Month: June 2016

Posted in Feelings, Health, Japanese Food

TKG (Tamago Kake Gohan)

Posted on by sonokotchi

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Taking a breakfast is important to start a day; however, I’m usually busy getting ready for work.

So this is my regular breakfast: TKG (tamago kake gohan).

This is a simple dish, a raw egg over rice.　(I eat with brown rice.)

The preparation is simple, but there are many fans.

There are branded eggs and specialized eggs for TKG.

There is a specialized soya sauces for TKG as well.

These days I use Konbu soya sauce (seaweed soya sauce).

It’s very nice,

It’s not salty; it has nice umami flavor (5th taste).

These days I like to add Suguki (one of three major Kyoto pickles) as topping.

It is delicious♪

Posted in Cooking, Experience, Feelings

Housekeeping Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

After work, I arrive home hungry.

I usually cook for dinner and lunch for my lunch box.

To ease my evenings, I decided to spend few hours to cook.

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(Dashi (stock for miso soup and basic Japanese food), pumpkin in dashi flavour, miso soup, red snapper in soy sauce flavour, boiled spinach, bean sprout and egg in oyster sauce flavor and mashed pumpkin.)

And another thing…..recently, I found out that I could keep my clothes cleaner if I hand wash by myself.

I’m a lazy person, I often send my clothes to laundry service.

But the other day, I doubted its work when I received returned clothes.

I tried hand washing my jacket with Emal, detergent for clothes for dry-cleaning. (To my surprise, Emal is Kao’s product, too.)

I thought I am going to destroy my clothes, but….

I could not believe what I saw then, BROWN COLOURED WATER……?????

Tonight I washed my office pants…..I am not proud how it looks, but I thought I can share my surprise and this is the proof. Sigh…

Okay, I admit I hate ironing, but now I’m considering to buy a good steam iron.

The jacket look the same after ironing as if these were returned from the laundry shop.

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Posted in Cooking, Family, Feelings, Food

Happy Father’s Day Eve

Posted on by sonokotchi

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Today, I invited my parents for Father’s Day Eve dinner.

As you know, I visited Miyazaki to attend a meeting and I bought a Miyazaki Mango.

This mango costed me JPY 2,500 (USD 25) a piece.

In Tokyo, price is usually higher; this mango could cost more, USD 30? USD 40?

If this was the Egg of Sun brand, it could cost USD 50 in Miyazaki and USD 80 – 100 in Tokyo.

I asked why this brand is so expensive.

The type of mango is the same, apple mango family, that we can find in Thailand, the Philippines, and other ASEAN countries.

The Egg of Sun mango grew in a glass house without any agrochemical.

A farmer carefully checks each piece of mango, not by a tree a piece, twice in a day: morning and evening.

The Egg of Sun brand is a winner of the beauty contest, it has a beautiful shape (no dents, no scratch, and no color changes), large (size 5L: more than 350g) and sweet (sugar contents have to be higher than 15).

I bought a ripe mango which is smaller (size 4L).

I don’t think I would spend so much money on a mango in future.

That’s why I asked my parents for dinner to celebrate Father’s Day Eve tonight.

Mango cannot wait. hahaha

Posted in Feelings

Importance of Words

Posted on by sonokotchi

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I’m glad I started blogging.

It turned my ordinary daily life to an interesting one.

I pay more attention to what I see, hear and do.

I’m active to look for a news or experience.

Most importantly, it made me realize importance of words, how important to deliver the right message to a reader.

Posted in Feelings, Health, Japanese Food

Today’s Breakfast: Amazake

Posted on by sonokotchi

I woke up feeling my stomach still full from my Miyazaki trip, so I decided to take Amazake for breakfast.

Amazake is a Japanese traditional non-alcohol beverage made from fermented rice.

The production of Amazake is very similar to Sake because it also requires to use koji and the koji mold.

Amazake is believed to be very nutritious.

It contains Vitamin B1, B2, B6, Folic Acid, Dietary fiber,Oligosaccharide, Cysteine, Arginine and Glutamine.

It’s definitely good to start your day with!

