After enduring a slew of hot summer nights with sleep so hard to come by, it was refreshing to wake up to a cool autumn breeze this morning. The end of summer is approaching. Kids at the park are enjoying their last week of summer vacation and soaking up the late summer sun.

Unlike kids, most adults in Japan take only a short summer break that typically lasts less than a week, and many take their vacation during Obon season in August. Even with the recession, flights were all booked to 100% and trains were packed to almost 120%. Obon season is one of the most traveled times in Japan.

So what is Obon, you might wonder? Obon is a uniquely Japanese custom of commemorating ones ancestors.

Several years ago, I took my husband to Nagano where my grandparents live during Obon season. It was his first time to meet my grandparents, visit Nagano, and of course experience this unique custom. I made the mistake of forgetting to brief him on Obon season. He obediently observed what we did, but I had a feeling that it was quite confusing to him. Learning from that experience, I would like to explain what many Japanese do for Obon.

The precise time of Obon season varies depending on where people are from and what religious customs they follow. Many, however, consider the season to be in the middle of August.

Some people, including my grandparents, display an elaborate offering table. On the table there are gifts, flowers, incense, rice cakes, fruits, and vegetables. You might also see some cucumbers and eggplants with four disposable chopsticks sticking out of them. These vegetables are there to represent horses for the spirits to ride between our world and their world. Several lanterns with tassels are also displayed on the side of the table. Some are black and others are painted gold. In addition, some have colorful lamp shades that spin, so you can imagine how magical it feels at night.

Once people are done with the display, they make a bonfire called Mukae-bi (welcoming fire) near the entrance gate. The fire is there to guide and welcome the spirits of our ancestors. I remember imagining the smoke swirling up in the air was a white path for them to walk down from heaven.

Since many go back to their hometown during Obon season, local municipalities plan their summer festivals around this weekend. One of the best festivals is Bon Odori (folk dance). There are a variety of Bon dances and most are simple enough for anybody to mimic the moves and join the fun. Rhythmic beats from the Taiko and people in Yukata going around in circles and dancing gives a lively festive feel and is definitely the climax of the festival.

At the end of the season, people float paper lanterns down the river. In my family’s case, we float flowers and offerings of fruit, rice cakes and the vegetable horses down the river. Lighting Okuri-bi (sending off fire) is the final ritual of Obon season, and for many it also marks the end of their summer vacation.

You might think that following the same rituals year after year gets kind of repetitive and boring. Yet for many Japanese people it’s comforting and soothing. For those people who don’t visit their hometown often, it is nice to experience the familiarity of sharing the same rituals with locals. Obon gives many busy Japanese a reason to get together with families, relatives, and ancestors. And so, after sending off our ancestors to their world, it is almost time to close the last page of our own summer vacation…until next summer.

Continuing on with the Yaki Yaki business. This time, I would like to introduce some Yaki Yaki sweets from Japan.

Taiyaki:
Tai is red snapper in Japanese. And Yaki of course means to bake or grill.
Taiyaki is a fish-shaped cake typically filled with Azuki sweet bean paste. Many Japanese people assume foreigners don’t like Azuki bean paste, so when my husband (American) kept eating Taiyaki they were quite surprised. Personally, I think that Azuki paste doesn’t have a distinct flavor. It goes well with many other ingredients. Over the course of Japanese history, Taiyaki has been the center of a few heated debates. One in particular questions whether the tail of Tai-shaped snack should be filled with the bean paste or not. Some said that it should not be filled because the tail was to be used as a handle while eating, and it was also nice to end your Taiyaki with a plain baked tail. The counter argument stated that the point of eating Taiyaki was to enjoy the combination of cake and bean paste. Besides, you got more for your buck if the tail was filled with the bean paste. Our local Taiyaki shop sells the ones with the bean paste all the way to the tail. Somehow, I eat the tail first. (By the way, another heated debate concerned whether the Taiyaki should be eaten from the head or tail). I just think that biting into their heads is a bit barbaric just for nibbling on a cake.

Dorayaki:
Dorayaki is another sweet snack filled with Azuki bean. But this time the bean paste is sandwiched with honey pancakes. I was first introduced to Dorayaki through an animation called Doraemon (a blue robot cat from the future whose pocket connects him to the 4th dimension). Doraemon’s favorite food was in fact Dorayaki. He would buy a bag full of Dorayaki and finish them in less than a second. In my little girl’s head, I thought if Doraemon liked it so much, it must be very good.

