That Delicious Fish Dish that is pure Bliss

A basic how to of your typical sushi restaurant.

Yes, as you can see they have conveyor belts of sushi, but what may surprise you to find out is that they don't really do the "roll" type of sushi that you often find in America. Here, it is your typical fish on rice. There are a few as you can see that are Nori, Rice, and Seafood-substance ( like the Seafood Salad that you see coming up). Another popular one is egg. It can be hard boiled or fried, but mostly people stick to fish.

Rules for eating sushi

• When eating at a small restaurant where a chef makes it in front of you, do not add too much wasabi. It is considered a bit offensive to the chef. Like how in Chicago some places don't serve ketchup with their hot dogs, they have a unique style and know the best taste for it. 
• As for the wasabi, it is a common style that I have seen (and by that, I mean the only style) to remove the fish from the rice, add a small amount of wasabi and sometimes a few drops of soy (which you can add after the fish has been replaced if you prefer), and then replace the fish. If you are at a restaurant where the chef styles and makes the sushi in front of you, he may already add the wasabi in what he considers if the perfect balance of spice and fish.
• Do not add the wasabi to the soy sauce dish.
• Eat it in one bite. Ok. This is a bit obvious, but really...you just try taking two bites and making it look graceful and unmessy. Yeah, that's what I thought. So take two bites. 
• Many people will advise you to make a small dish of soy for dipping. However, I have found that it is commonplace and perfectly acceptable (at least in restaurants such as the one below) to pour the soy sauce directly onto the sushi. You only add a few drops and definitely not to much. But this method prevents too much waste of the soy sauce and you wont leave any grains of rice afloat in the soy sauce dish. Another note, is that some will advise you to only dip the fish in the dish of soy sauce and not the entire nigiri, as the rice will soak up too much soy (and also leave rice grains afloat)
• Speaking of that, don't leave any grains of rice in the soy sauce dish. It is unavoidable for some, but it is not seen as proper etiquette. 
• Where I have heard it is alright to eat sushi with your hands to eat in some restaurants. I have not seen this. And prefer to always use chopsticks...May Buddha smite you if you use any other utensil.
• The ginger. There is no advisable amount for this. Often when I go to a restaurant with a Japanese friend we can clear out half a container of this if not more. This is considered as a palate cleanser, and is eaten between bites of different sushi. This is so that you get the full effect and flavor of the new sushi you are sampling so you can enjoy it to its fullest effect without having a cross contamination of flavors.

The age old debate: JET vs. Interac

This is post is largely due to the JET and Interac job controversy of which is better. 

Recently I was thrown in the debate of which is better with a fellow ALT...a JET. I was sincerely disappointed to find them uneducated in the topic and have therefore made this article to tell people that one is not better than the other for any one specific reason.

 It all depends on a personal preference. For myself, Interac is much better largely due to the choice of placement and the vacation time. Choice of placement was the most important thing to me. What you have to do when deciding if a job is right for you, is to determine what you value in it. I can promise you that JET pays for a lot more things and then, on top of that, they will pay you more for your work as well. So if it is money you are after, look no further. 

Here I have made a table, based on a lot of research and the help of my friend Ben Brannan that displays each company's values and what they have to offer. So I hope you will find this very helpful if you are considering a job in Japan. 

	JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme)	Interac
Salary	¥3.6 million per year ¥300,000 a month	Varied ¥250,000 a month Rural placement with a vehicle ¥240,000 a month Rural placement ¥230,000 a month Urban/Suburban placement Months March, April, July, August, and December are prorated according to the number of days worked. ~¥13,000 a day (rate may vary) domestic recruit  Note that once you have completed a contract that you are then considered a domestic recruit. Rate varies from branch to branch and city to city. ¥20,000 a month (additional) Transportation costs.
Vacation	10 days leave (average 12-20) 15 national holidays minimum	10 assigned paid vacation days 3-4 weeks in the winter  (prorated salary) 2-3 weeks in the spring  (prorated salary) 1 month+ in the summer  (prorated salary) All national holidays
Housing	Is subsidized up to 50% Employer will find for you	Not subsidized Employer will find for you
Airfare	Round trip airfare is paid for Note that return airfare is only paid for upon contract completion.	Not paid
Location	Minimal to no choice (circumstances of choice: need to be near a hospital or have a spouse who is already settled in a specific city) Mostly rural Cannot reject given placement or will face termination as a candidate and rejection of any future applications.	Choice of region Can reject given placement and the placement office will find a new placement offer. Rural or suburban placements depending on preference  Large city placements, like Tokyo or Osaka, typically go to people with experience.
Number of Employees	4,334 ALTs (2010)	2,500 - 3,000 ALTs
Insurance	Required. National Health insurance Pension options	Required. National Health insurance or InterGlobal Insurance Pension options * Do not physically help in the acquisition of National Health insurance, as it is government issued insurance and Interac is a company (whereas JET is a government program).
Time Restraint	5 year maximum After third year the renewal process is more rigorous requiring additional interviews and essays.	None
Age Restriction	40 years of age	No limit Suggested that BoE's prefer younger candidates. Moving up to an office job and upper management is possible for older employees, but they must have first worked as an ALT.
Transfer	Limited to none	Very easily acquired  (based on the mutual needs of a BoE) Placement preference given to those with experience
Application Process	Longer process More difficult  Less likely to be accepted.  *see statistics in article	Shorter process. Easier.  Find out results quicker.
Employer	The government. You are employed by the Board of Education.	Interac. You are not regulated by the school and do not have to do things that are not sanctioned by Interac (grading papers, joining a club, making tests, etc)
Secondary Jobs	Not allowed	Allowed but cannot work for competing companies (other ALT companies such as JET) Not allowed to private tutor students from classes. (students not from your classes are acceptable)
Future Resume	Opinion: It is a government sponsored position and would likely look a bitter better on a resume.	Opinion: It will look like a typical ALT teaching job. Better than an eikaiwa.

***Application process: I discovered this interesting bit of information in the midst of my research, which could be a really important factor for some.
My references for this chart are the employees of JET, the employees of Interac and employees who have been one for a time and then the other, personal experience, as well as a few facts found from the page below as well as a few other pages. This does not mean that any of this is set in stone. Personal experiences vary. BOE's vary. Schools vary.

"The ALT applicant success rate varies from year to year. For the 2002 JET Program, 320 out of about 500 applicants were granted interviews at the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago; out of 320 interviewees, 185 were selected as short-list candidates, with 80 on the alternate list. Thus, for this year, 64% of applicants were granted interviews, and 58% were selected as short-list candidates. This adds up to an overall success rate of 37%." found at http://www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JIC/jetfaq.html
Actually that site is full of useful information if you are researching about JET.

In recent years, I have found that JET and Interac are both always changing and progressing (or regressing). Interac has been pulling out of many areas and but still managing to grow in numbers. JET has changed their rules a lot in recent years including extending the period of stay from 3 to 5 years, as well as removing the paid for pension and health insurance, which you now have to pay for out of your salary. Also worth a mention is that the salary can possibly vary with JETs. I do have one friend who is a JET and makes a cut about the others, with ¥310,000 a month.

As far as their reputations go. I will leave that to you to research and come up with your own opinion.

Or you can check out The Rising Daikon for more information on the categorical subjects. As well as for a few case stories of both sides.

Cuddle me in my Kotatsu

Stay warm in the winter and be cheap about it!

                 

