shrinecastle

Seeing Shrinecastle around NYC

2011-12-17T15:46:00.000-05:00

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the Japanese Culinary Center for a Motsu Nabe event and saw this:

Shrinecastle at Japanese Culinary Center

It's a print-out of "Japanese Culinary Center Puts the Smackdown on Gyoza," a blog entry I wrote about the delicious dumplings event held by Japanese Culinary Center.

I thought that was incredibly cool.

Christmas Tree!

2011-12-12T11:43:00.000-05:00

Yes, most people put up their Christmas trees right after Thanksgiving, so I suppose we're a little late in that respect. But our Christmas tree is up and decorated, and I couldn't be happier!

Christmas tree!

We went a little retro this year with giant bulbs.

Retro Tree!

Here is one of our favorite ornaments, the octopus.

Tremendously cool octopus ornament!

Our American tree fits in nicely with the Japanese touches in our place.

Dining/Living room!

Even the office door is decked out for the holidays.

Christmas lights!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Ten Hours in Fukushima

2011-11-03T10:50:00.001-04:00

A journalist advised me not to go. Two peace activists told me I would be fine, although one of them didn’t want me to eat the local foods. An author suggested a simple lunch probably wouldn’t do much damage.

So I went. And ate lunch. The place in question is Fukushima, the site of what is considered the worst nuclear disaster in history. I didn't go to the vicinity of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, of course, but for a few minutes I was about 25 miles away, which is close enough.

I wrote about the experience for my website, JapanCulture•NYC, and you can read all about it in the story "Fukushima City: Six Months Later."

A view of Fukushima from the bullet train

As I looked out the window as the bullet train approached Fukushima Station, I was surprised by how pastoral the area seemed.

Mountains of Fukushima

The views from a rest area in the mountains are stunning. Fukushima, despite its beleaguered state and struggles with the nuclear crisis, is quite beautiful.

Beautiful late-summer day in Fukushima

Still, the beauty doesn't hide the fact that there are serious radiation concerns, especially in areas such as Iitate, a village that is considered in the "red zone." The "red zone" isn't as bad as a mandatory evacuation zone, but the radiation levels are high enough to warrant the government's suggested evacuation.

Houses near Iitate, Fukushima

My host that day in Fukushima, Professor Takayuki Takahashi of Fukushima University, informed me that drawn curtains in homes likely means the residents have relocated to safer areas.

Fukushima University

So many people, like Professor Takahashi and the other scientists I met that day, are working incredibly hard to solve the nuclear crisis. The sign on a building on the campus of Fukushima University says, "Mitsuke you anata no mirai," which means, "Find your future." It will take decades, but I hope Fukushima finds its future to be healthy.

Everything You Wanted to Know about JapanBall 2011

2011-10-20T23:47:00.000-04:00

An edited version of this post appeared in Baseball Reflections.

Last month, as they have done for the past twenty years, Bob Bavasi and Mayumi Smith guided a group of tourists across Japan to discover the joys of the culture through baseball. Bavasi, the son of Buzzie Bavasi of Brooklyn/LA Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and California Angels fame, and Smith, the director of the Nippon Business Institute at Everett Community College in Washington state, operate JapanBall, a whirlwind tour that packs five baseball games in five different cities into seven days. This September I joined Bavasi, Smith, and twelve other baseball fans for a week of baseball, bullet trains, and beer.

JapanBall Hall of Fame

Each tour kicks off at a Café Roje, a tiny ramen shop in the Tokyo neighborhood of Ochanomizu. Dubbed the JapanBall Hall of Fame by Bavasi, the restaurant – which is run by the husband-and-wife team of Jun and Koko, who cheerfully serve ramen, gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), and chahan (fried rice) to this group of gaijin (foreigners) who sit around and talk baseball all night – houses the plaques of JapanBall Hall of Fame members. The criteria for achieving Hall-of-Fame status are completing three JapanBall tours or taking the see-it-all option in which the traveler attends games at all twelve Japanese professional baseball stadiums in a two-week period.

Bob Bavasi (standing) gives us the scoop in Tokyo

This year four people were inducted into the JapanBall Hall of Fame, including yours truly, as I was participating in my fourth tour.

Don Robbs of Hawaii inducted into the JapanBall Hall of Fame

This year a producer and a cameraman hired by an Australian TV company to do a program about Japanese baseball joined us at the ramen shop, recording footage of our Hall of Fame induction ceremony and listening in as we discussed why we go on this trip.

Game 1: Hiroshima Carp at Yomiuri Giants – Tokyo Dome, Tokyo

Fans who follow NPB were hoping for a glimpse of Carp pitcher Kenta Maeda, the reigning Sawamura (Japan’s Cy Young) Award winner. Instead, the start went to Giancarlo Alvarado, a 33-year-old right-hander from Puerto Rico with no MLB experience. He gave up seven hits and two runs in 6.2 innings as the Carp defeated the Giants 6-3. Giants manger Tatsunori Hara pulled starter Shun Tono after only one inning of work, in which he gave up three runs. Hara’s double-switch moved the shortstop into the pitcher’s spot, causing some angst among the JapanBall participants who keep score.

Ultraman at Tokyo Dome

Giants players in posters outside Tokyo Dome

Giants fans

The Japanese game is often described as small ball – leadoff batter gets on base, steals 2nd, is bunted to 3rd, scores on a sac fly – but on this night, we witnessed four home runs, including the 150th of Hiroshima first baseman Kenta Kurihara’s career. Although Kurihara is on the opposing team, the Giants mascots presented him with a bouquet of flowers as he crossed home plate.

Hiroshima fans cheer

The TV crew was also there for the first game, interviewing each of us about what we think of Japanese baseball. We all had praise for the oendan (fan clubs) who create an amazing atmosphere with their constant chants.

Game 2: Nippon-Ham Fighters vs Rakuten Golden Eagles – Kleenex Miyagi Stadium, Sendai

Sold-out trains meant the JapanBall crew had to take a super-early bullet train from Tokyo to Tohoku as we headed to Sendai, a city hit hard by the massive earthquake that struck northeastern Japan on March 11. On September 10, almost six months to the day of the most devastating natural disaster to hit Japan in 140 years, we joined a packed house and watched two gems by two young pitchers, Nippon-Ham’s Yuki Saito and Masahiro Tanaka of Rakuten.

Good Luck Tohoku!

This was a dream matchup of two rivals, both 23, who faced each other in an epic showdown at the National High School Baseball Championship in 2006. After the aces battled to a 1-1 tie in 15 innings, Saito started the rematch the following day, striking out Tanaka to end the game and win Waseda Jitsugyo’s first title.

