The Short Story of Japanese Kino Enigmatic Life – Part 1

Small bars in a back street, Tokyo, Japan

I read the story with title “Kino” written by Japan author, Haruki Murakami. The story is about a Japanese man, called “Kino” who confused with reality.

In some points, Kino does not know about what wrong and what going on with his life.

It is quite enigmatic at the beginning of story. Then, I slowly understand that Kino had broken heart, and after that he has:

- lonely life

- no wife

- no children.

- almost no friend (especially women)

After resign from a “boring” job, Kino then has been trying his fortune by open the small bar of his aunt’s property.

The bar locates in the back little street (a narrow alley) of Tokyo, Japan. 

Illustration of inside small bar in Tokyo, Japan.

The bar serves drinks, variety of foods and jazz music. After a while, Kino has few “routine” customers. Yes, the few only.

There is one strange customer who comes several times in a week. Not like other Japanese who always visit a bar with companies. 

A small street in Tokyo, Japan.

The customer almost silent, and always sits in the same corner, the most uncomfortable spot in the bar.

I myself is interesting with this part of story about odd customer and a wander off cat. The customer is actually young man with the shaved head.

Who is the strange customer? What happen with his mysterious cat?

# To be continued. Please read part 2 

Is Denmark World Leader in Wind Energy?

Wind turbines in Denmark (credit to Google)

Fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are believed to have been contributed to climate changes. Thus, we need to move to friendly energy sources, renewable energy.

Two prominent renewable energies are wind and sun. Denmark have chosen wind as energy solution with several reasons:

- wind available for 24 hours, not only in daylight

- less pollution

- more efficient

- produce more energy

In term of wind power generator per capita (MWH per person), top 10 countries are:

- Denmark, 2.29 MWH per person

- Germany, 1.44

- Ireland, 1.34

- Spain, 1.30

- Canada, 0.85

- USA, 056

- United Kingdom, 0.57

- France, 0.40

- Italy, 0.38

- China, 0.26

The offshore Wind farm (credit to Google)

Denmark is clearly pioneer and leader in using and acquiring the cutting edge technology of wind energy in the world.

Technology progress through the years, now, we aware that renewable energy is more effective than fossil fuel energy in term of cost.

An old wind mill, just for illustration (credit to Google)

If we compare wind to solar energies, wind power is cheaper than solar energy. Wind power cost around US$ 45 per megawatt hour, while solar energy cost US$ 48 per megawatt hour.

Cost will be reduced in coming years due to invention in wind turbine technology and storing energy capacity.

USA promoted renewable resources energy, especially in the state of California. If we buy a brand new house, the property owners will offer us solar panels for electricity.

Did your state or country start to use wind or solar energy sources?

What Food Should We Try While in Japan? - part 2

Yakisoba

Part 1 of post (please re-visit: What Food Should We Try While in Japan?), we discussed three Japanese dishes:

- shabu shabu

- onigiri

- kare raisu

My other 3 favorite foods actually noodles or combined of noodle. Comparable to European, Italian foods such as “spaghetti” is noodle too. The same basic “raw material.”

The foods are called as:

- Yakisoba

- Soba

- Udon

Yakisonba is a simple fried noodle for me. In Japan, Yakisoba stir frying noodle mixed with seafood or meat, vegetable and sauces.

We can find “easily” Yakisoba in certain corners of Japanese cities, because Yakisoba is a street food. 

Soba

However, some of street Yakisoba is simply fried noodle mixed with vegetable (chopping cabbage) and spicy sauces.

Another type of Japanese noodle is Soba. It is a long type noodle, just cooked white noodle, then eaten with dipping spicy or sweetly sauces.

We may find quite a “complete” Soba, mixed with vegetable and meat like other Japanese noodle dishes. Healthy and delicious.

Udon

Udon uses bigger (thicker) size of noodle compared to Soba and Yakisoba, but it is a soup version of noodle for me.

You may find Udon in many restaurants in many cities in Japan with local taste and versions.

Sushi with cheese

Just to let you know that sushi blended with cheese available only in the USA. Don’t ask its when you are in Japan. The Chef will confuse for sure.

Have you tried any type of Japanese noodle? 

How many Countries Include in Live Longer Zones?

Expo park, Okinawa, Japan

First, you might know the term of “blue zone.” Yes, it is referring to areas where people live longer than other places in the world.

People may reach 100 years old or more in those areas due to two main factors:

- life style contributes to 70% of live longer

- genetic contributes to 30% only.

Initially, Dan Buettner suggested 5 places as “Blue Zones.” They are:

- Okinawa, Japan

- Sardinia, Italy

- Nicoya, Costa Rica

- Ikaria, Greece

- Loma Linda, California, USA

Beautiful view of Sardinia, Italy

Of lifestyle, some traits that make people live longer are:

- physical activities

- diet

- spiritual

- family and social networks 

One of street in Nicoya, Costa Rica

Blue zone population have regular physical activities to keep their weight. Please don’t think that they are doing exercises like what we do.

