| Friday Flash..More Photos from the Midland Square Building | | 2008-08-21 17:43:00 | | A final few shots from atop the Midland Square Building.Looking down over Nagoya you can see a variety of buildings.You can peek down into one of the more popular rooftop beer gardens that operate in summer.Towards the middle of this photo you can see a school building complete with rooftop swimming pool and gravel school playing yards.On the extreme left a new building swathed in green netting is being built.Looking over Nagoya towards Sakae.You can see the International Centre Building on the bottom left handside of the shot.In this last shot,towards the right,one can make out Nagoya Castle and its green grounds that contrast with the surrounding built-up inner cityscape. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Summer Food | | 2008-08-15 05:29:00 | | A few samples of Dean and Deluca ice cream from the Midland Square store in Nagoya.From left to right Fromage Blanc with Raspberry,Belgian Couverture Chocolate,Kyoto Green Tea and Madagascar Vanilla.The Fromage Blanc contains cheese,raspberry,raspberry sauce,fresh cream,condensed skim milk,sugar and egg yolk.Its quite a thick mixture.The cheese is more akin to cream cheese rather than Edam or mozzarella in terms of texture and provides the substance or filler for the raspberry ingredients and flavour including the little annoying bits that get lodged between your teeth.Worth sampling but Im not sure if Id bother again.The Beligan Couverture Chocolate comes in a dark brown tub which mirrors the contentsThis ice cream like the Fromage Blanc is quite thick but also very rich.Its not overly sweet nor bitter.It looks like real chocolate.Feels like real chocolate when you spoon it and when you first taste it.Its not overly sweet or bitter According to the label the ingredients include the ab | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Traditional Confectionery | | 2008-08-07 19:23:00 | | Jelly like sweets in the shape of watermelon slices.Small wafer like biscuits shaped like fans.The toothpick serves as the handle.The wafers are stuck together with a small molasses like filling.A summer stalwart.Basically its just a pile of shaved ice over which you pour your favourite flavour or topping.Very refreshing,particularly when its half melted and slushy.The offering in the photo above is adorned with a strawberry topping. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
|
|
| Friday Flash..Endoji Shopping Arcade | | 2008-07-31 19:21:00 | | Being the middle of summer it seems theres a festival or matsuri being held literally on every street corner.I ventured out to the Endoji Shopping Arcade earlier this week to see what was happening at the annual Tanabata Festival.The Endoji Shotengai is a traditional shopping arcade within spitting distance of Nagoya Station and many modern buildings in Meieki.Its a quiet backwater.A step back from the modern hurly burly glass,metal and bright lights of more upmarket shopping areas.Grimy,down at heel. For a few days each year the arcade is decorated with traditional tanabata decorations and huge paper mache figures,models and characters.Large figures of cartoon characters such as Tom and Jerry and Winnie the Pooh vie for the attention of onlookers.A variety of animals such as whales and koalas had also been constructed and hung above the passing shoppers.Most of the shops in the arcade which straddles a large main road, appear to be family owned.Theres the usual collection of restauran | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Watermelon KitKats | | 2008-07-24 19:13:00 | | Another addition to the KitKat range I spied in a local supermarket.Again its a limited edition i.e only available for a short time.The packet comes with the suggestion that you put the mini bars in the freezer.Not a bad idea considering the last week the temperature has hovered in the low to mid 30 degree celsius range.As to the contents,the bars do indeed taste of watermelon.As well,they are a little salty as indicated on the packet.Not sure if I would buy them regularly if they were available year round but they do make for an unusual summer treat. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More from the Nagoya Sumo Tournament | | 2008-07-17 19:35:00 | | A couple of shots from the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament I attended earlier in the week.Below is a photo of yokozuna Asashoryu performing the traditional dohyo-iri or "entering the ring" ceremony.Accompanied by two lower ranked wrestlers and a judge,the yokozuna goes through an elaborate ceremony.After clapping his hands to get the attention of the gods he extends his hands to his sides and turns his palms upward to show he isnt hiding any weapons.He next rises one leg in the air then the other.Finally he stomps each leg down onto the the surface of the ring or dohyo symbolically driving evil away.After he has finished and his attendants have left the other yokozuna Hakuho repeated the ceremony.The second shot shows some of the merchandise and souvenirs available from the stalls outside the gym.Various towels,cloths and handkerchiefs were available.A multitude of Hello Kitty goods was also on sale.Pens,cookies and cloths bearing Hello Kitty figures in sumo garb were displayed in each st | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
|
|
| Friday Flash..Triple Berry KitKats | | 2008-07-10 19:19:00 | | A recent addition to the KitKat range are these triple berry kitkats.They come presented in a shiny box that glitters with small stars as you move it.As for the contents they are pink and striped.The KitKats combine the berry flavours of strawberries,cranberries and blueberries.Needless to say they have a very berry taste. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Another Concrete Mt Fuji | | 2008-07-03 18:26:00 | | Another example of a concrete Mount Fuji in a local park.This one doesnt look that safe or maintained compared to the other example I posted last week.The paint on this one has faded and in places bare concrete can be seen.The surface is very smooth and provides little grip or traction when attempting to climb it.If you look closely you can see several large cracks and fissures that run down the sides and near the top of the structure.As with the earlier example,one side has stones embedded in it.Due to the rain and wet weather,climbing up this side of the structure presents a tricky proposition unless you are sure footed. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Concrete Mount Fuji | | 2008-06-26 20:13:00 | |
Ive only recently noticed how frequently these concrete Mount Fuji structures appear in small local parks.The slopes are quite steep and difficult to climb.Some have rocks embedded into them and dont appear to be that child friendly should you lose your grip and fall.
