Tag Archives: Series

【Series】 Japanese food worth sharing with world – Deep fried kuwai flitters from Saitama Prefecture (Jan. 15, 2016)

  Luxury Arrowhead Recipe Kuwai, a root of the sagittaria plant also known as an arrowhead in English, is one of many lucky foods for the new year in Japan. As it sprouts easily and vigorously, it’s said to be a symbol of successful life and good luck in the future. But in one of Japan’s largest kuwai producing regions, Saitama Prefecture, it’s one of the staple ingredients for the local favorites including slow-simmered kuwai, fried whole kuwai, kuwai crispy chips, and of course, deep fried kuwai flitters. The plants are grown in the paddy field and kuwai growers need a good source of water. The prefecture was found suitable … Continue reading

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【Series】 Japanese food worth sharing with world – O-han yellow rice and topping from Usuki-shi, Oita Prefecture (Nov. 27, 2015)

Celebratory dish that dates back to Edo period Yellow steamed rice colored with dried gardenia fruits is served with colorful flavorful topping in a separate bowl. The rice is called “o-han (yellow rice)” and the topping “o-han kayaku (additional goodies to go with o-han). This is a traditional food in Usuki-shi, Oita Prefecture. Unlike regular steamed rice, o-han is cooked with salt and its cheerful yellow color stimulates our appetite. O-han kayaku cooked with several root vegetables like carrot and Japanese radish as well as minced fish meat and tofu is rich and delicious. It’s no wonder that it still is a popular traditional local food prepared to welcome guests. … Continue reading

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【Series】 World War II 70th Anniversary – Old shore artillery battery looking down at peaceful ocean (July 26, 2015)

Kentarou Tominaga, Kotaro Yamada and Hiroki Arai Miura-shi in Kanagawa Prefecture is known for producing a wide variety of high-quality vegetables. In one of the fields there, however, there is a round flat odd structure that actually fits in the place and everyday life of local residents. It is what remains from an old artillery battery, Kenzaki Battery, built by the Imperial Japanese Army. The facility was built in current Minamishitaura-machi in Miura-shi as a part of the Tokyo Bay Shore military bases developed in Meiji Era and during World War ll. A 6-meter-long 15-inch naval gun was located to protect Tokyo and Yokosuka Military Port. Less was known about … Continue reading

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【Series】 World War II 70th Anniversary – Broken plan buried under vegetable garden (July 25, 2015)

Kazuhiro Eguchi There is an unusual vegetable garden in Hananoi, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba Prefecture, with six large concrete tubes sticking out from the ground. The tubes in fact belonged to the old underground facility for the rocket-powered interceptor aircraft “Shusui”, which was to be completed by the Imperial Japanese Army before the end of World War Il. This area was part of Kashiwa Air Field which was established by the Japanese Army to combat US air raids over the country, particularly Tokyo. Shusui with a rocket engine was going to be located here for defense against B-29s. The aircraft, however, never played its intended role as its development did not complete … Continue reading

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【Series】 World War II 70th Anniversary – War-wounded tree speaks of pains of Okinawa (July 24 , 2015)

Kotaro Yamada In Furugen area in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, there is a gigantic leafy garcinia tree with a hollow trunk. It survived the battle of Okinawa and stood in the shrine of Furugen Ugwan where local villagers come to pray for huge harvest. Furugen used to be agriculturally successful as a producer of lily bulbs for exports and other products in the early Showa period. It was toward the end of the Pacific War when the US troops landed the Okinawa islands. The major ground battles started in April 1945 and Okinawa was burned down. The tree was also damaged by fire during the war. Hiroyasu Inami, 87, was … Continue reading

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