January 3, 2012

Some Miscellaneous Photos/雑多な写真

Some miscellaneous photos

Kakurei Junmai Ginjo made by Aoki Shuzo (Sake Brewery):
青木酒造の鶴齢(かくれい)純米吟醸:

Tempura soba that I had on New Year's Eve:
大晦日に食べた天ぷらそば:
My wife and children stayed at her father's house for the New Year's holiday season. I was in no mood for making "toshikoshi soba" for myself, so I had this cup of tempura soba.
妻と子供たちは、正月に実家に行ったので、私は自分だけに「年越しそば」を作る気にもなれず、このカップ麺の天ぷらそばを食べました。
Newspaper on January 1:
元旦の新聞:
Newspaper in six parts, together with a large amount of fliers.
六部の新聞とすごい量のチラシ。

Goraikou (rising sun (viewed on New Year's day)):
ご来光((元旦に見る)日の出):
It's a very popular activity to go to a beach or mountain to see goraikou.
海や山に行って、ご来光を見るのはとてもポピュラーなことです。

But I was too busy and lazy to do so. I took this photo from my house.
でも私は忙しいし、怠け者なので、この写真を家から撮りました。
I visited the local shrine.
地元の神社にお参りに行きました。
I then walked to the supermarket to buy these, among others:
そして、スーパーまで歩いて行って、こんなものを買いました。
Third-category beer, "Kakurei" sake in a glass, and mebachi maguro akami (lean part of bigeye tuna).
第三のビール、コップに入った「鶴齢」、メバチまぐろ赤身。

Of course, I had these self-made osechi:
もちろん、自分で作ったおせちも食べました。
My brother-in-law kindly gave me this bottle of "Kakurei" sake!
義兄から、この「鶴齢」をもらいました!
Kakurei Hon-jozo, to be exact.
正確に言うと、鶴齢の本醸造。
My sister-in-law gave me this assortment of osechi:
義理の姉からはこのおせちの詰め合わせをもらいました。
The kobu (kombu) maki contains salmon.
昆布巻きには鮭が入っています。

Ozoni:
お雑煮:
I'm on a diet, so I had mochi-less ozoni.
ダイエット中なので、餅なしのお雑煮を食べました。

8 comments:

okasan said...

大晦日にはインースタントカップ麺を食べましたか、可哀そうね。
Watching sunrise via TV is my way especially when it is cold and snowy outside. Thanks for sharing your お正月ritual with us.People all over the world celebrate this event differently. The sake from your brother in law looks like a nice one. The liquor store here now carries some fancy 日本酒.I recently bought a bottle that come with a jacket like yours. It was indeed very smooth.
The Japanese school where I attend will have our own お正月celebration. There will be all sorts of traditional games, food and activities. I will be in charge of 書道 or 書き初め the first words for the new year.

muskratbyte said...

Was that a kagami mochi near your television? My grandmother (from Hokkaido) used to display kagami mochi for New Year. Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Fräulein Trude said...

You recieved nice presents from your male relatives and the food looked good too.
Living in a great plain I would like to watch sunrise over mountains more often. So pretty with the snow.

Hiroyuki said...

okasan: I really enjoyed お正月 all by myself. If I had accompanied my family, I would have gained 2-3 kg.

So, you are good at 書道? I'd like to see your work! (laugh)

muskratbyte: Yes, a kagami mochi that my wife bought at the 100-yen shop! I placed a yuzu on top of it for lack of a daidai (a type of citrus fruit).

Kiki: I'd like to discuss what it means to live with snow in the near future!

Minasan, akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
Happy New Year to all of you!

Fräulein Trude said...

I like snow the most while watching it on pictures or television or from a very far distance. I don't need it here. Last year I had to move tons with the snow shovel - at 5:30 in the morning, each and every day for nearly two month. Keep it.

Hiroyuki said...

Kiki: Actually, I've been thinking about posting some photos and videos to show what it means to live in the Snow Country.

Sissi said...

Very interesting photos! You have a beautiful view from your house. I don't live in the snowy and colder part of Switzerland, but I also see mountains from my window (they are further than yours).

Hiroyuki said...

Sissi: The photo shows Mt. Makihata, one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/100_Famous_Japanese_Mountains
Yes, it's a beautiful mountain.