Shoe Workshop, Japan

One of the coolest things about Japan that I really love is that I can really learn anything I want. Japan is one of the best places to pick up a new hobby for just about everything. It’s getting easier to find instructors, classes and workshops for almost anything! From flower arrangement, to glass-blowing to making your pwn pair of shoes.

My friend found 38Works, a leather shoe studio run by the cobbler, Miya-san. He hosts classes and workshops for making your own Moccasin shoes, sandals or boots from genuine leather.

38Works Shoe Studio

38Works Shoe Workshop
I had visited the studio a day before to pick out my color and material. Depending on the choice of leather can also effect the workshop cost.

Soft suede (cow hide) is cheaper and easier to work with compared to tough leather (horse hide). The only difference is, suede has a tendency to stretch easily, while hard leather with retain its shape longer.

I choose sea breeze soft suede, with grey string and tan colored sole

I choose to make Moccasin Shoes…
The Moccasin shoes are the easiest to do in a one day workshop. It takes on average 7-8 hours to complete it, sometimes  longer. For anyone planning to do a shoe-making workshop (anywhere, not just here), it would be best to start right when the shop opens and not to plan anything else that day.

Samples of what guests can make.

Going in prior to the worshop to select the material will also make the workshop go faster. That way, Miya-san can prepare the measurements and cut-outs. Then the only thing that I needed to do was put it together!

I’m making shoes!!

My shoes are coming along pretty nicely! I now have gained a new respect for shoe-makers.

My new hobby in Japan!

New Moccasin,  made in Japan…
Totally loving my new shoes! Just in time for summer!! And yes, you can embroider something on the sole of your shoe. These babies are officially mine 😀

Made by me, engraved with my personal signature 🙂

Ta-DA!!!! Look out Jimmy Choooo!!

Miya-san of 38Works Studio…
Miya-san is awesome! He’ll demostrate for a bit, then let me at it. Each time I finished a process he’d look it over, make any necessary adjustments. He doesn’t speak any English,  and while a lot can be interpreted through action,  it would be best to have some knowledge of Japanese, or a translator.
Thank you Miya-san!

Instructor: Miya-san from 38Works

 

For more studio info check out the Facebook page: https://m.facebook.com/38Works

Fukuoka Canada Day Party 2013

Fukuoka is hosting its annual Canada Day Party on Friday, June 29! Last year we got over And I’m excited to say that I’ll be MC-ing again this year, with my partner-in-crime Tk! There will be food, drinks and cool entertainment ~ so whoever is in Fukuoka and available, come celebrate Canada’s 146 birthday with us!! (^0^)/

When: Friday, June 28!
Time: 18:30~late
Where: Tenjin Monolith (near KBC-TV) in Fukuoka

Teaming up again to host Fukuoka Canada Day Party 2013

Fukuoka International Film Festival

Last week was the 22nd annual Fukuoka International Film Festival. I got a chance to head in on Friday for the opening party, and meet and greet some of the crew (including actors & directors) that worked on this year’s selection of films.

This year, Fukuoka screened 36 films from 15 different countries! I got a chance to see a few of them, and then on Tuesday (Sept 18) the Fukuoka Now Magazine hosted the official film festival party ~ the first opened to the public!

During the wrap up party, I was also given another great opportunity to MC this event with TK, who has been my MC partner since this year’s Canada Day event! The party was held at Canoviano, in Tenjin. A gorgeous restaurant! Though it was a Tuesday night, we got a good crowd through the door 🙂

Before entering, guests got a chance to walk down a red carpet ~ like stars do, and then they had the opportunity to get a souvenir photo taken in front of a Fukuoka Now backdrop.
On the 4th floor was where the main stage, announcements and trivia games happened. Along with DJ Das Funkt that spun all night. Upstairs, on the 5th floor we had a creative band called Gund Tunes that also played all night.
The food and drinks were great, everything was 1-coin (¥500)…sadly, I was still trying to get rid of a cough so I never got the chance to try one of their Tirimisu 😦

Fukuoka Internation Film Festival. Photo from Fukuoka Now Magazine, taken by Nobu Tanaka

Canada Day, Fukuoka

Fukuoka Now Magazine hosts the biggest Canada Day Party in all of Japan, and this year I got to MC the event with my good friend TK!

