This is a foodblogging post I have put off for a year and a half. The photos were waiting patiently to be edited on my desktop for all that time, and I continually ignored their pleas of “Post me! Post me!” So it is finally time for the story to be told:
A short time before encountering the Biwako Hot Dog, I wrote a post detailing the history of the Japanese fish sausage (which has turned into sort of a resource center for aspiring fish sausage makers worldwide – go read the comments!). So it was a happy coincidence that found us cruising the mountains around Lake Biwa, because the snowboarding trip we planned had been rained out. It was an absolutely miserable day, weather-wise. And the photos of death and decay on that link convey the mood we were in quite well.
The day was saved, however, by the appearance of a black and yellow kei (ultra compact 660cc class) van on the side of the road:
(click any of the images above to open a larger version)
The menu hanging off the back door of the van says:
Hot Dogs
w/wiener: 350 (yen)
w/hamburger patty: 350
w/ham: 350
Coffee: 100
Cola: 100
The photocopied papers stuck to the side windows were pretty crazy, stuff about how women are the bane of mankind and how God hates them (but men must respect them) and whatnot… The message was basically that the owner had had a hard life and gone completely batshit – we were intrigued.
The owner, an old fellow, was snoring when we walked up – classic! – and had apparently fallen asleep in the middle of preparations. He woke suddenly as we called to him and carried on with his actions exactly where he had left off, as if nothing had happened. We felt bad for waking him, and ordered three of each kind of dog. He was cool and gave us a couple extra – not many customers that day because of the crappy weather, I think.
The traditional Japanese hot dog is a hot dog purist’s worst nightmare. Even discounting the type with a hamburger patty or a slice of ham, the wiener type is sacrilege mainly because it employs fish sausage (examples here and here). Because of the use of this quite-inferior sausage, the entire experience is ruined for approximately 100% (+/-.001%) of westerners. (This is especially ironic because of the word ?? (“European style”) written on the passenger door of the van.) However, many Japanese profess to love this taste because it brings back memories of school lunches… Hey, to each his own – I sometimes yearn for the days of sloppy joes and tater tots, too.
Behold the traditional Japanese hot dog in its full glory:
What sets the real thing apart from all fish-dog wannabes is the curried cabbage shreds (prepared in the RINNAI oven seen in the photo third from the top), as well as the karashi (hot mustard) infused sauce slathered all over the top. Since the fish sausage has so little flavor (and actually the hamburger patty and “ham” were ALSO fish-based processed meat), the main flavor comes from the karashi, the cabbage, and the white bread bun. In a word: blah. However, if you ever have a chance to try this food item, it will give you a chance to taste the cafeteria youth of your Japanese friends, and in this regard, it has true cultural value (and at least it tastes better than okara, another contender for this honor)
Category: Photos
Dog vs. Lizard
Nam sent a series of her crazy minpin mix, Gen, going after a lizard in our yard in Mahasarakham. (Click on any of the photos to open a larger version of it in a new window.)
Note the wild beady eyes of a predator on the hunt.
Can’t quite figure out who is attacking who in this photo.
Nature is cruel, but one thing is apparent – our side yard at the new house is a veritable Thunderdome (and I already have an idea of who the current champion is).
Product Name of the Year – Deeppresso
The newest canned coffee offering from Georgia. Although the spelling reminds me more of Mississippi.
I’m almost scared to try it without a solid network of friends and a handful of Paxil.
Standing Urination Prohibited
A sign specifically forbidding standing urination in the parking lot of Ms. K’s, a funky cafe in Nara where T plays gigs every week.
Sumoto River Barge
I took my camera to work last Thursday so I could snap some photos on the way home.
This is a construction barge that’s been scooping mud from the river bed in the city’s effort to deepen it, as an anti-flooding measure.
There was a huge school of mullet fingerlings under a bridge I crossed, where two branches of the river merge and the current runs strongest.
Another shot of the barge, and the adjacent “dump boat,” taken from the opposite bridge.
The high resolution shots are available here: 2006 Sumoto River
Hanasajiki
(click to open larger popup)
This is a photo I found from a couple months ago. It was taken at a flower park called hanasajiki that I try and visit a couple times every year. The funny thing is, these flowers weren’t even in the main part of the park, they were in a planter in front of the gift store!
Here’s a link to the full set from that day: 2006 Awaji Hanasajiki (Warning: Baby pics abound!)
Red Mystery Beetle
Anybody know offhand what this bad boy is?
(click on image to enlarge)
I found him crawling on my car last month. When I tried to touch him, he flew off into the wind.
UPDATE #1: I’ve put in an inquiry to What’s That Bug. They say they are swamped, but maybe something will work out.
UPDATE #2: Whats That Bug wrote back:
Hi Justin,
We believe this beauty is one of the Cerambycid Longhorns, though we are not positive, and we have no idea of the species. The list of specimens that could use Eric Eaton’s assistance is growing and we are not sure when he will return from collecting in West Virginia. How large was this beetle?
To which I replied:
Hi, thanks for the quick reply. The beetle was approximately one inch in length. I will continue to try and find additional information here in Japan, and will update you if anything comes to light.
I’m really impressed with the dedication of the authors of the Whats That Bug site – go check them out as our correspondence is posted there as well, and they may update there when their resident beetle expert returns. Meanwhile, if any of you can help with the identification, I’d be grateful.
I wonder if this is the Eric to whom they refer. Wow!
MYSTERY SOLVED!: T harnessed his ancient Oriental powers of deduction and came up with what looks like the correct answer. This longhorn beetle is commonly known in Japan as a ?????? (benikamikiri); Latin name: Purpuricenus (Sternoplistes) temminckii.
Sources:
http://www2.gol.com/users/nanacorp/ZUKAN/beni.htm
http://naturaljapan.net/?pp_album=1&pp_image=benikamikiri01.jpg
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Photos
Some photos Nam took with her new Coolpix S6 when we passed under the longest suspension bridge in the world (4km) last month on the Taco Ferry (this “taco” means “octopus” even though they spell it with a “c”).
Update: Hi-res versions of these photos, plus more, can be found here: http://flickr.com/photos/cbuddha/sets/72157594175411073/
Something stuck in one’s ear
Chinchin!
One of the photos Nam took today, her last full day in Japan for the foreseeable future. We went on a drive out to Akashi to look for a dog (shiba-ken) her cousin wants us to send to Thailand (long story). I bought her a Coolpix S6 last week to take home, so she was taking her first shots with it today.
She leaves to Thailand tomorrow morning. I go to work as usual. That sucks total chinchin.
Golden
We are at the end of the Golden Week holiday in Japan and ironically, I’ve been too busy to blog. Getting ready for the big move to Thailand in October and hanging out with friends who came to visit Awaji.
This island turns into a huge tourist trap during the spring and summer holidays – a nice change, but kind of messed up if you have to drive anywhere. I’ve been taking some photos, which I will post a set of later, and got – wait for it – even more wedding photos off of people. If you are not completely sick of seeing me in a white tuxedo yet, you soon will be.
Michelle’s Photo Set
Dave’s Photo Set
As always, links to all known photo sets for the wedding can be found here.
Other photo-related news: You might get a kick out of my set of JUMP photos, which also reminds me – if you are signed up on flickr, come join my newly-created Might as Well Jump Photo Group.
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