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Japan Travel Magazine

THIS WEEK WITH A FEATURE ARTICLE

UTA JIMA—SONG ISLAND

Also:

FOOD

TRADITIONS AND FESTIVALS

PLACES TO SEE IN JAPAN

Food of Japan

Whilst visiting the great Island nation of Japan, one must be sure to savour the many delicacies it has to offer. From sashimi to tempura to okonomiyaki, Japan is a culinary journey you will surely enjoy. In the next two pages of this magazine, you will find a variety of different types of food available commonly in Japan. If someone mentions Japanese food, the first thing that will pop into your mind is probably Sushi. Whether Sushi is available in your country or not, nothing is like the privilege of having Sushi in its own home country. This guide is to help you learn the common types of sushi before you walk into a restaurant and get too overwhelmed by the diverse selection of items from the menu. Here are the different types of sushi: Nigiri The most common type of Sushi; you probably would have seen or eaten this type of sushi before. It translates to ‘Hand-pressed Sushi’- which basically explains how its made. Vinegar rice is moulded by hand into a rectangular shape, and is topped off with Seafood, usually raw fish.

Gunkan

Gunkan sushi literally means ‘Battleship sushi’. It is similar to the Nigiri, however is wrapped in seaweed. The toppings for these usually easily fall off, which is why we have the seaweed to keep everything in tact.

Maki Sushi Maki Sushi means rolled sushi. It generally consists of rice and other ingredients (such as raw fish and cucumber) wrapped in seaweed.

Sashimi Sashimi is just raw fish, with no additional toppings. It is served usually in slices cut professionally by a chef, with precision.

Different types of fish

Salmon, Maguro (tuna) and Ika (squid) seem to the most popular fishes for raw consumption. These are commonly found in Japan and easily caught, and are also fairly cheap in price. Fish is usually caught early in the morning by fishermen, and then sold at a market in large quantities. One of the best things about having Sushi in Japan is that most of the time, its fresh and flawless. The fish is consumed the same day that it is bought, and the Japanese have had so many years of experience with sushi that it's made practically perfect.

Another popular type of Japanese cuisine is Teppanyaki, a form of Japanese grill in which food is cooked on a heated iron board. Teppanyaki cuisine is simple but addictively delicious, with succulent seared steaks and perfectly prepared pork. A variety of traditional Japanese dishes are prepared using Teppanyaki, such as Okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake-esque delicacy. There are two main types of Okonomiyaki; Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki and Osaka-style Okonomiyaki. The latter is predominant in Japan and is prepared by mixing a batter with a wide variety of ingredients in a bowl, then pouring the con-tents onto the grill. The mixture is formed into a pancake and toppings such as katsuobushi (dried bonito flake) are added. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is much less common and consists of thin layers of ingredients (like crepes) served with Japanese noodles. Tempura is also popular in Japan. Prawns are dipped in a batter and deep fried to create this wondrous foodstuff. Other forms of seafood (such as oys-ters and fish) and vegetables (including bell peppers, pumpkin, oysters and onions). Takoyaki is a ball shaped snack made by putting diced octopus into a batter, which is then cooked in a takoyaki pan with special ball shaped moulds. The snack is brushed with subtly sweet takoyaki sauce, drizzled with mayonnaise and typically served in boat-shaped dishes. Here are some other types of Japanese food: Teppanyaki

