This was one of my parents favorite meals when they visited Japan.  ”This yaki-stuff is delicious and it fills you up completely!”  My Dad said with great big smile and sauce all over his face!  (Must admit it is one of my favorites too!)

A tasty “pancake/crepe” contains a variety of flavorful ingredients made to order to your liking!  The name comes from the word okonomi, meaning “what you want“, and yaki means “grilled” such as yakitori (grilled chicken) and yakisoba (grilled soba noodles).

Okonomiyaki is associated with two major cities; Osaka and Hiroshima, however it can be found anywhere in Japan.   Toppings and batters tend to vary a little, however this blog entry will show you step-by-step in how it’s made Hiroshima style – which happens to be my favorite!

In Hiroshima, the ingredients are layered rather than mixed all together like the Osaka style (see picture below), very simliar to an omelette.

The layers are typically batter, cabbage, pork/bacon, and optional items such as shrimp, squid, octopus, and cheese.   Noodles, you can choose from two types; soba (thin noodles) or udon (flat and thicker).  To top it all off a yummy fried egg and a generous amount of okonomiyaki (barbeque) sauce and sprinkle of aonori (seaweed) flakes.  

Here is how it is put together…  (Thank you Yamamoto san for allowing me to photogragh you)

Pour a wheat flour paste on a hot grill, then spread evenly,  next pile on the cabbage, bean sprouts, and bacon

Drizzle mayo on top or in some restaurants they have their own “secret sauce” 

Add salt and pepper – then flip ….he makes looks so easy!

Next, grill the soba noodles quickly…then set aside

Add the egg(s) and allow to cook for a couple of seconds…

Lightly scramble, then place hot soba noodles on top of the eggs….

Note: if you are ordering any “extras or special toppings” this is when they will be cooking it.

Carefully pick up the entire “pancake” and place it over the hot noodles/eggs…

Wah-la!  Finished and ready to serve. 

They will brush plenty of Okonomiyaki sauce on top  (Barbeque sauce with a kick, like a tangy Worcestershire sauce ) and sprinkle a little aonori. 

Eat it right off the grill or on a plate, it really doesn’t matter - it tastes absolutely fantastic! 

Today I wanted to surprise my kids, plus I didn’t feel like cooking today…

]]> http://www.jackieallen.jp/2012/05/okonomiyaki-%e3%81%8a%e5%a5%bd%e3%81%bf%e7%84%bc%e3%81%8d-hiroshima-style/feed/ 6 http://www.jackieallen.jp/2012/05/japanese-antiques-video/ http://www.jackieallen.jp/2012/05/japanese-antiques-video/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 15:00:08 +0000 JackieYuri http://www.jackieallen.jp/?p=8618

ようこそLoving Antiquesへ！I have always been fascinated with antiques; and living here in Japan I’ve come across some beautiful and treasures! There’s a Japanese word that describes beauty uniquely – Shibui.  It means the type of beauty that doesn’t need announcement – its quality speaks for itself.   Wow, what a great word… Whether you love flea markets or enjoy visiting antique stores Japan has a lot to offer for anyone seeking something unique.

私はアンティークにとても興味があります。ここ日本に住んでいると、その美しさと価値に出会う機会がたくさんありますよ！こういった美しさを日本語で「シブイ」というらしいです。人がその美しさを表現するまでもなく、物自体が無言で語っているような状態をこの言葉で表現するのだとか・・・。ワォ、とってもステキな言葉ね。フリーマーケットの愛好者であれ、アンティークショップめぐりの愛好者であれ、とってもユニークなものを日本ではたくさん見ることができます。

My home is filled with a wide collection of antiques, amazing furniture (tansu in Japanese), paintings, and cermamic pieces! I love decorating with different items from around the world, it inspires me to create beautifully rich and visually captivating appeal throughout my house – plus it give my guests something to talk about.

