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Baikatei: A Sweet for All Seasons Up for a bit of time travel in Tokyo? Step onto the hallowed grounds of one of the two Baikatei sweetshops in the Kagurazaka district. From the architecture, to the artisans and sellers of the wagashi sweets, the stores are steeped in tradition. There is also a sense of pride generously sprinkled with gracious humility.
Fate has a funny way of dancing us in directions unimagined in childhood. Hiroyuki Igarashi, owner of the popular Manhattan Beach RICE, is an avid baseball fan. From childhood through college he played baseball. A career in sports seemed to be in the cards. However, adult realities and responsibilities appeared during his college years.
Respect for the Aged takes place in Japan on September 21st. (It’s always the 3rd Monday of every month.) 117-year-old Mrs. Kane Tanaka of Fukuoka is gaining a lot of respect these days. News cameras are flashing and Twitter is aflutter about this very special birthday lady.
Mochi Ice Cream Japanese Mochi Ice Cream – a treat for all ages – is appearing in Southern California supermarkets. Just in case you have yet to discover the delights of mochi; it is a pounded sticky rice. During Japanese the New Year season, mochi is baked in squares (or rounds) with a bit of soy sauce and wrapped in seaweed. Mochi is also put into a hot red bean soup which is the ultimate winter treat. But in summertime the ultimate Japanese treat is Mochi Ice Cream.
I’m a blue-eyed American gaijin (foreigner in Japanese) who lived in Japan during the Showa Period until I was 18 years old. (As you probably know, periods of Japanese history refer to the reigning Emperor.) Thanks to Emperor Akihito’s wife, Empress Michiko, I have been fascinated by the imperial family since I was a child. Like a true princess, Michiko was kind to everyone. Her elegant sense of fashion was fantastic. I'm still an Empress Michiko fan.