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変わり種ラムネ – Odd Ramune

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Ramune is a carbonated soft drink in a unique glass bottle (please click here for more details).  More than 50% of all the ramune in Japan is produced in Ōsaka.  They are making the ramune bottles the traditional way.  It is not easy to make those bottles since it requires accuracy and careful inspections.  Ramune is popular in many foreign countries, but instead of producing them in factories outside of Japan, ramune is produced in Japan according to each countries’ food regulations and then exported to 44 countries.

Besides the original and other traditional flavors, they are now making many odd playful flavors, such as kimchi, curry, stew, cream of corn soup, etc.  The president of a major ramune production company says that there were flavors that they had to stop producing due to various reasons.  For example, eggplant flavor cost too much to make, and onion flavor made workers cry too much while making it.  lol

メロン – Melon

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Melons grow all year around in Japan, but the primary harvesting season is from May through July.  In a grocery store, melons can sell for as low as $5 apiece, but especially nice ones can cost $50~$200 and are often used as gifts.  In May, 2019 a pair of melons were sold for 5,000,000 yen (approx $45,500 USD).  These melons broke the record of the most expensive melon ever.  This year the same type of melons were sold for just 120,000 yen (approx $1100 USD) due to the coronavirus.

箱根 – Hakone

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Since I mentioned “Hakone” in my previous post, let me introduce it more completely.  Hakone is a well-known resort area located about 30 miles from Mt. Fuji.  It is popular for its hot springs and for having nice views of Mt. Fuji.  This photo shows Mt. Fuji, and was taken from Hakone.  It also shows the system of scenic ropeways that is normally available from Hakone although this is currently out of service due to the Coronavirus outbreak.  During the Edo period Hakone was one of the government checkpoints.

From Hotel Green Plaza Hakone

Hakone Utsugi

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Hakone Utsugi （ハコネウツギ）or Weigela Coraeensis is a flower that is found near beaches in Japan.  Its blooming season is May~June.  This flower is white at first, but after pollination it turns itself pink.  Because the insects that pollinate the flower see white better than pink, the white unpollinated flowers stand out and that increases their chance of getting pollinated.  Nature is amazing.  This flower’s Japanese name includes the word Hakone (a well-known resort area in Japan), but actually you don’t see many of these flowers in Hakone.

ニホンザル – Japanese Snow Monkey

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“Nihon-Zaru,” also known as the Japanese Snow Monkey, is a species native to Japan. They are known for their striking red faces and rumps, which become especially vivid during the mating season due to capillaries running close to the skin’s surface. These monkeys are highly intelligent and can easily remember the seasons and locations of wild plants. Japanese Snow Monkeys bathing in hot springs are an iconic sight recognized worldwide.

メイド喫茶 – Maid Cafe

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A maid cafe is a type of coffee shop in Japan where waitresses, dressed in maid costumes, provide service to customers. The male equivalent is known as a Butler Cafe. In these themed establishments, customers are treated as the “house master” (for men) or “my lady” (for women), with the waitstaff assuming the roles of house maids or butlers.

Upon entering a maid cafe, customers are greeted with “Welcome back home,” rather than the standard “welcome.” Similarly, when it’s time to leave, they hear “Safe travels!” instead of a simple “thank you.” This unique atmosphere and attentive service create an immersive and personalized experience, making each visit a special event.

メイド喫茶とはメイドの恰好をしたウェイトレスが働いている喫茶店（男性版は執事喫茶）。客はご主人様でウェイトレスはメイドという設定なので、来店した時には「いらっしゃいませ」ではなく、「おかえりなさいませ」、帰る時は「ありがとうございました」ではなく、「行ってらっしゃいませ」と言われる。男性客は「ご主人様」、女性客は「お嬢様」と呼ばれるのが普通だ。

カッパ – Kappa

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A kappa is a yōkai in Japanese folklore.  The oldest writing about Kappa appears in a dictionary that was first made in 1444.  It’s supposed to have a child-sized body and look like a frog or a turtle with a plate on its head.  It lives in a river or a swamp and it likes wrestling with people who pass by. If you win against a kappa, then the kappa will always be compliant to you, but if the kappa wins, he may pull you under the water.  It keeps water in the plate on its head, and it is said that it will die if the plate gets broken or dried out. The kappa is said to be especially fond of cucumbers, so the sushi roll with cucumber is known as a Kappa Roll because of this fact.