Satoshi Nihonyanagi
Welcome to my blog, Green Tea Club !
I'll show you all the beauties and goodies in Shizuoka through this blog.
If you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your messages on it.
Hope to see you around in Shizuoka !
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02/20/2012 [Mon]
Kuro-Hanpen of Yaizu City ― Yamashita Shoten store [Yaizu]
Kuro Hanpen ( literally means “Black Fish Cake” ) is a specialty of Shizuoka Prefecture and very popular among people, often cooked in Oden or deep-fried in itself. It’s manufactured most in Yaizu City and nowadays, “Kuro Hanpen of Yaizu” has become a brand-name for its outstanding quality. Since 80% of production is being consumed in Shizuoka, it’s not common yet even in Japan and lots of domestic tourists come for it to Yaizu in recent years and that’s why I, this time, visit “Yamashita Shoten”, Kuro Hanpen processing factory, to see how it is processed to be wonderful Hanpens.＾＾
Kuro Hanpen may seem almost the same as Kamaboko fish cake but there is a big difference between them. While Kamaboko is to be made from white meat fish, it’s made from blueback fish such as sardines and mackerels, all of which give you fishier flavor, I would say, the very taste of Yaizu Port, one of the Japan’s largest fishing ports !
Now, let’s see how it is processed. The main ingredients are several kinds of fishes, which are to be minced for 30 – 40 minutes until it becomes smooth enough. Then, the fish paste is molded and boiled for a while and cooled instantaneously in the fridge of -15℃ afterwards. This is how resilient texture of Hanpen is born. It takes about 1 hour to finish the whole process and they say they can work out 8000 – 9000 pieces of Hanpen in an hour !
It was really outstanding how they packed the productions, too ! No wonder because they, this season, perform as many as 30,000 Hanpens every day. ＾＾
Yamashita Shoten is a long-established store of 80 years specializing only in Kuro Hanpen. You can find it in the supermarkets or souvenir shops and what is more, for those who like to experience the process, they will make a business trip to let you have a chance to learn how to make it using real hanpen ingredients. Please feel free to inquire us for further information !＾＾ Also open this URL to buy their Hanpen through internet ( In Japanese, for domestic delivery only ).
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02/17/2012 [Fri]
Kowaga Port Uogashi Shokudo ― A restaurant of Fish Market in Yaizu [Yaizu]
Since I introduced Yaizu Sakana Center fish market the other day, I report today one more wonderful place for lunch in Yaizu City.
Kogawa Port adjacent to Yaizu Port is famous as a landing port for mackerels and “Kogawa Port Uogashi Shokudo”, the fish market restaurant of Kogawa Port, stands right in front of Kogawa Port. This dining hall used to be kind of a hidden superduper eating place often crowded mostly with local people but recently lots of tourists visit it for fresh seafood lunch. Stepping into the restaurant, you’re supposed to purchase a food ticket first from the vending machines. Menu is shown on the wall on a large scale !
I took the Kaisen-don sashimi-topped rice bowl ! Sashimi of tuna, bonito, ama-ebi weet shrimp, squid, Sakura-ebi shrimp, Shirasu whitebait, Hotate scallop adductor, and salmon roe were on it and it was only ￥1,000 ! Gorgeous isn’t it ?＾＾ I also ordered a very special of Shizuoka, lovely raw sakura-ebi shrimp and deep-fried sakura-ebi mixed with vegetables which we call “Kakiage”, a kind of Tempra. Too much ? Yeah, it was !＾＾； Still I finished it all in less than 10 minutes and went out for some fresh air around the port.
Kowaga Port Uogashi Shokudo
Access ： 10 minutes by bus ＋ 10 minutes on foot from JR Yaizu Station
Open Hours ： 7:00 – 14:00 ( 10:00 – 14:00 on Saturadays and the market’s holidays )
※Open except the year-end and New Year holidays and summer holidays
Menu available in PDF !
Menu (886KB)
For Japanese (535KB)
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02/15/2012 [Wed]
The 10th Appare Fuji 〜 Fujisan Art Performance Festival 2012 〜 [Fuji City]
One of the largest Yosakoi dance Festivals is coming up on May 26 – 27 at Central Park in Fuji City, Shizuoka. Since they unfortunately called it off last year due to the unexpected catastrophe of Tohoku region, they are being really excited about it this year to make it best in the last 10 years. Full-swing Yosakoi dance is to be performed on 27th. 26th is meant to be the Eve event that varieties of dances are shown to us. Performers for the Eve event are still wanted. Please refer to the following for more information.＾＾
I myself have never seen it before so I feel so happy that I may be able to visit it this year. The Central Park is, by the way, one of my favorite in Fuji City. Actually I’ve been there many times to walk around, and sometimes to join the flea market. So beautiful especially in early summer with greenery ! You will also see full of roses against the background of magnificent Mt. Fuji in May ! Dances, roses, and Mt, Fuji. Exciting, isn’t it ?＾＾
They say as many as 70,000 visitors are expected this year and they’ve been planning to have special events such as performances of world’s artists and varieties of gourmets of the world ! Whoever likes it to see or join, please feel free to contact “Fujisan Tourism & Communication Bureau” or the Executive Committee for further information.
They are now wanting performers for the eve event on May 26 of the festival through their official website. Themed on “Family and Friends”. Any group of more than 2 performers is eligible to be registered. Please feel free to inquire if you’re thinking about it.
