Boi 1 - Back at it Again with Local Delicacies (Blog 3)

Hey guys, it's Boi 1 (Andrea) here to update you on Japan's local delicacies! Unfortunately, due to the fact that we have class on weekdays and scheduled activities on weekends, I'm not actually able to travel to nearby cities and try some of their delicious cuisine. However, I have managed to try two of the items on my presentation list! These were okonimiyaki (delicacy of Hiroshima and/or Osaka--which region it is actually from is a hotly debated topic by the residents of those cities), and monjayaki, Tokyo's own delicacy.

The okonomiyaki I was fortunate enough to try was actually made during class time, in our dorm. It was led by our teachers and fellow RAs. Now, since this was a student-made okonomiyaki, I'm not sure how authentic it was (though I do believe I heard that Akagi Sensei was from Osaka?), but it sure was yummy. Apparently, the word "okonomi" translates to "what you like" (while "yaki," as we know, means "fried/grilled"), but man, do they mean it! In it, there was cabbage, eggs, onions, flour, and I think we even added seafood to it? There were these little tiny fish it in (the name, I unfortunately don't remember), and fish cakes in it too. However, you can add anything you want to it! Once the ingredients were added and the mixture was thick enough, it was fried in a teppanyaki grill, where we had to be careful to not burn our lovingly made concoction. Once grilled to golden perfection, we added BBQ sauce, Kewpie mayonnaise, bonito flakes, green onions, and shredded nori. It was--to say the least--delicious! However, it was very filling, which left me with limited room to eat more. However, I hope that I am able to eat it again once more in the future.

During my homestay with the Nakashimas, they taught me how to make monjayaki. My host mom, Megumi, told me that it might not look very good, but that looks were deceiving. We bought a mix at the supermarket (very easy to follow, and it didn't have as many ingredients as the okonomiyaki, so it was a quick and easy food to make) and set to it. Once the ingredients were mixed, we grilled it on a teppanyaki grill as we had with the okonomiyaki. This mixture was a lot thinner than Osaka's delicacy, though, which i was a little confused about. Megumi told me that you're supposed to leave it on the grill for a bit and mix it around--it doesn't fully cook, but instead stays chewy and nice. Also, you eat it with these little metal spatulas! It was very different compared to the other foods that I've tried here, but it was very yummy. My host family added shredded cheese to it at some point, and it practically melted in your mouth! I would definitely recommend it to those that liked the okonomiyaki.

Given that we have such little time left, I'm not sure I'll be able to try any more local delicacies of Japan. However, when we went to Kamakura and Enoshima, I noticed that a lot of foods focused on shirasu! It looked interesting, but I was too scared to try it unfortunately. The shirasu look so small I'd feel bad eating them! Maybe I'll give it a try one day, but for now, that's all I've got!

Thanks for keeping up with the blog--see you guys next time!

Boi 4 - Fruit rambles of a humble boi

Hi hello! It's ya boi 4, Lucia, back at it again with the scoop on fruits in Japan.

Well, actually, my last blog post was pretty informative, I thought, and I haven't really hit the fruit books since then. As such, a lot of today's blog will be derived from personal experience. I hope that's okay. ^~^ I mentioned at the end of my last blog that some of my former perceptions about fruits needed to be adjusted. Let's start with that, shall we?

Before exploring the actual state of fruits in Japan, I had the image that all fruits in Japan were expensive. I knew this sounded extreme, but sometimes it feels like anything can be the case in Japan. Japan is just so... different from what I'm used to that even things that sound odd still seem plausible in Japan. For example, we went to a bookstore that held so many books that the store itself had several floors and even a part of a nearby building. Or, for another example, the 100円 store actually sells items for 100円, haha.

Anyway, back to fruits. I realised pretty soon after I started paying attention that fruits are actually quite accessible and that the prices for lower quality fruits (ie. fruits that aren't raised like royalty) are relatively reasonable. While the prices for normal fruit in Japan may be higher than what I might find back home in Canada, it's not all that terrible. I see my friends eating fruits all the time, precut and packaged into containers or used in desserts and stuff like that.

I don't think it is in Japanese culture to eat fruits very recreationally, but as a foreigner, I find that I can still maintain the fruit eating habits I had back home. Last time I was in Japan, while I had the assumption that all fruit were expensive in Japan, going out and buying fruits was never a high priority. I suppose that's why my misconception on fruit prices in Japan persisted throughout the entirety of my last time here.

This time, however, I've been going out and exploring a lot with new friends that I've made on this program. Starting this week, I started using the dorm kitchen to help make dinner. In preparation for dinner, we go out the a nearby grocery store called Life (ライフ). Since I've been tasked with researching fruits, I've been a lot more attentive to fruits as I walk through the grocery aisles. Sometimes the arrangement of fruits and such remind me of grocery stores at home. Perhaps the fruit supply is noticeably less, but vegetables and other ingrediants seem plentiful.