実際に私の家にもアンティークのコレクションがたくさんありますよ。ステキな家具（日本のたんす）、絵画、そして陶磁器！世界中のいろいろな品を飾って楽しんでいます。この品々が豊かな美への創造力をインスパイヤーしてくれます。プラスお客様との話の種にもなってくれているのよ。

One of my favorite places to visit is Kasai Hardware Store & Antiques in Iwakuni.  The store owner, Hideo, has a variety of unique tansu (furniture) pieces, including a great assortment of ceramics, textiles, Japanese arts, and other fun pieces! Sit down with me and enjoy our short bilingual conversation.

私のお気に入りのお店の一つに、錦帯橋の近く岩国市岩国に「笠井金物店・面白倶楽部」というお店があります。笠井さんの経営することの店は、たんすなどの家具をはじめ、陶磁器、織物、日本の美術品、海外のアンティークなどいろいろ楽しい品々がそろっているんですよ！では先日のバイリンガルなインタビューの模様をご覧下さい。

Kasai-san is proud of his family business, global collections, and quality service; and he’s always eager to speak English for foreigners and educate them about Japanese antiques.

オーナーの笠井さんはこの家族でおこなっているビジネス、世界中から集めたコレクション、それからサービスの質に誇りを持っています。海外から訪れる人々にも気さくに英語で話しかけ、日本のアンティークについてより良い理解ができるようにお手伝いしていらっしゃいます。あなたもぜひ一度足をお運び下さいね

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Information about the shop：

笠井金物店・面白倶楽部　Kasai Hareware Store & Antiques

• [Category] Antiques／アンティーク
• [Address]　1-16-6 Iwakuni, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi   山口県岩国市岩国１丁目１６番６号
• [Phone] 　  0827-41-0245
• [open]         10:00-19:00
• [English]    Yes

Map

View Larger Map

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This charming little restaurant is located in an area you normally wouldn’t visit, tucked away from downtown Iwakuni’s busy streets.  It’s small and comfortable with a cafe/bar atmosphere and a super-friendly staff.  Their unique seasonal menu has a good selection with something for everyone to enjoy.  Their set menu is terrific and flexible with several choices.   We, Lisa and I, had a full set lunch – with all the works!  Why not – we were celebrating!  O susume – I recommend it this place!

この小さなチャーミングなレストランは岩国の交通量の多い大通りを少し離れた場所にあります。小さいけれど心地の良いカフェとバーも揃っていて、スタッフもとてもフレンドリーな居心地の良いレストランです。オリジナルの季節メニューは種類が豊富で誰が行っても楽しめますよ。内容を選ぶことのできるセットメニューもおすすめ。私達もフルセットのランチを大いに楽しみました。

Creamy Corn Cup of  Soup
クリーミー・コーン・スープ

Mini-samples for starters -
スターターのサンプル

Salad, Vegetables, Fried Shrimp, and Battered White Fish
サラダ・野菜料理・揚げたエビ・白身魚の料理

My friend Lisa chose a different sampler platter -
友人のリサの選んだセット

Burgundy Beef & Fish and Chips
肉の煮込みとフィッシュ・アンド・チップス

Our main dishes came out and we were delighted at the bold colors and aroma!
メイン・ディッシュ。鮮やかな彩りと香りに大満足！

Primavera Lasagna -Perfect!
プリマベーラ・ラザニア・・・完璧ね！

Light Garlic and Bacon with Vegatable Pasta
ガーリック・ベーコン・野菜のパスタ

The desserts will surely put a smile on your face!  So creavtive and all edible!
デザートには思わず笑顔になってしまいます。クリエイティブだし全部食べられるのよ！

Year of the Tiger – Kawaii!!!!
今年の干支の寅　うーんかわいい！！！！

This was a perfect way to end a meal with my special friend, Lisa.
リサとの食事の最後を締めくくるパーフェクトなカプチーノ

Information about the restaurant ：
イタリアン・カフェ・プリマベーラ　Italian Cafe Primavera

• [Category] Italian, イタリアン
• [Address]　1-10-5 Showamachi, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi 岩国市昭和町1丁目10-5
• [Phone] 　(0827)22-0566
• [open time] 9:00～22:00(オーダーストップlast call 21:15)
• [English menu] Yes, very limited, staff speaks a little English
• web site: http://cafe-primavera.jp/index.php
• Map 地図

View Larger Map

“Mother’s Day, “Haha no hi” (Japanese) “¡Feliz Dia de la Madre!” (Spanish) is celebrated with great love and affection around the world!    Don’t forget to call, she really does miss you a lot!

