I introduce tea in Japan today. Tea in Japan also has the kind, the status, and the history like coffee and tea in the world, etc. And, it is said that Japanese tea is good for health recently, so the Japanese drinks Japanese tea well. The hot tea and the cold tea are delicious for the Japanese. Moreover, tea is good also for foreigner's souvenir. Japanese food seems to be popular in the world, and to become popular also Japanese tea. I introduce Japanese tea in detail in this section. Because Japanese tea has a great choice. Please enjoy it.

First of all, tea in Japan was imported from China and started from ancient times. People in the world knows that the Japanese originally develops a lot of things. Of course, this tea developed originally and became Japanese tea. Therefore, modern Japanese tea is different from Chinese tea. And generally, Japanese tea is made by steamed after the harvest. However, after the harvest, tea is roasted with the boiler in a part of region like Kyushu in south Japan.

(*Reference)
All are different in Japan, South Korea, and China in east Asia though face looks like. The difference is a word(language), an idea, food, a culture, and a street, etc. East Asia maybe might be more different than countries of Europe. Especially, Japan walked in an original history, because Japan is enclosed by the sea, and is leaving all countries.

And, Japanese tea has some kinds. I introduce it as in detail as possible. Please refer to the souvenir of Japan Travel.

There are some methods of classification Japanese tea.
Please look at the following.

The image above is the main cultivation method in Japan. The tea with covered a black seat is grown deeper greener. Of course, the taste is different in the cultivation method. The favor of tea is different depending on people.

In the tea field in Japan, it is a big and there is a Japanese atmosphere. Here is good as the sightseeing spot.

The taste is different depending on the time of the harvest.
Ichiban-cha (Shin-cha) is tea harvested first in the year. Of course, the season is spring. And, Niban-cha means tea of the second harvest, Sanban-cha means the third harvest in the year. Shutou-cha is tea harvested in autumn and winter.
Ichiban-cha (Shin-cha) is sweety without bitter though the favorite taste is different depending on the person.
Moreover, it is said that the food of the season is good for health in Japan. Therefore, it is said that Ichiban-cha (Shin-cha) is good for health, and is often drunk this tea in spring and summer.

The harvested tea is processed by the process of some manufacturing. The image above is the initial process. The tea of 1 and 2 is steamed. The tea of 3 and 4 is roasted.
The tea of 1 is called Sen-cha, and is tea made by the most general manufacturing method and it is the most famous tea in the foreigner.
Here, it is difficult to explain the above-mentioned process of manufacture in detail. Please ask the Japanese the kind and the process of manufacture of tea if you are presented tea by the Japanese. The taste of all tea is different, and enjoy the taste of each tea, please. It will become your favorite hobby. The Japanese also is enjoying the difference of the taste of tea.

The final process of the tea leaf manufacturing makes a big difference of the taste. Please test a lot of tastes when you come to Japan.

It is said that Japanese tea will be sterilized. The Japanese wants to drink Japanese tea after the meal, because Japanese tea counteract various tastes in the mouth. Japanese tea is always necessary for the person who becomes accustomed to the taste of Japanese tea.

These tea is a part. Mattcha is very popular in the Japanese. You will meet this taste as tea or sweet in Japan Travel. Please try. And there is a lot of tea in Japan, and look for the tea of your favorite, please.

*Mattcha is powdered green tea.

When you enjoy Japanese tea, tea-things are necessary. There are a lot of expensive tea-things, and are a lot of cheap tea-things. The beginner is enough by cheap tea-things. The way of making tea is not difficult. A few tea leaves are potted, and the hot water is poured. Tea is made within 30 seconds. And, tea is poured into the cup.
The problem is an amount of the tea leaf and the hot water. Please ask the Japanese the taste of your Japanese tea if there is a Japanese so that you are near. Moreover, it is important to try a lot of Japanese tea when coming to Japan. Please make delicious Japanese tea in your home.

And I introduce some how to enjoy Japanese tea.