It’s quite sweet, so it goes well with a nice strong green tea. Also, though it’s not that big, one is enough for me.

Imagawayaki
Imagawayaki is believed to be the original shape and recipe of Taiyaki. It’s rather thick and round, with a variety of fillings. Popular ones include Azuki bean paste, white bean paste, custard cream, chocolate cream, and cheese. I’m usually torn between chocolate cream and cheese. However, in the end, I usually end up with cheese Imagawayaki in my hands. The reason? Well, they add a sprinkle of black sesame to the dough for the cheese kind. This tiny addition of magical flavor always wins me over.

I’m sure that there are many traditional baked/grilled goods in your own countries. If you have some unique items that you would like to share, just let us know.

August is a matusri (festival) season in Japan, with numerous Bon-odori festivals and fireworks throughout the country. Though it may seem smarter to stay in an air-conditioned room and avoid the insanely packed crowds, there is something special about being at the festivals. Strolling around, eating shaved ice under the hot summer sun, watching people going by, playing some silly games, and of course sampling the festival food from the street vendors. This is something that I cannot pass up. So I would like to introduce some of the Japanese festival foods you might like to try.

Yakitori: Grilled chicken on a bamboo stick
They are like shish kabobs but smaller. Yaki means grilled and Tori means bird, in this case chicken. Though restaurants offer a variety of yakitori like chicken livers, chicken skin, chicken gizzard, and vegetables (my favorite is chicken meatballs), there only one or two kinds at the festivals. The meat is dipped in a special sauce and grilled over hot charcoals. Once you smell the savory sweet soy sauce, you can’t resist a little nibble.

Yakisoba: Fried noodles.
Yakisoba is fried noodles with pork and veggies. It only takes 15 minutes to make yakisoba and it’s easy to prepare at home. I don’t know why, but Yakisoba somehow tastes so much better at the festivals. Maybe the street vendors use special Yakisoba sauces or garnishes, or maybe it’s just the atmosphere. People who like ramen noodles should definitely try Yakisoba.

Okonomiyaki: ‘Whatever you want’ pancake
Okonomi means whatever you want or however you like. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake. The basic ingredients are flour, yam, water, shredded cabbage, and egg, and to this you can add whatever you like; pork, shrimp, noodles, rice cakes, vegetables, even cheese. Most anything goes in Okonomiyaki. Unfortunately, what goes into the Okonomiyaki at the festivals is pre-decided. They are still delicious nonetheless.

So when you have a chance to go to one of the Japanese festivals, leave some time to try some Japanese foods. They might seem strange at first, but once you taste them they are not so yucky after all.

A little treat for the eyes

Paper or Plastic? I bet people are getting sick of being asked this question. I’ve been asked numerous times here in Japan. Every time I was asked, I gave it a good amount of consideration and usually end up with going with plastic. Is plastic better? I don’t know.

Nowadays most people know about climate change. We, normal consumers have an obligation to do everything we possibly can do to save the planet or at least to preserve what’s left of it. There are numerous things that we can do, and it is important that we all try to do something. Reducing the use of plastic bags is one. Yet, why aren’t there more people doing it? My guess is that people need a better motivational nudge than just “saving the planet”, they need something else: a style. So here, I present a wonderful and uniquely Japanese item that is not only eco, but also provides some flair and fashion. It is called a Furoshiki.

A Furoshiki is a piece of cloth made of mainly silk, cotton, nylon, or rayon. Though they come in a variety of sizes, probably 1 meter square is the most common. A Furoshiki has a long history in Japan. People used to carry cloths in it after their public bath, wrap gift items for special occasions, and cover their furniture to protect it from dust. Now with the help of eco conscious minds, the Furoshiki has gained great popularity among some Japanese and foreigners and there are numerous alternative uses.

The following is the list of things you can do with Furoshiki.

Fashion
1.    Scarf
2.    Shawl
3.    Bandana
4.    Belt

Transferring goods
5.    Bags

Other
6.    Gift wrapping
7.    Handkerchief (or Bento wrap)
8.    Cushion cover
9.    Blanket
10.    Table cloth

There are number of beautifully patterned Furoshiki available. But if you cannot find a perfect Froshiki that fits your style, you can just go to a local fabric store and find a pattern you like. Cut it to about 40 inches square, sew the edges, and you have your own original Furoshiki.

