The Takoyaki Party.

14th November 2004.

   Takoyaki: A ball-shaped Japanese snack with copious amounts of takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried katsuobushi brushed & sprinkled over top. All washed down with copious amounts of alcohol.
  Takoyaki Party: Where a group of people - family, friends or whatever - gather at a designated place and make takoyaki, drink alcohol and have a really great time (as in above image).
   Takoyaki reminds me of the great Kiwi takeaway
of Fish-n-Chips. Whereas takoyaki is smothered with sauce & mayonnaise, we smother our fish-n-chips with lashings of tomato sauce. And, to add to the possibility of heart disease, we sometimes devour the meal in what is known as a chip-butty. 
    

   Like the Japanese equivalent, both are best washed-down with a good cold beer, or two. Whether these meals could be regarded as a delicacy, I will leave that up to you to decide. For me. There is only one word to describe a feed of this caliber - oishii.





   Originating in Osaka back in 1935, takoyaki soon became popular in the Kansai Region and later spread (no pun intended) to the Kanto Region and other areas of Japan. Facilities selling takoyaki can be found everywhere and they come in many shapes-and-sizes - specialist restaurants, small street vendors, private homes ( where the garage has been converted), and, like in the image above, at fairs and other public events. 

Video.

   So, where did my love of this delicacy originate from? To answer that I need to go back to the second week of November, 2004. I was standing outside this shop (in the image on the left), at the Keihan Hirakata Station, when I became intrigued by the actions of the staff behind the counter. The man, with a spike in his hand, was busy turning little balls (about the size of a table-tennis ball), on a hotplate, at an incredible pace. Then, when they were cooked, he would flick them into a tray and pass the tray onto the next assistant who would then take a paint-brush and spread brown sauce over them and sprinkle some ingredient over that. Later that evening, during dinner with my family, I recalled to them what I saw earlier and, all in unison, said "aah Takoyaki". Somewhere in their explanation the term "Takoyaki Party" was mentioned and, on the 14th November 2004, I was to experience my first takoyaki party. God-knows how many we devoured, or how much alcohol we consumed, but this was to become the best social occasion in my life. But it didn't finish there. After our mess was cleaned-up, we all hopped-into a car and headed-off to the nearest karaoke parlour  for 4-hours of singing & drinking and fun. I must have been so drunk because the first song I sung was Queens Bohemian Rhapsody.

   Now lets come forward to Sunday 17th March 2013, and the opportunity for my wife and I to host a takoyaki party for our family. But, before I show you the video of the occasion, I shall explain what equipment and ingredients are required.

First up is the special takoyaki pan. These come in many shapes and sizes, depending on how many will be attending your party. This particular pan (in the image on the left) is a combination pan that can be used to cook Okonomiyaki, Teppanyaki and many other recipes.

   For the ingredients you commence with finely-chopped cabbage (much finer than for a coleslaw). For today's party we used half a cabbage which took me the best part of 30-minutes to chop.

  Next Tako, or Octopus, which is diced into small pieces so as not to take up too much space in the dumpling.

   On the tray, in the image on the right, is finely diced Red Ginger, sliced Spring Onion and Tenkasu ( I remember at my first party asking why we were adding Rice Bubbles to the mixture.)











   The three ingredients, in the above image, when mixed, become the all important Batter, in the image on the right. Unlike most batters, that are fairly condensed, this is very thin, like soup. And, as you will witness in the video, it is poured abundantly over the pan. 

And then, to top-it-all-off (no pun intended), the toppings. Firstly a healthy squirting of Mayonnaise, followed by an equally large dose of special Takoyaki Sauce, followed by a generous sprinkling of Katsuobushi ( not to be confused with wood-shavings) and Aonori. 

   Oops. I almost forgot to mention the tools needed. Apart from the knife, to prepare & chop some of the ingredients, and a whisk, to make the batter, you will need a metal spike, to turn and serve the dumplings, but we use long wooden toothpicks instead. Also a special brush to oil the pan before each serving.

   Now this is what your table should look like, as you begin your takoyaki party. All that is missing is the liquid refreshments. But, don't despair, they are only a meter-or-so-away.
   So now sit back and watch this video of the "Barcock Takoyaki Party".













                                                          Bon Appetit.

   

Kyotanabeonesugi Hiking Course.

   For some time now I have been wanting to share with you some of the great Japan rural scenery that I have seen/experienced during my travels. My first dilemma was how to go about it and what to use as the title. Then it struck me. Not far from where I live is an area that is riddled with tracks and lanes that I have spent many hours discovering.

Map Location.

On one such outing I happened across this sign. On it was a description of the "Kyotanabeonesugi Hiking Course" and, once I digested the information, I was soon planning my next outing (not on foot, but on bike). As I proceeded I realized that I had traveled parts of this course during the past years, so much of the area was familiar to me.
   The 'course is about 8km long and has three start/end points - settlements of Tenno, Takefuna & Mizutori - with a bus service to each, and takes the traveller  through a variety of different scenery - rural, secluded settlements, bamboo forests plus a couple of Shrines.

Map Location.
Video.

   For the purposes of this post, I decided to commence/finish my hike at the settlement of Hotani, as that was the closest bus stop to access the course and a  pleasant surprise to end the day on.

Map Location.
Video.

