The Tsutenkaku and The Rokko-oroshi "Tsoo-Rock"

Today, my new site "Tsoo-Rock" was launched.

The Kansai region including Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe is a very attractive destination even for Japanese people. I was born in Tokyo, spent my childhoof in U.S., and lived in Sweden for four years until this February. Now I am back in Japan and got a typical Japanese gadget, a cell phone with mega-pixeled digital camera, A5401CA. The cover picture of Tsutenkaku was shot at VGA mode (640x480 pixels) and converted to 320x240 by a graphic programme.

Please enjoy the diverted story about this area of Japan with pictures taken by my cell phone.

June 10, 2003

Exacavation Site

I love excavation site. I don't know why. Maybe there is a smell of peeping into the privacy of somebody in the past . In that sense, Pompei was supreme. However, under the summer sunshine of Meditaranean, being there was like being grilled in an oven....

June 11, 2003

Jan-jan Yokocho

Jan-jan Yokocho (Jan-jan quarter). South of Tsutenkaku to the subway station Dobutsuen-mae (Osaka Zoo). I heard some of young generation in Osaka hesitate to visit this area.

Yes, it is true that the majority of the population you find here is rather elderly. Typical inner-city. The exception where you find many young people is restaurants serving Kushi-katsu (deep fried pork on skewers); the area has high reputation for this popular dish because it was invented here.

On a wall hiding an empty land, hanging a photo-exhibition "Good Old Days". The subtitle reads "All of Us Were Young Then". How are those old men watching amature games of Shogi (Japanese chess) feeling about this, I wonder?

June 12, 2003

Rush Hour

Rush hour at Umeda (Osaka) station. Streem of people going for work. Somehow, this sight reminds me one thing. The flock of sheep crossing a counrtyside road in Andalucia. Why? I don't know....

June 15, 2003

Okonomi-Yaki

Okonomi-Yaki is a sort of Japanese pancake, which is especially popular in Osaka. It means "bake as you like". Similar to other pancakes in the world, it is based on flower and egg. However it isn't sweetened and filled with various stuffs, such as pork, squid, cabbage, leek, Japanese potatoe mash, deep fried flower flake and "whatever you like". Sometimes it is even filled with fried noodles as you see in the picture, and then it is called "Modern-Yaki" (I don't know why it is "modern" at all). Usually it is served with a Japanese derivative of Worchestshire sauce and mayonnaise, plus powder of Nori (the green-black wrapping of Sushi role) and flake of deep smoked bonito on top of it. You may hardly imagine how it tastes, and probably have got really confused with what Okonomi-Yaki is. I would suggest to visit Osaka and try it (it goes very well with beer). At least, I can say I love it, and people of Osaka are always glad to hear that. Yes, for Osaka natives, Okonomi-Yaki is what pizza is for Napoli natives. The difference is that people in Napoli would never dare to put spaghetti on pizza, I am sure.

June 21, 2003

Glad Midsommar!

Glad Midsommar! (Happy Midsummer!)

I really miss the good old tradition of Midsummer Celebration in Scandinavia after my return to Japan. It is a declaration for the opening of the vacation season, the happiest time over the year in Scandinavia. I can imagine how my friends are enjoying this day and get a little bit drunken...

In Japan, we don't cerebrate Midsummer like Scandinavian people do. Probably this is due to the rainy season which dump the most of the country during this period of the year. Though, this year, there will be an eco-movement called "Candle Night -- Summer Solstice 2003" all across Japan on the astronomic midsummer day (June 22, 2003). The participant will turn out the lights between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and spend time with candle lights. The organizer is planning to shoot images from the satellite to see how the light is dimmed over the country.

Isn't it an interesting idea?

June 24, 2003

Rainy Season

Tsuyu, the Japanese word for the Rainy Season means the rain which falls when plums become ripe. That is true, but this humidity dumps everything. June is really boaring month here in Japan except for the Northern island of Hokkaido. Commuting is one major problem during this period. At least, you need to change your shoes after arriving your office. But I like the landscape with clouds hiding the top of the mountains. Does't it look quite oriental?

June 27, 2003

Pepparkakor

I found a can of Pepparkakor (gingerbread cookies) at a supermarket in Osaka. What is fascinating is the painting on the can. Isn't it the Stockholm archipelago? Blue sea, blue sky, summer house, steamer, and yacht.... Despite I knew the content is too much, I couldn't help buying it.