Serge the Concierge

Cool Treats for Warm Japanese Summer Days: Say 'Fruit and Vegetable Bars'

2 things I learned from Cool Packaging: Frozen Summer Treats From Japan by Ryoko (on PingMag) are first that "frozen treats began to be produced as a substitute for ice cream after World War II, when almost all dairy products were designated for military use. A popular simple treat at the time was merely ice mixed with sweetener, into which a pair of disposable chopsticks were stuck. Very basic, but it made folks happy in those tough times" and second that adzuki beans are part of the mix as they are in many Japanese candies.

I cut down on ice cream in the past year so I paid more attention to the healthier frozen treats in her piece. 

Ryoko mentions the unusual 'Fruit and Vegetable Bar' popular with women.
The “Gari-Gari-Kun” (”Mr. Crunchy”) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year and the mascot on its wrap packs a punch (illustration below, from PingMag).

I really like the Popsicles shaped like slices of watermelon and cantaloupe (picture also from PingMag)

Quality and standards are enforced by the very official Japanese Ice Cream Association.

There is a site dedicated only to the topic of these cold treats titled Japanese Ice Cream.

Is it more marketing than informative, I will let you judge.

Cooling off for Tokyo Thursdays # 47

Related:  Seafood Ice-Cream and other strange brews...Big in Japan

Learn Japanese Tips and Tricks at the 'Urawaza' Book Party (San Francisco, July 13)

After reading The Maker of Balloons (Water Balloons that is) on PingMag, I wanted to learn more about this Japanese Summer tradition.

By some twist of fate, I landed instead on Tokyo Mango, one of the voices of Lisa Katayama.

She recently published Urawaza (Chronicle Books) where she shares some everyday Japanese tips and tricks such as "Can't find someone to water your plants while you're away? Place the plant on a water-soaked diaper, so it slowly absorbs water over time."

She continues a popular Japanese trend that expresses itself on popular TV Shows and numerous books.

If you are in San Francisco on Sunday, July 13, Lisa has a book signing party where she will demo some of her secrets. It takes place from 1to 3pm at Double Punch a store offering Japanese Toys, Art Books and more in the North Beach district, close to the Bay.

All the way back in May, Try Than offered her own Kitchen Secrets on Bay Area Bites. Let me quote a couple:

"After soaking dried tamarind in water, use the strained fruit and fibers to polish your copper pans and bowls.

Use the edge of a small spoon to peel the crooks and crannies of knobby ginger."

Are you hooked on the Urawaza trend?

Want to share your own kitchen and home tricks?

A side trip in the Bay Area for Tokyo Thursdays #46

Last Week: Slew of reviews on 'Japan Cuts' (New York), Could not make it to Opening Night!

Slew of reviews on 'Japan Cuts' (New York), Could not make it to Opening Night!

Unfortunately I could not make it to the opening night of Japan Cuts, July 2nd at the Japan Society in New York so I set my fishing net wide and large in search of detailed pieces about what's on the program of this Film Festival.

In Japan Cuts Above The Rest Peter Gutiérrez (Firefox News) picks some favorites such as United Red Army a docudrama on the leftist group, Dainipponjin which he describes as "a mockumentary about “Big Man Japan,” an ordinary guy who expands to Gojira proportions when gargantuan critters threaten to trample the skyline" (my illustration, below) and the closing night film Kisaragi, one of the best on offer in his view as a "fandom-set whodunit is that rarity in a movie mystery—the kind whose ample surprises never seem forced".

Martin Tsai (New York Observer) introduces his review Japan Cuts: Far Out in the Far East by asking:

"Do you ever wonder what the Japanese think of Hollywood's interpretations of "Speed Racer," "Transformers," or even "Memoirs of a Gesiha"? For those who want to experience that reverse lost-in-translation feeling firsthand, the second annual Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film, which begins today at Japan Society, offers a healthy swath of selections that will do the trick. What's more, the lineup is reflective of how the country's film industry is grappling with its global reach while struggling to defend its home turf"

As part of a broader New York Asian Film Festival overview The Brooklyn Rail adds to the list of must see Japan Cuts movies, Fine Totally Fine which "follows horror-obsessed slacker Teruo and the menagerie of square pegs that satellite around him. A gardener by day, Teruo spends his free time scaring his friends in clever ways and aspires to open a haunted house" and Adrift in Tokyo in which actor Joe Odagiri plays Takemura "a scruffy young law student with a serious amount of debt. Suddenly Fukuhara, a threatening debt collector, bursts into Takemura’s shabby apartment with a one day ultimatum: payment or intense pain. But the next day, calm, cool and collected Fukuhara shows a change of heart".

