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Food and Drink
Photos of some of the things we have found differentThe Big Apple - Apr 2008
You can get big apples in Japan. They can be a bit big to eat though
The big apple in the middle. Normal Apple and a tin of tomatoes, just to show the size.
Fancy Bottled Water - Feb 2008
These specially designed bottles (from Kinki partners), with traditional Japanese prints on them hold bottled water from around Nara. (They come with the red rope tied to them). The sell in convenience stores and supermarkets for around 330 Yen (2-3 time the price for any other bottled water).
Would you buy bottle water at twice the price of anything else?....
For more information see the "Trends in Japan" website.
Coolish - July 2007
Not sure if we have seen these before. I really like the name. Coolish, for what looks like soft serve ice cream in a metal tube.
potattcho - May 2007
We found these in a shop called kiddyland in Harajuku. Potato chips covered in Chocolate.
Bread.. yes Bread - March 2007
The standard loaf in Japan is about half the size of a regular loaf in Australia (and about as sweet as sugar). One of the big differences though is that in Japan you can purchace your bread in different thicknesses. The picture above shows loaves cut into 10 or 8 slices, but 4,5 and 6 slices are also common. Very useful why don't we do this in Australia
4 slices is about an inch thick and I always wondered what it was used for.
Pam being served half a loaf of bread for toast at Inuyama, March 2007. Big toast and lots of jam.
Electronic price tags - Dec 2006
This photo is from a small supermarket in Hiroshima Station. All the price tags in the supermarket were electronic. I am not sure if they could be updated centrally but I have never seen it before.
Sundae With Cornflakes - Dec 2006
We went to the cafe in Skytower at Higashiyama koen. We were just a little suprised when my sundae came half filled with cornflakes.
Random Photos
We tried MOS burgers for the first time at the Toki outlet food court.MOS Burger is the second biggest burger chain in Japan after McDonalds and is Japanese owned. Actually really good. MOS have a reputation for freshness and you can really taste it compared to McDonalds. The price of freshness is in delivery speed (they are not the fastest in the world.) As usual check the MOS Wiki page for further reading
If you go to MOS, check the uniforms. they include MOS shoes and socks!
A new.season
On the first day of Autumn, the supermarkets changed their menus. I can no longer purchase my noodles and sushi that I lived on over summer and I have a new menu to choose from. The change of season is more important in Japan than in Australia (where there would be no change in the menu). Another good example is that in Japan people may change their wardrobe to mark the change of season.
An expensive (approx 800 Yen) lunch from the local Apita supermarket. Sticky rice balls, a pumpkin pie and a bit of sea food.
An autumn meal from Yamanaka. Egg and a mushy hamburger with just too much sauce.
Konnyaku/ "Devil's Toungue"
I have been eating this wierd jelly like food with black speckles in it and have finally found out what it is called, Konnyaku! It is pretty tasteless and appears to be eaten more for its spongy texture than its tasteless taste. I would not rush out to order it, but I actually enjoy it in a spongy sort of way.The August 2006 Japanzine Magazine has an article on konnyaku, and lists "Disturbing Konnyaku fact #1", that (In my words), warm konnyaku has a reputation similar to that of apples pies in the movie "American Pie".
From today's lunch 1
From today's lunch 2
From today's lunch 3
WhaleBacon
I took this with my phone at the local supermarket. You just would not find this in many countries.
1200+ Whales are killed each year in Japan for scientific purposes. - (Source Whaling in Japan page in the Wikipedia)
For comparison, Australian's each kangaroo meat, but there are 50 million+ kangaroos, many more than there are people in Australia. -( source Kangaroo Meat page in the Wikipedia)
Expensive.melons
In Japan, people may give fruit as gifts. The ultimate gift appears to be the melon. Not just any melon, but a specially grown, cultivated then x-rayed and tested Melon.
A gift box with two melons in it can cost over 20,000円 (appox $230 AUD). The melons in the picture above are 21,000円, some in the background are even more expensive.
(Photo: Susan Ryles)
I thought I had seen it all but Pam's mum took this photo in the same store (Matsuzakaya, Nagoya) in April 2007. 42,000円 (appox $415 AUD).
Plastic.Food
Outside virtually every restaurant in Japan are plastic representations of every dish on their menu. From the crepe vender at the supermarket to quite expensive places, you can peruse the menu in plastic.It is quite an art and often includes plastic versions of the drinks
(Photo: Susan Ryles)
Plastic food can look very realistic
This amazing stand has examples of different bento boxes that you can purchace/order from Matsusakaya in Sakaae (Nagoga). - November 2006
Every KFC seems to have a statue of the colonel out the front.
SoftDrink/Soda's
Ice/tea
A pretty standard Japanese Ice coffee (from the Frog Cafe at Nagashima). The two small jugs contain milk and a sweet gum syrup so that you can mix the ice coffee to your own preference.
Jelly/Drinks
I tried a different drink from the supermarket this week, this one was in a vacum pack rather than a can/bottle.. I have to say that it was an odd texture. It describes itself as a "Special Jelly Drink" and that sums it up. Tasted like sucking jelly through a straw, quite refreshing actually, if a bit odd .
While taking the photo of my new wierd drink, I read the label....the same energy as a single rice ball!
Soft /Drink options
A selection of drinks from the supermarket.
1.the one litre of cold coffee, I have the Nestle one here, but there are many varieties. You are meant to add your own sugar/gum and milk to your own preference.
2.The Calpis drink was very sweet, not my favorite. The Milky white water put me off a bit.
3.The Gokuri "Miracle of Grapefruit" drink was just like a you would expect a grapefruit drink to be, quite refreshing.
4.Pocari Sweat is a sport's drink, and apart from the name, is quite drinkable .
Drink Sizes
Asahi beer comes in a size to fit anyone! Here is my brother in law Heath desmonstrating in the supermarket
You can buy beer at the supermarket in a variety of sizes., I love the 135ml (Half a cup) beer can.
Here is the full range from the Ashai beer factory. The small can in the top photo is also the first one in the bottom photo. The furtherest to the right on the top shelf of the bottom photo is 1 litre.