The Official Stay Japan Traveler

The Official
Traveler
S P R I N G 2 0 2 0

I
Credits
Head Director
Shantell Mitchell
Assistant Director
Caroll Hirose
Cory Rotolo
Marketing
Giovanni Perez
Editorial
Teresa Fong
Kenneth Valencich
Social Media PR
Alex Loke
Lillian Seiler
Art, Photo, & Content
Teresa Fong
Ayumi Kondo
Giovanni Perez
Daiki Shimizu
Natasha Taliferro
ADDITONAL
SUPPORT
Takeshi Amitani, Celine Bennett,
Louise Carroll, Emi Chubachi,
Scarlett Halford, Dalton Iwasaki,
Joanne Jamieson, Charleen Lay,
Miguel Magtiibay, Michael Sanchez,
Erin Shoaf, Kai Simms,
Tayla-paige Van Sittert

II
Table of Contents
III
ON COVID 19
V-VI
EDITOR'S LETTER
1-10 Feature
HISTORICAL ADVENTURES
AND NAKED FIRE FESTIVAL
13-18 Feature
GET HAUNTED TO RICHES
21-29 Feature
RELAX AND BECOME ONE
WITH YOURSELF IN OBAMA
33
ASK THE EXPERT
34-37
FOLKS FOOD
39-40
INTERVIEW: FUYUMEDO CAFE
AND ART GALLERY
44-50
FASHION IN JAPAN

We at SJ Media strive to showcase the beauty and unique
charms of Japan with first-hand accounts from our experts.
While our mission involves advocating for travel and one-of-akind
experiences in Japan, we take the current COVID-19
pandemic seriously and do not recommend travel at this time.
Instead, we hope that by following proper protocol advised by
local governments and authorities (washing hands, avoiding
crowded areas, social distancing measures, etc.), we will safely
be able to return to our normal lives in the near future. In the
meantime, please feel free to utilize the Official STAY JAPAN
Traveler as inspiration for future travel plans. Stay safe now so
that you and your loved ones can travel later! Japan will be
waiting for you.
III
O N C O V I D - 1 9

TAKE ONLY
MEMORIES,
LEAVE ONLY
FOOTPRINTS
F R O M C H I E F S E A T T L E

EDITOR'S
LETTER
pring has come. The room feels warm, birds are
chirping, and flowers are blooming. Nature calls
you to be amazed by its beauty, but what to do
when "gathering" is a prohibited word? Well, make
your brief outside time more exciting by wearing
that spring outfit that makes you feel good. Don't
forget about your mask! Remember, nature is Swaiting for you with open arms, but, before you feel the wind on
your cheeks, let me enlighten you on Japan’s most popular spring
culture: Hanami! Hanami is the act of enjoying the outstanding
view of cherry blossoms, called sakura in Japanese. The question
is: "How does one enjoy a 1,000+ year-old cultural event that
takes place all over Japan for a month." The easiest way is to
simply go to a park, pond, university, or school (this one might be
a little weird if you don't know anyone from a school). Wherever
you see a cherry blossom tree, stop, gaze at the beauty, and
voila! Hanami. This lovely tradition is a bit deeper than a simple
description makes it sound.
V
Hanami
Where you live
and who you
spend your time
with play a deep
role in what kind
of hanami you
have.
In my case, I've
had hanami with
co-workers,
friends, and family.
Each time is
slightly different.
That's why I
present you with...
"How to do Hanami"
With Co-workers:
1. One person needs to go early, find
the right spot, and stand guard.
2. Another person is in charge of
delivering food and drinks.
3. Little by little, everybody joins and
the party starts.
It's an obviously good excuse to escape
the office, enjoy beautiful sights, and
have a drinking party.
With friends:
1. Depending on the number of friends,
there's no need to reserve a spot. Food
and drinks are readily available at
convenience stores.
2. Don't forget to bring a blue sheet or
a small folding chair.
3. You can also opt to have a potluck
style hanami and enjoy an
internationally flavored hanami with
different types of tasty dishes.
With a Japanese family:
Regardless whether you live in a city or
the more rural parts of Japan, hanami is
an event you can’t turn down. Why?
The answer is very simple: because
you'll be overwhelmed by the amount
of delicious home-cooked bento and
snacks that people bring.
Caroll Hirose
Few things to always keep
in mind when you do
Hanami
1. Always take the garbage home
with you. Japan is a clean
country. Let’s keep it that way.
2. Depending on where you live,
especially if you're planning to
enjoy the night illumination, wear
warm clothes.
3. Don't forget your equipment.
There'll be many beautiful
landscapes and cherry blossoms
for you to take a quick snap of or
make a quick sketch.
Hanami is a Japanese cultural
activity that is easy to enjoy. For
those who want to keep the
excitement alive for more than
one event, search for Hanami
trips and festivals all over Japan.
Keep in mind that there are over
200 types of Cherry blossom
trees in Japan.
Next time you go, how many
cherry blossoms will you see?

