I had to laugh at how he described the difference between Japanese and American cuisine from the latest translated Seventeen issue. There’s not a lot of difference between american foods and what we eat here, except the insane quantities. The description of the service is rather odd, my eyebrows would raise if they would do that here. I too have a few shirts with kanji on them, I specifically asked some Japanese people what it said, so I wouldn’t be walking around with the words “donkey’s ass” on my back. It seems to have been the kanji for “dragon”. As for the other way around, entire websites for people’s enjoyment.
Gaijin food warning:
It’s true Japan has a world class cuisine. Dutch don’t even have a cuisine t_t. The only thing I really absolutely dislike to eat in Japan is those pickled side dishes. I will try and describe it for you. You don’t wash for 2 days, then take your finger and put it in your belly button. Take it out and smell it. The way that smells these things will taste like. I don’t know anyone from around here that would eat that in their right minds. Likewise with the sea urchin… Everybody knows a ladybug right? You mess with them too much they poop on your hand. The way that smells like, sea urchin will taste like. *gag it’s so disgusting*. And what’s up with those little fishy things with the little black eyes? They don’t taste bad, it’s just .. I have problems with food that is still looking at me no matter how small.
As a white person, I can eat my raw stuff – usually one is pickier around here that it must be cooked. My friend told me it’s not because it’s fish, but because the consistency is blubbery. It definitely appears we eat more chewier stuff. If you like jello pudding, I guess you won’t starve in Japan. Perfect example is Tofu. You go in the supermarket here and find tofu, it’s ROCK HARD and only considered good for eating if you’re a vegetarian.
When I was in the plane last time a magazine was boasting Japan’s “bread”. Well I’ve seen it and I ate it, them people don’t know shite about bread. lol. I would prefer rice over bread there too. In Canada I had some bagles and stuff like that, but they don’t know their bread either. My aunt would go an hour and and a half to a specialised German and Dutch toko’s to get the bread and the cheese they liked. “Your uncle won’t eat anything else”. hehe. Probably when I come back my appetite for cheese will be huge, like the last time.
^_^ The chinese astrology year reminded me of a thing that should be on my list by now: Yamapi’s western horoscope for 2010. <3 I’m a metal rooster myself, which explains my special relationship with these creatures.