Japanese tea is well in the photograph with the cake. The Japanese likes cake very much like the Europe and America people. And, Japanese tea has developed with the cake. Tea makes a delicious cake more delicious. And delicious tea is necessary for a delicious cake. This is one of the luxurious enjoyments.

Ice (cold) Japanese tea is also delicious, and the Japanese drinks it well in hot summer. The Japanese drinks ice (cold) Japanese tea than water.
The way of making is easy. The hot tea is made, and it is cooled. Please try.

Moreover, the Japanese makes sake Japanese tea. The sake used at that time is called a shochu. There is two sake of Japan. One is called "Nihon-shu", and one is called "Shochu". The sake suitable for tea is a shochu.
I will introduce the sake of Japan in other articles later.

The cook in Japan uses Japanese tea to cook well. And Japanese tea is suitable for the dessert. Especially, Mattcha is good. Please try to cook dessert with Mattcha once in your kitchen. Your dining room will be changed into a Japanese restaurant.

I propose one. It mixes Mattcha and the salt. And, please use the mixed salt to cook. The Japanese food suitable for this Mattcha salt is tempura very much. Pleaes eat sprinkling the Mattcha salt on Tempura. In a high-level Japanese food restaurant, Tempura is ate with the salt. I like it very much! And, this mixed salt might be suitable for the steak. Please try.

Tempura : http://www.deens.net/k-en-b-japan7-2.html

This is a specialty store of Japanese tea. In Japan, there are a lot of specialty stores. Moreover, tea is sold anywhere like a supermarket and convenience store such as Seven-Eleven. Of course, tea is sold by the souvenir shop in the airport.

Japanese tea is sold in the bag, the box or the can. You can buy good tea for 1000 yen though the price is various. Moreover, the Japanese keeps tea with the refrigerator. Tea is vulnerable to humidity, take care.

This is a packing tea. It is easy to make a tea in a cup. And in the room at the hotel in Japan, this tea is. Please drink this tea in your room, and relax.

This is Mattcha (powdered green tea). The Mattcha is made for the cup, and the hot water is poured. And, it is mixed. This is one of how to make traditional tea. Especially, this is done in the tea party. This how to make is not done in a average house, so please go to special Japanese tea restaurant if you want to try it.

Tea is a culture. In countries all over the world, there is a culture of tea. And the tea might be one method of knowing the culture. Because tea has not only the taste, tea ha also manners and tea-things. Moreover, there are a lot of stories of tea. There are a lot of histories, great men, legends, and talks also in Japan. Next, the person with a lot of experiences of Japan must search for tea. Japanese tea is deep.

I hope Japanese tea to become favorite of you.

Thank you.

Do you know this cup noodle? This is a product of the food company that says Nissin in Japan. Perhaps, a lot of people all over the world might know this cup noodle. This is sold all over the world now.

Today, I introduce the situation of the cup noodle of Japan. The history of this cup noodle is deep, and loved as Japanese food, but some Japanese deny this easy food, however, this has already become a foods of a lot of people.

I introduce partly. Please enjoy.

The cup noodle of this Nissin was born in 1971 in Japan. The position of a cup noodle at that time was very low, because the Japanese was always eating traditional Japanese foods at that time.

NISSIN Official Site : http://www.nissinfoods.co.jp/

Cost : 100 - 150 yen

However, this easy food made from the hot water was revolutionary.

By the way, do you know why 3 minutes to completion of cook. 3 minutes are the time that becomes delicious on man's psychology. The Japanese is hasty, so a lot of people cannot wait for 4 minutes. Therefore, "Momofuku Ando" who was the founder of Nissin made the cup noodle that was able to be done in 3 minutes.

There is other manufacturer's cup noodle at 1 minute or 5 minutes though a lot of present cup noodles is 3 minutes.

And Nissin's cup noodle has many tastes noodl. It is 10 tastes or more now. The following are the parts.

"Milk Seafood"

"Kimchi & Cheese"

Moreover, Nissin's cup noodle has other size, Mini noodle and Big noodle. The kind is various.

