I went to sushi-making school in Tsukiji, famous for the world's largest fish market!

Here are all the ingredients for making sushi.

Sprinkle the vinegar mixture evenly into the rice and stir it in while the rice is very hot.

The teacher taught us how to make an egg roll, flavored with soup stock.

Trying to fillet the mackerel!

The professional teacher then instructed us as to how to make sushi.

Even the sushi I made was delicious!

I visited Hokkaido last weekend. When I arrived at New Chitose Airport, I found a visitor center for non-Japanese tourists next to the JR ticket counter, which seemed to be pretty helpful.

My destination this time was Asahikawa: my favorite place to visit in Hokkaido. I often visit this town in summer, because it is easy to reach the Nakafurano area from there to see the beautiful lavender fields. Every summer, a temporary JR station called Lavender Farm opens between the Nakafurano and Kamifurano area. From this station, a seven-minute walk brings you to the famous Farm Tomita. The Furano area's lavender flowers became very well-known among Japanese tourists in 1976, when a photograph of Farm Tomita's lavender fields was featured on the Japan Rail calendar. For those of you interested in aromatherapy, this farm has the only distillery facility that extracts essential oils from lavender in the whole of Japan.

I also visited a newly-opened lavender field called Lavender East, approximately 4 km east of Farm Tomita. The sprawling lavender field lays against the backdrop of the Tokachidake Mountains to the east and the Yubari Mountains to the west. Please note that this area is only open for a limited time, from late June until late August.

On the second day of my stay in Asahikawa, I went to Asahiyama Zoo, which is about 40 minutes' bus ride from Asahikawa. Asahiyama Zoo is currently the most popular zoo in Japan.

Although I knew that polar bears and penguins could swim, I'd never actually seen them swimming in real life. Many visitors are attracted to the zoo by these animals, and excitedly wait to see the polar bears diving into the water. In the wintertime, you may be lucky enough to meet the penguins as they take a walk in the park.

The zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. in summer. The animals usually return to their cages by early evening. Between 13 - 17 August, however, the zoo stays open until 8:00 p.m.

At approximately 00:26 (Japan local time) on 24 July 2008 an earthquake occurred in Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region. Strong tremors were felt in the northern coastal area of Iwate Prefecture and the southern area of Aomori Prefecture. Thankfully, no injuries or damage to buildings occurred.

The Tohoku Shinkansen and Tohoku Expressway, which link Tokyo with Iwate and Aomori Prefectures, are operating as normal, as are all airports in the Tohoku region. Local trains are also running as normal.

None of the ryokan or hotels listed on JAPANiCAN have sustained any damage and all establishments are operating as normal.

In its first installation on Japanese cuisine, JAPANiCAN.com introduced rice production in Japan through the city of Tome in Miyagi Prefecture.

In this next series of blog entries, we focus on aquaculture, the breeding and raising of seafood, an indispensable part of the Japanese dinner table. For this, we go to the city of Kagawa Higashi, located on the south central island of Shikoku, and look at how yellowtail is raised in the warm and gentle Seto Inland Sea.

When eating fish, take a moment to remember the people involved in fish production, who make it possible to safely enjoy sushi and sashimi.

In this series, we report from Higashi Kagawa, a city of about 36,000 people in the eastern part of Kagawa Prefecture.

Yellowtail aquaculture got its start in 1928 when Wasaburo Noami (1908-1969) succeeded at breeding yellowtail in Adoike, a lagoon in Higashi Kagawa--the first time this had ever been done. It was a revolutionary moment that became the foundation of seafood aquaculture today.

Adoike [a lagoon adjacent to the Seto Inland Sea]

Today, yellowtail farming is carried out in a vast fish pen six kilometers offshore. As 2008 is the centennial of Noami's birth and the 80th anniversary of his success at fish breeding, a variety of events are underway in Higashi Kagawa.

One of the distinct characteristics of Japanese is that individual fish species often have different names depending on how large they are. This is true for yellowtail as well.

In English, the yellowtail is also known as the Japanese amberjack or by its Latin name Seriola quinqueradiata.

Preparation methods include sashimi (raw with soy sauce), sushi, grilling with soy sauce, and stewing. Yellowtail rates with bluefin tuna in popularity in Japan. An important role of the aquaculture industry is to provide delicious yellowtail to the market at a reasonable price.

JAPANiCAN has been registered as a "yellowtail owner" in commemoration of its participation in the aquaculture efforts. The staff at JAPANiCAN are all looking forward to some beautiful yellowtail for dinner this winter.