Tanaka is now in his fifth season with the Eagles; Saito, who attended Waseda University, is a rookie with the Fighters. In their first professional head-to-head matchup, both Yu-chan and Ma-kun – as fans affectionately call them – were impressive, each throwing complete games, the ninth of the season for Tanaka and the first of Saito’s young and promising career. After giving up a run in the bottom of the 1st, Saito settled down until the 6th, when the Eagles scored three runs. He struck out only one batter, but walked only one.

Tanaka prevailed against his rival on this day, and he seemed to grow more confident and dominant as the game progressed. Carrying a shutout into the 9th, Tanaka allowed a run on a two-out, bases-loaded walk – the only one he issued – to pinch-hitter Tomohiro Nioka. It was the only blemish in his 12-strikeout performance. After the walk, Ma-kun was visibly upset on the mound; the run ended his personal 24-inning scoreless streak. (In my opinion, Tanaka technically struck out Nioka earlier in the at-bat on a strike that was called a ball.)

Fittingly, Tanaka struck out the last batter to win the game 4-1. Despite my initial disdain that I once again missed seeing Yu Darvish pitch – he would start, and lose, the next day – this was easily the best game I’ve seen in Japan. Since that outing, Tanaka has recorded five more complete games and leads the Pacific League in ERA.

Ma-Kun addresses the crowd after his gem

We also had the chance to see Kaz Matsui, who returned to NPB and signed with the Eagles after seven seasons in MLB. “It was just like watching a Mets game,” lamented JapanBall member and lifelong Mets fan Ken Schlapp. “Matsui went 0 for 4 with an error.”

Balloon release during the 7th inning stretch

After the game we were invited to a barbecue at the home of Marty Kuehnert, senior advisor to the Rakuten Golden Eagles. It’s rare to visit a private residence in Japan, and we appreciated this special opportunity.

In addition to sampling Marty’s new barbecue sauce recipe (excellent!), we met Luis Garcia, the Eagles first baseman who had a key RBI single and made a tremendous defensive play in the game. We also had the opportunity to talk to Darrell Rasner, a right-hander who played for both the Nationals and the Yankees.

From left: Darrell Rasner, Marty Kuehnert, Luis Garcia

Rasner praised Tanaka, saying his teammate will one day play in MLB. But he had higher praise for Darvish. “He’s the real deal,” Rasner said of the talented and popular 25-year-old. “Yu Darvish will go [to MLB] after this season for $50 million [as a posting fee]. And it’s going to be the Yankees.”

We’ll find out soon if Rasner’s prediction is correct. If it is, perhaps I’ll finally see Darvish play in person.

Game 3: Yokohama BayStars at Chunichi Dragons – Nagoya Dome, Nagoya

The 2011 JapanBall tour stumbled upon Milestone Week. This year the Chunichi Dragons are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the franchise. In this game Dragons leadoff batter Masahiro Araki went three for four en route to becoming only the eleventh player in NPB history with 1,500 career hits. His milestone came in the 33-year-old shortstop’s last at-bat. Araki also drove in the game’s only run, as Chunichi defeated the BayStars 1-0.

Nagoya Dome

Anniversary for Chunichi franchise

Maximo Nelson, a Dominican in his fourth season with the Dragons, recorded only his seventh win of the season against 13 losses. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up four hits and striking out five.

The game wasn’t sold out, but the crowd was lively. The bento I had was amazing, too.

Nagoya Dome bento

Baseball Off Day in Kyoto

Since Mondays are off days for all NPB teams, the members of the JapanBall tour had time to explore Kyoto, a city renowned for its many temples. I have to admit that as a frequent traveler to Japan, I have a “been there, done that” attitude when it comes to Kyoto. Although I think Kyoto is a beautiful city, I wasn’t as eager as the rest of the group to see a bunch of temples on this hot afternoon. Instead, I tagged along with a few of the guys on the tour and explored the amazing food court in the basement of a department store near our hotel. After going to the top of Kyoto Tower, I broke down and walked to one temple, Higashi Honganji.

Kyoto Tower

View from Kyoto Tower

Higashi Honganji

I met up with everyone in the evening for our group dinner at a Korean barbecue place near Kyoto’s lively Gion district. It’s always fun to walk through the narrow streets and see all of the great restaurants in the area.

Downtown Kyoto

Kyoto street

Game 4: Chunichi Dragons at Hanshin Tigers – Koshien Stadium, Nishinomiya

“Baseball fans in America have to see this” – Matt Zito, 2011 JapanBall tour member

With arguably the loudest and rowdiest oendan in all of Japan, a Hanshin Tigers game at Koshien Stadium outside of Osaka is an experience to behold. Every fan – EVERY fan – is into the game, faithfully reciting each cheer and hanging on every pitch from start to finish. We were as close to the oendan as we could get, and although we were cramped in the bleachers with no seatbacks or legroom, the majority of us delighted in the atmosphere.

The crowd was on fire, except in the first inning, when Alabama native Jason Standridge, who pitched in 80 MLB games over the course of seven seasons, gave up two runs to the Dragons.

Arizona Diamondbacks scouts were in attendance to watch Taiwanese lefty Chen Wei Yin in his start against the Tigers. They were most likely disappointed with his performance. After being given the aforementioned first-inning runs, Chen gave them right back in the bottom frame. Tigers fans were back in the game, and Chen wouldn’t make it out of the fourth inning.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the first four innings, with the Tigers answering almost every run scored by the Dragons. Almost wasn’t enough; the Dragons prevailed 6-4. Throughout it all, however, the stadium was rocking with the best fans in Japanese baseball.

Hanshin Tigers oendan (fan club)

Ready to release balloons at Koshien

Game 5: Yomiuri Giants at Yokohama BayStars – Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama

Yokohama Stadium may as well have been Tokyo Dome. The sparse crowd of fewer than 16,000 was dominated by Giants fans furiously twirling orange towels.

Giants fans cheer in Yokohama

In this game between the “Yankees of Japan” and the cellar-dwelling BayStars, we watched another strong pitching performance, this time by Giants rookie Hirokazu Sawamura. The right-hander was Yomiuri’s 2010 first-round pick out of Chuo University. Like his fellow 23-year-olds Saito and Tanaka, Sawamura showed us that some day he’ll win the award that bears his name.

Sawamura pitched seven shutout innings, surrendering five hits and striking out nine. The youngster also made a statement with the bat. He had an RBI double and scored a run in the Giants’ four-run fourth inning, redeeming himself for striking out while trying to bunt during a previous at-bat.