英語では「Mother’s Day」　日本語では「母の日」　スペイン語では「Feliz Dia de la Madre」　この日はいっぱいの愛をもって世界中で祝う日です。

There is simply no way we can ever really thank our mother for all she has done for us.  I am always amazed how wonderful and patient my mother was when I was growing up.  I know it wasn’t easy.  Gracia mammi!  Te quiero muchisimo!  (Thank you mom, I love you so much!) 

お母さんが日頃私達にしてくれていること全てに感謝する・・・シンプルだけどとても大切なことですね。私も大きくなるまでいつも母の忍耐と素晴しさには心を動かされてきました。だって、簡単なことではないですからね。お母さんありがとう！　心から愛しているわ！

With mother’s day just around the corner how do we thank our moms?   What is the perfect gift? 

もうじき母の日だけど、どうやって感謝の気持ちを伝えたらいいのかしら？　パーフェクトな贈り物って何かしら？

There are a lot of things that money can’t buy; such as love and precious time.  I think what most mothers need is a relaxed atmosphere in the company of her children, lots of appreciation and love, along with warmth and plenty of affection.

お金で買えないものもこの世の中にはたくさんあるわね。愛とか時間とか・・・。私は、多くのお母さん達が必要とするものは「子供と一緒にリラックスできる雰囲気」と「たくさんの愛」「あたたかさと家族の愛」だと思うの。

I can personally share with you that most women wish to be pleasantly surprised, feel special, be pampered, and feel pretty.  Honestly, we don’t expect this incredible feeling every day ( though I wish…),  but there are times that we could use that needed “break” just to re-energize ourselves.

嬉しい驚きや、自分が特別だと感じたり、大事にされている、自分がきれいだと感じたいと多くの女性達と話をしているうちに共感しました。正直に言ってこの素晴しい気持ちを毎日は望んではいません（でも出来たらいいなぁ・・・）　だけど、時にはこの必要な気持ちを持ってリフレッシュすることもとても必要ですね。

Think of something ‘special’ for your mom or any special mother you feel needs a little recognition.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – just something from the heart, sincere with sentimental value.

あなたのお母さんや　お母さんでなくてもそんな気持ちが少し必要かなと思われる人を思いやりましょう。完璧である必要も、お金をかける必要もありません。ただ心から、誠意を持っていればいいのです。

Here’s a few ideas to help:  a lovely card/note…some freshly picked flowers…a memory photo…reservations at a favorite restaurant…keep away from chores and the kitchen…yummy sweet treats…something that simply says how very much you adore or admire her!!

ここで私からのアイデアをご紹介しましょう。ラブリーなカードやノート・・・摘んだばかりの花束、記念の写真、お気に入りのレストランの予約、家事やキッチンから解放してあげたり、美味しいお菓子のプレゼント、なにかお母さんを心から敬慕し尊敬している事をつたえられるものなどはいかがでしょうか？

Take the time to thank every mom you know!  It’s an incredibly difficult job, but it has the most sensational rewards and life-long benefits!

時間をかけてあなたの知っている「お母さん」に感謝を伝えましょう！難しいかもしれませんが、一生の宝物になるはずです。

I really love being a mom… there’s no better job in the world!　母になるってすばらしい愛すべきこと。

こどもの日 - 鯉幟 Koi-nobori (Carps streamers)

Every May 5, this nation celebrates a wonderful event.  Originally it was ‘Boy’s Day,’ but to be fair to both sexes they renamed it to ‘Children’s Day.’   It’s a special day set aside to respect all children’s personalities, backgrounds, and to celebrate their abundance of happiness for the future days to come.

