watashi to tokyo

TV show for cats

This cat is watching TV "岩合光昭の世界ネコ歩き (Iwaai Mitsuaki's cat walk in the world)". The program is a documentary which an animal photographer Iwaaki Mituaki takes cats in the world in point of view cats, some people upload such amazed cats face photos "my cat can enjoy the show". Here is the show introducing "Setonai kai area", if you have a cat, please let him/her watch this one.

Real Cup no Fuchiko

Cup no Fuchiko is a small girl figure, you set on a edge of cup. The boom ("What the Heck is Cup no Fuchiko ? ") (via otakumode) had happen a few years ago and now there are a lof of variation and different versions.

For suvenior, they have Star Wars and as different variation, there are coasters called "Cup no Sotoko", a bit scary.

By the way, in this spring we had "SMAP shock". Japanese idol boys group "SMAP" was almost left their agent Johnny's which is the empire of boys group in Japan. Since they are big name in this country, even BBC took it as an Asian news. Eventually they denied it and the issue was finally settled by apologizing in their TV show, but apparently they apologized to Johnny's, not their fans, we call it public execution which Johnny's set as warning.

A member of SMAP Tsuyoshi Kusanagi tries "Real Cup no Fuchiko" in their TV show. It's funny.

Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Collection

Takashi Murakami’s Superflat Collection; From Shōhaku and Rosanjin to Anselm Kiefer will close soon. This exhibition is the first large-scale public showing of the renowned contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami's private collection centered around contemporary art. Chaos but seems very fun! I love the Komainu on this video. The site said this was collection of Rosanjin before and Murakami bought it.

Making video

Yokohama Museum @ Shibiuya
Jan 30 -> April 3 10:00-18:00
adult 1500yen

Link:
Takeshi Murakami the 500 arhats
inochi by Takashi Murakami

Sakura !

Finally Cherry blossom has just stared blooming in Tokyo. I think this weekend is the best timing to have ohanami (watching flower party).　Since we love Cherry blossom and can't miss to watch them we have special alart to know the Cherry blossom front, it's called Sakura Zensen.

Some websites open to report it. Here is the 2016 Cherry Blossom site of Yahoo Japan. It tells us which are's flower has bloomed or still they are just buds.

Here is the Cherry Blossom information of Japan-guide.com

Personally, I love the conbination of river and flowers, coz we can see pink shade in front of water and also it's beautiful to see petals fall into the water too. So my best spot in Tokyo is Chidori Gafuchi or Meguro River.　But I will tell you everywhere in Japan is beatuful spot in this season.

These stunning photos of Japanese cherry blossoms will fill you with wonder

桜と日本人 - cherry blossoms and japanese spirit

link:
Ah Cherry Blossom, Cherry Blossom, Cherry Blossom 
Cherry Blossom season
Spring can not be beautiful season for all Japanese

TV ad by Studio Ghibli and Marubeni

"Choju-jinbutsu-giga" aka "Chojyu-giga" is a famous set of four picture scrolls, or emakimono, belonging to Kozan-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan. It is usually thought to have been painted in the mid-12th century or 13th. We don't know who is the creator. Some said this is "first manga in Japan" and people love it much.

Here is Choju-giga figures, Choj-giga LINE stamp and a lot of Choju-giga parodies like this Doraemon.

Recently Studio Ghibli and Marubeni Power Retail made this TV ad inspired by Choju-giga.

This is the gigamaker that is tool you can make choju-giga by yourself. Everybody enjoy to make their funny story on Twitter.

Sushi Police TV show and Pasta police?

Do you know sushi police? Some years ago, Japanese government set it to promote food safety and hygiene standards for japanese food in foreign countries, espeically for sushi. But because of the name, people misunderstood Japanese government tries to accuse wried Japanese food or too bad sushi. In the end, Sushi Police didn't come ture.

However Short Animation TV show "Sushi Police" is created with inspration from that event. Here is the video with English subtitle. Funny, oh please don't be serious.