Overall, I think there was a little bit of truth in my former perceptions of fruits in Japan. They do seem to tend to be more expensive than their Canadian counnterparts but not too unreasonably so. A fruit-lover going to Japan would not find themselves in much strife, I think.

Well, anyway, that was a fun little spiel. I'm gonna get back to work now. There's a fourth blog in the works, so I guess I'll catch y'all then. Boi 4, out.

Boi 2 - My Experience with Japanese Bento

Hello, it’s ya boi 2, Nicha, back at it again with the third blog for my time in Japan. I am still in Tokyo, Japan, and I must say it is a city with many appealing variety of food and drinks. But since my topic is bento, I took the liberty to try out some bento all around Tokyo. The first obvious choice is the bentos from the school cafeteria; since we have to spend half of our time there, and after we get out of class, we are always extremely hungry. Surprisingly, the school has many choices of bentos to choose from, from katsu bento to curry bento. The price of these bentos seem to be constant at around 350-400 yen, not bad for the things that come in it. The next bentos I’ve tried is the convenience store bento; these are a little more expensive, being priced around 500 yen. These bentos (unsurprisingly) were also delicious, but if you were being picky, there weren’t freshly made like the school bentos (not warm, but it was fair that they had to keep them refrigerated). Then I went to actual bento shops, it was in a narrow alleyway somewhere in Shinjuku this time around. The place offers eat-in-bentos and take-out bentos. I got the eat in bento. They were served hot, and it was extremely delicious, probably why they costed most, being around 900 yen. No matter where the bento came from, these bentos always include rice, a protein and a vegetable side, as mentioned before in the previous blogs, this makes for a very fulfilling meal, in addition to being delicious.

I also did a little more research into my individual topic of the competition between moms that have to wake up at ungodly hours to make bentos for their kids, even if it took an immense amount of effort to make. I found out that the number of females who are in the workforce is on a rapid increase in Japan, in other words, even moms or homemakers are seeking employment. This means that there is little to no time for these moms to make their kids elaborate lunch boxes for school to compete with other kids. The easiest solution for these homes is to buy premade meals to take for the next day(s) after. Even easier is the parents can give their kids money to buy their own lunch, either at the convenience store or at the school cafeteria, which might be a better option since the school cafeteria is generally cheaper than store-bought food. However, I’ve been to some super markets that sell these premade meals, and tried them back at the dorm. I must say, they’re definitely not as good as the bentos you can get at the places I mentioned above. It is undeniably missing the handmade feel, the human element that goes into a packed lunchbox. Next time, I will venture out to other stores as research, and/or find even more alternatives for people that don’t have their moms making their lunch for them.

Boi 3- My Experiences and Thoughts on Food Culture

So far my experience in Japan has taught me a great deal, not only regarding my topic of food but I've also learned a lot through the cultural experiences. The food culture in Japan reflects many of their societal values and is significantly different from that which is present in Calgary.

So far I've found food and meal times to be a very convenient and enjoyable experience in Japan, in my own personal opinion. The social experience of sharing meals with friends is not something I did often until coming to Japan, and I can truly say I've enjoyed every moment of these meals.

In terms of street and festival food, I've also found this to be an enriching social experience that further built my friendships with the other Japanese students or conversation partners, etc. When going out, we without a doubt would stop for a quick snack, whether it be crepes in Harajuku, croquettes in Kamakura, or any of the many other street foods we indulged in. Bonding over delicious snacks and food is without a doubt one of the best forms of bonding in my opinion, even better when they're relatively cheap but still taste good! Going out for food definitely seems to be a preferred form of bonding amongst the Japanese students, as many of our outings have been centered around eating.

The foods are delicious and easy to eat. I was fairly surprised to receive a small spoon with not only my crepe in Harajuku, but later on an ice cream cone as well. This made both snacks much easier to eat and enjoy without worrying about the mess, a pretty smart idea that I never expected. Though I imagine this would be a difficult idea to implement in Calgary due to the strides currently taken to reduce the usage of plastic.

By far one of my favourite parts of Japan has been experiencing all the different foods, and I plan on trying even more. 

I believe I was correct in my thought that Japan's connective society has a play in the lasting existence and popularity of street and festival food in Japan. As food and eating together is seen as a great way to bond with current and new friends, it would only be smart to have shops available everywhere for small snacks and treats, not only restaurants. In Calgary, I feel as though going out to eat is seen as a big or important event, as you generally have to go to a restaurant. There aren't many smaller sized shops or stalls available for casual eating.

This is definitely something I'm going to miss after leaving Japan, but I hope we can possibly incorporate some of this culture into our own Canadian one and make meals and meal times a more memorable and socially enriching experience that we engage in often.

The topic of food is one definitely worth looking into but can be very vast in information. Nonetheless, it is surely worth studying and immersing yourself into another society's mealtime culture and learn more about their view of foods. I believe this will greatly help you understand more about their societal values and workings.

