You gotta eat gyudon to know Japan.

Mission, gyudon researched 31 Jul 2013

 

Gyudon = a bowl of rice topped with cooked beef and vegetables.

 

 

 

Gyudon is now some of the most famous Japanese food. I guess you'd ever tried that fascinating food.

 

 

There are 2 ways you can do to eat it.

 

1, cook it on your own, cooking your own gyudon is quite easy.(I'll write a recipe on this blog one day.)

 

2, buy it or eat it at restaurants. ther are 4 specialized gyudon restaurant operators in Japan such as Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Matsuya and Nakau. Those 4 operators are very much competitive for prices, services and taste.

 

 

 

In fact, every single Japanese man(working class) has individual opinion on gyudon thus each man has different taste. I personally like Yoshinoya  because their cooked beef and vegetable mixture is softer and tastes a touch better. (if you know any Japanese boys, better ask him about it, before you try.)

 

 

Over all, gyudon has been symbolizing it self as an icon for toughness of the Japanese men.

Therefore, the Japanese women tend to stay away of that manly food.

Also, gyudon is quite cheep, the price is one of the reasons why gyudon is loved by working boys.

 

Regardless you are a man or a woman, you can enjoy the food. I suggest you to try it at your local Japanese restaurant or a specialized gyudon restaurant. or try cooking your own.

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion,

The most of specialized gyudon restaurants are not very much accessible for the disabled people.

The specialized gyudon restarants are equipped with the conveyor belt sushi restaurant style bars instead of tables. The priority toilets are rarely found. 

 

 

Yamaya has it all

Mission, Yamaya (researched 26 Jul 2013)

 

Have you heard of Yamaya?

 I guess some of you would know (patronage) 'em. I actually one of many people who shop at that crazy liquor store very often.

If you stay in Japan and look for a place to buy beers to enjoy the rest of the summer, try to find the nearest Yamaya.

In fact, I shop at Yamatokoriyama store while they have 305 stores across the nation.

Today, I'll tell you what's good about Yamaya,

1, they sell not only liquor but foods from all over the world. I actually worked as a chef in Australia and I see their wide variety of internatuonal foods are incredible.

2, the enthusiastic collection of any type of liquor. I personally love to drink Scotch and shochu (local spirits from the south of Kyusyu.

 

 

Thanks to Yamaya, my drinking life gets in to another level.

3, the international selection of foods. You might find foods from your home. The Italian foods and retort-packed foods (curry, stew) are well selcted. Also, the Japanese finger food is beautifully lined up.

 

 

4, the Yamatokoriyama store is totally accessible, has car park right in front and a toilet for disabled people as well as the ATM.

 

 

 

Conclusion, I and my wife used live in Hikone, Shiga, had no Yamaya.( got bombed)

Ridiculously, the people in Hikone had no idea of Yamaya.

Also, You can shop reasonably at Yamaya, be aware of buy too much, be awarw of drinking too much afterwards,

 

 

 

 

 

What is martial art?

Mission, the martial art classes in Nara city (researched 23 Jul 2013)

 

 Martial arts are the premier experiences which you can try while you are in the nation.

 The most of martial arts are practiced any where in this country.

 Today, I and my wife went to the Nara city martial art hall at Konoike sport park in Nara city to research what's going on.

 

 

 You can try several types of martial arts at Konoike.

 

1, kendo (Japanese fencing)

 

2, naginata (pole sword fighting)

 

3, yari (lance fighting) targeting men above high school student

 

4, judo

 

5, kyudo (Japanese archery)

 

Also, you can try Zen, sado (tea ceremony) and kado (flower arrangement).

Personally, I'm interested in "yari" because their fighting style (Hozoinryu 宝蔵院) is originally from The Kofukuji Temple, Nara.  Nara is the place to learn this special lance fighting tequnics.

 

                                       

                                                             A printed lance

 Hozoin-ryu has English web site on http://www4.kcn.ne.jp/~hozoin/E-index.html

 Over all, each class requires tuition fees and limitations. Ask them for farther info.

 If you are interested in any martial art (any style), you may ask me to gather information. Please leave me a comment.

 I have actually done aikido for two years, have had great experience. I advice you to join the local martial art communities.

Nara city martial art hall has web site on http://www.narasibudousinkoukai.ecnet.jp/tyuuoubudouzyou.html (Japanese)

 

How to get there

Bus goes there from Kintetsu Nara station and JR Nara station, takes 10 min. You can also go there by car, might have trouble to find places to park on the week ends

Conclusion, I found my self still love martial arts and dojyo(martial art gym) because these things still have the essence of our culture.

 

If any of you visit dojyo,you would be surprised to see it how different to the stuff on the street. There would be some thing that you can feel on the wooden floor at dojyo. I'm very much sure you would find some thing that pays off your life time. 

 

A quater pounder with cheese

Mission, a quarter pounder with cheese (researched 21 Jul 2013)

 

 

 

The answer is Quarter pounder cheese.

 

 

In fact, we got the metllic system over here, we'd never know what a quarter pounder is.

 

But, I reckon it doesn't matter a quarter pounder hits the spot, any way.

