Japan

One of the most beautiful countries in the world to me.  I am deeply interested in the culture, nature, language, people, music, fashion, food, technological, industrial and commercial products, and history of of all things Japanese.  The 8.9 earthquake hit off the coast of Japan on Friday, March 11th, 2011, at 2:46:23 pm local time.

Japan is one of the highest media connected and culturally integrated societies in the world.  Much of the devastation, victims and first person's encounters are being flooded onto the internet and covering the majority of the media channels across the world.  I, for one, am currently deeply engrossed by what has happened and cannot bear to stay away from the news.

Live streaming video by Ustream

Here is NHK's livestream in english.  The encounters that were related by the ground zero victims are truly heartwrenching.  I am completely amazed with respect by the victims' stoic and dignified manner  despite the complete wipe out of everything that they hold dear.  There have been no reports of looting so far.  The patience and understanding of the Japanese during this troubled time has far surpassed the global standard of what it means to be civil, and I am sincerely amazed.

News reports that the slew of aftershocks are still going on.  However, the current count on the countires and charity organisations flooding relief aids into Japan doubles that that was recieved during the the Great Hanshin earthquake (Kobe earthquake) in 1995.

On a more personal note, I am truly glad that my friends and family, and their friends and families are safe.  Just being able to know this fact is a gift for the rest of us who feel powerless.  The only way that I want to help right now would be to actually fly to Japan and photograph...everything.  It may sound selfish for my own personal gain, but I do sincerely feel that being able to convey what I see to the outside world will be important to what I want to do with my life. 

If someone out there really cares, I'd suggest donating directly to the Japanese Red Cross.  Currently, the victims and survivors are in dire need of food, clean water and warm blankets.  As Japan and the rest of the world struggles with the relief effort, recovery is going to take a while.  As always, my family and I have been supporting the Japanese economy from our side of the world.

To all my friends and peers around the world who are reading this, do keep in touch.
I will be visitng your country soon.  I'll bring my camera.  =)

Ganbatte, Nihon!

Rakuzen

Before I introduce this little piece of overpriced Japanese food, I will briefly explain what I am doing on my own time...because this is my blog =P

From the top of my head, I will be hitting the gym almost every day now and will be confronting with a vigorous workout routine in order to push up my stamina and to burn off useless tissue in my body, ie, anything that feels soft or can be pinched.  Honestly, every time I get comfortable with a day's workout, the following session I push myself even more and over the edge that will just make my body take a dip down the spiral of exhaustion.  Every time I get off the last few machines, I feel as though if I pushed it just a little more or took a wrong step, I would have sprained something in a really really bad way and would have taken months to recover.  My strongest believe since I was young is that in order to learn how to swim, you need to be thrown into the deep end to fully understand your situation and how far below you really are.

Anyway, here's Rakuzen. =)

Yes, I am impressed with the aesthetics.

What's inside?  Let's take a closer look.

Ito Japanese Noodle Cafe.

On a quest to seek more variety in food and spots to eat at in Melbourne, I've found this corner shop that specialises in Japanese cuisine.   It was recommended to me because of its lunch menu, which I have yet to try, because I usually drop by for dinner instead.

Ito Japanese Noodle Cafe

On Bourke Street.

Ito Japanese Noodle Cafe is another Japanese goodie on the corner of Bourke Street and Market Lane, just two doors down from Ajisen Ramen.

Ajisen Ramen, Melbourne.

I have grown bored of eating along Little Bourke Street and have upgraded to Bourke Street instead.  In comparison, just because the restaurant is secluded, doesn't mean that the food comes cheap nor is it dirty.  In fact, those eateries are the ones that are very popular and there are many who go out of their way just to eat at these establishments.

Little did I know, Ajisen Ramen is a Japanese fast food chain based in Kumamoto City...which sort of explains why there are a few of these all over the place in many cities and countries. =P

Ajisen Ramen on Bourke Street.

Well, enough of an introduction, let's just move on to shots of what I ate that day. =)

Kimurakan Japanese Cafe

When it comes to having lunch, I am very fond of the idea of the Japanese Boxed Lunch aka 'Bento'.  Although I have tried Izakaya Chuji many times (Average of AUD15~ per bento), I was set in my mind to look for a another place offering similar quality and quantity bentos.  After a short search, I came across this quiet little establishment called Kimurakan Japanese Cafe located along Little bourke Street.  This place is known for its large variety of cheaper bentos and I agree with the variety part only.

Kimurakan on Lt Bourke St.
What looks quiet and empty the first minute...

Here is a straight up write up on what I think of this place.

Melbourne Obon Festival

   "Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors.  This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars.  It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori." - Taken from Wiki.

   

Families enjoy performances on stage.

    This is a world-wide custom by others but are known by different names and have a branches of practices.  The commonly known name for it is The Qing Ming Festival (清明節). In Malaysia, some of us call it 'Ching Bing', which I would presume is Hokkien.