And more,

Refill Glass Cup "ZAKU II" version

Refill Glass Cup "ZAKU II" version

Do you know ZAKU? ZAKU is a robot of the space that appears in the anime of Japan that says GUNDAM. This set is very valuable in limited release. Of course, the taste of this cup noodle ZAKU version is usual. hahaha However, it is extremely popular.

And in the worldn now,

In USA

In France

In Germany

In Hong Kong

Of course, I don't know the cup noodle above. Probably, the taste is diffrent.
If you know Nissin's cup noodle in your country, please tell me with photo. I want to know more.

And there are many manufacturers of another of Nissin and loved much in Japan. I introduce partly.

Midori No Tanuki (cup soba)
Cost : 100 - 150 yen

Soba is a traditional noodle of Japan.

Soba : http://www.deens.net/k-en-b-japan7-4.html

This Midori NoTanuki was released by Toyo Suisan in 1978. There is a tempura on this Soba, and the Japanese loves this food very much.

Tempura : http://www.deens.net/k-en-b-japan7-2.html

Akai Kitsune (cup udon)
Cost : 100 - 150 yen

This noodle is called Udon, and one of traditional noodle. There is a abura-age (fried bean curd) on Udon. This Udon is loved too.

Udon : http://www.deens.net/k-en-b-japan7-5.html

Midori No Tanuki and Akai Kitsune was released by Toyo Suisan in 1978. This noodle is still sold as of 2010. These are one of the long seller foods.

Toyo Suisan Official Site : http://www.maruchan.co.jp/index.html

Yakisoba Bento
Cost : 100 - 150 yen

This noodle doesn't have soup. The noodle of Yakisoba is burnt with the frying-pan. And, Toyo Suisan made this as convenience food. This was released in 1975, and it is popular food now.

Sumire (cup ramen) *High quality noodle
Cost : 250 - 280 yen

This is a high-quality noodle using raw noodle. A lot of convenience foods use a dry noodle. However, this is different. The taste is the same as the restaurant though the price is higher than dry noodle.

Instant noodle
Cost : 50 - 100 yen

This is a convenience food without the cup, and this is made in kitchen in the house. Because a cooker can put favprite ingredients like egg, vegitable, meat, etc, it is more delicious than cup noodle.

Many are sold in the supermarket and the convenience store like Seven-Eleven. And the kind is the same as the number of stars. And, food is different according to the region in Japan. Japan is a very long country in the south north though the country in Japan is small. Therefore, the culture is various. This instant noodle becomes one of the souvenirs for the Japanese. Of course, it is likely to become a wonderful souvenir for the foreigner too. Because the foreigner is surprised at many of the instant noodle of Japan, and, taste too.

And, when you eat the instant noodle with the Onigiri (rice ball), your stomach is completely filled. Sushi and Tempura etc is high cost, but this instant noodle and Onigiri is cheap. Average cost of Onigiri is 100 - 150 yen only, and these are sold anywhere. You buy these and eat in your room in hotel is not bad, because this is one of Japanese culture. Pleaes try once.

How is Japanese instant noodle? A modern Japanese eats these a lot. Certainly, these foods has a bad influence for the gastronomic culture. However, the modern people's lives are not in ancient times. And, modern people in Japan will dislike ancient food, because favorite taste is diffrence to old times. The taste is very delicious though the instant noodle can be easily made very much. We are alive in new gastronomic culture.

Do you know that sushi is one of modern food?
The sushi uses the raw fish, so It is food that doesn't exist in ancient times without the refrigerator. Sushi is modern Japanese food.

Thank you.