Historical Adventures
and
NAKED
FIRE
FESTIVAL
By Giovanni Perez
Ninohe City in Iwate Prefecture is just a little over two hours
away from Tokyo station. It's best known for its food, culture,
and history. In the following article, you can read about Iwate’s
Naked Fire Festival, delicious hitsumi soup, and Jomon cooking.
Kunohe Village
Furusato Sozo-Kan Food Tasting
Experience
1
We started our trip going
straight towards Furusato
Sozo-Kan for a tour of a 100+
year old historical community
hall located in Kunohe village,
Iwate City. We saw many tools
that were used in the Japanese
stone age, which only ended
within the last 3000 years!
Parts of Iwate have heavy
snow and rain, so people
would cover themselves with a
straw blanket to keep warm.

After taking a tour of the building, we
feasted on a Japanese traditional dish
with a side of juicy steak and pork. The
chef was talkative and had the nicest
smile that made the food even more
enjoyable. We also ate a traditional
vegetable soup called hitsumi that was
boiled on a hearth. We ripped dough
into tiny balls and threw it into the pot
to add some texture to the soup. When
you came close to the hearth, you only
had a few seconds to throw in as many
balls as possible before your body
would start burning from the blazing
heat coming from the pot.
"The chef was talkative and had
the nicest smile that made the
food even more enjoyable."
After stuffing ourselves, we got ready for the
Chef’s special dessert that he invented
himself: matcha ice cream in an edible apple
skin with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
He showed us how to do it, then we
proceeded to make our own. A perfect
dessert to end lunch.
2

3
After lunch, we gathered around the
hearth that had lost most of its heat
and talked about the impact of
inbound tourism on Ninohe City. It’s
important for cities like Ninohe to be
able to open their doors to tourists
from all countries so that the history
can live on.
Ninohe City
Furusato Sozo-Kan Naked Fire Festival
(Saitogi)
Saitogi festival, or “Naked Fire Festival ” in
English, has been going on for over 400
years. It’s used to figure out the quality of
harvest for the current year. The Naked
Fire Festival is open to anyone brave
enough to wear a thin loin cloth, throw
cold water on themselves, and use a log to
bash four meters of blazing hot fire.
The festival is broken down into four small
rituals: okomori, mizugori, hadaka-mairi,
and himatsuri.

4
Sword-shaped Grain Tower
Five okomori, or small swordshaped
towers of grain in
English, are made and left
outside one day before the
main festival. Their condition
is checked upon the next day
as a way to determine the
city’s harvest for that year.
Cold Water Cleansing
On the night of the festival,
you strip down and wear only a
thin loin cloth called fundoshi,
which looks like an adult
diaper. You pair up with
another member and stand on
stage in front of a large crowd,
throwing freezing cold water
on yourself.
Hadaka-mairi
You take off your fundoshi and
exchange it for a sarashi, a
five-meter strip of wide cloth.
It starts below your stomach
and ends just above your
thighs. To prevent any funny
accidents from occurring, I had
to tighten it as much as
possible. We wore a headband,
festival socks called tabi, a
straw skirt called mino, and a
pair of straw shoes.

5
We prepared five ten-yen
coins by wrapping them up
with small pieces of paper and
put them inside our sarashi.
We quickly formed into
groups again. From here, the
whole group walked in pairs.
We ate a pinch of salt, drank a
shot of sacred sake, and
clamped a white paper in our
mouths. We couldn’t speak
until the paper left our mouth.
The festival truly begins here.
Himatsuri
Fire Festival
The person in the front leads
the way, swaying a bell from
left to right. We are led down
the side of a hill with just an
arm’s length of visibility. Once
all the members gathered
together, we walked up the
stone stairs, lit only by small
lanterns, to pay respects to
three individual shrines. We
made sure to drop five-yen
coins for every visit. Lastly, we
walked near the edge of the
burning pile of stacked logs
that had been lit two hours
prior to the festival. We payed
our respects to about fifteen
smaller gods.

6
After giving our respects,
we positioned ourselves
around the crackling
inferno. While the ritual
horn and drums sounded,
we bashed the top of the
fire tower with four-meterlong
wooden rods. As we
were hitting, we prayed to
our own God to not burn
to death. A rain of ash fell
on our bodies, singeing, if
not incinerating, our hair.
All participants used the
nearby snow to cool off
during rest periods.
The direction of the flames
also indicates the quality of
the upcoming harvest.
Flames point towards the
shrine for a poor harvest
and away from it to predict
a bountiful harvest.
Himatsuri finishes after
four rounds of fire tower
bashing.
We took off our straw
shoes and tied them to the
shrine.
Nothing ends a festival
quite like the brave
participants partaking in
beer and a special soup
with vegetables and tofu
called kenchi-jiru. Legend
has it that joining the
festival three years straight
will bring you happiness.

