地震! Earthquake!

I have several wonderful friends living in Japan right now. My thoughts and prayers are with them during this time, and I hope that they remain safe and secure during the coming weeks. If there is anything I can do to help, and it is within my power to do so, PLEASE let me know.

To the residents of Sendai and surrounding areas who have lost loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you, your families, and your friends throughout this crisis. Please stay safe, please stay strong. You are not alone in all of this.

How we can all help:

Etsy Store Grand Re-Opening

Now 100% more models! I want to especially thank K. Spencer Jones Photography for the pretty and vivid fashion shots and my models, Natalie Leora Jensen...

and Thelma Duff!

Models are not the only changes. I've also lowered the shipping costs because I have a more feasible method now.

And in honor of the grand re-opening, I've also taken 25% off most of the shirts! Click here to visit the shop and thanks for your support!

新幹線！Bullet trains!

Sorry about the lapse in posts. I've been busy moving between Connecticut and Florida a couple of times. Oh, and I went to Norway and Finland on vacation. But, I'm gearing up to return to Japan in April to procure even more fabulous shirts! I'll post an itinerary of my this trip when it's a bit more solid. Right now, it's just a jumble of obligations that I have to organize.


Alright, now onto the subject at hand, my absolute favorite thing about visiting Japan: the shinkansen, or bullet trains. They're sleek, convenient, futuristic, comfortable and above all, fast. I'll run down the different types of tickets, routes, restrictions and of course the trains themselves.

First, all shinkansen are operated by the Japan Rail Group which is comprised of 6 companies: JR-Kyūshū, JR-Shikoku, JR-West, JR-Central, JR-East and JR-Hokkaidō. They operate various bullet and commuter trains, as well as buses and ferries throughout the entire country.


If you find yourself in Japan for a week, I strongly advise getting a JR Rail Pass. It's basically unlimited use of all JR operated trains, buses and ferries for x amount of days. Please note: you can only obtain one of these rail passes if you are in the country on a tourist visa; not on business. Here are the types of rail passes:

• JR East Pass - available in 5, 10 or flexible 4 day types, this pass is good for all 5 shinkansen lines (Akita, Tōhoku, Yamagata, Jōetsu and Nagano), the Tōkyō Monorail, various JR local lines within the Tōkyō metropolitan area and the Narita Express. It basically encompasses the northern part of Honshū (the main island).
• Sanyō Area Pass - available in 4 or 8 day types, this pass is good for the Sanyō shinkansen, Kansai Airport Express, Miyajima Ferry Route and various JR local trains in Nagoya, Ōsaka, Kōbe, Kyōto, Hiroshima, etc.
• Kansai Area Pass - available in 1, 2, 3 or 4 day types, this pass is good for the Kansai Airport Express, and local JR operated trains in Ōsaka, Kōbe, Nara, Himeji and Universal-city.
  
• Japan Rail Pass - This is the most expensive pass, but worth it. Here's how they get ya: you might think you yourself "I'll just get the JR East Pass!" Well, that's good for Tōkyō, but there's really not a lot to see east of it. And if you want to head anywhere west on Honshū, you're footing the full price. And if you want to spend time in Nagoya, Ōsaka, etc, but plan on spending a lot of time in Tōkyō, then you're paying for all your trains there. So, you might as well just get this pass. It's the best value. Available in 7, 14 and 21 day types, this gets you around the entire country. The only restrictions are the Nozomi train on the Tōkaidō line and Mizuho train on the Kyūshū and Sanyō lines.

The ticketing can be a little confusing with non-reserve, green seats and reserved cars. If you're using a rail pass, that's only good for the non-reserved cars, which are usually at the front of the train. Most of the time there are three non-reserved cars: two non-smoking cars and one smoking car where you can choose your seat. If there aren't any available, you'll have to take the next train or a different kind. Reserved seats are more expensive, but you're guaranteed a seat and green seats are basically first class. The cars are labeled in English so it's not a problem finding the correct one.

This is a ticket for Kyōto bound Nozomi train departing from Tōkyō.


Now about the different types of trains. Generally, each has 3 types of trains operating on each line; the difference among them being their design and top speed. The faster the train, the more expensive the fare (unless you have a pass). Here's a promo video of the new 500 Series Nozomi. I've been on the 700 series Nozomi, but not this one yet. Enjoy the epic music that goes along. I'm a dork and can pretty much watch these videos all day. I mean, look at this thing - it's bad ass!



On my first trip to Japan, I made a funny observation on the names of the trains on the Tōkaidō line. The slowest one is the Kodama ("echo"). The next fastest is the Hikari ("light") and the fastest is the Nozomi ("hope"). So according to their logic, hope is faster than light.

Here's the inside of the Nozomi 700 Series - it's pretty much like the interior of an airplane. There are even attendants who sell drinks and snacks on board. But they are pricey. There are kiosks on the platforms, so just stock up before you board. Food and drink are allowed on these trains.



