Word of the Week: 平気

September 6, 2014, 4:01 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Tohoku Rokkonsai (東北六魂祭)

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Hakone – Amazake-chaya

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘fu’ (ふ), and I broke the rules a little bit to look at the word ふるさと (furusato), meaning ‘home town’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘he’ (へ). A big thank you for … Continue reading →

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Japan 2014: Tohoku Rokkonsai (東北六魂祭)

September 6, 2014, 12:14 pm

≫ Next: Book Review: Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate (+ Win a Copy!)

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 平気

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*Apologies for the length of this post – it’s a bit epic! If you don’t have time for it all, but do have nine and a half minutes, please skip to the end and watch the last video!* When I knew I would be going to Japan this year I knew that meant I would … Continue reading →

Book Review: Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate (+ Win a Copy!)

September 9, 2014, 2:57 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 褒める

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Tohoku Rokkonsai (東北六魂祭)

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  Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyō by Alan Scott Pate (published by Tuttle, 2008) is a gorgeous hardcover book comprising 272 pages and over 400 colour and archival photos of Japanese dolls. For the art enthusiast, the doll collector, as well as the casual reader, the world of Japanese dolls (ningyō / 人形) is a … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: 褒める

September 13, 2014, 2:09 pm

≫ Next: A Special Sunday

≪ Previous: Book Review: Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate (+ Win a Copy!)

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘he’ (へ), focussing on へいき / 平気 (heiki), meaning ‘coolness’ or ‘unconcern’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘ho’ (ほ). A big thank you for the suggestions this week: lovelycomplex22 suggested ‘horeru’ (惚れる), … Continue reading →

A Special Sunday

September 14, 2014, 3:40 am

≫ Next: Monthly Recipe: Matcha & White Chocolate Sablé

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 褒める

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Last Sunday was the last Make Sunday Special event in Bristol this year. Make Sunday Special is a monthly summer event which sees the streets of central Bristol closed for the day and local businesses setting up stalls in town. There is street entertainment, and a general feel of local community. It’s a great event, … Continue reading →

Monthly Recipe: Matcha & White Chocolate Sablé

September 14, 2014, 7:47 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Yamadera – the Mountain Temple

≪ Previous: A Special Sunday

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With the Great British Bake Off currently in full swing on BBC1 I’ve been quite inspired to bake, so a couple of weeks ago I decided to have a go at some Japanese-themed biscuits. I found this great recipe for matcha (green tea) and white chocolate sablé and thought I’d give it a go. I’ve … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Yamadera – the Mountain Temple

September 14, 2014, 2:53 pm

≫ Next: Winner of Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate announced!

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Matcha & White Chocolate Sablé

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After the excitement of Rokkonsai I opted for a more solitary day, taking my first steps along haiku poet Matsuo Basho’s ‘Narrow Road to the North’, or ‘Oku no hosomichi‘ (奥の細道). In the late spring of 1689 Matsuo Basho (松尾 芭蕉) and his haiku poet apprentice Kawai Sora (河合 曾良) set out on their epic journey, and … Continue reading →

Winner of Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate announced!

September 20, 2014, 1:35 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 不味い

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Yamadera – the Mountain Temple

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Thank you to everyone who entered my competition for a chance to win a copy of Japanese Dolls: The Fascinating World of Ningyō by Alan Scott Pate (see the review and competition post here). The winner has been selected by a random draw, and will be contacted shortly. I’m delighted to announce that the winner is… ☆★☆ … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: 不味い

September 20, 2014, 2:24 pm

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 1)

≪ Previous: Winner of Japanese Dolls by Alan Scott Pate announced!

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘ho’ (ほ), focussing on ほめる / 褒める (homeru), meaning ‘to praise’ or ‘to admire’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘ma’ (ま). A big thank you for the suggestions this week: Japan Australia suggested ‘maamaa’ … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 1)

September 21, 2014, 2:05 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: みそ

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 不味い

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On Tuesday 27th May my Tohoku adventure continued. Just before midday I left Yamagata Station on the Tsubasa shinkansen and travelled north to Shinjo. At Shinjo I changed to the JR Rikku East Line, a local line with small trains full of character. My destination? Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉). The journey to Naruko was simply gorgeous. The … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: みそ

September 26, 2014, 2:27 pm

≫ Next: Japan400 Plymouth: Sun, Sea & Saris

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 1)