Warmth can be pretty expensive in Japan. Most places will have Air cons that function as both air cooling and heating. Additionally they are fond of other heating appliances like these electric dishes that have directional heat, as well as these oil powered heating appliances that function extremely efficiently. The oil ones are a bit of a hazard as they do let off fumes, the advantage being that they are decently cheap.
But by far the cheapest option is a kotatsu. In the instructions to my kotatsu it tells me that it only costs one yen per hour on the lowest of settings. This pretty much cut my electric bill in half once I got this.
A kotatsu is a wonderful Japanese invention of a heated table with a futon over it. This is not as silly as it sounds. The table top lifts up and you put this large square blanket on top of the table skeleton and legs and then replace the table top. Worked into the table skeleton is a heater that send glorious rays of sunshine and warmth unto the underbelly of the table. So now you have your table with a blanket one it. Now what? You tuck in! You simply sit down on the floor ( on some floor cushions) and stretch your legs out under the blanket into the contained warmth of the kotatsu. The blanket should be one that certainly reaches the ground on all sides and then with some extra length to accommodate you if you want to tuck in further or sleep there. Sleeping is not incredibly common but you will still find a fair few taking a nap inside one of these. Typically kotatsus will have an accompanying mat that is placed on the floor below the futon. This mat is little more than a plush rug and functions as a soft carpet. Personally I already have a carpeted room and will typically sit on the zabuton ( the Japanese term for floor cushions); therefore, I have no floor mat.
Kotatsus are seen as friendly objects and social gathering places in the winter months. They just have this crazy magnetism to them that draws people in. At a good many of guest houses you will find these furnishings and it is a great way to meet people while traveling. As center pieces, placement is key and often in the center of an open area which is inviting for guests. Though on a personal level, I have my kotatsu set up in front of my TV and consequently my PS3. Perfect Placement.

For curious people who are searching for the perfect kotatsu, I found my pride and joy on sale at Konan for 6,000 yen. This one is 80cm by 80cm, but more common sizes tend to be 75cm by 75cm. There are also rectangular sizes that are fit for families and also higher off the ground. Kotatsus have been getting higher and higher off the ground. Mine has legs extensions, which has become a common feature; but others have become somewhere in between coffee table and dining table height. They are accompanied with little half chairs, the lower ones have chairs that are legless and the ones that are slightly higher have stump-legged chairs. More interestingly is a new adaptation which seems to be an entire dining table complete with chairs and a heavy quilt. Cheaper ones can be found at places like Nitori. A more expensive good quality one is found at your local Muji store ( Oh~ I love this place). And Joshin has a few for sale as well. Another good source for your kotatsu could be your local recycle shop. Personally I was pretty picky on the quality, but, back when I was not in want of a kotatsu, I found the perfect one at a recycle shop. Also when considering purchasing a kotatsu, please note that the futon (blanket) and accompanying mat are not a part of the bundle and bought separately.

If you are looking at contructing your own kotatsu, it is not as hard as it looks. There are a few websites with excellent instructions on how to build the frame and where to order a heater. And then if we are saving money throw a Queen sized comforter on top. Cotton works best for comforters but polyester is acceptable too. Kotatsu futons are not really supposed to be down or made of feathers.

Helpful links for building your own:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-an-American-style-kotatsu/
This next one is broken into parts but I found the most helpful for a person who really likes to craft.
http://osakapop.com/posts/2010/12/16/building-your-own-kotatsu-part-1/
http://osakapop.com/posts/2010/12/20/building-your-own-kotatsu-part-2/
http://osakapop.com/posts/2011/01/16/building-your-own-kotatsu-part-3/
http://osakapop.com/posts/2011/11/23/building-your-own-kotatsu-part-4/




I found this site insanely helpful and informative on ways to heat your home in Japan for anyone who is considering all the pros and cons of the different types of heating.
http://thisjapaneselife.org/2011/02/02/heating-apartment-japan/

Help! I need a Medic!

This is a handy thing to know that I previously did not know.

Every train station has a first aid box. I would hate to know what kind of accident that you got in on or near a train to require this, but it comforting to know that help is there. By first aid, I do not mean your typical band aids and such, supposedly they have things like crutches, water, and blankets inside. I did try to open it and get a look inside but these guys are locked with only the station manager who has a key.

In Korea in the Seoul subway system they have packs available for many as well as blankets and interestingly enough, gas masks. On the subway TV's there they would frequently display the proper usages and techniques for using the safety equipment. I believe the gas masks might have been an addition after the Tokyo cult gas attack, or possibly just in case of North Korea.
                      
In addition to these awesome gas mask boxes, South Korea has set up emergency phones in all their stations. Usually these phones has two buttons, one for information and one for emergency; however, in the more populated areas and station they have input these large black boxes that offer you information in different languages. A complete touch screen display that tells you attractions and restaurants and rest areas in the local area, the complete Seoul subway map, and most importantly it functioned as a free phone where you could call anyone.
                         

