HanryuKorean dramas not only catch China and South East Asian viewers by storm. They are popular in Japan too. This is a shelf displaying Japanese magazines on Korean drama in a bookshop in a small town in Japan.
Responsible farmersThe rest stations for motorists along the highway are now called ‘Michi no Eki’ (literally means ‘station of the road’). Travelers by car can take a rest, have some drinks and snacks and shop for local produce in such station. Some even have bathing facilities. The agricultural produce are supplied by local small time farmers. I notice many vegetable items and rice are displayed with the name, address and photos of the farmers or of the farmers with the family members. These farmers take pride of and responsibility for their produce.
Potato ManHokkaido is famous for delicious potato. 5-kg packs of Hokkaido potato are hot items at the souvenir shops at the airport. A human-like potato was displayed at the cashier counter of an eatery in a road station.
Squid catching boatsClick on the above photo for high-res imageNote the number of sodium lamps on the boats which are used to attract squids.
ShishamonClick on the above photo for high-res imageThe small fish with plenty of roes. Commonly called ‘pregnant fish’ here. The ’original’ or best ones are caught in the Pacific coast of Hokkaido. I heard those sold in South East Asia are ‘look alike’, not the real stuff. Keep this photo of the ‘real ones’ if you do not want to compromise for look-alike when you purchase the fish. In the supermarket in Japan, the prices of ‘good quality’ shishamon and the cheaper version differ by several times.
The very first time I tried Shishamon wa at Nikko. i hope that should be the original ones. I tried a few times in Singapore,somehow the taste were not as tasty. Partly because they seldom used charcoal Care to tell us where we can have the real ones in Singapore. I really miss the taste?----------Imai
ReplyDeleteImai san,
ReplyDeleteGoing by the Chinese wisdom ‘one cent of price, one cent of quality’.
‘Budget price’ shishamon are also sold the supermarkets in Japan. A pack of 10 shishamon was sold at 95 yen- about 15 Singapore cent per fish. What can you expect?
Exclude those Japanese eating joints run by locals in food courts, convey belt sushi shops.
If you go to the top end Japanese restaurants, you are likely to get the real staff. You can also try Sakura Japanese foodmart and restaurant (with many chain stores – Clementi, Parkway Parade, etc) which is operated by Japanese boss with local and China chef. The shop also sell raw Japanese seafood.