Sukiya Restaurant

Sukiya restaurant chain offers a broad range of donburi menu items, making it an informal, inexpensive dining option. Donburi refers to a bowl of rice with some other food served on top of it. Gyudon (beef bowl) consists of beef and onion served over a bowl of rice. The meat and onion are cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake giving the dish a sweet, salty flavor.

Misawa’s Sukiya on Falcon Road is one of the few drive through restaurants in town. I’ll have to check its operation hours the next time I go. They also offer a breakfast menu, which is not available for take-out.

Kyle usually opts for a large gyudon, no onions (tamanegi o nuki de onegaishimasu) and spice level one, whereas I order the medium yakitori bowl with a side of kimchi. One of the drawbacks to ordering chicken meals in Japan is that it still contains skin. On that note, even though I’m not the healthiest of eaters, I’m not a huge fan of the gyudon because the beef is slightly marbled and I find myself picking out tidbits of fat.

The menu I’ve posted was picked up August 2010. While their staple dishes are gyudon, curry, and yakitori, they often have special limited-time menu items.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Misawa Summer Festival

Saturday, August 21: Mikoshi Carry

Misawa city’ s annual four-day summer festival lasted from Aug. 19 to Aug. 22. The parade route snakes through the downtown district, on “White Pole Road,” and passes American Park in front of Misawa Air Base. As with all matsuris that meander in front of the base, the front gate will be closed (17:00 to 21:00 on Friday; 15:00 to 21:00 on Saturday; and 13:00 to 15:00 on Sunday) for automobiles but open to foot traffic. Levitow Gate and the POL Gate will be open for vehicle traffic.

Each night of the parade varies slightly.

Thursday: Parade floats are on display at the Miss Veedol Dome at 17:00. Drum and flute competition follows at 18:00.

Friday: Floats will be paraded through downtown Misawa from 16:00 to 19:15.

Saturday: Traditional Japanese arts on display in American Park beginning at 13:00. A costume parade begins at 15:00, followed by a dance parade at 16:30, and hand-carried portable shrines (mikoshi) at 17:30 p.m.

Sunday: A repeat of Friday’s parade begins at 13:30.

Going out every weekend with children and battling with crowds through humidity has tired me out. Even though this parade was in our town, we only managed to attend the festivities Saturday night because Kyle participated in the mikoshi carry. If it weren’t for the heat wave, we probably would have gone to seen the floats displayed. Actually, by this time, almost all summer festival parades seem to contain the same components – entourage of dancers, men dressed in women's attire, and portable shires.

The costume parade on Saturday for some reason had Disney-themed participants. I don’t quite understand all the men dressed in drag during the parades. I know in old kabuki theatre, men played female roles too. Anyway, I wish I had taken more photos of the playful, wacky attire, but alas, I was maneuvering my double stroller and trying to secure a position where the kids and I could see Kyle in the parade.

More interesting than the parade were the activities that followed. All mikoshi participants gathered for a show-down at American Park. They transported the shrine to the circular stage, then proceeded to dance and spin it upon their shoulders wildly to music. Deafening whistles blowing and boisterous chants ensued as spectators cheered for their favorite groups. After several spin demonstrations, the Misawa International Association, with its base contestants, won the competition.

Male dancers

Female dancers

Mascot

Junior sumo group

In traditional sumo garb

Kendo demonstration

Mikoshi carry

Waiting to see dad in the parade

Misawa International Association Mikoshi

There's dad!

Another mikoshi

Taking a quick break

Misawa nebuta float (front)

Misawa nebuta float (back)

Karinba Chinese Restaurant

Misawa has many Chinese restaurants, some better than others. Karinba has, by far, the most extensive food menu. The portions are large and take-out is available.

They are located on Falcon Street.

Click on the image for a larger view.

Exploring Misawa City

Sunday, August 1: Exploring Misawa's backroads

Today we decided to get up early and stay “in-house” to explore local sites.

Bego-Jaga (Beef & Potato) Festival
Usually held on the first Sunday of August

Tonami Clan Memorial Tourist Village, located on the outskirts of Misawa City, commemorates the first modern Western farm in Japan. The Bago-Jaga Festival is one of the four summer festival is Misawa City and held at the Tonami Clan Memorial Tourist Village (AKA Misawa City Farm). Attendees can enjoy barbecue of delicious Aomori Beef along with fresh vegetables just reaped at local farms. Activities and games for children include treasure hunt, hay rolling, tractor rides, potato digging, and milk tasting. We initially went to the festival so our son could get a glimpse of the animal farm/petting zoo. However, we arrived a little too early and that section was still closed. Therefore, we decide to leave the sun’s heat and humidity for air conditioning and headed to a nearby museum.