-Sarah

Boi 2 - A Closer Look into Bento

Hey guys, it’s your Boi 2, Nicha. Welcome back to my blog!


Ever since we have arrived in Japan, we have experienced a variety of foods that are unique to Japanese culture, whether it be yakiniku, okonomiyaki, sukiyaki and many more. Although these are no doubt very delicious and one-of-a-kind, it is not particularly convenient to seek out in Japan. Other foods, such as bento, can be found everywhere in Japan, no matter where you are in the country. I have found out that it is because it is a staple food in Japan, that is why bento is so common in Japan. In addition to the availability of these meal boxes, you will find that they are not that expensive either, with most costing around $5 (however, there are some very expensive ones, which could cost up to $2000). You can find bento in train stations, airports, schools, cafes, supermarkets, or just any restaurant in general.


The basic ingredients that goes into bento includes rice, a main, and a vegetable side. While rice is always a base for any kind of bento, the main and the vegetable side have a variety of interchangeable options; the main is usually a type of protein, typically meat, albeit many do substitute for fish instead. The most common type of meat is beef (hamburg, teriyaki etc.) and chicken (karaage, teriyaki), and the most common type of fish is mackerel or saba. The vegetable side can range anywhere from pickled plum, to boiled vegetables, however, a typical Japanese bento will contain broccoli and/or grape tomatoes. This makes up a very balanced meal, which I think contributes to the healthy lifestyle of the Japanese population. This is another note I have made ever since I have been in Japan; I have not seen one obese or overweight Japanese person, I believe this is partly due to the food the Japanese promotes, and partly due to the amount of walking one has to do to get to places.


These bentos are also very aesthetically pleasing, mostly cute, or what we say in Japanese; ‘kawaii’. Many people will try to make their bentos very cute and photogenic, most likely to increase appetite. To do this, people will actually use scissors cut up nori (seaweed) into small pieces to decorate the bento, like making some animal faces or even emojis. Something I’ve found out that is very specific to Japanese bento culture is wiener sausages; mini sausages are cut from one (or 2 sometimes) end into 4 quarters, and then stir fried. By doing so, it creates a sausage with flares at the end, making it resembling an octopus. This then in turn, adds to the cuteness portion of the bento.


We have been in Japan for a week now starting today, and there are so many good food to eat here that unfortunately, I have not tried any authentic Japanese bento yet. But as the days progress, I am positive that I will get to try it. I am looking forward to trying many varieties of bento, and to report my findings in a future blog.

Boi 4 - Leading up to the luxury status of fruit in Japan

Hi hello! It's ya boi 4 (Lucia), back again to discuss some of my fruit findings. Since arriving here in Japan, I haven't actually gone out with the sole intent of looking at fruits in stores and such. Class has been keeping me relatively busy, and a lot of my free time is spent exploring Tokyo with new friends. However! I had downloaded some papers on my laptop prior to the plane ride here and finished reading those during that 11-ish hour flight. One book I read was a little outdated, but it taught gave me some insight on how fruits came to be so expensive in Japan.
     For reference's sake, the book I found most useful for my topic is "The Fruit Culture in Japan" by Tomochika Ikeda, originally published 1909... It's over 100 years old, but it discusses the conditions of the past and so I'll regard it as a valid perspective into the past. Upon a quick Google search (to find the publication date of this book), apparently this book is regarded as culturally important by scholars... whatever that means, haha. :P
     I think I'll start with what I thought I knew before I started researching fruits. Last time I was in Japan, my brother, his girlfriend, and I didn't really eat many fruits. Fruits are expensive, I heard, and they're regarded as luxury goods. When I thought as to why that might be the case, I thought it was a logical consequence of Japan's large population and limited land that can be allocated for growing fruits. It's a simple matter of supply and demand, I thought, but after doing some research, I found that there was more to it after all.
     Let's talk about land first. Not only is Japan a relatively small country in terms of size, but not all the land is arable--that is, not all the land is suitable for growing crops. That's pretty... expected...
     But wait! There's more!
     A lot of the arable land was allocated for other uses, notably to grow trees for the production of firewood and charcoal. Up until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, wood and charcoal were the only sources of fuel in Japan. At least, such was the case according to the book mentioned above, and at the time of publication (1909), coal was still being used for fuel. Nowadays, it seems that Japan's energy is sourced from coal, hydroelectricity, oil and gas, and nuclear power. With all these novel energy sources, I wonder how different Japan's allocation of resources (ie. land) now differs from over 100 years ago when the book was written.
     During the Tokugawa period (1603-1868), Japan had a policy of isolationism, so there was very limited contact with the Western world. This had some implications for fruit production in Japan because, while Europe and America were developing efficient methods to mass produce fruits, fruits in Japan were only being acquired naturally (ie. naturally occurring fruit trees and bushes). There was very little conscious effort to increase the yield of fruits, and only the wealthy could afford to buy from this limited supply. This may be the start of the luxury status of fruits in Japan.
     The Japanese commoner barely ate fruit, but it seems that even back then, fruits were not prioritised in a daily diet. Other foods, like rice, barley, sweet potatoes, onions, etc. formed the staple of the common diet. Since Japan is surrounded by water, fish was also a large part of the Japanese diet back then. Following the introduction of Buddhism into Japan, vegetarianism spread, so the production of vegetables increased but fruits were still not prioritised.
     All in all, Japan was not equipped with the land space nor the cultivation methods to produce a lot of fruit, and the diet of the common person also did little to encourage fruit production. I think over the years, Japanese culture has just developed around these aspects in such a way that fruits were not made to be essential.
     Meanwhile, Canada... is not nearly as old as Japan. But, the geography and international relations are vastly different. I think we import a lot of fruits and we also have a lot of space to grow fruit (although our winters are quite harsh). I don't plan to do much research into the history of fruits in Canada, since my focus in on fruits in Japan. I hope this post is sufficient background for the coming posts. I think it's time to go out there and see how fruits are doing in Japan today.
     Stay tuned (maybe) for more recent news about fruits! As a taste, I've already realised some of my former perceptions about fruits in Japan have since needed to be adjusted these past few days.

