Category: Food

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food

Setsubun no Hi (3 February)

Posted on by sonokotchi

Based on Japanese old calendar, 3 February is the New Year Day.

We believe Japanese horoscope starts today.

Traditionally, we through dried soy beans against demons to push bad luck away and bring good luck to home.

When we through soya beans, we say, “oniwa soto. (demons (evils) out) Fukuwa uchi (happiness to home)”.

We also eat number of age of soya beans for good luck.


And this is a new trend, coming from West Japan.

We eat a thick long rolled sushi facing at the good direction of the year while we pray for a good year to come.

I wanted to eat a long one, but it was cut to be eaten easily because others, including sushi master, don’t believe in this new custom.

Hummm, what’s wrong to be happy?


At last, I have another thing to do today.
The other day, I posted about this good luck charm: Ichiyouraifuku (bads end and goods will come, like ending winter and welcoming spring).

At midnight of 3 February, I need to place this good luck charm at high place and facing good direction of the year to make my life Smooth! 


Yes, I feel peace and now I can go to bed.

SLEEPY zzzzz

Posted in Feelings, Food, Friends, Place

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Posted on by sonokotchi

I have Chinese Malaysian friends and this is the greeting for Happy Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

I noticed mainland Chinese greet differently; perhaps they use different dialects.

I had a dinner at Ichiraku Restaurant (一楽) which is located in Yokohama Chinatown (the largest Chinatown in Japan) to celebrate Chinese New Year tonight.

We enjoyed delicious Chinese food with shaoxing rice wine♪

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Wish you good health, joy, wealth and prosperous year!

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Food, Friends, Health

Lazy Sunday and Healthy Monday

Posted on by sonokotchi

Yesterday, I pochi (press) Amazon Prime Video.

I tried free one month trial to finish watching the Suits Season 4.

I wish Season 5 is available.

Japan is behind the schedule.

I also enjoyed Calbee’s premium potato chips that my friend gave me.

These are in small packets so Iguiltily ate   few.


I was lazy on Sunday; but, how about my Monday…?

I went to pool in the morning; then went to dentist for annual check up.

I’m glad to know that my teeth are fine.

But I have one tooth that I need to treat.

It was treated by different dentist before, but still require further treatment. Ahhh


I was lazy yesterday so I tried to be healthy today.

I had healthy snack: cooked banana and orange.

Canadian Extra Light Maple Syrup added nice flavor. 

 (It was a nice sunny day. I closed curtains to take a photo).


It is Canadian Day today because I had Canadian Smoked Salmon Sandwich for dinner.


Okay, time to do my nail and go to sleep Zzzzz

Posted in Beauty, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Friends, Health

Debut at Pool♪

Posted on by sonokotchi

I debut at pool today. Horay!

I went to gym pool this morning because my physical therapist recommended me to walk in the pool for twenty mins three times a week.

I’m sorry if I disappoint you; I went to pool to walk, not to swim. hahaha

It was fun to walk in pool and I felt gooooood because I could occupy (not fully occupied to myself) quiet moment at  the pool, shower booth and powder room.

This is my new bathing suits.

I have few bikinis for beach, but not for gym.

Unfortunately, my body requires a lots of tune-up before wearing bikini to gym pool.

Yes, one day, I want to wear a sexy outfit to gym. 


This morning was a very productive Saturday morning.

After returning from gym, I went to brunch with my old friend from Kyoto.

We had Egg Benedict and coconuts pancakes at Eggcellent, Roppongi Hills.

We had so much to catch up. fufufu

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Japanese Food

Japanese Curry

Posted on by sonokotchi

Tonight I made typical Japanese curry.

Ingredients are beef, onions, carrots and potatoes.

Japanese curry is thick or should I say “starchy”?

It’s easy to make with curry roux.

All spices such as curry powder are in curry roux.

It tastes better next day; let it sit.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Movie, Tokyo

Movie Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

I started my day with a movie, the Accountant.