Seoul metro turns out to be very prepared for any situation, where on the other hand the Kansai railways only seem to have provisions for immediate personal injuries. Though the two cannot be compared as Seoul has put a lot more money into their train systems in their metropolis. It is said that the Tokyo metropolitan railways have water and blankets on hand for up to one hundred thousand people (100,000) between its 170 stations.

Also note the green cross. Typically in Japan and Korea, medical services are denoted with a green cross. Not a red one. You will often see hospital buildings with a very large green cross upon it.

Happy Valentines Day xoxo

A day of Romance and Chocolate. What more could you ask for?

Only in Japan girls do all the work. That's right. Valentines Day is more of a mans holiday in Japan. There are no flowers with poems or gift wrapped boxes or breakfasts in bed for the ladies here. In Japan the women often hand make chocolates of various assortments and intricate designs or will bake something for a man or men who are their friends or secret crushes.
This day is elaborate in terms of Japan, where you will see a lot of red and pink in the stores and they start selling incredible baking supplies: heart cookie tins, and pick silicon cake molds, decorative cake liners, icing syringes, and most interestingly, these intricate decorative truffle molds. These molds might be in the shapes of cats or dogs and they might have swirls or hearts or a number of ornamentations, where if done just right with different colors of chocolate, they will look like little masterpieces. You can find these at the local dollar store or at nicer stores like Muji or Loft, which will sell ones that have a bit more quality to their design.

You might think that women get the short end of this stick, but our day will come. Don't you worry. That day is White Day and it is a month after Valentines Day, on March 14th.

Pics to come later when I take mine out of the moulds!

And here they are!
The first one is Strawberry Lemonade White Chocolate

And the second one is Orange Milk Chocolate

It is also my little Bro's Birthday on Valentines day. So I had my whole class sing to him!

Happy Birthday Little Bro!

Stay Fashion Chic in the Winter

It's that season. Cover that cough and make sure to have the ever popular winter accessory at the ready!

In fact one of my entire classes was closed for a week because too many students caught the flu in it, so they were banned from coming to school. I am sure they didn't mind. One of the things that we are always told to do after teaching, before eating, upon coming home, is to wash our hands, but perhaps the more essential thing is to wear a face mask. I find this is especially essential in Japanese culture. I have noticed that when they cough they do not tend to cover their faces or redirect the spray of bacteria to another direction. I have actually seen on the subway that a woman with two little girls, first share the same water bottle even after she had been coughing ( oh and she was not wearing a face mask), and second cough directly onto the head of her daughter who was perched upon her lap.
So you see my concern. I did not notice this behavior as much in Korea, though the face masks were ever popular there as well. Face masks are often a sort of paper - the type that you find hospital gowns made of - and will have two straps; either they will both encircle the head or they will wrap either ear. If you are looking for a more long lasting facial mask, then cloth ones are available, but for whatever reason are less popular in Japan (in Korea my elementary kids loved them).

I get the feeling that these masks are seen as an unattractive feature. This is not a personal opinion but rather a witnessed event. Where upon leaving school or entering a social situation, even in the corridors, my students will more often than not remove their mask and place it back on when class is in session. I think that it might be a psychological effort to persuade the teacher not to call upon that student. Additionally, you never see a made up doll ( a young Japanese woman under the influence of make up) wearing any such mask. Either they have super natural abilities to avoid any such sickness, or they too feel like it is not quite the charm point that the manufacturers might want you to think.

Demon Days

Setsubun, also known a Bean Throwing Day, is celebrated on the 3rd of February.

This day is famously celebrated by throwing beans at a demon, oni, to drive him away. This is called mame maki, mame being the beans ( hence eda-mame); however the beans being thrown on this day are roasted soybeans, called fuku-mame (fuku meaning fortune). Typically one poor soul gets to be the oni and people will throw beans at him. This is often the man of the house or occasionally if there is anyone present who is representative of the coming years zodiac sign. The oni gets to wear a special oni mask that can be pricked up for free at the local grocery store, or nicer ones can be purchased elsewhere. Mame-maki is done while saying "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" which means to drive the oni out and welcome in happiness. After driving out the demon, you can eat your fortune ( the beans) on the ground...or happily step on  them, but eating them is considered luckier.

