japan life style
More and more people are blending foods like rice and soy sauce themselves for the thrill of creating something new. In addition to the feeling of cool gained from having something that does not exist anywhere else, this practice satisfies consumers' discriminating tastes. The trend for custom blending has now spread from ingredients used in main dishes to those used in desserts.
Seeking Nutrition, Beauty, and FlavorUp to now, people have tended to purchase a sack of a single type of rice, such as Koshihikari or Akita Komachi, and cook it by itself. These days, however, as part of the ongoing boom in healthy living, an increasing number of people are blending in mineral-rich cereals like millet and adlay seed.
In the basement food section of Printemps Ginza there is a specialty shop called Wa-Deri (currently closed for renovation) that sells brown rice and blended grains. While there are existing blends prepared by the shop, many customers decide to create their own blends by combining some of the ten or more available grains. Staff who are qualified experts on grains are available to provide advice, such as recommending a combination of red rice and millet to warm the bodies of people who are sensitive to the cold or adlay seed for people who want to look their best. But nutrition is not the only consideration; the appearance of blended rice is also one of the secrets to its popularity, as mixing in black rice will give your rice a light purplish hue, and adding millet will result in rice with a bright yellow coloring.
Seeking Nutrition, Beauty, and FlavorUp to now, people have tended to purchase a sack of a single type of rice, such as Koshihikari or Akita Komachi, and cook it by itself. These days, however, as part of the ongoing boom in healthy living, an increasing number of people are blending in mineral-rich cereals like millet and adlay seed.
In the basement food section of Printemps Ginza there is a specialty shop called Wa-Deri (currently closed for renovation) that sells brown rice and blended grains. While there are existing blends prepared by the shop, many customers decide to create their own blends by combining some of the ten or more available grains. Staff who are qualified experts on grains are available to provide advice, such as recommending a combination of red rice and millet to warm the bodies of people who are sensitive to the cold or adlay seed for people who want to look their best. But nutrition is not the only consideration; the appearance of blended rice is also one of the secrets to its popularity, as mixing in black rice will give your rice a light purplish hue, and adding millet will result in rice with a bright yellow coloring.
japan life style
There are also people who blend two or more types of rice. Roughly 20% of the customers at Suzunobu, a rice specialty shop in Tokyo, blend different types of rice at home. Many people seek the smooth texture suitable for Japanese cuisine that results from combining the sticky Koshihikari with the lighter Akita Komachi. Behind this boom lies the appearance of powerful, hi-tech rice cookers that can be set differently depending on the type of rice.
And of course there are people who create their own blends of the soy sauce that is an indispensable seasoning for Japanese cuisine. Yamakawa Jozo, a brewery in Gifu Prefecture, will blend soy sauce for customers according to the taste and color that they desire using five types of soy sauce, including shiro (light), tamari (brewed without wheat), and koikuchi (dark) soy sauce. They will also provide detailed consultation on such things as salt levels, taste, and the use of preservatives.
Pineapple vinegar (Uchibori)
Tastier Than the Sum of Their PartsPeople are enjoying blending their own dessert foods, as well. A store run by Gifu Prefecture's Uchibori Vinegar offers popular dessert vinegars made by blending vinegar with fruit juices. While simple flavors are available, the recommended ones are rich varieties that blend orange and cassis, or strawberry and peach. A 250-ml bottle costs around ¥1,300 ($11.30 at ¥115 to the dollar), and most people choose to drink the vinegar after mixing it with water. Fruit vinegar that has not undergone microfiltration and thus allows one to savor the crispness of freshly made vinegar is so popular that it is almost always sold out ahead of time.
There are also people who blend two or more types of rice. Roughly 20% of the customers at Suzunobu, a rice specialty shop in Tokyo, blend different types of rice at home. Many people seek the smooth texture suitable for Japanese cuisine that results from combining the sticky Koshihikari with the lighter Akita Komachi. Behind this boom lies the appearance of powerful, hi-tech rice cookers that can be set differently depending on the type of rice.