The Giants would go on to win 6-2, finally giving Sawamura some run support. Despite being among the top five in ERA in the Central League, Sawamura had a losing record at the time we saw him pitch. (As of this writing, Sawamura evened his record at 11-11.)

Bob Bavasi (left) with sportswriter Wayne Graczyk

After the game I went with Giants broadcaster and writer Wayne Graczyk at Benny’s Place, a sports bar in Yokohama. Wayne compiles JapanBall’s yearly Japan Pro Baseball Fan Handbook and Media Guide and writes a weekly column for the Japan Times.

Benny of Benny’s Place is a Midwesterner who was stationed in Japan during his stint in the Navy. He never left, opening an American sports bar and serving pizza and burgers.

Japan Entertainment Group’s Jeff Kusumoto, who does work in Japan for the Houston Astros, joined us as Wayne and I celebrated another outstanding JapanBall tour.

Five baseball games in seven days. Brilliant pitching performances by three young guns and milestones reached by two veterans. Bullet trains and sightseeing thrown in for good measure. Just another week on the JapanBall tour.

A Morning at Naha Nishi High School

2011-10-15T22:01:00.000-04:00

During our stay in Okinawa, my husband and I had the special opportunity to visit a high school in Naha. The program, "Learning about Uchinanchu Around the World," was part of the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival, a quinquennial event that brings together Okinawans and their descendants.

A month before arriving in Naha, I communicated with Masaki Takara, an English teacher at Naha Nishi High School. He arranged our visit, planning an assembly with the school's one thousand students and observations in several classes.

English teacher Masaki Takara

Takara Sensei made this crazy poster of me for a late-September festival at the school.

Students with my poster

And the poster was still there on the day we visited.

Poster and e-mails

Naha Nishi High School

After meeting Takara Sensei and Assistant Principal Miyagi, my husband and I attended an assembly in our honor. Students performed a cool hip-hop/traditional eisa dance for us and presented us with gifts. Then Takara Sensei took us to several classes.

"Playing" the sanshin

The first stop was at a music class, where a student laughed at my inability to play the sanshin, a three-stringed, banjo-like instrument native to Okinawa. Can you blame me for being bad? Just look at the notes:

Sanshin notes

We moved on to calligraphy, another activity at which I'm completely unskilled.

Attempting to control the brush

Learning calligraphy

We both gave it a try, and we had a great time talking to these young students. They were engaging and asked us questions about our lives: What our jobs are, how we met, if we have children.

Yucking it up in calligraphy class

Most of the students in this calligraphy class are athletes, so they thought my job of typing graphics for televised sporting events was kakkouii, or cool.

Our calligraphy

I prepared a slide show for the English class, discussing that although I live in New York, my mother is from northern Okinawa, which is why I was participating in the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival. We fielded questions from the students, although most were hesitant to talk at first.

Yoshihira Sensei's English class

But since these students are going to Australia for a home stay next month, it was important for us to communicate in English so they could practice.

In the following Social Studies class, Ken Saito prepared a worksheet for his students, asking them questions about the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival and about New York. That class, which had some of the same students from the previous English class, was lively, as we discussed what makes New York City famous. You can read about what Okinawan high school students think of New York here.

Saito Sensei's Social Studies class

Family Time on Okinawa

2011-10-14T20:44:00.000-04:00

The best thing about visiting Okinawa is spending time with my family. My husband and I enjoyed having dinner with my aunt and my cousins at a restaurant in Naha. It was amazing to see how my cousins' daughters have grown since the last time we saw each other in 2008.

My family

The Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival Parade in Pictures

2011-10-13T21:56:00.001-04:00

More pictures from the Festival Eve Parade of the 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival in Naha, Okinawa, on October 12. For more about the parade, check out this link.

I Love a Parade!

2011-10-13T02:55:00.000-04:00

The 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival is underway in Okinawa! The quinquennial celebrates Okinawans and people of Okinawan descent who live in other countries, and there are a lot. The Okinawa Times reported 4,500 people from all over the world marched in the parade that took place on October 12.

My husband and I were happy to march in the parade with the New York Okinawa Kenjin Kai.

My pass to the events

I had the unexpected honor of being one of the ten people carrying the banner for the sixty New Yorkers who made the long trip to homeland.

I'm filled with the anticipation of marching!

Each Okinawan club representing various states within the US and several countries wore T-shirts and costumes specific to their regions. As you can see, we donned Statue of Liberty crowns.

New York's T-shirt

San Francisco Okinawa Kenjin Kai

DC's T-shirt

There are Okinawans in Austin, Texas

Representing Brazil

Not only did Brazil have the most members marching in the parade (1,000), but the country has the most Okinawans in the world (more than 100,000), outside of Japan, of course.

A girl scout leads the USA's contingent through the parade

The focus was on the US, as New York was the first group of Uchinanchu (in Okinawan dialect, "people from Okinawa") to march in the parade. I was told that at the parade during the previous festival in 2006, the New York delegation was relegated to the end of the line, so members were pleased that we were at the front this year.

We're not sure why, but we think it may have something to do with Teiko Tursi, the president of the New York Okinawa Kenjin Kai.

Teiko Tursi

This week Teiko was one of 13 people to receive an award from the governor of Okinawa for "expanding the development of emigration society." Teiko shook hands with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and addressed the crowd before the start of the parade.

Governor Nakaima with Teiko Tursi

Teiko energizes the crowd

A wonderful surprise for me was my aunt Nae Oshiro finding me in the crowd before the parade began.

Surprise visit from Nae Obasan

Nae Obasan cheers for the New York Kenjin Kai

The press and the crowd took pictures of everyone marching the parade route.

I had a great time carrying the banner for the New York group and waving to everyone watching along Kokusai Dori, the main street in Naha, Okinawa's capital.

Being in the first group, I almost forgot about the thousands of people behind us.

When we reached the end of the parade, we did a little "eisa" chant, then we enjoyed the entertainment in the plaza.

Okinawans from Hawaii performed the hula

It was a great beginning to a week of celebrating being Okinawan.

Why Don't We Have Chickens in Our Newscasts?

2011-09-07T05:06:00.004-04:00

I first saw him last September while watching the evening news in our Tokyo hotel. I was stunned into silence. My husband was the first to speak. "That was a chicken on the set," he said.

I saw him again on Monday evening. Different Tokyo hotel, same newscast. A Japanese television network employs a chicken. Not a live one, mind you, but a mascot. It was odd to see him on the set with the other news anchors, standing in front of the desk at the open of the broadcast, especially since the lead story was the damage caused by Typhoon Talas.