I made my own Furoshiki recently and I love it. I mainly use it as a bag. Now when presented with the demand to choose between paper or plastic, I can respond confidently with ‘neither, I brought my own.’

*A tip for future Furoshiki users: If you plan to use your furoshiki as a grocery bag I recommend that you prefold and tie the Furoshiki before heading out. Sometimes there isn’t enough room in the bagging area of the supermarket. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an Origami master to learn how to fold a Furoshiki. It’s quite easy.

The days are getting longer and everybody seems to be enjoying these summer days and nights. You’ll see salary-men heading off to nearby Beer Gardens after work, where they can enjoy a few cold beers outside with their colleagues. Or you’ll see kids playing with sparklers with their friends（under adults’ supervision, of course) or you might happen to see girls wearing a Yukata. When I see this it makes me really feel like summer is finally here. For those who don’t know what a Yukata is, simply put, it’s a summer Kimono.

Though I don’t own any Kimono myself, I have a few Yukatas for summer festivals and nights out. I think many Japanese girls would agree that modern ladies rarely have an occasion to wear a formal Kimono. We wear it once for our “Coming of Age” ceremony, but to be honest, I don’t even know how to wear a Kimono. It’s a very complicated task to put it on and is very cumbersome to wear. They are also heavy and uncomfortable. On the contrary, a Yukata is easy to wear, casual, and the summery festive patterns make them very pretty.

The followings are some pictures of Yukata.

The wonderful thing about a Yukata is that one size fits all. (well, most of the time…) In addition, there is a cornucopia of fabric styles that range from traditional Japanese patterns like flowers and butterflies to interesting patterns involving fruit and animals.

As summer stretches out before us, you might already have plans to visit a beer garden or draw your name in the night sky with sparkler, but maybe this year you can try on a Yukata. With so many styles of patterns, I’m sure you can find something that will fit your perfect summer night.

The wet season is usually over by July, leaving us free to enjoy and complain about the hot, steamy weather. But – perhaps due to climate change – weather patterns in Japan, and for that matter all over the world, are out of whack, and lately it’s been raining on and off and on again despite the calendar. Every morning we flip on the TV to see how wet the day is going to be. Almost every day the weather lady has been instructing us to “Remember the umbrella!”

During the wet season, carrying an umbrella is a must. Even though almost everybody owns an umbrella or two, it is one of the few everyday products that has not undergone any major innovation, until now. There are numerous companies that are coming up with some attractive and unique umbrellas. I would like to share a few.

Ultra portable umbrellas by Waterfront

If you have to carry an umbrella, it should be small and light. Of course, such umbrellas are available: Super Poketmini and Poketflat by Waterfront. The Super Poketmini is a short and stout umbrella. It can be folded down to 15cm (6 inches) long and 4cm (1.6 inches) thick. The Poketflat, for its part, is thin and sleek. It can be folded down to 22cm (8.7 inches) long and 2.5cm (1 inch) thick. I’ve been an avid user of Poketflat for some time now and it comes in handy during a sudden downpour. It’s so light and small that sometimes I forget I even have an umbrella in my bag.

Asymmetry umbrella – Senz Umbrella
This new umbrella designed by a Dutch company was recently released in Japan. Thanks to its unique shape, the Senz umbrella can withstand heavy winds. Also, thanks to its smart design, this umbrella covers what we want it to cover. It makes Senz!

Samurai sword umbrella
If you’re a big fan of Samurai, this umbrella is what you’re looking for. Because Samurai swords are banned, modern guys are no longer able to carry a stylish sword at their side. However, with this Samurai umbrella, their Samurai spirit will shine through once again. And with the umbrella holder, they can carry it on their shoulders like modern-day Ninjas.

Umbrella holder for bicycles
Getting around town in Japan is best on bicycle. It’s cheep, clean, and healthy. Sounds good all around. Unfortunately, bicycles have one downturn. They and their riders are exposed to the weather. When it’s raining outside, nobody wants to ride a bike. So, a simple yet clever solution was invented: an umbrella holder for bicycles. It is a small plastic contraption that can hold an umbrella. It’s not a particularly cool or sleek looking thing, but I’ve been surprised to see so many people with this gizmo on their bicycles already. It’s the function that matters at the end.

