Wednesday, June 6, 2012
TokyoFashion.com
My new favorite website for the latest and greatest in Japanese fashion. The island country is literally an incubator of far out, creative, eccentric fashion you cannot find elsewhere. Find me on Twitter too!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Asia 2012! アジア2012！
I am finally back and settled into life after a much needed vacation in Asia! Destinations- Philippines, Thailand and Hong Kong. There was so much food and amazing sights to see. Even though, I could not visit Japan, I did my best to seek out Japanese products.
I went shopping at Muji at Mall of Asia in Manila. It is a huge, big, GIGANTIC (you get it?) mall. Muji is a lifestyle store selling houseware, clothing, personal care and snack foods based on minimal design and organic materials. Their store layout and products are layed out in a clean, orderly fashion. I enjoy the simple product packaging with neutral colors of olive green, light pink, white milk or granite gray. While in Bangkok at CentralWorld, a beautiful shopping complex near Chit Lom Skytrain station, I visited Uniqlo. I bought a pair of dark blue denim for about $50 USD, and they hemmed it for free! Can you get this kind of service in the States? Yeah, I didn't think so either... I am super excited to learn Uniqlo is opening in San Francisco Union Square this fall. Hopefully they do an opening party, which I would love to attend. Also in Bangkok, I ate at MOS Burger, a Japanese fast food restaurant, in Paragon Mall. I ordered a pork burger, but wished they sold melon soda as they do in Japan.
The trip was a nice blur of eating, drinking, laying at the beach, and getting drenched at the Songkran festival, which celebrates the Buddhist New Year in Thailand. I had white mud caked on my face and ice cold water splashed on me by complete strangers. It was refreshing to walk around in the heat and seeing people at the train station or mall kind of drenched and happy about it.
Last leg of the trip was in Hong Kong, which I left in 2005 from my study abroad program. Lots of good eats there too. I also visited the most affordable Michelin star restaurant called Ho Hung Kee in Causeway Bay.
All in all, it was a great trip and I will return to Asia in the near future... Check out the food pics below.. drooooolll...
EATS in Hong Kong
All in all, it was a great trip and I will return to Asia in the near future... Check out the food pics below.. drooooolll...
MOS BURGER!
EATS in Hong Kong
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Japan Fashion Week 2012
Tokyo Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (日本ファッション·ウィーク 2012) has been going on the past week, and it's showcasing cutting edge fashion from upcoming Japanese designers.
It feels great to see more Asian faces in print ads and strutting on the catwalk. Fashion and beauty should be equally represented of all ethnicities. Thanks to YouTube, Vogue, and the growing economic power of China it is time to acknowledge the Asian consumer. My favorite new Japanese or mixed Japanese models are Tao Okamoto, Juliana Imai and Saki Asamiya. Tao and Juliana have been on the catwalk for several years while Saki is new to the scene.
TAO OKAMOTO
(courtesy of fashiontv on Youtube)
SAKI ASAMIYA
(courtesy of fashiontv on Youtube)
Not sure the reasoning behind the Backstreet Boys soundtrack, lol. Maybe to remind us 20 somethings about being teenagers in the 90s?
JULIANA IMAI
(courtesy of entrevista on Youtube)
I love this video because she keeps repeating "VOGEEE (Vogue)" over and over, and Portuguese coming from an Asian face is sexy!
Of course we cannot forget the importance of Japanese men's fashion either! Below are two examples of the wild variety of aesthetics from Japanese designers. Many people in fashion are familiar with Yohji Yamamoto's contribution to getting Japan on the world's fashion radar. In my view, his designs are provocative, historical, and universal. I can see where he incorporated bits of Japanese samurai hair styles, men's kimino style jacket, and Indian jodphur pants. To be honest, I LOVE creativity but I am not that brave.
YOHJI YAMAMOTO
(courtesy of ELLETVFASHION)
Then you have the more modern, Eurodisco and British rocker prep from DressCamp headed by designer Toshikazu Iwaya. I like some of the tight fits, and the boots. I enjoyed how the pants appeared like running water when walking down the runway.
(courtesy of senatusmag on Youtube)
Happy fashion watching!
It feels great to see more Asian faces in print ads and strutting on the catwalk. Fashion and beauty should be equally represented of all ethnicities. Thanks to YouTube, Vogue, and the growing economic power of China it is time to acknowledge the Asian consumer. My favorite new Japanese or mixed Japanese models are Tao Okamoto, Juliana Imai and Saki Asamiya. Tao and Juliana have been on the catwalk for several years while Saki is new to the scene.
TAO OKAMOTO
(courtesy of fashiontv on Youtube)
SAKI ASAMIYA
(courtesy of fashiontv on Youtube)
Not sure the reasoning behind the Backstreet Boys soundtrack, lol. Maybe to remind us 20 somethings about being teenagers in the 90s?