Children’s Day Song

Koinobori Song
Yane yori takai koinobori
Ookii magoi wa otousan
Chiisai higoi wa kodomotachi
Omoshirosouni oyoideru

The koinobori are higher than the rooftops
The big black carp is the father
The small golden-red carp is the child
How pleasing it is to swim!

I have to tell you there’s nothing like it.   I can never get tired of watching them waves across the sky… so many beautiful carp flags flying around my countryside home.

Why a carp flag? Carps are the symbol of strength, longevity, determination.  In Japan the old stories go way back –  the carp is a symbol of determination and vigor, overcoming all types of obstacles, they continue to swim upstream.   In China,  a carp or Koi is the symbol of good luck and good fortune.  I guess that is why many adults decide to have a tattoo designed of a carp on their arm or back.

There are plenty of fun activities or events that will rejoice this special day for all children to enjoy.  Traditional yummy snacks are also offered everywhere such as kashiwa-mochi, a sticky rice cake wrapped in oak leaves with a tasty sweet bean flavoring inside, plus crunchy rice snacks .

A photo that moved me….

The Japanese community of Yamada is still holding on to its tradition even after mass destruction.

Flying over rubble at the devastated town of Yamada, Iwate prefecture, located in northeastern Japan on May 2, 2011.

They are all in my prayers.

特にスピードの刺激が欲しいあなたにはメチャクチャ楽しいこと間違いないわ！私と２人のティーン・エイジャーの子ども達がサーキット場を回った様子をご覧になってください！車は小さいんだけど、ホントに走るのよ！

YANAI SPORT LAND

柳井スポーツ・ランド（柳井市）

***  Visitors must wear long pants, long sleeves, and sneakers to race the carts.    Height and age restrictions are enforced for safety reasons.***
体験するには、長袖の服と長ズボン、スニーカーなどの運動靴の着用が必要です。

Helmets and gloves are provided free.  The park also sells new and used racing carts.
ヘルメットとグローブは無料で借りることができます。柳井スポーツ・ランドではレース用の車両（新車・中古）の販売もしています。

Hours: Open every day except Thursday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
営業：月・火・水・金・土・日（木曜日休業）　午前１０時～午後５時

Cost: Y2,000 for seven laps.
料金：７ラップ　２千円

Age: 16 years and older
年齢制限：１６歳以上

Sports Land phone number 0820-26-0555  (little English is spoken however service with a smile…always!)
柳井スポーツ・ランド　連絡先　0820-26-0555

When entering  a restaurant the employees will greet you with loud “ee-ra-shai-ma-say!” which means “welcome to our place/establishment!”

Return with  a smile and answer back with “Kon-ni-chi-wa” or “Kon-ban-wa” if you are heading out for the evening.  Next you’ll be shown to your seat or booth, then a menu will be offered.

To ask if they have an English menu ask ” Men yū o eigo ga ari mas ka?”

It’s always good to ask and if they don’t, don’t worry you will find something yummy to eat.  Most places have pictures or plastic food models to choose from.  I love this concept and I will talk more about that in a later blog….

Next, signal the waitress with your hand when your ready and say “Su mi ma sen, oh-da one gai shi mas” (Excuse me/we are ready to order) then say “finished“or “okay“ – they all understand these universal words.

Yippee the food arrives, now what?

Once everyone has their food, you politely can say “eei ta da ki mas” when you’re ready to eat, ( a traditional custom, place your hands together like your saying grace at the table )  This means that you are about to start eating this wonderfully prepared meal.

Flashback: when we first arrived to Japan my kids had a hard time learning the language so they cheated by saying “Eat this food we must“  really fast, it was cute and it worked.   Now they know better…

Hopefully you are enjoying the meal and it’s very tasty you can say, “Oi shii!” which meaning dee-licious!

Here are some other useful words when eating out or what you will hear other Japanese people saying at the table about their food….

A mai – sweet  — Ni gai – bitter  — Sup-pai – sour  — Shi op-pai – salty – Karai – hot, spicy  — At sui – it’s hot  — Tsu metai – it’s cold

After your table starts looking like everyone has finished a waitress may walk over and asks “ta beo ema shita ka?” (Are you finished?)  “Yes” or “no” will do.

