One of my favorite snacks is Pocky. It's a biscuit stick covered in chocolate and its super good. One year, I think it was 10th grade when all my friends were still friends (hah oh high school) I brought in boxes of Pocky for everyone and it was a big hit.
Pocky is a Japanese snack food produced by the Ezaki Glico Company of Japan. It was first sold in 1966,[1] and consists of a biscuit stick coated with chocolate. Pocky was an instant hit among Japanese teenagers, and brought in sales of 30 billion yen in its first two years. The name was changed to "Pocky," after the Japanese onomatopoetic word for the sound Pocky makes when bitten, pokkin (ポッキン). The original was followed by "Almond Pocky" in 1971, with an almond coating, and "Strawberry Pocky" in 1977. Today, the product line includes such variations as milk, mousse, green tea, honey, banana and coconut flavored coatings. - From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocky
I'd love to try the other types of pocky but so far I've only been able to find the Chocolate and Strawberry kind. Look at it all! Haha
Perhaps my very favorite items that are Japanese in origin are Pullip Dolls. Technically they are Korean made and marketed by the Japanese Doll company Jun Planning but their main sale area is in Japan.
"Pullip dolls are released on a monthly basis, and there are additional limited release exclusives sold occasionally. Each edition has a unique name with distinct face make-up, hair, outfit, accessories, and box.
The Pullip has a unique eye mechanism that allows the eyes to move back and forth and wink, using levers on the back of the head. Pullips are highly articulated and can be personalized or customized. They are about 12 inches tall with oversized heads. The body is about 9 inches tall (1:6 scale), the size of many fashion dolls such as Barbie and Jenny." - From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullip
Because of the over sized head and freakishly huge eyes, most people tend to think they are creepy and will eat you in the middle of the night or something. Well, I have 8 in my bedroom and nothing of the sort has ever happened. I actually convinced one of my friends that they are not horrible and she ended up buying 4 of her own. I love them a lot. They are more than just decorative items, they are pieces of art and are epically fun to photograph. I like to customize them from their original or 'stock' form. I change their wigs and eye colors and that's about as far as I will go. Some people completely redo them into movie stars and mythical creatures. I saw a Joker doll from the new Batman movie a few months ago, that was so sweet looking, maybe I can find it...
Sushi is another one of my Japanese culture loves. I enjoy it so much, that I make my own at home most of the time. I have a few friends are who pretty darn excited that there is someone to make sushi for them (since its kinda difficult and terribly messy). However most are not nearly as excited about it, in fact the BFF going to Japan and thus the reason for this blog believes sushi to be one of the most revolting substances on the face of the earth. He is going to to birth place of sushi and he does not even like it! Not fair, I tell you, not fair! Haha
There are lots of different ways to make sushi, the authentic way is to use raw fish. I however am not a fan of potentially contracting tape worm or ecoli so I use imitation (cooked) crab or skip the fish all together and use jams, cream cheese and pineapple chunks.
This is how I learned to make Sushi at home. I don't use all those odd looking ingredients though.
History of Sushi: "The main idea in the preparation of sushi is the preservation and fermentation of fish with salt and rice, a process that has been traced back to Southeast Asia where fish and rice fermentation dishes still exist today. The science behind the fermentation of fish in rice is that the vinegar produced from the fermenting rice breaks the fish down into amino acids. This results in one of the five basic tastes, called umami in Japanese.[3] The oldest form of sushi in Japan, Narezushi still very closely resembles this process. In Japan, Narezushi evolved into Oshizushi and ultimately Edomae nigirizushi, which is what the world today knows as "sushi".
The contemporary version, internationally known as "sushi," was invented by Hanaya Yohei (華屋与兵衛; 1799–1858) at the end of Edo period in Edo. The sushi invented by Hanaya was an early form of fast food that was not fermented (it was therefore prepared quickly) and could be eaten with one's hands roadside or in a theatre.[4] Originally, this sushi was known as Edomae zushi, because it used freshly caught fish in the Edo-mae (Edo Bay or Tokyo Bay). Though the fish used in modern sushi no longer usually comes from Tokyo Bay, it is still formally known as Edomae nigirizushi." - From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi
"What is now known as Harajuku (like Halloween in Japan every Sunday) style started as teens in the district began to integrate traditional Japanese attire, especially kimonos and geta sandals, into their dress. Before, they wore primarily clothes that were influenced by the West, but by mixing the traditional with the modern, they created a new style." - From http://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Harajuku-Style
As I said, the street fashion of Japan has been one of my favorite things since I discovered such a thing existed about four years ago. Every week, teenagers in strange often brightly colored or halloweenish clothing gather primarily on Takeshita Dori (a street) to hang out and shop in the many, equally as strange, shops.
"Japanese Harajuku Girls and Harajuku Style has been used to describe teens dressed in many fashion styles ranging from Gothic Lolita, Visual Kei, Ganguro, Gyaru, Kogal, to "cute" Kawaii style clothing." - From http://www.harajukustyle.net/
I found this interesting article on WikiHowTo that explains the fashion really well.: http://www.wikihow.com/Dress-Harajuku-Style
The crazier the better really! I think its such a cool idea and I wish there was a place in America to be so expressive with clothing choices (on a day other than Halloween or Mis-match-day) and people wouldn't look at you weird. I think being able to dress as freakishly as you want from time to time is a good outlet for creativity and lets be honesty if you saw people walking around dressed almost clownishly, it makes you smile. I think the world needs a bit more sillyiness. People would take themselves and all their issues a little less seriously and we would all smile and laugh more.
Here is a video that gives a really cool overview of the Harajuku district. Check out the crazy costumes and all those stores!
If I do end up going to Japan with my friend this summer, Harajuku is the place where I will probably end up spending most of my money. All those brightly colored articles of clothing and accessories would just be to great to pass up!
Hm, well where to start, I guess with the fact that I'm glad we are doing a project in school were I get to rant about one of my favorite subjects, Japan! Hah, I actually got the idea from one of my best friends who is actually going there this summer and he is totally going to take me with him. (Even if he may not be aware of this part yet haha!) I will hide in his suitcase. You think I'm too big to fit in a carry on? Hm, getting past security might be a little hard but hey, I doubt if they will notice the human shaped skeleton when they send the bag though the weird little x-ray machines that they have. Serves him right if he gets tackled by the S.W.A.T team. He should know better than to flaunt the fact that he is going to Japan in my face, he knows it is one of my life dreams to go there...
Anyway, as I've said, I have been interested in Japan and Japanese culture for awhile now. What attracted me the most was probably the food (real authentic stuff, not the imitation we have here), the history, all the cute colorful accessories, and of course awesome street fashion of the Harajuku district in Tokyo. (I wish I could dress like that on a weekly basis!)
Look at it all! Haha