JULIANA IMAI
(courtesy of entrevista on Youtube)
I love this video because she keeps repeating "VOGEEE (Vogue)" over and over, and Portuguese coming from an Asian face is sexy!
Of course we cannot forget the importance of Japanese men's fashion either! Below are two examples of the wild variety of aesthetics from Japanese designers. Many people in fashion are familiar with Yohji Yamamoto's contribution to getting Japan on the world's fashion radar. In my view, his designs are provocative, historical, and universal. I can see where he incorporated bits of Japanese samurai hair styles, men's kimino style jacket, and Indian jodphur pants. To be honest, I LOVE creativity but I am not that brave.
YOHJI YAMAMOTO
(courtesy of ELLETVFASHION)
Then you have the more modern, Eurodisco and British rocker prep from DressCamp headed by designer Toshikazu Iwaya. I like some of the tight fits, and the boots. I enjoyed how the pants appeared like running water when walking down the runway.
(courtesy of senatusmag on Youtube)
Happy fashion watching!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Teresa Teng Party テレサ·テンパーティー 鄧麗君
I begin this post by offering prayers to those who passed away in last year's disaster in Japan. I also pray for the recovery of those severely affected, and wish for the speedy recovery to their normal lives. Please donate here Global Giving.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Teresa Teng was a megastar who ruled both the Japanese and Mandarin music scene. My mom would play all her music while she cooked, cleaned, or during karaoke nights when she and my Dad would invite friends for all night sing alongs.
I decided to host a Taiwan culture night featuring Teresa Teng this past weekend. She sums up the cultural fusion between Taiwan and Japan. Case in point, Taiwan was occupied by Japan for many years, and the locals were educated in Japanese language and culture. My Taiwanese grandparents probably spoke fluent Japanese. Due to my mixed parentage (Dad from Taiwan, Mom from Japan), I have an affinity for both cultures.
In my humble opinion, Teresa Teng has a female voice many Asians like which is soft, feminine, and smooth. From my Westernized ear, she sounds okay and maybe too soft, but she has good range and sang with passion. It is important to see and feel it from a singer. Below is a video of the Japanese version of "Toki No Nagare Ni Mi Wo Makase" (I Only Care About You) where Teresa begins to tear up after accepting a music award.
I also LOVED the fact that she was a diva in the fashion sense. Check out the dreads in this video. Her voice is much stronger and full of range. Also if you skip to 6:40:00 you will notice Teresa was CRAZY MULTILINGUAL. She spoke fluent Mandarin, Japanese, and Cantonese in a span of 2 minutes.
I wish she was able to continue to share her gift with the world. Ms. Teng passed away in Thailand of a severe asthma attack in 1995.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Teresa Teng was a megastar who ruled both the Japanese and Mandarin music scene. My mom would play all her music while she cooked, cleaned, or during karaoke nights when she and my Dad would invite friends for all night sing alongs.
I decided to host a Taiwan culture night featuring Teresa Teng this past weekend. She sums up the cultural fusion between Taiwan and Japan. Case in point, Taiwan was occupied by Japan for many years, and the locals were educated in Japanese language and culture. My Taiwanese grandparents probably spoke fluent Japanese. Due to my mixed parentage (Dad from Taiwan, Mom from Japan), I have an affinity for both cultures.
In my humble opinion, Teresa Teng has a female voice many Asians like which is soft, feminine, and smooth. From my Westernized ear, she sounds okay and maybe too soft, but she has good range and sang with passion. It is important to see and feel it from a singer. Below is a video of the Japanese version of "Toki No Nagare Ni Mi Wo Makase" (I Only Care About You) where Teresa begins to tear up after accepting a music award.
I also LOVED the fact that she was a diva in the fashion sense. Check out the dreads in this video. Her voice is much stronger and full of range. Also if you skip to 6:40:00 you will notice Teresa was CRAZY MULTILINGUAL. She spoke fluent Mandarin, Japanese, and Cantonese in a span of 2 minutes.
I wish she was able to continue to share her gift with the world. Ms. Teng passed away in Thailand of a severe asthma attack in 1995.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Horumonyaki ホルモン焼き
No, it is not a Pokemon character! Today I found a new side to Japanese cuisine I did not know existed. This thanks to one of my favorite shows 'Bizarre Foods' with Andrew Zimmern from Travel Channel.
Horumon was created by Korean immigrants to Japan who created tasty meals out of cuts of meat such as trachea, heart, and stomach that would otherwise be discarded. Apparently, they are super oishi (delicious). おいしい!
Videos courtesy of Travel Channel
I am going to add Andrew's recommendation for the Horumon restaurant featured in this video or find a hidden gem in San Francisco that would serve Horumon. Watching this entices make to want to go back badly!