When you are completely finished with your meal you can say, “go ji so sama de shi ta” with a slight, polite bow as you are leaving.   This means you are done and appreciated the meal.   Proudly say this to the server and to the chef,  this will impress them and you’ll make them feel very happy! I also like to add “oi shi katta,” meaning “it was tasty!”

Planning to come back again?

Say, “mata ki mas” and don’t forget to say “domo ari gato go zai masu” on your way out.   It’s always polite to thank them very much for their kind services.

I hope this helps you familiarize yourself to eating out in Japan and making a great impression.   I feel it’s important to show gratitude to the employees especially the chef…believe me a little kindness goes a long way and your food will taste even better next time!

(wink…)

New Updates Coming – January 2012

This portion of the website is dedicated to providing helpful information to new and inbound families coming to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

** Be sure to SCROLL down to read all the necessary information once you clicked on a category **

The original www.iwakunimcas.com website was created by Ms Lisa Stewart, a military spouse who dedicated extensive time and effort into building every detail of the site during her tour in Iwakuni. When Lisa PCS’d, my company sponsored the site to keep it alive as a service to the community, because the information was so helpful to so many people.

This information is UNOFFICIAL and is simply for the purpose of military spouses helping others.  If you find something that is possibly outdated or incorrect, please send a message on the contact form at the upper right corner of the page.  The air station is going through many new changes and we would appreciate your proactive help with keeping the information current for everyone to use.

Seiza Sitting

Sitting upright on the floor is very common in many situations and traditionally on a tatami floor around a low coffee table. The formal way of sitting for both genders is kneeling or ‘seiza’ – its Japanese for “proper or correct sitting.”

How to sit seiza style?

One first kneels on the floor, folding one’s legs underneath one’s thighs, while resting the buttocks on the heels of your feet.  Simple enough…

People who are not used to sit in a seiza style may become uncomfortable after a few minutes, or in my case 30 seconds!  Foreigners are not usually expected to be able to sit in this torturous position for a long time.  You will find yourself shifting and moving from side to side a lot.   However beware, after sitting this way you are going to feel a few things -  loss of circulation, the feeling of  ‘pins & needles’,  and then a painful numbness.   Doesn’t this sound like fun?

Now if you find yourself around this ‘sitting situation’ often I recommend you practice daily,  hold the position as long as you can and work on flexibility.  There’s no shame in letting your friends know that this is not easy for you, but then again they will see it in your face.   Now for some good news! Ladies you are allowed to swipe both legs from side to side and for the gentlemen you can sit ‘Indian style’ or crossed legs.   No disrespect is taken…your Japanese friends know you are trying to get comfortable and wish to enjoy your time with them.

Need to get up but you can’t feel your legs?

Here’s a tip that my Ikebana sensei told me a long time ago.  On the way to standing up after sitting Japanese-style, first, just put your weight on your toes and sit on your heels. Stay in that position for a little bit, then stretch your feet on your way up.   Be careful standing up quickly it can lead to injury or worse…embarrassment! Trust me I’ve been there, done that. Good luck!

Extra: Funny video about this guy’s experience sitting seiza style and then compares it to climbing Mt. Fuji – he has no idea.  Tea ceremonies are over within an hour, climbing Fuji is several grueling hours.

( I love his expression from 1:38-1:43 )

Seiza (YouTube)

“Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one.”

(Ancient Chinese Proverb)

A Japanese tea ceremony is a beautiful event to see and experience.  The tea ceremony, or sado “the way of the tea” is an important part of the Japanese culture, with a very specific ceremonial way of preparing and drinking tea.

日本の茶会はぜひ見て経験してみたい美しいイベントですね。茶会又は茶道は日本の文化の中でも、お茶を準備する、お茶を飲むということを儀式化した重要な鍵を握る部分です。

Today, tea ceremonies are a relatively popular hobby.  Many Japanese who are interested in their own culture, take tea ceremony lessons.  I also know several Americans who enjoy trying such traditions and cultures.  The ceremony itself consists of many rituals that have to be learned by heart.  Almost each hand movement has an important meaning behind it.  The traditional tea is prepared only by the host, for the guests.  

