Version 2.0 - Tokyo is coming soon. Please excuse the construction and let me know if you have any problems.

New Zealand

Saturday, January 24, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

I focus on Japan of course but I am always looking for guest writers to talk about their homeland.

My friend Carl is from New Zealand and I asked him to share some thoughts about his country.

Carl gave me the following helpful thoughts about New Zealand:

"It was boring. I left."

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Picture of the Day - Nagoya Construction

Saturday, January 24, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)



For some reason I find construction sites like this fascinating and always take lots of pictures.

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Picture of the Day - Nagoya Bikes

Saturday, January 24, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

President Obama's Speech

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

The following link is for the full transcript of his speech.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/us/politics/20text-obama.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all


This link has the video of his speech along with the transcript.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/20/us/politics/20090120_INAUGURAL_ANALYSIS.html?hp

Peace,
---Zackary

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Picture of the Day - Nagoya, Distorted Reflection

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Picture of the Day - Nagoya

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

Pictures of the Day - Nagoya JR Train

Tuesday, January 20, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Picture of the Day - Waiting for a Nagoya Train

Monday, January 19, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Etiquette for Eating Sushi

Sunday, January 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

After answering the question about tableware Shannon Lynch from Twitter asked me about proper manners for eating sushi.

As I said recently do not ever each sushi with a fork. Shannon asked if you should always eat a piece of sushi in one bite. Many people do this and it is the easiest way. If you have more control with chopsticks you can eat half and then the other half. If you drop half of the piece it does make you look silly but being Japan no one laughs or stares. Asking for a knife to cut the pieces in half is not a good idea either. Generally the pieces are a decent size so that you can eat it all in one bite. Like in American they also have a container for soy sauce.

If you have small rolls you should eat them with chopsticks. If you have the longer wrapped rolls you can pick these up with your hands and eat them. You will not find California rolls and if you ask Japanese people about them they will smile or maybe laugh.

Speaking of eating with your hands there is a different sushi experience all together. In very expensive places in Tokyo where they have the Best sushi available you eat everything with your hands. At those prices you should be able to do anything you want!

In general sushi in Japan is cheaper then in America and everything is fresh. There are many more types of sushi and the chefs are masters of their realm so treat them with extra respect. If you ask they will make alterations. Wabsabi makes me sick so I always ask for it to be removed.

Peace,
-Z

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Picture of the Day - Ginza, Tokyo Display

Sunday, January 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (0)

Japanese Tableware

Sunday, January 18, 2009 / Posted by Zackary / comments (1)

Shannon Lynch, a friend from Twitter asked me, "After chopsticks what do the Japanese use most?"

After chopsticks Japanese people use soup spoons the most. For some soups you use chopsticks to eat the main part of the soup and then drink the rest.

In Chicago I knew how to use chopsticks but was just an amateur. In Japan I use chopsticks almost every day and have become more advanced. For example you can pull things apart such as meat with chopsticks. This is difficult at first but you get used to it pretty quick. The children take a chopstick in each hand and use them to pull things apart. This actually works great but if adults did this it would be considered bad behavior. Speaking of bad behavior your chopsticks should never cross each other. And never ever stick your chopsticks in something straight up. This is associated with funerals and so you never want to to do that.

The Japanese love Italian food and many places have chopsticks as well as western silverware. When I went to a French restaurant a couple of weeks ago they only had western silverware. If you are going to be spreading butter on something you need a knife.

On a side note many Japanese people have asked me if Americans eat sushi with a fork. I always say that American are able to use chopsticks and would not eat sushi with a fork. If you see someone doing this, please slap them for me! And yes, the sushi here is amazing.

Keep those questions coming, I am always happy to answer whatever I can.

Peace,
-Z

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