Beef rolls Steak Foie Gras Okonomiyaki Monjayaki

Udon Hot Cold

Tempura Prawns Eggplant Fish Bell peppers Oysters Pumkin Onions

Miso soup

Culture and Tradition Immerse yourself into the wonderful traditions and feisty festivals of Japan... If you’re lucky enough to stumble across the wonderful, welcoming weddings that are unique to Japan, make sure you take a thorough glance to find the symbolic paper cranes. One thousand origami paper cranes is believed to bestow a wish upon the beholder, bringing prosperity, good luck, longevity and health to the creator. The crane is said to live for a thousand years, and therefore one of all 1000 paper cranes is dedicated to each year of a crane’s life span. Therefore, during wedding occasions, the father of the groom or bride is likely to bestow a thousand paper cranes upon the couple, wishing them a thousand years of happiness and prosperity. The crane became more famous when the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl diagnosed with leukemia attempted to fold one thousand paper cranes so as to regain health. In the book ‘Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes,’ she was said to have only folded 644 before dying. Her classmates helped her to fold the last 356 cranes. In her memory, a statue of Sadako was built in Hiroshima Peace Park. Every year on Obon Day, people leave cranes on her statue to commemorate the memories of their loved ones that have died from incidents such as the atomic bomb. Kimono Kaleidoscopic Kimono is one of the most famous inventions of Japan that have been admired by people all around the world. A Kimono is a robe that cascades gracefully from the shoulder to the ankle of the wearer. To keep the robe secure, it is tied around the middle with a spectacular sash called an “obi”. Kimonos are generally made up of fantastic fabrics such as smooth silk and satin. They feature delicate designs such as the trademark cherry blossoms of Japan. Kimonos are now worn for ceremonial reasons, for marriage, or for festivals. Sumo-wrestling Sumo is a full contact wrestling sport that is enjoyed by people from all over Japan. Traditionally, a rikishi (a wrestler) attempts to force another rikishi out of a circular ring, or to touch the ground with any other part of their body other than the soles of their feet. Sumo wrestling has existed in Japan for thousands of years, and many ancient traditions such as salt purification have been upholded in Sumo Wrestling. Japanese Tea Ceremony When sitting down at the dinner table, it is a ritual for the hosts to offer and prepare tea for respected and revered guests first as they are to be treated with the utmost respect and formality. The skill associated with preparing the tea and the ceremony with all the correct is deeply rooted within Zen Buddhism, and has evolved into into an essential and symbolic aspect of Japanese tradition. So, when entering a Japanese home, don’t be a hog and demand for the tea first, because not only are you likely to be rejected, but you’ll make matters worse for yourself!

Shogatsu (New Year Festival) Jan 1- 3 Shogatsu is one of Japan’s most elaborate and lavish festivals. It is one of the most important annual festival held in Japan. Being an important festival, Shogatsu usually takes place over three days. Before this festivals, families clean their houses, osechi is bought, and any debts are paid off in preparation for a fresh, new, exciting start. Osechi are traditional japanese food that have lucky colours, shapes and names. They are thought to bring good luck to different areas of life throughout the year. Interesting Fact! Hanami (Cherry Blossom Festival) In April If you happen to visit Japan during the spring break, make sure not to miss the stunning pink hues wrapping the dazzling sakura flowers, it is a site of elegance, charm and grace that one cannot miss when visiting Japan. It is custom for Japanese systems to take some time out of their schedule during Spring and appreciate the lovely, gentle flowers blooming around them. If you happen to visit Japan at just the right time, you’ll see people going out for picnics in the Cherry groves, drinking Sake and tea, and enjoying music underneath the lavish ambience of the blossoms. If you want a festive treat, make sure to visit Okinawa and Matsuyama Castle in Ehime, places well known for their delightful celebration of the cherry blossoms. Jidai Festival: Kyoto Jidai Matsuri, translated to Festival of Ages, is an annual event held on October 22nd every year. The event is deeply rooted within the 19th century, where is began in in1895 to celebrate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Kyoto in 794. The event heralds about 150,000 people lining the street each year. The event of the festival that steals the spotlight is what is known as the Jidai Gyoretsu, where participants reflect upon the diverse history of Japan by wearing attire representing the style of each historical period from 794 until 1868 when the capital was movie to Tokyo. CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS:

When greeting someone, it is custom to bow.

When addressing someone, it is considered respectful to address them by their last name and add the suffix ‘san’ to the end, and is considered even more respectful to add the term ‘sama.’ However, it is important to note that if you are really close to that person, you can call them by their first name.

Before entering a home in Japan, remove your shoes and put on the slippers placed at the doorway for your convenience.