 

                               It's printed "quater pounder with cheese" for the looks.

Dad, I'm in trouble!!

I found places where support you if you live in Nara, Japan
(researched 17 Jul 2013)

 

The offices are located near JR Nara station

 

 

 

The support center for foreign residents

Address; 2nd floor silkia Nara (8-1 Sanjo Honmachi, Nara city)

3 minute walk westward from JR Nara station (below Hotel Nikko)

Telephone 0742-81-3320

Facsimile 0742-81-3321

E-mail gaikokujinsoudan@office.pref.nara.lg.jp

Open 9 00am -5 00pm

 

Free Consultation is available

Telephone 0742-81-3420

Facsimile 0742-81-3321

E-mail gaikokujinsoudan@office.pref.nara.lg.jp

Open 9am-5pm

Languages: Japanese Monday to Friday

                  English Monday

                  Chinese Tuesday and Thursday

                  Portuguese Wednesday and Friday

Special dispatch for interpretation written request  

 

 

 

 

The international students exchange office

Address; 2nd floor silkia Nara (8-1 Sanjo Honmachi, Nara city)

3 minute walk westward from JR Nara station (below Hotel Nikko)

Telephone 0742-81-3430

Facsimile 0742-81-3321

Open Wednesday to Sunday. 1pm to 9pm.

excluding holidays and New Year Period.

 

Free Consultation is available during office hours.

Telephone 0742-81-3420

E-mail gaikokujinsoudan@office.pref.nara.lg.jp

Hours 9am-5pm

Languages; Japanese-Monday to Friday;

English-Monday;

 

 

 

 

In fact, I'm not sure how much they are helpful, while they advice you on your usual issues. For example, how you communicate with your neighbors, how you take rubbish out to be collected. They offer you travel information (domestic, international), language classes can be organized

 

Two of us just researched the offices for a few hours, met a nice Chinese receptionist at the international student office, had good conversation. They looked very much helpful.

 

Also, they look for the Japanese people who can help their activities.

 

Conclusion.

The offices are closely located with JR Nara station (they are in the shopping centre called "Silkia". The under ground car park is available.

 

 

 

We actually went there on our own by car, and I hung around there in my wheel char with my wife behind(has bad legs), had no problem at all. The area is totally accessible and friendly for wheel chair users.

 

  

Goya champion

Mission, Goya champru (researched 13 Jul 2013)

As I told you before, Japan`s food culture is very much related to the seasons.

Today, I'll tell you "goya champru" that is one of the best dishes in the summer.

 Fortunately, my wife is a good cook, she told me how it's cooked at her kitchen.

INGREDIENTS,

1, goya (bitter melon), a word of "goya" is actually a dialect of Okinawa. "nigauri" is the word for it in standard Japanese.

This is how you prepare a goya. 1, get your self a spoon.

                                               2, scrape the seeds off the Goya.

2, tofu (bean curd)

3, garlic (We use marinated garlic) 

4, onion

5, carrot (finely chopped)

6, wonbok (Chinese cabbage)

7, pork

8, egg



9,bonito flakes

(We don't care about amount of each ingredient, we usually go generously.)

Seasonings

                      The green container sits in the mdle is infamous marinated garlic.
                      The stuff seriously kicks your ass.

1, pepper

2, fish sauce

3, kelp stock and bonito stock (convenience product)

(Use your common sense to season.)

COCKING

1, chopping the vegetables as you like.

2, stair fly chopped vegetable (since my wife doesn't like uncooked vegetable, she goes with vege first.)

                        She adds lots of garlic to make it filthy. You should do like wise.

3,  chopping pork to stair fly it till brown.

4, season with pepper

5, season with those two stocks

6, season with fish sauce

7, crush tofu and add to the pan

8, add egg to finish

All the cocking process is done with a pan or a wok. You are better to have a stove with turbo, you just gotta be rock'n roll at your kitchen to cock it.

TO SERVE.

1, get yourself a nice and big plate

2, top goya champru with bonito flakes

3, done

DRINKS.

Icy cold beer and a glass of shochyu liqour with ice (local liquor, distilled out of soba, wheat or sweet potato ) are the best to go with.

CONCLUSION.

Goya champru is a local dish of Okinawa. Their hot climate well suits punchy goya champru.

Farther more, the dish is highly nutritious, as well as cheep to cook.

A day in the summer

As my facebook says it`s hot as crazy now in Nara, Japan. (10 Jul 2013)

It` above 35 Celsius.

By the way, the highest temperature I've ever been is 43 Celsius was in  Coober Pedy, South Australia. I don`t know any of you have ever been there, but that place is in pretty Sevier nature. I think, when it`s over 41, I slightly start facing death.

Any way, it`s not that  bad here yet. But if you are planning to visit this country in the summer, you are nuts.

The Nunome dam

Cycling is pretty big in Japan these days.

 

I actually have a couple of friends who ride sport bicycles

 

I and my wife went to the Nunome dam(the mecca of sport bicycles in Nara city) to see what's happening to the sport.

