Town is coloured in lovely pink!
I LOVE SAKURA!
Category: Japanese Culture
1st Anniversary
I managed to finish my work by 5 pm and it’s Friday.
I didn’t want to go back home yet so I asked my office mate for dinner.
At the office, I don’t want to stay back so I don’t talk much.
In addition, usually, my mind is occupied with tasks and projects.
I totally forgot it’s been one year since she joined.
At our office, we don’t have a custom to celebrate an event together among office colleagues; she must have felt lonely.
It was good that I asked her out tonight.
I celebrated her 1st Anniversary at our office at Doburo, Ginza.
It’s Izakaya (Japanese style pub), but has nice Japanese atmosphere.
Food and drinks are good and reasonable; I also enjoyed talking with her.
Crazy Action
On Monday, I had a full day back-to-back business meetings because all meetings became 2 hours meeting.
I even missed my lunch.
When we finished at 5 pm, we rushed to Tokyo Station to catch a Shinkansen (bullet train) to go to Kyoto.
I was invited to Ohana (private time with Geisha) to have fun with Geisha!
I had an important meeting next day at 9:30 am at Kawasaki, Kanazawa.
It’s a crazy plan but it was manageable if I take the first Shinkansen back to Tokyo…hopped on the next available Shinkansen for Kyoto.
Quickly checked in at Kyoto Century Hotel which is conveniently located next to Kyoto Station.
The room is modern, clean and cozy.
Then rushed to Ochaya-san (Geisha Tea House).
Others waited for us to arrive to start the evening.
We had nice tori-nabe (chicken pot) for dinner; chicken are so fresh that it requires a few tens of seconds of cooking in boiling soup.
Followed by dance.
We also played Ozashiki Asobi (games).
It was magically fun!!!
The next day, I managed to wake up 5 am to catch 6:17 am Shinkansen back to Tokyo to attend meetings.
After meetings, I attended a business dinner.
Since I had to arrange the dinner, I decided to organize it at my favorite Tempura restaurant Mikaku, Roppongi.
This restaurant is my favorite because tempura are so crispy; chef cooks in front of us!
I had nice Haze Hire Zake (grilled goby fish fin sake) to enjoy these tempura.
Grilled fish fin adds nice roasty smell and flavor to sake.
I had Ten-don (tempura rice bowl) for my rice.
We had nice home made strawberry sorbet to refresh our mouth.
Chef grows vegetables and even these strawberries.
The following morning, my friend left Tokyo for Hong Kong to continue her business trip.
Nothing was planned in advance, but these three days became memorable.
Yes, this time I took many crazy actions; but I think crazy actions add spice to our life. hahaha
Healthy Snacking: Roasted Soybeans
We have a custom to throw roasted soybeans on every 3 February (New Year Day by Old Calendar) to wish for good luck.
I enjoy eating them after the ceremony.
Then I thought these are soybeans that are full of protein and isoflavone.
I bought these for snacking and not for Japanese cultural ceremony.
Nostalgic Friday Night
I went to Takashimaya Main Store, Nihonbashi to meet up my friend.
Many cute Pikachu greeted me at the main entrance of Takashimaya.
We went to Kanda, Tokyo for dinner and drink.
It’s downtown area and there are many nostalgic restaurants and bars.
We went to Konamonoya, Kanda for casual dinner.
This restaurant serves mainly Kansai (Osaka) food.
Then went to very nostalgic bar: LUDENS, Kanda.
This bar is for enjoying Suntory whiskey.
I had a glass of Hakushu Highball (Suntory Hakushu whiskey with soda).
You might remember this bar because I am introducing this bar for second time.
Today, I remember the name of this bar! LUDENS!
My Potteries
Finally I received them!
I made these potteries at Yume Kobo, Tachikuigama (Tachikui Klin) on 24 December 2017.
These are wrapped in many layers.
(From left) green tea cup, beer glass, Japanese tea ceremony cup and rice bowl.
Be Lated Valentine Chocolates
During office hour I received a call from delivery man.
According to him, he managed to enter my apartment building so he asked my permission to leave boxes in front of my door.
I was expecting two kinds/dozens of mineral water for hot drink and purely drinking that I ordered through Amazon.
I told him it’s okay to leave there because these are water.
