The Sushi Shorts

Konnichiwa!

I hope everyone at blogger is having a lovely week! I certainly have, and if you'd let me I'd like to brag a little bit about a little present from my mom 

Check out these adorable sushi pajama shorts she got me online from David and Goliath! (sorry I don't know why I can't get the picture to rotate). She saw them when she went to Hawaii for her 25th wedding anniversary with my dad (just a bit of info, there's a huge Japanese population in Hawaii and I'd absolutely love to go someday), and ordered them when she got back home after showing me. I love them :) :D However I can't really wear them around non family members because she ordered an extra small, asian extra small. And I gots a big booty for a little girl so they're a bit inappropriate for public wear (besides the fact that they're umm... pajamas ^-^)

My favorite part is this little guy. Poor thing got chopped in half!

Today's blog post was rather short, but hold tight for next week because I'll have to tell you all about the asian festival i'm going to this weekend. So excited!!! There will also be a Green Tea of the Month post for October.

Keep it kawaii folks!

-Ainsley

A Day at The Spice Merchant

Konnichiwa!

I apologize for my lack of posts lately, everything has been so busy! (Life story of every high school senior). Today I'd like to show you my favorite place to get my Japanese tea, The Spice Merchant.

The Spice Merchant is located in Wichita, KS. It has tons of different flavors, including some really unique ones like Stevia tea. (I wonder if it's really sweet) I love driving by it because it is so adorable; it is shaped like a little Indian temple. (They have tea from several different cultures)

Here are some things I saw there:

Chopstick holders, with precious animations on them<3

A lidded Japanese tea vessel. I really want one like this, and would have purchased it, but this one only held 6 oz because the Japanese like their tea strong. I prefer 8 oz vessels because then the tea lasts longer.

These ones are more my size! I purchased the one in the middle. You might recognize it from my first Green Tea of the Month post.

I am absolutely YEARNING for this tea set. I practically drool over it every time I go to The Spice Merchant. Alas, I am unemployed and this particular set is about 70 dollars :( However I can always hope for it as a Christmas gift...              (hint hint mom ^-^)

I also purchased this cute "Kokeshi" mug. Kokeshi are japanese dolls; I recommend looking them up on Google because they are cute and also quite interesting. The mug spells out "Kokeshi" on the side, topped with the little girls and a big one on the side.

Anyway, if you live in Sedgewick County, KS you should really give them a visit. I hope you enjoyed my little "treasures". I can assure you I will continue to drink up their tea :)

Keep it kawaii folks!

-Ainsley

Other Japan Blogs To Check Out

Konnichiwa!

I hope you've been having a good week :) I'm a little upset because I had to miss the Kansas City Japan Festival so I could take my SAT. (If anyone went, please let me know how it went). 

Anyway, I want to give some credit to other blogs about Japan appreciation; they were my inspiration to start blogging after all!

General

1.  http://www.kirainet.com/english/

This blog gives personal updates of his sightseeing in Japan. I really appreciate seeing the experiences from the eyes of an American. Not only does he show pop culture aspects of the country, but historical ones as well.

2. http://muza-chan.net/

This blog is very similar to the first one but with a little different format. It makes it very easy to look at old posts.

Food-Specific

3. http://www.foodie.com/collections/duwi-s-pinandityo/of-japan-and-glut  

This is sort of like a pinterest board ecept every post has a link to a Japanese food recipe! I'm not much of a chef but I'd love to try all of these.

4.  http://japanesefood.about.com/

Another site full of Japanese recipes, but it is actually an official website. More recipes, less personal.

5. http://www.popbento.com/

Here, the blogger shows various ways to pack a lunch using the traditional Japanese "lunch box", the bento box. I must note that not all of the lunches are Japanese, however they are still totally adorable!

6.http://tokyofooddiary.com/
High definition culinary pictures that will make you abosultely DROOL as well as restaurant recommendations accompanied by their menus

News

7. http://www.zonjineko.com/

Not sure if this can actually be considered new, but it offers a variety of free approaches to learning the Japanese language as well as a multitude of pictures of the people on the streets of Japan

8. http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/

I absolutely adore japan-talk.com! So much useful information about customs on Japan and lists of different foods and festivals. Makes me want to be in Japan right now!!

9. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

I like to use this webpage to keep me updated on what is currently going on in Japan

Blogs on Blogger.com

10. http://yangyanginjapan.blogspot.com/  

Tourism in Japan from the viewpoint of a Korean. She comments on differences between her country and Japan frequently, which is quite intriguing.

11. http://ken-yanadori.blogspot.com/ 

A blog solely dedicated to pictures of various Japanese landscapes and architectural beauties

12. http://livnomonogatari.blogspot.com/

The life of an American model living in Japan (the food in her posts looks delicious!)

13. http://mskomoewekwe.blogspot.com/  

The story and updates of a girl who has studied Japan for a long time and has finally been able to go there. Soooo jealous

These blogs are great reads and a fantastic way to incorporate the Japanese culture into your web-browsing, even if you aren't a native. I found almost all of them through the website stumbleupon.com (if you don't have an account you NEED one) I hope you take the time to check them out and love them as much as I do!  

Keep it kawaii folks!

-Ainsley 

Green Tea of the Month: Fuzu

Konnichiwa!

Welcome to my first GTOTM post :) This is actually a late post for the month of September. This month's tea pick is from a shop in Wichita Kansas called The Spice Merchant (with which I am obsessed, but more on that later). It is a Sencha green tea blended with Fuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit known for it's strong aroma.

As you can see, it is a loose leaf tea, so it requires a tea strainer.

Now usually I choose steamy hot tea over iced tea, but this one is so dang refreshing iced. It literally tastes like fruit loops!

Anyway, you better rush to your local tea shoppe and see if they have any of the fuzu variety cause this stuff is gooood. Let me know of any other flavors I should try; I'm always up for suggestions.

Keep it kawaii folks!

-Ainsley

A Day at the Antique Mall

Konnichiwa! 

(I'm going to have to used romanized Japanese from now on, sorry)

Today I'd like to share with you two gems that i scored at the new antique mall in my town. It was recently built just a block away from my house, and it's awesome not only because it has antiques (which I adore) but it also has sections that are business vendors and "garage sale" type vendors. (And they have free donuts... score!!)

My first find is this detailed Japanese plate from either the Meji or Edo era (I'm not very accurate on my Japanese history sorry). I got this baby for only 6 dollars and i plan to get a plate holder so i can set it in the middle of my dresser in my bedroom.

My second purchase was a rectangular wooden map of Japan. Each of the big cities is marked by a small circle made out of abalone shell which I find quite beautiful. There is also a woman peering over the island. Her hair is done in a similar fashion to that of the women in the plate shown above. The man who sold it to me told me he found it in an abandoned house. I offered him $5 for the piece, but when I gave him my $10 bill he didn't give me any change, and I didn't have the guts to tell him I'd given him a 10. Oh well! I plan to hang it up on my wall above my bed.

I checked the backs of both items, and they are certified "made in Japan" :) I'll have to check the antique mall again soon for more Japanese goodies. (I have a serious "cultural item" hoarding problem, I need help). Hopefully you enjoyed seeing these good deals, let me know what you think.
Keep it kawaii folks!
-Ainsley