Hot Pot (Nabe, 鍋)
Nabe (鍋) literally translates to hot pot or cooking pot. It derives from nabemono (鍋物), but is called nabe for short. It is a soup based dish that can be served in a variety of ways like sukiyaki or shabu shabu. It is usually eaten in the colder months since the pot is constantly kept heated while everyone eats. When cooking nabe you have the choice of what ingredients to use, but from what I’m told these are the ingredients you must have regardless of the type. This includes napa, tofu, any form of meat, enoki, shitake and something for the soup base. Today we are having a nabe party or nabe pa for short. The great thing about eating this type of food is that it brings people together for some deliciousness. Also nabe is usually served spicy so please if you don’t like spicy food then make sure the nabe is not using that type of soup base.
Souvenir (Omiyage お土産)
Souvenirs are a huge part of Japanese culture especially when you travel to a different area. Certain places in Japan have specialty products like Kyoto for matcha (powdered green tea) and Hokkaido for seafood. When giving a souvenir or omiyage (お土産) it is better to give something that can be consumed. Usually you give a souvenir to friends, family and coworkers. If you are entering your friend’s or relatives’ home then it is customary to bring a gift as thanks for the hospitality. Otherwise it would be seen as rude or looked down upon. You don’t have to do it every time just when you haven’t seen them in a while or traveled somewhere. That is why no matter where you go there will be a souvenir shop with a variety of products. Like the one in the picture is from Nikko. I like buying some of the souvenirs for myself as snacks, but I’ll share it with those around me.
Toh-shiya (Archery Contest)
Toh-shiya is an archery contest that is held at the Sanjusangendo Temple in Kyoto and dates back to the 12th century. This traditional ceremony is scheduled to the closest Sunday to January 15th. The event marks the first shooting of arrows and has been called “New Year Archery.” It is also a time where women who are coming of age at 20 years old within the year fire arrows to commemorate the milestone. Imagine rows of 20 year olds dressed up in kimonos from all over Japan to participate in the ceremony. The Sanjusangendo temple is 120 meters long, which makes it the longest wooden structure in the world. The target is 1 meter in diameter and is placed 60 meters away. It takes a certain level of expertise to hit the target. This ceremony is worth the trip to see and is another way to welcome the New Year.
Natto
Natto is a beloved type of food in Japan. It is fermented soybeans that can be eaten in a variety of ways. However, it is has a very strong smell and aftertaste. It lingers for a while even though you eat other stuff to combat it. I had smelled natto before and prejudged it as disgusting. I remember my Japanese professor happily talking about natto and the different ways she ate it. One day in a sushi place, my friends started to talk about the natto sushi. At the end of the conversation I decided to try it because who knows maybe I’ll like it. I had one piece of sushi natto and yeah it was bad. It seems like it is an acquired taste and most people who did not grow up in the Japan will not like it. Who knows maybe there is a variation of natto that I might like, but for sure sushi natto is in the never gonna eat again list.
Prefecture Mascots
There is a mascot for every prefecture in Japan. The country was already a cute explosion with all their goods, but even their representative mascots are adorable except for some like Hokkaido’s mascot. Usually when you hear mascot they are scary and fierce, but in Japan they are meant to be friendly and welcoming. These mascots are to improve tourism and attract people to their respective areas. The one in the picture is Tochigimaru-kun who represents Tochigi Prefecture. When I first saw the character I didn’t know where they were from. My friends told me about them and compared it to how the United States has a different flag for every state. It is hard to know the difference between a prefecture mascot and one from companies. All in all it is still great to take a picture with these adorable characters.