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Fireworks cascade in the night sky. Faces turned heavenward in awe. It must be the Fourth of July in America. And it must be summer! The time of year when I’d travel from Tokyo to visit Mom in Massachusetts. Mom passed several years ago.
One of the most vivid summertime memories with Mom involves blueberries. She loved the little gems. Blueberries were something I only ate in the States with her. Blueberries were usually sprinkled atop... Read Full Article57 |
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Japanese food and language were all I knew until age 5 (although I’m an American of European descent.) Tokyo was my hometown until age 18. Japan is famous for its Kobe beef. However, my first bite of beef was at my grandmother’s house in Colorado. I was sent there one summer to learn English. Good thing my Nona was patient…And had a large stash of nori. (Dried Japanese seaweed) I refused to eat meat if not wrapped in nori.... Read Full Article58 |
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Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking pays homage to the oba-san*1 (granny or auntie) in the Japanese home kitchen. Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking (published in 2007) was a generous share of how to create exquisite Japanese cuisine with a multicultural flair. If you’ve seen Chef Morimoto on Iron Chef on TV in Japan and/or America, you know he’s a master of Japanese and French... Read Full Article59 |
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What’s your go-to chocolate? Or is chocolate passé? Does it pales in comparison to savory snacks? My penchant for chocolate and cupcakes are inherited from my father.
My father passed this last February - the day after Valentine’s. He was a goodhearted gentleman. He loved chocolate and cupcakes. I have fond memories of sampling boxes of Bradenton, Florida’s Frosted Over Cupcakery. My father also loved the boxes... Read Full Article60 |
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Disney's Mary Poppins would approve of this Ninja Baker’s Japanese veggie ramen. The famous Disney nanny was all about fun! In between traveling into colorful sidewalk art with her charges; she was singing, “A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down!” (My Japanese nanny actually did crush up my medicine with honey.)
I’m not espousing the sweet stuff today. But I am promoting ramen! Specifically Japanese... Read Full Article61 |
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Organic and outrageously delicious, Kippy's Ice Cream is going global. First stop - Japan! Venice, CA's vegan ice cream is now available in Tokyo.
オガニック、超美味しいキッピズアイスクリームは世界市場のデザート女王かもしりません。
Andy's sweet smile accompanies delicious scoops of organic,
non-dairy Kippy's ice cream.
アイスクリームは笑顔で差し上げます
Assorted berries mingle in the ice cream bowl.
様々なベーリのアイスクリーム
Kippy... Read Full Article62 |
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Secrets to the Magic in Tokyo Disneyland and Disney Sea
Are you a Disney fan? Me, too! So, I’m delighted to share a few secrets.
1. Enter the parks past 6 p.m. and you get a discount!
2. Can you prove you’re over 60 with an ID? You get a reduced rate!
3. Have kidlets under 3? They are in for free!
4. From 3 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and National Holidays, tickets are also discounted.
5. Enjoy rides during... Read Full Article63 |
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When Life looks like a random romp through Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights; and foggy feelings arise like mist on English moors, what do you do? I reach for poetry. Japanese haiku poets I find are the most poignant. There’s an acceptance that joy and grief are intertwined.
The Japanese cherry blossom is a pretty popular topic in poetry. (Sakura – the Japanese word for cherry blossom – is also more frequently seen... Read Full Article64 |
