Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is one of my favorite street snacks in Japan. My first experience was back in 2012 with Virginia and Kathleen. What a mind blowing experience! They look innocently spherical, but are filled with molten hot goodness! Here are two Read more…
Day Off The staff at Grace Mission Tohoku work all week for the Ishinomaki community. And even on their day off, they brought me along! Little did I know how awesome the day would turn out.... First, a long hike up a mountain shrine... 
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Onagawa is a town heavily damaged in the 11 March 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The tsunami reached 15 metres (49 ft) in height and swept 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) inland, destroying the town centre and leaving over 1000 people missing, with over 300 confirmed dead. [via wiki]
Grace Mission Tohoku brought us to see Onagawa's bay. The tsunami's power became real once we arrived -- even though the devastation has already all been cleared away, one building remains toppled on its side:
This is the bottom of the building: (more…)
Ishinomaki city was among the most seriously affected by the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami which hit on 2:46pm 11 March 2011. Located 300 miles North of Tokyo, it takes around 4 hours by train (2 transfers) to get there.
Chez Panisse is a Berkeley, California restaurant known for using local, organic foods and credited as the inspiration for the style of cooking known as California cuisine. Well-known restauranteur, author, and food activist Alice Waters co-founded Chez Panisse in 1971. From the beginning, Waters advocated a style of cooking that uses the freshest, most delicious local food available, often prepared and presented simply and/or traditionally. The restaurant prides itself on relationships with producers, and buys through its established network of local farmers, ranchers, and dairies. [wiki]
Instant Noodles are a hungry man's best friend, and actually a large part of my childhood. So while I was passing through Japan, I paid homage to the man who invented it -- Momofuku Ando and his Instant Ramen museum located in Osaka (and also Yokohama, which is closer to Tokyo!). (more…)