Fresh Soy Sauce

One of Japan’s most popular seasonings is soy sauce. Soy sauce is not only used in Japan, but also in other parts of the world, and there are many varieties in Japan. In Japan, there are many different kinds of soy sauce, and with improvements in quality, you can now enjoy fresh soy sauce at any time of the day without having to refrigerate it.

Foodstuffs manufacturer Kikkoman (https://www.kikkoman.com/) has released a series of soy sauce products in a newly designed 450 milliliter container — named the “always fresh, soft enclosure bottle” — designed to preserve their content’s freshness. The four types, distinguished by their blue, yellow, white and green labels and bottle tops, include two full-flavored varieties and two with reduced sodium contents. All four feature a newly developed cap with two-layered construction, which is designed to resist penetration of air. This extends the contents’ shelf life to about 90 days after opening (under normal temperature conditions). The bottles are also constructed for a steady grip and the caps designed for easy, one-handed opening and smooth, consistent pouring. Prices for the new soy sauce begin at 280 yen ($2.50).

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:
gardens in Tokyo

Gardens in Tokyo

gardens in Tokyo

According to a survey by the MasterCard credit card firm, the world’s top destination for tourists in 2018 was Bangkok in Thailand. How about Tokyo due in part to that city’s playing host to the Olympic Games next year? It was ranked 9th. More than 12 million people live in Tokyo. If you count the metropolitan area, including the cities around Tokyo, the number is 30 million. However, there are countless parks in the center of the Tokyo metropolitan area where people can relax and enjoy themselves. In this article, we’ll introduce you to a few representative parks. If you are visiting Tokyo as a tourist, why not visit these parks? Admission is also very cheap.

In a city with such a high population density, parks and gardens play an important role. Parks that charge admission are particularly well run. Here, we’d like to introduce several spots in the central parts of the city that brim with the impression of nature.

<Kyu-Furukawa Gardens>

This place, which assumed its current shape in 1917, was owned by a former member of the zaibatsu (industrial cartel). After the Pacific War, ownership was passed to the nation, and then to metropolitan Tokyo government. The gardens were designed by British architect Josiah Conder (1852-1920) who influenced the designs of Western-style houses and gardens in Japan, which he merged with Japanese-style gardens. Particularly active during the early years of the Taisho Era (1912-1926), Conder’s fusions of traditional methods and modern technology came to represent a superb harmonization of East and West.

<Shinjuku Gyoen>

gardens in Tokyo

Opened to the public in 1906, it was formerly the mansion of the Naito clan, from a powerful domain allied with the Tokugawas. Measuring 58.3 hectares, it is close to Shinjuku Station, a major rail hub through which some 3 million commuters pass daily. The garden has over 10,000 trees including some 1,300 sakura (cherry tree), making it one of the city’s most popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in springtime. It was awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide book, making it a popular attraction for foreign visitors.

<Rikugien Gardens>

Formerly the estate of Shotaro Iwasaki, founder of the Mitsubishi Group, Rikugien became property of Tokyo in 1938 and was opened to the public. Its “forest” of 6,000 trees is so dense that it’s possible to walk through it during a light rainfall without becoming wet.

<Mejiro Garden>

Toshima City Mejiro Garden was established in November 1990 as a place to nurture traditional culture in the midst of the ongoing urbanization and internationalization of Toshima City, Tokyo.

The garden is a traditional strolling garden with a large pond in the center and paths around it. A variety of natural scenery can be seen in a small space, and visitors can enjoy the scenery while walking around the pond.

The garden is also home to the Akatori-an, a single-story wooden tile-roofed Sukiya-style building, and the Hexagonal Floating Hall. You can enjoy the beauty of the garden from a variety of angles.

The best of all, the entry is free!

<Higo-Hosokawa Garden>

Higo Hosokawa Garden is a strolling garden with a pond that makes the most of the natural scenery of the Sekiguchi Plateau in Mejiro-dai. The area around the park became the residence of the Shogunate leaders from the middle of the Edo period, and at the end of the Edo period, it became a suburban residence of the Shimizu and Hitotsubashi families. At the end of the Edo period, it became a subordinate residence of the Shimizu family and the Hitotsubashi family. Afterwards, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government purchased the park and opened it as “New Edogawa Park” in 1961, and it was transferred to Bunkyo Ward in 1975. And now open to the public for free of charge!