Hopefully this roundup for Tokyo Thursdays #45 will broaden your view of Japan Cuts.

The festival runs until July 13.

My previous piece: 'Japan Cuts', Not Sandwiches, New Japanese Films Festival, New York, July 2-13

'Japan Cuts', Not Sandwiches, New Japanese Films Festival, New York, July 2-13

Tired of the same old film talent, want fresh cuts instead of stale ones, the Japan Society brings new celluloid heroes to New York with Japan Cuts.

From July 2 to July 13, Japan Cuts presents 18 feature films getting their U.S and/or NY premiere  plus a sidebar tribute to late filmmaker Kon Ichikawa.

They run the gamut from Sukiyaki Western Django (on July 5th) an homage to spaghetti western by Takashi Miike, featuring you would have guessed Quentin Tarantino to A Gentle Breeze in the Village (Tennen kokekko) based on a popular manga, a tender coming-of-age love story set deep in Japan's countryside, by director Nobuhiro Yamashita (showing on closing day, July 13).

The short form will also get a chance to shine with over 60 short films from Japan's emerging independent filmmakers, video artists and a special highlight on Naomi Kawase.

The Japan Cuts Trailer above was created by Motomichi, the Japanese visual artist based in New York.

Films from July 3 to 6 are co-presented with the New York Asian Film Festival.

On the Big Screen for Tokyo Thursdays #44

Other New York-Tokyo Links: In 'Japanamerica', Roland Kelts rides the New York-Tokyo Express

Coloring Books for Grown Ups from Origami to Anatomy for Tokyo Thursdays

You can see many adults with crossword puzzles but how many do you catch with a coloring book.
Maybe it is just due to the fact that not many are created and I don't mean the kinky type.

Our friends at PingMag (Tokyo) give us a detailed overview of what Japan offers in Colouring Books with Adults in Mind (by Ryoko).

Theses titles cover subjects such as "drawing anatomy, colouring your favourite manga, folding coloured origami or even filling in the colours on a Nintendo DS!"

One of them is World Mandalas: 100 New Designs for Coloring and Meditation for the spiritually inclined and keen on patient work...

The Song Colouring Book by Mimiko Akiyama (Japanese only, my illustration below, from PingMag piece) combines an illustration of each song with the lyrics to it on the opposite page so you can combine singing and coloring.

In a completely different sphere is the Coloring Guide to Human Anatomy by Alan Twietmeyer and Thomas McCracken which could double as a teaching tool.

National Geographic offers Free online Print and Go Coloring Books of Animals which could please both kids and parents.

Please share any other titles or sites worth checking!

A picturesque Tokyo Thursdays #43

Previously: Add an Ace or an Edge: Japanese Phrasebook Free Audio Downloads

Add an Ace or an Edge: Japanese Phrasebook Free Audio Downloads

While looking for details on the Rough Guide to Tokyo (my illustration), I noticed a companion title, The Japanese Phrasebook.

As interesting or maybe more useful than the book itself for your survival kit are the Free Audio Downloads which will train your ears on issues such as Accommodation, Banks, Emergencies and much more.
You might not get lost in translation after all.

A good pick for the Consumed to Thrifty

If you cannot make it to Japan, you will at least have learned a few new tricks.

It will open your mind to different sounds and add a little shine to your armor.

Useful tips and tricks for Tokyo Thursdays #42

Related: Map your Tokyo Stay thanks to 'Tokyo Metro' Multilingual Site

Japan meets New York, 'Japan Day'...Central Park, June 1st

I had not made any plans for the week-end yet so I might join the crowd for a Japan meets New York event in Central Park, Japan Day NYC.
Want to start the day bright and early, the Japan Run kicks off at 8:00 am.
It is only the second edition and you can sample food (after 11:00 am).
Learn about calligraphy, board games.
On the music side, I noticed the Leonard Eto and Manolo Badrena (Weather Report, etc...) percussive duo.

