Japanese Love Dishwasher Safe Chopsticks (For Adults and Kids) On Amazon

via a geisha eating a piece of tofu 

When I lived in Japan 6 years ago, I noticed some dishwasher safe chopsticks at many stores.

As a dishwasher is getting popular in Japan (finally!), demand of durable, beautiful looking chopsticks has been seen in stores. I know electric cost is much higher in Japan comparing to the US. But electric companies have offered reasonable plans to draw customers' attention if they choose to use electricity more than gas in a household.


Anyways, I love to use dishwasher safe chopsticks, because it will last almost lifelong. Also, it is pretty hygienic!



These are chopsticks my family use at home.
Left is made of wood (purchased it last year), Right is dishwasher safe plastic one (purchased it about 6 years ago).

 Left, wood ones look worn out, but right, dishwasher safe ones look pretty good as new after 6 years. (Right ones have non slip tips, so that's why it doesn't look shiny)

Lacquer chips off with time. My family use it daily, but it's already worn out after less than a year. I won't buy this type anymore because I don't want to imagine that food would seep into the chopsticks...gross.

Summaries

Tapered chopsticks are much easier to use than blunt end ones for holding and cutting food.

I love nonslip end for easy handling. Especially for noodles
Plastic chopsticks are durable and easy to clean
Black plastic chopsticks look like real wooden or bamboo ones. Doesn't look cheap at all.
The tips won't be worn out, so it it anti microbial.

This is what I recommend.
10 Zen set chopsticks commercial dishwasher SPS eco chopsticks non-slip (japan import) by dohichu

The label says"Dishwasher safe, Nonslip chopsticks, 10 pairs, Made in Japan, 

SPS resin, 250° C(482° F) heat resistant"

" Hexagonal shaped handles are easy to hold, and square shaped tips grab slippery foods pretty well.

---Easy to handle smooth Udon, Somen, and Ramen--- "

It has also pretty good reviews.

10 Pairs Plastic Dishwasher Safe BLACK Chopsticks




I haven't used Titanium Chopsticks, but the good thing is light weight and durable. It is more like Chinese and Korean chopsticks.
  Titanium Chopsticks Extra Strong Ultra Lightweight with Free Aluminium Case (Grey)



That is what my 8 yr old daughter uses everyday and she loves it. It might not for toddlers, but children. My 4 yr old daughter can't handle it yet.
  Children 's Chopsticks Training Helper Learning (Set of 2 Blue Pink)

Dishwasher safe!

It also fits to adult's chopsticks:)

It seems good and very cheap. Similar to above.
6 FUNCHOP Chopstick Helpers

 



My daughters tried this, but couldn't handle it...
  Sanrio Hello Kitty Learning / Traning Chopsticks : Red

It is good for starters and long seller brand for toddler use in Japan.
EJISONNNOOHASHII Edison Chopsticks I (for righthand) Yellow
 

 This chopsticks are great invention for small kids!

This is a Korean version of Edison chopsticks. It is cheaper and seems the same mechanism to the above. Also it has pretty good reviews!
  1 X Pororo Edison Training Chopsticks for Children




At last, I'm curious this chopsticks. If I start to learn how to use chopsticks, I'd like to try this first. It has good reviews, and looks easy to handle.
Compac Holdstix 4ct Easy To Use Chopsticks Dishwasher Safe Abs Plastic - Made In Usa, 4-Count

When I eat something Asian, I'd love to use chopsticks because it becomes tastier to me.
Hope you would find good one!

photo via LoveGIF

Today's photo
We ate out at new opened Ramen place close from our house last Saturday.
Karaage(Japanese fried chicken) and Fried Oyster were so tasty.

 Tonkotsu Ramen

 Of course, Sapporo! It's already empty!!

Green Tea Bags @ Costco with lots of health benefit

via the hearty soul

Are you a coffee person or a tea person? I'm a coffee AND green tea person. I really can't choose one from them. I love Starbucks a lot!

I tried tons of green tea sold at American grocery stores, but of course, I couldn't find authentic one. There are many kinds of flavored green teas, but it is very Americanized ones. I haven't seen those kinds in Japan yet.

However, I finally found a real Japanese green tea at reasonable price at a familiar place.
Yes, you can get it at Costco.


Kirkland Signature Japanese Green Tea With Matcha 100 teabags.

When I found it at Costco at first, I was kind of suspicious. Usually if something Japanese is popular in the U.S., it's not so authentic. Don't get me wrong. I love California rolls, some other modified Japanese foods here as Half Japanese food;) Honestly, I really enjoy and often make it at home.

Anyway, I bought and tried it (trusted Japanese popular "ITOEN" brand), and fell in love with it!
I used to get green tea when I visited Japan every summer, but even though, some of them tasted not so good and I disappointed. Yup, it's hard to find good one at reasonable price even for Japanese.

I'm writing this blog with this green tea now. So relaxing....

There are directions on the back. But no worry about it. Just put the tea bag and pour hot water in a cup!

I have known green tea has lots of health benefit. But I only knew a few, because I just love to drink it, and it is obvious that green tea is a lot healthier than sugary beverages.

So I checked out Green tea's health benefits in Japanese and hope you will reassure it with me.

