Glimpses of Japan Local - in JEnglish

Before you knew it, the plum season had arrived. Narcissus had also started to bloom. Now, it's time to get moving. So, I headed to "Ottimo" in Ashiya-machi a bit early for lunchtime. Craving a hearty coffee, I ordered the VIP Burger and Ottimo Coffee. A "Clever Dripper" was brought with hot water poured into the coffee grounds, an hourglass, and a mug separately placed on a tray. Watching the sand grains slowly fall in the hourglass is a nice way to zone out. Pouring a bit of hot water into the paper drip coffee grounds, waiting for them to swell and steam, and then pouring water slowly – that's the moment. Also, discerning the convection movement in the French press, timing the plunge – the Clever Dripper replaces these "waiting times" with an hourglass, creating a unique tension. Gently placing the "Clever Dripper" on top of the mug, the lower structure is manipulated to release the extraction outlet, and the drip begins. And just as t...

  In late October, I got a message on WhatsApp from my friend that he was planning a visit to  Kyushu , arriving at  Fukuoka  Airport on November 15 and heading to  Tokyo  on the 19th. Seven years ago, we enjoyed grilled oysters in  Itoshima  and spent two nights at an old hot spring inn in  Beppu 's  Kan-nawa Onsen , known for its hot spring treatments. This time, we're planning to hit the hot springs again. I've picked up some spots that might suit the season and  booked our accommodation. On November 15, at 1:00 PM, he arrived on time at  Fukuoka  Airport. We decided to keep it low-key, grabbing a meal without any fuss along the way. Our first choice for lunch was the representative  Fukuoka  meal,  tempura  at the main branch of  "Hirao"  near the airport, but it was jam-packed. So, we aimed for  "Nanzoin"  in  Sasaguri . By chance, we found parking at a roadside temple and ...

I'm not a big fan of bugs, especially those flat, shiny brown cockroaches. But back in my childhood, bugs were one of our mischievous playthings for us. Tying thread under the wings of ladybugs, holding them in our hands, and letting several of them fly at once while we ran... Or using a homemade slingshot and tiny pebbles to knock down cicadas singing in the trees... In the evening, we'd stick our fingers into the small holes in the ground and catch the cicada larvae (cicada nymphs) clinging tightly, then let them rest on the garden trees, observing how they moulted late at night... I might have read the children's book " Fabre 's Tales of Insects," but I have no memory of it at all. As this season approaches, I find myself peeking at the preparation stage of the works in progress and watching the exhibition on TV, thinking, "I have to go!" Ashiya is known for producing numerous Cast Iron Tea Kettles used in the Tea Ceremony,  several hundreds of ye...