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Monday  February 3, 2003 .....

After awaking  at  7:30 Am,  Toshi’s  wife  fed  me  well  with  fresh  apples  and  oranges and
she  microwaved   2  baseball  sized  pork  dumplings  wrapped  in  a  chewy breading  that  she
microwaved  --  Those  were  good  and  I  should  find  out  what they  are  called.  Toshi had  to
leave  at  8:45 AM  to walk  down  the  street  to open the  store for  9 AM.  I  took  my  shower
and Toshi’s  wife  did  some  daily  chores.  We  left together  at 10 AM. she  on  her  bike to run
errands  and I  walked  quickly  to the  pharmacy  and  then  I  followed  the  side  street  to  the
subway  station.  I  took  some  pictures  of  interesting  things I  observed  in  peoples  back
yards as I  walked  past.  I dropped off all  of  my remaining exposed film  that I  had  taken  to
be  developed and I  bought some  Fuji  rolls.  I  stopped  by  the neighborhood  Nissan  Car
dealership  to  look  at  the  cars and  brochures .  Talk  about small -- the  Nissans  in  America
are  land  tanks  compared to  theirs  ha ha ha,  but I  didn’t buy  one so  I  proceeded  to the
subway.

The  plan  for  today was  to  find  a  culinary  school  and  then check  out  the  restaurant
supply street.  Toshi  had  called earlier  but they  were  unable  to  teach any  classes to outside
students that day.  I  found  a  bank  nearby  and I  exchanged  some  more  Travelers  Checks to
maintain  my  par  levels  ha ha ha.  At  least  the  exchange  levels  were  slowly  increasing to
my  benefit.   The  bank  officer had  to call Toshi at  his  work  number,  on  my behalf  to ask
for his address  in order  to  cash my  checks --  talk  about  technicalities. I  found  the  school
down  the  street  an d I  asked  if  I  could  talk  with  someone.  Though  Toshi  had  called them
earlier  in  the morning telling  them  that I  might  stop  by,  I  came  somewhat  unannounced
without  an  appointment  which  I guess  is not too Kosher  in Japan.  an  administrator  type
person  who  spoke  English met  me  and  gave  me  a  very  brief  tour of the School.  Their
facilities  were  very  nice  and  well maintained.  He  mentioned  that  while  they have  a  few
Taiwanese, Chinese  and Korean  Students  attending  they  have  not  had  any  other  western
foreign  students  (Gringo’s)    I  gave  him  About t 10 of my  business  cards  to  hand  out to
anyone  who  might  be  interested  in chatting  with  me  and  he  located a name  of  a  Japanese
confectionery  organization for me.  But hen  he  had  to run off  to a meeting  and  he  showed
me  the  door.  I  quickly  got  lost  in all of  the  side  streets  and  alley  but I  finally made  my
way  back  to the  front  entrance  to  return my visitors  pass  to  the  guard.   Enough  of  this
malarkey.  While It  was nice  to  visit,   hell  I  already  have  my  culinary  education  so  lets
have  some  fun!

I  took  the subway a few stops to the location that the restaurant street was  supposed  to  be.
Man, I did some walking around the area and I asked 4 -5  different  people where it was located
before I finally  found  the  area.  I  spent  3 - 4  hours  walking  from shop to  shop  looking  over
the  goods.  But I only really found 1 business that specialized  in Baking / pastry items.  I spent
30 - 45  minutes  looking  over  their  things and one of  the salesmen followed me and watched
me  like  a hawk  but  he  said nothing.  So I  figured  dial  1-800 Waa - aaaa  If you  are
suspicious  about  me.  I  looked  over the  goods  and  figured  out   what  was   a  good  deal
and  what  was not,  did  I  really have  a use  for  this  or  that  or not.  Eventually  I  just  wound
up  buying  a  complete  set  of  10  Chocolate  dipping  candy  tools  from  France.  for  $70.  I
would  give the  previous  3  tools  from Hiroshima  to a  coworker.  I really did  not  get
anything  else. Overall  I  really felt  that the  resturant street  in Tokyo was  larger  had  more
items  of interest  for  me.  Or  maybe It  is  just that I  hit  that  street  first  and bought most  of
my  tools there.

