Category: Asia

JAmerica! “36 American Muffin”

It’s weird to think of America as someplace ‘exotic’ but that’s exactly how the Japanese feel about our country. Someplace far away, strange and different. Just like phrases like sushi or hibachi seem different too us so does something as simple or (dare I say) mundane as muffins. Not just any muffins, Mrs. Elizabeth Muffins. Very English sounding. WEIRD!

20150311_085127673_ios

I am so tickled every time I find something English or American presented to a Japanese audience as ‘exotic’ so I had to stop in and check out their selection. I must stay they had an impressive variety! Maybe I’m weird but I find the misspellings and grammar mistakes very endearing form of replication. “36 Kinds of American Muffin” of course muffin in this context should be plural form of ‘Muffins’ since they are referring to 36 kinds of them but who’s counting! Definitely not the most egregious of poor English in otherwise upscale establishments.

I come to suspect that the owners of such establishments surely know English well enough to recognize the grammar or spelling errors but they know their audience better and consciously choose to use simplified grammar or spelling to make it easier for their intended audience. I’m sure we do the same thing in ‘exotic’ America.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Snacking around Tsukiji

Tsukiji is literally surrounded by side streets full of did vendors settling tasty seafood snacks to tourists. Once you leave the fish market area you’ll see a wave of sushi sit down places followed by streets with tiny little shops everywhere selling everything from knick knacks to knife sets to samurai swords (for tuna slicing of course!). Outside these shops you’ll find tons of street food. Most of them are small bites made from fresh catch acquired that morning and prepared on make shift portable grills.

20150309_004437816_ios

two guys

yummy snack

food