Proven Benefits of Green Tea

via ishiki-up

*Reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, choelsterol

*Not catching a cold, prevents cavities, food poisoning, and flu (The catechins in green tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses.) I've seen news that kids at school gargling with green tea not catching a cold in Japan.

*Helps to shed your body fat. Woo!

*Lowers your risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, type II Diabetes, various types of cancer

*Improves your memory

*Prevents hardening of the arteries, stroke, and high blood pressure

*No bad breath

*Reduces stress

*Keeps yourself awake

*Prevents functional disorder

*No hangover (works for gastric mucosal barrier)

Costco has different selections of products depends on each stores. Also there might not be Costco around your area.

But don't worry, you can also get the same green tea at Amazon.

I hope you would have a relaxing time with a cup of delicious green tea:)
feeling good,  no cancer

Japanese super tasty Instant Miso Soup Online

via imeiping.com

Do you like miso soup? Many people asked me how to make miso soup in the U.S., because I'm a Japanese.

It might be a good idea to make miso soup from scratch. But for me, I don't want to buy all the unfamiliar ingredients when I want to make Thai curry,for example.  Because I never know how to use the ingredients for other than the curry.

As you know I'm Japanese grew up in Japan but I often rely on Instant miso soup. It's so convenient for my quick lunch, my kids love it, and I'm lazy. Hahaha. My husband loves to take an instant miso soup with his lunch to work. What he needs to enjoy it at the office is only a cup and hot water. Super easy!
Instant miso soup has been also very popular in Japan. I know my sister in Japan has a stock of a few bags of instant miso soup anytime.

It says "It has less soldium, but more taste and flavor" It is perfect, isn't it? it's actually cut 25% soldium comparing to regular instant miso soup.

I can say conventional instant miso soups are mostly better or the same quality as the one in Japanese restaurants in the U.S.

Amazon.com sells many kinds of Japanese instant miso soup.

This is what I have had before, and really authentic one.
Miyasaka Miso Soup Toku30 Value Pack Less Sodium, 12.2 Ounce

Also it is only about $0.43 per serving! It provides Amazon Prime service, too:)

Well, you might be confused by all Japanese on the package.
I'll show you what they mean, drections. So it's not a mystery food for you anymore.

<Contents>

wakame(seaweed) miso soup garnish     10 packets

Green onion miso soup garnish               10 packets

Fried bean miso soup garnish                  5 packets

Tofu miso soup garnish                             5 packets

Miso paste     30 packets(it is for every garnish)

via amazon.com

Directions

1. Empty miso paste and garnish of wach packet into a mug or small bowl.

2 Add 2/3 cup of boiling water and stir it gently.

Enjoy miso soup!

Japanese usually don't measure the amount of boiling water for instant miso soup. So it doesn't have to be exact:)

If you prefer English written package, you have some other choices.

I haven't tried this but it has high ratings from customers.

Miso soup has a lot of health benefit.
1, Boosts immune system
2, Helps to maintaining healthy nervous system
3, Aids to maintaining good digestive health
4, Effective in protecting against radiation effects
5, Helps to reduce risk of cancer such as colorectal cancer
6, Beneficial in improving mood, reducing stress and anxiety
7, Reduces risk of osteoporosis and maintains good bone health
8, Lowers cholesterol and reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases

We definitely feel so lucky to be healthy having yummy miso soup, don't we?

<Memories in Japan>
We visited Japan last summer, and my younger daughter experienced trial enrollment in Japanese Kindergarten.(Japanese kids go to kindergarten from 3 yrs old to 5 yrs old before elementary school.)
This is when she came home(my parents' house) from school:)

She got hungry, so had "Furikake rice" for snack. Seemed so happy!

 

Sorry, it's messy back there with lots of clutters^^;

keywords: best Japanese restaurant miso tofu soup authentic soup miso soup recipe Helps maintain 

A Queen Of Mascara At Amazon.com

Hi everyone!  I want to say every mornings are hectic for me(everyone, right?), but I never forget putting on mascara.

This is my favorite Japanese mascara.

 Imyu dejavu | Mascara | Lash Knockout Dynamite Black

I'd been using many kinds of brands, Lancome, Maybelline(Japan), Maybelline(US), Covergirl, Shiseido majolica majorca, Kissme.......A Lot!
Then finally I found it the best. I knew it from my sister in Japan that it became so popular and had seen it on every beauty magazines.
In fact, I like it adding volume a lot to my thin eyelashes. It also adds curl without using a lash curler (I often pinched my eyelids with the curler. Sooo hurt!),  no smudge, long lasting, and easy to remove.

This is my awfully short and thin lashes:(

Wow, my lashes are so thin....sigh

This is my lashes after applying  Imyu dejavu | Mascara | Lash Knockout Dynamite Black

It took only 10 secs to finish it.

The good thing is you can get it at Amazon.com.

It has a few reviews on it somehow, but it is the best selling mascara in Japan. Every time I visit Japan in summer, I've seen the mascara on the best noticeable shelves at any drugstores. I hope it would help to save your valuable morning time.

By the way, I want to show you some pics when my kids and I visited Japan last summer:)

Japanese Festival at local shrine. There were many kinds of stalls(food, games, toys...)

 Jelly ball scooping

Goldfish scooping(If they choose to release it in the tank, they can do the game one more. )