Ichinohe Town
Jomon Site
Have you heard of the Jomon
period? No, not the board
game Jumanji. The Jomon
period is part of Japan’s
prehistory and dates back to
about 16,000 to 3,000 years
ago. The name Jomon comes
from the straw rope pattern
found from this time. Even
now, There are constant new
discoveries of Jomon artifacts.
In Ninohe City, Iwate, there's
an abundance of Jomon
artifacts, so much so that
there's a whole building
dedicated to them. This
museum is packed with many
exciting activities, from
cooking to making necklaces
the Jomon way.
7
There were no knives or even chopsticks during the
Jomon period. People cut their own food with a sharpedged
rock and started fires without matches. You, too,
can do exactly that in Ichinohe’s Jomon Museum. Along
with some friends and a Jomon expert, we learned how
to make our own fire and experienced first-hand the
Jomon way of cooking. We used the sharp rocks to cut
mushrooms, potatoes, herbs, and lamb, which we
cooked in a tall, black pot.
| Jomon-style Cooking

8
We also used replica Jomon tools to make
our own fire. The ingenuity of the Jomon
era was astoundingly advanced. A pulleylike
system was used to bring the wooden
handles of the fire-making contraption up
and down. With the right amount of speed
and a steady rhythmic hand motion, small
particles of burning wood are made by the
friction from the tools.
The fire would then be transported to a
small bowl with bigger wood chips that
were incorporated into a fire pit. Overall
preparation took about an hour and a half,
with another hour for the soup to fully cook.
Hot soups during cold winters in northern
Japan were an essential survival tactic.
Another essential item was clothes. It would
be hard to imagine living in Tohoku without
clothes or a house. Walking around the
museum, we saw different types of clothes
that were used for various activities.

9
Jomon Accessories
Each pair of clothes had a pendant on
them. We had the opportunity to create
our own out of a special, thinly cut
piece of bark. The native Jomon
community would place thinly cut bark
in water for a few days. These wet
pieces of bark became soft enough to
shape into whatever item needed.

Jomon Museum
The museum wouldn’t be complete
without attractions of pottery,
weaponry, and image mapping.
There’s a ten-minute image mapping
video that portrays how the Jomon
people possibly lived. This interactive
museum has plenty of activities for all
ages to enjoy without having to travel
to multiple sites.
Want to learn about
more amazing places
like this one? Check
out our website at:
Stayjapan.com/media
GIOVANNI PEREZ
When he's not busy planning events
for inbound tourism to explore the
rural parts of Japan, you can find
Giovanni taking pictures of landscape
or whipping up delicious tacos with
oba-chans.
10

IT IS BETTER TO
SEE SOMETHING
ONCE
THAN TO HEAR ABOUT IT A
THOUSAND TIMES

Written by,
T E R E S A F O N G
G E T H A U N T E D T O
R I C H E S
Ever wanted to be instantly rich? I’m sure you had that wish at least once in your life. Of
course, you can play the waiting game and buy lottery tickets, or you can try an even less
conventional method, which follows a famous Japanese legend. Traditional ryokan are
elegant Japanese inns that have many elements: indoor and outdoor onsen (hot springs),
aromatic tatami floors, comfortable yukata, and succulent Japanese-style set meals.
They're essentially 5 star hotels that feel like home. That is, if your home comes with
attentive staff and a fire pit to warm your cold feet. With Ryokufuso Ryokan, however,
there’s one unique element that no other ryokan can offer. Can you guess what it is?
13

| Ryokufuso
It’s a ghost! That’s right. Ryokufuso is
a haunted ryokan. Luckily, it’s not the
typical Hollywood image of a
Japanese haunting. We don’t have a
woman with long, wet, shiny black
hair. We don’t have a well in the back
that has a sad, horrific history. Rather,
we have a little boy with a heart of
gold.
| The History
About 670 years ago, at the age of six, he was
fleeing the Nambokucho war with his father when
he unfortunately collapsed and died. In his final
moments, he swore to protect his family for eternity.
He must’ve been a very loyal child to make such a
promise at such a young age! Kamemaro-chan’s
passing is where Ryokufuso comes in. Even though
his exact place of death is unknown, it is said that his
first ghostly sighting was in the ryokan of Ryokufuso.
Locals say that he supposedly haunts other ryokan in
the area too, but he has a particular fondness for
Ryokufuso.
The little boy that currently haunts
Ryokufuso is affectionately known as
Kamemaro-chan.
14

Legend goes on to say that if the person who
sees him is female, she’ll be blessed with a
successful marriage within the year. If the person
who sees him is male, he’ll be blessed with riches
and success. Personally, I’d prefer the latter.
Staff told me that if you seek Kamemaro-chan,
he will show up as balls of light. Since he seems
so willing to do that, I’m sure he’d also be willing
to switch up the blessings, too.
| The History
15
| Fun fact:
In the West, the witching hour is at 3:00 A.M. It’s the time of
night when the supernatural has the most power in the
mortal dimension. I was shocked to learn that the witching
hour in Japan is at 2:00 A.M. In Ryokufuso, you’ll often see
guests stay up until 2:00 A.M. in an attempt to meet
Kamemaro-chan. Guests usually walk around in pairs, but I
needed at least three partners because I was too terrified.
The staff does their part in ensuring the ryokan is as creepy
as possible, with dark hallways and dimly lit corners. In my
opinion, the staff does their job a bit too well, because I was
shaking like a leaf!

