Japanese Sushi Tips Do you like sushi? Sushi is made from vinegared rice and seafood such as fresh raw fish and seaweed. It is now known as one of the most famous Japanese foods in the world. Did you know that most of sushi restaurants serve a pair of sushi items when you order any one of sushi items? I mean that 2 items are served every one order. There are two reasons related to this fact. One is to make it easy to eat. During the Edo era (1603-1868), hand-formed sushi, which is so called sushi, was born. The early sushi was more than twice as big as today’s sushi. It was about the size of yellowtail fish. Yohei Hanaya, the father of hand-formed sushi, felt crude to see people couldn't eat easily. He changed it into smaller. Also, he thought that people wouldn't be satisfied with only a smaller sushi item. Then he got to serve 2 items of sushi in his sushi restaurant. Second is that it have been known as a Japanese oral tradition that a pair brings someone good fortune in Japan. Enjoy sushi!

Japanese Manners at an Escalator Manners and taboo vary depending on the countries. This time I would like to tell you about the unique manners in Japan. Did you know that Japanese people stand on the left or right when we take an escalator? Perhaps some other countries have this manner. This manner come from the care for people in a hurry. Interestingly, the position where we stand is different from one region to another in Japan. Most of the prefectures in Japan have the custom that people stand on the left, while people living in some prefectures such as Osaka and Kyoto stand on the right, when they take an escalator. Where did this difference come from? The answer is simple and the difference came up spontaneously. The first escalator showed up in Tokyo in 1914. The early escalator has no space for two people to get on at the same time. As it had been getting to be used in Japan, it turned to be wide. The custom people stand on the right started in Osaka in 1967. This came from the announce of station attendants in Osaka. However, it is natural for people to get on an escalator on the left since people go through on the left side when we drive and walk in Japan. So the right-side rule didn't spread in Japan. Although the right-side rule is a minor rule in Japan, some prefectures still have this rule.

Japanese Noodle "Soba" In Japan, we usually eat various kinds of noodles regularly. Japanese traditional noodles are categorized into 4 types: "ramen", "udon", "soba" and "somen". Ramen is known as one of the most famous Japanese food in the world. How about udon, soba or somen? This time I would like to tell you about soba. Do you know soba? Soba is one of the Japanese traditional noodles. It is made using grain powder called "soba-ko". Before soba become the shape of noodle, there were various ways of eating soba at that time. "Sobagaki" is known as the early soba, which is made from only soba-ko and is shaped like meatballs. Now soba in the shape of noodle is common in Japan. Did you know that the way of eating soba changes depending on your choice when you order soba in a soba noodle shop? Basically, there are 3 types. When you choose "morisoba" or "zarusoba", grab a small amount of noodles with your chopsticks, dip them in the noodle soup base and slurp them into your mouth. When you choose "kakesoba", you will take the noodles in soup like ramen. The way of eating kakesoba is the same with ramen. Enjoy soba noodles!