I  left  the  restaurant  zone  and  I  found  a  rather large  bookstore (3  stories tall).  I looked  for
the elusive ship boat  book  for  my  brother  but  It  just  wasn’t  happening.  I  did  find a  small
English  section and I  found  a nice picture book giving  an  overview  of  Japan  in photographs
so  I got that for him instead.  Then what  to my  wandering  eyes  should  appear --  but
WENDYS. So in I  went  for a Taco salad,   fries,  burger,  etc.  Of  course Osaka  is  the  2nd / 3
rd  largest city  and I  saw  many other  foreigners  in my travels.  While I  ate  at Wendys I
probably  say 5 -6   other westerners in there  also.  I  have  a lot  more  of Osaka  for  future
visits  because I  don’t  think I  covered  very  much  terrain.  

But  It  was  getting  dark  and  I  had  to  head  back  to  Toshi’s.  I navigated  the  subways  well
enough.  Upon arriving  at  the  proper  exit.  I found  the  Film  processor  and  I paid  the  $ 70 -
80  for  having  the 8  rolls  developed.   I  found  a  McDonalds  down the street  and  I  had 2
broccoli  soups  and  a  melon soda  and  I  inspected  my  pictures.  It was 30 minute processing.
I noticed  some of  the pictures had scratches on both of the double  prints.   Especially  the
other roll of  pictures I had  taken of  Miho.  But I  looked at  the  negatives  and they looked
clean.  I  later on had  the  Miho set of  negatives  reprinted here and  they are fine.

I  walked  the  10  minutes  to  Toshi’s pharmacy and I  talked  with him  for 45 minutes  until
he  closed the  store  and we  walked to his  house.  Toshi’s  wife  had  picked  up  all  of  the
fixings  for  Shabu Shabu  and  we  proceeded  to  have  dinner  similar  to  Sukiyaki  only you
boil  the  meat and vegetables  quickly  in  hot  water.  it  was lots  of  fun  and  delicious.  His
wife  also went to  the  store  and  bought  4 nice different pastries and  we all chose 1 to devour
for dessert.  I  showed Toshi  and  his wife the  pictures that I  just had  developed and  I  gave
him copies  of  Rosemary’s picture  (in Kagoshima)  so  he  could  show  the  group  what she
looks like.

The  next  morning   it  was  time  to  say  goodbye  and  head out to  the next adventure.  Toshi’s
wife  was so thoughtful  that  she gave  me  a fan  wrapped up  nicely to  send to my mother in
NY and  of  course  she  appreciated  it.  Then  He drove me  to the  Train station   and  we  said
goodbye.  I  did  some  final  shopping  for items  that I  had  my  eyes  on previously  and I
hopped  the  Bullet  train  for  the 20  minute ride  to Kyoto,  my  next stop  where I  would  meet
Kaori.  

... in response to Japan Journal # 13, posted by Windmill Boy on Mar 11, 2003

Great report Wind!

That brings back some old memories. I used to enjoy wandering the back alleys and getting lost in Japan. I never did get to see the countryside though or take a bath in the snow with a bunch of naked guys :-)

Ray

... in response to Japan Journal # 13, posted by Windmill Boy on Mar 11, 2003

The pork buns are called Cha-shu-bao. They're originally Chinese but if you want it with than Japanese taste, you have to pick it up in a Japanese market. The authentic Chinese versions are quite a bit different.

Shabu-shabu - daiski!

- Jeff

PS. more more!

... in response to Re: Japan Journal # 13, posted by Jeff S on Mar 11, 2003

What's the meaning of "Shabu-shabu"?

In the Philippines, I believe that means "Crystal Meth-Crystal Meth" (ROFL)

Ray

... in response to Hey Jeff, posted by Ray on Mar 12, 2003

Hi Ray,

After reading about nude men bathing together in Japan, I though it was a gay thing. :o))) I discovered I was wrong again after I looked it up. In Japan,  "shabu-shabu" or translated, swish-swish, refers to "the swishing action, when you cook a very thin slice of beef in hot water." If I hear "shabu-shabu" in the Philippines, I'm running the other way. Those people get nuts when they need a fix!

Dave H.

... in response to Re: Japan Journal # 13, posted by Jeff S on Mar 11, 2003

Or is he talking about niku-man that you can get at the conbini during the Fall and Winter months here?

... in response to Pork buns?, posted by Bob S on Mar 12, 2003

Could be. Not sure. Need a better description. More info Eric,

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Pork buns?, posted by Jeff S on Mar 12, 2003

hmm

it's  about  the  size  of a  baseball  with  a  1/3  of an  inch unbaked  bread type  covering  that  is  slightly  chewy.  the  pork  inside  was  on the  sweeterside  almost  like  BBQ.  Ultimately    it is  in  the  shape of  a  beggars  purse  tapering up  to  the  top.  I  seem  to  remember  seeing  them  at  convienience  stores too  but  I  was never  sure  what  was inside  of them.

