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Top line edit: I just had a random student come in to talk with me. He stopped by the main office and Yuko brought him in. He is a first year music major and wanted to ask me for advice finding a job in the music industry. He assumed that I am a musician because my "eyes and beard look like a musician." Once we sorted that out, we talked about other things. It was a fun encounter.
For lunch today Hichiro took me to an udon noodle shop. This was the last of the dishes my students said I need to try before I leave Japan. The restaurant was a working class sort of place. I actually walked past it on my first long trek when I arrived. (If you checked the link, it is located at the corner where I turned north from walking east.) When we walked in the menu was written on a whiteboard which was sitting on a glass cabinet. He placed the order by telling this stooped older woman what we wanted. She then yelled it to this old man, who I presume is her husband. Then we sat down at a table and waited.
In the glass cabinet were additional dishes - grilled fish, breaded fried fish, grilled eggplant in sauce. The udon came with egg, which, like the ramen, cooked in the broth. On the table was a container of shichimi. I can now tell my students I have eaten the following at different restaurants.
Sashimi
Sushi
Kushikatsu (deep fried meat, vegetables, and eggs on a stick)
Tempura
Fish katsu
Ramen
Gyoza
Okonomiyaki
Takoyaki
Yakiniku
Soba gome
Soba noodles
Yakitori
Udon
I'm sure I've missed something because I had to go back to add things as I recalled them. In any case, I have also had Japanese ice cream and shaved ice, o-hagi, mochi, the tea ceremony foods, and various bakery breads (yes, Tami, I have been to some bakeries). With each meal I have tried to eat things the way the people who took me ate them. Adding the toppings they add (after trying the dish as served), slurping the noodles, dipping in the sauce, topping with this or that.
Overall, I think this can be considered a successful time in Japan as far as food goes.
That's a good list. Sorry to keep bugging about the bakeries...I just loved them. I'm not a sweets person, and I thought that they had just perfect varieties of bread and pastries. Jonas and I walked to one of two bakeries nearly every day. Have you tried the cake places? Like I said, I'm not a dessert person, but they were really good as they're weren't as sweet as in States. I remember going to that restaurant with Hichiro too, along with Susan. It was just after I got to Tokushima, and boy, did I feel out of place. Great experience.
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