| *********************************************************** "Treasure Box" - Discovery of Japan <Vol.47> *********************************************************** Web Site: http://www.jpn-miyabi.com Date: October 22, 2004 <Circulation:1588> A new series of Japanese banknotes (10,000-yen, 5,000-yen and 1,000-yen) will be issued on November 1st for the first time in 20 years, which is 4 months behind schedule. The reason of the delay was that they had trouble with developing the anticounterfeit technology. The name of the person whose portrait to be printed on 5000-yen notes is Higuchi Ichiyo, a famous woman writer in the Meiji era. Incidentally, this is the first time that a portrait of a woman will be printed on banknotes in Japan. Higuchi Ichiyo made her debut as an author when she was only 19-year-old. But she ended her life by a pulmonary tuberculosis when she was at the tender age of 24-year-old after she left many classics. Since she died quite young, all the remaining portraits have no wrinkles, and because of that, her portraits are easy to be counterfeited. Eventually, they decided to adopt 8 technologies to prevent counterfeit. By the way, I received some messages from readers about "Umenohana" tofu restaurant which was introduced in Vol. 44. I'm sorry that I did not reply to you. I would like to take this occasion to say thank you. It is nice to hear from you. Since Umenohana is widely known as the popular restaurant, I was not sure if I dare to introduce Umenohana. Therefore, I'm very glad that Umenohana fans send us positive messages. Of course the writer of "Umenohana" is pleased with your message as well. We are going to introduce more recommendable restaurants continuously and hope you enjoy it. <Japanese> １１月１日から新札が発行されますね。デザインの一新は２０年ぶりのこと。 今回、予定より４ヶ月ほど遅れての発行となったわけですが、この遅れは 偽造防止技術に思いのほか時間がかかったためだとか。 新五千円札には樋口一葉という明治時代の女流作家の肖像が入ります。 お札に女性の肖像が起用されるのは初めてのことなんですね。 樋口一葉は １９歳で小説家としてデビューし、数多くの作品を世に送り出しました。しかし、 肺結核により２４歳で短い生涯を終えました。 偽造防止に時間が掛かった のはその若さで亡くなっているため。残っている肖像画はどれもお肌がツル ツルで、しわのない肖像は偽造されやすいのだそうです。その結果、今回は 偽造防止に８点もの技術が取り入れらたそうです。 話は変わって、Vol.44で豆腐料理店「梅の花」を紹介したところ、読者の 方々から「私も梅の花ファンです！」といったメールを頂きました。 返信できずごめんなさいm(_ _)m この場を借りてお礼申し上げます。 前にも書きましたが、梅の花は有名なのであえて紹介することに少し不安も あったのですが、皆さんから温かいメッセージを頂いてとても嬉しく、励みに なりました！これからもレストラン・リポート続けていきますので、どうぞ 宜しくお願いしま-す。 =========================================================== "Sushi" http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Vol.27/sushi.html One of the most prominent and traditional Japanese dishes, sushi (in particular, Nigirizushi) is a well-known Japanese food. It is a minimalistic cuisine where a chef rapidly holds and rolls a handful of slightly vinegared rice and a variety of raw seafood. In some cases, it is garnished with vegetables and covered with seaweed. The first appearance of sushi in Japan dates back to the Nara period. A special preservation method where pieces of fish were covered with salt in cooked beans and grain such as millet and rice, to go through a natural fermentation, is considered the origin of sushi. The style of sushi we know well today was first established in the Edo period, albeit with different shape and taste compared to modern day iteration. According to some historical documents, the original size was not a bite-sized piece, but rather like that of tennis ball and one usually ate only 2 or 3 pieces. In addition, seafood were always pickled in vinegar and soy sauce, and raw fishes were not used for sushi topping because of underdeveloped refrigeration and freezing technology. However, after World War II, with the spread of a refrigerator, raw materials began to be used for the topping of sushi. Nowadays sushi is widely accepted in the