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LEGO Discovery & Poteriko @ Odaiba
The other day, I went to the odaiba area with my family.
Odaiba is famous for shopping malls, amusement parks and artificial beaches.
The main purpose to visit the area was to bring our son to the LEGO Discovery center.
We could see many Tokyo’s iconic architectures made by LEGO. It was amazing!
It seemed that my son was enjoying watching them. 
This is the Ryogoku Kokugikan (SUMO wrestling place) made by LEGO! COOL!!
There was an athletic place, LEGO building classes and ride in the area.
My son is a bit small to experience those activities but he enjoyed playing with LEGO Duplo at the play area.
After that, we went to the Calbee flagship shop called “Calbee PLUS”!
Calbee is the name of Japanese confectionery company that produces popular snack “Jagariko”.
Jagariko has been sold more than 20 years and it is surely the primary product for the company.
Jagariko is made of potato and its texture and flavors are so unique. My husband and I love it!
Since this is a flagship shop, you can taste their special menu.
One of the special menu is “Poteriko” and (I think) it is a fresh version of Jagariko.
There is a kitchen near the entrance so that you can enjoy watching how to make Poteriko.
Don’t forget to go to the Calbeer’s anntena shop and try the special snack!
To see all photos about Odaiba area, please check YJC Facebook page! 
Meal prep of this week!
Hello, everyone! Thank you for always visiting YJC website!
The 2nd week of August has started!
We have a hot and humid day everyday here in Tokyo and I always feel lazy to go outside of the house!
In Japan, the Obon festival will start from 13th until 16th.
Those period, family and relatives usually gather, have meals together and pray for the ancestors.
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Fried vegetables marinated with sour sweet sauce
– Sauteed white bean sprout topped with sesame seeds
– Sauteed mushrooms with olive oil and garlic
– Sauteed Konnyaku with bonito flakes
– Pickled mini tomato and yellow paprika
– Stir-fried Hiijki with yellow paprika and fried tofu
– Pickled cabbage with salted kelp
– Okura and natto salad
– Boiled broccoli and salted kelp
– Seasoned minced pork with soy sauce, mirin, sake and miso
– Marinated chicken with teriyaki sauce
– Fried gyoza
– Seasoned boiled egg
Meal prep of this week!
Hello, everyone! Thank you for always visiting YJC website!
August has started!
We had a temporary heavy rainfall today here in Tokyo and it made me feel that Summer has almost come.
Summer in Japan is hot and humid! I always carry the special umbrella to prevent the sunshine.
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Sauteed white bean sprout topped with sesame seeds
– Stir-fried Hiijki and sweet corn
– Sauteed Konnyaku with bonito flakes
– Rolled bacon with mini tomato
– Pickled cabbage with salted kelp
– Sauteed burdock and carrot
– Seasoned boiled egg
– Marinated chicken with curry based sauce
– Green beans with sesame sauce
– Seasoned minced pork with soy sauce, mirin, sake and miso
– Okura and tuna salad
– Komatsuna leaves and almond salad
– Miso soup with wakame seaweed and shiitake mushroom
– Grilled sweet corn
Meal prep of this week!
Hello, everyone! Thank you for always visiting YJC website!
How was your days last week?
I was wrapped around the sudden weather changes almost everyday.
But my parents were visiting my family so we almost stayed inside and had fun time.
The weather forecast says this Thursday will be the end of rainy season in Tokyo.
Yes, Summer season is about to come! (Finally!!)
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Seasoned boiled egg
– Sauteed burdock and carrot
– Sauteed white bean sprout and chinese chive
– Japanese style hamburger
– Boiled carrot
– Marinated pork with curry based sauce
– Marinated chicken with olive oil based sauce
– Sauteed Konnyaku with bonito flakes
– Stir-fried Hiijki and paprika
– Marinated shiitake mushrooms
– Steamed pumpkin and raisin
– Komatsuna leaves and almond salad
– Stir-fried lotus root with balsamic vinegar and honey sauce
– Marinated mini tomato with cottage cheese and paprika
Galette @ Kagurazaka
My son and I visited one of the cool spot called “Kagurazaka” area last week.
To visit Kagurazaka area, you can either take off at the Iidabashi station (JR line) or Kagurazaka station (subway).
