New Cider Drinks Has Arrived

Japanese loves to drink tea, they say.   Well, the truth is not only tea, some also like to drink cider - some unique ones too, not apple cider or ginger ale which are common.   

Recently there are new trends in cider business with the introduction of a new products line

 up: strawberry cider, watermellon and pinapple cider.   

And the most recent surprising products are: tomato cider and "durian" cider!  

 A local TV introduced the product and a few staff tried the taste of durian cider.   The said the cider drink itself tastes good but has a very strong smell, which is really like real durian.  Some thinks that it may turn off some people.

Hm... not durian lovers like me, i guess! :-D

Tooth Brush Without Tooth Paste

Introduced in the market last year in September and sold only in big department store in Tokyo, this new style of tooth brushing seems to appeal certain segments, since it has so far sold about 800,000 products.   The tooth brush is made of special brush and coated with certain substances that reacts with water and therefore can clean the teeth without having to put tooth paste.

At 1050Yen it is more expensive than ordinary toothbrush.   Most of users are apparently those people who travel frequently, children who do not like toothpaste and the elderly.    I wonder how long this product will remain popular and whether the trend will spread to other cities in Japan.

Especially For You - From Japan

Finally the Love Day is here, February 14th ....   Are you ready with your special gifts for your loved ones or prepare a "giri choco" for your colleague like the Japanese?  Here are my special gifts for readers, only available here in Japan and only during Valentine season.  

In Japan other than ordinary chocolates, you can choose a chocolate pendant or a chocolate strap for your mobile phone....  hm, tough choice for chocolate lovers, like me. The price is quite reasonable, starting from 2950 Yen, you can give a nice surprise to your loved ones.   These accessories are really made of chocolates.   They not only look sweet but also taste sweet.  

Alternatively, you can try Chocolate Ramen (ramen = noodles) at Menya Musashi, a ramen shop located in Ueno.    For recipes of these noodles, check out http://cook4health.blogspot.com/

on Valentine Day!

For those who loves noodles, i present you:

Chocolate Ramen - Dry Type  

Chocolate Ramen - Soup Type

Feeling thirsty on Valentine's Day, why not try: 

Chocolate Beer - Contains chocolate and even has chocolate flavor

Guess What These Women Are Doing?

February 8th is a day of thanksgiving, but not the same as thanksgiving day that you find anywhere overseas.   The thanksgiving day is mainly for women and the way to express their thanks is by sticking their favorite needles (usually needles that they use most often) to soft texture food, "tofu".

The ceremony is actually a giving thanks to the needles, which women have used througout their life, to sew many clothings or other crafts, as it was in the past.   By sticking it onto soft texture food, like tofu, they appreciate how useful needles are in their life and hope to appreciate them more in the coming years.   This photo is a festival usually conducted in shrines, but others who believe usually do it at home.   Another traditional belief still practiced in Japan....

Beautiful WoMEN In Japanese Opera.....

Have you heard of kabuki, one of Japan's traditional stage arts, originated  in the 17th century.   In the beginning kabuki was performed by female dancer Izumo-no-kuni and her troupe in Kyoto.  

 In the early days of kabuki, women who were also working as prostitutes play women roles.   However during the Tokugawa Shogun, female players were prohibited because the fact that some women also worked as prostitutes would harm public morals.   

Since then, female roles have been performed by male actors.    The kabuki you see today still carry the Tokugawa rules, where only men are on stage.   

Look at the photos here, do not be surprised to know that they are men playing female roles, called the "oyama".   For more about kabuki, you can visit:

http://de-c-japanholiday.blogspot.com/

Winter Festival - The Hadaka Matsuri

The festivals are popular among men where the participants jostle and fight with each other to obtain good fortune.  It is held at various temples, in many areas in Japan - nowadays a very popular attraction for local visitors and foreigners as well.

These men are not really naked in fact, they are wearing a traditional Japanese wear called "fundoshi".

Popular Gifts For Valentine Day

In Japan - The Women Buy

Other than the main gift of chocolate, Japanese women who spend extra for their loved ones, usually purchase one of these items for Valentine's Day:

Necktie, wallet, wristwatch, shawl, wine, home-made cooking,

 accessories, personal wear (underwear), romantic dinner together, travels.

In the US - The Men Buy

More than half of men -- 57.8 percent – say they'll buy flowers and almost one-in-five plans to purchase jewelry for Valentine's Day (ref. CBS News). 

Traditional gifts for Valentine day in the US are: Flower, chocolates, perfumes, lingerie, jewelry, accessories, romantic dinner & travels for some.

In Australia - Mostly Men's Task

Flowers are somewhat considered as a last minute gift to some people. Popular gift items on Australia's Valentine day are:

Chocolates, hampers & gift baskets, wine/spirits/champagne, jewelry, lingerie, romantic dinner together, travels (cruises, adventures) and marriage registration (mainly in NSW).

Setsubun-no-hi (Setsubun Day)

Today, February 3rd, is called the Setsubun day, where Japanese people conduct a ceremonial custom known as "oni-yarai" (oni=evil/demon).   The custom is practiced in homes and shrine, in which soy beans are scattered around to drive out demons and bring in good fortune.

Here is what they say as they threw the soy beans: "oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi" meaning "evil goes out, luck comes in".  At the end of the ceremony, each person including children can eat the soy beans and there is a belief that the number of soy beans you can eat should be the same as your age.   Eating the soy beans bring good luck and health for the year.

8 Strawberries A Day (3 For Kids)

There is an old saying that "an apple a day keeps your doctor away".  In Japan it is not only apple but strawberry is known to have positive effect on our body.  

Strawberry contains vitamin C, which we all know it is good for skin, anti ageing and helps the body fight against virus.   Not only that, strawberry's red color contains Antoshianin, which has positive effect on the function of your eyes, liver and reduces the chance of having high blood pressure.   Strawberry also contains Pectin which helps to activate digestion in the stomach.

The good news is it doesn't take much to be a little healthier.   8 strawberries apparently gives you enough daily supplement of vitamin C, 3 strawberries for children.

Caution: 

Do not take the green stem prior to washing strawberries, keep it attached.   Or it will wash away the vitamin C in the strawberry to some extent.   Take the green stem after you wash the strawberry.