Category: Books & Magazines

Posted in Books & Magazines, Cooking, Family, Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Culture, Tokyo, Travel

Supposed to be Tokyo Olympics’ Opening Ceremony Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s Japanese National Holiday, Health and Sports Day, today which I believe it was created for Tokyo Olympics.

It supposed to be Tokyo Olympics 2020 Opening Ceremony Day today.

It was National Holiday, Ocean Day, yesterday making this weekend long (4 days) .

I thought the town would be crowded with visitors and I would be glued on TV.

Japanese government launched Go to Travel Programme on 22 July 2020 to stimulate tourist industry by excluding Tokyo residences.

The government subsidies traveling cost for transportation, accommodation and coupons to use in the visited area.

However, the policy is changing even after launching.

On the other hand, the number of new case is shooting, recording 366 in Tokyo yesterday.

And the number increased not only in Tokyo but also other areas such as Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and many more.

All governors are worried after this long weekend coz many people are traveling with Go To Travel Programme

I’m enjoying long weekend with my niece and we don’t mind to stay in because we haven’t seen since New Year due to the COVID and we have so many things to do!

We’ve been playing games by creating and changing game rules.

I want her to eat healthy so I try to cook as many as I can and she volunteered to help me making dumpling!

We are having so much fun staying in!

I’m not qualified for Go To Travel Programme and it’s better to avoid crowd.

We decided to stay in but we are having so much fun!

I’ve never thought we would spend Olympics Opening Ceremony Day like this.

I like how I’m spending today though it’s different from what I imagine last year – being with family.

Stay Safe!

Posted in Beauty, Books & Magazines, Feelings, Food, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

25 January is Japanese Beauty Day

Posted on by sonokotchi

It is birthday of Ms. May Ushiyama, the founder of my beauty salon – Hollywood Beauty Salon.

She greatly contributed development of Japanese beauty industry; therefore, in 2013, her birthday, 25 January, is registered as Japanese beauty day.

I went to spa today and received one stem of rose.

The company organized the event on the 7th Floor so that I paid a visit.

I was welcomed with a plate of high tea and received a goody bag with spa’s tabloids, memo pad and May Ushiyama’s book titled Road to Happiness.

Her beauticians still respects her and highly talk about her.

According to the introduction, she describes her philosophy to become happy.

She was dynamic so I should be able to learn something from her/this book.

(May Ushiyama

25 January 1911 – 13 December 2007)

Posted in Beauty, Books & Magazines, Cooking, Feelings, Health, Japan Technology, Japanese Food, Shopping

Nagaiki Miso (Super Miso)

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was down for flu for over two weeks.

I had no motivation to do anything including cooking proper food.

Today I would like to introduce Nagaiki Miso – direct translation Miso for Long Life but it is actually Super Miso for health.

This formula is innovated by Dr Hiroyuki Kobayashi.

It’s all explained in his book including functions of each ingredients and recipes.

I need to prepare one onion, red and white Miso (80 g each) and apple vinegar (1 large spoon or 15 cc).

First, grind onion.

Add white and red miso and apple vinegar.

Mix them.

And freeze it in cube using ice cube maker with a cover.

Mom found this at 100 yen shop Daiso.

I use one cube to cook super miso soup (150 cc) with ingredients that I want to cook with at the time such as Negi (leek), Tofu, ninjin (Carrots), buta (Pork) or/and many more combination.

I shall continue drinking Super Miso Soup to keep myself healthy!

Posted in Beauty, Books & Magazines, Feelings, Food, Friends, Hotel, Japanese Food, Movie, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo, Travel

Weekend Trip to Malaysia (Day 4)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Time flies…I’m going back to Tokyo today….

I’ll miss the Club Lounge and Malaysian Food.

I was looking at the hotel restaurants’ promotion flyer at the room and it gave me a craving of Char Kway Teow.

I’m glad that the hotel served Char Kway Teow for breakfast today! Yeah!

I enhanced my Nasi Lamak with sunny side up egg and chicken curry. fufufu

I was introduced to Malaysian delicacy today: Malaysian Soft Boiled Egg with Kaya Butter Toast.

Kaya is coconut spread.

We add soya sauce and pepper to soft boiled egg and dip Kaya toast.

It’s nice to have it with egg york! Yammy!

I didn’t have much time after breakfast.

It’s time to head for the airport. Oh No!

Sayonara Traders Hotel…. it’s a nice hotel to stay in.

It has a nice view of Twin Tower, nice Bar, spa and service!

I’ll be back one day; perhaps, When I decide to have another Honeymoon Vacation with my BFF!

I reached to the airport…. quickly checked in and we had our drinks at the Old Town White Coffee.

Drinks are nice but I didn’t want to finish my drink.

I went in 15 mins before my boarding time because I wasn’t ready to go.

I wasn’t ready but I had to force myself.

I walked through till my seat.