The September 5, 2011, open of News Every.

As we discovered last year, the chicken does the weather.

Sora Jirou in 2010

His name is Sora Jirou, and he's the resident weather chicken for News Every. Since mascots don't actually say anything, weathercaster Kihara-san does all the talking – and Sora Jirou nods in agreement – during their two-minute segment.

Sora Jirou and Kihara

As strange as it is to see a chicken on the news, I love Sora Jirou. How can you not love a chicken who wears a raincoat? Look, there's even a cartoon version of him on the forecast graphics.

Sora Jirou's forecast for the evening

Sora Jirou's forecast for tomorrow

Weather page on News Every's site

Is it silly to have a weather chicken on the news? Yes. Is it unprofessional? Maybe. But in Japan there's a mascot for practically everything, so why not the weather? As we debate this point, let's watch a YouTube video of Sora Jirou wearing a momiji (autumn leaf) skirt.

From LLWS to NPB

2011-09-04T19:19:00.000-04:00

I just arrived in Tokyo to spend the next two weeks sightseeing and taking part in the JapanBall tour. This is my fourth year with JapanBall, a group that takes people on a tour of Japan through five professional baseball games in seven days. It's an imaginative – if not condensed – way to soak in Japan's culture, cuisine, and transportation system while taking in some baseball.

Speaking of baseball, I'm probably the only person from the US who was disappointed that the Japanese Little League team from Hamamatsu City lost the Little League World Series championship game to the boys from Huntington Beach, California. To me the matchup of a team from Japan against a team from the US was the 12- and 13-year-old equivalent to Nadeshiko Japan's victory over the US in the Women's World Cup in July. (But in Little League, the tournament is structured so that a team from the US is always guaranteed a spot in the championship game.)

Alas, it was not to be, as the US clipped Japan 2-1, after an error kept California's bottom of the 6th alive and allowed the winning run to score on a clutch hit by a youngster named Nick Pratto.

While I watched the drama unfold on TV, my friend Dean was on the scene and took some fantastic, up-close-and-personal photos.

While there were tears in the visitors' dugout . . .

. . . the victors posed with the championship banner.

The event was worthy of a blurb in Sports Illustrated, which praised the final game while slamming the television coverage (". . . the quality of the product overwhelmed its questionable presentation.").

Regardless of your opinion of the televised production, the Little League World Series is great fun, even when your team doesn't win it all. Chin up, Hamamatsu City. Maybe a few years down the line, I'll see one or more of you playing in an NPB game in Japan.

Countdown to the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival

2011-08-31T13:52:00.000-04:00

The Okinawa Times is running a countdown to the prefecture's 5th Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival, taking place October 12-16. The front page of each day features a picture of someone of Okinawan descent who is planning to attend the event.

Here's the paper from August 30:

Okinawa Times, August 30, 2011

Sharing space with an article about Japan's new prime minister, Yoshihiko Noda, is a pink box declaring only 43 days until the Worldwide Uchinanchu Festival.

Who's picture is featured?

Yours truly. Hooray! Underneath my picture reads my name and that I'm from New York. To the right it says, "I love Okinawan culture. I'm looking forward to the Uchinanchu Festival."

The countdown to my trip to Okinawa continues . . .

I Stalked a Japanese Celebrity

2011-08-05T01:21:00.000-04:00

Okay, I didn’t actually stalk her, but . . . Well, let me start from the beginning.

The Stella Adler Studio for Acting has been a New York City institution since 1949 and boasts such Hollywood icons as Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro as its alumni. And this year the school became the training ground for Leah Dizon. She may not be a household name in the States, but the Las Vegas native is a celebrity in Japan.

Leah Dizon isn’t Japanese – her father is Filipino and Chinese; her mother has French ancestry – but she became a “gravure idol” (attractive young singer, model, and TV presenter) after moving to Tokyo in 2006. In the span of four years, Dizon released photobooks and albums; starred in music videos and commercials; and married, had a daughter by, and divorced a Japanese man.

Now she’s in New York, allegedly pursuing her dream of acting by taking classes at the Stella Adler Studio. At least that’s what a weekly Japanese magazine with a high circulation wanted to know. Feeling the need to update Dizon’s fans, the magazine hired a Japanese journalist friend of mine here in New York to secure an interview with the pop idol. When deadlines conflicted with my friend’s schedule, she asked me to help. My assignment was to find Leah Dizon. The magazine felt the best way for me to do that was to stake out the Stella Adler Studio for Acting. Huh? A phone call wouldn’t do the trick?

Apparently no one seems to know where in NYC Dizon is living, and the magazine was acting on an entry in Dizon’s blog saying she was enrolled at Stella Adler. The entry is from April of this year and is the only post. (Make that was. Strangely enough, that post appears to have been deleted.) After receiving repeated phone calls from the magazine, the folks at Stella Adler wouldn’t confirm Dizon’s enrollment at the school. So the magazine said a stakeout was necessary to track down the 24-year-old star.

Despite the madness of this logic, I agreed to do it, partly because I thought it would be a good learning experience. (I actually thought I would learn how to be a Japanese journalist.) So I postponed lunch with a friend and set out for my stakeout.

One problem became evident as soon as I approached the school. The Stella Adler Studio for Acting is in a regular office building. There is no campus, no student union. The lobby is the typically small type found in generic small office buildings throughout the city, with a doorman at a desk and no other furniture.

Building that houses the Stella Adler Studio of Acting

Busted by the doorman

Speaking of the doorman, he saw me taking pictures of the exterior of the building and asked if I needed help. I was two minutes into my first stakeout, and I’d already blown it.

At least the doorman was nice and didn’t suspect I was on an important stakeout for a Japanese weekly. I told him I was looking around for a friend who was interested in attending the acting school and asked if I could have some literature. He kindly sent me to the third floor, which Stella Adler occupies. I reiterated my weak story, and nice young man enthusiastically gave me two pamphlets about the school’s programs.

While I was up there, I looked around to see if Dizon was wandering around. She wasn’t. At least I don’t think she was. Every dark-haired girl who walked in and out of the building looked like her. I took the pamphlets, thanked the guy for his time, and went back outside.

Okay, now what? Oh, did I mention that there was nowhere to sit outside the building, either? And that it was hot? I didn't want to alarm the doorman by lingering, so I walked up and down the street, hoping I’d run into Dizon on her way to class. I walked across the street, hiding behind a UPS truck while I stared at the entrance to the office building that housed the Stella Adler Studio for Acting.