16 3
| Japanese-style Set Meal
If you also, unfortunately, don't get to see Kamemaro chan (which
might be a good thing if you're a scaredy cat like me), you can at least
feel like a rich celebrity with their extravagant Japanese-style set
meals. It’s not often that you get to enjoy a traditional Japanese
multi-course dinner, especially at this level. The skills and techniques
required to prepare such a haute cuisine is certainly something to
marvel at.
Not only was I impressed by the overall presentation, I was also
enthralled by the tiny details of the over 15 bowls and plates in my
dinner setting! Just at a glance, I instantly knew that the artisans and
craftsmen must have put a great deal of effort in each and every
single detail. My personal favorite was the bowl shaped as a
chrysanthemum with alternating patterns of blue flowers and shapes.
Japanese-style set meals in Tokyo start as low as
10,000 yen, about $100, so it’s not a meal you can
enjoy every day. That’s why, when you actually have
the chance to sit down to enjoy each little part of
the cuisine, it will always feel special. The enjoyment
is enhanced when eating in your yukata after a soak
in the hot spring. Nothing beats that combination!

17
3
In your Japanese-style set meals, not only do you get shabushabu,
you also get sashimi, oyster, and a delicious array of tiny
appetizers. I have to admit: I’ve never had such tender pork in
shabu-shabu before. At one point I forgot I left a slice boiling in
the soup, but it didn’t end up dry and swiveled like usual! It
was glorious.
| Plant-based Diet
Ryokufuso also offers plant-based Japanese-style set meals.
They serve fresh and crispy vegetables and apple tempura with
a side of fruit. They also have something called, “fu,” which is
dried wheat gluten. “Fu” has an amazing ability to soak any
sauce you add, so they’re extremely juicy and delectable.
Definitely look for it even if you don’t have a plant-based diet!
You don’t want to miss this treat.
Did I mention that you get dessert? Even if it was
just one strawberry, strawberries in Japan are known
to always be sweet. They've developed a way of
growing and harvesting strawberries to ensure peak
freshness and high quality. That’s probably why
strawberries, or, rather, fruits in Japan are so
expensive!

18 3
| Breakfast
We had a variety of pickled vegetables, a
bowl of perfectly steamed rice, and a slice
of the richest pink salmon. Of course,
paired with all of those is a bowl of miso
soup for the soul. Going to the hot springs
is great, especially when you’re blessed
with hot miso soup right after. It really
does the trick!
So, what are you waiting for? Go get
haunted to riches or simply go enjoy
Japanese-style set meals like the wealthy!
Follow us on
instagram
@Stayjapan

IT'S BETTER TO
TRAVEL WELL
THAN TO ARRIVE

Photos by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com
RELAX AND BECOME
ONE WITH
YOURSELF
IN OBAMA, FUKUI
Fukui Prefecture has a little town known for its
fresh fish and crystal-clear water. It’s also known
for its name and connection to a beloved public
figure. Obama City in Fukui Prefecture is a mix of
Kansai and Wakasa charm that distinguishes it
from the rest of the Hokuriku Region.
The small-town charm and love for
quiet comforts will make anyone
feel right at home.
Obama City, not named after the
former U.S. President Barack
Obama (the town came first), is a
small town located in the
southernmost region of Fukui
Prefecture, known as the Wakasa
region.
21

The ryokan is a beautifully built
structure that mixes wood and
bamboo with natural stone
elements. Transport into relaxation
as soon as you walk into Fujiya and
slide into a pair of soft slippers.
Natural wood tones, earthy colors,
and deep reds greet you at the door
along with an iron fireplace roaring
quietly in the corner.
| The Inside
There are five spacious guest
rooms, a small dining room, and two
gender-separated hot springs.
Both make for a very intimate
experience. They designed each
room with traditional tatami or
bamboo flooring, shoji or paper
sliding doors, and futon.
The Yamayuri room has a private
bathroom, two sitting areas, large
windows that let in a stream of
sunlight, and a colorful haori, or
kimono coat, hanging in the corner.
Mountains and a dense forest
surround the ryokan with no
neighbors on either side.
23
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com

Photos by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com
At night, the area is quiet, as there
is little to no nearby traffic. It's a
relaxing experience. The next best
part of Matsunaga Rokkan is the 8-
course vegetarian dinner.
Before heading off to dinner, make
sure to check out the mini library
and the Japanese irori fire pit. You
can also indulge in complimentary
tea, coffee, and cookies in front of
the iron kettle-warmer while
reading.
Take a tour of the ryokan’s
greenhouse and garden across the
street to have your senses
awakened.
| Seasonal Vegetable
Dinner
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I
was stuffed. They served each course
one-at-a-time so you can use all six
senses. Each menu item is chosen and
arranged based on the theme of the
season and the seasonal vegetables
available.
24

The chef was nice enough to make
me something special with carrots
because I mentioned my deep love
for carrots during the greenhouse
tour earlier in the day. Each dish is
distinctively Japanese with elegant
interpretations of dishes that
normally would contain meat.
Colorful seasonal vegetables filled
the menu, such as black Japanese
radish (daikon), truffle mushrooms,
fresh herbs, udon, flavored wheatrice
cakes (nama-fu), and seasonal
Japanese sweets (wagashi).
Once you’ve filled your belly with
the delicious 8-course vegetarian
meal, you can slide into the
steaming hot bath.
| Find Zen at a Myotsuji
Temple
Myotsuji is a Buddhist Shingon sect
temple which includes a three
story-pagoda, three Buddha statues
designated as national important
cultural properties, with 12 smaller
Buddha statues to protect them.
25
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com

