Dejima in Nagasaki

For a long time, Nagasaki had been the entrance to Japan for foreign traders and the like. The very first (outside of Asia) were the Portuguese, who had a good deal of influence on Japan including on the language and food. But given the regligious influence and from fear of colonization, the Shogun built this small island Dejima in Nagasaki to limit the Portguese from going elsewhere in Japan. But the Portuguese left.

Then the Dutch became the dominant traders, so the Dutch ended up as the residents in Dejima for the next 200 years while Japan closed itself from the rest of the world. The Dutch paid the equivalent of US$1 million a year, and patiently stayed on.

It was very interesting and surreal to walk in the miniscule area (less than 10 minutes to walk across!) that was the only "foreign" place in Japan for such a long time.

Japanese ryokan

For the night after my (relative) splurge in Imari, we went to Ureshino to stay at a very nice Japanese ryokan. Ryokan is like a hotel but more personable and typically with lots of food for both dinner and breakfast. Ureshino has very well known hot spring, so we got the full package. The tofu served at breakfast was made from hot spring water and was super divine. And of course you have to have the ume or pickled plum to wake yourself up with a sour face.


 

Imari in Kyushu

We were probably the only young-ish persons in this town today. The town Imari in Saga Prefecture houses very well known Arita porcelains called Imari, dating back to the Edo Period.

The porcelains were really beautiful, and I am really happy that I was able to pick up really, really nice traditional Nabeshima plates. Apparently to the Europeans and many Japanese, Imari plates are remembered as those exported in the 17th century, with lots of blue, red, and gold as gold was abundant in Japan back then. The plates I picked up were not these kind but somewhat similar in pattern. Nabeshima plates were not exported, so they did not use gold as had been preferred in the West. Apparently Nabeshima plates were used exclusively by Lord Nabeshima then, and later sent as gifts to Meiji Emperor etc, so they have a distinctively noble design... nice!

 

Visit this town which is about 15 minutes drive from Imari City. This place has over 30 kilms, which independently sell very nice porcelains. Mine were bought here.

 



 

RED hot Korea

Red hot chilis stacked up at the Gwangjang Market. This place seems well known for their food stalls. I had a taste of this pancake that was very yummy but (probably) incredibly toxic!

 

 

Gwangjang Market in Seoul

This was a walking distance from my hotel in Myeongdong. On my way, you start seeing rows of old sewing machine stores, then button stalls, and then textile shops. It is a very nice agglomeration for clothing related business people. Some places even sold magazines that can be the base for the design. Full service!

 

Reina Maruyama's HK Perfume Event #2

 

I hosted ANIER's second perfume event in Hong Kong. Thanks to all of you who came!

 

We smelt over 40 types of raw ingredients and perfume. I surprisingly remembered from last time the smell of ambergris (whale vomit) and civet (cat gland), which on its own smell horrid but are the magic ingredients that respectively make up the famous Chanel No. 5 and Jean Patou's Joy.

 

On its own I really liked the smell of Neroli and Petigrain, which are the flower and stem of an orange tree. For my own perfume creation, I put a lot of Neroli too. I also loved the recreation of lily of the valley in the perfume Diorissimo, which I must go buy today.

 

By the way, if you are in Tokyo this month, do visit the event at Marunouchi Shinmaru Building on November 20 & 22 (reservation can be made here)! Also, check out the fragrance candles here that you can get at a special price for Christmas.   

 

 

See you next time here or in Europe/Tokyo.. or maybe Singapore/Jakarta!?