Halloween takes on a rather morphed representation here in Japan. It seems to be generally restricted to kindergarten parties and early 20’s costume clubbing. Aside from completely missing the elementary school-aged demographic, Japan’s patisseries often sell a variety of halloween themed cakes for the enjoyment of the random Halloween loving customer. Candy and chocolate isn’t […]
Oh, Japanese beer can marketing ploy! I’ve fallen for your trickery again. After a steady diet of Happoshu, I was ready to pick up a real beer after a long week at work. I opted for Suntory’s new offering – The Malt’s: Umami. It’s the malt’s umami, theirs for all enernity. They own the umami.It […]
Just Enough: Lessons in Living Green from Traditional Japan by Azby Brown My rating: 4 of 5 stars An absolutely lovely read that is infused with history while looking disapprovingly at our current consumption driven culture. The author uses the unique device of placing Edo era travelers in distinct locales, partaking in a kind of […]
Every year around this time I go Animal House crazy and order a single beer at the Sapporo Beer Garden in Odori Park. And for the third year in a row that beer has been the Kirin Ichiban Shibori “Frozen” draft. This year I opted for the stout version. I am not privy to the […]
Been trying to get into a fly tying groove. Working on my basic skills, especially doing my whip finishes by hand. Using a whip finishing tool seems to make things more difficult. So I keep it simple, minimalist and quick. 100 Yen sewing thread, some simple hackles, and that’s it! A little peacock herl […]
Another one of those foody surprises crept up on me today here in Sapporo. Snyder’s of Hanover apparently sees Japan as such a lucrative market that it is making a wasabi flavored version of its hard pretzel snacks, sold only in Nippon! The taste was as advertised, a bit strong, but interesting. The power of […]
A couple weeks ago I partook in some early season fly fishing on the never freezing, but always chilly waters of Lake Shikotsu, about an hour and a half from Sapporo. This being my second time fishing on this caldera created lake, once again me and my friend found ourselves skunked after more than six […]
Took the classic, three day, Golden “Week” family vacation in a minivan towards central Hokkaido. Through Asahikawa, then on to a night at Sounkyo hot springs resort, then finally spending another night in Minami Furano – with many stops along the way. It was good to see the change in topography as we entered the […]
I thought it wouldn’t come to this. Maybe things would have gone differently with some different life decisions. But unfortunately life has a way of rearing it’s ugly head when one least expects it. This past week I tasted the Devil’s Elixir. Alcohol Free, Sugar Free, Calorie Free – a non-alcohol beer so devoid of […]
A few weeks back we had a bit of an Indian winter in the midst of a rather balmy March. It allowed me to strap on my Tubbs Wilderness snowshoes one last time to frolic in the environs of Asahiyama Park. The snow was fresh, the wind was strong, and the backcountry was mostly untouched. […]