Love is in the air and most people are probably wondering how the Japanese celebrate this romantic day, given that they are often stereotyped as reserved individuals. Just like most Asian countries, Westernization and commercialization have invaded this love-filled day. Sales of chocolates and other gift items soar at least a week before Valentine’s Day.
The holiday was introduced by Morozof Ltd in 1936 when it released an ad intended for foreigners living in Japan. In 1953, they began the trend of giving heart-shaped chocolates. Japanese confectioners saw the opportunity and started making them. It was in 1958 when a department store launched a “Valentine Sale”, offering a card and three pieces of chocolates for 170 Yen.
What makes Japan unique is the fact that they do not go on romantic dinners on Valentine’s Day; “date night” is celebrated on Christmas Eve. Aside from this, only women give chocolates on Valentine’s Day. It gives them an excuse to express their feelings, which was taboo back in the day. This custom started because of a typo error which resulted in a mixed up translation during their initial promotional campaigns. The executive of that particular chocolate company is probably amused knowing that he is the culprit of this unique tradition.
The question now is when do men get their turn to express their love and affection? Well the get to do so exactly a month after. It was in 1980 when the Japanese National Confectionery Industry Association coined March 14 as “reply day” or “Ai ni Kotaeru White Day” (Answer Love on White Day), now known as White Day, so that men can “return the favor” to those who gave them gifts on Valentine’s Day. On this event, men are supposed to reciprocate by giving gifts which are twice or thrice the value of the gifts they received. If he gives one of equal value it means that he is ending the relationship.
Image from Crickontour
Posted February 13th, 2012 by Anna | Comment (0)
Planning your trip can be quite difficult if you are not familiar with the place you are visiting. It is best to book a hotel nearby the places you would like to visit or somewhere easily accessible. So here is a list of various areas in Tokyo what to do there:
Akasaki/Roppongi Area
This area has a great night life. You can shop and dine here too. Tokyo Midtown and Roppongi Hills are major landmarks in this area.
Asakusa/Ueno Area
Get a feel of the old Japan in this area. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Enjoy shopping at the ameyoko streets, visit Ueno Park and surrounding museums and shopping malls here.
Ginza Area
Here you can find luxurious shops, hotels, theaters, restaurants, clubs and department stores. It is a high end area where adults can shop and dine.
Shinagawa Area
It is the shopping and entertainment central in Tokyo. Here you can find many hotels situated nearby the JR Shinagawa station. The railway hub can also be found here.
Shinjuku Area
Shinjuku is considered as one of the busiest areas in Tokyo. There are many convenient hotels in the area and it is a good spot to shop and enjoy.
Ikebukuro Area
This is another busy Tokyo district where you can find great entertainment. It has a railway hub, shopping malls, restaurants and theaters to name a few.
Shibuya Area
Just like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, this busy district is great for shopping and entertainment especially for the younger crowd.
With these descriptions, it is easier to choose what to do and where to stay while you are in Tokyo. Enjoy!
Posted January 31st, 2012 by Anna | Comment (0)
When traveling it helps to be familiar with the place you will visit, so that it is easier to map out your itinerary and decide where to stay, eat or what to do.
The Tokyo Metropolis is Japan’s capital. It is the set of the Japanese government. Here you can find the Imperial Palace where the Royal Family resides. The now developed city was once a small fishing village named Edo. Its whole area is a little over 2 million square kilometers, with a population of over 13 million people as of August 2011.
There are various airports within Tokyo and its islands. Getting around is also not a problem because they have a reliable public transport system. You can take the Metro, bus or taxis easily. Ferries are also available in case you want to visit neighboring islands.
Tokyo houses many museums and theatres all over for you to appreciate art and music. You can visit the Imperial Palace or check the Asakusa Shrine for sightseeing too. You can also enjoy the many festivals they have throughout the year or enjoy the cherry blossoms at bloom in spring. During this time, many people go for walks or have picnics at the Ueno Park, Inokashira Park or the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
If you are fond of cosplays and modern fashion, Shibuya’s Harajuku is the place to be. Walking around this area is definitely an interesting experience. As for food, there are many fine dining and izakayas all over for you to choose from. Most of them serve traditional Japanese food which you will surely enjoy. You can never go wrong with ramen, tempura, grilled meats/seafood and sushi.