Horumon was created by Korean immigrants to Japan who created tasty meals out of cuts of meat such as trachea, heart, and stomach that would otherwise be discarded. Apparently, they are super oishi (delicious). おいしい!
Videos courtesy of Travel Channel
I am going to add Andrew's recommendation for the Horumon restaurant featured in this video or find a hidden gem in San Francisco that would serve Horumon. Watching this entices make to want to go back badly!
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Happy New Year! 明けましておめでとうございます
Shout out to Kain for reminding me to write!
I hope everyone has a good start to 2012 thus far. Although my plans to visit Japan has delayed until 2013, I am planning to be in Asia this April. I am very excited! I am determined to be back again soon accompanied by Mom and siblings.
Growing up in Los Angeles, I recall celebrating New Year by visiting Little Tokyo. My family and I would eat at a restaurant, shop, and then listen to singers performing various old school Japanese to modern English songs. I love the way Japanese people like to mix East and West, and turn it into something very unique, and still Japanese.
My post is courtesy of alex00slash from Youtube. The music video and other content or copyright was sourced from Billboard Japan.
In terms of music video imagery, I really liked #2 Konya wa Karasawagi by Tokyo Jihen. The artists costumes were a mix of old Japanese, British royal court, and Lolita sweetheart. If you are looking for bubblegum pop with bright visuals then check out #11 Darl:orz by Kitano Kii. #10 is a psychedelic trip sort of like Empire of the Sun style. #3 is a heartfelt song for you emo folk by Takahashi Yu.
I hope everyone has a good start to 2012 thus far. Although my plans to visit Japan has delayed until 2013, I am planning to be in Asia this April. I am very excited! I am determined to be back again soon accompanied by Mom and siblings.
Growing up in Los Angeles, I recall celebrating New Year by visiting Little Tokyo. My family and I would eat at a restaurant, shop, and then listen to singers performing various old school Japanese to modern English songs. I love the way Japanese people like to mix East and West, and turn it into something very unique, and still Japanese.
My post is courtesy of alex00slash from Youtube. The music video and other content or copyright was sourced from Billboard Japan.
In terms of music video imagery, I really liked #2 Konya wa Karasawagi by Tokyo Jihen. The artists costumes were a mix of old Japanese, British royal court, and Lolita sweetheart. If you are looking for bubblegum pop with bright visuals then check out #11 Darl:orz by Kitano Kii. #10 is a psychedelic trip sort of like Empire of the Sun style. #3 is a heartfelt song for you emo folk by Takahashi Yu.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Japanese curry recipe
こんにちは (Hello)!
This past weekend I had time to cook my favorite Japanese curry. Japanese people love to incorporate foreign food cultures and make it their own. It may not seem very original, but Japanese people are able to create a very original spin on a culturally traditional dish like curry.
Japanese curry can be sweet or spicy, depending on your taste. I go for the latter. My take on Japanese curry is pretty straightforward. First, I saute chicken pieces after dashing salt and pepper. They are cooked until lightly browned. I would not overcook them since they have to boil in curry soup later. I chop onions, carrots, and potatoes and add them with the chicken for a bit of sauteing. After boiling about 6 cups of water, I add the sauteed chicken and vegetables. Once the vegetables are soft, I would add the curry paste. You can purchase them at any Japanese or Asian grocery. All this takes about 20 minutes.
The surprise with my take on Japanese curry is to add curry sauce over a baked potato. The baked potato is very simple. Poke about 10-12 holes with a fork into the potato so moisture can escape. Drizzle oil and dash of salt. Wrap it in foil and bake in an oven for about 1 hour for 350 degrees. Or you can cook about 2.5 cups of rice. Voila! The results below...
This past weekend I had time to cook my favorite Japanese curry. Japanese people love to incorporate foreign food cultures and make it their own. It may not seem very original, but Japanese people are able to create a very original spin on a culturally traditional dish like curry.
Japanese curry can be sweet or spicy, depending on your taste. I go for the latter. My take on Japanese curry is pretty straightforward. First, I saute chicken pieces after dashing salt and pepper. They are cooked until lightly browned. I would not overcook them since they have to boil in curry soup later. I chop onions, carrots, and potatoes and add them with the chicken for a bit of sauteing. After boiling about 6 cups of water, I add the sauteed chicken and vegetables. Once the vegetables are soft, I would add the curry paste. You can purchase them at any Japanese or Asian grocery. All this takes about 20 minutes.
The surprise with my take on Japanese curry is to add curry sauce over a baked potato. The baked potato is very simple. Poke about 10-12 holes with a fork into the potato so moisture can escape. Drizzle oil and dash of salt. Wrap it in foil and bake in an oven for about 1 hour for 350 degrees. Or you can cook about 2.5 cups of rice. Voila! The results below...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)