Often painted in garish hues they add a splash of colour to what is often a desolate grassless area frequented by crows and homeless people.
| | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..A Few More Tram and Subway Museum Photos | | 2008-06-19 19:56:00 | | Just a few more shots from the Nagoya Tram and Subway Museum I recently visited.The first shows a bogie and wheels.The second picture shows the model train layout as described in my last post.Prominent buildings in Nagoya are featured such as the JR Central Towers and the TV Tower amongst others.The final photo shows a small model of one of the vehicles that is on display in the Museum. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Haagen Dazs Sorbets | | 2008-06-12 19:15:00 | | I saw these new additions to the Haagen Dazs ice cream range in a local convenience store during the week.According to my battered Oxford Dictionary "sorbet" is defined as "a water ice".The Wild Apple Sorbet certainly meets that definition being crisp,light and watery.My spoon easily cut through the thin texture.Upon pulling back the plastic cover,one is greeted with a fragrant apple smell which lingered even after the contents had been eaten.Its hard to describe the wild apple taste.A little tart and a little sweet at the same time.Not all bitter like a Granny Smith apple nor wholly sweet.Worth a second look for its refreshing light taste.The contents of the Alphonso Mango Sorbet is thicker than that of the Wild Apple Sorbet and didnt yield as easily to my spoon.More like ice cream than a sorbet.I found the vivid orange yellowy colour also detracted from my enjoyment.As for the flavour it was certainly mango.It goes without saying whether you like the sorbet depends on how well you li | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Rainy Season Flowers | | 2008-06-05 19:04:00 | | Tsuyu or the month long summer rainy season begun earlier in the week according to weather officals.Hydrangeas and irises in particular seem to thrive at this time of year and make the most of the abundant moisture available.The two photos above were taken at Tsuramai Park near where I live in Nagoya.There are a number of sunken iris beds in Tsuramai Park planted with a variety of irises.Leading up to the irises beds,paths are flanked with hydrangea bushes flush with blooming heads in stark contrast to the gloomy grey skies overhead. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Brazilian BonBons | | 2008-05-29 19:56:00 | | It never ceases to amaze me the variety of imported foods one can find here.Case in point these Brazilian sweets in the photo above.During the week I read somewhere that Japan was the world's largest food importer and is reliant on five countries including the U.S,China and Australia for more than 70% of its farm imports.I also found interesting that on one hand Japans "food mileage"(ie the amount of food transported times the transport distance) is about 5 times that of Britain and 3 times that of South Korea and of the U.S.On the other hand according to a government white paper 19 million tons of food is thrown away each year as waste in Japan.Food for thought.. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Sicilian Pistachio Ice Cream | | 2008-05-22 18:52:00 | | Another Dean and Deluca offering.Unfortunately its not one of their better efforts.On peeling back the plastic cover one is presented with the beige,bland contents.It looks similar to window putty or grout.The label states that the ingredients include pistachio paste.I was expecting some pieces of pistachio nuts embedded in the ice cream but to no avail.It didnt taste nutty.It didnt taste of anything.It reminded me of tofu.I wouldnt recommend sampling it considering there are better alternatives in this range. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Some Local Photos | | 2008-05-15 19:31:00 | | Been a busy week.One of the schools Ive been working at closed this week.As part of the company restructuring plan schools currently in supermarket chains will be relocated to other premises.Cheaper and smaller.While it appears there are more schools and chances to have lessons it is problematic as most will only have one instructor and arent open seven days a week.It seems pretty pointless to give students the ability to book their teachers over the internet if theres only one or two available.Im starting at a new location today which will be my new home school.Have to wait and see how it pans out. Just a quick note that Ive added a "Frequent Feature" section on the page.Just click on the relevant button.The labels are fairly general,for example,the Japanese food section contains a mixture of past bento,cake and confectionery shots.Finally I must give credit for the two photos in todays section to my mate Peter.Cheers. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Bento | | 2008-05-08 18:33:00 | | A more expensive bento from a chain of lunchbox shops in a local supermarket.Top left are a couple of potato croquettes.Below the croquettes are two slices of meat atop small helpings of potato salad.Bottom right are three chicken nuggets complete with lump of cream cheese sitting on a bed of lettuce. The original asking price was 780 yen but was reduced later in the day to 680 yen. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Subway Pass | | 2008-05-01 18:51:00 | | Ive been purchasing these prepaid subway cards known locally as Yurika cards.Available in a range of prices from 1000yen to 5000yen you get an additional 600 yen credit when you purchase the 5000yen card.The cards can be purchased at various subway stations.As Ive been travelling a lot recently and the average one way trip is around 260 yen I seem to be buying a card once every three weeks or so.The station master logo on the cards incorporate one of the golden shachi or gold killer whale statues that grace the top of Nagoya Castle and are a symbol of the city. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Green Tea and Chocolate Bagels | | 2008-04-24 19:21:00 | | These green tea and chocolate bagels are available for purchase at a local department store.They have an unusual appearance,a light green tinge that sets them apart from the run of the mill cheese or poppy seed varieties.As to the taste,they are slightly bitter,given that the green tea flavour is quite strong but this is tempered by the presence of small bits of chocolate in the bagels thick doughy mixture.While I'd recommend trying them Im not so sure I'd go for seconds. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Tuna Bento and Green Tea Cake | | 2008-04-17 17:45:00 | | Thick slices of tuna sitting on a small finger like portion of rice.The tuna is adorned with mayonnaise and chopped spring onions. A slice of green tea flavoured sponge cake.On the top left is a green tea meringue biscuit which is quite chewy.The biscuit and the dollops of cream sit on a green tea cream like filling.Wedged between the green tea cream layers is a thick green tea flavoured sponge which provides some stability to the whole structure.The green tea flavour is quite smooth and mild compared to other green tea products such as chocolate that Ive tasted. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Delicious Potato | | 2008-04-10 20:34:00 | | Another product that was fleetingly on sale over the last two weeks were these potato chips.Just as ephemeral as cherry blossoms they seem to have disappeared almost as quickly from the supermarket shelves. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More Spring Photos | | 2008-04-03 18:49:00 | | Another shot from Okazaki Castle showing one of the walking paths in the grounds of the Castle.Another view of the Castle.Unfortunately the Castle and grounds are located in an urban area and the presence of apartment buildings and overhead power cables dont add anything to the atmosphere.A shot of some of the drinks available lately.The labels and colours of the drinks and beverages change to match the foilage and hues of the season.The final shot above shows a bento again sporting spring colours with pink being prominent. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Spring Confectionery | | 2008-03-27 18:56:00 | | A selection of confectionery Ive recently seen in the shops.Each season sees a new range of products often only available for a limited time.The new offering from Haagen Dazs features cassis which I believe is blackcurrant and orange.An interesting mix of tastesA mini pack that features some pale yellow coloured caramel flavoured KitKats.Quite sweet and sticky. The KitKats above come in a box that contains a double pack of English tea flavoured wafers coated in dark brown chocolate.I found the tea flavour quite mild.The final shot above shows the most recent KitKat flavour Ive seen recently.Again the hazelnut kitkats come in a small rectangular box containing four sticks in two packs.The hazelnut filling in the wafers was quite thick compared to other flavours and a rich "peanuty" smell and taste. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More Flower Dome Photos | | 2008-03-20 19:47:00 | | Some more photos from the Flower Dome 2008 at Nagoya Dome last week.Above is an exhibit of cacti and other succulents.A colourful display of gerberas.These flowers are very popular and can be seen in florists year round.Another of the eye-catching floral displays made by one of the florists companies competing in their professional competition.There were many chrysanthemums being exhibited by both professional growers and amateurs.Many different striking colours and styles were on show.Some of the fruit and vegetables on show at the organic gardening stand. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..White Day 2008 | | 2008-03-13 21:29:00 | | Friday March 14th here in Japan is celebrated as "White Day".A completely bogus commercial venture to sell confectionery especially marshmellows,biscuits and confectionery.Instead of the free for all flower and chocolate frenzy of St Valentines Day that occurs in most countries where both sexes give and receive gifts,in Japan only women give presents on February 14th.March 14th is payback day where those men receiving presents have to return the favour.The problem for me,as I imagine with most,is trying to remember back a month ago and recalling who actually gave you anything.The other thing is that most of the confectionery,biscuits and gifts available for White Day seem to be a little more expensive than the single bar of chocolate you got.The dilemma then is whether you spend more money or somehow manage to overlook the fact that you got anything at all.The photo above shows some of the gift options available at my local convenience store. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Bentos | | 2008-03-06 19:11:00 | | A couple of bentos or boxed lunch sets that Ive eaten recently.The one above contains more meat and less traditional ingredients than the one below.There is a noticeable absence of seaweed and pickled vegetables in the upper bento which also includes pasta,egg salad and a small helping of coleslaw. The bento below is more traditional in the sense that it has pickled vegetables such as beans and lotus root while there is also a small sampling of seaweed.Instead of meat this lunch box contains grilled fish and a generous amount of rice. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...A Few More RiceBalls | | 2008-02-29 07:26:00 | | A couple of variations on the riceball theme.The pink riceball in the foreground is a plum or ume flavoured onigiri(riceball) while in the rear there is a vegetable onigiri.Priced at one hundred and five yen each they make a quick,filling snack. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Todays Cheap Lunch | | 2008-02-22 07:24:00 | | My co-workers and I recently discovered a cheap lunch alternative to Dorito chips and other saturated fat,high carbo foods just down the street from our place of servitude.The small shop,with an entrance barely wider than an average doorframe, offers a variety of rice balls including the spicy chicken riceball above.Within the generous serving of rice nestles a large chunk of delicious chicken.The seaweed or nori on the outside adds a balanced saltiness to the riceball.Among others for sale I noticed tuna,salmon and plum riceballs also available. As well as riceballs and small plastic containers of vegetables and salads there are also some fried croquettes or patties for purchase.The croquette above contains fried pumpkin and is liberally covered in a sweet savoury sauce.Two riceballs and a croquette made for a filling and inexpensive lunch as I still had a little change from 500yen.Bargain! | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Pieces of Cake | | 2008-02-08 06:59:00 | | It seems in the buildup to Valentines Day here local bakeries or patisseries as they advertise themselves make an all out assault on your taste buds and wallets.There appears to be a never-ending array of cakes and desserts to entice you into the shop and part with your hard earned yen.The dessert above consists of four large strawberries balanced on a thick moist caramel flavoured biscuit.The space in the centre of the strawberries is filled with a thick cream filling.The strawberries themselves are bedecked with a thick creamy topping and are also covered in a shiny sweet sugar glace.This second offering is a dense,moist slice of chocolate cake.As with the first dessert above,the cake has a thick creamy topping and also two thin strips of chocolate adding yet more calories.The cake also has a thick sprinkling of chocolate powder on its surface to give it a professional finish. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More Plum Bonsai | | 2008-02-01 07:03:00 | | Due to the fact I had to change my current days off at short notice I didnt have much time today.My days off are now the same as the days my school is closed.While it means I no longer have to get up early on Sundays and work it does mean that I lose a fairly big allowance which went with working on Sundays.Swings and roundabouts really. Anyway here are two more plum bonsai trees that were on display last weekend.As with the trees in the photos last Monday these ones had a highly concentrated scent probably due to their small size.A nice reminder on a cold wintry day that spring isnt far off. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...A Slice of Cake. | | 2008-01-25 06:44:00 | | Two photos of slices of gateaux or cake available from a local bakery here in Osu Kannon.The first features a chocolate sponge with a centre of cream and sliced banana.On the top is a walnut and a thin chocolate disk held in place by fresh whipped cream. Below is a slice of strawberry sponge cake.In the middle of the sponge there is a strawberry and fresh cream filling. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...UpMarket Bentos | | 2008-01-18 03:35:00 | | Having received my first full monthly salary since September after the demise of Nova Corp,I decided to celebrate.I purchased these two lunchboxes from a shop in the Mitsukoshi Department Store basement foodcourt.The one above contains potato and ham salad and a small serving of coconut and mandarin dessert.The six sushi rolls include a variety of fish,seafood and cream cheese.This second bento is also colourful and has a number of different tastes and textures.Under the fried lotus root rings in the centre of the lunchbox there are three medallions of meat surrounded by a spicy Chinese vegetable salad.At the back in the purple patty pan there is a mouthful size offering of seaweed and mushrooms.In the foreground,the crimson-reddish patty pan contains some pickled vegetables.While a little more expensive than their supermarket equivalents I feel its worth it in terms of the presentation,care and attention that distinguishes them from their run of the mill counterparts. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Kagimochi | | 2008-01-11 03:22:00 | | Another New Year decoration commonly seen is the kagimochi.Traditionally it is an offering to the god of the incoming year and placed on the family altar before New Years.On January 11th,known as kagami biraki, it is broken up and eaten by members of the household.Kagimochi is a small,round,two tiered sticky rice cake made from mochi rice.It looks similar to a headless snowman.It usually has a small bitter orange on top.The orange is known as a daiai which is a homonymn for the word "generations" and considered lucky.The kagimochi above has a plastic rodent atop instead of an orange as 2008 is the Year of Mouse.Mochi rice cakes are made from boiled sticky rice or mochi-gome.The mochi-gome is hit repeatedly with a wooden mallet-like hammer until it becomes sticky.It is then formed into rice cakes or made into kagimochi decorations.As mochi is very sticky around New Years it contributes to a number of deaths caused by choking.It seems that elderly people in particular are susceptible to choking on mochi.This year it was variously reported that 5 elderly people died and at least 5 others were admitted into hospitals after choking on mochi cakes over the New Year period.Perhaps the mochi cakes should come with a health warning. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Hatsumode 2008 (part 1) | | 2008-01-04 04:45:00 | | Hatsumode refers to the first visit you make to a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple each New Year.Traditionally,Japanese people crowd such places en masse over the first few days of the New Year starting from midnight January 1st to pray for a good New Year. The photo above shows the throngs waiting on January 1st at Osu Kannon.While it wasnt snowing,it was bitterly cold with an Arctic wind blowing into the well wrapped up masses.As well as stalls selling the almost obligatory lucky charms in the temple courtyard, there were also the usual food stalls set up nearby.Steam can be seen rising from the potato stand where the hot potatoes were literally selling like...This okonomiyaki stand was also doing a brisk trade as customers formed a patient, orderly line as their meal was cooked. Another staple like okonomiyaki, to be found at festivals and public events is the choco-banana.This was a steal,literally at 300yen each, but very hard to resist with a generous coating of chocolate. KadamatsuThe shot above shows a traditional New Years decoration called a kadamatsu.Translated literally it means gate pine.Again,like the shimekazari below,the design varies.It can be simply a twig of pine branches taped to a gate or as elaborate as the one above.Typically such decorations include pine,bamboo and ume or plum branches and sprigs which in turn represent longevity,prosperity and reliability.The centrepiece of the kadamatsu is formed from three bamboo branches or shoots.Again according to traditional Japanese flower arranging each of these three branches are cut to different heights.They represent heaven,humanity and earth with heaven being the tallest and earth the shortest of the three.These decorations are usually placed in pairs at either side of gates or the main entrances of businesses or homes for the first few days of the New Year. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Hatsumode 2008 (part 2) | | 2008-01-04 04:16:00 | | These photos below show some examples of New Year decorations or shimekazari which are hung on or over the front door.There are many different designs but generally it is a rope or straw decoration from which a shide or white strip of paper hangs.Shimekazari are hung on or over doors to both show the temporary residence of the God of the New Year or Toshigami who brings good luck and also to deter bad spirits from entering the home. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Christmas Desserts | | 2007-12-20 22:32:00 | | It seems at Christmas the small bakeries and pastisserie shops go all out to produce eye-catching and colourful desserts and treats.Much care and attention goes into producing these extravagant individual offerings.The one above has a few strawberries and cranberries sitting on a base of cream and sponge.The sponge is itself floating on a sweet caramel like sauce.The second dessert has a thin champagne coloured jelly on top.Once you dig in below the surface there emerges a trifle like mixture.Small chunks of pineapple and sponge together with a custard sauce appear on the end of your spoon.Very tempting. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More Bentos | | 2007-12-14 02:02:00 | | I spent the best part of Friday morning at the local city tax office trying to explain that I havent received a full salary since August and wont be getting another till mid January.Yet I still found myself having to pay a late penalty despite my pleading for some kind of waiver or compassion.Anyway to cheer myself up I visited the basement of Mitsukoshi Department Store in Sakae,Central Nagoya. The bowels of the Mitsukoshi Building(which may not be the most apt adjective) contain a huge food court.Fresh produce and vegetable stalls are jammed up against other small counters serving a virtual myriad of foods and sweets.Not only can you see fresh bentos being made up as you watch,dazzled by the rainbow of colours and ingredients on display but one can also purchase many different types of confectionery such as cakes,cream rolls,pastry,traditional sweets...the list is endless The bento above contains all sorts of beans and things to nibble on.Theres a small portion of hamburger meat next to a small serving of spicy tomato sauce containing chick peas.The yellow patty cup in the centre contains some shiny mushy black beans.The whole bento is very eye-catching,moderately priced given its contents and quite filling. I was also attracted to the small pack above which was sold at another busy stall on the basement floor. These four rolls contain a wedge of avocado,crab and a small slice of cream cheese surounded by rice.Obviously the avocado and cream cheese are not traditionally found in such rolls but their colour,taste and texture make them suitable companions for the crab and orange roe.An agreeable and adventurous snack. