Japanese people (My friend 'AYAKA')

First of all, I want to think about the word 'friend'. I can say I have a lot of friends but sometimes it is hard to find someone who would always be there no matter what I do or what I did. People usually don't appreciate about what they already have on their hands. It is easy to think that we deserve what we have. Now I am in Japan and started to realize how lucky I am to have family, friends and other people who care about me. Fortunately, I have met many nice people in Japan so far. Thanks to Japanese people's kindness, I could build new relationships with Japanese people.

This is my first Japanese friend 'Ayaka'. Among many friends, 'Ayaka' is the first Japanese friend whom I can think of. I can define her in three different words;Brigt, sweet and naive. She also speaks Korean very well and she is good with people. We first met at 'Gappa Sushi'. I went there with my ex-roommate and Ayaka was doing her アルバイト. She took us to the seat and realized that I was not Japanese but Korean. Then later, she came up to me and said "I am learning Korean." in Korean. I was so surprised because that was the first Korean that I heard in Japan. Few plates later, my friend and I left 'Gappa Sushi'. And coincidentally we ran into each other on the way back Seminar House. We recognized each other right away and few weeks later, she became one of my best friends in Japan.

Neighborhood Hirakata

It has been 3 weeks and a half to stayed in Japan. Time passed in the blink of an eye. Everything seemed so interesting and new to me at first and some of them still are. Around Kansai-Gaidai, there are several restaurants that people can go. Not many restaurants but few good places. Here are some places that I have been.

I believe this was the first Indian restaurant I went in my entire life. The food was delicious but little bit different from my hometown food. The main course was curry (of course) with nan and rice. And dessert was served after. Besides, the owner who was about the same age as my mom was very nice to me. We hardly communicated each other but she tired to communicate with me by using hands and basic japanese so that I could understand. It was very thoughtful. This is where I got first friendly-impression about Japan.

This is Japanese pancake 'Okonomiyaki'. This is located in the park near by the seminar house 4 where I stay right now. My friend helped me to find this place and I was so glad that I finally found the place that I could go almost everyday. It is very easy to go and easy to like them! The space is a bit small as other Japanese restaurants but becasue of the small space, customers could feel like their home and be comfortable. This is the other favorite place that I found in my neighborhood.

As the picture indicates, this is 'Gappa sushi'. (I am not sure if it is proper English name) This is the first sushi place that I have ever been in Japan. Definitely there are full of freshness and fishes! Its' location is further than other places above but I strongly believe that it is worth it to go. Even though I am not really sushi person, I can't help myself from thinking about Gappa sushi. This place is also important especially for me because this is the place where I met my Japanese friend who now became one of my closest Japanese friends. Sushi and plus friend! Who can say no to Gappa sushi.

Those are the places around my neighborhood. Of course there are lots of places that I have never been before but so far I love where I have been. I am looking forward to search my next favorite places!

Early impressions of Japan

Japan always reminds me of cleanness, politeness and sushi. Now I have stayed in Japan for about 3 weeks and nothing has really changed. It was about the same as I expected; Cleaness, politeness and oiishi sushi. Those three things are everywhere in Japan especially where I stay right now. In addition to those, there are many kawaii smiles on people's face. I took a photo of security guard in Kansai-gaidai who has benevolent smile and polite attitude. He could be the first impression I had when I first arrived in Japan. I used to traveled to several different countries from Asia to Europe. I believe this is the first place(=Japan) where I had same impression that I have always thought before I actually and physically arrive the place.
Ohayoo, Konnichiwa, Konbanwa and Oiishi! That is all you need :)

As I mentioned earlier above, you can found delicious foods in everywhere in Japan. When I first got here, I couldn't help myself from staring at all the delicious foods that Japan have. The quality of pakages and taste of foods were definitely more than what I expected. I have always loved tonkatsu and now I love tonkatsu even more! I can say 'food' in Japan was the only thing that gave me little different ideas about Japanese foods because they are simply more fantastic than I imagined.
Nihonno inshokuwa hontou oishii!