Academy Award-winning film “Parasite”

I went to see the Korean film “Parasite”, which won the 92nd Academy Award for the Best Picture as the first Asian film.

Although I have watched several Bong Joon-ho’s films, especially in this film, I was so amazed by his original script. No one can write one in this way. He included different essential parts in a two-hour film naturally. I think that this film expanded the possibility of films.

No utter villains appeared, but there were family love and hope in the film, and that was really great as an entertainment. The film is deserved by Palme d’ Or award and Academy Awards.

By the way, here are ten of my favorite Korean films in random order.
Failan
Christmas In August
My Brother
Memories of Murder
A Moment to Remember
Masquerade
Breathless
Classic
Brotherhood
The Man from Nowhere

I am afraid that these are a bit old films because I haven’t watched Korean films for the last few years. Anyway, there is “Bong Joon-ho’s “Memories of Murder”. I remember the impact when I watched it for the first time. I heard that finally the criminal of murder cases that the film used as a model was identified last year. A

fruit appeared in both films, “Memories of Murder” and “Parasite”. I am wondering about it. And if you have recommended recent Korean films, please let me know. (H.S)

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Manager Tanaka's restaurant

Ms.Tanaka (left) and Mr.Kasahara (right) are business partners.
I went to "Manager Tanaka's restaurnat", which opened last year (2019) in the downtown area known as Katamachi near our office. The restaurant's name may sound a bit unusual. In fact, Tanaka had served as a manager of a local adult softball team for many years and provided meals to the players. She has cooking skills and continued to have a dream of opening a restaurant. So did the team's head coach Kasahara. And they realized the dream together as partners.
On the counter, there are prepared dishes using indispensable ingedients for local dishes of Fukui such as fried tofu and satoimo (taro). In addition, Tanaka cooks various special dishes if you order something not on the menu. I had a meal while having a light drink. It was comfortable and I was able to relax, even though it was my first time to go to the restaurant. It was perhaps because of their warm personalities.
T.S

The small restaurant has seven seats at the counter and a table.

Speaking of Fukui's local cuisine, I have to touch on "simmered pickled daikon radish."

I ordered Thai-style fried rice. A slight flavor of nampla was good (but Mr. Kasahara doesn't like it much).

Its appearance and sign

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Easy delicious yogurt with mixed dried fruit

It is not easy to eat fresh fruit every day. But dried fruits are convenient as you can keep longer. Dried fruits contain condensed various nutrients and more dietary fiber than fresh ones, which are one of healthy ingredients.

So we should eat them positively but they are a bit hard to eat, if there is a negative point. Then, why don’t you mince, mix them with yogurt and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator? It becomes very delicious next morning.

Because the dried fruits absorb water from the yogurt and they become soft. Also, excess water of the yogurt is removed and it becomes creamy like a fancy dessert. This is exactly win-win, isn’t it? You can eat quickly after taking it out of the refrigerator, so it is convenient for breakfast. (H.S)

            Topped with dried cranberries. Mix dried fruits at the bottom and eat.

          Recently dates have become popular, which are good. They are nutritious              and rich in minerals.

I recommend this yogurt by Koiwai Dairy Products Co., Ltd., which doesn't have a sour taste and is creamy, so it is delicious on its own.

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Souvenir recommendation of Osaka “Freshly baked cheese cake by Rikuro’s”

Recently, when I go to Osaka, I buy the freshy baked cheese cake by Rikuro's home. They bake cakes at each shop respectively. Customers wait in lines of the shops but it’s no wonder because the freshly baked cheese cake is only 725 yen (with tax) for a 18cm whole cake.

Rikuro’s cheese cake is moist and fluffy, and even those who don’t like sweets can enjoy it. Raisins at the bottom of the cake accentuate the taste.

Who is Rikuro?

Rikuro Nishimura (1933-2007)
Rikuro was born in 1933 in a mountain village of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture. When he was 16, he apprenticed to a confectionery wholesaler in Osaka. Two years later, he started working for another confectionery maker to master skills for confectionery making. He became independent from the company when he was 23. He founded “Chidori-ya” in 1956. In 1984, Rikuro mark was born as a branding iron when he sold freshly baked cheese cakes at the opening of its Kita-kagaya shop. Afterwards, his shops’ name was unified into “Rikuro’s”. Their cheese cake is loved by many fans. He is a founder of Rikuro Co., Ltd., which has eleven directly managed shops in Osaka City. (H.S)

                             The freshly baked cheese cake
                             The photo is from their official website.

[Video of branding the cakes with a hot iron]
 When they are finished baking, a bell rings. The cakes are jiggly.

 

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Fukui's local product exhibition at KITTE, commemorating the 400th anniversary of receiving the Edo kami-yashiki (upper residence) of the Fukui Domain

An event named "Fukui's local product exhibition at KITTE, commemorating the 400th anniversary of receiving the Edo kami-yashiki (upper residence) of the Fukui Domain" was held last week.
KITTE is a six-story commercial facility just outside Tokyo Station's Marunouchi South Exit. With a retro appearance that partially preserves the former Tokyo Central Post Office, the contrast with the brand-new skyscraper JP Tower that rises above it stands out. The event was held in a tourism and business information center called "Tokyo City i" on the KITTE's basement floor.
I attended a technical seminar in Tokyo on January 30th, so I went to the event on that occasion. At first, I had a question why such an event was held around the Tokyo Station. But I knew why it was held here. Because the Fukui Domain's Edo kami-yashiki was located at the current Otemachi Place, where is very near the venue.
By the way, the foundation of the townscape of Ginza was made by the then-governor of Tokyo, Kimimasa Yuri, a feudal retainer of the Fukui Domain. The graves of Sanai Hashiomoto, who was executed in Ansei Purge, and Unpin Umeda, who died in prison during the Ansei Purge, are located in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo. And in Taito Ward, there used to be "Fukui-cho (town)", which was formed at the site of the Fukui Domain's residence.
I realized that there are many things related to Fukui in the center of Tokyo.
T.S

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The Japanese documentary film “The unyielding life of Kamejiro, who was feared most by the U.S. occupation”

I went to see the documentary film “The unyielding life of Kamejiro, who was feared most by the U.S. occupation”. This film depicts a postwar history of Okinawa and “A man named Kamejiro, who was feared most by the U.S. occupation” which was released in 2017 and created a sensation, in more detail.

Kamejiro Senaga, who was against the U.S. occupation during occupation period in Okinawa, left over 230 diaries. The film deciphers the diaries and depicts anew his life, a battle by teachers, Koza riot and the movement of chemical warfare munitions. 

The climax of the film is debating with Eisaku Sato, Prime Minister of the time, in the Diet. Kamejiro never becomes emotional, and argues in a distinct voice with humor sometimes, which shows his strong belief. Also, I learned details about Paul Caraway, who was a HighCommissioner of the United States Civil Administration of Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) and the movement of chemical warfare munitions, which was an estimated 1,900 metric tons. 

The narration by Motoyo Yamane, who was a former NHK announcer, and an actor, Koji Yakusho, and music by Ryuichi Sakamoto were all great. (H.S)

                                Autograph by the director, Tadahiko Sako

             

                   Visitors can write reviews of films freely in this notebook. 

[Trailer] 

             

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