maintains its brand status.  The tuna traded in Miura Fish Market have a reputation of being of the highest quality.  Visitors are welcome to tour the fish market and will inevitably find themselves drawn to the restaurants located on the second floor.

Miura City is not only well known for its fishery industry but also for agriculture. All Japanese people know of the “Miura Daikon” radish, even if they have never seen one.  Miura City also cultivates cabbage, kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), watermelon, cucumber, and other fruits and vegetables. Recently Miura City’s farmers have begun to produce cauliflower and broccoli, taking advantage of its warm winters. It is fun to visit the farmer’s markets and orchards for orange and strawberry picking. 

The sea and farms are not Miura City’s only highlights. The nearby island of Jogashima’s beautiful coastline, splendid green plateau, and artistic rock arches had inspired many poets, musicians, and writers in the past.  

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PATSY

Photos from Japan Travel by Navitime

AONI ONSEN (青荷温泉)
Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture

I consider the village of Kunohe, in northern Iwate Prefecture, to be my second home. Located in the vast expanse of the Tohoku Region, the area is known for its natural beauty and onsen hot springs.

Weekend travels often took me on a short drive from Kunohe-mura into Aomori Prefecture which is home to my favorite getaway - Aoni Onsen.

Aoni Onsen is a traditional Japanese ryokan inn nestled quietly along the mountain stream in the Aoni Ravine. The secluded destination, which dates back to 1929, is affectionately known as the “Lamp no Yado” as it is lit primarily by oil lamps.

The facility actually did not have electricity until relatively recently, but the owners of the inn continue to light the premises exclusively by lamp. There are no tvs, refrigerators or electrical outlets in the guest rooms. Moreover, it is difficult to find a phone signal and there is no internet.

After soaking in one or all of the inn’s four natural hot springs baths, you can sip on a cup of slow-drip coffee while admiring the unique Japanese calligraphy style of the resident artist/barista Hiro.

For unhurried travel off the beaten path, visit Aoni Onsen.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 2

Image: From The Magic Happens Digital Ghibli Paper Pack

April 1st brought the last wave of a 21-film list of features from the catalogue of beloved Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli to Netflix for all regions outside the US, Canada and Japan.

While we in the US will have to wait until May to stream Ghibli films on HBO Max, GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation, has released the Ghibli catalogue for digital download-to-own. Films are available to purchase in both English and Japanese languages on all major digital transactional platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, FandangoNow, Google Play Store, Microsoft, Sony PlayStation Movies, and Vudu.

We can also watch the four-part "10 Years with Hayao Miyazaki” documentary for FREE courtesy of Japanese national broadcaster NHK. Click here to follow the creative process of the legendary filmmaker.

The underlying spirit of childhood innocence and nostalgia that permeates all Ghibli films serves as magical reminder that there is always hope. A sentiment that is more vital now that ever.

So for this week’s “FRIDAY FAVORITES,” the JASH team is sharing our top Studio Ghibli film picks.

1. Grave of the Fireflies | 火垂るの墓 (Hotaru No Haka)

2. My Neighbor Totoro | となりのトトロ (Tonari No Totoro)

3. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind | 風の谷のナウシカ (Kaze No Tani No Nausicaa)

4. Pom Poko | 平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ (Heisei Tanuki Gassen PonPoko)

5. Princess Mononoke | もののけ姫 (Mononoke Hime)

6. Spirited Away | 千と千尋の神隠し (Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi)

Enjoy our favorite Studio Ghibli films as you head into the weekend, and read staff comments below for reasons behind the picks.

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IKUYO

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
(風の谷のナウシカ) (1984)
by Hayao Miyazaki

A thousand years after the Seven Days of Fire destroyed civilization, warring human factions survive in a world devastated by atmospheric poisons and swarming with gigantic insects. The peaceful Valley of the Wind is nestled on the edge of the Toxic Forest and led by the courageous Princess Nausicaä, whose love of all living things leads her into terrible danger, as she fights to restore balance between humans and nature. - from GKIDS

This is the first Ghibli movie I watched and I still remember the excitement I had at that time. I was not a person who was enthusiastic about anime and manga. The first impression I had was it’s difficult to understand because of the philosophical theme. The anime and manga I had seen before was more fun and playful type of entertainment. However, this movie made me think a lot about the relationship between human beings and nature.

Recently, I watched the movie again, and my original impression has remained unchanged. The film still tells us fundamentally important things: show respect to elderly people, take care of children, recognize the value of family, neighbors, communities and helping each other, respect foreign people and their cultures, the human is one of the element of the mother Earth, and live as a part of nature bring benefits to us.

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KEIKO

POM POKO
(平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ) (1994)
by Isao Takahata

The tanuki (raccoon-dogs) spend their days playing idly in the hillsides and squabbling over food – until the construction of a huge new Tokyo suburb clears the nearby forest and threatens their way of life. In an effort to defend their home, the tanuki learn to transform into humans and start playing tricks to make the workers think the construction site is haunted, ending in a spectacular night-time spirit parade, with thousands of ghosts, dragons and other magical creatures descending on the city. - from GKIDS

Pom Poko is said to be based on a real story about development in Tokyo in the 1960s. I used to live in the area where the movie takes place so I have especially strong feelings for this movie.

Through this story, I was able to learn the history of the area, and I had the chance to see the scenery before modern development. This movie also gave me a chance to think about the effects of development projects on nature and animals. I think that one of the key features of this movie was that the main characters are “tanuki” and the audience sees them portrayed differently as both insiders and outsiders of the community.

This contrast main focus: it is not a fantasy movie and we have to think about real world.

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LAUREN

Princess Mononoke
(もののけ姫) (1997)
by Hayao Miyazaki

Inflicted with a deadly curse, the young warrior Ashitaka heads west in search of a cure. There, he stumbles into a bitter conflict between Lady Eboshi, the proud people of Iron Town, and the enigmatic Princess Mononoke, a young girl raised by wolves, who will stop at nothing to prevent the humans from destroying her home and the forest spirits and animal gods who live there. - from GKIDS

Not only are the music score and artwork phenomenal, but there are also several themes throughout the movie that I think are important.

Like many Ghibli films, there is an underlying theme of resolving conflict, not because it was your fault, but because it was your responsibility. Ashitaka and San (aka Princess Mononoke) work together to bridge the misunderstandings of the humans and the creatures of the forest while setting an example for the other humans to follow. 

Additionally, many of the most skilled members of the Iron Town settlement have leprosy, but they are cared for and depended upon by the community. This fits in with the theme of ableism vs worth. Many societies, especially in the time period that Princess Mononoke portrays, would not put much value into the life or worth of a terminally ill group.  

The care and protection of the environment vs human industrialization. At what point does human industry and settlement need to be stopped so that the environment can heal and survive?

Gender role reversals. With the exception of Ashitaka, Gonza the bodyguard, and Jiko-bo the monk, the male characters hold supporting roles in the community. The women of Iron Town perform most of the hard labor; Lady Eboshi who is a confident and independent woman is the head of the settlement and there is of course San who seems to be a law unto herself.  It was interesting to see the males that would often display softer emotions as well as being supportive of their particular roles in their society.

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MEGUMI

Grave of the Fireflies
(火垂るの墓) (1988)
by Isao Takahata

As the Empire of the Sun crumbles upon itself and a rain of firebombs falls upon Japan, the final death march of a nation is echoed in millions of smaller tragedies. This is the story of Seita and his younger sister Setsuko, two children born at the wrong time, in the wrong place, and now cast adrift in a world that lacks not the care to shelter them, but simply the resources. Forced to fend for themselves in the aftermath of fires that swept entire cities from the face of the earth, their doomed struggle is both a tribute to the human spirit and the stuff of nightmares. Beautiful, yet at times brutal and horrifying. - from GKIDS

This is a sad yet touching movie. I would recommend this, as watching a tear-jerker movie. Crying is one of the best ways to relieve our stay-at-home stress!!

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MIDORI

My Neighbor TORORO
(となりのトトロ) (1988)
by Hayao Miyazaki

When Satsuki and her sister Mei move with their father to a new home in the countryside, they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus. - from GKIDS

The setting at the beginning is bitter-sweet because the little sisters are not able to live with their sick mother, but it ends on a positive note. A feel-good film, the movie is filled with a positive atmosphere from beginning to end and no evil characters appear.

The local community, including the spirits like Totoro and Cat Bus, embraces the new-comer family, watches the girls grow, and helps when necessary. I get a feeling of exhilaration when I hear the music that is played when the girls explore the vicinity around the camphor trees guided by the Totoro family at midnight.

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PATSY

SPIRITED AWAY
(千と千尋の神隠し) (2001)
by Hayao Miyazaki

Chihiro’s family is moving to a new house, but when they stop on the way to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation and Chihiro is whisked into a world of fantastic spirits ruled over by the sorceress Yubaba. Put to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must use all her wits to survive in this strange new place, find a way to free her parents and return to the normal world. Overflowing with imaginative creatures and thrilling storytelling, Spirited Away became a worldwide smash hit, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of all time. - from GKIDS

“Spirited Away” was the first Miyazaki film that I had the pleasure of watching on the big screen.  The movie’s release in Japan coincided closely with the start of my new life as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) in a small mountain village.  As the movie followed the path of young heroine Chihiro’s emotions and feeling, I found myself identifying with her.  Impatient and impetuous.  Befriended by some.  Shunned by others.  Learning as she goes.  Spirited and determined.  Ultimately, the story, in all its weirdness and wonderfulness, was, for me, one that celebrated the power of perseverance. 

It also served as a refreshing reminder that success can be found in staying true to joy and astonishment and empathy.  After all, “Spirited Away” won the 75th Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Feature.

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FRIDAY FAVORITES--WEEK 1

Whether your working from home, managing remote learning for your children, or passing time with home improvement projects, a good soundtrack can provide inspiration.

The JASH team has come up with a playlist of recommended Japanese songs to brighten your day.
YouTube links have been provided. Nearly all are also available on popular streaming services.

