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House hunting and wedding planning...

Hello everybody.

Thought I best do a blog as I haven't done one in a while.

I am currently on a week off from work...again. It is a holiday by the way, I don't skip work! The other week my fiance and I were in the process of buying a house. We got really excited and I had mentally moved in and started decorating. Unfortunately we receieved a letter from the bank surveyor who said the house needed more than a lick of paint and new carpets. Very sad times indeed! But we are off back in to town tomorrow to look at more houses so fingers crossed!! To say its a buyers market is a joke!!

On the wedding front I have spoken to a caterer so I'm just waiting to hear back about our menu options. Rob wants a hog roast but I want a Japanese twist so the chef is working with this brief. Other than that I have been pretty lazy!! To sort now: rings, flowers, DJ, bridesmaid dresses. Wedding stationary is also in hand. I have a lovely illustrator and artist from Australia called Tiffany Atkin. We have a joint love for Japan and her work is amazing so I thought she would be perfect!! Link here to her page http://tiffatron.blogspot.com/ I can't wait!!

Anywho I'm off to make a cake : )

Worldwind X

English/Japanese wedding update...

Hello!

Hope you had a lovely weekend. I was working saturday and sunday so not a lot of fun for me. I did manage to do some wedding planning today. I have now booked my wedding venue in York for my English wedding reception. It is in a traditional medieval building but I will be giving it a Japanese twist by hanging up origami cranes, lanterns etc etc. Still need to find my wedding invites though, and every company I approach to do bespoke invites are busy...BUT I have an excellent idea involving a manga portrait Rob and I had done in Kyoto last year, so I am going to work with that for now...I think it will give the wedding invites a fun element, which reflects Rob and myself's personality (I hope!).



I love origami!

 I am currently obsessed with making cranes, hearts and stars. It is so relaxing once you get the hang of it. I am aiming to make a couple of thousand cranes to hang up around the hall...so wish me luck : )

Worldwind X

An English bride in Japan...

For those of you that don't know, I am getting married in Japan next year.....well, we are getting married here first then having a blessing in Kyoto. It has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions these past few weeks with regards to the situation in Japan.

My heart goes out to all the people of Japan. While I appreciated messages on Facebook and texts asking if our wedding plans were affected by the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear plant meltdown etc, I asked them to think of the people who had lost their homes, possessions and even worse, their lives. We are still going ahead with the ceremony (Kyoto has not been directly affected) because if people stay away, it will only make the situation worse (tourism is a big player in Japan's economy). Watch this video and see what the people of Tokyo want you to do!!

For the ceremony, I will be wearing the traditional white kimono including the wataboshi, a sort of veil/hood which is said to conceal the horns of jealousy woman sometimes get during their marriage! When I was in Japan last year I saw a newly wed bride at the Meiji Jingu shrine in Tokyo.



This is what I will be wearing...



Some people have asked why I am getting 'married' twice. Well, partly because 1. You can't get legally married at a Shinto shrine and 2. Why not?? Japan is a very special place for me, I sometimes see it as my second home despite only being there two weeks. I have always had the utmost respect for Japan and it's people, which goes way beyond just liking manga and Harajuku. I am very lucky to have such an understanding fiance who wants to share this special moment with me!

Anyway, enough of the soppy stuff. Currently still looking for a decent venue for my wedding reception. Somewhere I can decorate with my own bits and peices that will appeal to everyone....Mmmmm.

Donate to the Red Cross Earthquake and Tsunami appeal:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

Worldwind 

My wedding plans so far...



Where I will be getting blessed ^_^



Hello!

I realized the other day that I hadn't blogged on here for a while. There are a number of reasons for this, the main one being the fact I have been busy at work. But today is my day off so I thought I would update you on my wedding plans!

I paid off my dress the other day, which is a massive relief! Although I don't have to worry about paying anything for the wedding off a credit card, it was nice to just go in and pay it. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am unable to post a picture of my dress on here as my fiance might see it (I'am very traditional like that) but it is from a beautiful boutique in York. I have an idea of how I want my hair and I have a pearl necklace which was bought for me for my 21st.

I just need to find an intimate reception venue (my fiance and I will be heading to Japan after our ceremony here in England and having a blessing at the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto) so we need somewhere that isn't going to cost the earth!

I feel so lucky to be having the oppotunity to be having a second wedding in Japan. Japan is so close to my heart for reasons which can't be counted on two hands. I am very pleased and excited to be going back, depsite the terrible and gut wrenching disaster of March 11th. My prayers and thoughts are still with the people of Japan.

If you would like to make a donation to the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal, follow the link here:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Japan-Tsunami-Appeal

Worldwind

Mmm Onigiri...

I spent most of this afternoon making onigiri, also known as rice balls. I love making them and I take them to work and eat them on my lunch! They are really easy to make, can last a few days and can be re-heated. They can be quite filling too which is great if you need a little boost when walking to work or to school/college in the morning.



Clcokwise from top left: sushi rice, wasabi paste, nigiri mould
sesame seeds onigiri mould

 I got a sushi making kit last year for my birthday as well as these onigiri moulds. Onigiri are different to sushi as they are made with plain sushi rice (sometimes salted). Sushi rice is seasoned with vinegar, sugar and salt which preserves it. Do not get them mixed up!



