** JAPAN'S SPRING **
During the spring in japan, there are a lot of festivals and events that the Japanese celebrate. The weather is nice and flowers bloom beautifully creating a soothing and calm atmosphere for the japanese people to enjoy activity such as Hinamatsuri or doll festival, Hanami or flower viewing, and also Tango no Sekku. to complete the joyous event, they also enjoy several food and cuisine that is unique to each festivals or events.
During the spring in Japan, the japanese make full use of the wonderful weather and beautiful scenery to enjoy many events rich in japanese cultures. They also enjoy each festivities with invidual and unique dishes which incorporate their cultural values in it. Lets explore japan culture and cuisine during spring shall we..!
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**HINAMATSURI**
March 3 is Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival), the day to hope for the uneventful growth and good fortune of girls. People decorate their houses with Hina ("Hina" means "small") dolls and peach flowers. It is believed that Hina dolls take over misfortunes and troubles falling on girls.
Shirozake
Shirozake is also known as white sake. The Japanese believe that drinking shirozake will free them of illness to sustain youthfulness.
Shirozake is also known as white sake. The Japanese believe that drinking shirozake will free them of illness to sustain youthfulness.
How to make shirozake
Shirozake is a sweet white sake like drink made by combining rice, koji and shochu to form a liquor. To make shirozake the rice is steamed and mixed with koji and shochu and then left to age for a month. Once aged the mixture is puréed into a consistently smooth drink about 45% rice extracts and having 8-9% alcohol.
Shirozake is a sweet white sake like drink made by combining rice, koji and shochu to form a liquor. To make shirozake the rice is steamed and mixed with koji and shochu and then left to age for a month. Once aged the mixture is puréed into a consistently smooth drink about 45% rice extracts and having 8-9% alcohol.
Chirashizushi
Chirashizushi is a mixed sushi rice. it is often served with Osuimono which is a clear soup. The soups are made of clams. Because clams are double-shelled with the shells forming a pair parentshope their daughters will find a lifelong partner
Chirashizushi is a mixed sushi rice. it is often served with Osuimono which is a clear soup. The soups are made of clams. Because clams are double-shelled with the shells forming a pair parentshope their daughters will find a lifelong partner
Different type of Chirashizushi
- Edomae chirashizushi, tokyo style: Edo-style scattered sushi is an uncooked ingredient that is arranged artfully on top of the sushi rice in a bowl.
- Gomokuzushi, Kansai-style chirashizushi: consists of cooked or uncooked ingredients mixed in the body of rice in a bowl. There is no set formula for the ingredients; they are either chef's choice or specified by the customer. It is commonly eaten because it is filling, fast and easy to make.
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**HANAMI**
During March to May, when the cherry blossoms bloom, it is traditional for people to gather together and enjoy the beauty of flowers. The most famous flower in Japan that blooms in spring is the sakura.
Bento
While enjoying the flowers, they usually drink sake and enjoy food they prepared themselves from home called Bento. A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container.
While enjoying the flowers, they usually drink sake and enjoy food they prepared themselves from home called Bento. A traditional bento holds rice, fish or meat, with pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container.
Types of bento
- Shokado bento: traditional black-lacquered Japanese bento box.
- Chuka bento: filled with Chinese food. While Chinese do have cold plates, it is more for appetizers or midnight "snack".
- Kamameshi bento: sold at train stations in Nagano prefecture. It is cooked and served in a clay pot. The pot is a souvenir item.
- Makunouchi bento: classic style of bento with rice, a pickled ume fruit (umeboshi), a slice of broiled salmon, a rolled egg, etc.
- Noriben bento: simplest type of bento. Prepared with nori dipped in soy sauce covering cooked rice.
- Sake bento: simple bento with a slice of broiled salmon as the main dish.
- Shidashi bento: made in a restaurant and delivered during lunch. This bento is often eaten at a gathering like a funeral or a party. It is usually packed with traditional Japanese foods like tempura, rice and pickled vegetables. A shidashi bento packed with European-style food is also available.