... in response to Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Windmill Boy on Mar 12, 2003

[This message has been edited by Ray]

(Show-Pow)

That's what they call it in the Philippines. It's steamed and filled with pork or chicken, best served hot and washed down with San Miguel Beer :-)

http://www.tribo.org/filipinofood/recipes/siopao.html

Ray

... in response to Sounds like siopao, posted by Ray on Mar 12, 2003

Hey Ray,

You're making me hungry! Siopao is among my favorites! Tomorrow I'm going to the Filipino store and see what I can find. It's tough with the wife out of town...I haven't had rice in weeks. :o)))

Dave H.

... in response to Sounds Good!, posted by Dave H on Mar 12, 2003

I know what you mean about the rice Dave. I haven't had rice in 7 days now - gave it up for lent (LOL).

Be careful when you pick out that siopao. They are color coded you know. Let's see if I can remeber the colors--- red = pork, green = chicken, blue = dog meat,... wait a minut, I forgot! Never mind.

Maybe some of the real Filipionos can help me out here with this?

Ray

... in response to Re: Sounds Good!, posted by Ray on Mar 12, 2003

...what a "Filipiono" is, because I haven't got a clue :-)

Ray

... in response to Re: Sounds Good!, posted by Ray on Mar 12, 2003

Hi Ray,

Which color is the whale? :oP I'm going to eat rice tomorrow for dinner.

Dave H.

... in response to What's Purple? ;o))), posted by Dave H on Mar 13, 2003

Purple? I have no freeking idea! Maybe Jimbo can help out with that one?

Whale siopao? Hmmmm...interesting concept :-)

Ray

... in response to Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Windmill Boy on Mar 12, 2003

Yep sounds like steamed cha-shu-bao. The niku-man I've had has all been baked in a kind of flakey pastry with more a ground or chopped pork meatball inside that's not usually sweet. Cha-shu means BBQ pork with a bit of a reddish-brown, sweet sauce and bao means steamed bun in Chinese. Didn't we had them at Kim-su restruaunt with Stephen and Tess? Those may have been the baked ones. I usually like the baked more than the steamed. I remember you were't too sure about all that strange looking food. LOL

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Jeff S on Mar 12, 2003

Hmmm, I haven't seen a baked niku-man except at the donut shop.  All the conbini's have steamers with those things in them.  They come stuffed with pork or beef or pizza filling or curry or anko.  "Cha-shu-bao" might be the chinese name and "niku-man" the Japanese name (and "siapao" the Taglog name?) for the same thing.  It's a quick snack for under 80 cents.  Two or three of those and a drink will make for a nice simple lunch (though a distant second to my favorite tai-yaki stand!).

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Bob S on Mar 13, 2003

I just asked Mari-chan and she said the only difference was that niku-man usually has ground meat and cha-shu-bao only comes with cha-shu inside (Chinese style sweet BBQ pork.) Cha-shu-bao is definately the Chinese name, but like ramen and shu-mai, popular Chinese dishes in Japan with their own twist. I never had a pizza or curry niku-man but have had curry-pan many times and like it a lot. Any bakeries around there with curry pan? Yes, tai-yaki - yum!

Stopped by Honda-kappo last night after a concert for some yaki tori and sho-chu and thought about you. Hope all's well in the teaching biz. Any koibitos you'd like to fill us in on?

- Jeff

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Jeff S on Mar 13, 2003

"Any koibitos you'd like to fill us in on?"

Oh, not much.  Just discussing with the GF the possibility of her coming back to America with me when my contract is up in September.  She's game, but her parents aren't too keen on the idea of her giving up her comfortable well-paid civil servant's job.  You know how it is.  These things take time here to work out.  But in three continents I have not met a woman who is a better match in terms of temperament and interests.  We'll see how it goes.

... in response to Koibitos, posted by Bob S on Mar 14, 2003

.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Pork buns?, posted by Jeff S on Mar 12, 2003

yes  my culinary  education  is  a never  ending   quest. Slowly  I  am  learning of some  Japanese food that I kind  of  like  ha ha ha.  I  should  be  smart  and  make  a  list  of  what I  like.  

It  least Miho  is patient  with  me  and  her  hometown  has  a  chinatown.  So  far  things  are  going  well  with   her  but  she  is  moving  apartments  right  now. so  she  is  a little  occupied.