I personally think that this area is well-balanced to enjoy both modern and classical Tokyo. You can see tall new buildings and traditional Japanese houses there. Also, there are several “good” private schools so you’ll easily find Japanese children wearing school uniform and wearing hat near the Iidabashi station.
Especially, Kagurazaka area is also famous for “premium” Japanese style restaurants. Many politicians, lawyers and executives often visit those restaurants to have business or important meetings while eating food. Those restaurants are located the off-street and open at late afternoon. It’s also nice to walk backstreets and enjoy the atmosphere of the area.
Another characteristics in the area is that there are several French related organizations and institutes in the Kagurazaka area so the area is also famous for French food, like cafes, boulangeries and restaurants.
So, we visited one of my favorite galette cafe in the area and had savory and sweet galette. (I also had cidre!!!) It was like a feast! It was the first time for my son to eat galette. It seemed that he liked it. Good!
When you come to Tokyo, please don’t forget to try either galette or special meal at Ryotei (Japanese style restaurant). You would try maybe both?!
Meal prep of this week!
Hello, everyone! Thank you for always visiting YJC website!
How was your days last week?
I visited several places and joined some events with my son.
It’s always fun to see that the child are learning new things day by day.
I enjoy my (short?) holiday at the moment.
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Stir-fried Hiijki, fried tofu and konnyaku
– Potato Croquette
– Gyoza
– Marinated salmon with miso and mirin sauce
– Stir-fried lotus root with balsamic vinegar and honey sauce
– Stir-fried minced pork
– Natto and okura
– Several mini tomato salad with coriander
– Sauteed burdock and carrot
– Rolled okura and paprika with pork loin
Meal prep of this week!
Hello, everyone! Thank you for always visiting YJC website!
How was your days last week? I visited many places in Tokyo for the next project.
I stayed at home only a day so I was tired. But it’s a good tired for sure!
I will announce about it later soon!! 
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Stir-fried Hiijki, tuna and fried tofu
– Sautéed konnyaku
– Spinach with white and black sesame sauce
– Stir-fried burdock and carrot
– Stir-fried minced pork
– Sauteed white bean sprouts with sesame oil
– Marinated chicken with curry sauce
– Grilled sweet corn
– Green pepper with myoga ginger and bonito flakes
– Pickled myoga ginger and cucumber
– Potato salad with Okara (tofu refuse) and vegetables
– Tomato salad with coriander, purple onion and green pepper
O-bon
Today, I will show you one of my favorite kitchen tools.
This is called “O-bon” in Japanese and it means the wooden tray.
You might be realized but I always use this O-bon in my kitchen.
I like O-bon for several reasons from the point of both functionality and sensuous.
At first, it’s so convenient to deliver food and plates before and after eating.
Not only delivering but O-bon can be used as the perfect Japanese style table setting.
And the sensuous reason is…O-bon makes me feel like creating something new. For example, new way of display food, table setting and even new recipes!
In the class, we also use O-bon. Please check and tell me how you think of O-bon!
[Information]
If you are interested in this product, please click the photo below!
Tanabata (Star) Festivals
It’s the 7th of July today and it’s Tanabata (Star) Festivals in Japan.
Here is the summary of Tanabata Festival introduced in a book I have.
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Legend has it that Vega and Altair, who are separated by the Milky Way, are allowed to meet only once a year on the night of Tanabata or July 7. It is said that if you write your wish on a tanzaku (a strip of paper) and hang it on a bamboo grass, your wish will be granted.
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My family visited Yamagata prefecture last week and came across the bamboo grass at the Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) where we stayed. We wrote our wish on a tanzaku there! 🙂
How about celebrating Tanabata at your home tonight?
Meal prep of this week!
Hello! I visited the Yamagata prefecture last week and enjoyed premium sake and local foods there! 😋🍴
Here is this week’s meal prep collection!! Have a nice and healthy week, everyone!!
Menu:
– Sautéed kimchi and pork
– Fried chicken covered with grain bran
– Grilled deep-fried tofu with edamame
– Sautéed turnip leaves with seasoned kelp
– Grilled turnip with mushroom and dried shrimp sauce
– Green pepper with myoga ginger and bonito flakes
– Fried fish cake with aosa nori seaweed
– Stir-fried konnyaku and bonito flakes
– Seasoned kelp with white sesame
– pickled turnip
– Fish cake with cheese