The event was held at Il Palazzo, Tenjin, organized by Fukuoka Now Magazine. We weren’t sure how the turn out was going to be, but we were well assured as people kept pouring in throughout the night. Our party hit a record of 1,260 party guests that night! There was all-Canadian music, food and drinks! Performances by Micaela and Ben who performed covers from the Barenaked Ladies, and “Call Me Maybe”. The night was an absolute BLAST! Looking forward to next year, Happy Birthday CANADA!

Canada Day, Fukuoka

Canadian Apparel

We had prepared 4 sets of wardrobe changes for each major time we were on stage. Each was to show a different side of Canada. Now I’m really glad I had brought all of my jerseys from home ^^

Team Canada. To begin with, we had our Canada Day apparel.

Team Canada!
Photo from Fukuoka Magazine Website. Taken by Nobu Tanaka.

Lumberjacks. Because everyone knows that if Canadians don’t live in igloos, we’re chopping down trees and living in log cabins

Lumber Jack!

Olympic Canada. Olympic apparel from past years

Olympic gear!

Province Pride. Wearing the pride of our hockey teams on our chest! TK from Ottawa with his Senators, and I, from Winnipeg with my JETS!

Province Pride! Photo from Fukuoka Now Magazine website, take by Nobu Tanaka.

Ikea Fukuoka

Ikea has just recently opened in Fukuoka. And out of all the places, it’s conveniently located not even 10 minutes from my work place.

During the first opening day, it was busy-busy-busy! Luckily, I managed to get tickets to the pre-opening on Monday night. Took a friend with me and we enjoyed a free meal, and a night of shopping. Once the crowds and excitement dies down this might be my new favorite hang out 🙂

Wine bar in Fukuoka

Before leaving for vacation, for one of my best gal-pal’s birthday I took her to a kimono shop and wine bar, Yumekichi Wine.

Outside Yumekichi Wine.

 

It was last minute luck, because we really wanted to go out, have a couple drinks, and just relax. But we were picky…we didn’t want beer, or have the usual sake or shochu…we were feeling classy tonight and wanted wine. I was lucky to come across an article in the Fukuoka Now Magazine! We were in even more luck as we found out it was about 10 minutes away from my friend’s house.

Situated along the river side.
Great view if you sit at the bar.

Yumekichi Wine

The interior ambiance was beautiful. The soft-lighting and candles made it intimate yet chic. Seating was limited to the bar, one high top table area, and one lounge. One side of the room had this huge wine cabinet, with glasses hung or sitting on shelves.

Not only a wine shop, it’s also a kimono shop. The bartenders and employees all wore yukatas (men and women), and they advertised for yukata and kimono rentals. But probably the best thing about this place was the fact that no one smoked!

Complimentary appy’s.
Smoked cheese, raisins, and smoked meat.

 

4 Wine Tasting Special

The drink menu was written on a glass window, while our menu was written in beautiful calligraphy on heavy duty rice paper.

The special is 2500 yen for tasting 4 different wines, your choice of either 4 reds or 4 whites. Sorry, no mix and matches. Both my friend and I ordered a set of each to share as we munched on appetizers and complementary nibbles.

4 Wine tasting.

 

Everything tasted really good and went well with the wines! Things that I never knew that could be paired. Like certain traditional Japanese pickled vegetables, etc. And the shop owner was a wine connoisseur herself! It was really cool to watch her professionally taste wine in her yukata. Everyone there was pretty chill, and it seemed that many of them were regular customers…or maybe it’s because the staff there really make you feel at home, as if you really were on the set of “Cheers”, where everybody knows your name.I think I found my new favorite hang out. Cheers! *clink!*

Canada Day 2011

Time to show the world how Canadians have fun…and that’s riots-less. PEACE!

