Aug. 31st, 2014 11:13 am
KodoGuru S4 Ep.7: Drama Notes
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earth_colorsEp. 7: "Pollack cream pasta and Pork cutlet sandwich of Torigoe, Taito Ward, Tokyo"
Episode Synopsis.
Goro is in Taito Ward to meet with a client at his home in Torigoe. However, for some reason, the client (Tochi Hiroki) who is a model hand gun enthusiast decides to meet somewhere else instead. Goro also checks out the area's old shopping districts: Sakata Shopping Street and Okazu Yokocho. He buys a few food items and eventually feels hungry himself. Luckily, he immediately finds a nice shop along the way. Its name is "Mamezo", a drinking/coffee shop establishment run by a husband (Fumiyo Kohinata) and wife (Nishida Naomi) team. Goro seems torn as he looks at the hodgepodge of a menu that offers a variety of Western and Japanese dishes...
Drama Notes:
Featured Shop:
IZAKAYA MAMEZO
Address:
Tokyo, Taito Ward, Torigoe 1-1-5
Torigoe, Taito Ward. Located on the southern part of Taito Ward, and is considered part of the Asakusa area. It is mostly known for Torigoe Shrine, that holds the Torigoe Festival every June 9 with hundreds of parishioners participating. It is considered to be a "sengan matsuri", or a festival that has a very heavy/big mikoshi or portable shrine. Torigoe's mikoshi reportedly weighs around 3000 kg. To see nice pix of the matsuri click HERE.
(info/pic: ja.wiki, hinomaple, yaplog)
Satake Shotengai. As shown in this episode, when you walk inside this shopping street, there are trivia banners hanging from the ceiling. They claim to be the second oldest shopping street based on the year when its shopping district union was formed which was 1898 (oldest is said to be Katamachi Shopping Street of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture which was established in 1894). Left pic above is from 1930, along side the current pic of the same spot. Regarding the Great Buddha statue, in 1885, sculptor Koun Takamura (the creator of the Saigo statue in Ueno Park) who reportedly lived in the area, had made a large statue of Buddha that was 15m in height. It was meant to attract people to the place. But it (as well as the area) was destroyed due to a big storm. Sadly nowadays, as this blogger mentioned, not a lot of people are coming to this old shopping street, and some stores have closed as well.
(info/pix: homepage, tokyodeep, kinpodo)
Handguns that were mentioned. Smith & Wesson Model 29 was the gun largely associated with Dirty Harry, fictional character played by Clint Eastwood. Meanwhile, the Beretta M9, also known as the Pistol and Beretta 92F was also used widely in films like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.
Btw, the actor who portrayed the model handgun enthusiast is Tochi Hiroki who, if you had noticed, is a voice actor for films and anime.
(info/pix: wiki, theatlantic)
Just Japanese summer things. It's summer in Japan during this time so Goro is always mentioning about it in each episode:
Gomutabi. Also known as "gomudan", similar to the Chinese jump rope, using an elastic band acting as a "wire", looped around the legs of two players who are acting like "2 telephone poles". The third player will perform different jump patterns with the rubber band in between the two "poles" while singing a song. Played by elementary aged kids, mostly girls, and is a common sight during summer break. (info/pic: ja.wiki, m-komuten)
Uchimizu. "In streets in summer, it serves to cool the immediate area, keep down dust and also to please the neighbors." Nowadays, people are being encouraged to conserve by using recycled water. (info/pic: wiki, sizen-kankyo)
Furin. Wind chimes made with glass, ceramics or metal. The sound it makes is said to be soothing and helps bear with the humidity. (info: anythingfromjapan, wiki)
Okazu Yokocho. Means "Side Dishes Alley". This area flourished when it used to have plenty of factories around. The shop owners made a profit by selling prepared meals and side dishes for drinks and rice to factory workers (many of whom were women) who have no time to cook at home. The factories were mostly producing traditional items and crafts used during the Showa era, and since there is now little demand for such items, the factories have hence disappeared. But some side dish shops still retain the old feel especially when you look at their store signs and displays.