The oldest member in the gathering should always be treated with utmost respect, and is always honoured and revered. As a result, in any gathering, the elder member is always served first, and has the privilege of having their drinks poured for them rather than helping themselves. Don’t worry, soon, that’ll be you!

When dining at a Japanese restaurant, make sure you pay only the bill. No tip is required, especially since it’s considered an insult in Japan to tip!

Places to See

Mount Fuji Mount Fuji is the highest mountain with great visibility from numerous areas within Japan. It is also one of the world’s most perfectly shaped volcanoes with a symmetrical peak, and considered the most important mountain deity where people climb during special occasions such as New Year’s Day to pay their respect and pray for good fortune for the year. It is considered one of the most popular tourist sites in Japan as it resides close to major tourisms and leisure destinations. There is a nickname associated with this iconic place “the land of the Rising Sun” and spectacular sunrises named Goraiko. What’s most especially memorable is hiking at night with the bright stars shining above you, and waking up to an absolutely impressive sunrise that you will never forget. Imperial Palace Want to venture out to see where Emperors and Empresses live? Want to walk through a park situated in the center of Tokyo? Well, the Imperial palace is certainly a worthy place to start as you plan out your most memorable places to visit. It offers the best Japanese garden, an ancient stone eye glass bridge and a museum filled with artifacts as far as 1888. The Imperial Palace is a beautiful, historical and important cultural landmark of Japan. If you are lucky enough you can see the Imperial Family members making special appearances from the Palace balcony on the Emperor’s Birthday( Dec 23) or New Year’s Greeting (Jan 2). Hiroshima Peace Memorial The Hiroshima Peace Memorial was the only building that was left from the atomic bomb explosion in 1945. In memory of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, the memorial was erected and preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. It was built around the A-bomb dome which is a symbol of peace city “Hiroshima”. It also expresses the belief for world peace and the vital eradication of nuclear weapons around the world. The Memorial serves as a vivid reminder of the number of people who died and the destruction that it caused. It also features a Children's’ Peace monument to honor the children that died, in particular a child who believed that if she folded 1,000

paper cranes she would be able to be cured from Leukemia. To this day, many children around the world fold paper cranes in memory of her. Every year on its anniversary, a moment of silence is observed at 8:15am, the precise moment of detonation.

UTA JIMA

In the entrances of the Gulf of Ise and Atsumi Bay lies a small but beautiful island -- Uta Jima. “Song Island” is renowned for the natural beauty and unique culture of its community and

environment. Uta Jima, with less than 3 miles of coastline, boasts undeveloped natural land in the form of mountains, forests and shorelines. At the summit of the great Mt. Higashi is a lighthouse from which can be seen the magnificent view of the sea and mountain ranges in the distance. Those standing at the top can see the routes of giant ships navigating the maze of fishing boats parked all over the channel. You can also enjoy the sight of the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Ise, and Atsumi Peninsula. Near the crest of the island, two hundred stone steps lead to Uta

Jima’s cultural hotspot -- Yashiro Shrine -- where the villagers worship Watatsumi-no-Mikoto, a Japanese sea deity. The structure’s ancient past is made even more impressive with the presence of its treasured mirrors. All sixty-six bronze relics have a history that extends farther than the island, and sometimes it has toured the world. However, these priceless treasures are not the only feature of the shrine. It also retains a great view of the Northwest side of the island, with a direct angle of sight of the Gulf of Ise, Chita Peninsula, and Tsu. Uta Jima’s sights and history are not its only attractions. The island’s villagers have a unique, special culture that provides an eye-opening experience to visitors with all interests. They are a people who thrive on the prolific population of fish and other seafood. These fishermen

often engage in octopus fishing, with hundreds of pots set out in the ocean at any time. The resultant produce form the basis for their income and lifestyles. What reason could there be to not visit this beautiful, cultural island? With its wonderful people, traditions and views, taking a vacation to tour the island and experience the peace of Uta Jima is sure to be enjoyable for anyone.

FEATURE ARTICLE