The Tennoji Market

Every 21st and 22nd of every month the Tennoji Market comes to life.

Shin Tennoji Temple is the oldest temple in all of Japan. It was created by Prince Shotoku who brought Buddhism over from China to Japan. Also, it just happens to be conveniently located just twenty minutes from my apartment.

On market days, hundreds of venders line the temple grounds. Anything from antique silk kimonos to dried fruits and okonomiyaki (a famous Osaka specialty) are sold in volumes.

Expect to find the deal of a lifetime. An ignorant shopper need not worry so much about getting hustled or conned because it is considered extremely bad to lie, cheat, or steel on temple grounds.

Personally, I enjoyed the kimono stands and antiques the most. They had rows and rows of silk kimonos from Kyoto. Because some of them were stained or slightly damaged I was able to purchase a full set, that is a kimono, and obi, and the ties for only 500 yen. That's less than ten dollars US for SILK!!!

Japan is also well known for its beautiful lacquer-ware. Artistic boxes and treys that have been painted with a design and covered in lacquer. I was able to find a beautiful music box still in working condition. The inside panel was slightly damaged but that's nothing a fresh lining can't fix. Total cost for the music box, 300 yen or about five dollars US.

The stands also carried modern brands such as coach, Louis Vetton, and even Tiffany's.

Food. There were all kinds of Japanese snacks and meals. Yaki soba, okonomiyaki, yaki niku, home made rice crackers, Japanese tea cakes, fresh sweet bread filled with custard and or red bean, and of course takoyaki.

There was also a man who lives out in the country and roasts his own coffee. He had a fascinating roasting process, however his free sample left much to be desired. I admire his fervor though.

The last thing worth mentioning is that on these two days access to the temple is free. So you can get a lot of culture and souvenirs for a low price.

What a great day, I think I will return next month as well.

This will explain the strange photo of me.

I saw Takarazuka theater today. 

Takarazuka is an all female acting group in Japan that has a huge fan following. It is most famous for the women who excel at playing male roles. 

The performance I saw was their  version of Phantom of the Opera. It was modeled after the book and included none of the Rogers and Hamerstien music. 

This was an original show in every sense of the word. It featured an original Japanese score and script. The music was one part broadway, one part Vegas, and a pinch or Opera thrown in. The costumes were flamboyant and beautiful. 

The entire performance was about three hours long with a thirty minute intermission in between. There was a cast of 70 people at least. Everyone had their part to play. The woman who played the Phantom had such an amazing voice and presence. Everyone in the performance had the triple threat down. They could all act, sing, and dance extremely well. 

While the talent was abundant, the scenery alone would have been worth the admissions price. Never have I seen such a technical stage. There were moving parts everywhere. Trap doors, hanging candles, hidden stairwells, and moving platforms all working together with the dancers, actors, and musicians. 

If I could sum up the acting style of this type of theater in three words they would be dramatic, disciplined, and cheesy( in the best way of course). 

The show did not end with Phantom; instead it continued with a line of chorus girls laden with feathers and sequins. They made a line along center stage and started kicking their legs like the Rockets at Radio City Music Hall. Las Vegas would be jealous. 

 Just when I thought the show had finally come to a close, the cast all came group by group to take a bow.

Feathers, lots and lots of feathers. Sequins, lots and lots of sequins. Yes, a disco ball as well. 

This aspect of Japanese culture was so fun to investigate and experience. I was intrigued by the original ideas and the dedication that the woman in this production demonstrated. 

After the show, their was a photo booth. The ladies dressed me up in the outfit of one of Takarazuka's most beloved characters. Oscar, a courageous gentleman and a solder. It was quite an ordeal and everyone including myself was giggling all the way through it. 

The costume was really heavy and being in front of the camera was nerve kicking but I would do it again in a heart beat. 

Japanese Gourmet Summer Treats.

Thought I would take a moment and share some of the delicious summer food options to experience here.

First, there is somen. This is a tasty way to fill your tummy and stay cool. Somen is a white noodle about the same thickness as ramen but the taste is lighter. It is served cold with lettuce, sliced ham, scrambled eggs, sliced carrots, cold cut cucumbers and then doused with the special light sauce. Cool, healthy, and refreshing. I am really addicted to this stuff.

Next there is the soba option. This is a dark buckwheat noodle that is also served cold. It is a lot less complicated then it's somen brother. Cold noodles, dried seaweed, and chopped green onions. The soba sauce is served on the side and one can have a playful time dipping it and slurping it up.

Finally there is the ever popular shaved ice treat. This is a far cry from your average snow cone. This summer delicacy is a mountain of snow lain in a platter or goblet of pure joy. The thinly shaved ice is then covered with a fruit dressing, fresh fruit, sweat red beans, bits of gelatin, and maybe some shaved coconut or macha tea. I dub this truly a summer masterpiece.

Apples and Oranges

They just do things a little differently here.

I would like to take a moment to share some of the strange and wonderful things that they do in Japan that are different from the states.

1. Packaging- It's an art here. I once bought a chocolate. One chocolate. It was a quick treat on the way to a school. Clearly when someone buys one chocolate it can be assumed that they mean to enjoy the chocolate themselves. Not in Japan, the woman behind the counter took the single chocolate, wrapped it in cellophane, then put it in a small gift bag, tied a ribbon around it, put the gift bag in a box, tied a ribbon around that, and then put the box in a bag and sealed it with a golden sticker. One chocolate. She did it all so fast that I never got the chance to explain that I was going to open it on the train and consume it immediately. Side note- it took me about ten minutes to open it.

2. Coffee- In the States trays in restaurants are used to transport food and beverages from one place to another. Usually when the food has arrived at it's final destination we abandon the tray and deposit the delicious substances on our table in preparation for consumption. In Japan, if you go to any coffee shop aside from Starbucks, they place your coffee, water, milk, sugar syrup (they rarely use table sugar only sweet syrup), and spoon on a tray. You take the tray to the table and if you take the items off the tray you are an untidy slob. I look around and all the locals keep their items on the trays at all times. I know it's a little funny to mention this but I feel like a Gypsy if I don't settle into my coffee and abandon the tray. I apologize if there are any Gypsies reading my blog, I only meant that I feel like they don't want me to stay and enjoy my beverage.

3. Benches and Trash cans- There aren't any.
About a decade ago there were trash can bombings in the London subways, well after that Japan got rid of most of it's public waist disposal facilities. Now the general public is usually expected to hang on to their trash until they reach their own personal disposal units.
Benches, why don't they have any place to just sit and people watch? During a nice sunny day off sometimes I get the urge to find a nice bench and sit and enjoy a snack and a good book. Out of luck. Maybe they don't want people loitering or maybe they have something against old men and ladies feeding pidgins but benches are an anomaly.

4. Vending machines- They are everywhere! This is super convenient. Serving up seasonal drinks both hot and cold.

5. Japanese Convenience stores- they are amazing! In one location one can pay their electric bill, mail a letter, make a copy, print pictures, pick up some lunch and an ice cold beverage. It's wonderful.
I do have one complaint though, no slurpies.

Well those are just five of the fun little differences in Japan. I have many many more to recount another time.

Thank you so much for tuning in.