No 151


Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News LetterNo.151.Time flies. Today is already 2nd of July, half of this year had gone.Summer has come, we feel to want to eat 'unagi'(eel) to recover fromsummer weariness. Have you ever eaten 'una-jyu '( bowl of eel and rice).Here are the photos of 'una-jyu'. I must swallow my saliva! http://images.google.co.jp/images?q=%E9%B0%BB%E9%87%8D&hl=ja&lr=&sa=N&tab=wiUnagi(eel) is boiled with sauce, and put on the rice. When it is put inthe jubako, it is called 'una-jyu', and when 'donburi'(rice bowl) isused, it is called 'una-don'. Japanese pepper 'sansyo' powder isscattered on it. Unagi is soft and juicy, and very delicious, and alsogrim with good nutrition. Una-jyu is very popular menu also at our home, and there are many unagispecialized restaurants all over Japan. At the usual unagi restaurant,there are ranks of 'una-jyu'. Always the ranks are named 'shou-chiku-bai'.Our customers must know already about 'shou-chiku-bai'. It means 'pinetree - bamboo - ume blossom', and the set of auspicious items. Toindicate the ranks of unaju( or other Japanese menu), we use this words.'Shou(another pronunciation - matsu)' is the best, 'Chiku ( anotherpronunciation - take )' is the second and 'Bai(another pronunciation -ume)' is the last. Difference of the ranks of unaju is determined by the quality or volumeof unagi. Nowadays unagi is bred, and also imported from China(!! everythingare from China), but native unagi ( mainly live in rivers) is still offered. Native unagi's flesh is said to have resilience and more delicious thanbreaded/imported ones. So if unagi on the rice is Japanese native, andis very large, it must be 'Matsu(Shou)' class. ( And of course it mustbe expensive!) Yuka's father loves unagi -- sometimes he is sick but he recovers whenhe eats unagi, so Yuka says unagi works better than going to hospital.I become to want to eat matsu class unajyu right now ----
Friday of this week( 7th July) is Tanabata festival. We have written thisnews letter for 3 years, so we had to write about Tanabata before.However, folk tale of 'Tanabata' is beautiful story, so we would like tointroduce again. This story was born in China, and not only Japan but also other Asianpeople have smilar story. Story is about the Milky Way and two stars,Vega and Altair.
Once upon a time, a beauty named Orihime(Vega) lived besides Kansui inChina. She was the daughter of the Emperor. She was hardworking and verygood at weaving. Natsuhiko(Altair) was also was handworking farmer, andEmperor approved their marriage. However, after the marriage, theybecame to neglect their work. Orihime quit weaving, Natsuhiko became notto drive cattle. The Emperor got angry and pulled away with AmanokawaRiver ( Milky Way ) between them. The Emperor permitted them to cometogether only once a year on 7th July. Orihime and Hikoboshi became towork hard with looking forward this special day. And when it rained onthat day, water increased and they couldn't go across the AmanokaraRiver. At that time magpies are said to flock together and become abridge for them.
Here is the photos of these stars and Milky Way.http://www.yumis.net/tanabata/
It is interesting, another folktale `Tsuruno ongaeshi` also, the heroinewas a weaver. Japanese may love the stories of `parting`--tragic lovestories may strike the right cord of Japanese.
Thank you very much for reading to the end. Two themes above might belittle bit unsuitable. Eating and Love! Anyway we would like to offer rare and valuable items also this week.Today we will list kimono karinui fabric, men's kimono, obi designsheet, bolt and antique items. We wish you could find your favoriteamong them.
We wish you a nice new week with peace and laughter.
Ichiro & Yuka WadaKimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"http://www.ichiroya.com/
e-mail: info@ichiroya.comaddress: Asia-shoji Bldg.301 1841-1 Nishi 1 chome Wakamatsu cho Tondabayashi city Osaka 584-0025 JAPANTEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446