Izakaya Chuji

    I am going to jump right into an explanation of what an izakaya is.  An izakaya is a Japanese style fusion of a restaurant and a bar.  It is known for serving food together with drinks and the other way around.  Older times in Japan, an izakaya was a favourite watering hole for the salaryman after work and is well known for its cheap food that is served with a lot of alcohol.  These days, that has changed, whereby you may find many independent women, youngters and families who frequent izakayas.  A mark of an izakaya would be the distinctive double akachojin (literally, red lantern) that stands on both sides of the entrance to the establishment.  From what I read, there will always be a few very close by to the train stations in Japan.

    There is one izakaya styled restaurant that Crystal and I used to frequent up until recently.  Izakaya Chuji has claimed to be the oldest of Izakayas across Aussie.  These points do not pique my interest one bit if the establishment is just so-so.

Izakaya Chuji, on Lonsdale st.

Meiji Japanese Cafe, Again

    It would appear that we really do have a thing for dining out, especially for a place with really good food for a relatively low price.  Here's more shots of when we paid a visit to Meiji again.  Click here for the Flickr album.

Meiji Japanese Restaurant

Meiji Japanese Cafe

    Saturday night, nothing much going on.  Been a tiring week primming for a better looking body so that we may fit into clothes and look better in them.  Dieting is always the main thing to look out for these days when it comes to health =)  I'd figured, since I eat out a lot due to me not having much kitchen utensils to cook, I'd start shooting some food porn.  This way, I'd have good practice ninja-shooting the insides of establishments and inanimated objects.  I'm new to blogging about food, but here goes...

Meiji Japanese Cafe

     Quaint little Japanese restaurant to eat at should you ever be down Little Bourke Street, aka Chinatown.

Japan Night 09

After being in Buffalo for 3 years, I finally attended my first Japan Night. It was really funny =)

Everyone was really tired and yet there was a lot of energy and smiles to go around. This is what I can say is the JSA community in Buffalo.

For me, it was a long and tiring night.. At the end, I fell asleep in my car at McD at 0530 because I wanted to get some brekkie before crashing. It was really quiet and I felt kind of excited and nervous. At least I did not get a cold.. heh.

So, first off was the show at 1800 followed by the Matsuri and afterparty down at 'Quote'.

Here's the Flickr link for the Japan Night 09

I am currently seeking out all of the videos pertaining to this event. Let me know if I missed any.

Trailer for Japan Night.
'Home is Where the Heart is at'
Yes, THAT is Mari Talai in the opening! ^^


Japan Night Crew


Prologue - Myth of the Raccoon presented by Kyoko Umezaki.


Japanese Joke Clip presented by Ashley Yohn.
Seaweed.....


Smily Joe's Smily Shopping brought to you by Smily Joe and Ebay Jack!
It really does work!


Safety Information for 'Mr. I Want To Have A Good Dream Pillow'.
Brought to you by our safety intructor Maica!
Please bring exact change.


Pokemon Trailer Spinoff.
Featuring Ryosuke Kojima & Kazuhiro Ezaki
Audio has been turned off.
Facebook link here. =)


Sadako's Intermission.
Solo act by Yuki Tanimoto.
I keep thinking...Isn't the floor kind of dirty


Prime Minister Mori's Trailer 1.0
Featuring Takashi Nakamura.
Coming to a cinema near you.


Prime Minister Mori's True Story 2.0
Featuring Takashi Nakamura.
Coming to a cinema near you...This summer.
Do they really eat that black guck on a toast?


Princess Peach Spin Off.
Featuring Layna Stewman & Poor poor Masato Uenishi


Have you found a place where you belong?
Featuring JSA!


Japan Night Shots
The best picks




*Cry face*


Leng Chai! Don't get cheeky with the new classmate!




'I Heart Britney'


Cheeky lil' bugger.


Donut Pikachu.


Gorilla!


Winning performance in the International Fiesta.




New and Improved Pikachu! Vm


Mr. Director.


^____^








It's a guy thing ^^




15 feet ceiling? roflmao


DJ Kid & Wakako


I really like the red glare here... Of course I wouldn't get it if my lense hood hadn't cracked =)




The Doppelganger effect




Ryosuke floating!

Fuiyoh.. That was a really really a lot of work for me... And I got the easy part..

Ciao for now!

TJ Remix: Farewell...for now.

So, only on the day itself do I find out that this will be the "last" party for TJ Remix. It has been a great and pleasurable year. Just like the flame of a candle, it burns as bright and soon is extinguished as its life is short lived. As bittersweet as it may seem, please, do enjoy the best picks of the night. =)

Here's a link to the flickr.

Here's a favourite of mine mixed by Kaskade.
Featuring Nelly Furtado, Why do all good things come to an end.