La Boheme in Tenjin

Canada Day in Fukuoka

Thanks to Fukuoka Now Magazine for putting on a Canada Day party at La Boheme in Tenjin. There was a great show of people that we filled every nook and cranny of the top floor and balcony, then as the night progressed the crowd migrated and filled the restaurant’s second floor.

Canada Day Party by Fukuoka Now Magazine

The first 300 people through the door received a free Canadian beer and Atlantic lobster tail. My friend and I were surprised to find that quite a few people showed up as early as us! :o!!! I guess we weren’t the only ones with lobsters on our minds.

Organic Beer
– brewed and bottled in BC.

Canadian music played all night long, and some that I never knew were Canadian! On the food menu were Salmon wraps, pancakes, and poutine!! French fries, cheese curds and gravy – how can you go wrong with those awesome ingredients… Poutine, how I’ve missed you! Do you know how hard it is to find out / make you in Japan?!?

Poutine in Japan!

There were people dressed up in Canadian gear, or donning the red & white. Woot! Canadian pride all around! Aside from the Canadians themselves, there were many others there who have been to Canada, lived in Canada, are planning to go to Canada or are in love with Canada.
…I’m so proud to be Canadian *sniff*sniff…

 

Japanese Canuck Fan!

During the day it was awkward to not see Canadian decorations decorate the street or my school – which goes without saying, I’m not in Canada. However, my Vice-Principal made a surprising announcement that it was Canada Day, and throughout the day teachers and students were wishing me “Happy Birthday” (for Canada ^^).

Canada loves you!

Canadian Drinking Contest

During the night they had a Ginger Ale and Beer Drinking contest. Men had to drink two bottles, while girls drank one through a straw. My friend and I joined in the Ginger Ale contest – spicy ginger ale courtesy of Canada Dry…I never knew they had extra spicy?

Preparing to guzzle Ginger Ale.

We didn’t win the grand prize bottle of 100% pure maple syrup, but we still had a lot of fun. Our innards and breath felt really minty-fresh afterwards.

Spicy Ginger Ale, Canada Dry.

 

Softbank Hawks Baseball Game

This past weekend I went to my very first baseball game, thanks to my visiting friend. While I was never a fan of baseball, Fukuoka’s Softbank Hawks are one of the top teams. Living here it would be a sin to not see a game at least once.

Softbank Hawks baseball game

My friend secured tickets (Y1800), which were the cheapest and yet not bad. We were sitting in the outer field with the visiting team fans behind us. The game was Fukuoka Hawks against Saitama Lions.

View from our seats.

We had a good view of the entire field, and all the hits. My first experience to witness a home-run hit was thanks to Alex Cabrera from Venezuela. Knocked it right out into the bleachers! Lucky fan whoever caught that ball. Thank you Cabrera!

Alex Cabrera, Fukuoka Hawks.

On TV the game doesn’t seem that interesting, but being there in person was a completely different experience. The Japanese fans were hardcore! Playing music and cheering for each player that came up to bat. I highly commend the dedication in those fans because I’m sure no one back home would sing and cheer for 9 innings straight. Everyone would probably stop after the first inning or so.

From Hollywood, while I envisioned people coming around saying “Hotdogs! Get your hotdogs here!”, in Japan they were selling all the Japanese beer labels along with beer snacks, Coke products and Haagen Dazs ice cream.

Haagen Dazs ice cream at baseball.

7th Inning Fun

I was a bit surprised that there were no breaks during the entire game. There was an entertaining break during the 7th inning, but as a spectator you wouldn’t want to leave your seat during this time either. Everyone was blowing up these long balloons, and thanks to my friend who was well-prepared, we joined in the fun as well!

Fukuoka Hawks 7th Inning entertainment.

