Waw, a little over one month before I leave Japan... A hard fact to wrap my mind around because life still races by at warp speed & there's hardly a moment to contemplate my pending departure. With 31 days left here I'm trying to soak up as much "Japanese-ness" as possible, and lately my job has been able to help me out in this respect :-). In each monthly issue we feature a double page called 'Around Town', highlighting an area in Fukuoka that deserves closer investigation. July's issue will focus on Kawabata Shotengai, one of the city's oldest shopping arcades, and a charming glimpse into what Japan must have looked like 30 years ago. Several of the stores there have a decidedly outdated feel, but others are real traditional gems. Our report there on Thursday felt more like a cultural outing than work - if only all days could be like this!
The first stop was Nonaka no Yame-cha, an elegant tea shop specializing in products from Yame, an area in Fukuoka Prefecture famous for its high-quality green tea. The free sample with sweet certainly went down well ;-).
These prints with traditional drawings by a local artist have attracted my attention for the past two years but I never bought any. That might change before I leave though - folks in Belgium & NZ can expect these as possible gifts...
Menu outside a noodle place. Dictionary, anyone?
Me and the new Japanese editor Emiko (Nick's soon-to-be-wife) buying macaroons for the colleagues back in the office. This shop, with its mouth-watering display of the most exquisite-looking cakes, proved once again to me that the Japanese kick European butts when it comes to making high-class patisserie. Sorry, Belgium!
(All photos taken by Nick Szasz and property of Fukuoka Now)
1 comment:
We'll have to get some La Duree macaroons on July 2nd and you can tell me how they compare.
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