Several physical activities and calories burning are:

- mowing lawn, burning 400 calories

- laying tile, 240 calories

- spreading dirt, 270 calories

- shovel snow, 580 calories

- roofing, 340 calories

- rake leaves, 380 calories 

Ikaria island, Greece

You might guess the diet of blue zones population. Yes, they are consuming less:

- meat

- dairy products

- sugary foods

- alcohol

- smoking

Almost 95% of their consumption are:

- vegetables

- fruit

- grains

- legumes

Loma Linda, California, USA

Blue zone community is more religious compared to other areas. It is proved that people “pay attention to spiritual” activities less of:

- heart diseases

- depression

- stress

The important trait that make blue zone people live longer is “family and social networks.” Family and friends encourage each other to live well until old age.

Is your country include in “blue zone?” or have you visited one of “blue zone” countries? 

Why Walking Regularly Make You Live Longer?

Walking, just for illustration

We all understand that any movement of our body may benefit to our health. Many people choose walking as a form of exercise due to:

- easy

- gentle

- low impact

- free, just require a pair of shoes

- perfect for all ages: senior, young adult and teenagers

The question then Is it true that Walking Regularly Make You Live Longer? Why?

The answer is “yes” that walking regularly make our live longer. It is because walking let’s say 30 minutes per-day will improve our heart health. 

Walking on lake side

Heart diseases is “leading cause of death” in the world and USA. Disease caused 15.2 million death in the world and 735,000 in the USA per year.

Walking with speed of 2 mile per hour (mph) may reduce the cardiovascular risk, thus reduce risk of death. 

Illustration for walking (credit to Google)

Cardiac risk factors will be improved by walking. The risk factors include:

- Cholesterol

- blood pressure

- diabetes

- obesity

- mental stress

Moreover, walking has a lot of other health benefits, some are:

- improve nervous system

- decrease hostility

- boosting moods

- reduce belly fat

- improve digestive system

- boost immunity

- sleep better

By the way, do you walk regularly? If so, how often: per day or per week?

What Food Should We Try While in Japan? - part 1

Kare raisu

When I was in Japan, some friends of mine suggested me to taste a sushi and sashimi. I like sushi, but not sashimi.

If we are “googling,” there are many suggestions about food we should try when visiting Japan: 50 foods, 42 foods, 30 foods, 28 foods, 20 foods and 15 foods.

Of these, some examples are:

- Kare raisu

- Shabu shabu

- Ramen

- Onigiri

- Katsudon

- Udon

- Yakisoba

- Okonomiyaki

- Yakitori

- Tempura

Kare raisu is a curry rice, one of popular dishes. I love to eat with chicken. Japanese also called it as a “chicken curry rice.”

Onigiri and tamagoyaki

I have 6 favorite of Japanese foods:

- Kare raisu

- Onigiri

- Shabu shabu

- Udon

- Yakisoba

- Okonomiyaki

Onigiri is a rice in form of cylindrical or triangular. The ingredient fish (a small pieces of pickled fish). Then, wrapped with sea weed.

I guessed the taste is different to sushi in term of ingredients. I always consumed onigiri with tamagoyaki (rolled omelet) and tomatoes. 

Shabu shabu

Shabu shabu is a kind of soup for me, where sliced of vegetables and meats is mixed and stirred in the hotpot. Instead of meat, I prefer fish.

Hotpot is on the table, and we could eat as we boil. Eating shabu shabu with specific sauces (such as ponzu sauce).

Have you tried one or all of these three Japanese foods: kare raisu, onigiri or shabu shabu? What do you think?

What is Inside Stupa of the Buddha Temple of Borobudur?

Several stupas

A dome like monument in Buddha temples is called as a “stupa.” The symmetrical monuments with size of 200 square meter sit on the Borobudur temple.

We will find 73 stupas on the world largest Buddha temple of Borobudur, central Java, Indonesia.

On the peak of Borobudur, there is the biggest stupa. We can’t see anything inside, since its closed (no holes) stupa.

Other 72 stupa are perforated. We able to see clearly what inside the stupas, and if lucky enough, we may reach Buddha statue by our hand.

What stupa means and purposes?:

- to store Buddha’s sacred relic

- to worship Buddhist saint

- to learn a lesson of Buddhism

- used by pilgrims where they circumnavigate the dome

Stupas with mountain view

Superstition belief that if our hand, especially children reach the statue inside the stupa, our wish will come true.

It might relate to the symbol of statue as represent of living Buddha with his power to protect and provide energy to his followers.

The biggest stupa in the middle (little bit far of top).

The biggest stupa is the main stupa. It seems to command the other small stupa. The tour guide said that there is a big Buddha inside the main stupa.

A Buddha statue sits inside stupa

Buddha statue inside the stupa:

- sitting straight

- leg crossed

- right foot above the left one.

- right hand face up

- left hand face down

Do you know about stupa? Where do you see stupa for the first time?