Blog Charaku

Ayers Rock Cafe & English Language Centre now on line

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:40:28 +0900

We're pleased to advise our new local web site, hope not too much is lost in English translation
http://locoplace.jp/t000131276/

Happy New 2012

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:37:30 +0900

We wish a happy, healthy and prosperous 2012 to all our customers, family and friends.
We feel indebted to our international friends for all of the well wishes and support received since the Tohoku earthquake or the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear power station meltdowns that occurred on March 11, 2011.
Life is still very difficult for the residents of the Iwate Prefecture and specifically the Sendai area which was impacted by the brunt of the disaster, especially those living in or close to Miyako. However Japanese people are close neighbours to disaster and cope with dignity, resourcefulness and empathy from their fellows. We can’t bring back the loss of loved ones and instantly recreate livelihoods and homes but we can offer our services, immediate supply needs and hope for the future.
At home, here in Sapporo, life has been kinder. Our Australian (‘Aussie’), style cafe is progressing well; the English language learning centre is a success and Japanese green tea sales are weathering the storm.
We opened the cafe at dawn to see the first sunrise of the year. It was a rewarding and optimistic experience.

Weight loss and more

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:07:06 +0900

Weight Loss – 22kg (49lbs) in 16 months
Some of you may remember my blog of July 27, last year, heralding what I thought then was the great achievement of losing 10kg in 3 months.
Thirteen months later I’m delighted to report a weight loss of 22kg. I now weigh in at a stable 87kg (192lbs), an ideal weight for my 195cm (6’5”) height.
I attribute this mainly to trading beverages from red wine and beer (which I still occasionally enjoy), to Japanese green tea.
Japanese green tea can’t take all the credit of course, though its regular drinking has helped to instill a certain discipline to my life. Other factors include a regular morning walk through the forest with Mr. Rooney, our American Cocker Spaniel, cutting snacks from my diet and becoming less sedentary by cooking in our newly opened café for a few hours a day.
Autumn (or fall, if you prefer)
“SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;” Keats
Autumn in Sapporo lives up to that magnificent observation. My morning walks through the forest are over a carpeted treasure of red, yellow, gold and brown leaves. The smell is pungent and the fungi abundant. The seasons are so important to the Japanese and their way of life. There is so much home grown produce here and as the seasons change so do the daily menus offering a variety of life that our grandparents so enjoyed.
So members and friends please continue to enjoy Japanese green tea and its health benefits and enjoy autumn, unless of course you’re ‘Downunder’ in which case enjoy your spring.
Ayers Rock Cafe
Yes, I know, I’ve been quiet for a few months.
Our new cafe venture is the reason. Our cafe is situated just outside of downtown Sapporo in Minami-ku (south ward); its half way up to Mt Moiwa, our local ski resort and affords a panoramic view from our windows and balcony of the mountains surrounding us. If you ever get to this beautiful part of the globe, maybe for winter sports or the ice sculptures each February please call in to say “Konnichiwa”, you’ll be regally treated and perhaps we can give you some good advice on what to do and where to visit to enhance your stay.