 

Funny part is there are Pasta police from Italy in this animation. I didn't check their part, but surely Pasta police will pissed off to Japanese pasta, we have a lot of Japaenese arrange pasta like Mentaiko Pasta or Natto Pasta. I must say those are not Italian anymore, we may say they are Japanese food using spaghetti.

But how about Napoliritan? It has a name of Napoli and taste of Tomato, BUT it's simply "fried" spaghetti with tomato ketchup, onion and sausage. In Japan Napolitan has long history and of course we looooooove it to have Naporitan festival. I think Napolitan is worse for Italian Police than Natto Spaghetti.

Issei Miyake Exhibition

NISEI MIYAKE Exhibition "The Work of Miyake Issey" has started at The national Art Center, Tokyo. if you are sensitive to fashion and trends, you would know this BAO BAO bag which got to be hot  a few years ago. The great part of this bag is you can change the shape. 

If you don't have any interesting to fashion, you would know his work because of Steve Job's the black turtlenecks which became a part of Jobs' signature.

The Work if Miyake Issey @ The national Art Center, Tokyo
March 16-> June 13th 10:00-18:00 (Friday 20:00)
adult 1300yen

Bento Watch

A Japanese nursery company TAKII made this Bento Watch video to promote their nutrition rich vegetable. I guess they want to say their vegetables are good for you even in such small portion.

Hot 6 Sweets in Tokyo in 2016!

There are a huge number of sweets in Tokyo, here is a selection hot 6 sweets in Tokyo 2016 and of course all are Tokyo originals.

ZAKUZAKU : Cream puff with rich custard cream covered by crispy almond powder puff.

1 piece 250yen
Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku 3-38-1 Luminest B1F
OPEN 10:30-22:00
Tokyo Shibuya-ku Jingumae 1-7-1 Cute cute Harajuku 1F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

anovan : We call it "Bouchee". It's two baked meringue confectionery sandwiched whipped cream.

Tokyo Shinbuya-ku Jingumae 4-26-22 Harajuku H building 1F
OPEN 11:00-20:00

RINGO : Ringo means apple in Japanese. Custard and apples in super crispy pie, they sold over 10000 pies in a week.

1piece 370yen
Tokyo Toshima-ku Minamiikebukuro 1-28-2 JR Ikebukuro Station 1F
OPEN 10:00-22:00

Le Souffle : Super fluffy soft souffle fades in 30 seconds, they have about 40 kinds of souffles, not only sweets one but also vegetable and omal or such dinner type one.

Tokyo Meguro-ku Midorigaoka 2-25-7 2F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

Number Sugar : Handmade Caramels. Their flavors are vanilla, salt, ginger, orange peal etc,. Package and wrapping is cute too.

Tokyo Shibuya-ku Jingumae 5-11-11 1F
OPEN 11:00-20:00 (close Tuesday)

Ken's cafe Tokyo : their special Gateau au Chocolat is changed in temperature. In regular temp, texture is smooth like terrine, when you make it hot, it becomes fodant chocolat with melting chocolate, and make it cool in fridge, it gets to be rich ganache. ahh lovely

Tokyo Shinjuku-ku Shinjuku 1-23-3 1F
OPEN 10:00-20:00

UNIQLO and Ootoya

Uniqlo and Lemaire's Second Collection has started. UNIQLO said this is the last collaboration with Lemaire.

We can buy HERMES designer's work by only 1990yen! I am always impressed to the UNIQLO's corporate efforts. But I wonder what is going on the background. How is environmental pollution, low wages, bad labor environments? 1990yen is cheaper than one night dinning out in Tokyo, can we value it deeply like real HERMES one?

On the other hand, personally I really think real Japanese food's price in the U.S. is too high. The average price of Ootoya NY is over 2000yen or so. In Japan Ootoya is a reasonable "Japanese dinner" serving "Teishoku", I think they don't have any menu costs over 1000yen in Japan. Yayoitei is a similar type of Japanese dinner and they will open the shop in CA this year, their "Pork ginger" is $15.5, but it is 680yen in Japan. Of course the price will depend on each location even in the U.S. Still I am feeling uneasy.

This is my recommendation in Ootoya. Chicken Nanban(fried chicken with boiled egg sauce)　870yen.