Boi 1 - Geographical and Historical Factors (Blog 2)

Hi guys! Boi 1 (Andrea) here to give you the scoop on local delicacies of Japan. First, we'll focus a bit on the geographical factors that make regions differ in terms of cuisine. These will vary depending on the location of the area of focus. Secondly, we'll focus on historical events that have shaped Japanese cuisine. However, we won't actually have much time to delve into the different kinds of foods that each area of Japan specializes in, but don't worry--we'll save that for later.

The location of a region can have several different impacts on the kinds of plants that can be grown. Latitude causes the angle at which the Sun's light hits the Earth to vary. Lots of direct sunlight allows for vegetation to flourish, while less direct sunlight may mean that only certain kinds of hardy vegetation are able to grow.

Of course, climate also affects flora's growth. Direct sunlight to a region does not have any value if there is no water to help it grow. For this reason, the amount of rainfall and temperatures of a region are important factor that can also decide the resources that are able to be harvested. Lots of sun, water, and warm temperatures allow for many different kinds of vegetation to grow, as we can clearly see in Tokyo. In contrast, Canada's switch from hot summers to harsh winters mean that vegetation that can only flourish in hot and sunny climates has limited time to grow.

Moreover, there are certain kinds of plants that cannot survive in Canada because of the bitter winters. The soil and terrain of an area will also have an effect on the plants that grow. Rocky terrains (such as that of the Rocky Mountains) are likely able to grow only a limited amount of specialized flora, while more open and softer terrains (such as the Prairies) are likely to grow in variation.

Japan's history and contact with other countries has also greatly affected their cuisine. The first foreign influence that Japan experienced was from China, around 300 B.C (Food in Every Country--Japan, 2006). The use of chopsticks, and the consumption of soy sauce and tofu was also due to exposure of Chinese culture. Buddhism also played a massive part in Japanese people's culture. The rise of Buddhism in 700 A.D. led to a ban on eating meat. As a result, the Japanese developed the now world-wide famous sushi.

Beginning in the early 1200s, trade with other countries brought Western-style influences into Japan. The Dutch introduced corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes, while the Portuguese introduced batter-frying methods, such as tempura. After a ban of nearly 1000 years, beef was reintroduced into the Japanese cuisine. Moreover, Western foods such as bread, coffee, and ice cream, became popular during the late 20th century. Another Western influence experienced was the introduction of timesaving cooking methods, such as the electric rice cooker, packaged instant noodles, instant miso soup, and instant pickling mixes.

As we can see, Japan's geographical and historical factors have played a huge influence on their cuisine. From soba, to sushi, to even dangos served at tea shops, everything that the Japanese have integrated into their menus is influenced by these two factors (and many more). After years of living in Canada, Japan's cuisine is a sight to behold. Next time, we'll focus on the juicy bits--Japan's local delicacies!

Stay tuned!

Andrea

Boi 3 - My Findings So Far

So far, I haven’t collected much more interesting information about festival and street food, but with Sanja Matsuri coming up that is bound to change.

