Sontaku

Osaka souvenir "Sontaku manju"

It seems there is no English word that can directly paraphrase the word "Sontaku (see that Kanji above)" which became completely famous in Japan recently.

When I translate it into English, it will become an idiom or a sentence, such
as "care about other's feelings" or "see things from other people's points of view".

Will this become English as "Sontaku" in the near future?

T.S

Recommendation of cafe and meal in Fukui City “manimani”

The other day, I went to “manimani” and I will introduce it this time. I had heard that their meal is so good and I sometimes pass in front of the shop by car but it was the first time I entered it. And I really liked the “manimani”. So it is likely to become my favorite cafe where I often want to go to.

They offer set menus with side dishes of plenty of locally grown vegetables. That day I didn’t eat dessert because I was full but I hear their homemade desserts are very popular. After all, I am happy that they offer healthy meal and I could get plenty of vegetables. Although the cafe was pretty busy, the owner and staff served us well, in a natural calm manner with warmth and it made a favorable impression.

[Side dishes of the month]
Greens and chopped dried radish with enokidake mushroom
Spanish omelet with squash, shimeji mushroom and bacon
Deep fried freeze-dried bean curd with starchy enokidake mushroom sauce Octopus, seaweed and onions with vinegar dressing
Twice cooked pork with cabbage and bamboo shoot
Floury potatoes with sakura shrimp -shore flavor-
Sauteed carrots (their regular menu, which is tasty that could change your image of sauteed carrots. Even those who don’t like carrots can eat this.)

They also sell lunch boxes and take-out dishes. (H.S)

                                        The entrance of manimani

                                                      Inside

                                       Beef filet steak set meal (1800 yen)

                                            Roast beef plate (1580 yen)

                                                 The appearance

New Sake Festival 2018 -Excellent sake from 24 Fukui Local Sake Breweries-

On March 21st, 2018, a new sake festival was held at Phoenix Plaza in Fukui City.

24 sake breweries from Fukui Prefecture and 6 restaurants and stores participated in the event. The number of the visitors had been increased. There were about 1,600 visitors came to the event last year, and about 2,000 visitors came this year. The venue was full of people enjoying the sake.

10 minutes before the event was begun, the door was opened, and visitors rushed into the venue and they lined up in front of their favorite sake booths.

Right before the event was started, the people in front of the sake booths seemed very excited for the event to be started. Staff members of each sake brewery were standing quietly and being ready to serve their sake. Somehow, by looking at the staff members with traditional uniforms and beautiful sake bottles lined up in front of them, I felt both solemnity and excitement.

As soon as the event was started, the sake was poured into the visitors’ cups one after another.

Some visitors had brought their own cups like the man in the photograph above. He put the belt around the cup with perfect balance, so the sake would not be spilled from the cup. I was amazed by how he has so much passion toward sake.

After the visitors had a few cups of sake, they started being more relaxed and chatty. The atmosphere of the event had been raised more and more.

Even it was very busy from beginning to end, the staff members of each sake breweries were serving sake politely and elegantly. Each sake brewery had brought a few of their recommendation, the visitors enjoyed sake tasting and asking staff some questions.

There were some snacks which go well with sake, so the visitors could also enjoy them as well. Some of them felt very nice after having some cups of sake, and then they started chatting with people around them, even with strangers.

I would like to visit next time as a visitor and try different kinds of sake.

If you have a chance, how about visiting the new sake festival in Fukui City?


T.F

Watching the ritual "Onomai-dance" of Uwase-jinja Shrine and Mimi-jinja Shrine

On April 8th (2018), I watched the "Onomai-dance" (Dance of the King) performed at Uwase-jinja Shrine in Wakasa Town, Fukui Prefecture.
"Onomai-dance" (Dance of the King) is the traditional ritual dance which is held at the 16 shrines in Wakasa region, and most of the shrines hold that in April or May.

It is the same as the Onomai-dance I saw at Mimi-jinja shrine in Mihama Town two years ago, that a male dancer wearing a red costume, a red mask with high nose and a bird-shaped hat repeats a simple choreography constantly in accordance with flutes and drums.

However, there are some differences such as dancer's gestures, costumes or bird-shaped hats.
If I watch the dances of other shrines there may be a lot of differences, but I am interested in that the same events have been inherited for hundreds of years throughout Wakasa region, regardless of the difference in details.
T.S

Onomai-dance at Uwase-jinja Shrine

Onomai-dance at Mimi-jinja Shrine

The striking movement of protruding a pike forward from a low posture is the same but the other behaviors are different.