Here's a video I took aboard the Nozomi Super Express (700 series) departing Shin-Yokohama bound for Nagoya.

To the right are links to JR so you can view timetables, maps and fares. Right now, I see the Japan Rail Pass for $340 which is very reasonable considering round trip to Nagoya from Tōkyō was about $120 when I was there last. You can easily get your money's worth in 2 days.

焼酎！Shōchū!

Welcome to Part 2 of my Japanese alcohol series!

This week, I'm focusing on Shōchū which is another alcoholic beverage from Japan, but is mostly made from barley or sweet potatoes. Unlike saké, shōchū has a well-known reputation for having actual health benefits and so it's becoming more and more popular amongst health-conscience or dieting drinkers looking for low calorie alternatives to the normally sugary or carb-heavy drinks.

Alcohol with health benefits is nothing new. The idea of having a glass of wine with dinner has been around for ever. But shōchū has been proven to reduce blood clots and it's low in calories. It also gets broken down easily in the body, so if you're someone who is prone to hangovers then shōchū might be a good choice for you.

I won't bore you with the history of Japan's alcohol taxation laws of the past century and how it's changed the way shōchū is classified. (You're welcome.) Currently, shōchū is divided into three main categories: 本格焼酎 (honkaku shōchū) "authentic", singly-distilled and 焼酎甲類 (shōchū kōrui), multiply-distilled and moromitori shōchū, made with rice or barley, singly-distilled and uses kōji mold spores.

Since honkaku shōchū is singly-distilled, it retains much of the aroma and taste of its main ingredient whether it's sweet potato, barley or sometimes rice and has no more than 45% alcohol by volume.

Moromitori shōchū comes in three main varieties based on the color of the kōji used.

• White: this is the most common variety and it has a sweet and taste since the saccharization is rapid due to the white kōji enzymes.
• Black: because the black spores spread so quickly, it usually left workers and facilities coated in black, so making this type fell out of favor. However, a new way to cultivate it has made this type of shōchū popular again and usually made using thai rice or soba (buckwheat).
• Yellow: this is the type of kōji used in making saké, and is very difficult to make since it's so vulnerable to warm temperatures. The result is a very strong potato based shōchū.

Shōchū kōrui, being multiply-distilled, usually is used as the base for cocktails and liqueurs like チューハ (chūhai) and 梅酒 (umeshu) - we know it as plum wine. Chūhai is short for "shōchū highball" and can be found in many fruity flavors like orange, grapefruit, peach and lychee and is served in a tall glass. Sold in a can, Chu-hi, can be found in vending machines and convenience stores around Japan. Kirin makes quite a few flavors of it. But with fruity syrup added, you're looking at a lot more calories than other alcoholic beverages.

Umeshu and how to make it at home will get a blog entry all of it's own...

乾杯! (Kampai!)

お酒! Saké!

Many of you have heard of the traditional rice-based alcohol called saké, or "o-saké" to be polite, but are not very familiar with it. Like me, you might treat yourself when you're out for sushi and you randomly choose from the menu which one you'd like. It's all the same, right? It's clear, it's strong and served piping hot in a little bottle. Most don't go beyond more than price and what the bottle design when ordering or buying saké from a liquor store.

Well, there's actually a lot more to saké. Like beer or wines, there are many classifications varying in quality, finish and taste. I am by no means an expert, but here's some clarification on varieties and basic terms to help you find a saké that's right for you.

What's the difference between 普通酒 (futsū-shu) ordinary table sake and premium saké? Do I serve it hot or cold?

First, know that the one of the biggest factors that determine the grade and way a particular saké tastes is the amount of rice that is milled or "polished" off during the brewing process. This is referred to as 精米歩合 (seimaibuai). The lower the number, the smaller the grain and the more refined the taste. The rice used in making ordinary table saké has a seimaibuai of less than 70%, meaning less than 30% of the original grain has been polished away.

特定名称主 (tokutei meishoushu) “special designation saké” or "premium" saké must have a seimaibuai of 70% or greater. There are six main classifications of premium saké and they are as follows:

1. 純米 (junmai) - this literally means "pure rice". Generally, there is no extra alcohol added during the brewing process and retains its firm rice flavor.
2. 本所ぞ (Honjōzō) - this is similar to junmai, but has a small amount of distilled alcohol added during the brewing process making it more fragrant and easier to drink.
3. 純米銀所 (junmai Ginjō) - this is a more labor intensive saké and made with traditional tools giving it a lighter taste.
4. 銀所 (ginjo) - This is similar to the above junmai ginjo, except distilled alcohol is added during the brewing process
5. 純米大銀所 (junmai daiginjō) - this is considered the highest quality of saké as it requires a lot of labor and hands-on brewing. It is more aromatic, light and delicate in flavor.
6. 大銀所 (daiginjō) - is like the above junmai daiginjo, only with distilled alcohol added during the brewing process

Other varieties involve differences in the mashes or different handling it after fermentation.