And of course there are people who create their own blends of the soy sauce that is an indispensable seasoning for Japanese cuisine. Yamakawa Jozo, a brewery in Gifu Prefecture, will blend soy sauce for customers according to the taste and color that they desire using five types of soy sauce, including shiro (light), tamari (brewed without wheat), and koikuchi (dark) soy sauce. They will also provide detailed consultation on such things as salt levels, taste, and the use of preservatives.
Pineapple vinegar (Uchibori)
Tastier Than the Sum of Their PartsPeople are enjoying blending their own dessert foods, as well. A store run by Gifu Prefecture's Uchibori Vinegar offers popular dessert vinegars made by blending vinegar with fruit juices. While simple flavors are available, the recommended ones are rich varieties that blend orange and cassis, or strawberry and peach. A 250-ml bottle costs around ¥1,300 ($11.30 at ¥115 to the dollar), and most people choose to drink the vinegar after mixing it with water. Fruit vinegar that has not undergone microfiltration and thus allows one to savor the crispness of freshly made vinegar is so popular that it is almost always sold out ahead of time.
Innovative varieties of fast food are making some of young people's favorite dishes more convenient and tasty. They include noodles that can be held and eaten with one hand and pizzas that can be consumed on the move. In each case, makers have taken a well-loved dish and turned it into a form that no-one had thought of before. These novel products have caught the imagination of consumers and are set to become common sights around Japan.
Is It a Burger? Is It Noodles?
In a corner of the car park of the Costa Yukuhashi shopping complex in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka Prefecture, sits a bright red van. Women returning home from the shops stop off at the van to buy a unique type of burger called a Kan-nana Noodle Burger. This is in fact a quirky kind of ramen noodles thought up by Sadaishi Koji, who runs a noodle bar on the Kan-nana road (the number-seven circular) in Tokyo while also managing a construction firm.
The Kan-nana Noodle Burger looks like a hamburger, but instead of a beef patty sandwiched in a bread roll, it consists of roasted pork - a standard ramen topping - inside a mass of noodles that have been fried so that they go firm and stick together. A burger with a filling of seasoned chicken balls is also available, and both types cost ¥350 (about $3 at ¥115 to the dollar). The sauce covering the pork and egg that fill the burgers tastes just like ramen broth, and the chewy texture of the dish has also proved popular. Sadaishi is determined to spread these burgers nationwide as a signature dish of Yukuhashi.
The Hasamaru stall (Hasamaru)
Pizza in a Cone
Another kind of noodle sandwich can be found at Hasamaru, a stall in the famous Amerika-mura district of Osaka. Called Sobasen, this dish consists of fried noodles sandwiched between two large prawn crackers. Sobasen was developed by Uenishi Mako, whose father, Takashi, runs Hasamaru. The prawn crackers are filled with thick fried noodles, egg, mayonnaise, and a special sauce. Sobasen cost ¥250 each (about $2.10) and can be eaten on the move. On weekends Hasamaru gets a lot of custom from tourists, while on weekdays local regulars make up most of the Sobasen customers.
Another unusual fast food can be found on the basement food floor of the Printemps Ginza department store in Ginza, Tokyo. Kono Pizza is a pizza base like an ice-cream cone and filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other toppings. Unlike an ordinary pizza, it can be eaten on the move with one hand. These pizzas are especially popular with young women, and there are often lines of people waiting to get a taste. Over 500 cone pizzas a day are served on weekends.
Page Top
Copyright (c) 2007 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.
Japan boasts the world's longest average lifespan, and as of July 2007 it is also home to the oldest person in the world. Minagawa Yone, who lives in Fukuoka Prefecture, was born on January 4, 1893, making her 114 years old. The oldest man in the world, meanwhile, is Miyazaki Prefecture's 111-year old Tanabe Tomoji, who was born on September 18, 1895. Both Minagawa and Tanabe were recently recognized by the Guinness World Records, giving Japan the honor of being home to both the oldest woman and the oldest man in the world.