In future blog entries, we will be focusing on local sightseeing spots and events in addition to looking further at how the yellowtail aquaculture business has grown. These entries are supported in part by the Hiketa Fisheries Cooperative and the Higashi Kagawa City New Tourism Association.

A Hiketa yellowtail poster
"The difference in taste lies in Hiketa"

Mt. Fuji, Japan's highest peak, saw its climbing season begin on 1 July. Its famous figure, immortalized in numerous ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints and paintings), is a source of fascination for people the world over.

For Japanese people--especially those living in Tokyo--it is hard to conceive that this legendary and mysterious mountain really exists so close by.


Below I will suggest five options for enjoying beautiful Mt. Fuji.

1. Admiring from Afar
On a clear evening you can gaze upon Mt. Fuji from the viewing area at the top of a skyscraper in Roppongi, Shinjuku or from the top of Tokyo tower, or even while out for a meal. You may be surprised that Mt. Fuji can be seen from Tokyo, but in actual fact there are quite a number of places from which Mt. Fuji can be seen. Another option could be to enjoy a beautiful daytime view, taking in both Mt. Fuji and the sea, from places along the coast like Enoshima, Kamakura, Fujisawa, and Shonan, as depicted in the famous ukiyoe paintings.

2. Viewing Mt. Fuji from the Fuji Five Lakes Area
In the area surrounding Mt. Fuji are five lakes that were formed by the mountain's volcanic activity. Seeing Mt. Fuji doubled, side-by-side with its inverted reflection in Lake Kawaguchi is a particularly beautiful sight. There are numerous guest rooms and open-air baths around Lake Kawaguchi that offer views of nearby Mt. Fuji. JAPANiCAN highly recommends staying in the Mt. Fuji area; why not bring your special someone for a romantic, unforgettable experience?

Mt. Fuji can also be seen reflected in lakes not in the Fuji Five Lakes area: Lake Ashi in Hakone, is one example.

3. Going to Mt. Fuji's 5th Station
There is a road called the Fuji Subaru Line that allows access up to Mt. Fuji's 5th station to private vehicles, highway buses from Tokyo, and local buses from the train stations at the base of Mt. Fuji (e.g. Fuji Yoshida Station, Kawaguchi-ko Station). For a great-value trip in total comfort, you should try Sunrise Tours' one-day trip to Mt. Fuji, which takes you up to the 5th station by bus and then returns you to Tokyo by bullet train!

It can be chilly even at the 5th station, especially in early spring and autumn, so make sure that you take an extra layer of clothing with you in case. When standing at the 5th station, a sea of green forest dotted with blue lakes spreads out below you from the foot of the mountain, and an endless blue sky extends above you. It is truly a sight to behold.
A look down at the ground you stand on reminds you that you are indeed standing on a dormant volcano, with the exposed volcanic rocks hinting at the brute power contained beneath.

The 5th station can only be visited between spring and autumn, as the Fuji Subaru Line is usually closed from the second half of November until the first half of March.

4. Climbing to the Peak of Mt. Fuji and Watching the Sun Rise from a Sea of Clouds
"A wise man climbs Mt. Fuji once; a fool twice." This is the saying that the Japanese have regarding what is said to be the world's most-climbed mountain. Most climbers aim to see sunrise from the summit of the mountain. If you would like to do so, you should aim to leave the 5th station at around midday and then spend the night at one of the huts located after the 8th station. Make sure you leave the hut by around 01:00 or 02:00 to make it to the summit for around 04:00, as during July sunrise is at around 04:30 and by the end of August is at around 05:00.

For the most part, the track up the mountain is either rocky or gravelly, but after the 7th station it becomes a rocky path which must be climbed while holding onto a chain. People wear gloves and slowly clamber up the steep path towards the summit. To be able to see the sunrise from the summit after all this hardship is truly an exceptional experience and one that will remain with you always.

Official climbing season ends on 26 August.

5. Talking about your Memories of Mt. Fuji to your Friends
After experiencing Mt. Fuji, people can't help but talk to their friends about it. Its not unusual to hear people say things like, "It was great being able to see Mt. Fuji the other day!" or "When I went to the Fuji Five Lakes area with my family, the sight of Mt. Fuji reflected in the calm, mirror-like lake was really something!" or "Seeing all the holiday-makers at the 5th station, I felt as if I was the one who had gone abroad!" or "The sunrise from the top of Mt. Fuji was amazing!" Hearing about it is great, but you should really try and climb Mt. Fuji yourself once.

