Category: Art

Posted in Art, Feelings, Food, Friends, Work

Special Home Cooked Malaysian Lunch

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was invited for home cooked Malaysian lunch!

It’s all done by one individual and he is not a professional chef; he is a corporate officer!

It’s nicely presented and it’s not only the look; I admit it’s delicious and even better than restaurants!

He will soon finish his term in Japan and to return to his headquarter.

We supposed to organize the Good Luck gathering for him but he invited us for his home cooked lunch instead.

It was nice working with you on projects and hope to see you soon for good laughs.

Matane! (See you soon!)

Posted in Art, Choco-chan, Family, Feelings, Food, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture

Oshogatsu (New Year)

Posted on by sonokotchi

On 3rd January, I visited my uncle.

We had afternoon tea and Domino Pizza for dinner.

He is a mint collector and showed me his new collection: Previous Emperor’s 30th Anniversary Memorial Coin.

And New Emperor’s Coronation Memorial Coin.

He promised to give me a coin when I visit him.

This time, he gave me Tokyo Olympics Badminton coin.

On 4th and 5th January, I was like this…my brother transferred his flue and I feel sickly tired.

My Oshogatsu holiday is ending. Boo hoo.

I’ll go back to office tomorrow for the first working day in 2020.

Let’s enjoy 2020!

Posted in Art, Cooking, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Mt. Fuji, Shrine and Temple, Tokyo, Work

Akemashiteomedetogozaimasu (A Happy New Year)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I worked till 31 December 2019 on New Year’s Eve.

It was so quiet in Ginza.

I could be only one working in my office building.

Even Japanese government office close from 28 December – 3 January to celebrate New Year.

My boss called and allowed me to leave earlier; I left happily at 2:45 pm.

I was feeling sentimental looking at last sunset of 2019.

I went to pick up my niece.

The road was clear so there was no traffic.

I wanted to surprise her so I decorated her room with balloons while she was taking a bath.

I succeeded it!

She was so excited!

I also took a bath to welcome new year freshly.

We ate soba (buckwheat noodle) for tradition, wishing for a long life like soba.

It turned midnight…we greeted Akemashite omedetogozaimasu and A Happy New Year then popped a party cracker!

We all got excited for a while and went to bed at 1:30 am.

I woke up lazily on Gantan (New Year Day).

Most of shops and restaurants closed today.

We ate Osechi (New Year Dishes) for brunch.

Each dish has a meaning.

For example, Kurikintoki which is made by sweet potato and its colour in gold means wishing to have gold (richness), etc, etc.

And Ozoni (chicken, vegetables and mochi/rice cake in soup)

After brunch, we paid a visit to our family shrine, Tenso Jinja (Tenso Shrine) for New Year prayer.

I wrote my wish on Ema (Wish Designed Board) and I used this picture for my New Year Greeting eCard.

We had a break after returned from the shrine.

Niece and I made Monaka.

We fill Anko (sweet bean paste) on monakanokawa (monaka shell/wafer).

We can adjust the amount of anko.

There are ume (plum) and fukuro (owl) shapes.

Based on astronomy, I believe nothing much of difference from yesterday’s; however, it is the first sunset on New Year’s Day.

I look forward for more adventures in 2020!

Akemashiteomedetogozaimasu!

Posted in Art, Beauty, Feelings, Food, Friends, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Toraya @ Tokyo Midtown Roppongi

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Toraya to look for Japanese traditional confectionery to host my Singaporean friends for lunch on Sunday.

The shop sells their confectioneries at one counter and exhibits history of their confectionery based on theme.

This time, tray.

I like this flower tray among them.

Yes, we image to use Japanese designed tray for Japanese food.

However, the exhibition is introducing these trays can be used for Western food as well.

I bought dessert for lunch from there and it came with seasonal limited edition of Origami (folding paper) edition paper bag.

So cute!

I bought these.

Next year is year of Rat.

Rat designed Yokan (sweet bean jelly) and Monaka (sweet bean puff).

I like them and hope they did, too.

Posted in Art, Family, Feelings, Food, Japan Technology, Place, Restaurants, Tokyo

Santa Hunting

Posted on by sonokotchi

First, we visited the exhibition organized by Fuji Film at Tokyo Midtown Roppongi: Merry Many Santa Clauses.

There are Merry Many Santas!

Even enjoying summer by wearing swimming suits. hahaha

Then we found Fuji Film currently conducts a stamp rally for Fuji Film’s Instax magnets.

My niece loves to participate in stamp rally therefore we went to look for another stamp stand.

While we searching for a stamp, we reached to Infinity Santa booth.

There are many Santas in a booth for us to take pictures with them.

I’m taking this photo from the side but if we stand at the center of the booth to take photos, we would be nicely surrounded by Santas.

There is a trick; inside of booth is covered by mirrors to create Infinity Santa!

Finally, we found a stamp stand,

We successfully collected one.

We had our Christmas cake together.

It’s not necessary to place candles for Christmas cake but there are some candles from past birthday cakes so I just placed them.

It looks more merry, right?

Merry Christmas!