A Family of 87
Minagawa lives in a nursing home. When she heard from the Guinness Book, she clasped her hands together in thanks. This remarkable woman raised five children while selling the vegetables and flowers grown on her family's plot of land, and her favorite food is bananas. Though she is a light eater and usually leaves about half the meals served at the nursing home, she will always eat an entire banana. (Note: Sadly, Minagawa Yone passed away on August 13.)
Tanabe, meanwhile, became a farmer at the age of 40 after working for the local city office as a civil engineer. His wife passed away 19 years ago, and he now lives with his fifth son and daughter-in-law. In addition to his children, he has 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, giving him an extended family of 87. Tanabe is in such good health that his doctor told him he would have no problem living to 120. He leads a regimented life, getting up at 6:00 every morning and going to bed by 10:00 every night. Also part of his daily schedule is drinking a glass of milk at 3:00 every afternoon. He does not drink or smoke, he avoids snacking, and he eats lots of vegetables.
Source: (for figures up to 2005) Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, The Life Tables; (for figures from 2015) National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Population Projections for Japan.
While Tanabe is hard of hearing, he manages to take care of most things on his own, and he even keeps a diary that he updates every day. His favorite foods are fried shrimp and miso soup with clams. He seemed a bit surprised when he heard the news from the Guiness Book, but he told everyone, "I'm alive thanks to you. I'm very happy." When he was asked how long he wanted to live, he made everyone laugh by responding, "Actually, I'd rather not die."
1.15 Million People Over 90
While they may currently hold the records for being the oldest man and woman alive, Minagawa and Tanabe are actually not as exceptional as one might think. According to 2006 statistics from the Statistics Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan's population last year was 127.77 million. Of that number, some 1.15 million people were aged 90 or over. There were about 29,000 people—4,000 men and 25,000 women—aged 100 or over. These figures demonstrate just how many people are living long lives in Japan.
Looking at the average life expectancies at birth in various countries, it becomes even more clear that Japan is a nation of longevity. Although there is some variation in how countries calculate life expectancy, the World Health Report issued by the World Health Organization in 2006 had Japan tied with Monaco and San Marino for first place, with a combined average life expectancy for men and women of 82 years. Tied for fourth place at 81 years were Australia, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Canada, France, and six other countries tied for ninth place at 80 years. Among other major countries, the United States placed twenty-sixth at 78 years, South Korea finished in thirty-second place at 77 years, and China ranked sixtieth at 72 years.
Source: The World Health Report 2006
As of 2005, the average life expectancy was 78.56 for Japanese men and 85.52 for Japanese women. It is estimated that the average life expectancy 50 years from now will rise to 83.67 for Japanese men and 90.34 for Japanese women
More and more Japanese men are taking an interest in fashion and style, areas previously considered to be of interest mostly to women. This rapid increase in men's fashion consciousness has been sparked by such factors as the Cool Biz energy-saving campaign, which encourages men to dispense with their ties in the summer months, and the success of magazines like Leon, which targets middle-aged men who want to give off an air of sophisticated cool. As a result, items like suits, pants that make the wearer's legs look slim, girdles, men's skincare products, and designer watches have been flying off the shelves.
Pants for Great-Looking Legs
Department stores have traditionally tended not to focus much attention on their men's sections. Recently, however, they report that increasing numbers of men in their forties and fifties are visiting the men's apparel and other sections to purchase fashionable items. Previously considered an age group with little interest in fashion and style, this generation of middle-aged men experienced the "Ivy style" of the 1960s and the DC brand craze of the 1980s. These guys have always been sensitive to the trends around them, and the boom in choi-waru oyaji (middle-aged playboys with a keen interest in fashion) has caused their interest in fashion to blossom.
Pants that make the wearer's legs look good are one example of a product that has benefited from these men's growing fashion consciousness. Compared with ordinary slacks, the pockets and knees of these pants are higher, and the cut and stitching is different, making the legs look longer and more slender. These kinds of pants now make up more than half of the casual pants stocked by some department stores. Men's girdles that give the buttocks more definition and flatten the stomach are also selling well. They first hit the market in the spring of 2006 and cost about 50% more than regular undergarments. Despite the high cost, however, some stores sold out of the girdles within a month.