27
| Rice Vinegar Tour
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com
| Woodworking
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com

| Bicycle Tour
Take a bike tour through town
using one of the electric bikes
provided by the ryokan. There is an
expansive natural environment to
explore around the area, as well as
various small local temples and cute
cafes.
| Local Shrines
Obama City is filled with small
neighborhood shrines with unique
charm and history. The community
has maintained these shrines for
generations.
Obama City has a rich religious
history connected to the major
Shinto shrines of Nara and Kyoto.
Every year on March 2nd, the Jingu
Shrine performs a water-sending
ceremony . The Shrine sends
blessed water from Obama City
down to the famous Todai-Ji
Temple in Nara. Because of this rich
cultural tradition, smaller local
shrines and temples are popular
power spots.
During my trip to Obama City, I
visited Wakasahiko
Shrine and Wakasa Hime Shrine.
28
Photo by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com

Photos by, Natasha Taliferro Awayfromorigin.com
These sister shrines and temples
are connected through a ranking
system, making them strong power
spots for the Wakasa area. The
Wakasahiko Shrine, the only “upper
shrine” (ichinomiya) in Wakasa, has
been worshiped as the guardian of
fishermen since the 7th Century.
The eclectic cafe takes advantage
of its traditional woodwork and
design by using every space. They
showcase a collection of guitars,
ukuleles, jewelry, books, and family
pictures. They make everything
fresh and also change their menu
monthly. It’s full of ofukuro-aji (a
mother’s cooking).
| Cafe Watoto
Watoto is a small cafe in a
traditional Japanese house run by a
friendly Japanese couple.
29
If you have a little extra time, you
can go to the sea and ride on a
cruise to the fishing port, the fish
market, and “Sotomon” in Wakasa
Bay, which is also designated as a
national scenic spot.

IT IS NOT THE
DESTINATION
WHERE YOU END UP
B U T T H E M I S H A P S A N D
M E M O R I E S Y O U C R E A T E A L O N G
T H E W A Y .
P E N E L O P E R I L E Y

SPRING 2020
Ask the Expert
Your
questions
about living
in Japan as
an expat
answered
by me or
our team of
experts!
THIS SEASON'S
EXPERT
TERESA FONG
I'M VEGAN. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Don’t fret! You have many options, from vegan ramen to sushi (yes!), but even if
they’re just a Google search away, it’s not so easy to find them organically in the city. I
suggest you make a Google map list before you arrive. Also, as most Japanese people
don’t know the difference between vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian, etc., it might be
better to list out exactly what you can't eat.
WHAT ESTABLISHMENTS
CAN I VISIT THAT ACCEPT
OTHER FORMS OF
PAYMENTS BESIDES CASH?
More stores in Japan now accept credit
cards. An easy find is the top floors of
any mall. Malls generally accept credit
cards and ban indoor smoking. It’s a
double win!
I actually rarely use cash nowadays
when I go out. Keep in mind that I live
in Tokyo! It's very different in the
countryside.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER
RELIABLE WAYS TO GET CASH
BESIDES FROM AN ATM AT A
CONVENIENCE STORE?
The best way to get yen is from a 7-11 ATM,
but if that’s not an option, here are some
fairly unknown ways you can get cash
(besides going to banks and currency
exchange counters):
・If you have foreign currency, you can head
to Don Quijote and buy something using
that. Your change will be in yen.
・If you have foreign currency, you can head
to Daikokuya, a store that sells discounted
name-brand products, and exchange your
currency there.
P.S. If you have a friend in Japan, you can
offer to Venmo home currency for JPY.
WHY ARE THE LIVING SPACES
SO SMALL?
There's quite a lot of reasons, but simply put:
every year, more people are moving into the
cities, making land prices skyrocket, amongst
other issues. On the other hand, renovation
is relatively cheap and easy to get approval
for. Construction companies work quickly,
too. I've seen an entire apartment complex
finish in 1 month.
All combined, a person could buy whatever
land they can and hire a company to fashion
a home within that space, which is usually
small.
Of course, it would be silly of me to ignore
Japanese principles of minimalism. The
KonMari Method should tell you everything
you need.
33
Teresa has been living in Japan since August 2015.
She loves design, dogs & cats, and food.