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘ma’ (ま), focussing on まずい / 不味い (mazui), a word which refers to something that tastes bad or sucks. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘mi’ (み). A big thank you for the suggestions this week: Japan … Continue reading →

Japan400 Plymouth: Sun, Sea & Saris

October 5, 2014, 9:34 am

≫ Next: Word of the Week: 昔々

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: みそ

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Last weekend I took myself off for a mini break in Plymouth. I’d never been to Plymouth before, and might not have considered it as a place worth visiting had it not been for Japan400 Plymouth which was taking place that weekend. As it turned out, Plymouth is a jolly nice place and I’m very … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: 昔々

October 5, 2014, 10:24 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 2)

≪ Previous: Japan400 Plymouth: Sun, Sea & Saris

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘mi’ (み), focussing on みそ (miso), not the soup, but looking at the other ways in which the word is used. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘mu’ (む). A big thank you for … Continue reading →

Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 2)

October 5, 2014, 3:19 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: めんどくさい

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: 昔々

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Continuing on from my Naruko Onsen (Part 1) post, I’m finally back with Part 2! (Sorry it’s taking me forever to write up my Japan adventures!) On Wednesday 28th May, I woke up relaxed and refreshed in Naruko Onsen (鳴子温泉) and ate the most amazing breakfast at the Taishokan (大正館) ryokan. The food there was just so good – … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: めんどくさい

October 9, 2014, 3:42 pm

≫ Next: Word of the Week: もったいない

≪ Previous: Japan 2014: Naruko Onsen (Part 2)

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It’s time for Word of the Week again (a little early this week as I have plans this weekend that don’t involve blogging)! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘mu’ (む), focussing on 昔々 (mukashi mukashi), which means ‘once upon a time’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘me’ … Continue reading →

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Word of the Week: もったいない

October 19, 2014, 4:13 am

≫ Next: Monthly Recipe: Spicy Soy Sauce Fish Pie

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: めんどくさい

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘me’ (め), focussing on めんどくさい (mendokusai), which means ‘troublesome’ or ‘bothersome’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘mo’ (も). A big thank you for the suggestions this week: Rockin’ suggested ‘moteru’ (モテる), ‘popular'; and ‘motemote’ (モテモテ), … Continue reading →

Monthly Recipe: Spicy Soy Sauce Fish Pie

October 19, 2014, 9:38 am

≫ Next: Monthly Recipe: Soy Sauce Toffee Apple Crumble

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: もったいない

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Kikkoman, the soy sauce makers, are currently running a ‘Kikkoman Best Blogger Recipe Competition’ and I thought it would be a bit of fun to enter. In fact, I got so carried away that I have decided to create two entries, and this is the first. The remit is to create a non-oriental ‘one pot’ or … Continue reading →

Monthly Recipe: Soy Sauce Toffee Apple Crumble

October 19, 2014, 10:05 am

≫ Next: Word of the Week: やだ

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Spicy Soy Sauce Fish Pie

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As promised, here is my second creation for the ‘Kikkoman Best Blogger Recipe Competition’. As with my Spicy Soy Sauce Fish Pie, I decided to take a British classic and give it a Kikkoman twist. With this dish, I also wanted to do something seasonal. Using seasonal ingredients is a key factor in Japanese cooking, and … Continue reading →

Word of the Week: やだ

October 26, 2014, 6:55 am

≫ Next: Book Review: The Roads to Sata by Alan Booth

≪ Previous: Monthly Recipe: Soy Sauce Toffee Apple Crumble

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It’s time for Word of the Week again! Last time we looked at a Japanese word or phrase beginning with ‘mo’ (も), focussing on もったいない (mottainai), which means ‘wasteful’. This week I’m looking for a word or phrase beginning with ‘ya’ (や). A big thank you for the few suggestions I received this week: Japan Australia suggested ‘yabai’ (やばい), an … Continue reading →

Book Review: The Roads to Sata by Alan Booth

October 26, 2014, 7:47 am

≫ Next: Japan 2014: Hiraizumi

≪ Previous: Word of the Week: やだ

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Having recently devoured Lesley Downer’s On the Narrrow Road to the Deep North someone, and I’m afraid I can’t remember who (but I owe them thanks!) recommended I read The Roads to Sata by Alan Booth. Published in 1985, The Roads to Sata is the story of Alan Booth’s epic 2000 mile walk through Japan, from Cape … Continue reading →