I introduce important one of the cultures (or lifes) of Japan today. It is a "Sentou". It is famous that the Japanese likes baths very much. People in the world of today take a bath or a shower every day and Japanese people too. However, did ancient people in your region take a bath every day? An ancient Japanese people is the same as the custom to take a bath every day. An old samurai also took a bath every day. Why? The reason is a climate of Japan. Japan of summer is wet very much. Therefore, people take a bath every day at night. However, most old people's houses in a city did not have the bath. There is a public bath called "Sentou" in a city in Japan for the reasons. Old people went to the Sentou at evening. But recently, this Sentou decreases because modern house has a bath. However, this is one of the cultures of Japan. Please try "Sentou" when you come to Japan. You may know one of the Japanese life.

*Sentou is not "Onsen". The hot water of a lot of Sentou uses tap (city) water.

This building is Sentou. The big city such as Tokyo remains old Sentou. Moreover, a lot of Sentou is in downtown in the city. The building of Sentou has a long chimney, the purpose is to bring the tap water to the boil. When I was a student, I traveled around Japan with the car. I looked for the chimney every evening.

It is an entrance of general Sentou. The one like the flag is called "Noren" (shop curtain). Do you see the character "ゆ" (Yu)? "Yu" means hot warter in Japanese. And there are "Blue Noren" and "Red Noren". Blue is a man, Red is a woman. If you go to a Sentou, take care.

The charge is 400 yen on the average. People pay the charge to this person first.

People take off all clothes in here, and doesn't put it in the bathroom putting on a underwear and a bathing suit. Moreover, do you see? There is a person in the Sentou in the left of the photograph. The person of Sentou is looking at man and woman's room, and the person can look bath room too. You might be surprised. But this is one of Japanese culture.

This is a bath room in Sentou, and Mt. Fuji is drawn on the wall. This is old style of Sentou. I went to Sentou with my parents every evening when I was a child though the apartment where I had lived had the bath. People like big bath of Sentou though people like bath in the house. And Sentou is sociable very much.

Bath rooms usually contain an area for washing the body and a separate bathtub. When taking a Japanese bath, one washes the body with soap and then rineses oneself thoroughly before entering the buthtub. Japanese baths are generally deeper than Western baths, so people can enjoy soaking up to their shoulders in a tub of hot water.

A cold drink after take a bath is delicious. Sentou of an old style is disliked by the children though modern Sentou is loved. Therefore, cool and delicious drink are necessary for take the children to Sentou.

The style that puts the hand on the waist after take a bath and drinks is a Japanese custom.

This is modern Sentou called "Super Sentou". There are a lot of Super Sentou in a city part and suburbs too. The charge is 600 yen on the average.

The bathtub of SuperSentou is large and dynamic. However, it is not possible to swim here.

Super Sentou has a lot of styles and clean very much. and there are Super Sentou in all regions in Japan now.
There is Super Sentou where people can stay, too. The stay charge is 2000 - 2500 yen on the average. The travel of Japan using Super Sentou is possible.

In SuperSentou, there is a restaurant too. People spend a lot of time with Super Sentou. And, people relax.

The dish of SuperSentou is comparatively cheap and there are many menu and alchol too. Please enjoy.

Japanese House and Bath room

I introduce the bathroom in the house in modern Japan. The house above is a house that I designed (I am house designer). This house is average in Japan though this house has only the first floor. Please pay attention to the bathroom and the toilet in this house. The bath and the toilet in the house in Japan have divided. All houses in Japan are this style. Bathing is one of the enjoyments for the Japanese. There is many persons who takes a bath for one hour or more, though my bathing time is short (about 15 minutes). Especially, the bathing time of the woman is long very much. It is said that bathing is good for the health very much. It might be one of the reasons for a Japanese long life. Japanese woman's average life span is 86 years old as 2010. (Man's average life span is 79 years old.)

This is an average bathroom. Average size is 1.8m x 1.8m.(The changing room and the lavatory are excluded.) And, the wall and the ceiling in most bathrooms are plastics called FRP, because the wall of the tile cracks easily because Japan has a lot of earthquakes.

This is a bathroom in the house that I designed. The wife in this house likes bathing very much. Therefore, I designed the bathroom where a small Japanese garden is able to be seen.