(info: alt-japan) (pic: sansakuka)
Katsu Sando. Found in many convenience stores and often served as ekiben (train station boxed lunch) as well. It is said to be created in 1935 by Ishizoka Toki, the then proprietress of the famous tonkatsu shop Isen Honten (their tokantsu is said to be so soft you can cut it with your chopsticks). Ishizoka reportedly created the Katsu Sando, originally cut into small, bite-sized pieces so as not to ruin the lipstick of their geisha customers. In the Kodoku no Gurume manga (Chapter 17: "Manseibashi Katsu Sando of Chiyoda, Akihabara, Tokyo"), Goro eats the take-out katsu sando of Niku no Mansei while sitting at a commercial square.
(info/pic: ja,wiki)
Other foods (and beverage) that were mentioned (with pix above from left to right):
Nama Hamu [生ハム]. Dry cured ham. "Prosciutto" and "Serrano ham" are the most popular examples of European dry-cured ham. (info: seriouseats) (pic: lacorona)
Episode Synopsis.
Goro is in Taito Ward to meet with a client at his home in Torigoe. However, for some reason, the client (Tochi Hiroki) who is a model hand gun enthusiast decides to meet somewhere else instead. Goro also checks out the area's old shopping districts: Sakata Shopping Street and Okazu Yokocho. He buys a few food items and eventually feels hungry himself. Luckily, he immediately finds a nice shop along the way. Its name is "Mamezo", a drinking/coffee shop establishment run by a husband (Fumiyo Kohinata) and wife (Nishida Naomi) team. Goro seems torn as he looks at the hodgepodge of a menu that offers a variety of Western and Japanese dishes...
Drama Notes:
Featured Shop:
IZAKAYA MAMEZO
[居酒屋まめぞ]
Address:
Tokyo, Taito Ward, Torigoe 1-1-5
Tel no: 03-5829-9877
How to get there:
7 minutes from Shin-Okachimachi Station via Toei Oedo Line
7 minutes from Kuramae Station A via Toei Asakusa Line
7 Minutes from Asakusa Station via JR Sobu Line
Torigoe, Taito Ward. Located on the southern part of Taito Ward, and is considered part of the Asakusa area. It is mostly known for Torigoe Shrine, that holds the Torigoe Festival every June 9 with hundreds of parishioners participating. It is considered to be a "sengan matsuri", or a festival that has a very heavy/big mikoshi or portable shrine. Torigoe's mikoshi reportedly weighs around 3000 kg. To see nice pix of the matsuri click HERE.
(info/pic: ja.wiki, hinomaple, yaplog)
Satake Shotengai. As shown in this episode, when you walk inside this shopping street, there are trivia banners hanging from the ceiling. They claim to be the second oldest shopping street based on the year when its shopping district union was formed which was 1898 (oldest is said to be Katamachi Shopping Street of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture which was established in 1894). Left pic above is from 1930, along side the current pic of the same spot. Regarding the Great Buddha statue, in 1885, sculptor Koun Takamura (the creator of the Saigo statue in Ueno Park) who reportedly lived in the area, had made a large statue of Buddha that was 15m in height. It was meant to attract people to the place. But it (as well as the area) was destroyed due to a big storm. Sadly nowadays, as this blogger mentioned, not a lot of people are coming to this old shopping street, and some stores have closed as well.
(info/pix: homepage, tokyodeep, kinpodo)
Handguns that were mentioned. Smith & Wesson Model 29 was the gun largely associated with Dirty Harry, fictional character played by Clint Eastwood. Meanwhile, the Beretta M9, also known as the Pistol and Beretta 92F was also used widely in films like Lethal Weapon and Die Hard.
Btw, the actor who portrayed the model handgun enthusiast is Tochi Hiroki who, if you had noticed, is a voice actor for films and anime.
