FindJPN blog
-
Showing posts tagged FindJPN Contents
-
Have You Ever Tried Japanese Food?
Have you ever tried Japanese food? “Yes of course!” you say, “there are a lot of Sushi restaurants in my country.”
Okay, that’s nice! Well, how about Japanese home cooked dishes? Have you ever tried that?
We will start a new “Home Visit” program soon! In this program, you can visit a Japanese family’s house and have dinner or lunch with them.It is a chance to experience Japanese lifestyle and also enjoy real Japanese food as it is prepared at homes across Japan every day.Sushi is not the only thing eaten in Japan!
Last week 3 people tried out this program. The event was hosted at the Suzuki family’s house by Tomoe-san and her 3 lovely kids!
Tomoe-san cooked several Japanese dishes such as Hirekatsu, Sasimi, Chirashi- sushi, Kinpiragobo and more!
It was a day full of delicious food and good conversation :)
The participants said: “It was very nice and well prepared, the food was amazing and there was a lot of choice.”
“The food was delicious and the conversation was lovely, too.”
“I am very pleased to have participated in tonight dinner. It is a rare look inside the life/culture of Japanese family.”
We will officially start this program very soon so check it out on FindJPN.com :)
-
Do You Have Any Lolita Friends?
Have you ever heard about Lolitas in Japan?
If you answered yes, “Do you want to meet Lolitas and hang out with them?”
If you answered no, let me describe Lolitas for you first.
Lolitas are people who are passionate about Lolita fashion. It is a Japanese fashion culture that is based on a fashion style from the Rococo period. Lolita fashion is a great example of Japanese subculture. Loitas often meet up in Harajuku or Shinjuku, and enjoy shopping and or having a tea party.
So now, do you want to join the tea party Lolitas hold?
We started a new program for people who are interested in Lolitas and Lolita culture. It’s called “Join a Lolita tea party.”
If you’re into Japanese culture, I highly recommend you join this program. Last week, 3 people tried it out.
In this program, you can go to a cafe with Lolitas and have a tea party. You can chat with them, enjoy some delicious tea and snacks. Also, the best thing about this tour is that you can make new Lolita friends!
The participants said:
“I was very glad that I made new Lolita friends. They are really passionate about Lolita fashion and culture, which inspires me A LOT!”
“It was my first time to ‘know’ about Lolita. The party and the conversation were amazing.”
Want to explore a new world like they did? This program is available at https://findjpn.com/top/activity/index?id=26 Please check it out on our website!
-
Why not Make Sushi Yourself ?
Have you ever made Sushi?
As you may already know, sushi is traditional Japanese food that’s been loved by Japanese people for over 200 years.
In Japan, there are many sushi restaurants that have chefs who have accomplished years of on-the-job training and serve you amazing dishes.
So, we started a new program for sushi freaks.
We tried out this program last week with three sushi lovers —Eric, Anna, and Chuen-Ping.
In this program,
- you can learn how to make Sushi form a professional sushi chef whose name is Akira
- and you can actually make sushi yourself
- and of course, enjoy the delicious sushi you made :)
This is the sushi they made last week.
Absolutely mouthwatering!
These are their reviews from last week.
Chuen-Ping: “The chef made it very easy to appreciate the making of sushi and maki and the explanations were simple and instructive.”
Anna: “I had a great time learning to make sushi! I think I would have struggled to find the host site on my own! I would recommend to anyone else curious about how to make sushi, I just need to practice now!”
Eric: “The lesson was great and in a very friendly atmosphere. And no need to say the sushi was delicious!”
If you love sushi or any Japanese food, I would definitely recommend you join this program. You’ll see how interesting it is.
This program is available at https://findjpn.com/top/activity/index?id=24 -
Customer interview: Hard Juengling from Australia
We interviewed Richard who experienced 3 programs at FindJPN.
Richard is a graduate student in mechanical engineering. Although he has always wanted to visit, this was his first time actually visiting.
FJP: Why did you choose our program, Find JPN?
Richard: Since I’m active and a people person, I thought it would be great to join programs that enable me to talk with other people.
FJP: How was everything? What do you think of “Tokyo Art Navigator”?
Tokyo art navigator
Richard: I highly recommend this. Kota is extremely organised and has a large itinerary that you can structure a tour around. He is highly knowledgeable about Tokyo Art, it felt like I was exploring the city with a good friend. I recommend visiting the Tokyo Wonder Site if you are into contemporary art. -
Sumo Match!
On January 29th, our customers and the FindJpn crew went to go see a Sumo match!
At 11:00 in the morning, 18 of us met up at Ryogoku station and headed over to “Ryogoku-Kukugikan” – a Sumo sanctuary.
There was a certain strict aura to the building, making us feel a bit anxious and antsy. As soon as we entered, though, we found Futenou – the Sumo wrestler that fought that day - instantly making us excited. So of course, we approached and greeted him! He even took a picture with us!
(Both cameras and videos are allowed in the building at all times – something not always offered at other venues.)
After the match we asked some of our customers how they felt about the experience!Frank: “Seeing a Sumo match in person was really powerful, but hearing the wrestlers clash with each other as they fought was even more amazing!”
-
Report of a Popular Cosplay Event in Toshimaen(としまえん)!
