Category: Shopping

Posted in Choco-chan, Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Very Japanese Sunday

Posted on by sonokotchi

I looked for a restaurant that I can take Choco with me.

We went to Monjayaki Kotobukiya, Tsukishima, Tokyo.

I had Ramune (Soda) for drink.

We started with Gyu-tan Steak (beef tongue steak).

Forgot to take a photo; I also had Sunagimo (gizzard).

Sumagimo is at the up left corner.

Then we had the main dish, Hakata Mentai Mochi Cheese Monja (Hakata fish roe, pounded rice cake and cheese in Monjya Style.)

Monjayaki is local Tsukishima food.

First we cook ingredients.

Then add soup and mix all.

We can eat moist or crispy as we wish.

We also had okonomiyaki, Kansai (Osaka Style Pancake).

Choco was tired waiting for us.

We left Kotobukiya and stopped by at Tsukiji Bon Marche Deli & Bar to get our dessert: matcha (Green Tea) soft cream.

I enjoyed Tsukiji Happy Ice Cream with colourful decoration.

At the dinner time, I had Nabe (cray pot) and Ehomaki (Good Luck Roll).

This is thick and long with many ingredients.

We face good luck direction of the year (East for 2019) and eat this roll.

I also did Mamemaki (throwing soybeans for good luck) by saying “Oni wa Soto, Fukuwa Uchi (Evils out, good luck to come)”.

And at the midnight, I placed this facing good direction of the year (East).

This will make all matters in favors.

According to old Japanese calendar, 3 February was the New Year; therefore, we have so many tradition to wish for good luck today.

Posted in Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shop, Shopping, Shrine and Temple, Tokyo

Anahachiman (Anahachiman Shrine), Waseda, Tokyo

Posted on by sonokotchi

This became my routine so that this is not my first time to post about my visit to Snahachiman ak Yuzusama (accommodates our needs).

On 3 February, I will place this charm as instructed: West side of room, facing East.

I had Hiroshimayaki (okonomiyaki in Hiroshima style, with noodles) at Kurumi, Kagurazaka, Tokyo.

I bought a down jacket at the select shop Strasburgo, Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

It’s in light champagne gold.

Posted in Beauty, Feelings, Friends, Health, Place, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Nice Things

Posted on by sonokotchi

I was looking for a room fragrance and I would say this is the aroma of wine!

When I walked by the shop (IDEE SHOP, Tokyo Midtown Roppongi), the aroma reminded me nice full body wine.

The fragrance is very berries: thick, sweet, and spicy.

Please try

Dr. Vranjes Rosso Nobile, Firenze, Italy

I also received nice spa set, Tanamera Spa, Malaysia.

I will try them out to improve my beauty!

Posted in Choco-chan, Family, Feelings, Japanese Culture, Shopping, Work

31 December 2018 (Omisoka: New Year’s Eve)

Posted on by sonokotchi

It’s omisoka for Japanese and we supposed to be at home to prepare welcoming New Year.

However, my boss (foreigner) didn’t approve my leave (Japanese) because he took holiday since 21 December 2018.

My boss approved all other Japanese staffs to take leaves so I was alone in the office.

I could be the only person in the building as well.

Luckily, boss called to inform me I’m allowed to close the office at 3 pm.

The town was quiet and deserted.

I rushed back home because I was expecting my niece for New Year holiday.

She changed in a dress that we bought for her.

She likes blue princess look dress which Mom chose for her than black and red lady look dress which I picked for her.

We all (including Choco) stayed up late till midnight to welcome New Year together.

We greeted

Akemashite Omedetogozaimasu

(Happy New Year!)

Now I manage to update what I left out in December 2018 because I was sick.

Now I’m back on track and hope you would continue enjoying my blog.

Posted in Cooking, Family, Feelings, Friends, Shopping

Ad Hoc Dinner

Posted on by sonokotchi

We went to Keisen Flower School to check closing sales items.

I bought these three items; I will terribly miss the school.

After visiting the school, I invited my friends for tea at my house because Mom went to buy cakes for her friend and us.

We had so much to chat so my friends stayed for dinner.

I went to grocery shopping to prepare simple dinner.

Again, it was simple and I bought a ready-made chicken to save time.

A whole chicken is just nice for four of us.

I like to host gathering at home so that we can talk freely (not worrying about others), stay long as we want (staff won’t chase us out) and I don’t have to walk back home (especially in cold!).

Posted in Cooking, Feelings, Health, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Shopping

Nanakusa Gayu

Posted on by sonokotchi

I might blog about this last year; but let me blog about this.

We have a custom to eat Nanakusa Gayu (seven-herb porridge) on every 7 January to wish for good fortune and to rest stomach from New Year celebration food.

Today we can conveniently get all seven herbs in a packet.

There are

Suzushiro: Japanese white radish (White) represents innocence

Seri: Japanese parsley grows long for prosperous

Suzuna: old vocabulary for radish which means bell to call God

Hotokenoza: the herb looks like the seat for the Buddha.

Nazuna: means taking off dirt by patting

Gogyo: the shape of Buddha’s body

Harabeko: many leaves represents prosperity

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Place, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

12 December 2018: Christmas Shopping

Posted on by sonokotchi

Mom has been asking me to take her for Christmas Shopping, particularly Christmas Tree Hunting.

She is looking for a Christmas Tree.

We are looking for 2 m or higher, a large size for typical Japanese housing.

Therefore, I took her to IKEA Tokyo Bay (Funabashi/HQ) and Costco Makuhari.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a suitable Christmas Tree, but bought necessaries such as sparkling juice, chocolates, cheese, mixed nuts, etc for coming Christmas dinner.

I love Scandinavian designed household products at IKEA.

I love American food and goods.

We bought two dresses for a little niece; she loves them.

At the evening, I went to Ginza Mitsukoshi Department to buy appreciation gift for our flower arrangement teacher together with a mate.

We made a set with Fortnum & Mason Christmas Spiced Tea and Shortbread.

Hope she would enjoy them.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

3 January 2019

Posted on by sonokotchi

I bought my little niece a piano lesson book at Book Shop Book First Roppongi for her New Year Gift yesterday.

There are words for songs, music notes and piano keys inside.

The notes and keys are indicated in colors to learn easily and there is self play mode to learn rhythm as well.

I’m happy to see her playing over and over.

The room was full of music then.

Now she went back home so it’s quiet in house.

I miss her.

Posted in Cooking, Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shopping, Tokyo

2 January 2019

Posted on by sonokotchi

I started my new year morning with Shishimai (lion dance) and Masuzake (Japanese sake in a wooden square cup).

After experiencing Japanese traditional new year, we went for Belgium breakfast at my favorite breakfast restaurant: Le Pain Quoitidien, Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

I had New Year Special Menu.

I started with a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate 2019.

Off course, I enjoyed all food.

Furthermore, I received a new year gift from the restaurant: Fukin (Japanese traditional kitchen cloth) and a ticket for free audio museum guide.

After heavy brunch, I played with little niece at Hinoki-cho Park.

Though we had a heavy brunch, we enjoyed strawberry tea with Phillips Chocolate the Boston’s Oldest Chocolateir for tea break.

Coincidently, I used a mug that I bought it at Pier 1 Imports in Boston.

We relaxed a bit at home and went for grocery shopping; I cooked Yakiniku (Korean BBQ) for dinner.

Can I call BBQ cooking ? hahaha

We are spending New Year in very traditional way: relaxing family gathering.