1. 無濾過 (muroka) - this literally means "not fine filtered with charcoal", meaning the brewer skips either the pasteurizing or filtering process or both giving the sake a much bolder flavor.
2. 濁り (nigori) - this is "cloudy" saké. This is somewhat filtered and the a portion of the rice is not fermented giving it a cloudy white color or sometimes chunks of rice. Careful when you open this kind because some are "sparkling" since the remaining rice is still "working".
3. 生酛 (kimoto) - this is one of the oldest ways of preparing the mash for brewing. If you want to know how saké tasted 300 years ago, give it a try.
4. 山廃 (yamahai) - this is a more simplified version of the kimoto but is still not the modern way saké is produced. It basically eliminates the most difficult part of making kimoto style of brewing, but it has a deep and full-bodied in flavor.

There are many more, but that should give you a start. What about serving it? Well, that little flask is called a 徳利 (tokkuri) and it is traditionally served in little wooden boxes called 枡 (masu). But nowadays you mostly see it served in お猪口 (o-choko) the little ceramic cups.

Hot or cold? It depends on the quality of the saké, really. The basic rule of thumb: premium is served chilled and the lower quality is served hot. Traditionally, it was served warm to mask the the woody tasting, harsher old style of brewing. Good quality saké is best served just below room temperature.

乾杯! (Kampai!)

パチンコ! Pachinko!

What is pachinko? It's like an upright pinball machine for gambling and amusement. The word "pachinko" is onomatopoeia for the sound of the balls hitting the pins on the playing board: "パチパチ" (pachi-pachi). It's also Japan's largest industry and an obsession for almost one third of its population. With over 16,000 parlors nationwide, you can't swing a dead tanuki without hitting one. There's also a duality to its legality but I'll talk more about that later. Here's a parlor in Shinjuku:


Here's how it works: You purchase balls (generally for 4 yen apiece) from the parlor using cash, a pre-paid card or a member card directly into your machine of choice. You then shoot your ball bearings from the tray into the machine hoping to win more balls.


So if you ever find yourself in Japan and you're thinking about giving pachinko a whirl, first ask yourself these questions: Do you like...

Games of chance? Pachinko can be described as slot machines on crack. Why pull a lever or hit a button and watch some symbols spin while hoping they'll match? That's entirely too passive. Try manipulating hundreds of tiny ball bearings with a knob while lights flash and music blares all around you to get those 3 matching symbols. This way, you feel that you have more influence over the outcome, unless you count good luck charms and superstitious rituals.


Cigarette smoke? Despite the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2004 and many new public smoking laws in Japan, smoking and pachinko parlors still go together like milk and Oreos.

Confined spaces? These machines are quite small and narrow, and the parlor is looking to make the most bang for their buck. Also, space is at a premium in Japan. Therefore the machines are crammed in making narrow aisles. If you are claustrophobic, most of Japan is not for you.


Crowds? Being on a packed train is one thing, but sitting on an uncomfortable vinyl covered stool shoulder to shoulder with strangers in a loud, smoke filled pachinko parlor is another. At least you have a game to distract you.

Breaking the law? Okay, you won more little balls, now what? Well, you take your trays to an attendant who will run them through a counting machine that spits out a voucher. Sweet! Now what kind of prizes can you get? You have your choice things of t-shirts, pens, cigarette lighters, perfume, cosmetics, candy or coupons to a nearby grocery store. Lame, right? If you'd rather have money then there's a common loophole just around the corner. Grab that voucher, leave the parlor and head over to the nearby exchange center. They will pay out your winnings in CASH. Yeah, it's illegal for the parlor itself to pay out winnings, but a third party not on site can. Here is such an exchange center in Shibuya. It doesn't look shady at all, does it?


Constant loud noise? As you can imagine, hundreds of machines with all their balls clanking on pegs, music and announcements will definitely leave your ears ringing. That's nothing that a pair of earplugs and lots of alcohol can't cure, though.

Are there any pluses? Well, yeah - the obvious amusement from the game itself and the thrill of possibly hitting a jackpot. Also, like casinos here in the US, they serve alcohol and children are not allowed. And often, the machines themselves are anime themed! I've seen machines designed based off of Lupin the Third, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Trigun. If you've never experienced it, you should give it a try at least once. After all, 30 million Japanese can't be wrong.

＼(＾▽＾*)いらっしゃ～いっ(*＾▽＾)／

I have finished listing all the clothing accessories left over from MetroCon!

All the clothes listed are authentic and come from Tokyo's alternative fashion district: Harajuku! I personally go from shop to shop, boutique to boutique and mall to mall to find the cutest shirts and accessories. I buy only shirts with Engrish on them because it's very popular over there and rather hilarious here.

Below are some examples of what I have for sale! The faster you buy, the sooner I can go back to Tokyo and buy more!

Etsy jaderabbitboutique