Despite being the world's most-climbed mountain, surprisingly few Tokyoites have actually climbed Mt. Fuji themselves, even though the climb is easy enough for any adult in good health to do, no matter their age.

Would you pass up the chance to see the view from Japan's highest point given the chance?

Come to Japan and create your very own unforgettable Mt. Fuji experience!

Getting to Mt. Fuji
From Shinjuku Station take the JR Super Azusa train on the Chuo Line. Change at Otsuki Station to the Fujisan Tokkyu (Mt. Fuji Express) train on the Fuji Kyuko Line and then alight at the last stop, Kawaguchi-ko Station. If you would like to see the Lake Kawaguchi area, then you should walk from here. If you would like to head up Mt. Fuji, 14 buses a day run from outside Kawaguchi-ko Station to the 5th station from 07:20 until 21:15. Buses only run between 12 July and 31 August, take around 55 minutes to reach their destination, and cost JPY 1,500 for a one-way ticket or JPY 2,000 for a return (to be bought in advance). (Note that in the evening buses run at a rate of one approximately every two hours.)

Recommended itinerary
(From Tokyo to Mt. Fuji)
Leave Shinjuku Station for Otsuki Station by Limited Express Super Azusa #1 at 07:00.
Arrive at Otsuki station at 07:55.
Change train and leave Otsuki station for Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station by Fuji-kyu "Fujisan" Limited Express at 08:12.
Arrive at Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station at 08:55.
Take the public bus from the Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) bus stop at 09:40.
Arrive at Mt. Fuji 5th station bus stop at 10:35.

(Return to Tokyo)
Take the public bus from the Mt. Fuji 5th station bus stop that leaves at 13:15.
Arrive at Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) bus stop at 14:05.
Leave Kawaguchi-ko (Lake Kawaguchi) Station for Otsuki Station by Fuji-kyu "Fujisan" Limited Express at 15:13.
Arrive at Otsuki Station at 15:55.
Leave Otsuki Station for Shinjuku by Limited Express Kaiji #1 at 16:01.
Arrive at Shinjuku Station at 17:07.

The Japanese word for a charm or amulet is omamori, which is thought to have gotten its name from its ability to protect (mamoru) the bearer of the charm. These charms, which can be found at shrines and temples, were initially intended to protect an individual or a family from various types of misfortune, and they were either carried around with the person or placed in a designated spot in the home.

As the name indicates, these charms were initially closely associated with the idea of protection. Lately, however, there are many charms that are intended to help make dreams or wishes come true. Instead of being a "defensive" charm, these have a more "offensive" nuance to them.

Many of you may have seen rows of various charms when visiting shrines or temples. Below are some of the types of charms that are available.

* Family safety (kanai anzen): To ensure that all family members stay healthy and do not have any accidents

* Traffic safety (kotsuu anzen): To prevent traffic accidents
(These are defensive charms)

* Bringing good fortune and warding off evil (kaiun yakuyoke): To bring luck and prevent misfortune
(This is an all-powerful charm that combines both offense and defense)

* Easy delivery (anzan): To ensure a safe birth
(This is somewhat defensive, but also has the meaning of wanting to deliver a healthy child)

* Commercial prosperity (shobai hanjou): To ensure success in business

* Academic success (gakugyou jouju): To ensure success in one's studies

* Marriage (en musubi): To ensure that one is blessed in love
(These charms are asking for active support for one's actions)

Perhaps the most "offense-minded" of these protective charms is the "victory charm" (kachi mamori), which people hope will help them win in competitions.

Shoin Jinja Shrine in Setagaya, Tokyo is dedicated to the late Edo Period intellectual, Shoin Yoshida.

Yoshida is said to have laid the intellectual groundwork for the Meiji Restoration, when Japan took its first steps toward modernization, and he was a teacher to many talented students. His ideology was seen as dangerous to the Tokugawa shogunate, which was in power at the time, and he was sentenced to death for the attempted assassination of a shogunate official. Shoin Jinja was built by Yoshida's followers after the Meiji Restoration, and inside the grounds you will find a bronze statue of Yoshida as well as his grave.

Because this shrine is dedicated to a man who taught so many talented individuals, it is said to be beneficial for studies, granting the wishes of those who want to raise their school grades or pass a test.