For Japanese movie title, it’s “the Consultant.” Hummmm

Well, it is a nice action movie and I know there will be the Accountant 2!

I look forward for the next movie.


Then had a lunch at my favorite Tempura shop in the town, Mikaku.


I had a Chef’s Recommendation Tendon (Tempura on a rice bowl).


I enjoyed, but a scale doesn’t lie…ahhhhhhh

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Exercise, Feelings, Food, Health

Vacuum-Packed Smoothie

Posted on by sonokotchi

I made a green smoothie last night and vacuum-packed to save it for breakfast.

It was nice and time saving for morning.


In the afternoon, a Pakistan’s traditional sweet, Laddo, was delivered. 

According to an introduction sheet, this sweet is usually distributed during joyous occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, birth, etc.

It’s made of ground chickpeas, flour, pumpkin seeds, raisons, almond, sugar and deep fried in vegetable oil.

It was my first time to try it and it was nice.

I had one.


Yes, I saw oil; therefore, decided to have a green smoothie for dinner.

Well, tonight, I went to gym; tonight’s exercise will cancel it, right?

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Shopping, Tokyo

Anahachimangu (Anahachiman Shrine) @ Waseda, Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to Anahachimangu to get a good luck charms.


These are good luck charms for a smooth year: smooth relationships, smooth money transactions, etc.


I need to place a round good luck charm on a wall according to an instruction at midnight of 3 February 2017.

It has to face this year’s good luck direction: North- Northwest.

After a prayer and getting good luck charms, we went to lunch at Sanchoan.

Mom and I shared a “Yuzu soba ((facilitating) smoothness soba)” and Tonkatsu (pork rice bowl).

There is a rumor that this restaurant is a founder of tonkatsu.

I came for a good luck soba and their famous tonkatsu!


And I had Taiyaki for dessert.

This is a Japanese traditional desert in a shape of Tai (red snapper).

I bought one in traditional style and one in modern style, croissant taiyaki.

Both are delicious with a lots of sweet bean filling!


After lunch, we went to 100 yen shop Can Do (a dollar shop).

This is our routine because there isn’t any 100 yen shop in my area to shop consumable products cheap.

And the shop has many innovative products that I ended up buying MANY products.

A beauty part of 100 yen shop is I don’t feel guilty about it.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Music, Place, Tokyo

Classic Concert @ Suntory Hall, Akasaka 

Posted on by sonokotchi

I had dinner at Wolfgang Puck at Ark Hills, Akasaka before concert.

It’s Tokyo branch of American restaurant and serves nice pizzas!


The concert was held at Suntory Hall, Ark Hills, Akasaka.


My parents are members of Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Monthly Concert.

Dad couldn’t go today so I went with Mom. 

Music was dynamic and enjoy the concert.

<Today’s Programme>

Conductor: Mr. Kazuyoshi Akiyama

Piano: Ms. Yu Kosuge 

1. Les Offrandes oubliees by Olivier Messiaen

2. Piano Concerto by Akio Yashiro 

3. La Tragedie de Salome by Florence Schmitt

Posted in Beauty, Cooking, Feelings, Friends, Health, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, My Flower Arrangement

What’s Happened to a Steak?

Posted on by sonokotchi

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t that hungry.

I decided to have a smoothie instead of a steak.

Oh, I’m adding lemon to get more vitamins!

I think it’s a good idea to add lemon!


When I have time, I cook lunch, bring it to the office and eat it at my desk.


After arranging flower…


At the class, I had some almonds, snacks and this good luck sweets, Hachifukumochi, from Hikawa Shrine.


Since this year is predicted bad for me, I’m glad that I can have one.

Thank you my friend to share good luck with me!

I had some snacks at the class; therefore, I have no choice, but to have smoothie for dinner.


What’s happened to that steak?

I cooked it for tomorrow’s lunch. 


To be honest, I want to eat it now.

I’m hungry…