Shōsei-kaku was the former suburban residence of the Hosokawa family of the Kumamoto domain, and was used as the Hosokawa family’s study hall and, for a time, as a residence of the Hosokawa family. The current building was reopened in January 2016 after conservation and restoration to preserve its history and to ensure its earthquake resistance.

<Garden at Chinzanso Hotel>

Located on the Sekiguchi Plateau on the eastern edge of the Musashino Plateau, facing the Kandagawa River in Tokyo, it was called a “camellia mountain” due to the camellias that had been growing in its natural habitat since the 14th century. In the 19th century, former Japanese Prime Minister Aritomo Yamagata purchased the house. He named the villa ” Chinzan-so” as his own residence.

In 1918, Baron Heitaro Fujita, the second head of the Osaka-based Fujita Zaibatsu, took over the house and made it his official residence in Tokyo. Part of the property was destroyed by fire during the Pacific War, but in 1948 it became the property of Fujita Kogyo, which later transplanted more than 10,000 trees and began operations as a wedding hall in 1952. In 1992, the Four Seasons Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo opened on the grounds.

The garden is open to the public, with camellias, cherry blossoms and other plants, as well as historical sites. The three-story pagoda at the top of the garden was originally a pagoda of the Chikurinji Temple in Hiroshima Prefecture.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:

Dams in Japan

The Japan Water Agency, which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, issues “Dam Cards” depicting some 250 dams that it manages. The cards are supplied free of charge, but are considered rare in the sense that they can only be obtained by visiting its facility which is often located in an out-of-the-way place. Some of the cards can be purchased by enthusiasts via net auctions for around 500 yen each or more. Recently, dams have become targets of criticism as government “pork-barrel projects,” but the Dam Cards appear to be enjoying a quiet popularity.

According to home page of the Land Ministry, “Dam Cards have been produced with the aim of wanting people to know more about dams, and since 2007, the cards have been distributed only to people who visit the dams. The front side carries a photograph of the dam, and the reverse contains such basic data as the type of dam, reservoir capacity, the technology utilized in its construction, and other nuggets of information appealing to dedicated fans.”

The Japan Dam Foundation reports that in 2011 Japan had some 2,800 dams. Their uses, much as dams in foreign countries, include flood control, waterworks, irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Some are famous tourist destinations in their own right, such as the Kurobe Dam in Toyama Prefecture, whose walls, at 186 meters, are Japan’s highest, and which attracts many visitors in summer. However, as that dam is under management of Kansai Electric Power, not the Japan Water Agency, no Dam Card had been issued until last year. But because of the growing popularity, the limited number of Kurobe Dam cards has been issued during a limited period. Surely the card is bid very high in an Internet auction site.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:

Sumo: A Closer Look into Japan’s National Sport

Sumo 相撲  A Closer Look into Japan’s National Sport

Sumo is Japan’s traditional sport in which two naked men with only a mawashi or silk belt tackle, push, budge, and throw each other on the wrestling ring known as the dohyo. A wrestler is declared the winner if he manages to force his opponent out the ring or make any part of the body other than the soles of his feet touch the ground.

-History of Sumo-

Sumo has deep-rooted origins dating back to the prehistoric times. Yet it has only evolved into the form known today a mere four centuries ago, during the Edo period (1603 to 1867).  As a result, the wrestlers pull their hair into a mage or top-knot, which was the common hairstyle during that era.

On the other hand the attire of the gyoji or referees has evolved slightly further than the hairstyle of wrestlers, but has been the same ever since the Meiji period (1868 to 1912).  The salt that is tossed by the wrestlers before each match is also a remnant of traditional Japanese customs, serving the purpose of purifying the sacred grounds. Ryogoku Kokugikan (Ryogoku Sumo Hall)

Sumo is oftentimes referred to as the national sport of Japan with its rich history laced with distinct tradition.  While there are currently many professional sports such as baseball and soccer, the oldest dating sport to exist in Japan is without a doubt, sumo.