(info/pix: wiki, theatlantic)
Just Japanese summer things. It's summer in Japan during this time so Goro is always mentioning about it in each episode:
Gomutabi. Also known as "gomudan", similar to the Chinese jump rope, using an elastic band acting as a "wire", looped around the legs of two players who are acting like "2 telephone poles". The third player will perform different jump patterns with the rubber band in between the two "poles" while singing a song. Played by elementary aged kids, mostly girls, and is a common sight during summer break. (info/pic: ja.wiki, m-komuten)
Uchimizu. "In streets in summer, it serves to cool the immediate area, keep down dust and also to please the neighbors." Nowadays, people are being encouraged to conserve by using recycled water. (info/pic: wiki, sizen-kankyo)
Furin. Wind chimes made with glass, ceramics or metal. The sound it makes is said to be soothing and helps bear with the humidity. (info: anythingfromjapan, wiki)
Okazu Yokocho. Means "Side Dishes Alley". This area flourished when it used to have plenty of factories around. The shop owners made a profit by selling prepared meals and side dishes for drinks and rice to factory workers (many of whom were women) who have no time to cook at home. The factories were mostly producing traditional items and crafts used during the Showa era, and since there is now little demand for such items, the factories have hence disappeared. But some side dish shops still retain the old feel especially when you look at their store signs and displays.
(info: alt-japan) (pic: sansakuka)
Katsu Sando. Found in many convenience stores and often served as ekiben (train station boxed lunch) as well. It is said to be created in 1935 by Ishizoka Toki, the then proprietress of the famous tonkatsu shop Isen Honten (their tokantsu is said to be so soft you can cut it with your chopsticks). Ishizoka reportedly created the Katsu Sando, originally cut into small, bite-sized pieces so as not to ruin the lipstick of their geisha customers. In the Kodoku no Gurume manga (Chapter 17: "Manseibashi Katsu Sando of Chiyoda, Akihabara, Tokyo"), Goro eats the take-out katsu sando of Niku no Mansei while sitting at a commercial square.
(info/pic: ja,wiki)
Other foods (and beverage) that were mentioned (with pix above from left to right):
Nama Hamu [生ハム]. Dry cured ham. "Prosciutto" and "Serrano ham" are the most popular examples of European dry-cured ham. (info: seriouseats) (pic: lacorona)
Iburigakko [いぶりがっこ]. Also known as "Iburizuke". Smoked daikon pickles, a product of Akita prefecture. (info: ohtazawako) (pic: tsurugaikosou)
Dried firefly squid [干しホタルイカ]. Firefly squid that are marinated in fish sauce and then dried. It can be eaten as is or scorched first, tastes great with beer or liquor, too. (info: japansquare) (pic: mamezo)
Mozuku Zosui [もずく雑炊]. Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) is a type of viscous, "stringy" seaweed. For Mozuku porridge, here's a recipe. (pic: r.gnavi)
Nihonshu nomi kurabe setto [日本酒飲み比べセット]. "Japanese sake drinking set". It's like an assorted sashimi platter, but for sake. If you ask for this, the shop attendant will give you a set of at least 3 shots or glasses of different sake available. (pic: jizake)
Nigisuhi [にぎす干]. Dried deep sea smelt. Eaten often as a side for drinks although dried Shisamo smelt is more commonly used (and visually more appealing). If you can find it (or something similar) in Asian groceries, you can fry it in oil until crisp and serve with grated daikon and chopped green onions, and eaten as a side for drinks or with rice. (recipe and pic: a--chan)
Episode Index: (link)
Mozuku Zosui [もずく雑炊]. Mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus) is a type of viscous, "stringy" seaweed. For Mozuku porridge, here's a recipe. (pic: r.gnavi)
Nihonshu nomi kurabe setto [日本酒飲み比べセット]. "Japanese sake drinking set". It's like an assorted sashimi platter, but for sake. If you ask for this, the shop attendant will give you a set of at least 3 shots or glasses of different sake available. (pic: jizake)
Nigisuhi [にぎす干]. Dried deep sea smelt. Eaten often as a side for drinks although dried Shisamo smelt is more commonly used (and visually more appealing). If you can find it (or something similar) in Asian groceries, you can fry it in oil until crisp and serve with grated daikon and chopped green onions, and eaten as a side for drinks or with rice. (recipe and pic: a--chan)
Episode Index: (link)
no subject
Okazu; when I was small my parents always referred to the meat or protein part of a meal as "okazu", therefore I always thought it meant "main dish", since here the meat part of the meal is usually the main dish. It was only recently that I found out it meant side dish since in Japan the rice is considered the main dish.