Japan #15 – Overpackaging

One thing that was very noticeable while we were in Japan is that the Japanese seem to really like their packaging…..a little too much… 

You can buy a rockmelon at the supermarket for 3980 yen each, box and bow included (that’s around $50 Aussie dollars!)….check out the apples next to the rockmelons – not only are they individually wrapped in plastic but also have some protective wrapping.

Fruit section of supermarket – almost everything is bagged or wrapped in plastic.

Everything at the bakery is individually wrapped in plastic.

At the 7eleven you can buy hardboiled eggs, which are individually encased in plastic boxes.

If you buy a piece of cake it will usually come in a smart box with a little fork wrapped in plastic and also a piece of ice.

Japan #14 - French bakeries/cafes

The Japanese may have one of the most healthiest diets on the world but they sure do love their sweets. As we were travelled around Japan I was always amazed by the number of bakeries around. Many of them were French which is not surprising since the French make the best deserts!

In Osaka we found this awesome little French café/tea house.

Salon de the Alcyon

We went upstairs and had tea and sweets, I ordered a classic French dessert – Chocolate ‘Cerise en Vin Rouge’ – chocolate cake with red wine and berries. It was delicious.

The Japanese love macarons

Green tea macaron

Japan #13 – Only in Japan (food related)

TEMPURA SUPERMARKET

In Japan you can buy fresh tempura in supermarkets


LIQUOR SUPERMARKET

You can also buy alcohol off supermarket shelves!


RICE & LIQUOR SHOP

The Japanese know what their priorities in life are…rice+liquor


BEER & COFFEE

Taken riding up the escalator at the train station, I guess this is how the Japanese deal with their crazy work life.....beer & coffee


MINI SUSHI STAND 

At train station


DRINK TOBACCO

FISH SHAPED WAFFLES

TRAIN STATION CONVENIENCE SHOP

All you need is drink, beer, sake, newspaper and camera.


HEALTHY NAUTS

Fancy mini...healthy nauts?


FRIDGE LOCKERS

For 100 yen you can keep your goods cool in a fridge locker at shopping centres while you stop because you wouldn’t want your Krispy Kreme donuts to go off.

ASAHI

Smallest can of Asahi available at 135ml!


TOWEL WARMER

In Japanese restaurants, you are always given a rolled hand towel.


CONFIDENT FOOD

Rappers…you won’t find snacks anywhere else that can beat ours in confidence, taste and freshness.


Does food have taste? Yes
Can food be fresh? Yes
Is food confident? hmm….I didn’t realize one could characterize food as confident.
I didn’t try a rapper but I have some doubts over its claims.


CALORIEMATE

A brand of energy-supplement foods produced in Japan. I took this photo because of the ‘mate’ reference and then I tried one to experience the novelty of it all….I couldn’t finish it, give me real food anyday!

Japan #12 - Weddings, parties, anything…

DAY SIX IN JAPAN


I wouldn't recommend travelling to Japan in July as the weather is really hot and humid. Apparently, the best times of the year to go to Japan are April (cherry blosson season) and October/November (where the weather is nice and warm but not humid).


We were in Japan in July because Karen’s Japanese friend Aisa was getting married. During the day Karen attended the formal ceremony and at night we all went to the after party. 


The Japanese really know how to party, it was one of the best nights we had in Japan!


There night was well catered with many yummy hors d’oeuvres.

And of course there was also alcohol…however the Japanese do not really know how to pour beer. One thing that us Aussies taught the Japanese was how to pour a glass of beer properly (ie: with a small amount of froth on top). 


Pour at least 3/4 of the glass at a very sharp angle and then tilt the glass upright and continue pouring - the rule is that if there is more than a 5 cent head of froth, you have to skull it. 

Also please note that it is not customary to pour oneself a drink, rather, people are expected to keep each other’s drinks topped up (it is considered rude to have to fill up your own glass!).


When you are ready, toast your glass and say ‘kampai’.

The MC and the cute bride and groom.

The MCs provided little notes to us gaijins to explain what we were in for…Let’s go nuts!

[Welcome]

G-day mate.

Welcome to Japan and Keigo & Asia's wonderful wedding party.

We hope you guys enjoy the party, let me explain about the party

JUST CHECK IT OUT and Let's go nuts! Cheers.

from organisers (MC Taishi and DJ Buchi)

[Food and drink]

- You can take anything you want.

- As for food, you have to help yourself.

[name plate]

Please keep your name plate with you anytime, because it is used during game later.

Let the games begin…


For the games to begin we had to form teams, our name tag contained a letter (mine was F) and we had to find the other people in our team by finding people with the same letter on their name tag. Each team had 9 or 10 members. 


We played a few games including gesture games (ie: charades). 

Each member of the team had to act out the word given to them on the placard, when the rest of the team guesses the right answer, we rotate. All the placards were in Japanese except when it was one of us Aussies and we got gesture the word from a special English list.  

We also played musical chairs and I WON. I was given a prize for winning by the groom – it was a iPod touch. I couldn’t believe it!

The bride likes to do hawaiian dancing and performed a little hawaiian dance for us with her best friend. 

As a surprise for the bride the MCs secretly took hawaian dancing classes and performed a dance. The MC group is called CHRYM which I think means chilled out.


Of course a party will not be a party without awesome friends and we all have a few friends who we can always trust to get the party happening and the drunken antics started.


Guy A – The obnoxious drunk who points and shouts at every opportunity.

Guy B and C – Dancing drunks.

(Spot the gaijin)

The Japanese have crazy parties but they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.


As everyone entered the party a Polaroid was taken of each guest and we were required to write a message on the photo for the bride and groom, and then put the photo in a box.

Congrats to Aisa and Keigo!

Piece of the wedding cake.