Then he continues, “what about chocolates?”
I was silent because I didn’t order any chocolates.
He quickly continues, “I will leave it in a mail box so please check it later.”
I thanked him and wondered.
Not many people knows my home address.
Furthermore, in Japan, women give chocolates to confess/express their feeling to men.
So it’s odd for me to receive chocolates.
I returned home and check the mail box.
Yes, there is a box of chocolate with a letter.
Chocolates are from an old couple that I had dinner with at Year-End with my mutual friends.
This is a box of Jacques Torres Chocolate New York.
A couple were saying they planned to visit their daughter who currently works in New York during the dinner.
It’s so sweet of them to bring a box of chocolates for me from New York!
These chocolates are sweet, delicate and sensitive and I love them every bites!
Thank you!
Hi, Mr. Snow Man!
I left my room earlier this morning, anticipating delay of train and icy road that might require small steps to walk carefully.
Surprisingly, there aren’t many people on the train; I expected a train to be packed with people rushing to the office.
My office is located at the edge of Ginza, busy commercial area; therefore, people are busy clearing sidewalks.
I could walk safely around 8:30 am, though I diverted to avoid any stairs.
By the time I reached office, I felt like I’ve accomplished a task already.
When I looked out my office window…I found him.
Somebody made a Snow Man!
He made me smile and warmed my heart.
At lunch time, I looked out looking for him…he’s gone.
When I left office, the sidewalks are cleared.
Well, I should plan to leave early tomorrow morning again to watch out for ice which might be created under the shade and night.
It’s like a survival game in Tokyo. hahaha
I returned to home early so that I had time to do my nail.
I use nail sticker to design French Nail.
Snow in Tokyo
According to the weather forecast, it forecasted starting snow around 3 pm today.
When I looked out around 3 pm, it was still raining.
I was budgeting for a project so I wanted to finish it before I go.
Everybody left at 5 pm sharp.
I looked out at 5:30 pm…then I lost a word…
I don’t mind snow, but it’s uncomfortable walking on the icy road with office attire.
It takes time to reach home.
We need to walk carefully (again, the road is slippery: icy snow on the asphalt) and public transportation delays.
I use subway, underground, for commuting so theoretically, I should not get affected by snow.
But, I was stacked in a subway on the way back because public transportation in Tokyo is vulnerable to snow.
There are many train operators in the Greater Tokyo Area.
To enhance the usage of line, suburb lines are connected to the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway.
Line is getting longer and longer.
At the end of my subway line, it connects to another line on the ground.
Subway operates behind schedule: it increases people waiting on the platform by taking space for passengers to get off from a train.
Train operators (not only one operator, but many) stop subways to control crowd on the platform.
All subways park at the nearest station till crowd get controlled, making subway to operate behind the schedule…
I plan to leave home early tomorrow morning, anticipating delay of subway and the icy road condition to walk carefully and slowly.
I’m thankful.
I’m at home and in the warm bed.
Oyasuminasai (Good Night)
Furniture Hunting with Mom
My parents plan to move to a new condo.
Mom is looking for new furniture and so as I.
We plan to go for furniture hunting today; that’s why Mom spent night at my place last night.
I excused myself to go to gym and quickly got ready to go out.
Of course, before we go for a good exercise, we went to get a nice brunch at my favorite Italian Restaurant: Il Ritrovo, Roppongi Hills.
This restaurant is famous for pizza.
The chef won the pizza contest in Italy.
Food is delicious; price is reasonable; staffs are nice.
I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for an Italian.
We took enough fuel, then went to IDC Otsuka (International Design Center Otsuka) Ariake Show Room, Ariake, Tokyo.
Otsuka Kagu Ltd. is the first furniture retailer implementing direct import of furniture from overseas.
Yes, this company had an issue with furniture industrial people by breaking the Japanese tradition of multi-layered distribution system in Japan.
This is my favorite furniture store because I can find about 50,000 items in 75,000 sqm.
I can compare many styles, concepts and brands at once.
Yes, it is a good exercise because I walk back and forth to compare furniture.
Yes, this shop ables to see the actual products.
Mom found a dining table and chair set and lace.
I’m considering a bed and light.
We plan to visit few more shops.
I love furniture hunting!
sonokotchi 