06.10 Kobe-Maruyama 1

06.10 Kobe-Maruyama 1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

An abandoned house on a street leading to Maruyama station.

Nagata-ku, Kobe

Shin's Burger - Kobe

Shin's Burger is located up the hill from Oji Koen Station on the Hankyu Kobe line. Of the specialty burger shops I've been to here in Kansai, Shin's is the most family and kid friendly. The hamburger here is good for it's simplicity. It's the kind of burger you'd get at a BBQ for the local High School football team, but a really, really good one. Other places push the flavor to 11 to make the burger an in-your-face nearly brutal eating experience. Shin's is nice and simple and just as good as the other places for it. I love the decor, the white on red reminds me of something you'd find in the Midwest or rural Washington state. Sadly, Shin's does not have french fries, but they have a BBQ chili with beans that they serve over cubed potato. It's not spicy so my 2 year old nephew and my wife can eat it--and she can't eat anything remotely spicy. In a way I wish Shin's would have the super spicy chili and enormous mega burgers, but then there's a lot of places doing that. Shin's has it's own take on the specialty burger shop: one that combines friendly service with a simple, but on the spot flavor set in a little bit of Americana with out being over the top.

Sorry, forgot to take some photos.

Shin's homepage:
http://www.shinsburger.com/

Myself, Yuko and my nephew featured on Shin's blog:
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/shinsburger/e/a26bc247fb60736f3b95eb0c5cd1f540

Address:
神戸市灘区上野通5丁目2-10

Access By Train:
Hankyu Oji Koen Station - 10~15 minutes (I'm guessing.)

Parking:
There isn't any good parking in the area except a small 4 spot coin parking lot about a 5 minute walk from the shop. It is marked on the map.

より大きな地図で HANDBURGER! を表示

Thank you!

05.04 ZionNP-15, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this an incredible trip for us.

We spent 58 wonderful days traveling (to all of my favorite places and some new ones), camping (ack bears!), driving (3,200 miles), eating (a bit too much and no cilantro for Yuko), relaxing (Yuko loves her DS, I like my radio), catching up (seeing everyone in Laguna was amazing), drinking (well for me at least, I miss American beer), taking photos (way too many) and just having a great time.

Yuko doesn't want to go back, she likes it here too much, and I'm a bit nervous about finding a new job once I return. We'll be back in Arizona soon as I plan on getting a Masters in Teaching some time in the next two years. I hope to see all of you again when we come back.

Well we have to get up at 4AM for our flight to LAX so I better sleep a little.

Once more, from the bottom of our hearts...

Thank you!

Kitt Peak

05.23 Tucson-10, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

It's free (if you don't take a tour) and you get to see some great examples of US government architecture. Stars are beautiful, but to tell the truth I don't really understand them very well. Don't get me wrong, I wish I did. I like enjoying them as they are and I've resigned my understanding of the cosmos to what I can get out of PBS documentaries. The buildings that house these telescopes however are great examples of the U.S. Government Building category--and that's what I'm into. There's a smell to them. That smell and feel is a part of my Introduction to America.

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Cassoulet de Chango (The reason I miss my oven)

Ovens are not normal kitchen equipment in Japan. Chorizo is also something I can't find in Japan... well not the kind that I like. I had to make this while I'm here in Tucson and I'm putting the recipe here for all to see.

-Cassoulet de Chango
2 tins of great northern beans
1 can of veggie broth
1lb of chorizo
3 small white onions - chopped
Crushed garlic
1/4 a bottle of red wine
2/3 of a package of fresh sage - chopped

-Bread Topping
one baguette
crushed garlic
olive oil

Cook the onions, some garlic, and meat first. Once the onions are nice and clear and the meat cooked add the rest of the stuff. Simmer down. Not too wet, but don't over do it. Grill the bread in olive oil and garlic. Transfer the mix into a casserole dish, top with the grilled bread and sprinkle some sage on top. Put into the oven on low (275-350F) for a few hours (more than 2 would be best).

Whole artichokes are also rare in Japan. You can find the artichoke hearts in a jar, but not the real thing. This was Yuko's first time to eat a one. She loved it and wondered why you can't get them in Japan. I got 4 for $5 at a local supermarket, which I thought was a super deal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassoulet
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/カスレ

Rachel, NV

05.07 Nevada-11, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Humans: 98
Aliens: ?

Rachel is a little one street town bordering Area 51, AKA Dreamland, the secret military base where the US government developed and tested various fighter jets. Only recently did the government even acknowledge the base's existence. Since the 90's interest has grown and fallen about the base, and people have spent many hours theorizing about what went on there. TV and radio shows like Art Bell's Coast To Coast AM or the X-Files helped fuel the alien crazed that happened in the 90's. While still off-limits, the base is said to be shut down.

Today, Area 51 no longer has the cultural pull as it once did, but during those UFO fueled days in the 90's Rachel and the Little A'Le'Inn became a Mecca of some sorts for UFO buffs. I had never made the trip there, but I felt it was atypical something American worth showing to Yuko on our trip. I planned this trip not only to be fun but also to help explain a little bit about where I come from: geographically, culturally, politically.

Rachel and the A'Le'Inn represents many things about America, the desert, and the way I think. There's the capitalistic chance to make a dollar anyway possible--look at all that Obama stuff out now, this is the same. There's the Jeffersonian / Libertarian distrust of our government that is symbolized in the entire UFO myths and the "research" which is done over the site. There is the landscape and quirky art that comes from the desert. There's also the humor ("UFO Self Parking" or "Aliens:?") that is equally honest if you believe in UFOs or not.

I was an Art Bell listener from around 1994 or so when I was in High School. He broadcast his show from the then little town of Pahrump, NV. Listening to him talk of UFOs and the desert influenced me into my love of the deserts, Nevada, detritus and the like. Going to Rachel, even for the 15 minutes we spent walking around the Little A'Le'Inn was a treat and a part of my introduction to America.

Camping Trip!

Yuko and I are on our Camping trip

Flagstaff -> Grand Canyon NP -> Monument Valley -> Mexican Hat -> Moki Dugway -> Natural Bridges NM -> Capitol Reef NP -> Bryce Canyon NP -> Zion NP -> ?


The photos up to Natural Bridges are online at my flickr. All the captions are in Japanese, sorry about that.

Days 15-18.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/collections/72157616854438518/

American Micro Brews / アメリカの地ビール

04.21-23 Tucson-4, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Left to right:

• Breckenridge 417 IPA 9.2% WOW great stuff. From Colorado.
• New Belgum Mighty Arrow Pale Ale. Very nice. From Colorado.
• Abita Strawberry. Great strawberry flavor. Not too fake tasting. From Louisiana.
• Breckenridge Pandora's Bock. So-so. I'm not a Bock guy. From Colorado.
• Breckenridge Agave Wheat. Nice easy drinking. I wish this was in Japan From Colorado.
• Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA. Strong IPA high % very nice, but kicks your ass. From California.
• Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager. Special seasonal brew. If only we had this on tap at the WEX.

Japan has good beer, but no where near this selection! ARGH! Sierra Nevada is my No.1 favorite overall. I'm so bummed that we can't get it in Japan. Oh well, it makes it taste oh so much better when I have to wait for it.

I also got a 12 pack of Missoula, Montana's Big Sky Brewing's beers. They are also top notch.

4/17 Costa Mesa Japanese Supermarkets

I use to go to Mitsuwa and Marukai in Costa Mesa, CA all the time. In fact, I had a lot of experience with Japanese food before learning the language. I thought somethings were expensive, but not that bad. After living in Japan I've realized how expensive things are.

Pet bottles of tea or coffee are about $2.25
Mochi is like $10.
Small bottles of Kewpie mayo were $2.

But somethings were insane.

Japanese brand tissues. 5 boxes for $6.

Yebisu 6-pack $19

And... not so insane but,

Calpis is called Calpico in the US.

4/16 Mission San Juan Capistrano

04-16 Mission SJC-8, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Today we went to the Mission. I had not been there since elementary school. It was very beautiful. Hard to find information on the Mission in Japanese however.

We also went to Target. Yuko loves Target.

Photo set here.

4/15 Laguna Beach

Dear Readers,
I'm in America for the next 2 months and I'll be posting a lot of non-Japanese stuff on the blog. Basically I'll be posting pictures of my vacation and some other random stuff. (Reverse-Culture shock! No one here speaks Japanese! Fun!) Anyhow, some of it might be Japanese related, but not much. Sorry for the inconvenience.

First post: Laguna Beach Homecoming

Currently in Laguna Beach were I grew up. Everything is the same but slightly different. The road that is always under construction was under construction. Traffic was bad. It was unpleasantly windy.

Took Yuko to see my old houses. Could barely find the one that burnt down in the 1993 firestorm. Yuko commented on the size and how rich the neighborhood looked. Back when I was young I thought this place was pretty middle class, upper middle perhaps. It wasn't "rich", nor did the people who lived here thought it was, at least that's the way it looked to an elementary school kid. It was always a weird, eccentric town to me. The people here seem totally different to me now. The anti-tax protest didn't help but to reinforce that. Bleh. Taxes are ok to pay for your wars, but not to bail out all those obscene loans you took out. Give me a break. Massive disconnection going on here.

Seeing the city for the first time as a tourist I realized (1) there are way to many home furnishing/crap stores here and (2) wow it is a really beautiful place. I understand why tourists come here. Laguna Beach is truly a beautiful place.

Saw my pal Alec play live in the Ocean Ave. Brewery downtown. He was great. That was a treat. I miss him and his good energy.

Photos are here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sleepytako/sets/72157616852048634/detail/

Gotta sleep.
Later

P.S. Wow, AM radio. WOW! It's gotten even dumber.

120,000 Come To Shukugawa for the Hanami

Children run across the stone steps crossing the river with the bright sheets of the food stalls behind.

I grew up in Laguna Beach which, especially during the summer, was always crowded. Driving from the north end to the south end of town on the Pacific Coast Highway could take an hour on a hot summer weekend day. On the Fourth of July it was hell as people came to watch the fireworks display over the Pacific Ocean. A couple of years I worked in the little newsstand next to the beach on the Fourth. That was insane.

The Fourth in America is a good holiday for a picnic. The Japanese have a similar time, hanami (花見), or flower watching. The history goes back to some rich dudes who would sit outside, get toasted and write poetry about the fleeting beauty of the sakura (桜 or さくら), or cheery blossoms. Today it's an excuse to pack into one of Japan's many parks throw down a blue plastic sheet, bring some food, bring a lot of booze and get totally blotto.

The Hankyu Koyo line crosses over the Shukugawa river and provides easy access

The park that follows the course of the Shukugawa river makes the center of my neighborhood and is lined by almost 1700 sakura trees. The combination of easy access by train, lots of park space and a ton of sakura means Shukugawa is one of the most popular hanami spots around. According to the city authorities 120,000 people came to the park, over 20,000 more than last year.

It was packed this year. Saturday was rainy, so everyone came on Sunday. I had to work all day in the bar, but I had a few brakes in which to see what was going on. The line of stalls on the east side of the river were doing big business. A group of tough looking guys set up a whole karaoke machine and two large tables in one of the most conspicuous spots near the bridge. There was a fight somewhere, but I didn't get to see it. Bummer. This year JT and the Nishinomiya city gave out handheld ashtrays in front of the stations hopefully cutting down on some of the cigarette butts in the park.

Sakura peddles litter the riverbed in a tributary stream of the Shukugawa river

I was able to take a walk on Monday and get a few photos of the park. All in all, it's a crowded mess and a nightmare in some ways just like the Fourth in Laguna. However, it's also beautiful and a great excuse to booze it up outdoors. Hanami is one of the best reasons for living here, and especially in my little corner of Japan.

Here are some quick translations of two news stories about the hanami.

• Asahi.com on April 6th:

約１６６０本の桜が見ごろを迎えた兵庫県西宮市の夙川公園の「さくら祭」には、家族連れやカップルなど昨年より２万人多い約１２万人（西宮観光協会発表）が繰り出した。

With about 1600 cherry blossoms trees on view for the Sakura Matsuri in Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 120,000 families and couples, 20,000 more than last year according to the Nishionmiya Sightseeing Association, were drawn to the park.

• Mainichi.jp on April 6th

桜の名所で知られる西宮市の夙川沿いで５日、第４３回西宮さくら祭が開かれ、約１２万人が満開の桜を楽しんだ。

The 43rd Nishinomiya Sakura Matsuri opened on the banks of the Shukugawa river, a wellknown famous place for seeing sakura, with 120,000 people coming to enjoy themselves with the flowers in full bloom.

同市が桜を市花に制定した翌年の６６年から続けられている恒例行事。夙川沿いは南北約３キロにわたって、約１７００本の桜が植えられ、毎年多くの人が花見に訪れる。この日は晴天に恵まれ、写真撮影会やウオークラリーなどに多くの人が参加した。

The city has run the event for 66 years and it has become an established tradition. The Shukugawa river runs 3KM in a north south direction and has about 1,700 trees growing there, which many people come to visit each year. Many photographers and other groups came to the park.

家族と河川敷で弁当を食べていた同市東町１、無職、足立俊邦さん（７４）は「川沿いの桜並木はきれいで、本当にいい場所です。写真をいっぱい撮ります」と話した。

Many families came to eat bento along the river. Mr. Adachi a 74 year old retired man said, "The trees that grow along the river are very beautiful, it's a really a good place. I took many photos."

My Shukugawa Sakura 2009 photo set can be seen here.
A map of the area is here.

The Slow-furo Life -- In Kansai

Soon it will be getting hotter, and time for some hardcore relaxing. I need to be outside to really relax. Back in Tucson I had a great porch where I would sit, listen to shortwave radio and have a few beers. Well I'm not in Tucson anymore and shortwave reception in Japan isn't that good anyhow--at least for English language stations. So what do I do instead? Go to the onsen! Of course! Here are my top four places for a nice 昼風呂 (hiruburo) or afternoon bath during the hotter months in Kansai. So take a day off, head to the onsen and relax the day away.

All links point back to Kansai Onsen Review, my other blog, where you'll find more information on finding these great spots, prices, and other information.

1. Arimafuji Onsen Hanayama no Yu.
A short bus ride past the last major stop in Kansai on the JR Fukuchiyama line that heads out from Osaka to the Japan Sea. You'll feel the wide spaces and rural scenes without going too far. The afternoon breeze that flows through the little valley where this onsen is located feels great and is never too cold. Combine that with the view and the waterfall baths the entire scene nearly puts you to sleep. Oh, and while you're there you can hit a few balls at the golf practice range in the same building.

2. Nada Onsen Suidomichi
A nice lukewarm bath on a warm day will put you straight to sleep. Heat up in one of Nada's other great baths then find a spot in the sardine can which is the gensen bath. Gensen (原泉) is the straight water from the well at the temperature it naturally flows at. At Nada the water flows at a near body temperature and is very carbonated. This means that it ends up feeling like you have no body at all, a kind of sensory depravation for everything below your head. The little bubbles that build up on your skin also enhance this feeling. Pure bliss. Grab a beer from one of the great old vending machines across the street and head to one of the near by parks afterwards to really make it a day out.

3. Ebisu Onsen
Take a nice relaxing train ride down to Akashi. Watch the coast line float by and go under the Akashi-Kaikyo bridge on your way to this great little sento. The lukewarm gensen bath in the little glass roofed patio that makes up the rotenbro will put you asleep. Get there when they open at 3pm on a weekday to really enjoy yourself by yourself. Otherwise, it might be a bit too crowded.

4. Hanayama Onsen
Same as going to Ebisu, but the other direction. Head down the coast to Wakayama and enjoy some of the best water anywhere. It's opaque and brown like watered down clay. When you see the unworldly shapes and forms the brown calcium deposits make on the bath, you'll know that you've found something special. Various temperatures of the 4 baths lets you heat up and cool down all you want to achieve that state of being completely relaxed. The rotenbro looks out to a simple, but beautiful, Japanese garden. A great place to let the cool air flow over you body.

These are some of my favorite onsen. I hope you get a chance to enjoy them as much as I do when I enjoy the slow life in Japan.

Porn In Vending Machines | See But Not Notice

PornVending-Sakuragawa-1, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I don't know what books and classes it came from, but I've been taught there's a cultural trait of Japanese to not notice things. Better said, to notice things, but not pay them any heed. Loud kids on the train, people littering, not stopping at stop signs, drunk salary men passed out on a park bench, drunken gaijin speaking loudly, porn in vending machines are good examples. I'm sometimes drawn back at this power to disregard things. Once walking through a redlight district in Osaka, one where girls sit in doorways while the Mama-sans call out to men walking down the street, I witnessed a family riding their bikes oblivious to their surroundings more than once. I wish I could have taken a picture of the scene, but my nerves said that might not be the best idea. I wondered what happens when the little daughter asks what are those pretty girls doing all dressed up sitting there. I wonder if they even ask.

I saw this vending machine next to a chain discount store near Sakuragawa station in Osaka. The machine had 16 magazines in it all around ¥700. As I was taking the photo, late in the evening mind you, 2 elementary aged children walked behind me.

Am I bothered by this. No. I find it all so interesting. I love juxtaposition, if that is what this is.

Suidosuji Tagging

Suidosuji-Tag, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

Graffiti in the Suidosuji area of Kobe.
神戸の水道筋商店街でグラフィティー を見つけた。

Restaurant Review: O'kiny Kurakuenguchi

Okiny-ChigeNabe, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

I love Korean food. It's nice and spicy. There's lot's of meat. It can't be beat.

O'kiny is a new chige restaurant near Kurakuenguchi. It serves chige a spicy stew that's eaten over rice reminiscent of Japanese nabe. This was my first time having it and it was great. The stew and rice come in the pots they were cooked in. You scoop the rice and stew into a third bowl and eat it from there with a spoon. When you're done the waitress will fill the rice bowl with hot tea and you can scrape the super good burnt rice off side of the bowl and eat it too. If you're afraid of it being too spicy you can choose from 5 spicy levels. I had 3, the second hottest, which was just perfect. The meal comes with all you can eat Korean nori, bean sprouts, and spicy cucumber also, if the chige was not enough.

This was my first time having chige so I don't have anything to compare it with, but I loved it. Lunch was about ¥1,300 (around $13USD).

O'kini is a little walk up Shukugawa river from Kurakuenguchi station on the Hankyu Koyo line in the Sunny Garden building.

O'kini Homepage

Google Map

Osaka Fukushima 大阪 福島

Some photos from the area around Fukushima station near Umeda in Osaka.

The local 遊歩 yuuho (promenade) has a UFO and fortune telling theme.



The Osaka loop line, Fukushima station



I've never seen a train use these tracks, but I believe they are operational.



The elevated freeway from below.



Nice day. Nice smoking.

HAT-APT-BLG-NTE

HAT-APT-BLG-NTE, originally uploaded by sleepytako.

HAT KOBE - Hanshin Kasuganomichi St.
Unrealistic sky color. Having fun with Lightroom.

Mirrorballs and Three Seven at TakuTaku

久しぶりライブに行った！

This was my first live show in a long time, and I made a good choice. It was my first time to see either band. A few months back a coworker lent me this comp CD from a Japanese indie label. One of the songs was by Mirrorballs. They are from Nagoya and said this was their first show in a long time. I would describe their sound like a combination of Julie Cruse, Mazzy Star with a touch of Asakawa Maki, a Japanese Jazz/Blues singer kinda like the Japanese version of Nico.

The Mirrorballs set was transportative. It was great to really watch a band a get into the music like I did. I will totally go see them again.

The second band was called Three Seven. It was the first time I heard them. They started with a very Ethiopiques style instrumental and moved on to do some great Cuban, Ska, and Big Band style numbers.

Although most of their set was instrumental, there were some vocals. The singers, who also played sax and guitar, sang in English and Japanese. The English songs were really good too. The whole 8 person band was filled with great musicians. A very cool band. The people there to see them were really into it to. It was a great live show. Sadly they didn't do an encore. Also I can't find much about them online. They have a BBS (in Japanese) and that seems to be about it. Their one CD "Homerun" was recorded in 2004. They mentioned they were recording over the last few months during the show so another disk might come out soon.

TakuTaku, the venue was great. Beside the mic feedback and the buzzing, the service and the 300 year old building great wood benches and tables was great.

Oh and remember to rock the door.

Here's a video for "Aoi Tori" (Blue Bird) by Mirrorballs that I found on YouTube.

Botan Nabe - ボタン鍋

Japan is full of rare meats, and I've had my share of them. On of my favorites is wild boar, or inoshishi (猪) in Japanese. I had it the first time years ago in sukiyaki. Last night for my birthday I had it for the second time in a miso flavor nabe or hotpot. Nabe cooking is quite simple, we had it at a restaurant where they prepare the food and give it to us to cook in the pot. The meat was thick and red with wide white strips of fat on the out side. It looked like the smoked pork you get in ramen. After being boiled in the pot for a while it shrank a bit and turned a dark brown. The meat was tough, natural, but not so tough that it was hard to eat. It had the un-farmed taste and texture that makes botan nabe a real experience.





It cost ¥5,000 per person for the nabe. Pricy, but worth it!
Here's the restaurant's homepage: Momochan.co.jp
Here's a map to the restaurant: Google Maps