 

 

 

The surroundings of Nunome dam is quite hilly, some steep hill goes 5 kilometers. You gatta  be rock solid to climb.

 

 

                                              It was a long hot summer day.

 

                                            A toilet for disabled people is located.

 

 Conclusion.

The place is not for the tourists, as well as not accessible by wheel chair.

 Also, they have web site.

http://damnet.or.jp/cgi-bin/binranA/All.cgi?db4=1580
 

What makes Kasai supermakets friendly.

MISSION KANSAI SUPERMARKET NARA STORE. Researched 2 Jun 2013

 

 Today, I`ll let you know why the Kansai supermarket Nara store is cool,

 

 

I found a few reasons why the store is useful for everyone.

 

1, the toilets( toilets for disabled people) are located near an entrance.

You need one, doesn`t matter how you are.

 

2, the passages are wide and have no obstacles which annoy you.

This is one of the most important factors for the supermarkets, nice and smooth passages make you more egger to buy. You have no problems to go around in your wheel chair.

 

3, the items are presented at low level. This factor allows you to find many more stuff. In addition, you will feel their hospitality for wheel chair users.

 

4,the priority car parking space is available in front of the entrances. You need it, when you shop heaps.

 

Over all, fortunately the store is newly built, thus it`s so useful. On the other hand, old ones are still quite useless.

 

In fact , you can still find damn ones across the nation.

 

Conclusion, it takes a few more years to make every supermarket is that much accessible.        

A quick introduction of Nara

Let me tell you about my home Nara. (researched 06, Jul 2013)

 

Nowadays, a word of Nara has two meanings.

 

1, Nara prefecture, the one of 47 prefectures. There are 47 prefectures in Japan.

 

2, Nara city, the capital city of Nara prefecture. The Nara park, Todaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple and the site of Heijyokyo Palace are in Nara city.

        c

Today, Nara prefecture can be divided in to two areas.

 

1, the North area (mainly Nara city), Nara park, Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, the site of Heijyokyo Palece and lots more are in the North area. The Heijyokyo Palace was the capital of Japan in the Nara era (710~784)

 

2, the South area, it is relatively larger than the North area, and it`s more unpopulated as well as mountainous. The Kumano ko do, (World heritage site), Asuka village (the ancient capital of Japan the end of AD6~the beginning of AD7) and many more are in the South area.

 

You can discover many historical finds across Nara prefecture

 

In fact, the modern Nara is far from the edge, doesn't have big presences as long before,

while it is still attractive for the tourists.

 

Farther more, the modern Nara may be ordinal but you can see standard life of Japan. 

Mission the National Diet Library Kansai-kan

MISSON. The National Diet Library. Researched 02 Jul, 2013

 

 

We went to The Nationsl diet library the other day, found that the place is great.

 

Today, I'll let you know about the library through this blog.

 

 

 

Before you go, I have to tell you a list of things.

1, they don't allow those who are uder 18 to enter.

2, they are closed on Sundays, public holidays, the third Wednesdays of the months, the end and the beginning of the year

3, they require you to be registered to enter (use) the library.(the receptionists deal with English language.) 

4, you are not allowed to take photos in the premises ( the photos which on this blog are violations)

5, you are not allowed to bring t heir materials out of the library.

6, you are occasionally asked to deposit your stuff at the reception.

7, you are allowed to use your own PCs at the library (ask them at the reception for details)

8, you are allowed to use their PCs to access their electric data

9, the photo copying service is available.

10, there is a café on the 4th floor.

11, a guided tour is available to see what's there. ( it's free to join, takes you where normally
people can't enter, deals with English.) 

 

       

 

I found two things which are phenomenal.

1, the enormous collection of the books and materials. (I found the North Korean news paper.) In addition, the system to handle those matters is as great. ( We saw  gigantic machines which are as solid as the ones in the Hollywood movies.)

 

 

2, the breath taking architecture, the building is designed by Fumio Toki, cost them 42billion yen. ( you will see the geometric appearance that made of steel and glass. The in door space is awesome. The double height entrance is spectacular.

The architecture is ultimately well made in detail and it is kept fine conditions.

 

 

Over all.

The elevators and the toilets for disabled people are fully located. Hire wheel chairs are available at the reception. Priority car parking is located. In short, the library is totally accessible , is helpful for the blind people as well as the deaf people.

 

 

 

How to get there.

Car.

The library has huge car park, accommodates 350. The closest exit of Keinawa motor way is Seika Gakken (精華学研). Heading west on Seika odori (精華大通）from the exit.

 

 

Train and bus.

Bus (line36) goes to there from JR Housono station (祝園駅). Getting off at Kokuritsu Kokkai toshyokan (国立国会図書館).

Bus (line 41,47) goes to there from Kintetsu Gakken Nara Tomigaoka station.(学研奈良登美ヶ丘駅）Getting off at Hikaridai 1 chome (光台一丁目）

 

 

Conclusion.

Honestly, I would never be able to explain what I experienced at the architecture. All I want is you to go there to experience it. (Jimi Hendrix asked "are you experienced?")

 

 

Also, they have web site on   http://www.ndl.go.jp/jp/service/kansai/index.html