Honbasho

Grand sumo tournaments known as Honbasho are held six times annually. These 15-day tournaments are held three times in Tokyo (January, May and September), and once in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July), and Fukuoka (November).Colorful nobori (banner) to cheer sumo wrestlers up

The rankings within the wrestlers are determined by their performance in each tournament. A wrestler must win more than 8 of the 15 total matches in order to ascend the ranking list, known as the banzuke. The banzuke is announced before the start of the each tournament, reflecting the scores from the tournament before.

The division classified as the makuuchi dominate the top of the hierarchical pyramid, consisting of the highest ranking yokozuna followed by ozeki, sekiwake, komusubi, and maegashira.  Directly below is the division classified as juryo, consisting of sekitori. Only after becoming a sekitori is one considered to be full-fledged sumo wrestler.

– Modern-day Sumo Wrestlers-

In recent years sumo wrestling has become a tradition exclusive not only to the Japanese. Foreign wrestlers have made their way into the realm achieving great heights, with the current yokozuna being from Mongolia and ozeki from Bulgaria and Estonia.  Other foreign wrestlers include those from Russia, Georgia, Czech Republic, and Egypt. 

Today sumo wrestlers from all different cultures and backgrounds clash skin-to-skin with their average weight of 150 kg (330 lb) to deliver powerful, dynamic matches to the audience unmatched by any other era.

Chanko Nabe

The chanko nabe refers to the meal mainly consumed by sumo wrestlers. Wrestlers often eat generous amounts of stew prepared in big pots in order to reach their fighting weight. Out of all of the different types of stews consumed by wrestlers, the chanko nabe consisting of various vegetables, tofu, and chunks of meat came to be widely acknowledged across Japan.

The chanko nabe is prepared in turns mostly by the wrestlers of the makushita division, who are still one division away from becoming full-fledged sumo wrestlers. Those who have longer experience in preparing the chanko nabe step up to the plate of chanko-cho, or chanko chief. The chanko-cho take on the crucial responsibility of directing their juniors with the mastery of chanko, ensuring the techniques be passed down to future generations as well. Because of this tradition, it is often said that those who cook well will not succeed as a sumo wrestler. This saying is not far-fetched, for in fact there have been some wrestlers who have decided to put their cooking skills to use and open their own restaurants after retiring.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:

What is Tentsuki in Japan?

Tentsuki is a device to make tokoroten noodle. Tokoroten is a summer snack which looks transparent and made from kanten (agar) extracted from seaweeds such as tengusa (agar weed) by boiling. Pressed against this device, tokoroten is shaped into noodles. Flavorings vary from region to region. But usually they are mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, hot pepper, or sesame.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:

All About Shrines in Japan

Kono Jinja, Kyoto, which enshrines the same god as Ise Jingu

Types of Gods and “Komainu” Guardian Dogs

 

By K. Nishimura

According to Shinto belief, there are many kinds of gods in Japan such as those of work, love, marriage or health.  In addition, shrines are constructed in various styles depending on the types of gods.  Passing through the torii or gate of a shrine, there are two stone-carved guardian dogs called “komainu,” one on each side of the path up to the shrine.  These guardian dogs are placed there as gatekeepers to prevent evil from intruding into the shrine from the outside world.  This does not mean, however, that all shrines have these guardian dogs.  Depending on the god, oxen, wolves, monkeys, foxes or other animals are placed at the shrine as gatekeepers sometimes together with komainu or messengers of the god.  Moreover, because the gods of Japan are not omnipotent, it might be an idea to choose and visit the shrine where the god related to what you are praying for has been enshrined.  For example, the god of learning is Sugawara no Michizane.  Therefore, it is believed that praying to this god will improve one’s calligraphy or learning.  Nowadays, this god is said to be helpful in successfully passing the entrance exam to the desired college or high school.  This god is, for example, enshrined at Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka Prefecture or Kitano Tenmangu in Kyoto.  These shrines have the statues of oxen as messengers of the god in addition to the komainu guardian dogs.  This comes from some anecdotes regarding Michizane and oxen.  Hiyoshi Taisha shine located at the foot of Mt. Hiei in Shiga Prefecture enshrines a mountain god.  Because monkeys live on this mountain, there are several statues of monkeys as messengers of the god within the shrine premises.

