Census 2010 ― 2010/10/01
We have a full-scale national census every 10 years. As a person who wishes to be a good citizen, we filled the questionnaire with honest answers and submitted it on the day we received it.
By the way, this year’s Census seems to focus on particularly inviting as many residents from overseas as possible. The government heavily advertise the Census on TV, papers and by posters, featuring a non-Japanese entertainer (he speaks perfect Japanese, though) and many Gaijin-looking people (is this expression PC?).
My local ward office also encourages non-Japanese residents to take part in the Census by putting up a poster saying ‘join the Census’ in numerous languages.
Very helpful, isn’t it? – if only they could answer your questions in Lao.
Spider Lily ― 2010/10/02
Spider lilies always pop up without notice.
While walking, I got startled by flame-red flowers that (with my dim eyesight) look rather alarming in some ways (from a distance, they looks like a little bloodbath).
They are usually seen along footpaths of rice fields, but even in this beach-side area, they exhibit their strong life force, reminding us that we have to prepare for winter.
Recently, I found that they were sold as cut flowers, which was unimaginable before because I assumed they were a kind of weed (who would pay money for cut weed? ), and more importantly, we were not allowed to touch the flowers as they were deadly poisonous.
Have our clever farmers invented a way to detoxify them?
Today's Cat ― 2010/10/04
Adult Only ― 2010/10/06
A great rise in Tobacco price? Still cheaper than most of yours!
JT (Japan Tobacco) still works against the recent anti-smoking tide.
In a local outlet mall, I found this smoker-friendly place that allows me to have a puff without feeling guilty.
From outside, this smoking space looks like a nightclub (in my born-in-the-60s sense) and quite inaccessible. I hesitated to get in the room thinking someone might smoke something more sinister than tobacco, or there might be a bandit waiting for their victims behind the door.
On the contrary, there was no gang, or rather, no one in the room, and the room looked rather comfortable, except for the subdued lighting (very adult-oriented).
There was a long sofa, flatscreen TV set, some magazines,
and of course a tobacco vending machine.
Curry Paradise ― 2010/10/07
Tired of greasy Tonkotsu (pork bone soup) ramen? Why not try curry?
It could sound wired, but in fact, based on my subjective observation, we seem to have more curry restaurants per capita in Fukuoka than in other cities.
Particularly within my walking radius (5km or something) you will find curry restaurants in nearly every block. Not only Indians, but also are Nepali, Sri-Lankan, Thai, and of course domestically interpreted curry (thick sauce accompanied with sticky rice and pickled Rakkyo—a kind of shallot roots) competing with each other.
Why? A local informant said that there were many high-tech and IT companies in this area, and so were a large numbers of people working for such companies or studying such things. As a result, curry restaurants have been established in order to satisfy their appetite as well as to comfort their longing for home. I haven’t seen, South-Asian-looking people in these restaurants apart from the staff working there, though.
Lunch special: JPY650
As I have just started developing my taste for ‘genuine’ curry (such curries didn’t exist around me when I was being brought up) only recently, I’m not sure if I am entitled to comment on the taste of curry. So I can’t recommend a particular restaurant to you (as usual in this blog – sorry for being least useful). But when it comes to cost against fillingness, I’m quite sure t that curry is one of the best options.
Farmers Illustrated ― 2010/10/08
This is a monthly free paper that JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives)
The 8-page brochure has some interesting sections through which you can have a peep into farming world.
‘Farmer of the Month’
Every month, a farmer appears and talks about his/her passion for his/her crops, which makes their crops look even more attractive and appetising. As everything sold in JA farmers markets carries its producer’s name, you can choose a vegetable with its background story.
‘Recipe of the Month’
These articles used to be amusing because some of the recipes were written by farmers’ wives who wish to ‘modernise’ their dishes, and ended in somewhat surreal recipes. I can’t remember exactly what they were—probably quite unusual combinations of vegetables and seasoning…maybe now such recipes can be found in some Internet recipe sites where housewives are posting their signature dishes.
Anyway, now the recipes are written by professional food writers, and look more edible, but not so interesting…sadly.
‘Event of the Month’
This month there is a meeting between young (and young-ish) male farmers and those who are interested in farming. But not everyone is allowed to join the meeting. You must be single, aged between 20 and 40, and female. I am by no means qualified to take part in this exclusive dating party. Very disappointing!
Today's Cat ― 2010/10/11
Fisherman Market Went High-Tech ― 2010/10/13
A local fish market that I sometimes go has recently renewed its website. It used to be very simple, with very general information that everyone already knew.
It was hugely disappointing to find nothing left on the shelves after driving more than 10 km to get there. To avoid this disappointment, we would have to watch the tide and current carefully before making visits so that we could vaguely figure out how much fish would be on the shelves.
The new website answers this problem. It became very informative, giving update on the day’s catches, seasonal products and so on. Plus, thanks to newly equipped CCTV camera(s) , we can have a look at what's on the shelf at home.
You can close-up the camera and see the amount of the stock, and how fresh the fish is
(I would like to see the price tag as well—hopefully!), and could plan what we should go for beforehand—if the fish of your choice waited for you unsold.
最近のコメント