Sushi rice



Boiling the rice



Making rice balls is pretty self explanitory. I find 1 1/2 cups of rice is more than enough to make several onigiri and nigiri. Boil your rice for 15-20 minutes and make sure all the water has been absorbed by the rice. Stir frequently as the rice can stick to the bottom of the pan...and don't have your heat too high! Leave your rice to cool to a workable temperature. This is best done in a large glass bowl with a damp cloth placed on top.





You can make riceballs without moulds, this involves placing cling-film in a cup and pouring your rice in and moulding it that way. I like the moulds as they can be re used again and again!



Pack your mould with rice



Place the back on the mould and press



Remove the rice



Adding sesame seeds adds flavour!



Pickled ginger can be placed in the middle as
well as other fillings

Pickled ginger filling

Dried nori (seaweed)



Ta da!



There are many websites which give you more information on fillings. Popular ones include: pickled plum (umeboshi) and tarako (salted cod roe). I love this website which will give you all the information that you need! http://www.justhungry.com/2007/01/onigiri_omusubi_revisited_an_e.html

Worldwind

Harajuku heaven...

Harajuku is a must see for anybody visiting Tokyo. Even if you find yourself just spending one day in the city, make sure you head here! My fiance and I spent a week in Tokyo and found that there was plenty of opportunities to head back here just to people watch!



Outside Harajuku station

The crowds gather early...

It isn’t hard to see why Harajuku has become such a honey pot for the youth of Japan. In 1964 Harajuku’s station became the gateway to Tokyo’s Olympic village, drawing scores of international visitors. This resulted in an influx of young and fashionable Tokyoites looking to Harajuku as the place ‘to be seen’.

Takeshita dori is a fantastic street located just a stones throw away from Harajuku station. In the early 1990s, this was the place to buy fake and counterfeit goods. In 2004 the government had a major crackdown on such goods being so freely available and now, it is the place to go to buy clothing, gifts and accessories from the many independent boutiques that line each side of the street.

Takeshita dori



Even the graffiti is pretty...



In my original Japan travel blog I mentioned Angel Hearts and Marion Crepes. Two fantastic crepe shops, directly opposite each other. If you have the stomach for it, sample one from each and tell me what you think. I had a #21 from Marion Crepes, custard and ice cream with chocolate sauce…one was enough for me!

For a bit of peace and quiet, head to Meiji Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his wife the Empress Shōken. The shrine can be found by heading over Jingu bridge (the one where all the cosplay and visual kei types hang out on Sundays).

Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of 700,000 square-meters (about 175 acres). This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo. Wikipedia.com.

Torii

The last and most impressive torii

The last of the main torii before the main shrine is one of the most impressive. Made from 1500 year old cypress trees from Mount Tandai-san in Taiwan. The whole structure is 12 meters high.

Main shrine courtyard

Traditional Japanese Shinto weddings happen quite frequently at the shrine. Processions can vary in size but it is always great to see a newly wed couple in traditional wedding attire. 



Newly wed couple

Gwen Stefani sung about them, fashion designers have based their collections on them and any good guide-book will tell you to go see them. Harajuku is now synonymous with ‘Harajuku girls’ and cosplayers (both girls and boys). Try get there as early as you can (within reason) but be prepared for a crush of photographers and tourists all eager to fill their cameras! I have been told by friends who have been that some do not like their pictures been taken and will lift their hands up to stop you. This is perfectly understandable so please respect their privacy and always ask permission! I never had this problem but it depends who is there… 

 

Jingu bashi

 

Be prepared for extreme fashion statements!

 

Gothis and Lolita fashion...

 

Lolita kei



Ota Memorial Museum of Art

A fantastic little museum not far from the hustle and bustle of the station and Omotesando. The museum is dedicated to the late Ota Seizo, whose vast collection of ukiyo-e prints are displayed inside (the collections are changed every month so keep checking back to try to see them all…if you can!).

Kiddy Land is a mecca for anybody who  can’t resist cartoon/anime merchandise. Situated on Omotesando (Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées) it is not hard to miss! Each floor is dedicated to different types of cartoon characters. There is for example a Snoopy floor and of course a Sanrio section featuring Japan’s best love cat…Hello Kitty. Another shop worth visiting down Omotesando is the Oriental Bazaar, a great place to pick up souvenirs as well as traditional craft items.



Kiddy Land



At the time of writing the Omotesando Kiddy Land has moved to a temporary location. More information can be found here: http://www.kiddyland.co.jp/etc/kiddy_hara_renew_e/

A stroll around Yoyogi Park and a shopping splurge in LaForet are a couple of other activities that can be fit in to any busy Harajuku itinerary. Just wandering around the side streets and alleyways can amaze and excite!

Harajuku station is on the JR Yamanote Line, only a couple of stations south from Shinjuku, a great base if staying in Tokyo!

Don’t forget to visit Hachiko! Hop on the Hachiko bus to visit one of the world’s most famous dogs…More information on Hachiko bus routes can be found on the following website. Click on the link: http://www.city.shibuya.tokyo.jp/eng/com_bus/index.html

Hachiko bus

Worldwind