For Japanese (343KB)
The 10th Appare Fuji, Fujisan Art Performance Festival
Place ： Central Park
Access ： Tokyo → JR Shin-Fuji Station ( Shinkansen ) → 10 minutes by bus
Or 10 minutes by bus from JR Fuji Station
Days ： May 26 ( Eve event of the Festival ) 14:00 – 20:30
May 27 ( Art Performance Festival ) 10:00 – 19:00
Inquiries ： Fujisan Tourism & Communication Bureau ( English acceptable )
Appare Fuji Executive Committee ( Japanese Only ) yama-isa@poem.ocn.ne.jp
Performers Wanted
Conditions ： Groups of more than 2 performers.
Date ： May 26 ・ 14:00 – 17:00 for daytime stage／14:00 – 20:30 for evening stage
Participation Fee ： ￥1000 for adults／￥500 for children under 18
Application forms acceptable until Feb 29
Please contact Fujisan Tourism & Communication Bureau or Executive Committee of Appare Fuji for further information
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02/13/2012 [Mon]
Let’s have fun making Food Samples ! ― Aoi Sample, Yaizu City [Yaizu]
What do you pay your attention to first when you stand in front of the restaurant ? Maybe, food replicas, right ? Faithful samples are now being hailed because they could affect their sales amount and there is a food-sample company “Aoi Sample” in Yaizu City, Shizuoka, where you can experience food-replica making. This picture is, to tell you the truth, also a sample. ＾＾
Two courses are mainly recommended. One of ￥1500 is to make “Food-sample mobile strap” and “Tempura”, and the other of ￥5000 is for full-scale replicas such as tantalizing Pasta, Stakes, Burgers as above, or lovely Parfaits. I tried that of ￥1500 on that day !
First comes “how to make food-sample strap”. You can choose one from among “Sweets”, “Oden” or “Kaisen-don” ( sashimi-topped rice bowl ). I took the sweets in no time because I’m the real dessert-lover.＾＾
It was very easy to make. Choose one basic model and attach tiny parts of fruits, crème and chocolates to it. I of no artistic sense thought too much and took more than 30 minutes, though.＾＾； But remember, this one is absolutely the only one in the world !♪
Next comes “Tempura”. It was just like a magic to me. You drop the melted wax on hot water and put the basic plastic food-model on it to wrap around. The point is that you drop the wax from higher point so that the wax on water surface “bloom” on impact, and this is what I made instructed. Looks real ? Nope ? ＾＾； You can make 2 Tempras to take home. Noted this is kind of old method of making. More improved technology has been applied in this day and age.
By the way, Yaizu is known for Kuro Hanpen ( fish cake − minced and steamed fish ) and this time, I was lucky enough to have another experience ! The replica of Kuro Hanpen is made from PVC. Pour the fluid into the mold of silicon which real hanpen was impressed, and cook it in the oven for 5 minutes. There you are ! Faithful hanpen will be right in front of you !＾＾／
I found there kits for food-sample making. It’s very surprising that they have prepared instructions in English, Korean, and Chinese ! Be sure to take one for your family or friends.
They also accept business call and small trip to schools or public halls around for, for example, Educational Travelers. Please feel free to inquire us or directly at Aoi Sample for further information. You can write to us or them in English !＾＾
For Japanese (871KB)
Aoi Sample
Access ： 20 minutes by bus, or 15 minutes by taxi from JR Yaizu Station
Sample Making Fee ： ￥1500 〜 （ booking recommended ）
Open Hours ： 9:00〜17:00 ※ Basically closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays
HP ：http://www.aoisample.com/
Inquiries：info@aoisample.com （ English message acceptable ）
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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Posted by Satoshi Nihonyanagi at 13:20 Permanent Link Trackback ( 0 ) Comments ( 0 )
02/09/2012 [Thu]
Yaizu Sakana Center [Yaizu]
You can’t tell Yaizu City without fisheries. Yaizu Port is such a large port as it, in 2010, marked more than 210,000 tons for fish landing and got the No1 title in Japan, and there is a huge fish market that meets No1 port in the city. “Yaizu Sakana Center” is that.
Yaizu Sakana Center stands 10 minutes away by bus from JR Yaizu Station and is very close from Yaizu I.C. of Tomei Expressway. I’m definitely positive that it is the largest fish market in Shizuoka because there are as many as 70 fish stores and restaurants in the market and lots of tourists around the city, I often see, stop by to buy a box of fresh seafood for their families.
It’s fun just to walk around the market and see Japan’s popular fishes, which is to me, “An aquarium of good-taste-seafood”.＾＾ Negotiation for discount might be paid off ! Remember some Japanese and try it ! Outside the market is a line of food stalls. Enjoy fresh seafood on the spot !
On that day, by the way, I was there to have lovely seafood lunch !＾＾ Beside the market is a huge restaurant “Nagisa” where even a large group of more than 500 customers can enjoy lunch without being disturbed by others. I ordered “Yaizu Tendon” seafood Tempura-topped rice bowl ( extra-large ) that fully gratified my boundless craving for seafood ! Fresh and crisply deep-fried ! I finished it in a moment.＾＾； Other dishes are available from here. Please open to enhance your appetite !
Yaizu Sakana Center
Access ： 10 minutes by bus from JR Yaizu Station／1 minute by car from Tomei Yaizu I.C.
Open Hours ： 9:00 – 17:00
For Japanese (658KB)
Join us in Twitter φ(・ω・ )
“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾
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