Japan Photos 2023

[thomas]

Someone has to get the ball rolling, so what could be a better start than the osechi festa at the in-laws?

Unedited.

A delicacy from Matsumoto (Junmai Daiginjō Nama Sparkling), to be reviewed later.

And an auspicious view from the balcony:

 

[Maciamo]

Looks delicious, Thomas.
What am I seeing? Sparkling junmaidaiginjo nigorisake? Is it really sparkling or is it just the name?

 

[thomas]

It isn't as sparkling as champagne, but it has a marked (and natural) effervescence. An exquisite brew!


Edit:

Daishinshu Junmai Daiginjo Nama Sparkling

 

[thomas]

I'm not really into cars, but I couldn't resist this vintage beauty in the parking lot: a Nissan Cedric WP31 (built 1962-65).

Unfortunately, it was parked in the shade.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Beautiful condition. Love the old whitewall tires and yellow tint headlights.

 

[johnnyG]

Here's my start, I was out & around today, this very small roadside shrine has caught my eye before, and today as I went by I noticed the color (the cranes):

 

[thomas]

No worries, I've merged both threads!

 

[Lothor]

Someone has to get the ball rolling, so what could be a better start than the osechi festa at the in-laws?

Unedited.

View attachment 99709​

A delicacy from Matsumoto (Junmai Daiginjō Nama Sparkling), to be reviewed later.

View attachment 99711​

And an auspicious view from the balcony:

View attachment 99710


View attachment 99715​

On the subject of o-sechi ryori, this customised version made by a British guy was posted on the British Expats in Japan group on Facebook.

 

[thomas]

On the subject of o-sechi ryori, this customised version made by a British guy was posted on the British Expats in Japan group on Facebook.

Is this what's considered a "Full English Breakfast"?

 

[thomas]

This is to prove that Donpen is still alive and kicking (metaphorically): Don Quijote's flagship store, "Mega Donki", in Shibuya.

Don Quijote to keep its store mascot after online uproar

Don Quijote (ドン・キホーテ), the Japanese discount store chain known as Donki, faced a massive uproar from its fans when they announced last week that they were going to replace their famous mascot Donpen, a blue penguin which wears a Santa hat, with a much simpler logo. "Dojo-chan" would have been an...

jref.com

 

[johnnyG]

Kind of wet, so walks instead of riding. From yesterday and this morning:

 

[musicisgood]

Have you ever eaten noodles coming down them bamboo shoots ? With the clear mountain water they use, it is something that I have found to be so enlightening of this society here.

 

[johnnyG]

bamboo shoots

Those (takenoko) are the springtime sprouting that are dug up early and cooked a variety of ways. What you may be thinking of uses large, mature split bamboo.

 

[Majestic]

probably a typo for "bamboo chutes".

 

[musicisgood]

probably a typo for "bamboo chutes".

Yes, thank you. Bamboo chutes.

 

[johnnyG]

This sums up today, probably the next few days, too.

 

[Majestic]

Let's see those Kyōto snow photos!

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Spare me ! We are having a snow storm every other day here in Maine. Yesterday I had about 9 inches of heavy hard packed snow to clean up. I've seen enough snow to last a life time this week LOL.

 

[Majestic]

Well...look at the bright side. At least you are making good use of your new snow machine.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

If only I could get my snow blower up on the roof LOL. Never get a steel roof when you live in a heavy snow zone.

 

[thomas]

Found on Twitter: Byōdōin Temple (平等院) under a carpet of snow.

 

[Majestic]

So many good photos and short videos coming out of Kyoto after this snowstorm.

 

[thomas]

Not sure where this came from, but apparently it is in Kanazawa:

MORON CAFE

MORON CAFE/cafe/general goods/plants/antique 石川県金沢市の長町武家屋敷跡にあった旧診療所を改装したカフェです。 金沢の歴史を色濃く感じられる地域にありながら、海外の雰囲気を感じられるカフェであり、 オーガニック食材を使用した焼菓子やカレーなど独自の目線でメニュー開発しご提供させて頂いております。

moroncafe.com

 

[johnnyG]

Yeah, sounds like my kind of place! The contact address confirms it in Nagamachi (a few samurai homes around there)--the look of what's across the street from it. The food pics seem good.

 

[mdchachi]

Odd that they don't know how romaji works.

Or maybe it was the chouchin that maker got wrong and thought they couldn't possibly mean MORON and wrote MORAN instead.

The about page says they are specifically going for an overseas vibe. So maybe they think people overseas are morons. (There's a lot of truth to that.)

石川県金沢市の長町武家屋敷跡にあった旧診療所を改装したカフェです。
金沢の歴史を色濃く感じらる地域にありながら、海外の雰囲気を感じられるカフェであり、オーガニック食材を使用した焼菓子や、カレーなど独自の目線でメニュー開発しご提供させて頂いております。