After strolling through the settlement and bamboo forest (the first of many) I arrived at a clearing, with my first rural view, and a three-track junction. During the weekend this area becomes popular with other like-minded people and you need to be alert for others on the track, cyclists as well. 

Map Location.

   About a kilometer on you arrive at another junction, and the 'Onesugi Hiking Course. Take note of the small rock marker in front of you. At this point I must compliment the caretakers for the way the course has been signposted/marked.

Map Location.

Map Location.

Map Location.

   Throughout the course you will come-across many signs of various shapes-and-sizes.The most interesting, and a new addition since I last was here, are the many water-color paintings (as seen in the above image). Being a fan of the arts, I found these to be very interesting.

Map Location.
Video.

 After about a kilometer walk through dense bamboo forest, you emerge into a clearing and you become exposed to some very beautiful & scenic rural environment, in the form of terraced rice-fields. At anytime of year this is beautiful, but, when the rice has just been planted, or is close to harvest, is the best. It's a sight-to-behold (as seen in the video). From here you make your way to the settlement of Takefune (in a roundabout way) but, before then, the first treat of the day, in the form of the Kasagami-jinja Shrine (Video.) 

Torii, entrance to
Kasagami-jinja Shrine.
Map Location.

This is an Inari Shrine and is an ideal location to rest-up, have a bite-to-eat, as-well-as taking in the surrounding scenery. Take a wander to the far end of the site, and check-out the Buddhist Statue nestled amongst the trees. It is also where the track continues it's course. Try and imagine, as you make your way through the forest to Takefune, what it must have been like for me when I came through here on my bike. There were times when I had to push it in front of me because of the denseness of the bamboo.

Map Location.

Takefune, and the first of three junctions where you can either arrive or depart from (there is a bus shelter in the middle of the junction). The lanes here take you to a variety of destinations but, it's the one on your right you need to take. About a hundred meters further along, there is a track branching-off on your right (it is signposted).  

Map Location.

   A bit further on, and you come to more stone-markers. From this point, on a good clear day, you are able to see Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park. It was also here, when I was one of my cycling excursions, that I had a chance meeting with a local lady who could speak English. She was delightful and, whenever I pass here, and she is here, she always has something for me. Keep an eye-out for her. She would love to chat with you.

Map Location.
Video.

After more rural scenery, you are about to re-enter the bamboo forest and travel along the ridge of a hill. The course here follows a line of power-pylons and is quite dense in places. Also pay attention to the track as one can easily take the wrong turn. After a tricky descent you emerge onto a sealed road and rural Mizutori. 

Map Location.

  The settlement of Mizutori is the second of the arrive/depart junctions. The road through the village can be quite busy, so I suggest you take care. There is also a cafe here if you need to quench your thirst, or satisfy your hunger. From here you take a narrow lane, opposite a small bridge, and ascend the road to the settlement of Tenno.

Map Location.

Map Location.

Along the way you get some great vistas of the Mizutori basin, and the line of power-pylons you passed earlier. Partway up I came-across some straw draped over a road-barrier to dry and, nearer Tenno, these small Jizo. 

Map Location.

The settlement of Tenno, and the third and final junction. From here a bus will take you to either Kyotanabe of Hirakata Cities. There is also a quaint wee cane shop in the vicinity and, if you are looking for that little something to take home, check it out. There are four lanes at this junction, yours is the one up the hill, behind the buildings. It is quite steep so you need to pace yourself, and be alert for any descending traffic. 

Map Location.

   As you make your ascent, pay attention. The scenery that unfolds behind you is spectacular (as seen in this video)  but, with many side-lanes joining your course, it would be easy to take the wrong turn (as I did once and did a merry circuit through the settlement). The image on the right is a junction I return to, that takes me to Hotani. At the top is a sign directing you to your next stop.

Torii, entrance to Shuchi-jinja Shrine.
Map Location.

Originally build further west,on the summit of Mt Nishimine, Shuchi-jinja was moved to this present location during the reign of Emperor Senka (536). The Main Hall, built in the 17th year of the Keicho Era (1612), is decorated in the florid style of the Momoyama Period and is registered as a cultural asset of the Kyoto Prefecture. Don't be in a hurry when you get here. Take the time to soak-in the atmosphere and rest-up. This video will give you an idea as to the serenity and beauty that is; Shuchi-jinja.

Map Location.

  From Shuchi-jinja you can either take the track through the forest, and back to Hotani via the track we took at the beginning or, as I did, backtrack a wee way and take an alternative route through more rural landscape, as seen in this video. A kilometer on, and you emerge back at Hotani, and the "pleasant surprise" I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Map Location.
Video.

The Shigemura Sake Brewery has been here for god-knows how many years (judging by the buildings, I would hazard-a-guess at a couple-of-hundred years). Takao Shigemura, the current operator, is the fourth generation of his family to brew the beautiful drink. So, please don't be shy. Pop-in and purchase a bottle, or two. Their sake-base plumb wine is divine.
   A couple-of-hundred meters on, and you arrive back at the Hotani bus stop. I estimate, taking-in all the photo opportunities, sightseeing, rest-stops e.t.c., you could do this course in five hours (which is what it took me). Don't rush it. Take it all in. You won't be disappointed.

   Useful Links;
        Full version of Kyotanabeonesugi Hiking Course video.
        INOU  version. With map, distance, time & images.