Wagasa
Last but not least, Wagasa is something many foreigners don’t see. Distinctly different from western umbrellas, they are beautiful works of art on their own. Made of all-natural materials (bamboo for the spokes and washi paper for the covering), the Wasaga is made only by skilled craftsman. If you want to make an impression, Wagasa can do wonders. They are colorful, beautiful, and one of a kind.

So if it’s raining cats and dogs on your side of the world, don’t worry. You can chase the blues away with a delightful and unique umbrella.

It’s almost 90 degrees outside. Summer is definitely here, devouring every inch of the concrete jungle we know as Tokyo. Even though it’s scorching hot outside, I still like summer time. It’s a time when we can enjoy long hours of daylight. It’s no secret that we all like the big fireworks. And most of all, we don’t need any excuse to eat more ice-cream or shaved ice. Summer brings back a lot of good memories for me. One in particular is the radio exercise.

Any kid who grew up in Japan knows the radio exercise. Once they hear the music, their bodies automatically start moving.

So why is the radio exercise a summer thing to do? Well, one of the assignments we got for the summer was to do the radio exercise. How do teachers know if we did it or not? Interestingly enough, almost every community has the morning radio exercise group. I remember getting up around 6 o’clock and heading over to a nearby park where there were dozens of people, young and old, already waiting to do the exercise. A radio cassette player was placed in front of us, and the leader of the group was anxiously checking his wrist watch. Once we were done with the exercise, we all waited in line for the group leader to stamp our radio exercise card. Now you understand how teachers know if we did the exercise or not. As proof, we would bring these cards to school at the end of our summer vacation.

You might wonder what the benefits of doing the radio exercise are. There are quite a few. Though I had a hard time waking up and getting ready, once you go outside, you’d be amazed how nice summer mornings are. The air is still cool and fresh and quite unlike the scorching hot afternoon. I also got to play with my friends after the exercises were done. And if we got enough stamps, the organizers would give us goodies like candies, cookies, and bubbles. By the time I got home, breakfast would be ready and it tasted so much better after a good work out.

So here, I present the one and only Japanese radio exercise. (I know it’s quite dorky…)
Now you can organize your own morning exercise club!

(The sitting position is for the handicapped)

I just finished listening to a podcast about the most livable cities in the world. Tokyo made #3 on the list. We got beat out by Zurich (The Beverly Hills of Europe) and Copenhagen. According to Monocle’s Global Quality of Life Survey 2009, Tokyo’s plans to plant 1 million trees and its transit system that runs like clockwork, gave it the number 3 slot this year.  Tokyo is bustling yet safe, futuristic yet culturally attentive, and its 18+ train lines stretch to every corner of the city.

If you’ve lived in Tokyo then you know that you don’t need a car. Unlike many metropolitan cities in America, Tokyo provides its citizens with what I like to call “The Freedom of Movement”. It’s the idea that no matter what type of transportation you choose to get around town, there is space and a right-of-way for you. There are trains, bike paths, large sidewalks (on most major streets), highways, and pedestrian only shopping arcades.

With around 13 million people living in a relatively small urban area how does crime stay low, and people not topple over one another? Well, as it turns out, people mind their own business and are generally respectful to others. It seems every time I go to the States someone asks me for money on the train, believe me, I don’t look like someone who would have a lot of cash to magnanimously spread around, but I suppose it comes with the territory.
One of the more sensational things about living in Tokyo is the moment when you realize where you are. When the kimono clad lady makes her way up the escalator, or when the Tofu seller blows on his horn as he walks down the street with his cart trailing behind him. It’s the mingling of the Japanese traditional culture among the western-influenced backdrop that makes Tokyo a little more interesting than my old home town 3,000 miles away.

Safety is important to me, but it’s more about peace of mind. As I don’t drive or have a car, I don’t have to worry about gas prices, car insurance, my expired license, or the stress of being stuck in traffic. I’m a bit safer from getting into a car accident but more importantly I don’t have to be concerned about a silly machine that will inevitably cost me an arm and a leg.

Tokyo has given me many opportunities to reevaluate what Quality of Life means. In the end, the most important thing is good health, happy family, nice friends, and decent food. These soft comforts can be appreciated much easier once a decent infrastructure is in place, like in Tokyo.

I hope that you can come and visit Tokyo and experience it for yourself. You can bring what you’ve experienced back home, so everywhere can be a great place to live.