Posted January 30th, 2012 by Anna | Comment (0)
Blogging is a lot of work. It takes a lot of time and creativity for a site to be a success, which is why some people prefer the easier way of attracting new readers. Signing up for a blog directory helps you reach your target market faster whether you have a travel blog, food blog or tech blog. Getting listed allows potential followers to browse through a wide array of categories.
BlogSearchEngine has been recently re-launched with a new look and more offerings to choose from. Simply pick among their 4 packages to enjoy maximum exposure online. It only takes a minute to submit your blog. All you have to do is click on the “Get Featured” button and then send your payment via Paypal to enjoy the advantages of being listed in one of the most reliable blog search engines online
Join now and get a chance to win a Platinum Package worth $99.99!
This ultimate package includes:
Simply send out a tweet about this contest and include a link back to the following URL: http://bit.ly/rqPTDL. Copy and paste the full tweet you sent into the comments section on this page.
The contest goes until end of day 11/11/11 and the winner will be announced no later than 11/14/2011.
Posted November 10th, 2011 by Anna | Comment (0)
Photo Courtesy Of: miheco
A bento is a single serve portioned meal common in Japanese cuisine. This boxed meal can either be served in restaurants or eaten on the go as homemade packed lunches. The concept has many variations all over the world. Similar forms include biandang (Taiwan), dosirak (Korea), baon (Philippines) and tiffin (India).
History of the Bento
Bento boxes were originally served during a hanami or tea party. Later on it became common to bring food during travels or while sightseeing. Since concessionaires were not common then, people who came to see kabuki or other shows ate their bento boxes during intermissions. Through the years it evolved as a take away meal that adults and children took with them for lunch and during picnics or day trips. These delicious meals are often cooked at home, but they have been sold commercially since the late 1800’s.
Bento bako or the lunchbox itself was initially made of woven bamboo leaves and then it evolved to wooden boxes. During the Taisho period (1912-1926), aluminum bento boxes were used because they were more sturdy and reusable. Nowadays, lacquer bento boxes are used for special gatherings and in restaurants, while plastic ones are used on a daily basis. Disposable bento boxes are also sold commercially.
Character Bento
Photo Courtesy Of: leafar.
Types of bento
Makunuochi bento is a bento meal served for formal meals and in restaurants.
Kouraku bento is for sharing and it is also known as a picnic bento.
Ekiben bento is for travelers and is often sold in food halls, train stations and convenience stores.
Charaben or kyaraben is the art of making ‘character bento’ which often resembles anime or cartoon characters.
The Japanese follow two traditions in preparing food
Goho meaning five ways of cooking -boiling, grilling, pickling, frying, simmering or steaming gives further balance to every meal.
Goshiki means five colors –white, red/orange, green, yellow, black/purple/brown. It is a Japanese Buddhist thought that balances aesthetics and nutrition in every meal.
Picnic Bento
Photo Courtesy Of: kimubert
How to assemble a bento box
The traditional bento box ratio is 4-3-2-1. Four parts contains carbohydrates such as rice or noodles, three parts protein such as meat or fish, 2 parts vegetables for fiber and vitamins and one part dessert such as fruits or baked goods for a daily source of sugar.
Why bento?
Bento boxes are healthier options since food is portioned according to your daily needs. This can vary or change though, depending on one’s diet. It is also earth friendly because food is served in reusable containers, thus reducing waste from plastic and paper bags or other forms of disposable packaging. Going bento does not necessarily mean eating Japanese food. These healthy lunchboxes can also contain sandwiches or dishes from other cuisines. So if you are tired of your usual boring lunch, be creative and make a bento box today.
Posted October 17th, 2011 by Anna | Comment (0)
