Photographs from a small group of islands
One of the truly great things about Tokyo is the capital’s absolutely enormous amount of eateries, with many streets in the suburbs let alone the city centre offering more variety than even the most voracious of eaters could conceivably call for — let alone consume.
And yet there is, however, a downside, as, with such a staggering amount of sustenance on offer, it can be decidedly difficult indeed to decide where to dine.
Apart from the homes of their parents, and possibly even pachinko, the place most Japanese people will set out to visit over the New Year is the shrine. An event that, apart from a quick pray, invariably involves coughing up for a new collection of lucky charms.
And, more often than not, an omikuji (random fortune), which, after the fun of finding out if it’s a good or bad one,
can be securely fixed to something suitable and swiftly forgotten.
Thus allowing for arguably the most favoured part of most Japanese festivities, the food, which invariably comes from a fascinatingly varied selection of vendors, serving up equally varied victuals.
All the way from the savoury,
to the sweet.
Plus, for a bit of continuity, below are a couple of the same characters from last year, although one of them seemed decidedly dejected about the new decade.
And cooking with what appears to be his replacement, this still spritely old fella could well be tackling 2010 as a retiree.
The almost laughable nature of Japan’s ‘scientific’ whaling programme is so infamous that it needs no further explanation here, but possibly (albeit at a very large push), it would be a little more understandable if there was more honesty in regards the vast amount of post-science produce on the market, as, for Japan’s ever-growing older generation at least, whale is something of a special treat — the smell and taste of it taking them back to their younger days, when whale was not only standard fare, but also a staple of school lunches.
And yet that said, when presented with a plate full of the stuff,
such knowledge doesn’t necessarily make it any more palatable.
There’s no doubting that dango are delicious, but for people doing the preparing, they can be decidedly difficult,
as well as demanding,
to dole out.
Appearance is often everything in Japan, but it appears that this restaurant may well be suffering from its potential punters hunger to combat the current financial crisis, rather than curb any company or comfort food cravings.
When feeling weary on a warm day after way too much walking, what better than to park one’s posterior and partake in a couple of pints? Although undoubtedly it’s decidedly more fun for mum and dad than it is for a young daughter.
