November 11-17 (Mon-Sun) - Autumn Delicacies

Monday: I had a fun TKD class — my first ever at the new facility!! Well, sort of ‘at’, whatever. Then that company where I went for the informal-interview for called me in like they'd threatened — I mean, offered, and I taught a class of adults that evening. So I was tired before the week even started....

Tuesday: You know I never went to school, right? New experiences every day.

Wednesday: 

That evening after my classes, my business students — well, former students — took me out to dinner at a really lovely little restaurant, where Japanese dishes were served in set courses. 

Here is the first one. Isn’t it cute?

The theme is autumn. (They change their menu every month.) The leaf on top is a gingko leaf — that is, the leaf of the maidenhair tree. Because there’s not time enough in the world to research everything, I humbly guess that the name comes from the Chinese name, as I believe the trees grow mainly in China. The Japanese name is ‘ichou’. Although I think they do call the nuts ‘ginnan’. 

Here is the dish opened.

The left thing is some sort of fish pudding that was good. The right was a sweet tofu thing with wasabi on top that was good.

Here’s the sashimi:

We have our friendly ebi up top, with some other kind of fish, and the wasabi flower, as well as some sort of leaf I can’t remember. Down below, topped by momiji (autumn colors; maple leaves — in this case both), are several kinds of sashimi. The white stuff was weird but the others were tasty.

This is the kind of place where you could eat just about anything and it would taste good. Really.

Here’s the cutest dish.

And uncovered.

From the egg, clockwise, we have salmon, probably-gingko-nuts, and mini satsumaimo (sweet potato); kaki (persimmon) with sweet tofu, in a kaki jar; some sort of leaf with tororo (grated Chinese yam); and that chewy thing I never remember the name. (Actually I did! Konnyaku.)

There was also nabe (stew) which was really really good. Couldn’t tell you what was in it. There was also miso soup, mixed rice, the best tempura, then dessert was kuri (chestnut) ice cream (!!) and a pudding with a honey-caramel sauce. Yum.

In addition to this beautiful meal, they gave me presents. I don’t deserve such nice students!

Thursday: During my quick walk in the morning, I made a new friend. 

And found a pink suzuki. 

Later that day:

Friday: Here are some pictures of walls at Miyazaki Elementary School. 

Saturday: Walk, laundry, vacuum, talk with sisters, class, lesson planning, class, shopping, study Japanese, writing, ijou desu.

Sunday: It’s Sunday! Morning activities (with Mako and Kaori) were a walk, yoga, and taichi. After a gourmet lunch, Kaori and I walked to the store, then studied-sunbathed-snacked. It was really warm today.

In the afternoon our 4-person Team Sunday went shopping, rented movies, made soup, then sat with the kotatsu and didn’t move for many hours.

Recent Japanese:

keizokuteki (継続的) = continuous

shichouritsu (視聴率) = ratings (tv)

hanauta (鼻歌) = humming (lit. singing through the nose)

inga (因果) = cause and effect; karma

kamakiri (蟷螂) = praying mantis; kama = scythe

kiseichuu (寄生虫) = parasite

sengan (洗顔) = face washing

yoyuu (余裕) = surpluss; enough (yoyuu ga aru)

taiho (逮捕) = arrest

taikyokuken (太極拳) = Tai Chi