This whole ritual is done just before Risshun, or the beginning of spring. Thus Setsubun is the separation between winter, and spring. Ideally this day would be considered New Years eve in accordance with the lunar calendar; however as with most holidays in today's Japan, this is now a fixed day of the year and does not always coincide with the lunar New Year ( which was January 23rd this year).

Other ways that this holiday is celebrated is through their food culture. Common dishes on this day are a grilled sardine, of which everything is to be eaten, and a large type of sushi roll called, ehomaki, and of course the roasted soy beans. Ehomaki is a funny little tradition. It contains 7 lucky ingredients ( these tend to vary or be eaters choice) and then is eaten in a particular direction. This direction changes every year. This year it was North NorthWest. You then eat this entire engorged sushi roll without chatter or distraction. You are not really supposed to pause, but that does not mean that you are supposed to choke the whole thing down either. Once accomplished, your luck is now certified. Edo-maki, by most accounts, has originated in Osaka. This being the case, it is largely a kansai tradition. The accounts by which edo-maki seems to have originated tend to vary, some involving geishas or farmers and others stills involve samurai, nevertheless the point remains the same at the end of all these tales. They all obtained their luck from eating this roll.

After your meal opener, the main course is served.
Next the sardine is eaten from head to tail, bones and all. Personally, I could not quite achieve this. This is eaten because it is said that the oni cannot stand the smell of it and will forgo devouring you.

Lastly, after eating all this fun food and chasing my demons away, I went to a huge bonfire.

There are many festivities on this day, most located at large temples. Such festivities could include huge bean throwing events, and concerts, and at Yasaka-jinja, near the Gion district in Kyoto, you will have the fabulous opportunity to see geishas and maikos perform a dance for the gods.
Also in Kyoto, Yoshi-da Temple (吉田神社) is a shrine that hold a massive Setsubun event. They compile a huge sacrifice, arrows, wood plates, bamboo, or anything thing that you wish to sacrifice to bring you luck. These items are then strapped to this massive barrel shaped bamboo structure. At exactly eleven, the pile is set fire ( with many fire fighters on guard). It will continue to burn for quite a while and smolder for longer after. This year the flames got so high the firemen had to chase them down a bit. If you wish to see this make sure you are there half an hour in advance, as the security guards stopped entry just after I arrived. Apparently those beans gave me better fortune than I warranted!

Happy New Year - Again!!

Japanese people no longer celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Once before the World War, Japanese people celebrated this custom along with the Chinese and Koreans. Enter American traditions and the holiday was set on the back burner, with more importance shown upon the new year that is set by the Georgian calendar. Japan officially stopped using the Chinese calendar in 1873; long before they stopped celebrating this as as a holiday. I believe this is because Japanese just love their holidays. There are still many holidays in Japan that began in the Edo period and are thus celebrated with the moon phases, or Tsuki-okure, but many more are now being celebrated with the Georgian calendar. Others still, are in the spirit of the lunar calendar but celebrated with the Georgian calendar, like Tanabata which is held on the 7th day of the 7th month according to the lunar calendar, but is now held on July 7th.
Interestingly is that Japanese people still very much follow the Chinese zodiac. These too are vibrantly celebrated and displayed on January first. In the smaller villages and towns in Japan, you might still find some celebrators of the Chinese New Year which hold their customs to the lunar new year day. But you will find more revelers if you look in the local China Towns. There are some decent sized districts in Yokohama as well as Kobe that spritz their area up and put on a show. I had the pleasure of going to the Kobe lunar new year festival.
There you can see speeches, performances, try wonderful Chinese New Year delicacies, and most importantly, the dances. There are two specific dances involving tigers and a Dragon. These elaborate dances utilize the force of many people who are used to support the dragon. The tiger costume is a much smaller operation with just a few people (2-3). The tiger costume is not propped up as the Dragon is and it has full functionality of its facial movements.

 In addition to the dances, I would always recommend a taste of the street food. These vendors sell anything from croquets to pork buns and dumplings, which is a must have as per Chinese New Year tradition. It is said to bring you wealth and prosperity in the new year, but then what doesn't?

 A video of the Kobe Dragon Dance: