*********************************************************** "Treasure Box" - Discovery of Japan <Vol.36> *********************************************************** Web Site: http://www.jpn-miyabi.com Date: August 6, 2004 <Circulation:876> Although the time may differ according to the region, we have a custom called "Obon" which is held during 13th - 16th of July or August. At Obon, the relatives gather in order to console the deceased and ancestors, pray to attain Buddhist enlightenment and re-appreciate the fact that we live today owing to our ancestors. On the morning of the first day, 13th, we imitate horse and cow sticking half-split chopsticks into cucumber and eggplant like paw and offer them to a Buddhist altar. The horse made from cucumber means that we can welcome the ancestors as soon as possible, and the cow made from eggplant signifies a wish that they would return easily, peacefully and safely. Furthermore, on the evening of 13th, a Japanese lantern is lighted in front of the entrance, in belief that light becomes a sign for the deceased and ancestors to return to the house. "Obon" is also a significant and important event of summer holidays in Japan, where family reunion provides another special occasion for the children to enjoy the summer in countryside and in nature, leaving many profound memories that last till adulthood. Well, for some people, summer is not summer yet until a nice glass of beer is served! This week we are going to introduce you a restaurant that would accommodate your heavenly glass of beer quite nicely! Have you ever faced difficulty explaining "Kushiage" and the atmosphere of restaurant in English to foreign friends and visitors? In a case like that, this restaurant review may just save your day. <Japanese> 地域によって異なりますが、７月もしくは８月の１３日〜１６日の間、 日本では「お盆」という風習があります。 「お盆」とは、親族が集ま って先祖や故人を偲び、苦しむことなく成仏できるように願い、今の 自分があるのはご先祖様のお陰によるものと感謝するための行事です。 初日である１３日の朝にはキュウリやナスにそれぞれ４本の割り箸を 刺してキュウリは馬に、ナスは牛に見立てたもの作り、お供えします。 馬に見立てたキュウリはご先祖様を早く迎えられるように、牛に見立て たナスは帰りはのんびりゆっくりと楽に帰れますようにという意味が あるそうです。 また、１３日の夕方には玄関先に盆提灯を灯すのです が、精霊はその火を目印に帰ってくるのだと言われています。 「お盆」は家族の再会とともに、子供達が田舎の自然を満喫できる 特別な機会でもあります。田舎で過ごした夏の日は大人になっても 忘れられない心に残る思い出になります。 そういった意味でもお盆は 日本の夏の意味深い、重要な行事と言えましょう。 さて、今回はお薦めレストラン、ある串揚げ屋さんの紹介です。 外国の人に「串揚げ」とはどういうものだとか、そのレストランの 雰囲気はどうだとか聞かれて、いざ説明するとなると「単語が出て こない！」 とか「何て表現したらいいの？」と困ったことはあり ませんか？ そんな時のためにも、このレストラン紹介コラムも 参考にして下さると嬉しいでーす。 ========================================================== "Kushinobo 1950" http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Vol.24/kushinobo-e.html When talking of spitted, or foods in brochette, Yakitori immediately comes to mind as a famous dish in Japan, but there is another delicious food called Kushiage. While Yakitori is a broiled Chicken on wooden skewers, Kushiage is a deep-fried food on the same little twig. Astounding variety of materials are deep-fried with Kushiage. With its' deep gold hue and the crispness of the crust, Kushiage is very much as delicious as Yakitori. The restaurant we introduce you this time is "Kushinobo 1950" located in Roppongi Hills, it's one of a chain restaurant of old standing "Kushinobo", and may be because of its' location in Roppongi, the restaurant name is indicated by alphabet (not by Japanese character, Kanji), seemingly demonstrating the restaurant's eagerness of promoting their traditional taste to all over the world, not self satisfied with Japanese customers only. The menu of Kushiage is very simple, you just choose the number of Kushiage in advance or "Omakase" (it's served until you stopped). As Kushiage has breadcrumbs coating, you cannot see what is inside, but every time a hot Kushiage is served to you, the clerk explains the ingredients. You can enjoy a lot of different kinds of Kushiage made of seafood, meat, or vegetables, such as a shrimp wrapped with a perilla-leaf (shiso), or a small cubed beef, or potato spiced with curry powder... etc. In some cases, a whole asparagus is deep-fried (not spitted): it's unique and impressive. And this asparagus is not just deep-fired but it's wrapped with bacon so the bacon imparts a moderate salty taste to asparagus. A pleasant surprise under that seemingly innocent breadcrumb coating. Besides Kushiage, they serve many kinds of delicious drinks, so give your taste buds a mild shock at "Kushinobo 1950", a wonderful place for eating and drinking. Kushinobo 1950 Tel. 03-5771-0094 <Japanese> 「Kushinobo 1950」 串刺しにした料理というと日本では焼き鳥が有名ですが、焼き鳥の他 にも串揚げという美味しい料理があります。