art by: @vege.pop
Food
Popular western cuisine that has been made,
Folks
長 ネギと 鶏 もも 肉 パイ
5~6 人 分
step 1) 鍋 に450mlの 水 とコンソメを 入 れ 沸 騰
(ふっとう)させます。その 中 に 鶏 もも 肉 を 加 え、
蓋 をしたまま 弱 火 で10 分 煮 ます。 鳥 もも 肉 を 鍋 から
皿 に 移 し、 残 った 水 分 は 水 差 しに 注 ぎます。
step 2)フライパンを 弱 火 にかけ 無 塩 バター
25gを 入 れ、ネギを2 分 間 柔 らかくなるまで 軽 く 炒 め
ます。さらにニンニクを 入 れ1 分 間 炒 め 続 けます。
残 りの 無 塩 バターを 加 え、 溶 けてから 薄 力 粉 を 入 れ
満 遍 なく1 分 間 続 けて 混 ぜます。
step 3)フライパンに 牛 乳 を 少 しずつ 混 ぜな
がら 加 えます。それから 水 差 しにとっておいたスト
ック250mlも 同 じように 少 しずつ 加 えながら 混 ぜま
す。お 好 みで 白 ワインを 入 れ(2−3 大 さじ)、 満 遍
なく 滑 らかになるまで 混 ぜ 続 けます。それから3 分
間 弱 火 で 煮 ます。
塩 こしょうで 味 を 整 え、フライパンから 大 きなボー
ルに 移 します。 表 面 が 乾 かないようにラップをかけ
て 冷 まします。 オーブンを200 度 にし、トレイを 入
れたまま 加 熱 します。パイシートを 袋 から 出 し5mm
の 厚 さに 伸 ばし、パイ 皿 より4cm 余 るほどの 大 きさ
にしパイ 皿 に 敷 き 込 みます。 鳥 もも 肉 と 厚 切 りのハ
ムを3cmずつの 大 きさにカットし、 冷 ましたソース
と 混 ぜ、パイシートの 上 に 入 れます。 残 ったパイシ
ートを 上 に 置 き、 手 で 周 りをしっかり 閉 めます。パ
イシートの 周 囲 を 切 り 落 とし、ナイフで 真 ん 中 に 小
さな 穴 を 開 け、 全 体 に 溶 き 卵 を 薄 くかけます。
step 4)オーブンで 温 めたトレイの 中 央 に
置 き、35〜40 分 間 焼 きます。 目 印 はパイの 全 体
が 黄 金 色 になることです。
Photo by: @sl__mitchell 34
R E C I P E
tested, and tasted by expats all over Japan.
These commonly found western recipes have
been translated for you to try at home! Have
fun and stay cookin'!
無 塩 バター 75g
鶏 もも 肉 2
長 ネギ 2 本
にんにく 15g
コンソメ 1 個
薄 力 粉 55g
牛 乳 200ml
生 クリーム 150ml
厚 切 りのハム 150g
塩 コショウ 少 々
溶 き 卵 1 個
冷 凍 食 品 のパイシート 4 枚
好 みで 白 ワイン 2−3 大 さじ

leek pie
and
5 to 6
serves
Unsalted butter
75g
Chicken breast
3
Leeks trimmed
2
Crushed garlic
15g
Chicken stk.
450ml
Plain flour
55g
Double cream
150ml
Thickly carved ham
150g
and pepper to taste.
Salt
Beaten egg
1
Frozen pie sheets
4
Tbsp white wine (opt.)
2/3
art by: @vege.pop
Popular western cuisine that has been
Food
Folks
made, tested, and tasted by expats all
over Japan. These commonly found
western recipes have been translated
for you to try at home! Have fun and
stay cookin'!
creamy chicken, ham
R E C I P E
35
Photo by: @sl__mitchell
200ml Milk Flour
1. Heat the chicken stock in a lidded saucepan. Add the chicken
breast and bring to a low simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for
10 minutes. Remove the chicken breasts from the water with
tongs and place on a plate. Pour the cooking liquor into a large
jug.
2. Melt 25g/1oz of butter in a large, heavy-based saucepan over
low heat. Stir in the leeks and fry gently for 2 minutes, stirring
occasionally until just softened. Add the garlic and cook for a
further minute. Add the remaining butter and stir in the flour as
soon as the butter has melted. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring
constantly.
3. Slowly pour the milk into the pan, just a little at a time, stirring
well between each adding. Gradually add 250ml/10fl oz of the
reserved stock and the wine, if using, and stirring until the sauce
is smooth and thickened slightly. Bring to a gentle simmer and
cook for 3 minutes.
4. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in
the cream. Pour into a large bowl and cover the surface of the
sauce with cling film to prevent a skin forming. Set aside to cool.
5. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C Fan/Gas.
6. Put the flour and butter, for the pastry, in a food processor and
blend on the pulse setting until the mixture resembles fine
breadcrumbs. With the motor running, add the beaten egg and
water and blend until the mixture forms a ball. Portion off
250g/9oz pastry for the lid.
7. Roll the remaining pastry out on a lightly floured surface, turning
the pastry frequently until around 5mm/¼in thick and 4cm/1½in
larger than the pie dish. Lift the pastry over the rolling pin and
place it gently into the pie dish. Press the pastry firmly up the
sides, making sure there are no air bubbles. Leave the excess
pastry overhanging the sides.
8. Cut the chicken breasts into 3cm/1¼in pieces. Stir the chicken
and ham into the cooled sauce. Pour the chicken filling into the
pie dish. Brush the rim of the dish with beaten egg. Roll out the
reserved pastry for the lid.
9. Cover the pie with the pastry lid and press the edges together
firmly to seal. Trim any excess pastry.
10. Make a small hole in the centre of the pie with the tip of a knife.
Glaze the top of the pie with beaten egg. Bake on the preheated
tray in the centre of the oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the pie
is golden brown all over and the filling is piping hot.