This is the small Japanese garden called "Tsubo Niwa". Tsubo means small size (1.8m x 1.8m), and Niwa means garden in Japanese.
Of course, there are a dynamic house and a bathroom in Japan, too. However, the homesite is narrow in the city part of the big city such as Tokyo and Sapporo etc. Therefore, a lot of ideas are necessary for the designer.

How is Japanese bathing culture (life)? This theme is not Onsen though the Japanese likes Onsen. Moreover, old Sentou of Japan is popular in recent years for Japanese people. Japanese people likes old thing, antique very much. However, it is only a beautiful thing. Therefore, Sentou is clean though Sentou is old. Dirty Sentou had gone bankrupt in old times. The bathing experience with Sentou might be valuable. But can you become naked? hahaha

About Me

I go to Super Sentou with my friend once or more a week. My favorite Super Sentou called "Yuno Hana" is one hour in the car though there are many Super Sentou in near my house, because I like to drive my car very much. Photo is the "Yuno Hana".
I take my friend to the car on holiday and go to "YunoHana". Her bathing time is one hour though my bathing time is 30 minutes. Therefore, I wait for her in the restaurant of Yuno Hana always. And after that, we take a lunch.

*Yuno Hana is classified into Onsen.

After Yuno Hana, we go to Otaru city for siteseeing and shoping, and sometimes movie theater, and this city is beautiful and old port city. This is very relax for us.

Map of Sapporo, Otaru, Yuno Hana

Yuno Hana Official Site (Japanese only)

Otaru City Official Site (English included)

When you come to Japan, please relax after day.

I introduce "Onsen" in near days.

Thank you.

I introduce the school lunch of Japan. The reason why I chose this theme is that I saw French's blog. The blog introduced the school lunch of Japan. And, the bloger was surprised at the school lunch of Japan. I do not know details of the school lunch in the world. And, the school lunch might be one of the cultures of the country. Therefore, I introduce the school lunch of Japan. Please enjoy.

I introduce an educational system of Japan first.

(Kindergarten) 3 years old - 5 years old
(Elementary school) 6 years old - 11 years old (6 years)
(Junior high school) 12 years old - 14 years old (3 years)
(High school) 15 years old - 17 years old (3 years)
(University, College) 18 years old - 21 years old (4 years)
(Graduate school) 22 years old - 23 years old or more (2 years or more)

The compulsory education is an elementary school and a junior high school.
And, the percentage of students who go on to high school is 96.5 % in Japan (as 2006).

Incidentally, there is no military service in Japan.

The photograph above is a lunch of the elementary school in Japan.

The student in Japan divides into the class. The classification is equal. The result of examination is not considered. In one class, there are about 40 students. And, there is 5 - 10 classes in a years grade in the school at the big city. So, in one elementary school in the big city, there are 1200 - 2400 students. On the other hand, there are only several students in the school in a depopulated areas. There are both merits and demerits also in any.

One room is given to the class. And, the student is always in this room excluding a special lesson like the physical education. The teacher of each subject visits their rooms, and the teacher teaches it in the room. This style is applied from the elementary school to the high school. The student lunches in the same room. Therefore, there is no dining room in the school in Japan. The school with the dining room is a university or college only.

Most schools in Japan are these styles. How is a school in your country? Please tell me about it when you have time. The school is one of the cultures. I am very interested.

The photograph above is a lunch of the kindergarten. The style of the kindergarten is various.

This is a junior high school. Do you notice their food? They eat the same foods. All students eat the same food in Japan. Of course, the food is different by the age and the region, etc.

The menu changes every day. This meal is for lower classes in elementary school.

This meal is for the kindergarten.

This meal is for the junior high school.

The menu is various. However, the student have to eat it because there is only one menu in a day and the student cannot choose the menu. This corrects child's likes and dislikes. However, special food is prepared for the child who has the allergy. Recently, the number of such children has increased.

In the school, there is a big kitchen. A special cook cooks a large amount of meal in the morning every day. And, the dish is delivered just before lunch time near the classroom.