Lifestyle Diversity
Clothing is not the only area in which men are splashing out to look good. Luxury skincare products and imported designer wristwatches and shoes are also proving popular, especially among middle-aged guys. Men's newfound fondness for spending money on their appearance shows no signs of abating.
Alongside this rise in the number of fashionable men is a trend for men to remain single for longer than in the past. In 2000, some 22% of men in their early forties were unmarried, and this figure is forecast to top 30% in 2020; already 28% of men in this age group in Tokyo are single. Whether these men are unwilling or unable to marry, what is certain is that men's lifestyles are diversifying fast.
Is It a Burger? Is It Noodles?
In a corner of the car park of the Costa Yukuhashi shopping complex in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka Prefecture, sits a bright red van. Women returning home from the shops stop off at the van to buy a unique type of burger called a Kan-nana Noodle Burger. This is in fact a quirky kind of ramen noodles thought up by Sadaishi Koji, who runs a noodle bar on the Kan-nana road (the number-seven circular) in Tokyo while also managing a construction firm.
The Kan-nana Noodle Burger looks like a hamburger, but instead of a beef patty sandwiched in a bread roll, it consists of roasted pork - a standard ramen topping - inside a mass of noodles that have been fried so that they go firm and stick together. A burger with a filling of seasoned chicken balls is also available, and both types cost ¥350 (about $3 at ¥115 to the dollar). The sauce covering the pork and egg that fill the burgers tastes just like ramen broth, and the chewy texture of the dish has also proved popular. Sadaishi is determined to spread these burgers nationwide as a signature dish of Yukuhashi.
The Hasamaru stall (Hasamaru)
Pizza in a Cone
Another kind of noodle sandwich can be found at Hasamaru, a stall in the famous Amerika-mura district of Osaka. Called Sobasen, this dish consists of fried noodles sandwiched between two large prawn crackers. Sobasen was developed by Uenishi Mako, whose father, Takashi, runs Hasamaru. The prawn crackers are filled with thick fried noodles, egg, mayonnaise, and a special sauce. Sobasen cost ¥250 each (about $2.10) and can be eaten on the move. On weekends Hasamaru gets a lot of custom from tourists, while on weekdays local regulars make up most of the Sobasen customers.
Another unusual fast food can be found on the basement food floor of the Printemps Ginza department store in Ginza, Tokyo. Kono Pizza is a pizza base like an ice-cream cone and filled with cheese, tomato sauce, and other toppings. Unlike an ordinary pizza, it can be eaten on the move with one hand. These pizzas are especially popular with young women, and there are often lines of people waiting to get a taste. Over 500 cone pizzas a day are served on weekends.
Page Top
Copyright (c) 2007 Web Japan. Edited by Japan Echo Inc. based on domestic Japanese news sources. Articles presented here are offered for reference purposes and do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Japanese Government.
Japan boasts the world's longest average lifespan, and as of July 2007 it is also home to the oldest person in the world. Minagawa Yone, who lives in Fukuoka Prefecture, was born on January 4, 1893, making her 114 years old. The oldest man in the world, meanwhile, is Miyazaki Prefecture's 111-year old Tanabe Tomoji, who was born on September 18, 1895. Both Minagawa and Tanabe were recently recognized by the Guinness World Records, giving Japan the honor of being home to both the oldest woman and the oldest man in the world.
A Family of 87
Minagawa lives in a nursing home. When she heard from the Guinness Book, she clasped her hands together in thanks. This remarkable woman raised five children while selling the vegetables and flowers grown on her family's plot of land, and her favorite food is bananas. Though she is a light eater and usually leaves about half the meals served at the nursing home, she will always eat an entire banana. (Note: Sadly, Minagawa Yone passed away on August 13.)
Tanabe, meanwhile, became a farmer at the age of 40 after working for the local city office as a civil engineer. His wife passed away 19 years ago, and he now lives with his fifth son and daughter-in-law. In addition to his children, he has 25 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, giving him an extended family of 87. Tanabe is in such good health that his doctor told him he would have no problem living to 120. He leads a regimented life, getting up at 6:00 every morning and going to bed by 10:00 every night. Also part of his daily schedule is drinking a glass of milk at 3:00 every afternoon. He does not drink or smoke, he avoids snacking, and he eats lots of vegetables.