Bird-shaped hat at Uwase-jinja Shrine

Bird-shaped hat at Mimi-jinja Shrine

The bird shape of the hat of Uwase-jinja Shrine is stylized, and in contrast, that of Mimi-jinja Shrine is concrete and ornate.

Restored Fukui Castle Yamazatoguchi Gate

The restoration of the Yamazatoguchi Gate in Fukui Castle Ruins was completed the other day and opened to the public. A traditional method of construction and wood from Fukui are used for the gates and the stone walls. It is worth seeing. In the past, Shungaku Matsudaira, who was the lord of Fukui Domain, used to pass through the Yamazatoguchi Gate to go to the keep of the Fukui Castle. In the NHK period drama “Sego-don” currently on air, an actor, Kanji Tsuda from Fukui City plays Shungaku, so I have a sense of closeness with Shungaku again.

Ascending a little steep stone steps, it is the castle tower ruins and a cherry blossom viewing spot. Looking inside the turret, go through another wood gate and go over the Oroka-bashi bridge. Then, right before is Fukui City Central Park. Going straight the park and you will find a place to rest which has a public bathroom. This is the season of cherry blossoms, so it’s nice to stroll the historical route with viewing cherry blossoms. (H.S)

   
         Inside the white plaster wall was turret（arm storage） at that time.
         Now you can enter it and materials related are on display there.

         
          The stone wall facing the moat viewed from the inside the wood gate.

             “Fukunoi” (well) has been restored in the castle tower ruins.
              It is said that it is the origin of Fukui, the place name here.

              The turret opened in the evening as well with illumination of cherry                                      blossoms. (Usually, it is open until 6 p.m.)

                     The Oroka-bashi bridge viewed from the castle tower ruins.

The girl in Bhutan Museum Fukui's poster visited Fukui!! -Farewell and Welcome party on January 27th, 2018-

On January 27th, 2018, farewell party for Ms. Sonam Wangmo and Ms. Chedon who had studied in Fukui University for about one year, and welcome party for Mr. Ugyen Dorji who started studying in Fukui University since October, 2017 and Ms. Sonam Choki who was invited to Fukui by Genji Nosaka, the former president of Bhutan Museum Fukui.

 

 

Ms. Sonam Choki who is the image girl of Bhutan Museum Fukui.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji talked how he wants be helpful as much as possible for Bhutan Museum Fukui during his stay.

 

 

They will return to Bhutan soon.

Right: Ms. Chedon　

Left: Ms. Sonam Wangmo　

Ms. Chedon was saying that the sceneries of Fukui and Bhutan are smilar.

Ms. Sonam Wangmo likes the Japanese pancakes called "Okonomi-yaki".

 

 

We all enjoyed talking about Bhutan and Japan.

 

 

The Bhutanese people seemed quiet but they spoke confidently in front of everyone. They talked about how they were surprised that there is Bhutan Museum Fukui in Fukui. They all said that they were grateful to be in Fukui and they liked the scenery in Fukui which is like Bhutan’s and kindness that people have.

 

I started being interested in Bhutan more and more, so I hope to learn about the country and its culture.

 

T.F

 

 

Enjoy our previous blog!

A Girl from Bhutan -Miraculous Reunion-

The girl in the Bhutan Museum Fukui's poster visited Fukui!! -January 22nd, 2018-

The girl in Bhutan Museum Fukui's poster visited Fukui!! -Visiting NHK in Fukui on January 23rd, 2018-

The girl in Bhutan Museum Fukui’s poster visited Fukui! -Visiting Fukui TV on January 26th, 2018-

 

At Bhutan Museum Fukui, you can see many interesting things from Bhutan!

Official Website of Bhutan Museum Fukui

What has changed recently in the center of Fukui city

I noticed that the name of this tram stop had changed, walking in the center of Fukui city this afternoon.

It has been renamed to "Fukui-joshi Daimyo-machi"(Daimyo-machi town of Fukui castle ruins) on 24th March from that was "Shiyakusho-mae"(Fukui City Hall) for many years.

On the same day, the "Yamazatoguchi-gomon gate" which was under restoration at the Fukui Castle ruins was completed, and you can now take a walk from the "Orokabashi bridge" to inside of the castle ruins through "Yamazatoguchi-gomon gate".

It is a few minutes on foot from the "Fukui-joshi Daimyo-machi" stop to here. Even if walking from Fukui station, it takes at most about 10 minutes.

Looking into the moat at the corner of the "Orokabashi bridge", the big carp were swimming slowly.

Today it was announced that cherry blossoms in Fukui city are in full bloom from meteorological observatory. The picture above is of the "Sakura-dori street" which is close to our office and also close to Fukui castle ruins. Fukui is now full of cherry blossoms.
T.S