1. AKA TONBO (赤とんぼ) — folk song

2. Ato hitotsu (あとひとつ) — Funky Monkey Babys (ファンキー・モンキー・ベイビーズ)

3. Chawanmushi no uta (茶碗蒸しの歌) — folk song

4. Hana wa saku (花は咲く) — NHK

5. INTO THE LIGHT — MISIA

6. Jyounetsu A Go-Go (情熱 A Go-Go) — Ulfuls (ウルフルズ)

7. Koyoino tsukino youni (今宵の月のように) — THE ELEPHANT KASHIMASHI

8. Makenaide (負けないで) — ZARD

9. Real? — MIYAVI

10. Sobakasu — JUDY AND MARY (ジュディ アンド マリ)

11. Ureshi Tanoshii Daisuki (うれしい！たのしい！大好き！) — DREAMS COME TRUE
    

Enjoy our TOP TEN +1 as you head into the weekend, and read staff comments below for reasons behind the picks.

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IKUYO

“Chawanmushi no uta” (茶碗蒸しの歌)

This song is very popular in Kagoshima, Kyushu Japan. This song cheers me up, and I can feel my home town, Kagoshima, where ever I live.

The lyrics, which are written in Kagoshima dialect, tell the story of a customer who ordered "Chawanmushi” (茶碗蒸し/ savory steamed egg custard ) at a tea shop. The meaning of Chawan (茶碗) is tea bowl, and the meaning of Mushi (蒸し) is steamed. However, the shop owner mistook the word Mushi (蒸し/steamed) to mean as "Mushi (虫/insect )” on a Chawan (茶碗) bowl.

The song makes fun of Japanese language homonyms that have the same sounds but different meanings.

“INTO THE LIGHT” — MISIA & “Real?” — MIYAVI

These are songs that I listen to while driving to work.. The fast-paced rhythm of “Reall?” give me the energy approach the day with the spirit of “aggressively working hard.” MIYAVI has became a family favorite after we went to his live performance in Houston last summer.

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LAUREN

“Hana wa saku ”(花は咲く)

NHK produced the song “Hana wa Saku” (Flowers Will Bloom) to build public support for the 3.11 disaster recovery efforts.

I picked this song because I like the message that even when we have sadness and remember that which was lost, we have much to be thankful for and people to love. Our love and happiness will always return, just like the flowers will bloom.

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KEIKO

“Makenaide” (負けないで) — ZARD

The title of this song— “Do not give up”—says it all. The tempo is upbeat and encourages me to move forward when I have difficulties.

This song is used as the theme song for marathons in Japan.

“Koyoino tsukino youni” (今宵の月のように) — THE ELEPHANT KASHIMASHI

The lyrics are positive, and the melody is unique. 

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MEGUMI

“AKA TONBO” (赤とんぼ) — folk song

I had a chance to listen to a Japanese opera singer sing AKA TONBO at the famous Au Lapin Agile in Paris many years ago. It was the moment that I knew this folk song was more than just a children’s song. It is a beautiful representation of Japan and the Japanese spirit.

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MIDORI

“Sobakasu” — JUDY AND MARY (ジュディ アンド マリ)

This is song about heartbreak; however, the last part of the lyrics reveal, “I do not why but I cannot remember his face anymore.” This conveys a positive attitude of moving forward. The melody is also catchy and enjoyable. 

“Ureshi Tanoshii Daisuki” (うれしい！たのしい！大好き！) — DREAMS COME TRUE

The title means “Happy, Joyful, Love.”  I enjoy the melody of the song and how it showcases artist Miwa Yoshida’s talent. 

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PATSY

“Jyounetsu A Go-Go” (情熱 A Go-Go) — Ulfuls (ウルフルズ)

Very few Japanese bands are as lively as the Ulfuls. Their unique, ever-changing style balances humor and talent. Listening to the Ulfuls is highly addictive and always brings a smile on my face. “Jyounetsu A Go-Go” is an upbeat reminder to put a little bit of heart in everything you do! The Ulfuls version “Ashita ga Aru” is also provides good pick-me-up.

And those music videos! 笑

“Ato hitotsu” (あとひとつ) — Funky Monkey Babys (ファンキー・モンキー・ベイビーズ)

The hip-hop duo + dj are known for meaning-filled lyrics that tug at the heart strings. In “Ato hitotsu,” which can be interpreted as “one more try,” we are reminded to continue to reach for the sky and not give up. As the album title states, you can “feel the happiness.”

As a plus, ファンモン (Fan-mon) music videos, which are filled with Japanese celebrities, are like watching short films!

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WELCOME TO FRIDAY FAVORITES

As we stay at home and work safe in the midst the coronavirus pandemic, the JASH staff has been busy finding ways to keep you connected to Japan.

We are an eclectic team with broad interests and strong feelings about Japanese culture, and in light of that, we would like to take this opportunity to share some of our personal “Japan favorites” with you.

From food to films, every Friday we will be giving out gold stars to our favorite items. 

If you find yourself bored, lonely or anxious, we hope that some of our weekly picks inspire you to find ways to add small doses of joy – and JAPAN – to your day.