We got invited to a wonderfully designed Japanese home this time. How delighted we were to be welcomed hospitably by Dolce and Somaya and as we sat down to enjoy some traditional food, we put on our best attire because the food was the traditional food which you east at Shougatsu, the 1st of January and highest holiday season in Japan.
Many thanks to Yuri for providing the following information on a notecard.
Tokonoma (とこのま。床の間）
The focal point of any traditional Japanese room is the decorative alcove, known as the tokonoma.
「和室であれば必ず最も重要になるのが、床の間と呼ばれる装飾的な壁のくぼみです」
Kakejiku (かけじく。掛け軸)
The most important feature in this alcove is the hanging scroll, called kakejiku.
この床の間の主役は「掛け軸」です。
There are many kinds of kakejiku. Sansui-ga feature ink-brush landscape paintings. Kacho-ga depict seasonal flowers or birds. Butsu-ga convey Buddhist symbolism.
掛け軸には多くの種類があります。山水画は自然の景観を墨で描いたのが特徴です。花鳥画は四季折々の花や鳥を描いています。仏画は仏教の象徴を表す絵画です。
An essential aspect of kakejiku is that they are not intended to be hung permanently. They are changed at frequent intervals
掛け軸の大きな特徴は、同じものを掛け続けるのでは
Bonsai(ぼんさい。盆栽）
Bonsai is the horticultural art of miniature potted trees and plants.
Did you know ?
how to distinguish good Bonsai.
1:Good roots spreading in all directions.
2:Good balance of branches.
3:Expressing nature.
Manekineko(まねきねこ。招き猫）
Cat inviting guests &luck.
Here is some of the good food we enjoyed (looking at and using our wildest imagination as to how delicious it might be)
sushi - raw fish
ramen - noodle soup with wheat noodles
udon - noodle soup with rice noodles
soba - noodles (pasta)
miso - cured bean paste soup
shiropoi - white
o sechi ryouri おせち りょうり - a selection of Japanese food nicely arranged in a box
sakana - fish
niku - meat
roast beef (yes, roast beef exists even in Japan)
ebi - shrimps
ninjin - carrots (used mostly for beautiful decoration as strings)
Kariage as Japanese girl