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Posted in Experience, Feelings, Japanese Food, Place, Travel

Post Event Tour in Miyazaki

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had a very interesting day.

First, we visited the Next-Generation Greenhouse (horticultural facility).

There are 7 greenhouse buildings in the area of 50a.

This facility targets high yields and high quality production by adopting the ICT advanced production control system: Ubiquitous Environment Control System (UECS).

It’s not only high-tech, but also eco-friendly facility by using a wood pellet heater to control the room temperature.

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Then, we visited Kirishima Shochu Factory.

Shochu is a Japanese distilled liquor, less than 45% alcohol.

Shochu originated in Kyushu and this Kirishima Brand is the most popular Shochu in Japan and actively exporting to overseas.

The company produces 288,000 litters of Shochu per day.  Wow

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Shochu is typically distilled from rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, or brown sugar.

We can enjoy it in many styles: straight, on the rocks, with cold water, with hot water, with hot water and umeboshi (sour plum) and cocktails.

Typically Shochu is about 25%, but WOW, I tried the raw spirit which is 36%!!

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Yes, I enjoyed staying in Miyazaki.

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But it’s time to say Sayonara (Good-Bye).

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I returned to Tokyo; however, I will continue enjoying Miyazaki food in Tokyo.

I bought many Miyazaki souvenirs. hehehe

Top: Maximum (multi-purpose seasoning), Ganjisu Pork Curry, Ganjisu Beed Curry

Bottom: Yamamomo (bayberry), Mango, Green Tea

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Posted in Experience, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture

Mango & Yuru-Chara

Posted on by sonokotchi

It was a long day because I attended a meeting from 9 am – 5 pm.

I thought I won’t have anything to share today, BUT I was lucky.

At the reception, I ate few pieces of Miyazaki Mango, Taiyo no Tamago (Egg of Sun), which costs JPY 5,000 (USD 50) per a piece.

Mmmmmm so sweet, so delicious!!!

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I enjoyed watching a dance performance of Miyazaki Yuru-Chara, Miyazaki-ken (Miyazaki Dog).

Yuru-Chara serves as Local Ambassador to promote region such as local food, sightseeing places, industries, etc.

Yuru-Chara are Kawaii (Cute)!

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Posted in Experience, Feelings, Health, Japanese Culture, Place, Tokyo, Travel

Fiction…? No, Non-Fiction!

Posted on by sonokotchi

I couldn’t believe what’s happening at the Haneda Airport.

First, we were greeted by Pepper, a robot.

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Then, we checked-in our luggage, but we need to do all ourselves by following instructions on the monitor!

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I cannot believe this is not a movie, and happening in reality.

I could’t find a counter with a lady!

Or is it common in abroad???

I thought I am a modern person, but I guess I am not modern enough, outdated….

I departed rainy Haneda Airport in shock.

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I arrived Miyazaki and checked-in to a nice room with nice view at Miyazaki Kanko Hotel.

I’ll absolutely enjoy spending most of my time in this room.

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Yukata (Japanese styled pajama) is usually provided by hotels and inns in Japan.

We are allowed to walk public areas such as public hot spring bath in Yukata.

Fortunately, this hotel is equipped with a natural hot spring bath.

I enjoyed looking at the half-moon while dipping in an open-air bath♪

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Posted in Beauty, Daily Life, Feelings, Health, Travel

Packing, packing, packing

Posted on by sonokotchi

I will accompany my boss to attend a meeting in Miyazaki tomorrow.

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It would be my first trip to Miyazaki and I look forward to it, especially the excursion session♪

Now I’m packing for two nights and three days trip.

I have complex skin: sensitive, oily and hives.

I need to bring these Curel make-up cleansing gel and forming wash.

Curel series are for sensitive skin and it has proven with my skin. (^_^)

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I usually bring Babu carbonated bath tablet, too.

You put this tablet when you are about to enter a bathtub.

The carbonated bubble will wrap your body to relax.

This carbonated bath tablet is innovated by Japanese company, Kao Corporation, so I could say this is Japanese way of taking a bath!

I just notice, Curel is also produced by Kao Corporation.

I didn’t know that I’m a Kao girl. hahaha

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