Tempura - with a Spanish translation

After a couple of months hunt, we finally succeeded in finding a Tempura restaurant in Koriyama.
Tempura is the Japanese version of deep fried food, less greasy than any variation we so far have come across in Europe and one of our favourites when it comes to Japanese food.

The restaurant was empty when we arrived, so we had the chef and his wife all by our selves. It turned out that they had lived in South America for 20 years, so their Spanish was quite good, making it for once, possible for us to have a relaxed conversation with inhabitants of Koriyama without a big language gap.
Our menu included octopus, shrimps, asparagus, tororo, different kind of fish, shitake mushrooms and beans (mame) all gently deep fried and then dipped in either the tasty sauce thickened with grated daikon or just by dipping it in salt.

Actually, there was no 'just' about the salt. It was grated in front of us, from something that looked like a pink/orange semitransparent ice cube. This was not just salt. This was salt from the Himalayas!

We will go back again, for sure. Great company, good food and a superb chance for us to practice our Spanish :-)

The final dot was set at a good coffee place, practicing Japanese. The test coming up, is really motivating us.

Ikebana

I received a present from my Sensei today. It was a kind of tool to maintain Kenzan with. Kenzan is the spiny plates you use to attach the flowers to - the round one on the pic.
As Dad has borrowed me many of mums old Kenzan, it came in very handy!

The day's decoration was difficult as always and I have still only a vague idea of what to do,- its all about triangles and making miniature of the real nature,- and to make sure that the plants and flowers talk to each other like one big happy family. Even though it is difficult, I am really determined to learn it.

I also learned how three different branches, can make an awesome simple, very japanese decoration.

The pic shows the basic equipment I use during the class.

Ice Cucumber

A new product has found its way to the Japanese shelves: A very green cucumber flavoured Pepsi! What does cola and cucumber have in common? (Please let us know if you figure it out).

Having said that,- it does feel good to be in a place where we are frequently amused by the great variety of products - many we have never heard of or could imagine.



Where else can you meet square melons and tomatos and Kit Kat in endless flavor variations such as green tea, pumpkin, cherry blossom, chestnut, mango, apple, kiwi, cinnamon, sweet potato, plum etc.?

Japanese language proficiency test, level 4

We just did a scary thing. We signed up for the official Japanese test, despite our teachers recommendations. The 'Japanese language proficiency test' will take place in early December. To pass the test we need to be familiar with the basic grammar, know the meaning of 800 words and be able to read 100 Kanji. Also, the whole test will be written in the Japanese letters, hiragana, katakana og kanji. 

The grammar will probably not be a problem and our voculabary is probably also sufficient. But the Kanji...we have not started to study it yet. But then again, we have 5 months to go, so it should be possible. 

Ganbatte kudasai! 

First visit to Japans big neighbour

It was with big expectations I went to China to visit my colleagues in Tianjin and Beijing. China is in many ways having a hard time and it was interesting to get a first-hand experience with this so criticized country.

The first that struck the eye, was the differences in infrastructure and ‘driving-culture’; where Japan is maybe one of the safest and organised countries in the World to drive a car, China has a much more aggressive traffic.

However, after arriving well in TEDA (the development district outside the 14-million habitant mega-city Tianjin), I was met by luxurious cars and brand new buildings. And where have all the bicycles gone?

I spend the two days in China visiting my Chinese and Danish colleagues (expatriates) talking a lot about all the differences and similarities between Japan and China. It is fascinating how two neighbours can develop so radically different, but at the same time shows many identical cultural characteristics.
One example is the thing about saying “No”, which is almost non-existing in both countries. In Denmark it is very easy to say “No”, and if you get a “Yes” as a Dane, you would expect it to indicate an agreement, but here it most likely means “Yes, I hear and understand what you say”.

Beijing was a fantastic experience; literally I walked in wet cement! The Olympic city was bustling with thousands of cranes and construction sites to prepare the city for 2008.08.08 08:08.


We spent the late afternoon visiting the Tiananmen Square, the outer parts of the Forbidden City and at a traditional acrobatics show in the heart of Beijing. All in all a very good, however short trip that awoke the appetite for visiting this magnificent country again.

Home and happy

When expatriated to Brazil, we remember our first home visit to Denmark. We remember the pain we felt arriving in Montes Claros again. An almost unbearable home sickness showed up as soon as the plane from dk touched Brazilian ground and we passed through the toughest weeks ever being abroad. In the end, you all know, we ended being very happy in Montes Claros, but one can never know pre-hand.
Anyway, looking back today, we know that the biggest test of how we really feel about Koriyama comes in the heels of our first home visit.

It just passed. We went to Dk about three weeks ago. Denmark looked more beautiful than ever, with the early summer sun spreading calmness and hygge all around. Though Henrik was busy working, somehow we did manage to see many of our beloved ones. We spent quality time with friends and family and got to know the new generation growing up as everybody are having babies these days. We indulged our selves in Rhubarb, rugbrød and black liquorice and we were constantly reminded by heart why we do love all these wonderful people of dk.

The time spent in Dk, seemed by many stressful, but that was by choice. We wanted to see as many as possible, which is why we never spent a night the same place two nights in a row.

We arrived in Koriyama again this Sunday and are relieved to say, that we still enjoy very much being here. It felt good returning home.
We are as always looking foreward to the many adventures waiting for us around the corner, but also, for once, we embrace the calmness we receive in this dot on earth, named Koriyama. People say, passing the thirties reliefs a greater gratitude and awareness of life, so maybe it is because of that – or just maybe it is the opportunity we have to be in such an inspiring place as Japan.

One way or the other. We are home. We are happy.

Natto - a healthy breakfast

One of the most curious foods we so far have come across in Japan is Natto. Especially in our region (Tohoku) it is a very popular eating for breakfast, but we haven’t really had our way around it, wholehearted, yet.
But there is a first thing for everything.

Our Japanese teacher knows how fond we are of trying the local dishes, so when she yesterday went to a neighbouring city that apparently is famous for its Natto production she bought us a souvenir.

The wrapping was beautiful simple and very traditional, with straws tied together. She hadn’t given away what the present was, so when it was opened the smell mislead one to believe it was some sort of strong cheese.


Natto is a sticky dish made by steaming soy beans and letting them ferment with natto fungi. As said the smell can be quite aquired for a newbie and the look as well. When you touch the nattos, strings like a spiders web is created.


The most traditional way to eat Natto is on a bowl of rice, supplemented with a little soy sauce and mustard. Itadakimasu.