Osu market Nagoya

After I ate Hitsumabushi,I had taken a train and went to Osu area.
Recently I watched  Osu shopping street on TV,it seemed really interesting so I've been waiting to visit there.
But most famous place in Osu is historical temple though.

Let's go for a walk,shall we???

Hitsumabushi

Hitsumabushi is a very famous dish from the Nagoya region.
In Japan,there are so many kinds of local special dishes.It's a source of pleasure and interest when we are traveling around the country.

After trying Hitsumabushi on my last trip to Nagoya,it wouldn't be right to go there without enjoying it again.
The first time was an eye opening experience for me.

Everywhere in Japan we can find Unagi-Donburi(grilled eel on rice) which varies from place to place.
Hitsumabushi is the Nagoya version,finely chopped after being basted and  grilled before the customers eyes and served on top of rice.
Sounds like any other Unagi-Donburi but somehow it becomes easier to eat and even tastier,when prepared in the local style.

Usually the customers in famous Hitsumabushi restaurants are not local people but tourists who want to sample this most famous example of Nagoya cuisine.
The restaurants cater to their customers by providing a printed guide showing the "correct"way to eat their eel.According to the guide there are 4steps.

1:divide the donburi into 4quarters,transferring one quarter to your chawan(small bowl) and eating just so.
2:transfer the 2nd quarter adding finely chopped spring onions and shredded nori(sea laver).
3:transfer the 3rd quarter adding the restaurant's special dashi(soup stock).
4:help yourself according to your own taste.

Usually Japanese people love to follow rules which claim to be "the right way"so they happily follow guides suggestions.
But I am an exception,I decided to skip the first 3steps and so straight to eat as you like.

Shoga-yaki

Shoga-yaki (ginger-fried pork)  is a typical Japanese dinner or lunch dish,usually served with thinly sliced cabbage.
It's easy to cook and delicious,so if you love pork please try it!!!

*In Japan,we can buy very thinly sliced pork or beef anywhere but you can make it at home if you freeze the meat for 1hour or so.until it's hard but not frozen solid.


  Ingredients (for 2 people)  : prep:15mins , total 30mins  


ginger‐fried pork
☆200-250g  thinly sliced pork
☆a piece of ginger

sauce
☆1tbsp shoyu(Japanese soy sauce)
☆1tbsp cooking sake(or dry sherry)
☆1tbsp mirin(or honey)


＜directions＞

mixed in a bowl sauce ingredients.

grate the ginger and put in a bowl sauce ingredients.

marinate the meat for about 10 mins.

saute the pork

mirin(or honey) burns easily,just like sugar so you have to be careful to keep stirring as you saute.

Pink

The life span of sakura is only around 2weeks,so a few days ago I rushed out to a small park near my house to see the last of the sakura bloom.

I often go out to enjoy sakura from the beginning to the middle of April,it's not only me but almost all Japanese people both young and old feel the need to get out during the shortest season of the sakura.
I love the color of sakura and the shape of the petals as well.At the end of the sakura season,we can see a lot of petals on the road and it's so beautiful too see when It's totally covered with sakura petals,and looking like a pink carpet.It's so beautiful that when I see it,I feel relaxed and glad to be alive.

There is an abundance of sakura products to be seen in the shops this time.Plates,candles,bookmarks,key chain etc which can only be found for sale during the month of March and early April.


Woman in particular are fascinated by those products because they are "Kawaii" and only available for a short time.In addition,there are so many sakura themed food and beverages on offer.

Even "starbucks"(my favorite café) gets in on the cat,with their sakura styled pre-paid card and seasonal sakura beverages.I'm easily sucked-in by these kind of promotions so I got the card but unfortunately ,I missed out on the drinks.

Maiko

Maiko is female entertainers who perform tradition Japanese music and dances exclusive parties.Maiko is the terms used in Kyoto.
Maiko are apprentice geiko,most of them between the ages of 15 and 20.
There are about 30 maiko working today in Kyoto's Gion district,which is one of the most famous nightlife destinations in Japan.

The appearance of maiko retains many of the aspects of women's fashion in Edo period.The large ornamental hairpins called kanzashi are modelled seasonal flowers and changed every month.Their kimono designs should also convey a sense of season:cherry blossom in spring,irises or fireworks in summer,maple leaves in autumn,and so on.Wearing seasonally appropriate kimonos is part of their job.


Their appearance is also designed to emphasize their youthfulness. The unusually long sash that droops down at the back gives the wearer a petite impression.And these 10cm high platform sandals are intended to make the wearer look clumsy and childlike when she walks.

Maiko makeup has also remained unchanged over the centuries.Maiko only use the 3 tradition makeup colors-white,red and black.The white mask like foundation suggests the appreciation of white skin that has existed since ancient times.The red is thought to add feminine appeal,while the black gives the face definition.It's the skillful combination of 3 colors that creates the distinctive look of maiko.

The world of maiko may seem glamorous,but every maiko undergo rigorous training.They have lessons in singing,dancing,and playing instruments,as well as etiquette training.Maiko also have to entertain their guests by pouring their drinks,chatting,and playing games.This means they have to have good conversation skills.

The origins of maiko and geiko date back about 400 years,when women who worked at chaya rest houses served refreshment to people visiting Gion Shrine,which called Yasaka Shrine.  In due course,these woman began to dance and play the shamisen to entertain customers.They were the forerunners of today's maiko and geiko.

Yasaka Shrine

Yasaka Shrine

In the Yasaka Shrine

Maiko are modern young girls who have chosen keep alive a colorful aspect of traditional Kyoto.

Gion

Sakura

Sakura season has finally come!!!

Sakura is the most exciting flower for Japanese people so we have been waiting expectantly,by the time it arrives.
Sakura can be seen in so many places ,but the most famous place for seeing sakura is Kyoto amongst the people in my area.

I went to Kyoto and took some photos of "Shidare-zakura" a weeping cherry blossom tree,that had been meticulously shaped and trimmed to become a centerpiece for the gardens surrounding Yasaka Shrine in the Gion area of Kyoto.

On the same day,I had a try at making wagashi(Japanese sweet) and enjoyed special shortened tea ceremony at the Yatsuhashi wagashi factory.The company recently came up with a plan for increasing the appeal of wagashi with Japanese people as well as creating instant amongst foreign visitors to Kyoto.
In recent decades wagashi have become less and less popular with young people increasingly choosing western style cakes,biscuits,chocolate etc over traditional sweets.

But unfortunately they have no English website,the classes are  also taught only in Japanese but if you would like to participate.....please send me an e-mail and i will send you some information.

Making wagashi is similar to clay sculpture.
I've already introduced some wagashi on my blog,the most important thing when making wagashi is keeping to the seasonal theme which represent season.

Using a small bamboo whisk to make foam is very important.

If you have a plan to come Japan,please try wagashi and tea celemony!!!
After the lesson,I went to Gion to see Maiko.I will show you Maiko photos next time.