On February 18 2012, Dyki from FindJPN went to a “Cosplay” event. This blog will contain a report of the event as well as a couple interviews of the “cosplayers” (people in costume)!
First of all, let’s establish what cosplay is. “Cosplay” is the act of wearing outfits designed to look like characters in animes and mangas – the place to show off these costumes are cosplay events. Today, these events are held everywhere around the world including Japan which is a mecca for Cosplayers!
Among the most interesting of these events – the one I visited this time - is the “Toshimaenとしまえん”cosplay event. Normally this place is home to a giant amusement park and a pool but when the pool is not in service, which is all but during the summertime, the site turns into a stage for the cosplayers.
Almost every weekend, “Toshimaen としまえん” holds this cosplay event. The amusement park is in service but will be, of course, full of people in outfit - making the park look like Disneyland. The mix of cosplayers and customers to the amusement park really helps to create a weird but lively feel all day long.
Again, there are a bunch of cosplay events in Japan but there a couple reasons why the “Toshimaen としまえん” event is especially popular!
- Located in the Nerima district, the event is close to the heart of Tokyo.
- There is excellent service provided by the staff for the cosplayers at the event.
- Excellent location for photo shoots
Let me explain the benefits of this place in further detail.
1. Close to the heart of Tokyo
The site is a 20min train ride from JR Ikebukuro station – a rather easy access even if you’re not too familiar with the train system in Japan.
Below is a picture of the “toshimaen としまえん” station!
-
Toshimaen (としまえん）Cosplay Event Pt.2 : Interviews
Last week, I wrote about the としまえん Cosplay Event and held off the interviews to this week. So, here are the interviews! Please enjoy! ;)
Out of the many Cosplayers I took pictures of, I interviewed a couple
The questions I asked the cosplayers are the following:
- How long have you been a cosplayer?
- When and what was your very first cosplay/outfit?
- What are some things that you took special care of for the outfit you’re wearing today?
- What would you like to say to fellow cosplayers around the world?
Here’s the interview!
華猫 (Kaneko) (FullMetal Alchemist: Kimblee)- I’ve been dressing up for about a year now.
- My very first cosplay was TK from this anime called Angel Beats.I’ve always wanted to dress up as this character, so I just did it!
- Well..It would be my all-white colored costume.
- Let’s cosplay together!
白雪みみ (Shirayuki Mimi) (FullMetal Alchemist: Roy Mustang)- I started about a year ago.
- My very first cosplay was Rudolph from this Takaradsuka play called “Elizabeth” at an event called “冬コミ”(Fuyucomi) about a year ago. [Fuyucomi – an event where amateur and professionas get together to sell manga, anime, and games]
- My costume is hand-made from top to bottom!
- I’d like to “cosplay” with people all over the world!
ロココ (Lococo) (FullMetal Alchemist: Edward Elric)- There’s a period where I didn’t cosplay at all, but I started five years ago when I was a junior in middle school.
- I started because I’ve always admired the world of anime.
- My red coat’s beautiful, right?
- Together, let’s create a new world!
I would like to thank Mimi, lococo, kaneko, kazuki, tamutamu, and Hana for helping with this interview!
As a side note, this time around at the event I didn’t see any cosplayers participating or coming from different countries other than Japan, but all are welcome to join! So please do!
And again…
At FindJPN, we offer a plan that will have the cosplayers I interviewed for this blog actually take you to this “Toshimaen としまえん” event! Through FindJPN, our guides will make sure you have no trouble using Japan’s confusing train system or communicating to people at the event!
Written by: Dyki Ogawa
Translated by: Rei Sandy
-
Getting to Know the “Gothic, Lolita and Punk Club”
For this blog, I’d like to report back my meeting with the leader Ai and sub-leader Pochi from the “Gothic, Lolita, and Punk Club” at our office in Ebisu.
But first, I’ll briefly explain what Lolita and gothic fashion is.
Lolita Fashion is a trend that incorporates France’s Lococo-style fashion while arranging it to a Japanese style.
The picture below is an example of Lolita Fashion!
On the other hand, Gothic Lolita fashion is basically the same as Lolita Fashion except for the fact that it mainly uses black clothes.
In Japan, there is a club that gathers these lovers of Lolita, Gothic and even punk fashion. The name of this club is rather straightforward – “The Lolita, Gothic and Punk Club”, founded by Ai (leader) and Pochi (sub-leader) in 2009. It’s a student organization, but they are as active as a full-fledged club.
-
A Detailed Report of a Tea Ceremony in Ginza
My name is Rei Sandy, and I’m an Intern at FindJPN.
On April 2nd, I went to see a tea ceremony held in Ginza hosted for two of our customers Alison and Kavin. All the people at the tea ceremony, including the teacher, were great so I want to tell you about them as well as the ceremony itself.
Around 8:45am that day, after going up four flights of stairs up an office building, I was in front of the tea ceremony room.
Alison sitting in the “seiza” posture and Kavin in the “agura” posture.
I opened the door to a breeze of incense, into a dimly lit space separated into two rooms. I was half-expecting a strict conservative person to greet me, but I was wrong. I was pleasantly surprised as a beautiful, gentle lady greeted me - her slick black hair tied up in a knot, dressed in beige “kimono” and equipped with an infectious smile and laugh. Her name is Fumi Kojima, a tea ceremony teacher who has been practicing tea since she was nine years old.
