Ryunan Primary School has been organizing a traditional Festival for the last 40 years: Scarecrow Erecting!This Festival takes place on the first morning of the second semester of the scholar year.As ...

Today is my birthday, but I will have to wait 7 more years before someone can arrest me for indecent age!LOLIncidentally, that makes me a Virgo for whatever it means!Today’s sushi is of the chirashi...

With a vacation within sight (we shall spend 5 nights in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture from the 3rd of September), the Missus has to make do with whatever is left in the fridge and pantry! Well, rice and ...

When it comes to sweets in Summer, it is not always easy to satisfy yourself or your friends. Especially cakes tend to become either too heavy or too light.The Japanese have struck the right balance w...

As weare going on a long holiday end of next week in the north of Japan (expect a long series of articles) I found mysel suddenly extremely busy to the point I cannot come back home for lunch or eat o...

Halloween is not that far away and people will be looking for new ideas.I personaly am looking forward to it as I need a welcome shiver in this hellish heat!Here is a simple recipe for a universal fav...

The Japanese love their chou a la creme! Actually they call them chou cream! Mixing up connections? They particularly love the small version/petit chou that you would not find asily in shops in Europe...

Baird Beer & Taproom Events BulletinTwo New Seasonal ReleasesDear Taproom Friend & Baird Beer Enthusiast:As you know, fruited ales are close and dear to our brewing hearts despite the fact the fruit b...

Tuesday, Sushi Bento Day!I can tell you that with heat stifling out all stamina out your body, it is not easy to devise or cook anything.The grumbling Missus somehow managed to come out (of the infern...

Salad of organic vegetables from Bio Farm at UzuIt is one thing to know that Shizuoka Prefecture is getting deserved fame for the quality and variety of its vegetables all year round and especially or...

Mrs. Toshika Otsuka/大塚敏子Figs have been very popular in Japan for eons.They were introduced in Japan at the beginning of the Edo Era (17th Century) in Nagasaki (Kyushu Island) from Persia throu...

The colors of today’s bento seem to remind me of the stifling heat outside.Apparently the average number of heat days (over 30 degrees Celsius) in Japan (not including Okinawa, I’m sure) is 42 day...

Mozuku in amazu/sweet vinegar as served at Yasaitei, Shizuoka City.I have recently been asked again by many friends about seaweed in Japan. Here is the original posting with a few additions!Seaweed or...

Service: excellent and very friendlyFacilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overallPrices: reasonable, good value.Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.entirely non-s...

Whenever tuna is available one ought to taste it raw as sashimi or sushi.Now, avaibility does not always mean quality.On the other hand, the Japanese have a simple and delicious way to accomodate tuna...

Service: excellent and very friendlyFacilities: great washroom, great cleanliness overallPrices: reasonable, good value.Strong points: Interesting wine list. Great use of local products.entirely non-s...

“Soboro” is a form of decoration in Japanese gastronomy.It is almost impossible to translate, although it means that the decoration looks like little snow balls, whatever they are made from.They a...

I seem to have entered a “Tiramisu Mode” as this is my third (and I have more!) recipe in less than a week!I might have found myself under the curse of a sweet tooth fairy!Marshmallows are popular...

The summer and the heat have this strange influence on me: I don’t seem to be able to get away from sweet comfort (I don’t much dessert usually) and soft drinks (I usually prefer beer or Japanese ...

Mr. Yuma Mochizuki/望月佑真The other day I received a phone call from my good friend Dominique Corby, the Chef/Manager of Michelin-starred 6eme Sens in Tokyo.He told me that the French/German ARTE...