Thunder - The End of Summer

Yesterday it showered and thundered in evening in Tokyo.I'm waiting for rain like that.
It is considered that shower and thunder at the end of August is the sign of the end of summer.This summer is so hot and everyday is tropical night. We feel the change of season by nature or traditional events.
I'm glad that today is a little cool. Autumn is special season for abundant delicious food in Japan.My favorite season is comming soon.

Sumo

Sumo is one of the traditional sports in Japan and very popular. This sports values rigorous and traditional discipline.

Now Japanese young people that want to be Sumo wrestler is decreasing. Because Sumo wrestlers must have hard practice everyday and one of the reason for this situation is the strict discipline. Recently young people tend to dislike hard work or patience to endure difficulty or triumph over adversity. These Japanese spirits that was regarded as virtue might be disappearing.

The Japan Sumo Association adopts many other countries people as a wrestler.Current "Yokozuna" (the name of higher rank ) are 2 Mongolians.Almost of Japanese will think that this situation is a little sad.( One of "Yokozuna", Asashoryu is a aim of criticism and this is the most interested topics in Japan.)


http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SPORT/08/15/sumo.mongolian.ap/index.html

Edamame (Young Soy Beans)

I like Edamame. Edamame is boiled and we dust salt with them after boiling. Edamame is one of special food as hors d'oeuvre " Otsumami" in summer. Edamame with beer is good combination .

Many businessmen go to "a beer garden" that is kind of a bar and opened in only summer season , after work. They forget summer heat temporally and communicate with co-workers.

Boiled Edamame is very simple cooking. However , it is essential in summer for me.

Dashi (Stock)

Like soysauce Dashi is an essential item for Japanese cooking. For example , we use it for miso soup and I eat it everyday. Dashi is soup stock that is extracted by dry shaved bonito "Katsuobushi" , small fish "Niboshi" or kelp "Konbu" . This is an example of "Umami".

Japanese usually say that Dashi is the most important element for Japanese food .(Dashi ga Inochi .)

Umami Taste

I think that we can eat many kinds of food in Japan and one of the most delicious in the world.People normally have 5 tastes that we can distinguish. They are "Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter and Umami(savory) ".Different kinds of foods are put on the table in Japanese homes. We bring in a lot of other countries food cultures,as well.
I don't know if this fact is a reason.However,Japanese especially seem to be able to distinguish "Umami" or other complicated tastes.Most Japanese food is natural "Umami" food.
(It is said that our taste is determined until 7 years old.)

Diversity and Elaboration

I think that we, Japanese prefer "diversity and elaboration". We research thoroughly and create updated products, namely we improve them more convenient and fashionable. (Sometimes more than necessity.)
For example ,there are many variation for green tea of plastic bottle in convenience store in Japan. And everyone knows that Japanese technology is accurate and elaborate , for example electrical appliances.
I think that "Diversity and Elaboration" are key to express our nationality.

4 Seasons

We can enjoy 4 seasons in Japan. We have traditional events and customs as per season.
Now it is "Summer season". The summer this year is intolerable heat.
Japanese have special things that we imagine "The Summer". Watermelon, Beer and boiled "Edamame" ( young soy beans) at porch, "Yukata" and firework, cicadas song and beetles in forest. or a shaved ice with fruits sauce. They are countless.

Real Japan

Welcome to my blog. I think that Japan has multiple and unique culture. Recently Japanese Culture and life introduce around the world through some movies or mass media. However, I sometimes think the description is very strange for us. I thought that everyone misunderstands us and our life.
So I want you to know about "Real Japan" especially normal Japanese life.
Since my English vocabulary is poor and you might not understand well . However, please let me know if you have any question about Japan.
I hope you enjoy this blog.