ベーキングタイム
ベリーベリーパイ
とっても 楽 2~4 人 分
冷 凍 食 品 のパイシート
砂 糖 120g
レモンジュース
4 枚
大 さじ1
冷 凍 食 品 のベリー 1パック500g
step 1) 鍋 にミックスベリー、 砂 糖 とレモンジュース
を 入 れ、 中 火 で5−10 分 間 煮 ます。 砂 糖 の 量 を 確 認 しなが
ら、 足 りない 場 合 は 追 加 してね。そして 一 度 火 を 止 めます。
step 2) 鍋 から100ccの 液 体 を 分 けて 小 さなボールに
移 します。その 中 に 片 栗 粉 を 入 れ、きれいに 溶 けるまで 混 ぜ
ます。
step 3) 鍋 をまた 中 火 にし、 片 栗 粉 のソースを 少 しず
つ 入 れながら2−5 分 間 とろっとなるまで 混 ぜます。ベリー
を 崩 さないように 気 をつけてね。 鍋 を 火 からとり、バターを
入 れて 混 ぜます。それから15 分 間 冷 まします。
step 4)パイシートを 袋 から 出 し3mmの 厚 さに 伸 ば
します。パイ 皿 に 敷 き 込 み、4cm 余 るほどの 大 きさにしま
す。その 上 に 冷 ましたベリーソースを 入 れます。パイ 皿 にパ
イシートを 置 き、 残 りの 生 地 でラティストップ( 上 のアミア
ミ)を 準 備 します。フォークで 空 気 穴 をあけ、パイの 上 にラ
ティストップを 載 せます。 溶 き 卵 を 塗 り、グラニュー 糖 をま
ぶし、220 度 で 予 熱 を 済 ませたオーブンで30 分 間 焼 きま
す。(オーブンによって 時 間 の 差 があります) 途 中 、 満 遍 な
く 焼 き 目 がついたら 出 来 上 がり。 足 りない 場 合 は 時 間 を 追 加
してね。
R E C I P E
Shantell’s
片 栗 粉 大 さじ4
無 塩 バター 大 さじ2
砂 糖 15g
溶 き 卵 1 個
Kitchen
Shantell’s
Kitchen
タピオカ ミルクティー
タピオカ
Photo by: @sl__mitchell
お 湯 適 量
ブラックタピオカ
( 乾 燥 ) 500g
黒 砂 糖 大 さじ3
蜂 蜜 大 さじ3
ミルクティー
お 湯 適 量
紅 茶 ( 濃 い) 適 量
牛 乳 適 量
step 1) 鍋 にお 湯 を 沸 かし、 沸 騰 したらタ
ピオカを 入 れます。キッチンタイマーを35 分 にセ
ットし、 中 火 で 煮 て 時 々かき 混 ぜます。( 途 中 で
食 べてみて 芯 がなければOKです)。
step 2) 沸 かしながら、 黒 砂 糖 と 蜂 蜜 を 加
え、 混 ぜます。
step 3)キッチンタイマーがなったら、 火
を 止 めます。 蓋 をし、シロップに10〜15 分 間 ひ
たします。
step 4)タピオカをザルに 入 れ、 流 水 で 冷
やします。
step 5) 濃 い 紅 茶 を 作 り、 冷 蔵 庫 で 冷 まし
ます。
step 6)グラスにお 好 みでタピオカを 入
れ、 紅 茶 と 牛 乳 、シロップを 注 ぎます。
R E C I P E
art by: @vege.pop
36

of assorted berries
500g
Tbsp. of Corn starch
4
Tbsp. of unsalted butter
2
g Sugar to spread on top
15
Water
Hot
black Tapioca
500g
(dried)
Brown sugar
3Tbsp.
water
Hot
tea (dark)
Black
Baking Time
Triple Berry Pie
Serves 4 to 6
120 g Sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1Large egg
1.Cook Berries: Add berries, sugar and lemon juice to a
large saucepan over medium heat. Simmer, until warm and
juicy, about 5-10 minutes, gently stirring occasionally.
2.Thicken filling: Spoon out about 1/2 cup of the juice from
the pan into a bowl. Stir cornstarch into the juice until
smooth. Bring pot of berries back to a simmer and slowly
pour in the cornstarch. Gently stir mixture (being careful not
to mash the berries), until thickened, about 2-5 minutes.
3. Cool and add to pie shell. Remove from heat and stir in
the butter. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell and add lattice top or
a whole top with holes for steam to escape. (See directions
for lattice crust below).
5.Pinch the edges of the top and bottom pie crusts together
and crimp the edge. Brush a thin layer of beaten egg white
over the top of the pie and sprinkle lightly with sugar.
6.Bake at 400 degrees F (200 C) for 40-45 minutes. Check
it after about 25 minutes and place a piece of tinfoil over it
if the top crust is getting too brown.
7. Cook the pie for 1 hour and enjoy !
Photo by: @sl__mitchell
Shantell’s
Kitchen
Tapioca | Milk Tea
R E C I P E
4 Pie Sheets
Milk
R E C I P E
3 Tbsp. Honey
1.Boil water. Add the tapioca pearls. Once the water boils
again, start the timer for 35 minutes. Lower heat to medium
and stir occasionally.
2.While boiling, add the brown sugar and honey. Mix the
syrup well.
3.Once the timer goes off, turn the fire off. Keep the lid on
and let the pearls sit in the syrup for 10-15 mins.
4.After 10 mins, rinse the tapioca in cold water until no
longer hot.
5.Make strong black tea. Cool in the fridge.
6.Add the tapioca, black tea, milk, and syrup to your
preference.
Shantell’s
Kitchen
37
art by: @vege.pop