焼き鳥は鶏肉を串に刺して 焼くのですが、串揚げはいろいろな食材を串に刺して油で揚げるのです。 キツネ色の衣に包まれてカリッと揚がった串揚げは焼き鳥に負けず劣ら ず美味なるものです。 今回ご紹介する串揚げ料理店は店舗を幾つも 持つ「串の坊」という老舗のお店ですが、その店舗の中でも六本木 ヒルズ内にあるお店をご紹介します。 六本木という土地柄のせいか お店の名前も「Kushinobo 1950」とローマ字で書かれており、日本の 老舗の味を世界に発信させようとする意気込みが伝わるようです。 メニューはいたってシンプルで、本数限定で串揚げをオーダーするか、 或いは「おまかせ」という本数制限無しで自分の好きなところで ストップをかけるというオーダー方法のどちらかを選びます。 串揚げは衣がかかっていて中身が見えませんが、揚げ立ての熱々を 持って来てくれる度に店員さんが中身を説明してくれます。 小エビをシソで巻いたものや一口大の牛肉やカレー味で味付けされた じゃがいも等々、海鮮や肉や野菜等、いろいろな具材の串揚げを頂け ます。 アスパラガスをまるまる１本揚げたものもありユニークかつ 印象的です。 またアスパラガスにしてもただそのまま揚げるのでは 無く、ベーコンを巻いて微妙な塩味を加えていたりと、衣に隠された 微妙な味付けの細やかさに唸らされます。 美味しいお酒も種類豊富に取り揃えてあるので、食べ良し、飲んで 良しの「Kushinobo 1950」に是非足を運んでみてはいかがですか？ talking of: 〜と言えば spit: 〜を焼きぐしに刺す brochette: 小さい焼き串 come to mind: （事が）心に浮かぶ skewer: 串、焼き串 deep-fried food: 揚げ物 twig: 小枝 astounding: 仰天させるような、どえらい hue: 色合い、色、色調 crispness: （食物が）パリパリ、カリカリする crust: 外皮 old standing: 老舗 indicate: 〜を示す、表す seemingly: [文全体を修飾して] 見たところでは demonstrate: 実物宣伝する、論証する eagerness: 熱望、熱心 promote: 〜を促進する、売り込む all over the world: 世界中で self satisfied: 自己満足の、ひとりよがりの in advance: あらかじめ breadcrumbs: パン粉 perilla-leaf: しその葉 perilla=しそ impart: [ものなどに]（性質などを）添える、加える moderate: （量・大きさ・程度・質など）適度の innocent: 汚れのない taste buds: taste buds とは舌の上の小さなぷつぷつした 味覚体の事（味蕾というらしい）です。 普通アメリカでは「変なものだけど可愛い存在」といった 見方で使われます。 おいしい物を食べて自愛する時などには pamper your taste buds のような表現が使われます。 ここでは、「是非行ってみてください」の表現を一ひねりして みました。 ちょっとフレンドリーで明るい表現になります。 ============================================================ By the way, in response to the column "Red-tape" that was issued in Vol.33, we received a precious opinion from one of readers, which we would like to share with you today. Thank you Toshi san! His comment follows: <Japanese> さてさて、先日配信しましたコラム「お役所仕事」について、読者の 方からメールを頂戴しましたので、ご紹介させて頂きたいと思います。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Your story about "Red-tape" reminds me of Mr.Sugihara Tiune, who was the Japanese consul in Lithuanian at the time of World War II and very famous for having saved thousands of life of Jewish people who were desperately seeking help trying to escape from Nazi. Mr.Sugihara issued as many visas as possible for those Jews, the visas that had given them almost the only chance to flee from The Holocaust. Mr.Sugihara knew he would be punished for his act because Japan was an allied partner of Germany at that time, and so Japanese Foreign Ministry had ordered him not to help any Jews. But Mr.Sugihara continued to write as many visas for the Jews as possible. He made his decision from a humanitarian perspective. Now I am wondering how many Japanese officials can be as brave and kind as Mr.Sugihara was, when they face situations like that. Maybe some, maybe none. I am also mad at the way officials change their minds one after another. Yesterday "No" and today, after hearing people's voices, "Yes". What about tomorrow and the day after that? It is surely a good thing to listen to the public opinions but then on what basis they make decisions about things in the first place? Depends on how they feel today or what's the weather like today? Do they have any policy at all? At least they should be responsible for their decisions that are once decided. Anyway I hope that Thai girl will live a happy life in Japan. Pen name: Toshi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you have any comments or requests, feel free to send us a mail. We all hope that you spend an enjoyable summer! <Japanese> 皆さんも何かご意見、ご要望等ございましたら遠慮なくメールして 下さいネ^_^ ============================================================ *BACK NUMBER: http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Menu/backnumber-top.html *CONTACT US: Please feel free to send your request or question of Japanese life. ((( e-mail))) jpn-miyabi@jpn-miyabi.com (English) jpnmiyabi@aol.com (Japanese) See you at the next number ^_^/ Please access the following URL, if you would like to register or unsubscribe. http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Menu/magazine-top.html (C) Copyright 2003-2004 JPN-MIYABI All Rights Reserved |