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Whole pear tart from a cake shop in Fukui City, "FUJIMIDO"

2016.10.19

There is a cake shop, “FUJIMIDO” near our office. When I stopped by there, a big whole tart caught my attention and I had it with a cup of coffee. The name of the tart is “whole pear tart” as it looks. It is made with a big pear which is placed on a small tart. The pear was cored, there’s cream stuffed inside, the flower stalk is made with chocolate and the tiny leaf is made with a mint leaf.

In the showcase, next to the whole pear tarts, there were tarts which are filled with many muscat grapes. When I went into the shop a while ago, there were cakes made with peaches and figs. I feel the change of seasons from these fruits and I wonder what fruits will be served in winter.

"FUJIMIDO" is not only a good cake shop for their delicious cakes, it is also a convenient shop because they are open until eleven at night.

T.S

VENUS / JETS -Amazing Cheer Squad- Part-2

2016.10.18

JETS and Grace JETS

On September 22nd of this year, All Japan Cheer Dance Championship 2016

for Kansai region was held at Edion Arena Osaka in Osaka.

The cheering squad in Fukui, "VENUS" which we have been interviewing

since last year participated in the championship and won the Cheer Dance Open Part.

They will be going to the finals on November 19th and 20th of this year.

Of course, the active cheering squad of Fukui Commercial High School, "JETS"

won the two parts in the championship as well.

They won the Pom High School-Large and Cheer Dance High School parts.

Therefore, both JETS and VENUS are proudly going to the finals this November.

An adult cheering squad, VENUS has been formed by alumnae of

Fukui Commercial High School JETS (high school cheering squad).

A few of the members of VENUS were the first members of JETS,

and they became models of a movie which will be released next year.

The name of the movie is “Cheer / Dance” and it is about how JETS became

such a strong team that they won the first prize for the fourth consecutive year

at NDA National Championship in the USA.

If you get a chance, please go see it!

I would like to share the video of

“neoliberate01”, “Jets OG Venus 2016 (Part 2) Cheer Dance”.

Here’s the performance of VENUS which was formed by alumnae of JETS

and became models of the movie, “Cheer / Dance” (will be released in March, 2017).

"Cheer / Dance" / Official Movie Site(Only Available in Japanese)

T.F

Travel Journal of Miyako Island, Okinawa #2

2016.10.16

Travel

The language of Miyako Island is unique.
It is completely different from that of the mainland of Okinawa or that of Ishigaki Island.
For example, there are many words including “pa, pi, pu, pe, po” sounds.
In the Miyako Island’s language, “I’m glad” is “Pukaras”.
It is cute, isn’t it?

Also, there are many words starting “n” pronounciation.
You can see the cards saying “Nmyachi” on reserved tables at restaurants in Miyako Island.
That means “Welcome”.
In the mainland of Okinawa, they say “Mensore”, and in Ishigaki Island,
they say “Ori-tori” to express “Welcome”.
These differences make me think that these islands were like different countries and
created each independent culture in the past.

There is a studio which you can experience indigo-dyeing and Miyako hemp weaving.
I experienced the indigo-dyeing. I didn’t know that dyeing can be done by oxidation.
So it requires skill when you pull the cloth out of the indigo liquid and aerate rather than soaking it in the liquid. If aerating process is not done evenly, it causes uneven dyeing.

A house with an entrance approach full of southern country atmosphere.

Mango smoothie at a cafe on a mango farm. The coaster is indigo-dyeing.
The cafe’s wife said that typhoons have not yet hit Miyako Island this year, and
it causes coral bleaching and damage to food crops from insects.
So perhaps rains and winds by typhoons might be necessary in nature.

Miyako-soba noodles is my favorite. It is similar to Okinawa-soba noodles
but the noodles are thinner and the topping is a bit different from Okinawa-soba
noodles. I also like Yaeyama-soba noodles which you can eat in Ishigaki Island.
*These noodles called “soba”, but actually they are made with wheat flour and not with buckwheat flour.

Dinner menu of one day. Rafuthy(braised pork belly) ,mimigar(pork ear skin), and
Orion draft beer is a must. Why is Orion beer that I drink in Okinawa so delicious?

A live stage at an Okinawan restaurant where a live show is held every night.
The two musicians usually look after their cows (Miyako beef is very good!) , and give
live performances at nights. I hope that the tradition of Miyako Island such music
has worked itself into the lives of people of the island would continue.

Japanese Summer Festival Part-5

2016.10.13

Festivals and events

As I introduced in our previous blog that “Aoi Matsuri (festival)” is the oldest festival in Japan,

there was another festival, “Aizen Matsuri (festival)” started 30 years after the Aoi Festival was started. Aizen Festival was started in 593.

It is held in Aizen Do(hall) of Tennoji-ku in Osaka from every June 30th to July 2nd.

Crown prince in ancient Japan, Shotoku Taishi (574-622) wished to help people with pain and sorrow, and the Aizen festival has inherited his wish for a long time.

This is a festival to pray for safety and state of perfect health of the people.

Aizen Festival is one of Osaka’s greatest festivals.

In Osaka, beside Aizen Festival, there are Tenjin Festival and Sumiyoshi Festival.

I would like to show you some part of parade of “Hoe-Kago(palanquins)”.

I am sharing a video of “Mari Yoshitani”, (Aizen Festival parade 2).

Please enjoy.