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J E T
S e t t e r s

h

FAS
T H E
District

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T H E
District

Reviewed by,
D A I K I S H I M I Z U
F A S H I O N I N
J A P A N
HION
SHIMIZU」
「DAIKI
Daiki Shimizu studied business as
a university undergraduate. Upon
graduation, he went to fashion
school, where he learned how to
make his own clothes. After
fashion school, he worked at
various department stores,
apparel shops, and street shops,
where he helped thousands of
customers with their fashion
decisions. Now, he is a consultant
for farm stay guesthouses by day
and a fashion adviser by night,
where he provides advice to his
colleagues and close friends on
the current trends, one sock at a
time.
46

Covid-19 has been hurting
plenty of industries, both
domestically and
internationally. The fashion
industry in Japan has also taken
a big hit. However, putting
some of our focus on what we
could wear when it finally
becomes okay to venture
outside again can give us some
hope while living in our
compact housing units.
I remember as if it was just
yesterday, when I heard a
female classmate say that
fashion is fun. "The feeling of
coordinating the right clothes
to meet someone or to go out
and shop while being
surrounded by similarly
fashionable people makes it all
the better." What she said
opened my eyes and created a
deeper meaning to what the
word fashion is to me. Now, I
often think of it in terms of
“activity” and “experience.”
Daiki’s Recommendations:
“Stella McCartney”
When I think of the word
“Sustainability,” the fashion
designer Stella McCartney
immediately comes to mind.
Reason: The designer is known
for pioneering more
environmentally friendly
clothes in the fashion world.
This is represented by her
latest fashion line with clothes
made from plants. She has also
avoided use of any animal
products. For the 2020SS
Men’s Fashion Collection, she
used a picture of the world that
was taken from an orbiting
satellite and put it on a jacket.
How can you enjoy fashion
during Covid-19? The trend in
the fashion world is
“Sustainability.” Fashion has
moved in the direction of
decreased pollution and
diminished use of animal
products.
W R I T T E N B Y ,
DAIKI
SHIMIZU
48

Sustainability with Corona:
How to be fashionable while
still being at home for long
hours.
What would you say if a friend
asked, "What are you doing for
fun while staying at home?"
Just imagine their face when
you excitedly tell them, "I’m
having fun with fashion!"
“Sustainability” in fashion
comes in many forms, such as
“color,” “pattern,” “material,”
and “type.” An example of this
is the use of botanical patterns,
also known as “Natural Mood,”
formal short suits, and classic
denim clothing used during the
2020SS fashion collection
show.
Summer must be coming soon,
since I’m sweating more than
usual. “Sustainability with
Corona” will be the new fashion
to look forward to wearing in
the summer, so why not start
getting prepared for it now?
2. Recommended items: Onepiece
jumpsuit | Long T-shirt
that can be turned into a
dress.
Covid-19 fashion theme:
Many of us have been spending
more time in our private
bastions than we’re accustomed
to this year. Around summer,
there might be more chances to
get out of the house for a quick
walk around the park or to a
local coffee shop. That’s why I
recommend either a one-piece
jumpsuit or a Long T-shirt that
can be turned into a dress.
Nothing beats relaxing clothing
that you can wear at home and
go out for a quick walk without
having to change at all and still
look your best! A simple jacket
over your clothes will quickly
turn that casual one-piece into
business casual, making it even
easier for people who need to
go to work at short notice. This
trend is also called Nature
Mood.
3.The Secret to Coordinating.
W R I T T E N B Y ,
DAIKI
SHIMIZU
The secret to being able to go
from casual wear to business
wear quickly is in the feet, or
rather, in the shoes. There’s no
need to change clothes!
Instead, wear sneakers for a
casual look and put on heels for
a more business casual attire.
50

4.Summary
In summary, the whole world is experiencing some dark times. That
means we need to adapt to our surroundings and try to enjoy what we
can. For me, fashion is something that you can enjoy while feeling
good inside and outside. It’s also nice when someone stops you on the
street to ask, “Where did you get those great clothes?”
The important thing is not the actual brand, or even following the
latest fashion trend. It’s wearing what you like! Japan is famous for its
seasonality, which means we have four different types of fashionable
wear to enjoy. Once the wave of Covid-19 has passed, I hope that you
can wear your favorite clothing while traveling Japan!
W R I T T E N B Y ,
DAIKI
SHIMIZU
50

In difficult times,
fashion is always outrageous.

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