Oarai aquarium - dolphin instructor experience

At Oarai aquarium in Ibaraki prefecture, you may have a chance to bump into experiencing how to be a dolphin instructor.

This video is a kid giving signs to the dolphin, making it do some unique moves.

The small dolphin at the bottom? It's just watching the sign the kid is giving to the big dolphin.

It was there until the end, watching what is going on curiously.

Valbrave - Promotion inside Akihabara station

As it is getting known worldwide, Akihabara is a place in Japan where you can find lots of animation characters.


This was a promotion display inside Akihabara Station terminal, promoting a new animation called "Valbrave".
(Sorry...don't know the story....)

So amazing to find a promotion display so big!!

Taiyaki - A Japanese famous sweets

If you love sweets, "taiyaki" is something you should try when you come to Japan.

It's shape is a red snapper, but with various sweets inside.
(In the old days when it first came out, "anko" (sweetened red bean paste) was the only sweets inside.)

Depending on which shop you go to, you can choose from the traditional style to original style such as apple pie flavor, chocolate cream, custard etc.

"Ishi-usu" a Japanese stone grinding mill

This tool is a Japanese stone grinding mill called "ishi-usu".

You can grind things such as soy bean and Japanese noodle, soba.

It takes some practice to grind well since rotating the mill too fast or too slow will not produce a fine powder.

Crepe vending machine

It's not a common vending machine, but this is a vending machine I found when I traveled to Kagoshima.

It's a vending machine selling crepes. 

"Crepe sold in a vending machine?!" was my first impression.

If you have a chance to travel to Kagoshima, this is one rare vending machine you may want to find!!

Sign saying "Crepe vending machine" in Japanese

The crepe was sold in a glass cup

The crepe is wrapped in a cellophane.

(Bought "chocolate chip cake" crepe)

Here's how it is inside.

Kabuto - a Samurai armor helmet

I wanted to post this earlier, but this is a samurai armor helmet known as "Kabuto" which was presented to my father when he was born. (1950s ?)

In Japan, May 5th is called the "Children's day"(Kodomo no hi) to celebrate and thank the child's healthy and happy growth.

During this period, each family with male child display this kind of helmet.

Choco Jumbo Monaka - a long loved ice cream in Japan

This is an ice cream called "Choco Jumbo Monaka" in Japan.

It is their 40th anniversary since they first appeared on the market.

This ice cream has a very crunchy covering called "monaka" with chocolate covered milk ice cream inside.

You can find it almost at any convenience store at 126 yen.
(If you go to supermarkets, you can find them at a much cheaper price.)

Cheese cake roll

A unique sponge cake I found at a convenience store (Family Mart).

The description says that this is a cheese cake wrapped with by sponge cake.

Since I love cheese cake, I tried one.

It was basically a cheese flavored hard sponge cake wrapped by a soft sponge cake.

To describe in short, I think it tastes like a cheese flavored Twinkies!!

"Tarzania" an athletic site 15ft (5 meters) above ground

There is a field athletic site in Chiba prefecture where you can try various athletic activities 15ft (or 5 meters) above ground.

You need to make a reservation beforehand.

When you go to the counter, you will be asked to wear a harness and receive a short lecture on caution measures when you go  up on the tree.

There are two courses to the athletic, one for children (grade school level) and the other for older people.

It takes about one hour to go through each course, and each course consists of 3 areas.

It's a bit thrilling but really fun!!

A place where you can experience old Japanese culture Boso-no-mura

Close to Narita airport, there is a place called "Boso-no-mura".

Here, you can see how people in the Edo period lived.

If you're interested, you can try on the Japanese battle armor ("yoroi") too!

There are many things Japanese you can try here, so if you're interested, gotta go!!

Local Power Rangers

Aside from the Power Rangers on TV, there are locally active Power Rangers all over Japan.

Here's one I saw recently, local Power Rangers "Gaurer C" at Kasumigaura city in Ibaraki prefecture.

Although they're not professionals, I think they're doing a good job in creating the scenario!

Tokyo Sky tree cutlet

At Tokyo Sky Tree, there are many things related to either the design or the height of the tower.

This "Sky tree cutlet" is one plate you might want to try sharing with your friends.

It's design is definitely a design resembling Tokyo Sky Tree.

The unique thing about this plate is that the cutlet is made from different portion of the pork, making the texture different.

There are other Sky Tree unique dishes, souvenirs etc. you can find when you visit Tokyo Sky Tree, but you will have to visit many times to try them all!!

Decorative rolled sushi "Kazari maki sushi"

Had a chance to enjoy a Japanese traditional decorative rolled sushi for lunch today.

As you can see, it's a sushi with various decoration inside when cut.

Looks like the decoration for this lunch is snail (left top), rose (right top), cherry blossom (left bottom) and flower (right bottom).

It takes practice to make this, because you will not be able to see the resulting decoration until you cut the roll.