Spring

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:24:19 +0900

I think I can officially nominate this day, April 8, as the first real day of spring in Sapporo. Winter loosens its firm and cruel grip on our climate gradually but this morning at 5:30 am (no daylight saving here), the sun was streaming through the bedroom window; sky a cobalt blue and the mountains majestic. Superlatives fail to describe the snow-capped mountains surrounding us in South Sapporo, their brilliant white against the backdrop of a metallic blue sky are just breathtaking. Every morning is just breathtaking. It’s a harsh climate here, white for 5 months of the year and bitterly cold at times but nature compensates so kindly. The remaining 7 months, starting today, are glorious. Our flora responds to the climate as only nature can engineer. The 3 months of ‘lost’ spring are made up for in one month of rapid growth. The snow hasn’t left us yet but the fruit trees are heavily budded and within another month will be shrouded in blossom and especially for the Japanese, cherry blossom, which is such a significant feature for the local culture inspiring all forms of the arts. Soon the city and suburban streets will be lined with colourful flower beds as the local governments issue seedlings to for planting. This is a community activity greeted with much enthusiasm and most Sapporo families will be involved, working with their neighbours, over the next few weeks and then from time to time as old stock is replaced by new. The seasons and the fruits and flora of the seasons are cherished and enjoyed as nature’s calendar provides.
For our family this is a busy time too, full of new energy and impetus. First we have to tidy up the house and garden after the months of enclosure. Then to business, which in our case is selling Japanese green tea. This year’s harvest is just a few weeks ago and anticipated with great excitement as the new tips become ready for picking and new strains can be processed and taste tested. This year our Kyoto grower is introducing a new tea, Kabuse cha (covered tea), which has been developed with the assistance of the Japanese Department of Agriculture to provide a smoother and less astringent taste to add a variety of appeal to the global tea market.
We have some additional excitement this year with our soon to opened Aussie theme café. No, it’s not just meat pies and tomato sauce, though they’re on the menu. The concept is modern Australian cuisine reflecting what many Australians cook and enjoy at home. As Australia enjoys migrants from most, if not all countries and therefore, their culinary culture, the menu is interesting and constantly evolving.

Houji-cha

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:03:08 +0900

Charaku is pleased to present two new Houji-cha tea (roasted green tea) products.
Apart from Sencha, Houji-cha is another popular kind of green tea in Japan. Tea leaves for producing Houji-cha are usually late-harvested leaves or twigs. Compared to other kind of Japanese green teas, Houji-cha is dried at a high temperature and roasted on a charcoal fire, therefore it is characterised by its unique roast-aroma and its red-brown infusion. Because Houji-cha contains a low amount of catechin, it is no astringent but has a soothing taste. Houji-cha is especially favoured as an after-dinner drink in Japan.

Super Premium Houji-Cha
This tea is produced in Kyoto-Uji using Sencha tea leaves harvested in Watsuka and Asamiya (Kyoto). This is a super premium quality Houji-cha with strong roast aroma. Its superb aroma and fine taste has won this tea a fine reputation and it has been used for serving customers in famous and traditional Japanese style hotels and restaurants in Kyoto.

Premium Houji-cha
Produced in Kyoto-Uji. It has a very nice roasted aroma with a mild nutty flavour. This tea is suitable for a summer drink too, being chilled in fridge after brewing.

Girl's Day and more

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:30:07 +0900

Girl's Day

March 3rd is called ‘hina-matsuri’. It’s a day when it’s customary for the family with a daughter(s) to prominently display hina (dolls) and miniature trimmings depicting a traditional theme and to wish for the girls to grow healthily. This photo depicts an emperor’s wedding. It’s a large display, taking up a corner of the family room and traditionally passed down from the grandmother on the mother’s side of the family. As Hina-matsuri approaches preschool children make dolls out of paper and clay and sing traditional songs. Most homes with a young daughter will also feast, inviting relations and friends. It seems that Girl’s Day is for girls of all ages to enjoy. My mother-in-law still goes to the trouble of assembling this display even though her daughters are mature and left the nest many years ago.
Boy’s day comes in ‘Golden Week’ in May; I’ll write more about it then.

Host Clubs
One of my English language students brought this phenomenon to my notice; it’s a kind of ‘geisha’ role reversal wherein well dressed, impeccably mannered and articulate young men lavish their attentions on women in a club environment. These young men, however, have not been through anything like the rigours of the years of geisha training in culture, the arts and conversation.
Noriko, my student, has a boyfriend living in Tokyo; she’s recently had a rift with him over his consistent answer of “whenever” to her more pertinent questions, maybe that’s what lured her to the Host Club. She attended with a friend at about 10:30pm after eating out. The club was difficult to find so they were met on the street and guided to the doorway. On entering the club there were 4-5 young men at reception; one led them to the table and poured them sake. The fee for 1 ½ hours was 2000yen, about $20, including drinks, which considering they had 3 – 4 drinks in that time seems quite reasonable. During their time at the table a series of “suitors” introduced themselves and sat with the girls, taking care of small detail like topping up glasses, lighting cigarettes and engaging in “small-talk”. Each man left his name card, with a photo and contact details. If one of the men had “caught the eye” of the guest and she wanted to stay and chat with him, if he was available, then the fee was 1500yen for each subsequent ½ an hour. Noriko didn’t stay but she left with a collection of 10 name cards which she’s bringing around to show us at dinner tomorrow night; I think Noriko and my wife will enjoy tabling the ‘possibilities”.
Which brings me to the subject of Love Hotels; these establishments are scattered throughout Japan. They provide, so I’m told, tastefully furnished and comfortable rooms, for the purpose of which the name implies, at an hourly rate. Used mainly by young lovers and romantic trysts (again, so I’m told).

Valentine's Day

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:13:50 +0900

Last year, was my first Valentine’s Day and I wrote “Did I die and go to heaven? This is a fabulous day for the men folk of Japan. Today it is the female of the species that pampers her mate with chocolate temptations. Males can just relax and enjoy the attention, for a month at least, next month it’s our turn to reciprocate on ‘White’ Day.
Today my green tea experience will be embellished by that other special gift from nature, the product of the cocoa bean, a sublime combination.”
This year, this morning in fact, whilst I was holding an English language session with a student I learnt more. She told me that she had bought chocolate gifts not only for her husband but for her son and father too, and that this is quite common. Furthermore there is a new trend in Japan called “Tomochoco”, Tomo meaning friend and choco is self explanatory, wherein women are beginning to gift each other and workmates on Valentine’s Day.
It seems here that Valentine’s Day is becoming Japan’s Easter as far as chocolate consumption is concerned.
I hope our tea-drinking friends here can still kindle a spark of romance next Sunday.

Living in Japan

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:06:59 +0900

Well what an amusing day I had last Saturday.
It's a week before the 'Sapporo Snow Festival' starts in earnest but a close neighbour gave me an unexpected preview.
I first noticed him yesterday beavering away clearing the snow from his front driveway. By afternoon I thought he was a bit intense and that his discarded snow heap was growing in size. Later he seemed to patting it down with some affection and it was beginning to form a dome like shape, taller than him. This called for the binoculars for an up close inspection from the bowels of our second bedroom to avoid accusations of peeping.
Then I noticed that he was carving out an arched doorway. I thought he must have had a squabble with 'Her Indoors' and was preparing himself a 'dog house' for the night.
But no, he carefully placed a statuette in his 'shrine' and embellished it with head-wear and shawls. According to Ayano, my partner, it has no religious significance so it must just have been his creative way to spend a Saturday and why not? I must say that last night, when he illuminated it with a candle placed behind the figurine that it looked quite beautiful.

The Silence of Snow

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:39:05 +0900

This is my second winter in beautiful Sapporo, the capital of Japan’s northern ‘Wilderness’ island of Hokkaido. Last winter I was incapacitated and unable to fully appreciate this very new (after 40 years living in Australia), climate for me. This winter is one of wonder and discovery. Winter can be breathtakingly beautiful.

Driving around with snow above the car roof on either side can be disconcerting akin to the bob-sleigh experience I would imagine, certainly exciting enough.

Until recently I’ve been taking ‘Mr Rooney’ our American Cocker Spaniel for early morning and mid-afternoon walks through the forest. He started to come home like a giant snowball and needed to be thawed in a warm bath to rediscover him. Now the snow is too deep to even consider the forest walk so I’m back to walking the streets. The other morning after a particularly heavy snowfall there was the eerie experience, in the half light of dawn, of our neighbours, several of them, busy as beavers shovelling snow from their driveways and footpaths in the total silence of the soft blanket that had covered the streetscape overnight.

I emailed my sisters in Australia about the experience; one replied that she could “almost hear the silence of the snow”. There’s poetry here somewhere, I’m sure someone must have captured it in verse.

Matcha recipe

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:07:31 +0900

Carol Nall has mailed us this delicious reading recipe, thank you Carol

East Meets West Holiday Green Tea Ice Cream

1 pint heavy cream

2 Tablespoons Matcha

3 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon almond extract

4 ounces packaged frozen dark sweet cherries ( about 1/3 of a package), chopped

DIRECTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and beat until very thick.