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Some recent Bentos Ive eaten.. | | 2007-12-07 02:46:00 | | Having enjoyed the recently rare pleasure of actually being paid for my labours I expanded my spartan diet to include the bentos or Japanese lunchboxes Ive photographed below.The first bento has a mixture of rice and various meat servings including a small saveloy or red hotdog together with a less than tradtional dollop of mustard and tomato sauce.This second more traditional bento below illustrates what for me are important factors when considering bentos...the colour and presentation.It is very attractive with a variety of autumnal colours.The egg yellow omelette(top left),compliments the orange pumpkin in the mid foreground while being separated by the diagonally arranged rice servings.There are also a variety of tastes and textures included in this offering.Crunchy carrots.Fibrous mushrooms.Smooth tofu.Pickled ginger.While this third and last bento is less visually compelling than the vegetarian offering above it still contains assorted tastes and different servings.Top left there are bite size offerings of fish while bottom right there are shrimps marinated in a spicy chilli sauce.Also offered in this bento are vegetables and egg omelette decorated with a couple of mushrooms as a garnish. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Nana Chan | | 2007-11-30 03:26:00 | | This six metre or so tall mannequin stands outside the Meitestsu Department store near Nagoya Station.Here she is sporting a seasonal Christmas outfit.She seems to have a large wardrobe of clothes.In summer she wore a pink bikini and recently she was clad in the Chunichi Dragons baseball strip when the team won the Japan Series for the first time in about fifty years.Apparently Nana chan is the largest doll-like figure in Japan and first appeared in 1973 to mark the anniversary of the Meitestu Department store opening. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Paper Mache Lizard | | 2007-11-23 04:40:00 | | I finally got round to finishing this small gecko/lizard paper mache creation over the last few weeks.It had been lying around in a semi-completed state for about six months.Its only in the last month or so while being "unemployed" or "on standby"I have had the oppurtunity to add a few more layers of paper mache to it as well as paint and varnish it.From the tip of its nose to its tail it measures around 25 centimeters in length.The black and silver paint and varnish sheen is quite deceptive.One of my friends thought it was metal rather than paper and glue. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Apple KitKats | | 2007-11-16 05:49:00 | | This small KitKat box contains two apple flavoured KitKats.On opening each KitKat wrapper you are greeted with a sweet apple scent.The creamy apple flavouring and biscuit are surrounded by thick dark brown chocolate.Im not sure that eating one of these apple KitKats is "a moment of precious indulgence" as written on the box front but nonetheless its a pleasant enough treat. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Mild Bitter Kit Kats | | 2007-11-09 02:38:00 | | In between applying for jobs,trying to keep up with the continuing Nova saga and attending meetings I spied these Mild Bitter KitKats on the shelves of my local convenience store.My first thought was...WHY? Mild bitter...KitKats for the indecisive?After sampling a couple of bars(there are 6 in this pack) I thought they still tasted rather sweet so Im not sure who they would appeal too.What next sweet and sour kitkats? | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Its Been One Week Since.. | | 2007-11-02 03:11:00 | | Its been one week since Nova Corp sought court protection from its creditors.One week in which it was announced schools would be closed indefinitely.One week in which Japanese staff and foreign instructors were told via the company website to stand by.One week during which the government appointed receiver has been trying to find a sponsor company to operate Nova.One week in which Ive been spending my time trying to decide what to do next.One week when Ive applied for countless jobs both in Japan and overseas including China.One week in which Ive divided my time between trying to get to grips with the whole situation regarding employment,resignation,certicates of job separation and unemployment benefits and sitting in at the Foreign Artists Exhibition that runs this week.Hopefully the situation will become clearer on Monday 5th November when the receiver will apparently make some sort of announcement regarding the company. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...The Rabbit Bites The Dust | | 2007-10-26 09:34:00 | | "As a manager my heart is torn by grief about the fact that everyones salaries have been delayed and you are all working right up to the edge of this situation".(Text from one of the faxes from the former CEO Nova Group).So I wake up late this morning after a stressful,surreal week at work to a rainy Friday 26 October 2007.An email on my cellphone alerts me to the fact my company has closed its doors.In a late Thursday night meeting the former President was reportedly replaced and the company filed for bankruptcy and protection from creditors under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.An estimated 43.9 billion yen in debts.Branches closed indefinitely.The government appointed receiver spoke of a month or so trying to find a new sponsor.A month.Another month without a salary payment.Trying to juggle finances.Just how long can one survive on a diet of beansprouts?A visit to Hello Work yes Hello Work is the local Employment Agency yielded little joy either.It could take up to a month for yo | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Flying Pigs | | 2007-10-19 08:49:00 | | Well Friday 19th October has almost gone.Payday minus four.Still no sign of the salary that was delayed from Monday 15th.And this despite the fact that the fax sent on Monday stated "Instructors are now scheduled to be paid on Friday October 19th.Apparently it will now magically appear on October 31st.Trick or treat?Probably the latter.I'm not holding out much hope of getting it.As for the photo above the pigs first appeared in the Foreign Artists Exhibition 2005.Given my current employment situation I felt it time to dust them off and hang them up at work.Seemed appropriate. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Paper Cuts | | 2007-10-12 06:10:00 | | I'm due to be paid on Monday.Possibly.Or there may be a late fax asking for our forebearance.Again.Possibly.However there may be no fax and my salary will magically appear in my bank account.Possibly not.There may be no fax and no salary.Possibly yes.Of course the signs had been there for a long time.Too rapid growth.A move away from locations near railway stations to more suburban expensively rented space in shopping malls.The adoption of a hastily put together cut and paste error ridden textbook series that has plagiarised and pillaged other textbooks.The cutting back of office budgets leading to a shortage of basic stationery items such as whiteboard markers and photocopying paper to the point where both office staff and instructors regularly pay for supplies out of their own pockets to cover the shortfall. Ive stopped trying to work out the machinations of big business,share splits and warrants.Ive stopped reading the sites that pour forth bitter invective,scorn and idle baseless | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Noisette Chocolat | | 2007-10-05 06:15:00 | | Noisette ice cream? Curious name.Given my carnivorous upbringing in New Zealand Ive always associated noisettes with meat such as lamb.Delicate small round boneless slices of baby sheep with a garnish of rosemary or a sprig of fresh mint atop.A quick google suggests that as well as being a portion of meat noisette can also refer to either 1...something made from hazelnuts such as beurre noisette or hazelnut butter or 2.a chocolate made from hazelnuts.Obviously this latest seasonal offering from Haagen Daz is chocolate hazelnut flavoured ice cream.Its very light and seems to melt faster than say the classic chocolate which is of a thicker consistency and heavier taste.Its ok as far as flavors go but I wouldnt go out of my way to hunt another tub down during the limited time its available. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Veggie Bento | | 2007-09-28 06:15:00 | | A small but filling vegetable selection from a local supermarket.Looking from the front there are two slices of pumpkin on the left.Nestled beside these are a couple of slices of boiled or steamed red skinned sweet potato,satsumaimo.Two white circles of potato squat on what tasted like sticks of celery in the foreground.Wedged between the potato balls and the two blocks of tofu are the heads of two small mushrooms.Toward the middle on the left are two circular pieces of crunchy lotus root or renkon that remind me of catherine wheels or the old style rotary dial telephones.Beside the renkon is what I believe is a bamboo shoot,takenoko, again crunchy and fibrous.Atop the blocks of tofu is a piece of carrot cut out in the shape of a maple leaf.Behind the tofu are two slices of slippery gelatine-like konnyaku.Hidden away top left are two small lumps of lightly fried renkon which if I heard the shop assistant correctly was renkon no suage.Quite a colorful collection for the start of autumn. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Autumn Chestnut KitKats | | 2007-09-21 04:09:00 | | Despite the continued heat being generated by a stationary high pressure area hanging off the Pacific coast of Japan there are some signs that autumn is coming.One sure sign is that on Monday its the autumn equinox.Another is the appearance of seasonal food,drinks and confectionery in the stores and supermarkets.The latest limited release in the KitKat range is this chestnut flavour.It comes in a beige coloured box.The wafer biscuits are also encased in a beige-like chocolate.Personally I dont think they taste much like chestnuts or marron at all.More like a light coffee, almost carmel taste.Two willing assistants who sampled the same flavour came to a similiar conclusion.Still they are edible and quite pleasant. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Fishy Bento | | 2007-09-14 13:35:00 | | This fishy snack has a variety of fish,textures and tastes to it.From left to right there is an omelette-like slice of egg,then a slice of Pacific saury or sanma,a fish that resembles a sword.It is often grilled with salt or served as sashimi.Next is a thick slice of salmon or sake,which apparently tastes good also grilled with salt.To its right is shrimp or ebi and finally a bite size morsel of eel.Each of the above sit on a small "finger" of rice.The usual condiments of parsley and ginger can be seen as well as thin green plastic strips which divide the various items from one another. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Vanilla Beans KitKats | | 2007-09-07 13:52:00 | | Another addition,albeit on sale only for a limited time,to the growing range of KitKat flavours available here in Nagoya,Japan.As with the recent orange and chocolate kitkats I spotted late last month,these also bear a label indicating their short term availabilty.Which got me wondering...if the flavour is a hit would the KitKat people continue making them or stop producing them after a short time as shown on the box and run the risk of disappointing consumers who have become addicted to that particular flavour.Surely some flavours are more popular than others and deserve in terms of sales and customer loyalty to be available 24/365 at ones local convenience store.I mean surely the banana kitkats deserve a regular spot on the shelves more so than the sickly sweet lemon ones.As for the vanilla beans kitkats above,they do taste and smell strongly of vanilla and bond well with the accompanying wafer biscuit.Nothing really special though as with the chocolate and orange ones or in fact any KitKat product eaten in the humid lingering Japanese summer they are best enjoyed after being briefly refrigerated. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...The First Sign of Autumn? | | 2007-08-31 12:56:00 | | Spotted this new(well it is for me)flavour at a local convenience store.Its the second flavour in the Dean and Deluca ice cream range Ive seen here.I wasnt actually aware Dean and Deluca made ice-cream for the Japanese market until a few weeks ago.At 280 yen for this size its definitely at the top end of the price range.A similiar sized mini cup Haagen Daz retails round the 263 yen mark.As for the marron flavour its aimed at the local market as "marron" translates from French into Japanese as "chestnut".Dont ask why.I think its similiar logic that translates what I think of as a "cream puff" type pastry into "choux cream" in Japanese.The ice-cream appears in the photo above more like vanilla than a green/tawny colour I'd expected.It also tastes very vanilla-like despite containing marron and marron paste according to the labelling on the container.Whatever,its quite pleasant and smooth with a hint of brandy coming through.No doubt I will see more cakes and confectionery containing marron as summer fades. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Orange and Chocolate KitKats | | 2007-08-24 11:20:00 | | Another KitKat flavour made a brief appearance on the shop shelves this week.Like other seasonal flavours the orange and chocolate kitkats above are of the limited edition variety.In fact when I went back to purchase another box the next day,the convenience store had already sold out.The kitkats have a kind of jaffa taste and a distinctive sweet orange smell once the box is opened.The heat continued through the week.It seems the last month or so the temperature has hovered round the thirty degree mark which is ok if you are a cactus but somewhat trying if you need to sleep or function in any intelligent manner.Consequently Im too exhausted to do much again this weekend except nap and read on the tatami in my bedroom. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Kyo mo atsui wa ne? | | 2007-08-17 13:04:00 | | Kyo mo atsui wa ne?