Japanese Films

Japanese films are so different from American films. They seem to move much slower and lots of emotions expressed nonverbally. However, once you understand the tempo, each scene may tell you a lot more than Hollywood films.

Recently, Netflix started allowing users to access films through PS3. There are great selections of foreign films with English subtitles. Please check out some Japanese films and enjoy experience such a different style of films!

These are three films I recently watched on Netflix which I liked. Please check them out!

Sway :Two brothers who are so different struggles through sharing the experience of the death of a mutual friend.

Still Walking :Parents who lost their oldest son and siblings live on their lives as a family.

Nobody Knows :Four kids, among which the oldest is 12 years old, survive after being abandoned by their mother in a little apartment in Tokyo.

Next time, I should introduce less serious films;)

Onabe-Pot cooking

During winter season in Japan, the most popular dish is Onabe (Pot cooking).

In this this, you can use any ingredients you would like, from vegetable, fish, meat, seafood, mushrooms, the list goes on... Onabe can feed the whole family since you can keep adding more ingredients as you eat.

The ideal way to cook this dish is by using a tabletop stove which you can find in Japanese grocery store. This way, you can add more veggies and meat as the meal goes on. It is very healthy since you can have variety of vegetables at once. The soup is wonderful because of all the flavor from meat, seafood and vegetables.

You will find onabe dish in many Japanese restaurants in Los Angeles as well. Please try especially during the winter to warm up and experience the ultimate Japanese home cooking.

Japanese grocery stores in LA

There are great selections to shop for Japanese grocery in Los Angeles area. The most popular area to shop is in Torrance where many Japanese people reside.

Mitsuwa market, Nijiya market, and Marukai are the major grocery chains in California and other major cities in the States.

In westside, Nijiya in West LA and Mitsuwa on Venice and Centinela are the popular ones; however, the selections and size are much smaller compared to the ones in Torrance.

Mitsuwa Market
Nijiya Market
Marukai

Swinger

I went to Swingers Diner in Hollywood over the weekend. I was trying to avoid eating at foodcourt in Beverly Center. I heard about the place, but never been there, so why not?

I see a few celebrities dining, which is common here and in the area. Since celebrities and many others eat here, food cannot be that bad. I ordered Turkey Chili Fries and hot tea. ( I was not doing well for the past week due to allergy, so took it easy)

It was the worst chili fries ever! Fries were soagy and did not seem to have chili. Just some ground turkey and frozen veggies and hardened cheese on top. I usually eat more than my boyfriend, but could not do this one. yuk.

But I loved the decor. Very Hollywood, very American.

See?

This is good!

Sunday Breakfast

Country Breakfast I had at Bakery in Culver City. This corner bakery has great pastries and breakfast! It is at the corner of Sepulveda and Bradock. Highly recommended.

My garden

I am growing plants in my yard.

These two are citrus, the fruit I ate and planted. I am not sure exactly what these were.
This is my plumeria. I love the scent. It flowered last year, but not yet this year.

My mint. I have this one for at least two years. One year, I made mojito for everyone using lots of my mint. This is the easiest to grow!

Introduction

These two will show up in my blog frequently. Dusty (cat) and Cleck (dog). Cleck and I have been buddies for 11 years, both enjoying life in LA. We both do not like cold weather. We were suffering in East Coast in early years.

Dusty actually came to my house two years ago, and adopted me. He actually belongs to my neighbor across the street, but comes through my doggie door and stays every night. He is home or somes home when I come home. He must like it at my house.

I grew up in Tokyo, came to the US for college, now works in LA. I love to cook, go out to eat, sometimes yoga and pilates. Candles and insents are my favorite. Go on a business trip or vacation to Tokyo often, so lots of update about Tokyo.