world and we may even see a sushi restaurant overseas. In most sushi restaurants, the cooks show their work in a smart and lively manner before the customer's eyes, which adds to the stylish and professional atmosphere of the cuisine. When we go to a sushi shop, we notice that one uses some unique words, which are used only in a sushi restaurant. Here's a quick introduction to some unique, specialized words: "SHARI" = Rice The etymology of SHARI came from the word "busshari" that relates to the bone of the Adam's apple of Buddha, which is believed to be similar to the shape of rice. "GARI" = Slightly vinegard ginger Sliced vinegared ginger is always served besides sushi. As for the derivation of GARI, it is said that we hear a sound "GARI, GARI" when we crunch on the ginger, however the idea is not certain. "AGARI" = Tea In the past, a tea served to a customer before the meal was called "Odebana", or literally the "first flower", and the tea after the meal was called "Agari-bana". "AGARI" came from Agari-bana. However, these unique words are basically used among chefs and staffs of sushi restaurant, and obviously a customer could just as well ask "Ocha wo kudasai (Tea, please.)" and "Shoga wo kudasai. (Ginger, please.)". We will try to introduce to you about a revolutionary "revolving" sushi bar in the next issue. <Japanese> 「寿司」 海外でもよく知られている日本料理のひとつにお寿司（握り寿司)が あります。一握りの酢飯をテンポ良く握り、酢飯の上に生の魚介類を 乗せたり野菜を合わせて海苔で巻いたりします。 奈良時代、豆やヒエ・アワ・米などの穀物を炊いて、その中に塩を ふった魚肉を漬けこみ、自然発酵させて保存して食べたことが寿司の 始まりといわれています。現在の握り寿司の原形が誕生したのは江戸 時代。しかし、この当時の握り寿司は現在のものとは見た目も味も 異なりました。例えば、その大きさは一口では食べきれないほどで、 テニスボールほどもあり、普通は２〜３個を食す程度であったそう です。また、冷蔵や冷凍の保存技術がなかったため、生のネタを使う ことはなく、ネタは必ず酢や醤油に漬けていました。第二次世界大戦 後、冷凍・冷蔵の保存技術が発達し、生の魚貝類をネタとして使う ようになったのです。現在では、海外でもお寿司屋さんを目にする ほど世界で受け入れられています。カウンター越しに見せる職人の 腕前は日本の「粋」を感じさせます。 お寿司の世界では、お米のことをシャリと呼ばれるように、特別な 言い方があります。ここでは代表的なものをご紹介しましょう。 【シャリ】 お米のこと。 語源は仏様の喉仏の骨を表す「仏舎利」に由来します。 お米の形がちょうど仏舎利に似ているからだそうです。 【ガリ】 甘酢に漬けた生姜のこと。 由来については「生姜を噛むとガリガリとするから」等 諸説ありますが、どれが確かであるかは不明です。 【あがり】 お茶のこと。 その昔、お店で最初に出すお茶をお出花といい、 最後に出すお茶をあがり花と言ったことに由来しています。 これらはそもそもお店側で使う用語なので、お客さんは普通に 「お茶を下さい」「生姜を下さい」と言って構いません。 次号は回転寿司についてご紹介します。 prominent: 有名な、卓越した cuisine: 料理 a handful of: 一握りの vinegared rice: 酢飯 garnish: （料理の）付け合せにする + with （ものを〜で）飾る seaweed: 海苔 preservation: 保存 grain: 穀物、穀類 millet: キビ・アワ・ヒエの穀粒 fermentation: 発酵 albeit: たとえ〜でも、〜にもかかわらず compare to: 〜と比べて、〜と比べると iteration: 繰り返し、反復 bite-sized: ひとくちサイズ pickle: 野菜などを塩水（酢）に漬ける refrigeration: （食品の）冷蔵、冷凍 smart: （動作など）きびきびした、すばやい lively: 活気のある、元気な etymology: 語源 the Adam's apple: のどぼとけ derivation: 由来、起源、派生 crunch: 〜を噛む、噛み砕く obviously: 明らかに revolutionary: 革命的な、画期的な revolving: 回転する =========================================================== *RECIPE "Pumpkin Pudding" What are you going to prepare for Halloween? I'd like to introduce the pumpkin desert this time. It's so easy to make by using pudding mix powder. Cool it, and you may enjoy mellow touch. [URL] http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Vol.27/recipe27.html For one who do not like sweet pudding and have pudding mix powder, I recommend tea flavored pumpkin pudding. [URL] http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/Vol.27/recipe27-2.html <Japanese> １０月３１日はハロウィンですね。そこで、今回はかぼちゃの デザートをご紹介します。市販のプリンミックスを使うので簡単！ つめた〜く冷やして、まろやかな口当たりを楽しんで♪ 【URL】 http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/vol.27/recipe27-jp.html 甘いプリンが苦手な方やプリンミックスが手に入らない方は 紅茶風味のかぼちゃプリンがお薦め！ 【URL】 http://www.jpn-miyabi.com/vol.27/recipe27-2-jp.html =========================================================== =========================================================== *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. 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