NEW YEAR 2014

おめでとうございます。
今年も宜しくお願いいたします！

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013

Iga Ninja Forest with William Reed

If you let William Reed know that Ken Nielsen
sent you he won't beat you up.

THE HEART OF A FATHER

 a kurume story

Charlie Nielsen

November 7, 1955 ~ March 19, 2004 

daughter Kelsey Nielsen is just like her dad Charlie;
she loves like Jesus.

Abide Family Center has been up and running in Uganda for a little over 6 months and we have already helped keep 49 children in their families. Check out the new promo video, meet our staff and learn what we've been doing here to keep children in families and out of orphanages. If you feel lead to give the gift of FAMILY this Christmas, you can do so here: http://abidefamilycenter.org/donate0.aspx

“From Japan with Love (and Dashi)”

“From Japan with Love (and Dashi)”

 

From Japan with Love (and Dashi)

from The Perennial Plate on Vimeo.

“From Japan with Love (and Dashi)” produced by foodie and filmmaker Daniel Klein gives us all an amazing glance at some of Japan’s most iconic dishes. It gives a fine glimpse into the soul of Japan and is guaranteed to leave you hungry for Japanese cuisine.

 

“From Japan with Love (and Dashi)” is the first video from season three of Daniel Klein’s food-focused series, “The Perennial Plate,” available on the video sharing site, Vimeo. The three-minute clip captures highlights from the cultural exchanges and exotic meals that Klein encountered during his two-week stay in the land of the rising sun.

Tokyo's 'ninja homes'

Tokyo's 'ninja homes' find a niche among Japanese young - CNN.com

 

"Houses depreciate in value over 15 years after being built," says Tokyo-based architect Alastair Townsend, "and on average they are demolished after 25 or 30 years, so the owner of a house doesn't need to consider what a future buyer might want.

THE WAITING ROOM SCENE

First trailer of Hollywood remake of Godzilla

TOKYO — The trailer for next year’s much-needed Godzilla remake was released this week online along with a new poster for the film. The somewhat campy 1998 American remake of the classic was more of a whimsical adventure featuring baby Godzillas and the cast of The Simpsons.

HOW TO SENTO

Japanese bathtub recipes to keep you warm this winter

By Jessica

Arts & Culture Dec. 10, 2013 - 06:10AM JST ( 8 )

TOKYO —

As you may know, people in Japan are pretty serious about their baths. Not only have they developed an entire bathing culture, there is also a general belief that the contents of the bath can have strong physiological effects. This naturally includes the various different minerals that appear in hot springs, but also encompasses the bath salts, bubble bath, essential oils, fruits, vegetables, and whatever else goes in the bath at home.
Now that the colder weather is upon us, we thought we’d share some of the body-warming, circulation-improving bath add-ins popular in Japan.
Ginger
Ginger is said to increase appetite, protect against colds, and be a mild sterilizer. Fans say that a ginger bath keeps them warmer longer than a regular one and that the strong aroma clears their head.
Recipe: Remove the skin from fresh ginger and cut off some thin slices. Put these slices in a tea bag or something similar. Add to a hot bath and let it sit for 10 minutes. Ginger can overstimulate sensitive skin, so it’s best to start with a small amount and add more later.
Kombu
Kombu is a type of kelp commonly used in Japanese cooking for making stock. But it can also be used to give your bath some extra flavor. Kombu contains amino acids and minerals that are supposed to be good moisturizers and protection against winter-chapped skin. Says a fan, “You’ll feel like you are in a pot of soup!”
Recipe: Cut one sheet of dried kombu into 5cm strips and boil them in a pot of water for a few minute. Pluck out the kombu strips and add the water to your bath.
Yuzu
Yuzu is a smallish Asian citrus fruit, kind of like a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange. They have a pleasant citrus aroma and are said to promote circulation and reduce sensitivity to cold, making them a very popular winter bath add-in. In fact, taking a yuzu bath on the winter solstice is a common tradition. The citric acid and vitamin C in the peel is also supposed to be good for your skin.
Recipe: This one’s easy. Just throw a few in the bath as is.
Mikan
Also in the citrus family, we have the mikan orange. Not only are they delicious, they are said to prevent dangerous drops in body temperature. A bath raises your body temperature and adding mikan to the mix is said to keep that temperature up longer, allowing your temperature to slowly return to normal rather than dropping off sharply when you step from the bath into the cold air (traditionally, bathrooms are not heated in Japan).
Recipe: After eating your mikan, tear the peel into little strips for drying. You can do this by putting them outside in the sun for a week or by microwaving them on a paper towel for about two minutes. Tie up the peel from 3-5 mikans in a piece of cloth or handkerchief and add this to the bath.
Garlic
You may not want to try this one if you are expecting anyone to cuddle with you afterwards, but garlic is supposed to be good for blood circulation, making it good for beating the chills. It’s also said to relieve nerve pain and be good for the skin.
Recipe: Put one bulb of peeled, raw garlic in a tea sac or similar bag and add to the bath. If the smell is too much for you, add a slice of lemon.
Wine
OK, this one might be less about the health benefits and more about promoting the annual release of Beaujolais Nouveau in Novemeber, but the Yunessun resort in Hakone holds a wine bath every year that is very popular among Japanese and quirky-Japanese-experience-seeking tourists. Supposedly, red wine is good for your skin and this recipe is easily recreated at home.
Recipe: Dump some red wine in your bath. Or drink it. That works too.

Caroline Kennedy Meets the Emperor