This is the third time I've seen this jumper at a festival. I have all the usual festival shots and was uninspired (due to heat and humidity) to take photos here.

Misawa Aviation and Science Museum

What surprised me the most about the museum was the grounds on which it is kept. There is a large grass field and playground for children to play. Inside the museum visitors will see an Aviation Zone, Science Zone, Children’s Square, and special exhibit. The Aviation Zone serves as an aviation museum, introducing aircraft and aviation history related to Aomori Prefecture. It also includes a replica of Miss Veedol, the first plane to fly non-stop across the northern Pacific Ocean (1931). In the Science Zone, attendees experience science technology through bodily-kinesthetic opportunities, consisting of flight simulators, wind tunnels, and other mechanisms. Children's Square houses a large playset specially designed for preschool children. In addition, the museum holds a separate room for special, limited-run exhibits (which costs ¥600 extra). Museum entrance costs ¥500.

Planes and jets outside museum

Museum entrance

On occasion, free train rides outside museum

Flying machine shaped like the double helix of DNA molecule

Details - everything made from wood, gears, chains, etc.

In the cockpit

Statue of Liberty, Aomori-ken

For some strange reason, there are hundreds of Statues of Liberties that have been created worldwide. In fact, Japan has three of them, 1) Odaiba, near Rainbow Bridge in Tokyo, 2) American Village in Osaka, and 3) in Shimoda (now called Oirase Town), near Misawa, which is on parallel 40°N – the same latitude as NYC. We decided to visit it because we had nothing better to do. Lady Liberty, made of fiber reinforced plastics, stands at one-fourth the size of its NYC counterpart: total height 20.8m, 9.3m base, and 11m statue. Jogging trails, a small lake, children’s play ground, and a Japanese-only cafe also inhabit the park surrounding the statue.

Momoishi Park Map

These strategically-placed cut-outs seem to pop up often in Japan

Replica looks good but not made out of copper

Trying to include myself and daughter in more photos

Random Photos

These are images we saw along our drive today. I should have marked on what roads they were taken.

I have this liking for Godzilla. I don't know why car dealerships have them on their lots, but this is the second one I've seen. To top it off,the car sign in front of it reads, Umax Cute. Now if only I could find a lot that has both Godzilla and King Kong.

I never heard of Gundam, but apparently it's popular out here. The large figures were outside a barber shop. It was just so random. When it initially caught my peripheral vision, I thought they were Transformers.

The barrel of the gun is some sort of hose that might squirt out to traffic. The eyes of each figure had red LED lights. This proprietor even had gnomes in the shrubs behind Gundam.

Another fascination of mine, gnomes and dwarfs.

Wouldn't have noticed this cake shop except for the attention grabber - a huge cake in the parking lot.

Tanabata Festival: Misawa City

Friday, July 23: Misawa Tanabata Festival

The largest Tananbata festival is held in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. I’d eventually like to go there and see it when Talia can walk and when we won’t have to carry so much food for both children. But for now, Misawa will do.

The family and I went on Friday night. We initially wanted to wait until Saturday or Sunday, but there was a chance of rain so we decided not to put it off. I was quite glad that we went to the Hachinohe Tanabata Festival the week prior. Misawa is a smaller city so the festival and its decorations, though interesting, reflected it. We did appreciate meandering through the streets during nighttime because the weather was cooler. Japanese summers are so humid.

I enjoy going to street fairs for people watching. It takes a lot of patience and restraint on my part to maneuver the stroller through crowds of people. Attendees walked around with food on (sharp) sticks or smoked cigarettes, so I’m always weary of getting into a scuffle if someone pokes or burns me or my children. I’m not as adventurous anymore and am less likely to try street food because I think about how long the food has been out, cooking cleanliness, etc. I know, such a damper, but I despise getting food poisoning – and I’ve had my fair share of that. I do have my favorites, usually some type of desserts, but avoided purchasing anything.

We arrived early and left early, another indication of a family with youngsters and getting older. The Misawa Tanabata Festival, like many other Misawa festivals, took place outside the main base entrance, contained music on a stage in American Park, and extended along White Pole Road.

Tanabata lights

Hmm ... Is this what they think of the USA/Americans

Typical street stall selling seafood and veggies

Takoyaki (octopus and veggies cooked into spheres)

Overpriced light toys

Kingyo-suki (goldfish dipping)

Object of the game: catch a goldfish without breaking the thin paper spoon

Local high school girls dressed for festival

Young girls dressed in traditional yukatas

Misawa City American Day

Sunday, June 6: Misawa American Day

First of all, I wasn't sure what to expect during American Day in Misawa. I didn't ask anyone why June 6th was chosen. For some strange reason I remember from my American history class, and watching Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, that June 6th is D-Day - when allied Troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. Upon further internet search (an an episode of The Pacific), I also discovered that it was the Battle of Midway - when US Navy dive bombers sunk the Japanese cruiser Mikuma and four other Japanese carriers. I suppose that if Japanese remember WWII history and dates, it probably wouldn't be cause for celebration.

American Day in Misawa consisted of food booths filed with American foods (Turkey legs, cakes, cookies, chips, hot dogs, hamburgers, sodas, nothing healthy or vegetarian based, etc.) and parade (American oversized trucks, a man dressed in full EOD gear riding a Segway, and cowboys. Probably what surprised me most were Japanese marching band, baton twirlers, and tall flags. Who knew that this (fill in your adjective here) American pastime would cross the Pacific and make its way to this small fishing village?! After the parade, Japanese dressed in cowboy garb line danced on stage.

American in EOD Gear

A military paper reported that there were over 80,000 attendees. http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/thousands-in-misawa-turn-out-for-american-day-1.106004

The images left with me from American Day were gaijin with bad tattoos, not bad as in cool, more like bad as in tasteless and generic flash tats. Don't get me wrong, I am indeed a fan of inked skin, but these just didn't look artistic, at least in my eyes. (Maybe I'll have to eat these words if ever I decide to finally get my "sleeves" done.) Another common sight, as whenever Americans congregate in large masses for festivities on a sunny day, was lobster-red sunburns on melanin-poor skin, just unsightly. I think the funniest spectacle I saw was a flock of Japanese children trying to take down a giant bald eagle balloon. I should have taken a photo of it, but between carrying Camren on my back and navigating the stroller through the crowds, I just forgot, couldn't be bothered, to take out my camera. Boy, do I feel old.

Cell Phone Trinkets

Anyhow, it was something to do on a Sunday morning, keeping busy with the kids and spending some quality time together. As I told Kyle on the way home, I think that was my first and last American Day outing.

Interesting facts about June 6 that I cut and pasted from Wikipedia.

Events

1844 – The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is founded in London.

1889 – The Great Seattle Fire destroys the entirety of downtown Seattle, Washington.

1925 – The Chrysler Corporation is founded by Walter Percy Chrysler.

1932 – The Revenue Act of 1932 is enacted, creating the first gas tax in the United States, at a rate of 1 cent per US gallon (1/4 ¢/L) sold.

1946 – The Basketball Association of America is formed in New York City.

1968 – Senator Robert F. Kennedy dies from his wounds after he was shot the previous night.

1971 – A midair collision between a Hughes Airwest Douglas DC-9 jetliner and a United States Marine Corps McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II jet fighter near Duarte, California claims 50 lives.

1990 – U.S. District court judge Jose Alejandro Gonzalez, Jr. rules that the rap album As Nasty As They Wanna Be by 2 Live Crew violates Florida's obscenity law; he declares that the predominant subject matter of the record is "directed to the 'dirty' thoughts and the loins, not to the intellect and the mind."

Births

1867 – David T. Abercrombie, American entrepreneur (d. 1931)

1914 – H. Adams Carter, American mountaineer (d. 1995)

1923 – V. C. Andrews, American author (d. 1986)

1952 – Harvey Fierstein, American actor

1955 – Sandra Bernhard, American actress and comedian

1955 – Dana Carvey, American comedian and actor

1959 – Jimmy Jam, American record producer

1959 – Colin Quinn, American comedian

1960 – Steve Vai, American musician

1974 – Uncle Kracker, American musician

Deaths

1799 – Patrick Henry, American revolutionary (b. 1736)

1941 – Louis Chevrolet, American automotive pioneer (b. 1878)

1968 – Robert F. Kennedy, 64th United States Attorney General and politician (b. 1925)

1976 – J. Paul Getty, American industrialist (b. 1892)

1979 – Jack Haley, American actor (b. 1898) - Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz

1991 – Stan Getz, American musician (b. 1927)

2002 – Robbin Crosby, American guitarist (Ratt) (b. 1959) - Born in La Jolla, CA

2006 – Billy Preston, American musician (b. 1946)