Toshiya Sugiuchi

This year’s ace pitcher is Toshiya Sugiuchi, #47. He managed to pitch and strike out almost every single player that stepped up to bat, I started to wonder if the players in the field were getting bored. The hits that did come their way seemed like a piece of cake to catch. Victory was well secured.

Toshiya Sugiuchi

Softbank Hawks fireworks

Hawks won 3:0 that game, which was celebrated with a very small and short firework display inside the stadium’s dome. Afterwards, the roof retracted to ventilate the fumes, which looked pretty cool.

Indoor fireworks.

Yahoo Dome’s retractable roof

 

Even into the end of the game fans were still chanting, singing and playing music. Similar to happy fans at a hockey game, it was good times all around. I guess I have a new sport to focus on and learn while I’m unable to access and watch hockey. That’s okay, good ol’ 1040 radio will still let me stream live from out here ^^.

Fukuoka Yahoo Dome.

Dontaku Festival

Right now is Golden Week, which is almost a week long holiday with the couple odd ball days that are considered working days – but those can easily be written off as paid vacation if one chooses. Many people take advantage of this time to travel, and it’s also considered the busiest time as well for tourism, both in and outside of Japan.

Golden Week in Fukuoka.

Dontaku Festival

For two days in Golden Week (May 3rd & 4th), Fukuoka city hosts its largest annual festival, Dontaku. Tons of food and game stalls, entertainment stations throughout Tenjin, and a parade that runs all day until 6:30 PM. This year, my friend invited me to join her and her dance group to participate in the parade.

Dontaku Festival, Fukuoka.
(May 3rd & 4th)

Choco-Banana
One of my now favorite festival foods! Decorated, chocolate covered bananas. We found a stall that offered a game of rock-paper-scissors. If the customer won the game, they would get 2 cocoa-bananas for the price of one. So I tried my luck…and guess who won?!? 😀

Choco-Bananas, 2 for 1.
Thank you scissors!^^

Dontaku, Fukuoka City

At first the city was contemplating to cancel this festival due to recent events that had effected much of Eastern Japan. This was out of consideration that festivities might seem inconsiderate when another part of the country is going through hard times. Happily it went on as planned and keeping with the supportive Japanese spirit organizers themed this year’s Dontaku: “Ganbaru Nippon!” (Do your best, Japan!).

Dontaku Parade, runs all day until 6:30PM.

Yosakoi Parade Dance

Every Wednesday for the past month my friend and I have been attending rehearsals for this parade. That’s about 4 or 5 rehearsals… I was a bit scared on the day of. There were many different dance groups, but for this festival we all joined together to represent our town. I loved the energy and spirit from our dance as it encourages people to come together. Aside from Disneyland, this was the most lively and entertaining family-oriented parade I’ve ever seen and participated in.

Mongolian Horse Milk Alcohol

Last weekend, went out for some Mongolian food. Fukuoka is pretty good for having a variety of eateries, and I love it when restaurants are elaborate with their theme. The exterior of this restaurant is bland, with a steal stair case that leads you into this colorful tent looking interior. Limited seating, and very cozy. Gorgeous Mongolian everything, rugs, furniture, etc.

Mongolian BBQ

Along the wall, hung many Mongolian costumes for anyone to wear. Pick a color, and a hat if you choose!

Costumes we can wear!

 

Mongolian BBQ Food

Delicious, and it’s “All-you-can-drink & eat”. The meal starts off as a set meal, then after you can reorder anything and how many. Half way through the night, the staff stops everything to get the people to join in a drinking song. The guy goes around with this horn, pouring small amounts of sake. If he approaches you, you have to drink it while everyone around continues singing.

Deep fried Mongolian gyoza

 

 

 

Yummy rice!

Cheese Squares, the best thing ever! 🙂

Horse Milk Alcohol

This restaurant is also home to a special little drink. Horse Milk alcohol, and something that I’ve heard so much about leading up to this night. Looks like milk, and sits at a 2% alcohol level.
Tastes a bit like plain yogurt, but quiet “effective” even with low content.

Horse Milk Alcohol, 2%