Not to be missed at Shoin Jinja is the attractive victory charm with the character for "victory" (a replica of Yoshida's own calligraphy) embroidered on the front. According to the shrine's explanation, it will help with exams or any competition that you do not want to fail. One of these makes a wonderful souvenir of Japan and will give you a leg up on your rivals back home!

Getting to Shoin Jinja
From Shinjuku: On the Odakyu Line, take the semi express or local train to Goutokuji Station (about 15 minutes). Transfer to the Tokyu Setagaya Line (directly in front of Goutokuji Station) and get off at Shouin-jinja-mae Station (about 6 minutes). The shrine is an approximately 5-minute walk from the station.

From Shibuya: Take an express train on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line to Sangen-jaya Station (about 5 minutes). Transfer to the Tokyu Setagaya Line and go to the Shouin-jinja-mae Station (about 5 minutes). The shrine is an approximately 5-minute walk from the station.

When visiting Japanese shops and restaurants (particularly older ones), you may very well see a figurine of a cat there. It is usually a white ceramic cat with one paw raised next to its ear.

Recently, souvenir shops aimed at foreigners have begun selling these figurines, and you can sometimes find ornate gold ones as well.

This figurine is called a "maneki neko," or literally, a "beckoning cat." The "beckoning" refers to attracting customers and money. Cats often stroke behind their ears with their front paws, and since Japanese people think that that gesture looks like they are calling someone to come near, they created maneki neko figurines and placed them in shops. It is said that they bring good fortune, making a shop's business prosper.

All Japanese know that much of the story, but very few people know the following story of the origins of the maneki neko. By knowing this part of the story, you can claim to know more about Japan than Japanese people themselves! (However, there are other versions of the story besides this one.)

There is an old temple in Setagaya, Tokyo called Gotokuji that was the family temple of a powerful Edo Period daimyo (feudal lord) named Ii. He was a nobleman and was able to serve as a chief minister in the Tokugawa shogunate, assisting the shogun.

One day about 380 years ago, before Gotokuji became the temple of the Ii family, Lord Ii was passing in front of the temple when he saw a cat that seemed to be beckoning to him in front of the main gate, so he decided to rest for a moment at the temple. Shortly thereafter, a violent thunderstorm broke out. Thanks to the beckoning cat, Ii stayed safe and dry in the temple, so he began to support the temple and decided to make it his family temple.

The story goes that when the cat died, the chief priest made a grave for it and later built the Shobyodo (beckoning cat hall), leading to the creation of maneki neko figurines.

Even today, you can find anything from a tiny maneki neko to a very large one at Gotokuji. Most figurines you see are holding an Edo Period coin, but those sold at Gotokuji are simpler in design, with the cat simply holding up its right paw. If the owner's wish comes true, they offer the maneki neko to the Shobyodo at Gotokuji as an expression of gratitude. Please take a look at the satisfied expressions of these many cats, large and small.

The tranquil grounds of Gotokuji spread before you once you pass through the temple gates, making you forget that you are in Tokyo. Here you can enjoy plum blossoms in the spring and beautiful foliage in the fall.

Getting to Gotokuji
From Shinjuku: On the Odakyu Line, take the semi express or local train to Goutokuji Station (about 15 minutes). The temple is approximately a 10-minute walk from the station.

From Shibuya: Take the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line express train to Sangen-jaya Station (about 5 minutes). Transfer to the Tokyu Setagaya Line and take the train to Miyanosaka Station (about 10 minutes). The temple is approximately a 5-minute walk from the station.

This year's July Grand Sumo Tournament will be held in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture from Sunday, 13 July to Sunday, 27 July. All eyes will be on Koto-oshu, the European ozeki-ranked wrestler who won his first tournament last time round; can he repeat the feat? If he can, there is a possibility that he will then be promoted to the highest rank of wrestler: yokozuna.

The word "Oshu" in Bulgarian-born Koto-oshu's name means "Europe" in Japanese, and it is expected that he will indeed become the first European yokozuna.

However, the two current yokozunas, Mongolian wrestlers Asashoryu and Hakuho, will be fired up to win and will do everything in their power to prevent Kotoshu from achieving back-to-back tournament victories.

Japanese hopes, on the other hand, lie with young wrestlers Koto-shogiku and Kise-no-sato, who are looking to be promoted to the second-highest rank of ozeki.

Come and watch the tradition and the drama unfold at the July Grand Sumo Tournament with Sunrise Tours!