Source: (for figures up to 2005) Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, The Life Tables; (for figures from 2015) National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, Population Projections for Japan.
While Tanabe is hard of hearing, he manages to take care of most things on his own, and he even keeps a diary that he updates every day. His favorite foods are fried shrimp and miso soup with clams. He seemed a bit surprised when he heard the news from the Guiness Book, but he told everyone, "I'm alive thanks to you. I'm very happy." When he was asked how long he wanted to live, he made everyone laugh by responding, "Actually, I'd rather not die."
1.15 Million People Over 90
While they may currently hold the records for being the oldest man and woman alive, Minagawa and Tanabe are actually not as exceptional as one might think. According to 2006 statistics from the Statistics Bureau of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan's population last year was 127.77 million. Of that number, some 1.15 million people were aged 90 or over. There were about 29,000 people—4,000 men and 25,000 women—aged 100 or over. These figures demonstrate just how many people are living long lives in Japan.
Looking at the average life expectancies at birth in various countries, it becomes even more clear that Japan is a nation of longevity. Although there is some variation in how countries calculate life expectancy, the World Health Report issued by the World Health Organization in 2006 had Japan tied with Monaco and San Marino for first place, with a combined average life expectancy for men and women of 82 years. Tied for fourth place at 81 years were Australia, Iceland, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland. Canada, France, and six other countries tied for ninth place at 80 years. Among other major countries, the United States placed twenty-sixth at 78 years, South Korea finished in thirty-second place at 77 years, and China ranked sixtieth at 72 years.
Source: The World Health Report 2006
As of 2005, the average life expectancy was 78.56 for Japanese men and 85.52 for Japanese women. It is estimated that the average life expectancy 50 years from now will rise to 83.67 for Japanese men and 90.34 for Japanese women
More and more Japanese men are taking an interest in fashion and style, areas previously considered to be of interest mostly to women. This rapid increase in men's fashion consciousness has been sparked by such factors as the Cool Biz energy-saving campaign, which encourages men to dispense with their ties in the summer months, and the success of magazines like Leon, which targets middle-aged men who want to give off an air of sophisticated cool. As a result, items like suits, pants that make the wearer's legs look slim, girdles, men's skincare products, and designer watches have been flying off the shelves.
Pants for Great-Looking Legs
Department stores have traditionally tended not to focus much attention on their men's sections. Recently, however, they report that increasing numbers of men in their forties and fifties are visiting the men's apparel and other sections to purchase fashionable items. Previously considered an age group with little interest in fashion and style, this generation of middle-aged men experienced the "Ivy style" of the 1960s and the DC brand craze of the 1980s. These guys have always been sensitive to the trends around them, and the boom in choi-waru oyaji (middle-aged playboys with a keen interest in fashion) has caused their interest in fashion to blossom.
Pants that make the wearer's legs look good are one example of a product that has benefited from these men's growing fashion consciousness. Compared with ordinary slacks, the pockets and knees of these pants are higher, and the cut and stitching is different, making the legs look longer and more slender. These kinds of pants now make up more than half of the casual pants stocked by some department stores. Men's girdles that give the buttocks more definition and flatten the stomach are also selling well. They first hit the market in the spring of 2006 and cost about 50% more than regular undergarments. Despite the high cost, however, some stores sold out of the girdles within a month.
Lifestyle Diversity
Clothing is not the only area in which men are splashing out to look good. Luxury skincare products and imported designer wristwatches and shoes are also proving popular, especially among middle-aged guys. Men's newfound fondness for spending money on their appearance shows no signs of abating.
Alongside this rise in the number of fashionable men is a trend for men to remain single for longer than in the past. In 2000, some 22% of men in their early forties were unmarried, and this figure is forecast to top 30% in 2020; already 28% of men in this age group in Tokyo are single. Whether these men are unwilling or unable to marry, what is certain is that men's lifestyles are diversifying fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment