Ichiran / 一蘭

Now that I got my computer back, I can start writing new posts, I shall start with one of my favorite ramen shops in Shibuya. The place is called [Ichiran]. They only serve one type of ramen - tonkotsu. But like Burger King, you can have it your way. You are given a sheet to choose specifics such as how hard or soft you would like your noodles, how much garlic you want, if you would like onions or not, if you want a kaedama (extra helping of just noodles) and so forth. Also, at this particular ramen shop, you are seated at a booth with walls on all three sides so its just you and the ramen.

やっとパソコンが戻ったので、またネタ書きの再開が出来る。そして復活して最初のネタは渋谷にあるラーメン屋「一蘭」。ラーメンの種類は一つしかない。それはとんこつです。バーガーキングと同じく、自分好みで注文が出来る。麺の硬さ、にんにくの量、青ネギか白ネギがネギなし、チャーシュのありなし、替え玉等。この店のもう一つの特徴は味集中カウンター。自分とラーメンしかない世界が味わえる。

Tonkotsu Ramen / とんこつラーメン

Kaedama (noodle refill)

替え玉

Your own private booth.

味集中カウンター

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

NOTICE / お知らせ

To all my faithful readers - I apologize for not posting anything new for the last couple of weeks. The simple reason being the computer was in for repairs - not that there was anything wrong with it - only the adaptor was bad. But as the computer is still under warranty, the store I bought it at suggested sending it to Toshiba. Well, Toshiba said it would cost about $150USD to take a look at it. The adaptor can be special ordered for only $15. Well, you can guess that I decided not to have Toshiba do their thing - oh, and the adaptor is not covered under the warranty - worthless store warranties!

読者の皆さまーこのたびなにも書けず申し訳ございませんでした。この二週間パソコンは修理に出してました。本体は壊れてなかったが、アダプターだけの調子が悪くて、買った店に出しました。保障に入ってたので。店員のおすすめで東芝に調べてもらったほうが良いとおすすめられて、迷いながら、修理にだした（だって、本体壊れてないって）。それに、２－３週間位かかりますと言われて、え～と考えながら、出しました。で、やっぱり本体じゃなくて、アダプターだけが悪い。店から電話があって、東芝が調べると１万５千円がかかりますって。アダプターだけを取り寄せすれば５千円ですも。さらにアダプターは保障の対象外になるため、新しいものと交換も出来ず、店の保障ってなに？今も壊れてるはずのアダプターを使ってますよ。

Mini Burgers? / ミニバーガー？

Ooh, two burgers and some fries. But don't they look a little small? That's because they're really mini donuts made to look like burgers. It's a collaborative effort between Japanese burger chain Mos Burger and donut chain Mr. Donut. I will eventually have to check out the donut burger at Mos Burger.

おおう、バーガーとポテトフライだ。でも、何か小さくない？それは本物のバーガーじゃなくて、バーガーの形のお菓子です。モスバーガーとミスタ・ドーナッツのコラボ商品です。いずれはモスバーガーのドーナッツバーガーを食べに行くべきだな。

Cute little burgers...I mean sweets, aren't they?

可愛いバーガー。。。あっ、スイーツだね？

This will give you an idea of the size of these snacks.

上記の写真でサイズ分かりますね。

Available for a limited time only, at least I think so (sorry Dad!)

限定期間の商品（と思うんだけど）、悪いねお父さん！

Japanese Microbrew Tour - Nagano Prefecture / 日本地ビールツアー － 長野県

You caught me - this is a recycled post with a new Title and one other beer from the same brewing company.

ばれたか？このネタは前書かれた物で、タイトル変更と同じヤーホーブルーイングのも一つのビール。

Yona Yona Ale from Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture. I suppose I should have taken a picture of the back of the can so I could tell you all the rewards it has received in the past few years. Delicious, but I still prefer bottled beers.

長野県軽井沢の地ビールヨナヨナエール。缶の後ろの写真も撮れば良かったな。そこに、どうゆう賞をとったかが書いてあった。とにかく旨い。でも自分はやっぱり缶より瓶のほうが良いな。

This is Aooni India Pale Ale. There is a little blurb written on the can itself. It translates to something like this: A high percentage of alcohol using a large amount of hops, India Pale Ale, first made in 18th century England for those colonials who lived in faraway India or something to that effect and ending with made for the discriminating beer fan.

軽井沢にあるヤッホーブルーイングの限定醸造ビール「インドの青鬼」。缶に解説がこうゆう風に書かれてます：アルコールドが高く、ホップをふんだんに使ったインディア・ペールエールは、18世紀の英国で、長く過酷なインドへの航海のために、劣化しにくいビールとして作られました。そんなルーツを持つ「インドの青鬼」は、驚愕の苦味と深いコクで飲む者を虜にします。“魔の味”を知ってしまった熱狂的ビールファンの為のビールです。

[HARAKARA] Gourmet Burger Shop / 「ハラカラ。」グルメハンバーガーのお店

A new burger shop has opened in our neighborhood. The name of the place is called Harakara. You can choose from six burgers on their menu: hamburger, cheeseburger, pine-burger, bacon burger, avocado burger, and a double-burger. The owner says the patties are already flavored so you really don't need to top your burger with ketchup or mustard (although both are available). The shops most popular burger is their avocado burger which we also ordered. Very huge and tasty, but rather difficult to eat, unless you decide to eat with a fork and a knife. The side menu consists of fries, onion rings, green salad, and an avocado salad. You can also order extra toppings as well.

うちの近所にまた新たなグルメバーガー屋が誕生しました。店の名前は「ハラカラ」。場所は世田谷通り、東京餃子の向かいにある。世田谷警察署行きの近道。メニューに六種類のバーガーを選べる。ハンバーガー、チーズバーガー、パインバーガー、ベイコンバーガー、店おすすめ人気ナンバーワンのアボカドバーガー、とダブルバーガー。パティは味付けされてるので、ケチャップやマスタードは必要がないと店主が言ってました（両方置いてますけど）。サイドメニューにポテトフライ、オニオンリング、サラダ、とアボカドサラダもあります。いろんなトッピングも注文する事も可能。私たちは店のあすすめのアボカドバーガーを頼みました。バーガーはデッカイ！美味しいけどちょっと食べづらい。ナイフとフォークで食べたほうが良いかも。

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

Ern's Monthly Visual Victuals (May 2009)

*映画に関するネタは日本語書き込みません

You didn't think I was going to forget to let you know what kind of movies I watched for the month of May did you? Lots of action, some comedy, a documentary, and a few Japanese films as well. I like variety in my films as much as I do with books. And I have a few movies that are still waiting to be watched but I will talk about those next month. For now, enjoy:

PINEAPPLE EXPRESS (2008) - I love totally mindless movies, especially ones like this. Seth Rogan is my new hero! Whereas "Superbad" was aimed at the teen scene, we now graduate to an overweight, pot-smoking process server (Seth) who's girlfriend is an awesome babe in high school (every losers wet dream kind of movie) - but it's so damn funny, it won't really bother you. Process server dude is about to serve another person but before doing so, he decides to take a toke or two of some good sh*t his dealer just sold him - a brand called "Pineapple Express". As he toking, he witnesses a murder - which happens to be the guy he was supposed to serve papers to. Of course he runs away but the thing is - the baddie (big rich dude) is process servers' dealer's main supplier. And since the big baddie is the only one who has "Pineapple Express" - the chase is on.


ENEMY OF THE STATE (1998) - It was aired on network television so I watched it again. Those NSA baddies (who believe there good guys) thinks its alright to invade anyone and everyone's privacy (although the system hasn't yet been approved by Congress). So, NSA bad boy decides to kill the major opponent of the system. However, the murder gets filmed by accident and falls into the hands of Will Smith. Now all these baddies (who think they're the good guys) are out to get Smith. Smith doesn't have a clue what's going on but later hooks up with Gene Hackman who gives him a few facts of life about the NSA.


BODY OF LIES (2008) - Another movie with terrorists as the back drop. This is just a better version of "Syriana". With Leonardo DiCaprio (CIA field agent) and Russell Crowe (CIA Deskman in Langley who is DiCaprio's boss). Field agent and boss go loggerheads over how to deal with Jordanian intelligence on the War on Terror. Uh-huh.

REIGN OF FIRE (2002) - Fairly decent science-fiction film starring Christian Bale and Mathew McConaughy. Earth in the future. Humans are near extinction, fed upon by the dragons that now inhabit our world. Still, a few remaining survivors are fighting back. They have found that all the dragons are females, that there is only one male. If they were to destroy the only male dragon, not only will the earth be saved, but mankind would survive as well.

THE DA VINCI CODE (2006) - With the release of Ron Howard's "Angels & Demons" this month in Japan, of course the broadcast network is going to air the blockbuster movie to make people want to spend money to see the new film. I loved the way it was described in a recent book I read - After a murder in the Louvre, Robert Langdon is chased while trying to solve it; teaching us that museums are bad. Robert and Sophie, who is trying to help him, are hunted by manic religious zealots while searching for the Holy Grail; teaching us that Opus Dei is bad. In the end, they find out that Mary Magdalene is the Holy Grail and Sophie is a descendant of her and Jesus. The Catholic Church thinks this is bad.

IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH (2007) - It's "A Few Good Men" without Jack Nicholson and returning soldiers from Iraq for those army boys in Guantanamo Bay. Tommy Lee Jones is the father of one of the returning soldiers. However, it seems his son has gone AWOL. Unfortunately for Lee, his son's body is found but it's burnt to a crisp and cut up in a bunch of itty bitty pieces - eeewwwww!. The military and local police won't help him solve his son's murder so he takes it upon himself to investigate.

THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008) - Another Marvel hero gets the Hollywood treatment (for a second time). Why? Anyway, lots of people to hurt and things to break for the big green guy. Oh, and Dr. Bruce Banner is played by Edward Norton this time around. Also with Liv Tyler as his love interest.

EAGLE EYE (2008) - The latest Spielberg flick that I thought might be similar to "Enemy of the State" where some unknown person seems to watch every move you make, and makes you and another unaware person do his/her bidding. But when you find out who that someone is, it's kind of a letdown. Lets just say its the 21st century version of HAL9000.

WANTED (2008) - Bored out of his mind office worker finds that his father was a member of secret society of assassins called "The Fraternity", and they've come to recruit dude into their fold. Uh-huh? Opus Dei they are not. This stars James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and Samuel L. Jackson. Lots of explosions and gun action and shootings and death and mayhem. Did I mention there was a lot of explosions? Oh, and if you think Angelina Jolie's tattooed body and ass is fine, then you will have a lot of fun watching this. The story is absurd but it's entertaining.

FIREWALL (2006) - Indy Jones, oops I mean Harrison Ford is a consultant for some high tech security system and is forced to cooperate with a bunch of baddies who want to rip off a bank big time so kidnaps his wife and family do get him to do their bidding.

HEAVY METAL IN THE COUNTRY: NUCLEAR BLAST STORY (2005) - I was actually looking for the documentary "Global Metal", the follow up to director Sam Dunn's "Metal: A Headbanger's Odyssey". But my local DVD rental shop moved it from where I last saw it. So I picked up this title instead. It's a German documentary by Andreas Geiger about the second biggest employer in the small town of Donzdorf, Germany - home of the metal label Nuclear Blast. Also includes videos by Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Kataklysm, and one other band that I can't remember off the top of my head.

全然大丈夫 「Ｚｅｎｚｅｎ Ｄａｉｊｏｕｂｕ」 Ｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ Ｔｉｔｌｅ：[FINE, TOTALLY FINE] (2008) - Not as fine as it makes itself out to be. This is a mildly entertaining and somewhat plot less movie that reminded me of that recent Swedish film I watched "Du Levande" or "You, the Living". The premise seems to be the same. Ordinary people living their ordinary lives. This film features Yosi Yosi Arakawa, Yoshino Kimura, and Yoshinori Okada. Well, maybe the main characters are not so ordinary - they are quite odd. Kimura plays a dork of a girl who's a struggling artist but gets a job at as a cleaning women at some clinic, hired by Okada who gradually falls in love with her. Arakawa who works as a ground maintenance guy loves horror movies and it's his dream to build the ultimate haunted house - and he also falls for the introverted Kimura, who starts to blossom when she meets Yuhara, played by comedian Naoki Tanaka. It's a rainy day movie.

NAESARANG SSAGAJI International English Title [100 DAYS WITH MR. ARROGANT] (2004) - Cute Korean rom-com that runs out of steam in the last half of the flick. High school girl gets dumped on the 100th day of her anniversary with her boyfriend (apparent a special day, you would know that if you watched a lot of Korean dramas). Anyway, being a little mad at getting dumped she kicks a can to let loose her frustration, which flies into the air and hits a spoiled rich boy on the head who ends up scratching his Lexus. As high school girl can't pay for the damages, spoiled dude gets her to sign a contract to be his servant for 100 days. And in typical rom-com tradition, they slowly fall in love, fall-out, and re-unite. Rainy day fun!

百万円と苦虫女 「Ｈｙａｋｕｍａ-Eｎ ｔｏ Ｎｉｇａｍｕｓｈｉ Ｏｎｎａ」 Ｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ Ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ Ｔｉｔｌｅ：[ONE MILLION YEN GIRL] (2008) - Japanese indie movie (at least that's what it seems like) featuring Japanese Academy Award winner Yuu Aoi. She won Best Supporting Actress in 2007 for "Hula Girl". This is one of those searching for yourself, road movie. The movie starts off with Yuu room sharing with a friend who doesn't tell her that her boyfriend is part of the room-sharing. The day Yuu moves in, her friend splits with the boyfriend and Yuu finds herself living with a total stranger. She picks up a stray kitten and goes out to buy some food for it. When she comes back, the roommate tells her he got rid of it. She goes in search of it and find that its dead. To get back at the heartbroken idiot, she throws his entire belongings away. The guy sics a lawyer on her saying that there was one million yen in one of his bags. She goes to a woman's prison for this and when she gets out, she works to save up a million yen and moves from town to town. Kind of depressing with an unsatisfying ending, but Yuu is awesome and looks great so you can forgive the movie for being such a downer.

ハッピ・フライト 「HAPPY FLIGHT] (2008) - The latest film from the director of such Japanese comedies as "Waterboys" and "Swing Girls". This flick features one flight from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Honolulu and the trouble that befalls the plane as it suffers a bird strike. As the film doesn't feature just the flight attendants or just the pilots, and is not really an air disaster movie, it's an entertaining peak into everybody who works to make airline travel safe, including the workers in the Tower, the maintenance crew, the ticket agents, and just everybody. Fun movie!

Aren't movies great! I love films! Now go out and rent a few yourself. And if you have any recommendations, by all means. I'm looking forward to seeing "The Visitor" (which will be released in the theaters sometime in September, I think) and the Thai film "Chocolate Fighter", makers of "Ong Bak" and "Tom Yam Kun".

Tokyo Ramen Show 2009 / ラーメン Show in Tokyo 2009

The last three days of May, the Tokyo Ramen Show was held at Komazawa Olympic Park in Setagaya Ward. There were 25 ramen booths featuring ramen shops from all over the country including ramen shop collaborations. Mikako and I joined our friends Suga and his wife on Sunday morning and headed to the ramen booths at 10:30 in the morning. It was already crowded by the time we got there. One ramen booth featuring Ramen King, Minoru Sano had a line with a two-hour waiting time. I was looking forward to trying the Toyama Black ramen. As there were four of us, we decided to buy different kinds of ramen and try a little bit of each one. In the end, we tried seven different ramens!

五月最後の三日間は駒沢オリンピック公園で「ラーメンShow in Tokyo 2009」が開催されました。２５店のラーメン屋台がずらりと並んで、日本全国のラーメンが味わえるイベントでした。有名店のコラボラーメンもあり、あの有名ラーメン職人、佐野実さんの佐野Japanの屋台も出店。僕と美香子は友達と合流して、朝十時半に会場行き。あの早い時間でも、もうかなり混んでました。佐野Japanのブースの前はもう行列が出来て、なんと二時間待ちだったらしい。僕の目当てのラーメンは富山ブラック。私たち四人だったから別々のラーメンを買って、いろんなのを味わえる作戦に出た。結局七種類のラーメンを味わえました。

Tokyo Ramen Show at 10:30 in the morning.

Just to give you an idea of how crowed it was so early in the morning.

People lined up to buy ramen.

ラーメンを求めてる人の列。

The ramen booth Mikako lined up for featuring ramen from her home Prefecture of Aomori. This booth was a collaborative effort between Nagao Chuka Soba and Tsujima and were selling Tsugaru Niboshi Chuka Soba. This ramen features a broth made from dried small sardines.

美香子が並んでたラーメンブース。自分の出身県の青森ラーメン。このブースはコラボラーメンの一つ。長尾中華そばｘつし馬「田中商店」。貰ったガイドブックによると：昔ながらのあっさりした中華そばを常に進化させながら究極の煮干し魚介スープを目指し、日々精進する。

Nagao Chuka Soba x Tsushima [Tanaka Market Street] / 長尾中華そば ｘ つし馬 「田中商店」

The ramen booth featuring the ramen I was looking forward to eating - Toyama Black.

僕の目当てのラーメンブース － 富山ブラック。

Toyama Black / 富山ブラック

This ramen was chosen by Toyama Prefecture's governor to represent Toyama. This ramen features a fish-based broth that was simmered for several hours.

ガイドブックから：富山県知事認定のご当地の味。魚醤を長時間煮込んだ真っ黒いスープは、深いコクがあり、驚くほどまろやか。

The other ramen booth I lined up for, Hakata Ikkousha.

僕がもう一つのラーメンブースに並んでたのは「博多一幸舎」

Hakata Ikkousha / 博多一幸舎

Pork-based broth ramen from Kyushu.

九州の豚骨ラーメン。ガイドブックから：「旨み」「甘み」を濃厚かつクリーミーに仕上げた本場の味。

Hakata Daruma x Hakata Shinpu / 博多だるま ｘ 博多新風


Another collaborative effort between two Kyushu Ramen shops. This ramen is also features a pork-based broth.

ガイドブックから：福岡蔵元の酒粕と甘味噌を使用。濃厚でコクのある豚骨スープとの相性は抜群！さらに新風のオリジナルマー油が味のアクセントとなり、スープの味に深みを持たせます！




Keisuke x Nagi / けいすけ ｘ 凪

And even another collaborative effort between ramen shops Keisuke and Nagi. This ramen features a broth made with lobster and sardines.

またもコラボラーメンです。けいすけ ｘ 凪。びっくりするほどの味わえ。ガイドブックから：高級食材の伊勢海老と瀬戸内の白口いわしをふんだんに使った極（きわみ）のラーメン。

Ramen Tetsuya / らーめん てつや

Opened in 1997 in Sapporo, Hokkaido and voted as the city's number one ramen for five years running in a local magazine.

ガイドブック情報：１９９７年創業、地元情報誌にて人気ランキング５年連続１位など札幌で絶大な支持を誇る、店主の"内海てつや"はラーメン歴２２年を迎え、今もなお、己の腕を磨く為日々修行中の身だという。

Tokushima Chuka Soba Tokufuku / 徳島中華そば 徳福



And last but not least, ramen from Tokufuku based in Tokushima Prefecture. Once you taste it, you will never forget (so the guidebook says). The noodles are made locally. The broth is made with singed soy sauce. Also added to the noodles is a sweet and spicy pork. And an egg yolk for a final touch that makes a perfect match with the pork.

最後に徳福から徳島中華そばを食べました。ガイドブックによると：食べ易く一度食べると忘れない味。そんな徳島ラーメンの素晴らしさを知ってもらうべく徳福が出店。麺は本場徳島より取り寄せ、醤油は焦がし醤油を使用。甘辛く煮た豚バラは卵黄ととてもマッチする。


I hope this event will be an annual thing. In two weeks, we will be headed to Yoyogi Park for the Bangladesh Festival!

これから毎年このイベントが開催して欲しいな。再来週はまた代々木公園でバングラデシュ祭りだ！