Visit my International Learning Center page, we present a tradional ‘Tea Ceremony’ serveral times a year.  Nov. 15th & Jan. 2011

今日、茶会は一般的な「趣味」の分野となっています。たくさんの日本人も自分自身の文化について興味を持っており、茶道のレッスンを受けています。何人かのアメリカ人にもこのような文化と伝統を楽しみにしている人を知っています。セレモニー自体は心で学ばなければならない沢山の作法に基づくものです。両手の動きでさえ、その動きの裏には意味があります。そしてこの伝統的な一服の茶は１人の亭主から客へ振舞われるのです。

Matcha or “green tea” is made of powdered tea leaves and has a bitter taste.  Unlike English tea, Japanese green tea is served in cups without a handle and is never drank with sugar or cream.  The most polite way of drinking green tea is to hold the cup with one hand and support it from below with the other hand.

抹茶はお茶の葉を粉にした苦味のあるものです。イギリスの紅茶とは異なり、日本の抹茶は取っ手のないカップで出されます。そしてこのお茶は正式な茶会では砂糖やクリームを加えることはまったくありません。　このお茶を飲むときの作法は、片手で茶碗を持ち、反対の手は下から茶碗に添えます。

The following is a list of some of the most popular kinds of tea in Japan:
それから、日本でよく飲まれている一般的なお茶のご紹介を少ししたいと思います。

Ryokucha: this tea made solely with tea leaves that have undergone minimal oxidation by steaming after harvest.  This is known as Nihoncha and the largest consumed in Japan
緑茶： 茶葉単独で作られるお茶で、収穫後蒸すことにより酸化発酵を最小限に抑えたものです。日本茶として知られ、もっとも日本で消費されています。

Houjicha: Another common tea, Houjicha is brown and made from roasted tea leaves.
ほうじ茶：こちらもお茶として一般的、ほうじ茶は茶色で茶葉を焙じて（軽く煎って）作られるものです。

Matcha: This is a bitter green tea made of tea leaf powder.  It is the tea used in all Japanese traditional tea ceremonies.
抹茶: 抹茶はお茶の葉を粉末状にしたものを使った苦いお茶です。このお茶は茶会で使われます。

Chinese Tea: There are a wide variety of Chinese teas, some of the most popular are Oolong and Jasmine.
中国茶：　中国茶には沢山のバラエティーがあります。有名なものはウーロン茶やジャスミン茶などがあります。

Kocha: British black tea.  In Japanese kanji  ”紅茶 Ko cha”means red tea; named in the early Meiji period because of its reddish color.
紅茶：英国のブラック・ティーのことです。漢字では赤いお茶と書きます。明治初期の日本人にはお茶の色が赤く見えたのです。

I have always enjoyed fresh brewed coffee, but in the last few years I have become very much in favor of tea. It tastes refreshing, and is also good for you.  There is a lot of research showing the health benefits of tea.  Loaded with powerful anti-oxidants, tea is a magical drink that is said to help to prevent all sorts of medical conditions such as cancer, arthritis, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, infections, etc.

私はコーヒー好きなのですが、ここ数年お茶もなんだか飲みたくなるようになりました。お茶はリフレッシュさせてくれるし、もちろん体にもいいんですものね。お茶が体に良いことは沢山のリサーチで証明されていること。パワフルな抗酸化物質をふくんだ魔法のような飲み物であり、抗がん作用、関節炎防止、高コレステロールの防止、心臓病予防、感染予防、その他の沢山の効果があると言われています。

Interesting fact:  According to a survey I read, the number #1  beverage consumed in Japan is tea (cold and hot), then coffee, water, juice and LAST was soda.  Maybe that is why there’s no obesity problem here and the average life span is so long.   

興味深い事実：私の読んだ調査によれば、日本ではお茶が一番消費されており、ついでコーヒー、水、ジュース、最後にソーダ類となっているようです。たぶん、このことが日本人の平均寿命を押し上げているのだと思います。

 Here’s to your health…

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