(Its hot today isnt it?) was a bit of an understatement in the rural city I work at.Yesterday the temperature in Tajimi City,Gifu Prefecture hit 40.9 degrees celsius.Tajimi is a thirty minute train ride from Nagoya,the sprawling,oft-ignored metropolis between Tokyo and Osaka.Tajimi lies in a basin,nestled between low-lying hills.In summer,due to its topography,it regularly tops the national temperature charts.As I left work late yesterday afternoon I noticed about four or five television trucks camped round the train station with camera men and interviewers stopping locals and asking for their comments which seemed to amount to "atsui,atsui" its hot its hot. Yesterday,along with Kumagaya City in Saitama Prefecture,Tajimi broke the previous national record of 40.8 degrees celsius set in Yamagata way back in 1933.Although it was my day off today and I sweltered in Nagoya,Tajimi hit 40.8 degrees equalling the old record.As for the photo above...I havent seen the Dean a | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..More Cosplay Summit 2007 Photos | | 2007-08-10 12:42:00 | | I had planned to do many things today.However,by mid morning the mercury had risen to around 30 peaking at 37 degrees celsius so only I ended up dragging myself to the local swimming pool and after that lying on the tatami in my apartment trying to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.So I took the easy option and posted some more photos from last weeks cosplay summit parade in Osu Kannon.Special thanks to Peter who kindly supplied the three shots below. As I noted on Monday there was a sizable overseas contingent of cosplayers also competing.The man with the white wig next to the female competitor in the green mini skirt had gone to some lengths to reproduce his character as his costume and waist coat were highly detailed and accessorised.The final shot shows three more masked cosplay characters who were in the parade.It must have been hot under those masks as the temperature hovered round the high 20 degree celsius mark and was very humid.Later in the day a short,violent electrical sto | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Typhoon Number 5 | | 2007-08-03 12:19:00 | | Typhoon Number 5 or "usagi"('rabbit' in English) is making its way through Japan.It made landfall in Kyushu before heading north over the Sea of Japan and is likely to make its second landfall up in Hokkaido some time tomorrow Saturday.Meanwhile in Nagoya its just brought two really hot humid days and strong winds.The forecast rain didnt really eventuate but would have been welcome to cool at least temporarily the area.The apparently unrelated photo above shows the Nova Usagi or rabbit the once ubiquitious symbol of Nova Corporation,one of the big four English language schools in Japan.Since the METI sanctions and the refund scandal however the usagi can no longer be seen on TV screens or on public transport such as trains and subway carriages.Due to a "computer glitch" Japanese staff at Nova had their past months pay delayed by 4-5 days while they have also been told that their summer bonus will now be paid in October in part due to the amount of student refunds being paid out.Unconfi | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Sumo GuideBook Cover | | 2007-07-27 15:48:00 | | Every year I go to the Nagoya Sumo Tournament Im given a booklet from the Japan Sumo Association along with my ticket and a small gift such as a phone strap.The booklets cover is shown above.The booklet is written in English and not only does it explain the rules and traditions of sumo,the booklet itself makes a good souvenir of the sporting occasion.As predicted on Monday the Japan Sumo Association promoted Kotomitsuki to the rank of ozeki.He's the first Japanese wrestler to be promoted to ozeki since 2001 and also the oldest wrestler to reach the second highest rank since the start of the six big tournament system in 1958 at the age of 31.It will be interesting to see how he goes as an ozeki and whether he can aspire to the highest rank of yokozuna in the next few tournaments. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Nagoya Summer Sumo Tournament | | 2007-07-20 16:15:00 | | I went along to the thirteenth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament held in the Nagoya Prefectural Gym adjacent to Nagoya Castle.I had the above bento mid-morning as I'd woken up late and skipped breakfast.The bento came in a bag which contained the two polystrene boxes above.The left hand box contains various vegetables and pickled food as well as a huge prawn lurking on the bottom of the box.The right hand box contains rice on which is shredded egg,a small piece of eel which I almost choked on,pink ginger and orange salmon roe.All of which add flavour to the somewhat overcooked and otherwise bland rice.Not really a bargain at 1500 yen,more a part of the ritual of going to the sumo. As for the sumo itself,well that can wait till Monday. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Cheap Snack | | 2007-07-06 10:30:00 | | Too hot and tired to cook or indulge in the fast food of the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet that spews out its fatty fumes daily from 7:30am to 11pm at the foot of my apartment building I happened upon this lunchbox at a local supermarket.Seems a relative bargain at 298yen.Certainly more colorful and nutritious than the oil saturated offerings five floors below.Thirty odd degrees celsius today and very humid with omninous clouds building up.Theres a likelihood of a brief respite from the sticky weather if it rains.Though its only passing relief as the temperature and humidity rise to evaporate the puddles from the spent shower clouds. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Anko | | 2007-06-29 12:51:00 | | I spotted these colourful sweets in the local Daiei supermarket.Shopping between showers earlier today Im surprised how many people werent carrying umbrellas despite it being the middle of the rainy season and the leaden clouds threatening to explode into torrents of water at any moment.The sweets,I was reliably informed by the cashier,are anko or crushed red azuki bean paste that has been sweetened with sugar and water.Despite their appearance they taste rather bland to me,the reason being Ive been told that they balance the strong,bitter matcha or green tea with which they are often served.Anko paste filling often pops up in various bread products which can be a shock to the unwary.Ive managed to remember and recognise the three simple kanji that denote anko so usually check the labels before making a purchase. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Rainy Season | | 2007-06-22 11:04:00 | | Although the rainy season officially started last week round here,today Friday is the first time that we've any substanial rainfall.It was raining when I woke up and now towards the evening it shows no sign of abating.One shrub that flourishes this time of year is the hydrangea or ajisai.There are many of the plants coming into bloom now.The flowers come in a myriad of colours ranging from pinkish red through to purple and deep blue.The original Japanese species is gaku-ajisai or big leaved hydrangea and many ornamental varieties have been developed from this native type.Some of these ornamental species especially those with pink and white flowers were developed overseas and then re-imported back into Japan.The damp,dank weather and grey cloudy skies add to the flowers subtle colours. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Nova in the News Again | | 2007-06-15 12:52:00 | | Works been in the news again this week.Again for all the wrong reasons.Headline news on NHK television.Headlines in the two main English language broadsheets on Thursday.More fodder for the local tabloids.In a nutshell METI the Ministry of Economy,Trade and Industry ordered Japan's largest English language school chain from solicting or accepting applications for contracts longer than a year or new contracts exceeding 70 hours.The order will stand for six months and is the result of investigations earlier in the year in connection with the law regulating commercial practices and cancellation of contract procedures.In February METI inspected the company's headquarters in Osaka.One of the more vitriolic reports quoted an METI offical thus "We have concluded that Nova's way of soliciting students was extremely malicious..."It engaged in illegal acts, with the top management at its head office authorizing the irregularities"...."the company even compiled a manual advising staff about ho | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...More Chocolate... | | 2007-06-08 10:50:00 | | Seems every week theres a new kind of chocolate bar or flavour on the shelf awaiting chocoholics like myself.This week I spotted these new additions from Meiji a local confectionery company.The two boxes differ in that one contains 86% cacao(the silver box) while its green counterpart boasts having a lower 72% cacao content.I found the silver 86% cacao too bitter for my taste and while the 72% chocolate is still bitter at least I could finish the small bite sized portion enclosed in the foil wrapper.Im sure theres a market for this kind of chocolate otherwise it wouldnt be on the shelves..maybe Im not sophisticated enough to appreciate how delicate and refined it is,having been bribed and reared on such sugary sickly sweet diabetes inducing delights as chocolate marshmellow fish,gum snakes,Cadbury Caramel Eggs and Whittakers Peanut Bars. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash... | | 2007-06-01 11:33:00 | | Fine clear weather for the first of June.I ate this bento from the corner store in the sunshine.In the left section you can find(left to right) meguro or tuna atop a finger of rice and a dash of wasabi.Nestled in the middle is tai or snapper (white flesh and kind of rubbery) and on the end ebi or shrimp.The middle section contains various sachets and garnishes to mix with the sushi rolls and soba noddles which occupy the right hand side of the bento.The blackish sachet in the centre contains a watery vingeary sauce which you drizzle over the noddles.Sitting on the noddles as a garnish are radish like sprouts.Eating the cold noddles is refreshing on such a warm day. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash....Food Photos | | 2007-05-25 09:30:00 | | I bought this bento in London near the Embankment tube station on my vacation last month.The shop belonged to a chain called Wasabi.The website helpfully printed on the paper bag is www.wasabi.uk.com if you are interested.Price wise it worked out similiar to what I`d pay here in Nagoya.There was a good selection of lunchboxes on the shelves including some non strictly Japanese fare such as California type rolls sporting avocado filling.From my brief sojourn in London it seems Japanese food is popular if the number of chains is any indication.There seems to have been a rash of different kinds of KitKats available recently.The upmarket brandy and orange kitkat is a little more expensive than the other two recent additions to the range.The kitkat which proclaims to contain 72% cocoa is definitely more bitter than its 61% counterpart which I found milder and more to my taste.Im not sure what the marketing strategy is but I wouldnt be buying the higher cocoa containing chocolate again. Haag | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...A Few More England Pics | | 2007-05-18 11:15:00 | | Just a few more photos of my recent trip to England... Problems with Blogger trying to post but I think Ive resolved it with a little help...The first shows one of the colourful flowerbeds in St James's Park,Central London.This next photo is near dusk looking from Nelson's Column down to Big Ben in the distant background.One thing I noticed that was very different between London and Nagoya was the quality of the light.It seemed clearer and sharper in London.Another shot of Lincoln Cathedral from the walls of the nearby Castle.Finally a photo of The Honest Lawyer pub in Scunthorpe.One of many venues on Saturday 5th May full of happy Scunthorpe United Football supporters from the four corners of the world celebrating the teams promotion. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Back from Blighty | | 2007-05-11 06:35:00 | | Arrived back from England late last Wednesday after a whirlwind tour of London,Lincoln and Scunthorpe. Some photos I took while away with more to follow...Tube sign near the Houses of Parliament London.An exhibit from the ironware section of the Victoria and Albert Museum LondonOne of the glasshouses at Kew Gardens just outside London.Some Scunthorpe United players after the Carlisle game and presentation ceremony.Lincoln Cathedral in Lincoln probably best known for its appearance in the movie "The Da Vinci Code". | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash...Up the Iron | | 2007-04-21 02:21:00 | | A sneak preview of the flag Im taking to Scunthorpe United's last game of the season against Carlisle Saturday 5 May.Scunthorpes nickname is "The Iron" and Ive also written some kanji on the flag which includes the words "believe" and "iron" in Japanese.Also listed is this seasons games and scores.Hopefully I can put it up somewhere in Glanford Park and get some signatures and autographs on it. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Random Photos | | 2007-04-13 09:45:00 | | Just some random shots I took this week....This sign appears above the entrance of a nearby apartment building in Osu Kannon. "Happy" appears to be the name of the company that occupies the building.Only the big orange machine in the middle is a real vending machine.The ones alongside are just cleverly painted.The name of a small bar on one of the backstreets behind Osu Kannon Temple.The sign virtually is the width of the premises. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash..Boom Boxes on Wheels.. | | 2007-04-06 13:02:00 | | One annoying feature of living in Japan is the often totally unnecessary, continuous bombardment of noise.A major offender and contributor to this aural pollution are the black trucks and buses decked out with loudspeakers perched on each side,front and back.Operated by right wing conservative groups they often play ear splitting nationalisic music.They usually roam the streets in pairs thus doubly their engine-grinding,blaring capacity.They seem to appear on national holidays and other historical events.I've seen on more than one ocassion mothers try to cover the ears of frightened infants in pushchairs as these menacing monoliths drive by.The slogans painted on the sides of this truck are calling for the return of islands involved in a territorial dispute with the old Soviet Union. | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
| Friday Flash | | 2007-01-12 01:47:00 | | Nova PockyI was somewhat surprised this week to see my company had its mascot (a pink rabbit or usagi) plastered over packets of Pocky confectionery.I dont know if there is a relationship between education and chocolate.Where or what will it be advertising next..beer,cigarettes? | | By: porcelain-monkey | | |
|