Fold in the chopped frozen berries. Pour mixture into desired container and pop into freezer.

Wait approximately 45 minutes. Remove ice cream from freezer and break up crystals with a
metal spoon working from the outside edges in, gently folding over. Repeat this every 30 minutes until ice cream is of desired consistency.

Simply Yummy!

Prize Winner

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:46:00 +0900

Don’t be disappointed.

A friendly reminder that Christmas Day is nearly here and time flies so fast at this time of the year so we would encourage you to place your order within the next few days to receive your tea or gift sets on time.

We’re delighted to announce that the winner of this fabulous handmade tea pot is Dr. Christopher Pierce of Portland, Oregon USA.

You can view his recipe for ‘Cha’ at Doc's Summer Thirst Quencher.

Dr Pierce goes on to say “I have found that you should get to know the strength and qualities of your green tea before accompanying it with other flavors. The delicious organic Gyokuro you carry conjures the flavors of freshly buttered asparagus and sea air. I am considering creating a Gyokuro marinade for lightly seared scallops. The buttery green nature of the tea will compliment the richness of the scallops. Mmm”

Look out for details of a new competition starting early next year.

Season’s greetings
Charaku wishes our members and friends a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2010!

It’s beginning to look a bit like Christmas

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:32:35 +0900

We don’t have municipal garbage bins issued to each household here. Instead neighborhoods are broken down to small community groups of, say 20, homes with a designated garbage pickup point wherein each family takes turns for being in charge of assembling and dismantling the infrastructure for a week at a time. The “infrastructure” means a small portable wall of boards or plastic, a net to cover and weights (in our case house bricks), to keep the nets down. The nets are essential to discourage a voracious colony of crows that are prevalent throughout Japan. Assembly needs to be undertaken by 6am; Japanese are early risers and the crows beat them to it.

So what’s this got to do with Christmas?
This week I’m on garbage duty, last night there was a heavy snowfall and I was up at 5:45am to perform my garbage duty. We had dedicated last weekend to putting up our Christmas decorations part of which are the colored lights on the Christmas tree (front room window), Santa climbing up a rope (upstairs balcony front window) and reindeer and lights (outdoor patio and garden tree). At 5:45am here its pitch black so the effect of all the lights flashing and reflecting on the snow was just magical.

Pre Christmas here is very similar to the west, a festivity the Japanese have readily adopted and adapted since WWll. Department stores resound to the usual seasonal ‘muzak’ and tinsel and gift wrapping is everywhere. Here Christmas really is for the kids; you don’t see turkeys, hams-on-the-bone or Christmas puddings and cakes in the stores. Japan’s traditional Christmas meal is KFC and generally Japanese don’t like fruitcake, instead they opt for a light sponge cake decorated with cream and strawberries. But Christmas day is a working day here, wait until New Year then the feasting begins and how!

Niseko

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:20:28 +0900

Yesterday we headed off to Niseko, one of Japan’s premier ski resorts, to promote Charaku’s organic Japanese green teas to the skiers this season. Niseko is about a two hour drive from our base in south Sapporo, usually a delightful scenic drive, at this time of the year potentially deadly especially driving over Nakayama where the snow was heavy, familiar landmarks blanketed in snow and visibility down to the tail-lights of the car in front. I was happy to be a follower and not the leading driver.
Niseko is nestled in the foothills of the awe-inspiring Mt Yotei. The township is Christmas card picturesque with magnificent ski lodges huddled tidily into cozy looking streetscapes. The lodge manager who has been kind enough to entertain our green tea promotion is The Niseko Company. Their GM, Steve gave us a tour of one of the lodges built by West Canada Homes, a three story all timber lodge of spacious dimensions featuring a massive entrance hall with benches for the skiers to change in comfort and a thoughtfully placed bathroom for those in a hurry whilst changing, four impressive bedrooms with king size beds and tastefully decorated with Ainu (Hokkaido aborigines), woven wall hangings. Each bedroom has a massive ensuite bathroom. The owner has a flair for art and has commissioned a fascinating oil color landscape on the landing wall with another under way when we visited. There’s a huge patio with equally huge outdoor table and chairs, seating about eight from memory. The central floor is the showpiece comprising a very well equipped kitchen, with a central bench for serious food preparation, leading into a large and comfortable lounge. All the windows offer magnificent views of Niseko or Mt Yotei.
Something to behold on leaving Niseko were the “Gondolas” transporting their lucky skiers in enclosed comfort to the slopes from the doorstep of The Niseko Hilton. Now that’s got style!
We wish all the skiers and workers in Niseko a happy and safe ski season.

