Japan in 363 days

It looks like this is going to be the last day that I will get a computer acess for the rest of my time here in Japan, so I thought that I might give you guys a look into what I might be doing in this time.

25th - Todd goes to the big "Tenjin Matsuri" which is one of the big 3 festivals in Japan.
26th - 5th - Todd goes to Labo camp and does almost nothing. At the winter camp I took one hour to eat one orange!
6th I pack my bags and send them off to Tokyo.
7th -Rest and then go out to a new bar that I heard about.
8th-12th - I will be on Shikoku Island (That is the one just south of the big one) with my friend Kana. There will be much fun and "stuff" there. Some highlights of that trip will be the limestone caves and the Beer Garden at the Kindergarden.
12th- Fly back to Osaka and then escort the Canadian and American youth back to tokyo.
13th- Take the youth to the Airport and then have a very big party with all the other interns.
14th-16th I and another intern will climb Mt. Fuji.
17th-1st I make my way up to Hokkaido stopping at Sendai, Yamagata, Akita, and Aomori for some great eats, and fun times.
1st - 4th Make my way back to Tokyo get on a plane and head back to the great white north my call Canada.

Signing off
Todd "Todo" Horner - san

posted by Toddokun @ 6:00 PM

I have put it off for as long as I could but I have finnaly sent my Laptop home for repair. As much as it pains me to say this there will be no more picture coming up on this page. But do not worry for I will continue my commentary about life in Japan.

Oh and for those of you that would like to know I will be back in Edmonton on the 4th of September. Unfortionatly the places me 2 days short of my Japan in 365 days so I guess it will now be called Japan in 363 day. (^-^)

Well I am off to buy my shamisen and then head off to Tokyo for the week.

Matta Ne!

posted by Toddokun @ 9:08 PM

Last saturday night I got to go to a Okunomiyaki restaurant with some friends. We also stopped at Kobe's china town for a little visit. I know that you are wondering what Okunomiyaki is, well the closest explanation is a japanese pancake, but that does not describe it very well. To make thin more complicated there are three types of this japanese pancake. There is the Tokyo style called "Monjyayaki", the Osaka version that has the true name "Okunomiyaki" and then there is the Hiroshima version but I forgot the name. (It has lot of cabbage in it)

In order to help you understand this Okunomiyaki I have taken a few movies and pictures to help explain. When we went out we ate Manjyayaki and Okunomiyaki. First I should explain the tools you use to eat this stuff.

The big spatula on the top is what you use to eat Okunomiyaki with and the little one is used for Monjyayaki, and then there is the chop sticks.

When you order your pancake they bring it to you in a bowl like this.





After that they start to cook it at your table as shown in these videos.

Spreading out the ingredinets

Cuting up the Cabbage

Now they add the egg and stuff to turn it into a pancake like thing

after that comes the mixing

Last but lest it how you eat it

And that everything there is to know about the making of Monjyayaki. (^_^)

Oh and here is a picture of my fiend Kana taking a bite out some yummy chicken.




After a nice dinner it was off to China town.


Not to sure how this is but I think that he sells tea... or cures for impotency. (^_^)


Me and Kana at one of those funny photo things.


And then to round the evening off we went out to sing some crazy tones at Karaoke.

posted by Toddokun @ 1:01 AM