What was I doing?! Tired of standing, I found a courtyard near the corner and sat on a bench in the shade. Perhaps I would see her walk down the street toward the school, and I catch up to her and ask questions about acting and motherhood. It occurred to me that I could’ve taken a couple of pictures of the school and called it a day. I could’ve walked back home after I was busted by the doorman, saying that I didn’t see her. But I stayed. For seven and a half hours. On a hot summer afternoon.

In a way, though, I was actually into it. I wanted to find Leah Dizon. I wanted to tell her that I’m reporting for the Japanese press and that her fans are eagerly awaiting a report about how her life in New York is. So I did a few laps up and down the block, looking for Leah. I went back to the courtyard, thinking Leah would be there, having a snack and contemplating her latest assignment.

Then it happened. I saw her. A group of students holding scripts walked into the courtyard and broke off into pairs. Suddenly, I was staring at Leah Dizon. I looked at her; I looked at the picture of Dizon I had called up on my phone. I snuck a shot of the girl and e-mailed it to my journalist friend. We were both excited! But, wait a minute. The nose was wrong. Still, it could be her. There was a chance. I decided to sit there until the class ended. A guy with a video camera showed up to videotape the different pairs. The doppelganger and her partner left the courtyard to tape their piece. Here’s my chance. I was just about to stand up when I noticed that, although she was thin and attractive, she didn’t have the body or the presence of Leah Dizon. I’d been staring at this girl for more than an hour and probably looked like a freaky stalker, willing her – begging her – to be the subject of my stakeout. Alas, it was not to be. I didn’t say anything to her, but I realized as she walked closer to me that she couldn’t possibly be Leah Dizon.

Acting class in the courtyard

I went back to the school and stood in front of it for two hours. Different doorman. He didn’t seem to notice me. No sign of Leah Dizon. Feeling dejected, I walked home at 7:30 p.m.

Do Japanese reporters really do this? I wondered as I collapsed on my couch, delirious from my first stakeout. I turned to Twitter and asked my favorite investigative reporter, Jake Adelstein, if stakeouts are standard practice of Japanese journalists. Adelstein replied that reporters often do stake out their subjects. “It depends on what the story is and what you’re trying to achieve,” he tweeted. “It’s harder for people to lie in person.”

I wonder if Leah would’ve been honest with me. I’m actually glad that I didn’t see her, but I wonder how I would’ve handled myself if I had. Would I have come across as a complete dork? This will remain the mystery of my first Japanese reporter stakeout.

Why I Want Japan to Win the Women's World Cup

2011-07-15T17:06:00.000-04:00

At the risk of sounding unpatriotic: Go Japan! There. I said it.

Japan meets the USA in the Women's World Cup final on Sunday in Germany, and I'm rooting for the team from the Far East. I'm not even a soccer fan, but to me this isn't about the game. This is about a nation still reeling four months after its worst natural disaster in 140 years. This is about tens of thousands of people dead and missing, homes and businesses destroyed, families cramped in shelters. This is about an unnerving nuclear disaster and people risking their lives trying to prevent a complete meltdown.

Kai Pfaffenbach/Rueters

Not to put undue pressure on the women from the Japanese soccer team, but Japan as a nation needs a victory. The Japanese need something to distract them from the daily dose of bad news that has greeted them each day since March 11.

Kyodo News/Associated Press

So forgive me if I'd rather root for Homare Sawa and Nahomi Kawasumi instead of Abby Wambach and Hope Solo (or Heather O'Reilly and Tobin Heath from my alma mater). Pardon me if I take a break from being an American for a couple of hours on Sunday. I am half Japanese, after all.

Ganbare Nadeshiko Japan.

We Should All Interview Our Mothers

2011-07-11T15:23:00.000-04:00

What do (or did) you talk about when you talk to your mother? Are your conversations filled with mundane things such as what time you're going to the grocery store or the price of gas? Or do you talk about politics and current events? Do you ever talk about the past?

For the most part, the talks I have with my mom are fairly generic. Although I desperately want to know more about her childhood and what (and how) surviving World War II in Okinawa was like, she's tight-lipped about it. She allows me to ask one or two questions a year, and when she reaches her limit the wall goes back up.

I had a mini-breakthrough last week, however, when I interviewed my mom for "When Mom Was My Age," a weekly series run by writer/editor/traveler extraordinaire Jane Friedman. In the series, women interview their mothers, asking them what life was like when they were their daughters' ages. While I would much rather discuss the details of my mom's life when she was 11, I had a lovely time asking her questions about her life at my age, 42. Read the interview here.

Screen shot of "When Mom Was My Age," featuring my mom

The photo on the left is my favorite picture of my mom. I lifted it off of my sister's Facebook page (Thanks, Ginny!) and sent it to Jane. The photo on the right is of my mom standing outside of her elementary school in Okinawa. It was taken in 2006, my mom's most recent visit to her homeland.

My mom has a very matter-of-fact way of speaking. No sugar coating, no elaborations, just the straight answers. On paper (or the computer screen, as it were), she makes it seem as if her life were nothing special, but in person she seems satisfied with the choices she's made.

If you've ever wanted to gain greater insight into what your mom went through in her life, interview her. Answers flowed more freely when my mom knew I was working on a project rather than simply having "a talk." I'm lucky to have my mom still, so I should bombard her with more questions while I can.

My mom's enthusiasm and candid answers during our "When Mom Was My Age" interview gives me hope that one day soon I'll be able to ask her about 1945 after all.

Shinkansen Commercial Wins Awards at Cannes

2011-06-30T01:17:00.001-04:00

Japan's newest shinkansen (bullet train) had the unfortunate timing of opening on March 12, 2011, the day after the worst natural disaster in 140 years engulfed the northeastern region of the country. Kyushu, the westernmost of Japan's four main islands, now has the Kyushu Shinkansen, which links the north to the south, operating from Hakata to Kagoshima.

Kyushu Shinkansen's route through western Japan

In a commercial to celebrate the opening of the line, Japanese advertising giant Dentsu filmed the bullet train making a run through the island, and more than 30,000 people dotted the landscape along the tracks, waving, holding up signs, and cheering for the train. Dentsu wanted to create a festival, "where the experience was shared as one through a connection that was real and physical."

Deemed too celebratory to run while the nation was suffering and in crisis, the three-minute spot, named "The 250km Wave," was pulled, and little fanfare surrounded the actual opening of the historic train line.

That didn't stop the commercial from winning a couple of awards at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity last week. "The 250km Wave" was honored with a Gold Lion in the Outdoor Segment for Stunts and Live Advertising and Silver Media Lions for Best Use of Special Events and Live Advertising and for Travel, Entertainment and Leisure.