A Japanese wedding

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:36:00 +0900

Japanese brides are drawn to Christian style bridal gowns and even wedding ceremonies. Hence, to a visitor it may seem that Sapporo has a large Christian fellowship but the steeples and spires are likely to be a reception center which primary purpose is to host weddings.
Many Japanese couples have two ceremonies, one traditional Shinto dressed in kimonos followed immediately by a western style wedding and reception.
It was our honor and privilege to attend a close family wedding recently. This couple decided to forgo the traditional element.
The church/reception venue was amusingly named the 'Shalom Church'. The complex itself was very tasteful, the attendants effusive, the mood serious. The bride looked fantastic and the groom very elegant. The grandmother and the mother of the bride both wore kimonos. The bridal gown had a trail about 3 yards long.
The service was good, the chapel quite large, as big as a small English church. We were greeted at the front doors of the church by two girls, dressed as choir girls (they later became part of a good mini choir of 4, one of them doubling as a flautist), carrying large candles. When the doors opened we all trailed in, brides family to the left, groom's to the right. There was a large stain glass window behind the altar, a female organist also dressed in a surplus to the left of a central raised pulpit. The priest was a real one, the service conventional with prayers, hymns (the whole congregation sang) and the wedding ceremony. Much of the service was in Latin. Even though the whole affair had a touch of ‘Gone with the Wind’ it got away with it and the gravity and sincerity of the occasion won over the day.
All in all it was a very well orchestrated affair with nothing left to chance. The facilities were so good and well planned. Comfortable guest waiting rooms, gigantic dressing rooms for the bride and groom, sweeping stairway and fresh petals for the flower shower leading down to a very fine restaurant/reception area and very good food. Everyone at the dining table got up in turn to say a few words. All in all a good and dignified if somewhat serious day.

Competition reminder

nospam@example.com (XXL) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:20:35 +0900

Hurry! Time’s running out! Submit your green tea recipe to be in the running to win this exquisite hand-made tea pot.

Maybe you’ve baked some matcha cookies, confectionary, cakes or created your own drink using Japanese Green Tea as a base. Here’s a reminder of the competition from our Home Page:

Win this fabulous teapot pottered by the famous Tokoname Kyusu factory and valued at over us$100.
Simply email your Japanese green tea recipe to info@tea-charaku.com
The lucky winner will be decided on December 12th 2009 so you will receive the prize before Christmas. The best recipe in our opinion will win.

Here’s a recipe we trialled and enjoyed recently for Matcha Cheese Cake.

Ingredients:

-10 x plain tea biscuits, 40g of unsalted butter
-200g of cream cheese, 100g of granulated sugar, 2 eggs, 100g of full cream, 2tsp lemon juice, 40gm plain flour, 2tsp matcha powder

icing sugar to sprinkle over for decoration

Method:

1. Preheat Oven to 170C
2. Place biscuits in a plastic bag and crush to fine crumbs. Add melted butter, mix well and press into the bottom of a 15cm diameter cake tin.
3. Let cream cheese stand until soft then add sugar and mix well.
4. Add eggs, fresh cream and lemon juice continuing to mix well.
5. Sift flour and matcha together then fold into cream cheese mixture.
6. Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 50-60 minutes. If the mixture browns too quickly cover with foil.
7. Allow to cool after cooking then refrigerate until chilled.
8. Decorate with sifted icing sugar.

Bon Appetite!