 One thing I have noted though are the many unique flavours of these foods that are available in Japan. These flavours are very unlike anything that would be found in Canada. For example, dango, which is a popular street food in japan that made of mochi consisting of glutinous rice and usually served on a stick in a group of three, can be found in many different flavours. While speaking with one of the Japanese students in the I-House I was asked what kind of mochi I wanted to try, and as she listed the flavours I couldn’t help but want to try them all. The most popular dango flavour amongst the Japanese seems to be an-dango, which stands for azuki dango, and consists of a red bean paste. Red bean is a common and popular food flavour and is included in many different foods, even the other day at the opening ceremony I was eating a matcha flavoured cake and noticed there were red beans on the bottom. This is supposedly a very common flavour combination, which I was not previously aware of. Other types of dango include mitarashi dango, which is a sweet caramelized soy sauce, and hanami dingo which consist of three different coloured mochi, a green mochi which is tea flavoured, a plain white mochi, and a sakura (cherry blossom) pink mochi. I hope to try them all and return with my thoughts on how they taste, including which one is my favourite. 

One thing I have tried however are the infamous crepes in Harajuku. While strolling around in Harajuku with a friend, we saw countless crepe stand with lines that extended ridiculously long. After finding a reasonably sized one, we decided to order some, I chose to indulge in one that was filled with whipped cream, ice cream, strawberries, and topped with a chocolate brownie, it was delicious. 

Another thing to point out so far about the street food in Japan is how cheap it is! I find most foods only run to be a couple hundred yen, so a couple dollars Canadian. The crepe was about 600 yen, so 6 dollars, whereas a crepe from a mall in Calgary would likely cost you about 8 to 10 dollars, and that would just be a simple one, no brownies included. That may not seem like much but in the long run it definitely adds up. All and all while in Japan I’ve been spending significantly less when It comes to convenient foods, snacks and drinks than I would have in Canada. That’s all for now, I’ll be back with an update on some more delicious snacks soon!

-Sarah

Boi 4 Introduction

Hi hello! 

My name is Lucia Nguyen (aka Boi 4) and for this blog, I'll be focusing on fruits in Japan! I'm thinking of focusing on fruits as a commodity, but I'm not entirely certain yet. I guess you'll just have to stay tuned to find out! (That's just an excuse for me to decide later on what I'll talk about. 😅) Anyhow, for now, I'd like to tell you a little bit more about myself, so, um, let's begin. (Warning: Get ready for some hardcore rambling.)

I am a third year (almost fourth year!) student at the University of Calgary, currently pursuing a major in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology with a minor in Japanese. In all honesty, I don't know what I'm doing with my life. I am just... a student, studying things that I find interesting, I suppose. 

When I'm not studying, I'm usually in bed. When I'm feeling especially blue, I write in my journal. In fact, I keep a lot of journals. Recently, I've tried to break the habit of writing when I'm under the weather because I don't really want to immortalise bad thoughts... But, strangely, when I'm happy, I don't really feel like journalling.

I have a bad habit of collecting journals. I have finished a handful from start to finish but a good portion of my journals are reserved for more... limited entries.

I also do origami. I'm not an origami god (far from it!), but I have practiced origami since I was a kid. I'd like to believe I'm fairly capable at folding paper, but, well, as with anything, there's always room for improvement. 😛

This is an origami camera I made with fake money. It took about 2 hours to figure the instructions all out, haha.

Here are two cranes I made with a single sheet of fake money. It was also pretty time-consuming.

My go-to folds to give to friends include a rose, a stationary crane, and a turtle.

Maybe I should talk a little bit about my family? There are six of us in my immediate family: my parents, my two older brothers, my older sister, and myself. We speak a mix of Vietnamese and English at home, but when talking to my parents, I mostly use Vietnamese. I'd like to say that I'm fluent in speaking Vietnamese, but... somehow that sounds like a bold statement. 😅 In regards to reading and writing in Vietnamese, I... am not competent at all. (Sorry, mum and dad!)

Like most kids born and raised in Canada, I was "taught" French from the third grade. I took French as an option up until I graduated from high school. Before high school, however, a large majority of my French education consisted of learning miscellaneous vocabulary and fitting the words into sentence skeletons. It wasn't until I was in grade 10 that I started learning the grammar and, for a year, I thought I was in love with the French language. 

In grade 11, French class became... painful and I dreaded attending every class. I truly think this was a result of... an incompatibility between how my new teacher taught and how I learned as a student. A part of me regrets how my love for the French language died. To this day, I am uncomfortable with using French. It must sound like a sorry excuse, but using French triggers bad memories. 

Do you know the saying, "If you don't use it, you lose it"? Well, it seems that I lost French.

In my first year of university, I decided to take a Japanese class. I had already formed an interest in Japanese before I entered university. In fact, by that time, I had already learned both kana syllabaries and a handful of kanji. I knew I had wanted to dabble in the Japanese language, but I never would have expected just how deeply I would fall in love with the Japanese language. It was like falling in love with French all over again, except this time it wasn't French... and I usually look forward to Japanese class. 

At first, I had only wanted to learn enough Japanese to watch anime without the English subtitles or to read raw manga. After forming irreplaceable friendships in that first Japanese class, I made the confident decision to enroll Japanese as my minor. I have loved the language ever since and I hope to attain fluency before I die!

