Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets)

One thing that is very beautiful, delicious and Japanese is wagashi. Now, you're probably wondering what on earth wagashi is. Well, as written in the title, wagashi is a traditional Japanese sweet. It is often eaten with a cup of green tea and often reflects the season that it was made it. So, for example, wagashi made in autumn may have autumnal colours or shaped like a leaf.

Making wagashi is considered an art. Wagashi evokes the seasons and landscapes of Japan and appeal to all of the senses. The appearance will appeal to sight, the scent to smell, handling of the sweet to touch, the musical name which sometimes is associated with the seasons and of course, the taste of it.

There are many types of wagashi. Here is a list of some of my favorites;

• Anmitsu (Chilled jelly-like cubes with fruit and sometimes a sweet syrup)

Anmitsu with azuki paste, black syrup and green tea

• Amanatto (Sugar coated beans)
• Dango (Mochi balls skewered on a stick)

Coloured dango
By gochie* (花より・・・) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

• Dorayaki (Two small pancakes containing azuki bean paste)



Dorayaki
By Ocdp (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

• Kuri kinton (Sweet chestnut paste)
• Taiyaki (A fried waffle containing azuki bean paste)

Taiyaki
By ProjectManhattan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

• Yokan (A solid block of azuki bean paste, solidified with agar and sugar)

Recently I have been trying some different wagashi. One of them is called 甘納豆 (amanatto) or sugar coated azuki beans.

It came in this really pretty box

The contents

Daifuku bean

Azuki beans with a cup of green tea

Uguisu beans

Opinion: They were sweet but not too sweet and were absolutely delicious with some green tea. Unfortunately, you cannot buy amanatto in the UK so if you are in Japan, definitely try and find some because they are delicious.

Also, I tried some yokan too.

Here is the box

Once you remove the paper packaging, this is what it looks like

Once you open the box, this is what the yokan packaging looks like

I only tried the honey flavored yokan

And this is what yokan looks like

Opinion: I found it very tasty, it was sweet but not unbearably sweet. I would compare it to a really hard jelly baby. Green tea really goes well with it.

So if you are around in Japan, go and try some wagashi. I recommend the Toraya shop in Ginza and the number of shops in Asakusa.

What!?

This is about the Rugby World Cup match with Japan going against South Africa. If you do not want spoilers, watch the match first and then come back, ok?


Are you back? Ok, lets begin!
Just to say, this is just a post that is expressing my confusion
On Saturday 19th September, the Brave Blossoms played against the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup. Japan is not a Rugby team that is considered strong at all, they have never won a match in the World Cup.


They won 34-32! What!?

I was camping with school when I found out. A teacher came over to tell us the suprising results of the match and there was a massive whatsplosion at the campsite. No one expected it. No one could have predicted it. As I am Japanese, you would think that I would be really happy that Japan won but I spent five minutes just thinking "What!?" and trying to take in what had happened.

Japan is not generally amazing at sports that involve strength apart from gymnastics. The average body size is just not adapted for sports that mainly use strength. But after watching the match, they did do more than their best against the two time world champion, South Africa.

I am looking forward to their next match against Scotland, this Wednesday. Perhaps this was the start of many wins against other teams? Go Brave Blossoms!!!🏉🌸🌸🌸

Autumn in Japan

So, it's that time of year again. People go back to school, work and trees put on a spectacular show before it's winter. Japan is no exception. So I thought that I could start writing an overview about autumn in Japan

Because of Japan's north-south extension, you can see the leaves changing colour and falling over three months. Hokkaido is the first to feel the effect of the autumn. The leaves here start changing from mid September to late October. The warmest areas of Japan like, Okinawa feel the effect of autumn last as it is one of the warmest places in Japan.

Hachioji (Tokyo)
By Kakidai (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

After the long, hot humid summer, autumn is a welcome sign that the temperature will cool down considerably. Temperatures become more comfortable, which is probably one reason that the most popular season in Japan is autumn. A really good place to see the leaves change colour in Tokyo is Meiji-jingu temple in Shinjuku. I will put details on how to find it at the bottom.

Nature, being an integral part of the Japanese culture can be enjoyed everywhere. You can go to places of historical importance to walk through while taking in the colours of the ginko and maple trees.

Food is also an important part of the Japanese autumn. Matsutake mushrooms are being used very often in cooking as they are in season. Most foods are in season so there is a variety of food that you can eat. Delicious fruit such as Japanese pears, persimmons and chestnuts are also in season. You can find them in asian supermarkets and occasionally normal supermarkets. If you find some, I highly recommend that you try it. You will definitely find them in Japanese supermarkets. I might put a few autumn recipies in my next posts.

So if you are around in Japan in the autumn, enjoy the most popular season! Leave a comment about your experiences of a Japanese autumn!

Where to find places;
Meiji jingu temple: Just behind the JR Harajuku station.

Have a break, read about the Kit Kat!

The Kit Kat was invented in York, England in 1988 and popularised around the world. Some countries enjoyed them so much, so they developed flavours that would appeal to the people in that country. One country that did that was Japan!

Fun fact: When you say Kit Kat in Japanese, it sounds like kitto katsu, which means 'you will probably win'. Kit Kats are very popular gifts for students taking important exams.

Japan is particularly famous for their more unusual flavours of Kit Kat. Here is my list of some on the flavours. I would name them all but there are more than 200 flavours but I will name a few.

Mango
Strawberry
Passion fruit
Pineapple

Here are some more unusual ones;

Sweetcorn
Salt and caramel
Potato
Green tea
Pumpkin
Espresso
Ramune
Wasabi

And here are some REALLY unusual flavours;

Chestnut
Red bean soup
Black sugar
Ginger ale
Blueberry cheesecake
Soy sauce

And in England, they have;

Orange
Dark chocolate
Mint
White chocolate
Cookies and cream
Original

When it comes to flavours, Japanese manufacturers really do not limit themselves at all!
Leave a comment about your favorite flavour of Kit Kat (Japanese or not).

In 2014, Japan released a bakeable type of Kit Kat! Japanese Kit Kats have reached a new level!

Here is a video on the baking process!

Note: If you do not have an oven toaster, you can use a grill.

As I had some in the house, I decided to bake them!

This is what the packet looks like! These Kit Kats are Creme Brûlée flavoured.

And this the Kit Kat in its packet

Kit Kat before.

Slighlty burnt out Kit Kat after.

My opinion: They are very very tasty and really taste of creme brûlée. I would recommend this to anyone! If you are in Japan now or are going to in the future, this is one souvenir that you want to bring back with you.

If you are around in Japan, go to Ikebukuro. Visit the world's first Kit Kat Store where they only sell a small number of flavours of Kit Kat that cannot be purchased anywhere else. They also have new flavours every season so there is always something new there if you go again. I will leave details at the bottom.

Here is a video on the Kit Kat Chocolatory by YouTuber Sharla. She is a Canadian YouTuber who currently lives in Japan. Her videos are always really good so, subscribe to her videos if you are looking for videos about Japan. She speaks in English but there are Japanese subtitles.

Tip: Go early! As demand for the chocolate is large, some flavours will sell out very very quickly.

I hope that this post about Kit Kats hasn't made you too hungry. Please subscribe and follow this blog if you want to read more posts about Japanese food. 

Address: Seibu Department Store, 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku

Click this link to go to Google maps.

How to get there: Go to JR Ikebukuro Station (JR stands for Japan Railway) by train or underground/metro/tube (whichever word that you use). Follow the signs for Seibu Exit in the station. You will notice the Kit Kat Chocolatory signs at the Seibu entrance or the vibrant advertising on the pillars. Its in the basement of the department store.