From the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity

I first read about the commercial in Japan Probe, and I learned about the awards through the Visit Japan Facebook page. It's a wonderful spot, and even though it was filmed before the tragic events of March 11, it reminds me of the spirit and resilience of Japan. I can't help but feel hope when I see the life and vitality displayed throughout the 250km wave.

Bobby V Lends a Helping Hand to Japan

2011-06-23T15:12:00.000-04:00

This story originally appeared in Baseball Reflections.

Bobby Valentine may have left Japan at the end of the 2009 baseball season, but it’s obvious that the former Chiba Lotte Marines manager’s heart is still with the country. The ESPN baseball analyst has been involved in relief and fundraising efforts to aid in the recovery of the decimated Tohoku region. His collaboration with AmeriCares, a non-profit based in his hometown of Stamford, Connecticut, began almost immediately after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11.

“Somebody in the office had the idea of calling Bobby because they knew he coached and was such a prominent figure over there,” says Curt Welling, AmeriCares president and CEO. “We’d never done anything with him. I said, ‘Well, you can call him, but I don’t think you’ll ever get him.’ And two hours later he was sitting in our office, and four days later we delivered 17 tons of medicine to Tohoku University Hospital in Sendai.”

The medicine, worth an estimated $600,000, was distributed to primary care clinics. “Bobby was critical to facilitating that contact,” says Welling, who says there is a chance he will accompany Bobby V to Japan later this year. “He’s such a remarkable guy,” Welling says of Valentine, “because he cares so much about this, and he’s so sensitive to the culture and the people [of Japan].”

Stamford on the Sound

In addition to partnering with AmeriCares, Bobby Valentine helped organize Stamford on the Sound, a wine tasting and silent auction with proceeds of an estimated $750,000 benefitting the Japanese American Association of New York, which will distribute the funds to NGOs in Japan as well as US tornado relief agencies.

Wine tasting at Stamford on the Sound

The event took place on June 18 in Bobby V’s hometown, with actor Richard Gere, former Mets and Yankees pitcher David Cone, Alan Kalter (David Letterman’s announcer), and Emmy Award-winning reporter Armen Keteyian in attendance.

Bobby V and Richard Gere pose with Stamford dignitaries

While Valentine hasn’t been to Japan since the disaster, he has been in contact with many of his former players, including one who donated items for the silent auction. “So he’s in Japan, sending stuff to me over here to raise money that will be sent back to Japan,” says Bobby V with a laugh.

Other items up for bid in the silent auction were travel packages, personal training sessions, jewelry and accessories, and a one-on-one batting lesson from Bobby V himself at his baseball academy.

Bobby V’s Chiba Lotte Marines hat

Autographed David Cone jersey

Japanese players currently in MLB pitched in with auction items as well. Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome donated a signed baseball and bat, while Ichiro Suzuki came through with an autographed baseball, All-Star jersey, and two posters for the cause.

When the silent auction was over, Bobby V delighted the crowd with his skills as a live auctioneer. On the auction block was a priceless evening at Dodger Stadium with the legendary Tommy Lasorda: Tickets for four, dinner with Lasorda, a signed Dodger jacket and baseball, and a chance to meet Dodger manager Don Mattingly on the field before the game. Bobby V cut loose with the rapid-fire barrage of auctioneer speak, coaxing the bid higher and higher. The Dodger package eventually sold for $4,000.

Bobby V as an auctioneer

Bobby V’s current employer was a big presence at the event. The Disney/ABC Television Group donated “the ultimate swag basket” containing DVDs and other goodies for the show Castle. ESPN contributed tickets to a U2 concert at Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey and had an area set up to collect more donations while offering attendees a chance to win prizes.

ESPN offered attendees the chance to win prizes

Sake tasting at Stamford on the Sound

The night marked the debut of Bobby V’s own steak sauce, called V Plus, which is heavily influenced by Japanese flavors (the first ingredient on the label is soy sauce). Proceeds from the sale of the sauce go to benefit Japan earthquake and tsunami relief.

Bobby V’s steak sauce

Bobby V no longer manages a team in Japan, but he’s still a big part of the community.

If you’re interested in making a donation, please visit www.americares.org or www.jaany.org.

The Binary Art of Ryoji Ikeda

2011-06-17T09:31:00.000-04:00

Ryoji Ikeda thinks there's pure beauty in math. Something about zeros and ones puts this Japanese artist in a creative mood. Known as Japan's leading electronic composer who works across visual and "sonic" media, Ikeda's installation Ryoji Ikeda: The Transfinite, ran at the Park Avenue Armory from May 20 until June 11.

The cavernous armory was the perfect place to house Ikeda's project, which the artist describes as an exploration of the polarizations between "the beautiful and the sublime, music and mathematics, performance and installation, composer and visual artist, black and white, 0s and 1s."

There are two halves to Ikeda's installation. The front (the two pictures above) is "an exploration of dynamism," according to Kristy Edmunds, the consulting artistic director. The back of the wall is pure mathematical code.

These are the binary codes that are a constant part of our everyday lives, yet few of us ever think about them. Ikeda uses these codes to create different patterns set to light and music (well, the "music" was really tones and digital noise).

There were also several pods set up with the codes running through them, a sort of mini-transfinite installation.

Some of the data shown in the pods have an organic feel to them.

Visitors were allowed to interact freely with both sides of the installation. People took pictures and recorded video of the changing scenes.

Still pictures are cool, but they don't do The Transfinite justice, as it's both a visually and aurally stimulating work. Here are a few snippets of the installation to give you a taste of the sights and sounds of Ryoji Ikeda.

Ryo Shinkawa: Interpreting the MLB

2011-05-24T12:06:00.000-04:00

This story originally appeared in Baseball Reflections.

Sapporo, a city in the Japanese archipelago's northernmost island of Hokkaido, is more than five thousand miles from Minneapolis, but to Ryo Shinkawa the two places will be forever entwined. An internship in the former eventually led to his current position in the latter, as the interpreter for Minnesota Twins second baseman and 10-time NPB All-Star Tsuyoshi Nishioka.

Shinkawa's stint as Interpreter Intern with the Nippon Ham Fighters of NPB was brief - a mere ten days - but it gave him valuable insight into Japanese baseball. Wanting a job in the sports industry, Shinkawa saw his time with the Fighters as a window into professional baseball - on either side of the Pacific. "I felt this opportunity would allow me to get a better understanding of the Japanese players coming to the MLB as well," says Shinkawa via e-mail.