こんにちは！ルシアと申します。私はこのブログに果物について書きます！でもまずは、自己紹介をしましょうね。

私はカルガリー大学の三年生です。専攻は細胞生物学ですが、日本語も勉強しています。暇な時、日記に書いたり、折り紙をしたりするのが好きです。（上の写真を見てください！）

私の家族は六人います。両親と二人の兄と一人の姉がいます。昔、皆さんはカルガリーに住んでいましたが、今私は両親だけとここに住んでいます。私の兄弟は勉強のために他の町に住んでいます。時々兄弟に会いたいですが。。。

家で私たちはベトナム語と英語を使っていますが、私は両親とベトナム語で話します。小学校から高校を卒業するまでフランス語も勉強していました。初めは、フランス語が大好きと思いましたが、フランス語の勉強は速く楽しくなくなりました。このごろ、私はフランス語を使うと、ちょっと悲しくなります。😢

一年生の時、日本語の授業を取りました。大学に入る前に、私は自分でもう日本語を少し勉強しました。ひらがなとカタカナと色々な漢字を習いました。初めは、日本語でアニメを見たり漫画を読んだらしたかったです。最初の日本語の授業を取ってから、たくさんのいい友達を作りました。日本語が大好きになりました。私は死ぬ前に、日本語がペラペラに話せたいです。

Boi 3 Introduction

Hey hey, my name is Sarah and I'm a 21-year-old second year East Asian Language Studies student at the University of Calgary. When I have free time I enjoy spending it drawing, painting, or reading things usually related to horror or psychological topics, though I do enjoy a good romance story once in a while.

 Growing up, I also learned to play the violin, however, I haven't played in a while so I'm not very good anymore.

My interest in Japan started young when I became interested in Japanese anime and manga. I found the art style to be very intriguing and cute and was inspired to start drawing myself, this led to art being a very large part of my life, now I've been drawing for around nine years.
This interest in anime and other Japanese media is what sparked my interest in traveling to Japan.

When I wasn't drawing I was busy skating and playing ringette, a sport that dominated most of my life up until very recently, having played for over ten years, until I quit to focus on other things in my life. My main focus right now, besides school, is taking care of my three specialty pure-bread sphinx cats, they require a lot of attention and affection, I even have to give them baths, clean their ears and cut their nails. I'm going to miss them a lot while in Japan but probably won't miss being covered in scratches all the time.

I'm excited to be in Japan and attend Senshu University to be able to improve my Japanese language skills and have the chance to practice my speaking on a daily basis. Having been born in Canada and grew up only speaking English, I imagine it will be a large culture shock, but I'm looking forward to it.

I also enjoy playing Japanese mobile gatcha games, specifically the game Onmyoji and cute rhythm games such a LoveLive.

 Growing up I was also interested in the Japanese pop idol Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Visual Kei music and fashion. The alternative fashion subcultures in Japan are of great interest to me and I'm hoping to get a better idea of the popular fashions in Japan, as well as hopefully see examples of some of the more niche styles in places such as Harajuku.
On that note, I am very excited to shop in Japan, not only for the possible differences in what is sold in Japan but the differences in clothing and shoe sizes in comparison to Canada. As a very small person, only 4 ft 11in or 150 cm, and having small feet, it's a bit hard for me to find clothing in Canada that fits me well, I'm interested in how the clothing in Japan will fit me in comparison.

Fashion and makeup is a huge passion of mine and Japan has a very unique history of fashion and intriguing subcultures that I look forward to possibly seeing in person, as well as experimenting with it myself.

こんにちは、セラと申します、よろしくお願いします。私はカルガリー大学の学生、二年生です。専攻はアジア研究です。私はカルガリーで生まれて、一生ここに住んでいました,今私は２１歳です。絵を描きたり、本を読みたり、怖い映画を見るが好きです。日本でたくさんの新しいおいしい食べ物を試すのを楽しみにしています。