And, lunch time. Person on duty's student passes out the dish to the students. The student cannot eat until the work is completed.

The student will drop all meals to the floor sometimes. However, the teacher is not angry. Because the failure is one of the studies. The teacher waits for child's helping. Of course, the kitchen at the school has a spare meal. There is no day which the student doesn't fail.

The blog of the French that I had seen was surprised at lunch by this student. And, a commentator in the blog said that "this might be a part of school".
My answer is "most schools in Japan". Accurately, this style is an elementary school and a junior high school. The high school students eats freely. In Japan, the style is various because there is many kinds of school. At least, an elementary school and a junior high school is this style.

However, there are few people in Japan who says that this is bad system for children because they lose one's individuality and this is against liberalism.

I introduce the history of the school lunch in Japan.

It is said that the school lunch of Japan started in 1889 in Yamagata where is in north and east Japan. The school in Yamagata gave rice and fish to a poor children at the lunch time. A rich child and a poor child exist together in the classroom. The cause of poverty is not the child. Therefore, the teacher gave the child his(her) foods. This approach has spread to the whole country by teachers.

However, World War II has increased poverty. The photograph above is Tokyo. Everything changed into the ashes.

And, the number of children of poverty has increased very much.

The school lunch was started again in a part of region in 1946. Japan at that time was getting food from UNICEF and the United States. Japan was poor country very much.
However, there was a child who was not able to eat the school lunch in the classroom. Because their parents cannot pay the school lunch fee.
Therefore, the government constructed the law of the school lunch in 1954. As for the purpose of the law, all children eat, all children grows up well, all children are the hope of poor Japan. Of course, the child at home where the income is a little gets the school lunch fee exempted.
This law is one of the important laws also in present Japan.

The school lunch is a big national business. However, nobody dislikes child's smile.

The school lunch is a smorgasbord sometimes. The child can choose favorite food. Of course, the annual event is reflected as for the school lunch.

Moreover, the education of food is very important today. The Japanese doesn't leave food on one's plates. Because food is important very much for our life. The children learns it.

The children studies the rice growing. They experience the hardship that makes food.

*I do not think that this is done at all the schools. However, the school is teaching it to the children in various styles.

This is study of cooking. This is done at all the schools. When I was a child, I also learnt. This lesson is big enjoyment for the children, but the teacher is very busy. "Hurry up! Hurry up!"

The dish looks like the fried egg. Children will be proud of their skill of cooking after return to the home.

The dish made for myself is delicious.

There is a person who criticizes the school lunch. However, the number is very little. I also ate the school lunch in the elementary school and the junior high school. It is missed for me.

I examined a present school lunch for this theme. A present school lunch has been very changed. Of course, a present school lunch seems to be delicious. My school lunch was bread every day when I was child, and the bread was not delicious for me. However, there were children who loves the bread, I exchanged it with him every day. School lunch was enjoyment for me very much.

I think that this system of school lunch is not bad, I can control food evry day thanks to this system. If I eat favorite food only and many every day, I lose health, and I can think the person who cannot eat enough food in the world now. The education of the school lunch and food is wonderful.

Thank you.

The avarage number of people per family in Japan was 2.58 in 2005, according to a public survey, but it used to be about 5 back in 1955. After the Second World War, many people moved to metropolitan areas, leaving the farms where they needed to live with their extended family who helped out with the farm work. Thus, nuclear families which consist of one couple and their children started becoming more common. Meanwhile, the number of senior citizens over 75 years old who live alone is estimated to triple in the next 10 years.

The image above is a popular Manga(cartoon) in Japan that says Sazae-san. This Manga of Sazae-san started in 1946, and expresses an ideal family. Sazae-san is still telecasted on the television now.

The family in Japan is a few people now. Moreover, there are a lot of couples who don't want the child. Therefore, the population of Japan decreases in recent years. And, the work force is insufficient, and this becomes a big problem of the society.