Shinkawa left his native Japan to attend Baldwin-Wallace College, where he worked as a student assistant in the sports information office. The school's proximity to Cleveland allowed Shinkawa the opportunity to intern with the Indians' PR department during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In this position Shinkawa worked in the press box and assembled clips and minor league reports, but his fluency in Japanese was his biggest asset. At the time the Indians had a Japanese pitcher named Masa Kobayashi, and although as a college junior Shinkawa couldn’t travel with the team and work full time, he was able to interpret for and assist the Japanese media in Cleveland. "I appreciate the people with the Indians [for] allowing me to get my foot in the door and gain experience interpreting," says Shinkawa.

That experience led to interpreting for Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima last season. As Nishioka's interpreter, Shinkawa has a different mindset than with Okajima. “I approached this job differently being [Nishioka’s] first year in the major leagues and living in the United States [for the first time],” says Shinkawa. Plus, he says, “Interpreting for a pitcher compared to a position player is a completely different world.”

Shinkawa (center) with Nishioka (right) at spring training. Courtesy Ryo Shinkawa.

The nuances of practice and the daily routine for an infielder are not like that of a pitcher. “Working with a pitcher in the bullpen compared to being behind the batting cages with a position player brings a different atmosphere and longer days,” says Shinkawa.

Shinkawa (foreground) watches Nishioka during Twins' Photo Day. Courtesy Ryo Shinkawa.

“During the season it’s quite different being in the dugout compared to the bullpen . . . Although every team can be different, my experience of going through the major league season once from spring training allows me to visualize the flow and prepare for what may come.”

Yet Shinkawa and the Twins may not have been prepared for what happened early this season. On April 7 Shinkawa helped Nishioka off the field at Yankee Stadium after Nick Swisher slid into the Japanese star while breaking up a double play. X-rays revealed a fractured left fibula, and the second baseman has been on the DL ever since. While the Twins don't have a firm date for Nishioka's return, the 2010 Pacific League batting champion has been rehabbing at Target Field and, more recently, at the team's spring training facility in Florida.

Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher (33) slides into 2nd base, breaking Nishioka's leg. Google Images.

Despite the setback of the injury, Shinkawa still has a routine with Nishioka. “The job I do might be a little different as he’s not playing in the games, but how I approach my job hasn’t changed due to that.”

The interpreter says he focuses on the “people element” of his interpretation. “ . . . It’s more of dealing with different personalities and characters within the clubhouse, front office, and the individual players,” than simply translating a sentence from English into Japanese.

Shinkawa is also mindful of the cultural aspects of interpreting. “When you’re with an NPB team your main language and culture is Japanese, and when you’re working for an MLB team your main language is English inside the American culture. Everything is the opposite, and you need to learn to be flexible having that American side of you work in Japan and the Japanese side of you working in the United States.”

Both cultures came together after the devastating earthquake and tsunami ripped through northeastern Japan, with the Twins organization making a $25,000 donation to Minnesota-based non-profit Feed My Starving Children.

“The Twins have been great trying to support the relief fund in Japan,” says Shinkawa. As a former contributor to the website NPB Tracker, Shinkawa still follows Japanese baseball online and thinks the game is important as the Japanese move forward from this tragedy. “Baseball has always been a big part of Japanese culture, and I definitely think it could play a role [in healing the nation],” he says.

And that’s important in any language.

In related NPB news, the Rakuten Golden Eagles returned to their stadium in Sendai on April 29 for their first home game after Kleenex Miyagi Stadium sustained damage as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. The Eagles defeated the Orix Buffaloes 3-1, an emotional win for starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka and his teammates.

Nothing's a Secret on the Internet

2011-05-20T23:43:00.005-04:00

I've been working on a new website that focuses completely on Japanese events, restaurants, art exhibits, and more in New York City. I wasn't quite ready to launch, but my friends at the Japan Society found the site after I tested an automatic Twitter plugin. The next day, the Japan Society graciously posted a link to the site's Events page on its Facebook page, garnering the site more than 200 hits.

Well, guess the cat's out of the bag! So, here it is . . . tada!

JapanCulture•NYC! It's still very much a work in progress, but I'm pleased with the look right now. Of course, I'll be tweaking things as I get used to how the applications work, and I'll expand the content as well.

The site is based on my writing as the New York Japanese Culture Examiner for Examiner.com. My goal is to create a stand-alone community focused solely on Japanese culture in the city. I'll be doing more in-depth features, spotlighting the people who are making a difference in the Japanese community in New York – without all of those annoying pop-ups. :) Right now I'm posting stories in both Examiner & JapanCulture•NYC, so if you follow both, you'll see some repetition for the time being.

Having this site will make it much easier to support upcoming events. You can see thumbnails of where to go and what to do at the bottom of the page . . .

. . . or by clicking a date on the calendar, you can see all of the events happening that day.

Eventually I'll have restaurant reviews, book reviews, and all different kinds of reviews, too. Stand by for picture galleries and videos. When I figure that out.

Oh yeah, please follow the Twitter account as well: @JapanCultureNYC.

Shrinecastle will remain my blog, where I post quirky things about Japan and other miscellaneous stuff that's more on the lighter side.

Please take a look at japanculture-nyc.com and feel free to provide feedback. It's in its infancy, but it should be growing up soon.

I'm a Winner in the Great Tokyo Tako Help Japan Giveaway!

2011-05-18T23:20:00.000-04:00

Last Monday I entered a giveaway on an adorable Japanese culture blog called Tokyo Tako. I wanted to win one of the "Help Japan" buttons Allie, a lover of Tokyo and cute things from Japan, was giving away online. It was part of "The Great Tokyo Tako Help Japan Giveaway!" (Yes, I know I'm in my forties.) I mean, look at the prizes:

From Tokyo Tako

Well, I found out tonight that I WON! I'm truly excited. Now, I wanted the Manekineko on the top left, but I was told that I won #5. I'm not sure which one that is, but I'm assuming it's the bottom right. Which is fine because I love all of them!

I know you're jealous, but you, too, can have a button of your own. HOPE JAPAN, a non-profit group of artists, designed a bunch of pins for sale, all profits of which go to the Japan Society's Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. The buttons are only $3 each, a small price to pay to send some hope and love to Japan.

Celebrating Asian American Heritage

2011-05-18T11:19:00.000-04:00

May is American-Pacific American Heritage Month, and to celebrate, I attended the 32nd Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival at Union Square on Mother’s Day. It was organized in New York by the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA), who amassed an eclectic representation of the many Asian cultures found in the city.