Construction Styles of Shrines

The construction styles of shrines also vary.  There are primitive-style shrines like Omiwa Shrine in Nara Prefecture that worships Mt. Miwa and has no shrine buildings.  There are also taisha-zukuri style shrines like Izumo Taisha in Shimane Prefecture where a gracefully curved roof covers even the stairs ascending up to the main shrine building.  On the other hand, shinmei-zukuri style shrines like Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture has straight-line roofs with no curves.  With the passage of time, people no longer worship at the Parthenon in Greece.  However, there is an endless line of prayers at Ise Shrine even today, which is said to have a history of more than 2,000 years.  From ancient times, the Ise Shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years performing an event called shikinen sengu (installing the deity in a new shrine).  In this event, the shrine buildings and all of the items used by the god (sun goddess Amaterasu-omikami) from the clothes and accessories up to the harness for the horse are remade every 20 years.  This is a culture transmission event, which is rare to find in the world, for handing down the building and decoration technologies to the next generation like a relay.  This also shows the wonderful wisdom of the ancient people that set 20 years as the limit for passing down these traditional technologies.  Since the previous shikinen sengu was in 1993, this important event will be held again next year.

How to Worship at Shrines

There is a dress code for properly worshipping at a shrine.  Men must wear a jacket and necktie while women must wear corresponding appropriate attire.  First, you bow before passing through the torii.  Then, when walking up to the shrine, you must walk on the edge of the path because the center of the path is where the gods walk.  Before the shrine, there is usually a place called the temizuya (washing-water spot) where you cleanse your hands and mouth. 


 This is done as follows:

① Holding the ladle in your right hand, take some water with the ladle and wash your left hand.  

② Hold the ladle with your left hand and wash your right hand. 

③ Hold the ladle with your right hand again and pour some water into the palm of your left hand and use that water to cleanse your mouth. 

④ Wash your left hand again. 

⑤ Stand the ladle up and wash the handle of the ladle. 

⑥ Return the ladle to its original position.  (※ If possible, all of these actions should be performed using one ladle of water.)

When you arrive at the shrine, you put money based on the value of your prayer in the offering box.  You quietly place or drop the money in the box without throwing it in.  For paper money, it is appropriate to first place it in an envelope.  Generally, most offerings are from 100 to 500 yen.  If you go inside the shrine building for a special prayer, you’ll need an offering of at least 5,000 yen (there is no upper limit).  When you make a prayer before the shrine building, the order is as follows:

Put a monetary offering in the box (when praying before the box) or hand an offering to the shrine (for special prayers).

Bow your head twice.

Clap your hands twice and make your prayer.  (Say your name and address before making your prayer.)

Finally, bow your head once in reverence.

These are the general procedures of worshipping at a shrine.  After praying to the god of the shrine, people usually make an offering to the shrine again if their prayer was answered or they actually received the god’s help.  In this way, the relationship between the Japanese and their gods has been cultivated during their long history, which is a relationship of “give and take” where people pray to a god, the god gives them power, and people visit the god again to offer their thanks.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時:

Public-sponsored Gambling in Japan

Public-sponsored Gambling in Japan

Certain professional sports in Japan, such as horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, and auto racing, are operated by public organizations for the benefit of the public. Currently some 100 such facilities exist around the country, of which 26 are horse tracks, 44 are bicycle tracks, 24 are man-made lakes for motorboat racing and six tracks for auto racing. In 1992, the income from bets placed at such facilities reached a peak of 8.932 trillion yen ($111.6 billion), but by 2010 the figure had declined to half that amount. The main reason for the decline was the economic recession. But even if spectators chose not to bet, they can enter to watch races for as little as 100 or 200 yen in admission fees — making it an affordable form of leisure. While minors are permitted entry when accompanied by a parent or guardian, a person must be at least 20 in order to engage in betting.

投稿者:Ryoji 投稿日時: