Japanese love Hollywood stars - Nihon jin wa Hollywood ga osuki!

Japanese people love Hollywood stars. Do you remember the film 'Lost in translation'; Bill Murray was being shot for a Suntory TV commercial. The companies pay millions pounds to get Japanese favorite Hollywood actors and actresses to be on their adverts. It seems it works; they believe the high profile raise their corporate image.

Look at this, the first one is with Cameron Diaz. This is an ad on the train for Soft bank, a mobile phone company. If you had their mobile phone, you would be as sexy as Cameron. The other one is with Tommy Lee Jones, who is the most famous among Japanese from the film 'Men in black'. This is an advert on the train for can coffee BOSS. There's a funny TV commercial, in which he is a miner switching off dynamite, being a brave man. There are many more; The most famous British couple in Japan, Beckham and his wife, Victoria were featuring the beauty salon company.

Sushi chef in Tokyo - Sushi Kan

Do you like fish? Then you must try Sushi. The fish are usually caught in the very early morning and brought to the market and sold to fish mongers and sushi chefs.

The sushi chef is preparing the fish in the most delicate way. This sushi restaurant is located in Roppongi. It's like a jewel in the busy and bustling city; it's very tranquil and they serve the most delicious sushi. Again, 'Gochiso sama' (thank you for the delicious sushi, chef!).

Oishii Sukiyaki - delicious sukiyaki

There was a song called 'Sukiyaki' (or 'Ue o muite aruko') in the 60's sung by Kyu Sakamoto, a Japanese singer who died from a plane crash tragically like Sonny. The song was nothing to do with this dish but Americans named the song because it was from Japan. Sukiyaki was treated as a national dish by them.

Sukiyaki is truly a very traditional hot pot dish. It's a very popular dish for foreigners. You can see it in the video clip; there were thin sliced beef, lots of seasonal vegetable, tofu, kon-nyaku (jelly type vegetable), and more cooked in soy sauce and sugar based sauce. After they are ready, you eat them in a small ball with a raw beaten egg. That's how Japanese people eat sukiyaki in the most parts of Japan.

It's a very friendly food; you share the food cooked in one pot. It's good in summer; you eat it with cold beer. It's good in winter; you eat it with hot sake (rice wine).

By the way, this is my family. My sister is stirring the pot and my nephew is ready to eat sukiyaki. It was delicious! Gochiso-sama (Thank you for the nice meal.).

Women only 'Josei senyo sha'

What do you think this is. May I say that Japan is the only country which has got this?

This is written on platform floors of tube stations in Tokyo. It indicates that a door of a train for only women stops here. It works from a first train till 0930. In the car, there are only women enjoying their commuting without feeling vulnerable about molesters (or perverts). It's terrible to even just think about it. I was a victim as well when I was commuting to office in a packed car in the morning.

Priority Seat 'Yusen seki'

This is a sign for giving away your seats for those who need it. It's called 'priority seat'. It says, 'Please give away your seat, because there's someone who needs it.' in a very polite way. In this area, which is usually at the end of the car (each side), you need to switch off your mobile phones completely too. There might be a person who has got a pace maker in the heart, which would be disturbed by the phone.

The fact is that people sometimes don't give away their seats; they are very tired... or whatever the reason it is, they don't. Especially young people tend not to. They are too shy to do it, or don't know what to say. Just stand up and say 'Dozo (please)'. It's as simple as that, isn't it?

I saw an old man standing in front of people saying 'one of you should stand up for me'. There were two young ones and one middle aged (in her 50's) women. This middle aged woman stood up immediately, but the old man said 'No, no not you.'. Finally one of the young ones gave away his seat. I was very impressed with the old man's braveness. Good for him.

You would give your seat to people in need, wouldn’t you without any hesitation?

Plastic food display

This is art. Well, this is at Chinese noodle shop. I must admit it is not the most beautiful display.

These are made from plastic. They look like real food. Outside many restaurants in Japan, just by the entrance, they show you what sort of food is being served at restaurant. It's very convenient for non-Japanese travelers, who have no idea what type of restaurant they are about to go in.

Itadaki masu! (Good appetite! a Japanese greeting before eating.)

Suica - Japanese style oystar card

This is a drink vending machine in Tokyo. You can buy drinks from this machine with no cash. You use a rail card called 'suica'. The suica card is just like a oyster card in London but can be used for most of public transport: JR, tubes, bus, and you can shop as well. At lots of kiosk at station, you don't need to take out your purse but use this card.

When you are in Tokyo, go to any JR station and ask for a card. Only Y500 (£2.5 or $5) deposit will allow you to have this most convenient thing to have for travelling. Of course you need to top up your card with cash or by credit card at a ticket machine at station.

Japanese breakfast 'Asa gohan' at Japanese inn

This is breakfast at ryokan, Japanese inn. On the tray, there are a bowl of rice, miso soup, a cold tofu, egg omelette, grilled salmon, tomato, cucumber, natto (fermented soy beans!). A day starts with a healthy diet.

The way of eating noodle in Japan

Listen to this. This is the way of eating noodle in Japan; you slurp. It's not rude in Japan. You are expected to eat noodle in this way. Don't be shy.

We went to Kitakata in Fukushima prefecture by Tohoku Shinkansen. It's about two and half hours from Tokyo. It's famous for ramen (Chinese style egg noodle). There are fanatics loving ramen in Japan. I'm probably one of them. This time, we went there because it was on the way to a hot spring, which was a purpose of our trip.

There are millions of noodle shops in Japan (not exaggerating). People travel to look for delicious noodles. There are TV programmes to show popular noodle shops. There are many articles about them in magazines.

Listen again. This is the way of eating ramen.

Kabuki - inside Kabuki theatre

This is inside Kabuki theatre. We were on the third tier. Arena is expensive but ordinary seating but the second and third tiers are very special; you take off your shoes before seating and there's a table in front of you for eating and drinking. Kabuki lasts a few hours at least and you sit and relax with your own food and drink. It's a total entertainment.

Kabuki - Japanese theatre

This is the Kabuki theatre in Higashi Ginza.

Kabuki is a traditional theatre entertainment. It's played by only male actors; female roles are played by men in female costume (you would not notice it's a man acting...almost.). It's bit like Shakespeare; it started as an entertainment for the common people. However, I must say Kabuki is very special now; The Kabuki actors are very highly regarded in the Japanese society. mostly the names of the actors are passed down within the families. The world of Kabuki can be quite closed for special audience.

I went to see the last part of the day's performance; There are usually two parts: one in the afternoon and the other in the evening. It lasts several hours in total. This particular performance had three parts, a summer special to attract more lame people. One of the piece was directed by Hideki Noda who is from a modern theatre and famous for a unique adaptation. This time Noda adopted Aida (Opera piece) for Kabuki. It was totally coincidence that I just saw Aida a few weeks ago in Verona. I loved both. Noda is such a talented director; he beautifully adapted the story into Kabuki style stage; costume, stage design, colour and music. Well done.

Ginza - Pedestrian Heaven

This is Ginza on Sunday. Ginza is central of Tokyo. They have Pedestrian Heaven 'Hokoh-sha Tengoku' on Sundays. Main street is free from cars during the day. People are walking freely on the street enjoying shopping.

Ginza is a most expensive place to rent in Japan. It's been always the centre of fashion. If you go there, look for a department store and go to the basement to see their food floor. It's just awesome; there are so much Japanese food and the food culture to discover. Visit Sony, Nissan show room, Kabuki theatre, tea rooms, bars and restaurants.

Passion for delicious things. 'Oishii mono niwa me ga nai'

What do you think this queue is for?

I came across with this at a department store in Tokyo. There were about 30 people queuing for a sweet cake called 'Mount-BAUM'. I joined the queue! It took me twenty minutes before being served. I bought two. Other customers were buying five in average. It seems crazy to waste precious time for just a sweetie. But this is Japan; we love food. If you say, there is so and so delicious thing, we will go to taste it. Just cannot let it go......

It was delicious. Would I go and queue again? I would if I had time as I do now....

Summer in Japan - cicada singing 'semi no ne'

How do you listen to this; do you think it's noisy or appreciate the sound of the summer?

For Japanese, this remind us of the summer. It's a typical sound representing the hot and humid summer. You would greet a passer-by saying 'Honto ni atsui desu ne (It's really hot, isn't it?).' It's not a complaint but showing appreciation of the season.

Sorry for the shaky video. I was on my bicycle riding with one hand and another holding a handy cam. The shot was taken in Kamakura. Kamakura is an old capital of Japan (the late 12th century); it's a beautiful city surrounded by the mountains and the sea with lots of temples and shrines. It's my favourite place in Japan.

Japan summer 2008

I will be off to Japan on 21st August. You will find up-to-date Japanese culture: food, theatres, fashion, interior and more. Visit me later.