The theme of the day focused on the journeys our ancestors took from all corners of Asia and the Pacific to have successful lives in America. They became Americans, but they never let go of the rich cultural traditions of their native lands.

Taikoza

Of course, a huge attraction at any festival is food, and there was no shortage of that here.

Here is a line for okonomiyaki, a popular Japanese comfort food. It’s usually described as a Japanese pizza or savory pancake.

The style of okonomiyaki being cooked here is from Hiroshima and contains soba noodles.

Popular West Village eatery Hakata Ton Ton serves up “Shake Salad Ramen.”

Umi no Ie, a restaurant in the East Village, sold food as well.

There was even a yard sale to raise money for Japan relief.

In addition to cultural performances and cuisine, many political and civic groups were represented, including three I found particularly interesting:

• Asian American Arts Alliance – A service organization dedicated to providing a community and resources to Asian American artists

• Asian American Journalists Association – A non-profit educational organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander journalists

• Japanese American Citizens League – An advocacy group that fights discrimination against people with Japanese ancestry, provides education about the Japanese American experience, and preserves the cultural heritage of Japanese Americans

I joined all three groups within days of the festival, and I look forward to contributing to each.

Brunch with the SoHo Host Club

2011-05-18T11:09:00.000-04:00

Question: "Why don't we have an event that focuses on just chill, beautiful atmosphere, and time together?"

Answer: Sunday Brunch and Beyond

The Question was posed by Alexandra Honigsberg, the president of the SoHo Host Club, the chivalrous group of young men who specialize in mingling and engaging people in conversation at parties started last July by Honigsberg and her cohort Kim Kindya. For the Answer, Honigsberg and the SoHo Host Club teamed up with John Wong of 1 Event Plan for a Sunday Brunch at Bun Soho, New York City's only 4-star Vietnamese restaurant.

Bun Soho

Venturing away from its home base of the SoHo Gallery for Digital Art, the SoHo Host Club held its first event with alcohol – normally the hosts serve tea to guests. Honigsberg had toyed with the idea of an affair for the the 21-and-over crowd, and through Wong's connections, she chose the relaxed environment of the well appointed Bun Soho, where they offered a savory prix fixe menu and a sake tasting flight.

Bun Soho interior

Buddhas at Bun Soho

There was a bit of confusion over exactly what the prix of the prix fixe menu actually was, but once that was settled Bun Soho's waitstaff seemed to relax. Since the four hosts in attendance weren't serving tea, they almost seemed unsure of what to do at first. But with the J-rock tunes of Gackt, Hyde, and Buck Tick playing in the background, they remembered that conversation is their forte.

Hosts (from left) Andy, Sal, and Alex

"The guests always say that their favorite part of our events . . . is the time they get to spend with each other and the hosts," says Honigsberg, who used the occasion to introduce a new host, Timothy Focking Floro.

It was an intimate gathering, as most of the SoHo Host Club's regular guests weren't there due to either the rain or the AIDS Walk. The handful of guest who did attend enjoyed chatting with the hosts while noshing on the tasting menu that included nem of lamb, pork rib, beef salad, and pho.

From the tasting menu

The afternoon also turned into an impromptu anime lesson, as Honigsberg, Asian Pop Culture Examiner May S. Young, and host Andy Seto gave yours truly pointers on what to watch. Honigsberg favors Bleach, Death Note, and Full Metal Alchemist, while Young recommends Samurai Champloo and the absurdist comedy found in Cromartie High School and Crayon Shin-Chan. Seto, an architect, doesn't watch a particular anime for its storyline; he's more into the structure and architecture of the animation.

Good food, good music, and good conversation amongst new and old friends. Seems as if Honigsberg found the right Answer.

Andy talks with AREA Japan's Julie Azuma

Japanese Culinary Center Puts the Smackdown on Gyoza

2011-05-18T00:57:00.000-04:00

Gyoza are spherically shaped, meat-filled dumplings that originated in China. And they're delicious. I went to the Japanese Culinary Center for their Gyoza Smackdown, a class co-sponsored by the American Institute of Food and Wine. I've been to two previous classes at the JCC: Onigiri and Curry Rice. Both were excellent, so I was looking forward to this event.

The little yummy snacks are surprisingly easy to make. Well, I'll admit that the JCC had the fillings ready to go, so the sold-out class didn't have to endure the rigors of that preparation.

Gyoza skins and fillings

We made three different types of gyoza:

Traditional: Ground pork, chives, napa cabbage, and spices
Modern: Shrimp (coarsely chopped), eryngi mushrooms, shiso leaves, soy sauce
Fusion: Ground chicken, bean sprouts, and curry powder

George Kao shows the class how to add the filling

The man who led us through this culinary exploration was George Kao, the sake educator for the New York Mutual Trading Company, which opened the Japanese Culinary Center two years ago.

The two components of gyoza are the skin and the filling. The skin below is thin and more suitable for boiling. Skin that works better when pan frying is darker and thicker.

Gyoza skin

Amazing pork filling

For the traditional style of gyoza, Kao mixed ground pork with chives and napa cabbage. Since napa retains a lot of water – which would render the gyoza mushy – Kao advises to rinse the cabbage, sprinkle salt on it while draining, and wring it with a towel.

Tasty shrimp filling with eryngi mushrooms and shiso leaves

After showing us how to fill and pinch the gyoza skin, we students were left to our own devices.

My neighbor's gyoza

Gyoza students

My gyoza are ready to cook!

For the first round, I made two of each kind of filling – one to boil and one to pan fry. There are seven total on my plate because I had too much shrimp filling in one of them and decided to make two.

Boiling my gyoza

Kao dropped my gyoza into a pot of plain, boiling water for about three minutes.

Boiled gyoza

My boiled gyoza look amazing! The texture of the skin once its boiled reminded me of shumai.

Pan frying

Just a little oil and water in the pan is all you need. After covering the pan with aluminum foil, the gyoza sat in the pan for a few minutes, until the bottom of the skin turned brown and the water had an almost crunchy consistency. No flipping of the gyoza is necessary.

Pan fried and boiled - yum!

I'll be honest. When I first read that curry chicken was part of the program, I didn't think I'd like it. I like curry rice and other dishes containing curry, but in gyoza?! I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. That said, nothing beats the traditional, pan-fried version. I was pleased with all of them, but if I had to choose a favorite, pork filling and pan fried would be my choice.

Dipping sauces

The staff gave us three kinds of dipping sauces. I prefer the one in the middle – tare sauce – that consists of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. The one on the left is sweet; the one on the right is hot. They were good, but the tare was the best.

Enjoying the fruits of our labor

Cookin' up gyoza