Nobumasa Takahashi a Japanese Graffiti Artist did all the wonderful illustrations.
For more on his work, check Nobumasa Takahashi draws (PingMag).

A free event it seems, great for the Consumed to Thrifty crowd.

A quick snap Tokyo Thursdays #41

Related: In 'Japanamerica', Roland Kelts rides the New York-Tokyo Express

From Coil to Rabbit, Incense in all shapes and flavors (via PingMag)

Tracing the origins of incense in Japan, Ryoko (PingMag) writes that "it is believed that it was introduced to Japan in the 6th century, along with Buddhism. At that time, incense consisted simply of small chips from an aromatic tree called “koboku (fragrant wood)”, or a ground powder from that tree".

In her piece, Incense Design of Scent and Form, she looks at history, design and purpose.

In Europe and the US, I have seen incense in the form of sticks but never as the round shaped "neriko" (picture above, from PingMag piece).
It looks especially appealing in that sea shell and Ryoko tells us that either honey or plum flavors these "neriko".

Worth noting are the "Fumiko" paper dolls (picture above, also from PingMag piece), a take on the tradition of "Fumiko" incense powder stylishly wrapped in Japanese paper which Exposhop Japon offers in a variety of styles.

End of the scents for this Tokyo Thursdays #40 (a round number)

Last Thursday: Japanese Delicacies: Monja-yaki (dried squid, corn and cabbage)

Japanese Delicacies: Monja-yaki (dried squid, corn and cabbage)

I am staying away from art and craft today for Tokyo Thursdays.
Instead I went looking for Foodie Bits and was lucky to find a flurry of details on Japanese Delicacies organized by region on the Japan National Tourist Organization site.

I decided to showcase one dish amongst them all, Monja-yaki, a popular dish in Tokyo.

Here is how JNTO describes it:

"Monja-yaki was originally eaten as a children's treat in downtown Tokyo. Now it is established as a specialty of Tokyo. First, you cook ingredients such as dried squid, sweet corn and cabbage on a heated cast iron plate. Then you gather these ingredients together on a plate and build a circular wall with a hollowed-out space and pour a watery batter mixed with flour into the hollow. You scrape the half-cooked part around using a small spatula and scoop up the cooked part stuck to the back of the spatula into your mouth. This dish originated either in Asakusa in Tokyo or in Gunma. At present, Tsukishima in Chuo ward is known throughout Japan as "Monja-yaki Town". Please take that extra step and try this dish when you visit the Ginza area"

My illustration comes from their piece.

I found this Play by play about Monja-yaki on Treasure Chest.

SunnyPages compares Kansai versus Hiroshima style of this dish.

Bon appetit for Tokyo Thursdays #39

Last week: 'Only the Carp that can swim up the Yellow River can become a Dragon' (Koi Nobori)

'Only the Carp that can swim up the Yellow River can become a Dragon' (Koi Nobori)

On Monday, May 5th, Japanese celebrated Children Day (or Kodomo no hi).
On this occasion it is a tradition to fly Koi Nobori flags (flying carp).

Takafumi Suzuki and Hiroko Torigoe (PingMag Make) paid a behind the scenes visit to the Koi Nobori workshop of Mr. Takashi Hashimoto in Kazo City.

To add poetry to the piece they called it The Man who Flies with the Fishes.

Asked about the origins of Koi Nobori, Mr. Takashi Hashimoto says that story has it "that it originates from a Chinese legend. Only the carp that can swim up the Yellow River can become dragons, or so the story goes. So, in connection with that story, people began to fly the carp flags up in the sky with prayers that their children would grow up big and successful".

The art of hand painted Koi Nobori almost disappeared in the 70's he says when cheap nylon ones came onto the market.

What saved them was creativity. He challenged local artisans to come up with new designs and combined the best elements of them.

His shop now counts 17 different designs including the giant one pictured above (no less than 111 meters).

Besides Koi Nobori flag making, Kazo City is also famous for its Udon according to Misako Rocks, a local resident who actually tells us that the giant design above was created some 20 years ago, I guess as a showpiece.

That's It for Tokyo Thursdays #38

Previously: Art of Improvisation in Jazz, Life and Crises: Japan Society, New York, May 20th

Related: Monster Suit Paradise...Animal Costumes...In Japan