Boi 2 Introduction

Hello, my name is Nicha! I am 22 years old, currently in fourth year studying in the University of Calgary. I am majoring in Actuarial Science with 2 minors; Statistics and Japanese. My ethnicity is Thai, I was born there and stayed in the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, for 10 years before moving to Canada in 2007, but my actual family background is from China! However, I don't speak any Chinese, I am only fluent in 2 languages; English and Thai. I am also semi-fluent in Korean and French, but less proficient in Japanese unfortunately. I am enrolled in the Senshu program due to my desire to improve my Japanese language competency, and to experience exciting new adventure in a different country. I'm quite interested in the Japanese cinematic, especially in animation. I think Japan has one of the best, if not the best animated movies of all time. Going on this trip will really give me a sense of understanding in what the Japanese animation culture is actually like.
My hobbies include eating and meme-ing, I enjoy food very much and I think Japan has some of the best food, along with some of the best places to explore. Every time I see anything that is relating Japanese food, I always see workers that present their creations as works of art. Japanese food, or Japanese culture in general is alluring, in my opinion; because I fee like everything they do is with purpose, care, and precision, therefore, the product of that is something beautiful. I can eat everything and anything, but my favorites are fried or grilled foods; especially meats. I'm excited to travel to Japan and try everything the country has to offer!
My major is very difficult and it demands a huge amount of time to study and master; in order to alleviate that, I like to browse the interwebs for memes. They make me laugh, and help me feel a sense of happiness during stressful times.
Other things I do in my spare time include playing instruments, specifically piano and guitar. I have been playing piano since I was 8 years old, and guitar since I was 14. Music is something very important to me, as it releases stress, and helps me indulge in other things other than school. I very much enjoy making music, and even dancing sometimes. Albeit I do that in my own time.
I love animals, my favorite places to visit are zoos and aquariums. I can literally stay in an aquarium for the whole day without getting bored. When I go to Japan, I hope to visit these places as much as possible; I heard there was an island called Nara, where deers and other wildlife roam free; I really wish I could go explore and interact with these creatures. In Tokyo, if time and money permits, I wish to go to Disney Sea, I'd love to see the differences between the theme parks/tourist attraction between the West and the East. I'm also going to Osaka, there, I hope to visit the famous aquarium that is situated there.


こんにちは 私の名前は二シャです ! 私は 22歳です。今 私はカルガリー大学で勉強しています。せんこうは アクチュアリアル サイエンス です。私は マイナは２つあります；統計と日本語です。私はタイ人です、タイ語と英語を話せます。フランス語と韓国語もちょっと話させます。

もうすぐ日本語がペラペラになりたいです。だから、せんしゅプログラムに入りました！日本に行くのが楽しみです。おいしい食べ物がたくさん食べたいです。日本食はとってもおいしいと思います。そして、ホストファミリーと新しい友達がにも会いたいです。

Boi 1 Introduction

Hello! My name's Andrea Gomez, I'm 21 years old, and I'm a third year Psychology student at the University of Calgary. I was born in Venezuela and lived there for about 7 years before my family moved to Canada. My first language is Spanish and my second is English. I've also taken French at school; because it's so similar to Spanish, it's easy to grasp. I'm still not very good at it though--my understanding is rudimentary, but I hope to take classes again in the future!

My favorite language, however, is Japanese. For this reason, I'm minoring in Japanese at school. I started studying it in high school because I thought it would be fun and found myself quickly falling in love with the language. Soon after, I began to learn about the culture and history of Japan and became even more interested. My family had travelled around Europe and North and South America, but we'd never ventured as far as Asia. I decided that one day, I would put myself to the test and make it to Japan. Now, here I am! More than anything, I signed up for this group study because I want to further expand my Japanese skills. There's nothing quite like learning on the field! I'm also very curious about Japan's culture and want to experience it for myself. Lastly, I want to follow the wind into the unknown streets of Tokyo and explore! I've never been to Japan, so this group study will be a very precious experience to me. I hope to learn lots from it!

Besides travelling, I also love going out with friends and eating yummy food. Currently, one of my favorites is Korean food! I love anything with a good kick of spice to it. I also really like Brazilian food, but the restaurants I've found are pretty expensive, so I don't get to indulge in it often. However, if you get the chance, definitely go to eat to your heart's content at a Brazilian restaurant! They serve lots of delicious meat, and there's almost always a kick-ass buffet, so it's definitely worth the money. Just make sure you go when you're hungry!

If I'm not eating out with my friends though, I like to spend the day lazing around my house. My favorite days are the ones where I have no responsibilities--it means I get to nap for as long as I want! After a long day of doing nothing at all, napping is definitely my favorite thing to do. Hopefully I won't get so busy in Japan that I won't be able to take a couple of minutes to catch on some sleep!

I know we've all introduced ourselves to each other (many times), but let's get to know each other and make lots of fun memories! I'm glad to be a part of this trip with all of you. Here's to a month of good luck and good grades! I'm sure that if we help each other out, there's nothing we won't be able to do.

All the best,

Andrea

〜

こんにちは！アンドレアです。二十一歳で、心理学科の三年生です。ベネズエラで生まれて、カナダに引っ越した前に、あそこで七年間ぐらい住んでいました。私はスペイン語と英語を話せませ。でも、一番好きの言語は日本語です。今年の冬学期に日本語３３３を取りましたが、まだ上手じゃないと思うですから、日本に行きたかったです。日本にいるうちに、よく練習することができるですから、ペラペラになれますよ！カナダに帰る前に、日本語を上手になるように、頑張ります！みんな、よろしくお願いします！

アンドレア

Welcome to TabemonoBois!

Hello there!