There are many unique customs that are etched into Japanese culture, and one is the giving of summer gifts called Ochu-gen. If you go to any department store or grocery store around this time, you’ll see numerous displays of boxed gifts for Ochu-gen.

Ochu-gen is simply an act of giving a summer greeting to people you care about. Typically, people send Ochu-gen gifts to parents, relatives, friends, co-workers, bosses, mentors, etc. Actually, there are no set rules regarding who gets a greeting. Ochu-gen season starts in the beginning of July and ends around mid July in eastern Japan. (Interestingly enough, the season is pushed back to a month later for those people who live in western Japan.)Thus, you can imagine some people are busy Oshu-gen shopping right now.

Popular gifts items are perishable goods like beers, ham and sausage sets, sweets, meat sets, ice creams, rice, teas, and coffees. Some people send household products like laundry detergent, soap, and towels.

Typically, when people bring gifts to others, they say “Tsumaranai monodesuga”. (“It might not be a good enough gift for you”.) This might sound somewhat insulting because if it’s not good enough why give it to people?

Well, here is the reason. It is one of many Japanese phrases that show respect to others. If you can read between the lines, the true translation is as follows. “Even though I did my best to choose the right gift for you, no gift would be good enough for such a wonderful person like you.”

This excerpt from a book called Bushido: The Soul of Japan might explain the true meaning of Japanese gift giving better than I can do.

“[Our] logic runs: ‘You are a nice person, and no gift is nice enough for you. You will not accept anything I can lay at your feet except as a token of my good will; so accept this, not for its intrinsic value, but as a token. It will be an insult to your worth to call the best gift good enough for you.’”

“The American speaks of the material which makes the gift; the Japanese speaks of the spirit which prompts the gift.”

Unfortunately, there are many people who misinterpret the humbleness of the phrase as rudeness. Thus, lately people are saying simple phrases like “Hope you like this.” And “I’ve heard this is a fine gift.”

We all have many occasions to give gifts: birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, etc. It takes time to choose the right gift for the right person, but in the end, it is the thought that counts. Well, I better get cracking on Ochu-gen gift hunting.

It’s quite a recent occurrence to see people briskly walking about with a cup of morning Joe in their hands. Starbucks started its Japanese operations a little over a decade ago, and since then numerous Seattle style cafés opened up everywhere in Japan. Their signature style of comfortable sofas, open spaces, friendly staff, and endless combinable drink menus became an instant hit. You often see students, young professionals, dressed-up OLs (office ladies), design-minded people, and executive types in these spacious cafés. But where are the good ol’ salarymen? Well, they have their own favorite caffeine fix.

Canned coffees (yes, coffee that comes in a can) has been available in Japan for about half of a century. Thanks to numerous convenience stores and ubiquitous street-edge vending machines, canned coffee makes up thirty percent of all non-alcoholic drinks sold in Japan. They are readily available and offer a surprising number of different flavors, bean choices, and celebrity endorsements.

Canned coffee is cheaper than a cup of Joe at local cafe. They are normally 120yen, though you can buy “Premium” varities at a bargain rate of 130 to 140yen. There are both cold and hot types available. (Yes, you can buy a hot drink from an outdoor vending machine.)

They used to be relatively sweet and many had milk in them. In fact, the original canned coffee (which is believed to be UCC’s Canned Coffee with Milk) was more like a sweet café au lait.

The recent trend shows that more people, especially the older generations, are conscious about their weight and health in general. To meet their needs, many beverage companies have developed sugarless canned coffees (black or espresso kind).

Love for these canned espresso wonders is strong among Japanese businessmen. When they go down to buy their lunch at the nearest convenience store, they grab a few canned coffees to fight the doziness that typically haunts them after lunch. They are busy and don’t have enough time to walk over to a busy café and order a fresh cup of coffee. Besides, they would rather spend their allowance on something other than a gourmet cup of coffee. Also, what do they do when all the cafés are closed? Let’s say around 10pm, when they are still at the office staring at the computer monitor? Of course, canned coffee to the rescue!

The canned brew has energized Japanese society a lot longer than Western style cafés have. It’s no exaggeration to say it is one of the pillars that support the Japanese work ethic.

Next time you’re in Japan and feel a little low on energy, just grab a can of Joe and you’ll be ready to go!