Made in Japan

There is a new made in Japan vending machine that has created a lot of buzz. Japan is well known for its vending machines that sell all kinds of different products, but now they are going high-tech. The new vending machine uses facial recognition technology to recommend drinks based on the customer`s age and gender. Suggested products may also change depending on the temperature and time of day. This new technology has lead to sales tripling as a result.


Learn how to make your own Green Tea At Home and save $$$$

Healthy Japanese Food

There are lots of great healthy Japanese food you can add to your grocery bag when shopping. The following items are some of the healthiest and best.

Seaweed
This superfood is extremely nutritious as its rich in protein, omega-3 fats, zinc, iron, selenium and iodine. Seaweed also contains potent health promoting compounds. Seaweed helps strengthen the immune system, and has anti-cancerous and anti-ageing properties.

How to use Seaweed in your Cooking
I usually add small strips to my soups, salads and stir-fries. My little boy also loves eating nori rolls with rice and tuna.

Read more on Seaweed

Miso
Miso is made from fermented soybean paste and contains beneficial bacteria helpful for improving digestion and strengthening the immune system. Miso is a rich source of protein, fibre and B vitamins.

How to use Miso in your Cooking
I usually use a spoonful of miso to add flavor to my soups, stir-fries and sauces.

Read more on Japanese Miso

Natto
Natto is a fermented soybean made from boiled soybeans and active bacteria. It has many health benefits including reducing high blood pressure and dissolving harmful blood clots.



Read more on Natto

Tofu
Tofu or bean curd is made from soy milk and has its origins in China. Tofu has little flavor on its own, so it can be used either in savory or sweet dishes. Tofu is low in calories with little fat. It is high in iron, calcium, magnesium and protein.

Green Tea
Green Tea is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits. It contains a compound called EGCG, which is a substance with 25 to 100 times the antioxidant power of vitamins C and E.



Read more on Green Tea

Most Popular Blog Posts for January 2011

January 2011 was another big month for Japan Australia Blog. We seem to be saying that every month but again we have had a lot of new visitors and welcome people to keep enjoy the posts.


The following were the most popular blog posts for January 2011

Japan`s Traditional Kimono

Japanese Bento Boxes

Green Tea

Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe - Tonkatsu (Deep Fried Pork Cutlet)

How to Learn Japanese

Japanese Sushi

Working in Japan

Travel to Japan

Easy to Cook Japanese Recipe Ten-don (Tempura on Rice)

This month`s Easy to Cook Japanese Recipe is Ten-don (Tempura on Rice)

This is a great version of the other popular don-dishes like Gyu-don and Oyako-don

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 6 tempura king prawns or tempura of your choice

Sauce
• 2/3 cup dashi
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 tsp caster sugar

• 2 bowls of warmed cooked rice

Method

1. Prepare tempura. See Recipe How to Make Japanese Tempura
2. Combine all the ingredients for sauce in a saucepan and bring to the boil over a high heat.
3. Turn down heat to a simmer and gently simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Place the warm rice in each bowl, and top with tempura followed by the sauce.

Easy To Follow Steps To Create Over 108 Top Japanese Recipes!

Picture of the Week Kinkakuji, Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto is one of the must see cities in Japan. It offers the full traditional Japanese cultural experience. Kyoto is renowned for its abundance of delicious Japanese food & cuisine and historical importance.

The highlights of Kyoto include Kiyomizu-dera, a magnificent wooden temple, Kinkaku-ji, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Heian Jingu, Nijo-jo, castle of the first Tokugawa shogun, and Gion, famous entertainment and geisha district.

This picture is of Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) it is one of Japan`s best known sights.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

This is my submission to the July 2011 J-Festa Places In Japan

Girls Generation in Japan

The Korean pop group Girls Generation came to Tokyo last week to give their first Japan concert. Thousands of fans attended their performances and they got a lot of media coverage in Japan.

Girls Generation is a nine-member Korean girl group formed in 2007. The group has released two full albums and various singles. The group began a foray into the Japanese music scene in late 2010 and has achieved considerable success. Their Japanese debut single “Genie” peaked at the #5 spot on the Oricon Charts and later rose to the #2 position.

Squinkies

Squinkies are the hottest new toys for tweens. Squinkies have already stormed the US market where there has been a huge rush for them and they are about the hit Australian shores. What are Squinkies? Squinkies are miniature pet collectables. Tiny characters that pop out of plastic gumballs to perch on pencils or be made into rings and bracelets.

This is what they look like