Welcome to the TabemonoBoiss blog! Here, we'll be discussing the theme of food in Japan! We hope to cover a variety of topics included (and probably limited to) fruits, street/festival foods, bento, and local cuisines! Your hosts on this wondrous food journey will be none other than Andrea (21), Lucia (20), Nicha (22), and Sarah (21) ~

Food and Culture

            Food makes up a big part of our culture. Things like the ingredients we choose or how we prepare our food can speak volumes about who we are as people. The way one culture views a certain food may differ dramatically from how another culture views the same food. For example, Japan’s regard to fruits contrasts quite strongly with Canada’s regard to fruits. Some specific types of food may also form the foundation for certain aspects of a culture. Bento and regional delicacies can be quite local to Japan. Finally, there are cultural aspects with associated foods that differ by nature of a difference in culture. For example, while many cultures may have street vendors and may host festivals, the street and festival foods of Japan are unique to Japan.

            We hope you enjoy joining us as we explore Japanese food and how it contributes to Japan’s culture!

Fruits（果物）

            Lucia (aka Boi 4) will be handling this subtopic! I feel like, as a Canadian, I often take fruits for granted. Sure, there are fruits that go in and out of season, and prices often inflate against my will, but the culture around fruits in Japan is totally different from here.

            The fruits in Japan are known for being comparatively more expensive than the fruits we have access to in Canada. I have heard that a cause for this price difference is the limited real estate Japan can allocate to growing fruit. As a result, only a limited amount of fruit can be grown at a time, and so resources are dedicated to the quality of those few fruits. Additionally, to uphold the tradition of high quality production, the cultivation of fruits in Japan became incredibly resource- and labour-intensive. The high price may therefore be due to a combination of the high demand of the massive Japanese population, the low supply of fruit due to limited resources, and the intense labour required to reach a desired quality. In contrast, fruits are considered an essential part of the diet here in Canada and are much more readily available to the common person. 

            While there are indeed some fruits specific to the country of Japan, as well as some non-native fruits honed to Japanese perfection, I anticipate the bulk to my research to be focused on fruits as a commodity. Throughout these next four weeks or so, I hope to further investigate other possible underlying reasons behind the high prices of fruits, the history of fruits rising to the status of a luxury good in Japan, and how the Japanese and Canadian viewpoints compare in regards to fruit.

Street and Festival Foods (屋台と祭りの食べ物)

            While delicious trying food is undoubtedly a huge part of travelling, Japan has much more to offer than just restaurants. A large part of the allure are the unique and infamous street and festival foods available all around the country. Many different ‘yatai’, or street vendors, can be found around Japan, often changing with the season, current festivals, and location, there are many varieties of yatai and with them many delicious foods to sample! You’ve likely heard of many of the famous treats that you can get at these vendors, such as takoyaki, ikayaki, yakitori, and so much more. While in Japan it’s essential to experience this unique part of the culture and eat some delicious food while you’re at it!

Bento（ベント）

            Bento is unquestionably a commodity that is strikingly unique in Japanese culture. Derived from the Chinese word, ‘bento’ is used in meaning ‘useful’ or ‘convenient; with evidence of its accessibility found all over Japan, such as in train stations, convenient stores, and even at the airport. However, the most prevalent use for bento is conceivably from common Japanese households itself; Japanese homemakers usually spend huge amounts of time and effort in preparing these meal boxes for their loved ones, whether it’d be their spouses or their children. Other variations of this charming package exists, taking on many labels, namely ekiben (sold at train stations), hayaben (“early bento”, eaten before lunch”), hokaben (take-out bento), noriben (simplest form of bento; with just nori, soy sauce and rice), and soraben (sold at airports). Presently, bento has made its way across the globe, and has become immensely popular, with its presence being a necessity in most Japanese restaurants abroad. But the most satisfying approach to learn about this wonderful meal box, and the culture that comes with it, is perhaps from its country of origin, Japan.

Local delicacies（ご当地グルメ）

            It is clear to many that choices of food can vary depending on the countries and cities which we visit--Canada’s cuisine is very different from Japan’s. However, have you ever wondered why this is so? What causes our foods to differ? These factors can include the weather, the amount of sunlight, and the amount of rain that the area receives. Landforms, terrain, and soil quality also have an effect on what can be grown. The presence of lakes, rivers, and oceans determines whether an area will be have plenty of water for their resources and allows for fresh fish. Most importantly, the culture of the people plays an important role in cuisine--their history, religion, and beliefs will determine the choices made regarding what should and should not be eaten. Japan may not be such a big country in comparison to Canada, but the island’s stretch from cold and frigid temperatures to warm and sunny climates allows for a vast array of specialties to come to fruition. From Hokkaido’s plentiful ikura to Okinawa’s mixed Goya Chanpuru, Japan has all sorts of local delicacies to offer to its residents. This section’s research will investigate the similarities and differences that cuisine in Japan and Canada may have, and how these factors came to be. Were there any specific events that made the Japanese realize that raw fish wrapped in seaweed would become a dish that would take the world by storm? And how come Canadians haven’t joined the “rice is life” movement? Stay tuned to find out more!