- Tori bento: consists of pieces of chicken cooked in sauce served over rice. It is a popular bento in Gunma prefecture.
- Hinomaru bento: the name for a bento consisting of plain white rice with an umeboshi in the centre. The name was taken from the Hinomaru, the Japanese flag, which has a white background with a red circle in the centre. Pure Hinomaru bento only consists of rice and umeboshi to flavor rice without any other side dishes. The metal bento boxes, once popular in Japan, were often corroded by the acid of umeboshi, eventually making a hole in the middle of the lid.
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**TANGO NO SEKKU**
May 5 is Tango no Sekku, another day of the gosekku, also known as Shobu no Sekku ("shobu" means "iris"). On this day, people take baths with iris leaves, which have the shaped of a sword, and pray for health and safety. They are believed to get rid of illness and bad omens. This day is the festival for the boys. It originates from the samurai culture. Parents pray for their son's healthy growth by setting up yoroikabuto (samurai armor replica), musha ningyo (samurai dolls) and koinobori (carp banners).
Kashiwamochi
kashiwamochi is rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves. It symbolizes the prosperity of the family and longevity of the clan.
kashiwamochi is rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves. It symbolizes the prosperity of the family and longevity of the clan.
Components of kashiwamochiKashiwa-Mochi is a kind of steamed Mochi. It is made of:
- Joshin-ko (flour)
- Shiratama-ko (flour)
- Red bean paste (filling)
- Kashiwa, oak leaves (wrap)
Chimaki
Chimaki is rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Chimaki is considered a lucky food symbol and is traditionally served with tea. This fragrant mochi, or sticky, rice cake is wrapped in bamboo leaves, secured with twine and steamed or boiled. Chimaki differs in shape and ingredients depending on the region where it is prepared.
Chimaki is rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Chimaki is considered a lucky food symbol and is traditionally served with tea. This fragrant mochi, or sticky, rice cake is wrapped in bamboo leaves, secured with twine and steamed or boiled. Chimaki differs in shape and ingredients depending on the region where it is prepared.
How to eat chimaki
By following a few simple guidelines, you can master the art of eating chimaki.
By following a few simple guidelines, you can master the art of eating chimaki.
- Untie or snip the twine wrapped around the chimaki. The twine holds the bamboo leaf wrapper in place during the cooking process. Your chimaki may be served with the twine removed, depending on the chef's desired presentation.
- Allow the leaf wrapping to begin unfolding naturally. Continue to open the leaf, by hand, until the aromatic rice cake is fully revealed. Once unfolded, the open leaf serves as a plate. Leaf wrapping techniques can vary, depending on the chef and the region.
- Break the rice cake into bite-size pieces before eating by using chopsticks, a fork or a piece of leaf wrapping. Each piece of the rice cake will hold together because of the rice's stickiness, making it easy to pick up with your utensil of choice
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Reference
1. Japanese seasonal events and food culture [internet]. Ajinomoto group corporate website. [cited 2013 april 1]. Retrieved from: http://www.ajinomoto.com/features/japanese_cuisine/spring.html
2. Namiko Abe. Kashiwamochi, Japanese Sweet for Children's Day [internet]. Japanese about.com website. [cited 2013 april 1]. Retrieved from: http://japanese.about.com/od/namikosbloglessons/a/lesson97.htm
3. Karen Curinga. How to eat chimaki [internet]. Healthy living, azcentral.com website. [cited 2013 april 1]. Retrieved from: http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/eat-chimaki-17054.html
2. Namiko Abe. Kashiwamochi, Japanese Sweet for Children's Day [internet]. Japanese about.com website. [cited 2013 april 1]. Retrieved from: http://japanese.about.com/od/namikosbloglessons/a/lesson97.htm
3. Karen Curinga. How to eat chimaki [internet]. Healthy living, azcentral.com website. [cited 2013 april 1]. Retrieved from: http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/eat-chimaki-17054.html