That’s how the time was tight. hahaha

My seat is consider as an Aisle Seat because my desk is inside, next to the window and my seat is at the Aisle side though that is only seat.

Sayonara Kuala Lumpur; Sayonara Malaysia.

I read ELLE Japan and continued watching the movie where I left it on the way to Kuala Lumpur: the Avengers Endgame.

I’m not an Avengers fan, but enjoyed the movie.

Perhaps. I should try other Avengers series.

I had a nice Japanese lunch by Zipangu, Shangri La Hotel.

I start watching Japanese movie – Kingdom – but I could not finish it.

It is interesting movie so I should find a way to watch the rest.

I should check NETFLIX, Amazon Prime Video and JCOM On-Demand (cable TV) for the availability of the movie.

In between, I also enjoyed in-flight shopping.

This is ANA limited edition of a collection of Hakuhodo Cosmetics Brush in Sakura design.

These brushes are brushes that I use and a carrying case is convenient for travel and even daily use.

I ended my weekend trip to Malaysia by safely landed at the Haneda Airport.

The trip was short, but quality was very high!

It was definitely worth going!

Posted in Books & Magazines, Choco-chan, Feelings, Flower, Friends, Japanese Culture

令和 (Reiwa)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Crown Prince’s ascension to Emperor is scheduled on 1 May 2019; accordingly, we will start using new Japanese Imperial era.

The new Japanese Imperial era was decided and announced by Japanese government today, on first day of Japanese new fiscal year, to avoid any troubles for computerized data.

Our new 248th Japanese Imperial era is 令和 (Reiwa).

This word was originated from the Japanese oldest poem, Manyoshu.

令 (Rei) means fresh start and 和 (wa) means peace.

My friend from Malaysia texted to inform me its meaning: achieving peace – smart translation.

We supposed to feel fresh to start the first day of fiscal year like today’s weather.

However, Choco is tired and he needs to take medicines. OMG

Pity him, our guests disturbed him greatly.

Get well soon, Choco.

Posted in Books & Magazines, Daily Life, Feelings, Food, Health, Japan Technology, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Wadaya No Gohan (Wada’s Food) Making Body and Soul to Win Cancer!

Posted on by sonokotchi

Dr. Wada is teaching us how to prevent making and growing cancer.

Our daily life and eating habit creates cancer; on the other hand, we can also prevent making or growing greatly if we change our eating habit.

Cancer needs sugar/glucose to become cancer.

I should not overtake sugar and carbohydrate such as white rice, breads, pasta, etc.

Salts will give energy to cancer.

I should take less salts to reduce activities of cancer.

I should cut daily products such as milk, cheeses, yogurt, butter, etc. because it will grow cancer.

I should take good quality oil, omega 3 oil such as linseed oil, perilla oil, etc. and omega 9 such as olive oil.

To reduce salt, Dr. Wada advises to use dashi (umami: soup stock of konbu (seaweed) and katsuobushi (fish flakes) for cooking.

I will take his advice to change my eating habit to make my body and soul to prevent cancer.

I know it’s not easy because I love to eat and these delicious food is the one I should stop eating. Ahhhhhh

Posted in Books & Magazines, Daily Life, Diving, Feelings, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Sunday Before a Storm

Posted on by sonokotchi

First, I went to send my laundry to Laundry Shop Pony.

Then, stopped by Don Quijote (we call it Donki for short) to buy household goods such as detergents, pocket tissue, etc. and boosters: (emergency) Mon Cafe drip coffee, Clorets (gums) and Manan Life Konnyaku (konjak) Grape and Peach Jelly.


I also stopped by at Book 1st, newly opened book store at Roppongi.

It’s very comfortable staying there so I read Scuba Diving Guide and Self Enlightmenr Book: Tado-Ryoku (Multi Task Power).

My short stay at a book store refresh me♪

Posted in Books & Magazines, Diving, Feelings, Nature, Shopping, Tokyo

Is Diving Addicted…?

Posted on by sonokotchi


I hope I’m not boring you…
Today, I received a turtle shaped dive stick and a book: Fish Watching 500.

When I started diving, I never thought I would want to learn name of fish and marine creatures that I see under the water.

hahaha

By the way, I usually buy diving goods at Aqros Shibuya Store.

Staffs are kind and always give good recommendations.

I also seek an advice on diving spots.

Posted in Books & Magazines, Diving, Feelings, Nature, Shopping

Book: Sea Creatures Watching 500

Posted on by sonokotchi

I ordered two books in Amazon: Fish Watching 500 and Sea Creatures Watching 500.

I received Sea Creatures Watching 500 today because Fish Watching 500 is currently out of stock.


Now I’m interested to learn names of fish and sea creatures so that I can introduce what I see under the water.


For example, I’ve seen these sea slugs such as yellow one and blue with polka dots (I should have seen it in Malaysia because the book says it can be found in Malaysia).

I never thought I would enjoy watching these encyclopedias….