Tag: review

Media Review – Sparks of Tomorrow (Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku – 二十世紀電氣目録-ユーレカ・エヴリカ-)

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Originally, I had planned to do a larger post reviewing several alternate/fantastic historial anime that have come out recently. That post is still in the works, but I’ve been so smitten with Sparks of Tomorrow that I knew I had to give it a little feature before it finishes airing!

The Japanese title (Nijuuseiki Denki Mokuroku – 二十世紀電氣目録-ユーレカ・エヴリカ-) actually translates to 20th Century Electricity Catalog Eureka Evrika but oof, what a mouthful! Sparks of Tomorrow feels much catchier to my ear and is far easier to type, so that’s how I will be referring to it from here on out.

The official website has a great summary, so I will be helpfully borrowing from it.

──A little while ago.
Kyoto in the early 20th century, having evolved differently from the history we know today. In a world where only steam engines had advanced, the city was shrouded in smoke.
With challenging art backgrounds reminiscent of Impressionist paintings and intricate animation, it depicts the dreams of boys and girls shining in an era of upheaval and innovation.

In a nutshell, it’s the story of Sakamoto Kihachi and his attempts to bring his older brother Seiroku’s vision of a modern electrical world to Japan. There’s the mystery of what’s happened to his brother, but I don’t want to delve to deeply into that and spoil anything. There might potentially be a budding romance between Kihachi and Inako, but right now there’s more focus on friendship, discovery, and some general slice-of-life situations. But everything comes back to electricity and the promise of the future.

I shared the primary character designs on Instagram and Facebook a while back, but they’re absolutely worth sharing again because they’re so cool. I love how distinctly Meiji-era they feel, but with enough funky steampunk vibes — especially on the male characters — to remind us that this is definitely an alternate history and not accurate. I’m quite inspired to try reproducing some of these outfits, honestly.

 

I really appreciate all the little bits of Meiji-era life in Kyoto and the details that are included in not only the main characters, but also the backgrounds. Whether it be the sake brewery Inako’s family owns, bolts of yuzen-dyed fabric drying high above the shopping street, or the girls sharing anpan at lunch, these little glimpses add so much richness for any fan of (recent) historical Japan. Addo in the fact that Inako has multiple kimono that we see throughout the show’s progression so far and it all comes together to make me very happy. I hope we’ll get to see more variety on the other girls too, aside from their school uniforms!

 

Another neat feature I’m really enjoying is the use of alternate art styles to help evoke eras or feelings. When Kihachi is imagining the hopeful future that electricity will bring, everything looks like Taisho or early Showa advertising paintings, and when we’re getting a bit of backstory about some characters, the style shifts to looking like nearly woodblock prints. I have my fingers crossed we’ll see more stylistic choices like this as the series evolves.

If you’re a fan of steampunk, mystery, science, Meiji-era fashion, alternate history, friendship, and adventure all rolled up together I can’t recommend Sparks of Tomorrow enough! I can only hope it keeps being as engaging as the first few episodes were!

Watch Sparks of Tomorrow on Netflix here!

Tokusen.Store – Shop Feature

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I have been wanting to try out Tokusen.store and their incredible selection of imported products for a long time now. They had a booth at the Asiasie Festival I went to recently and I figured it would be the perfect time to grab a variety of things to try. I then managed to haul them across the border in my suitcase and have been using them all regularly since I settled back in here in California and I am very excited to share the experience with you!

They pride themselves on bringing small-batch, proudly crafted products from Japan to Canada (and the US) and making sure these ingredients are accessible to everyone.

Our mission is to select the best local products from Japan, to promote the know-how of its artisans and to make their work accessible to all.

Our vision is that it should be natural to enjoy Japanese know-how right from home, in Canada.

To offer our customers a superior quality product, we select our products according to a value system rooted in Japanese culture:

源 · Gen Terroir as a guarantee of quality.

雅 · Ga The elegance of the product.

道 · Dō The way forward through hard work.

I decided to choose their Origin Box Set, Aka Yuzu Kosho paste, and Ramen Shichimi spice blend to try out and share, and here are my thoughts about each product.

White Dashi (origin box)

Dashi is a stock typically made with kombu and katsuobushi. This is a blend of concentrated dashi and light shoyu, and it imparts a beautiful umami and smoky flavour without feeling “fishy”. Until now I’d been using concentrated dashi granules but this product is an absolute game-changer. The granules still have their place in my pantry, both for their budget-friendliness and their shelf-stability, but when I need a more elevated and well-rounded flavour I will definitely be using this.

Yuzu Ponzu (origin box)

This is a delightfully crisp and clean blend of soy and yuzu citrus. It added a fantastic brightness to salmon I made and will definitely bring a summery vibe to noodles and fried foods. You can use it as part of a dressing or marinade, or a dipping sauce all by itself. It’s far more versatile than I was expecting, and has become a quick favourite.

Tamari (origin box)

A perfect balance of light and deep flavours; fantastic as a dipping sauce all by itself or a small splash at the end for adding a bit of umami.

Haizakura (origin box)

A rich, aged soy, well-balanced and well-rounded. Fantastic in  marinades or as dipping sauce for stronger flavours.

Usukuchi (origin box)

A very light but flavourful soy, perfect for dipping or using in lighter dishes. Perfect in tamagoyaki, for adding depth but keeping the omelette light and airy.

Ramen Shichimi spice blend

Hold on to your tongues here! This is a potent blend of shichimi spices with a potent dose of togarashi/capiscum that brings the heat. Use it sparingly, but defintely try it out in things other than just ramen. I put a pinch of it in the yuzu marinade I made for salmon and it was such a great balance with the clean citrus!

Aka Yuzu Kosho Paste

Oh look, more heat. Can you tell I like things spicy? This is actually a bit less potent than the ramen shichimi above but still brings a fantastic lightness to anything you use it in, thanks to the combined pepper and more yuzu.

A few things I have cooked so far using these wonderful products:

Ponzu-marinated salmon, tamagoyaki, teriyaki chicken and rice. I used a bit of the shiro dashi and usukushi shoyu when making the rice in both dishes and it adds an incredible depth of flavour without being overpowering.

Overall, I am incredibly impressed with the products Tokusen.store has chosen to focus on and bring to our doors. I will be stocking up every time I’m back in Canada, because they’re Montreal-based and the shipping is a lot more affordable. However you look at it though, if you’re in North America they’re going to be more accessible than ordering direct from Japan. I cannot recommend them enough and can’t wait to see what new products they bring to their storefront for us.

 I purchased this item at a discounted price for honest review purposes.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me. 

Review – Nippon Kodo Incense Discovery

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Back when I had my little shopping trip to Wabi Sabi in Palm Springs, one of the treasures I brought home was this lovely set of five kayuragi incense fragrances from Nippon Kodo. It’s a great option for anyone who isn’t ready to commit to a larger box of one scent, and the beautiful packaging with ukiyo-e art makes it an excellent gift as well. These are traditional Japanese compressed incense with no wooden stick in the centre. Each small box comes with a little metal incense holder, but I have so many holders and beautiful little ceramic dishes that I didn’t feel the need to use them. But they’re handy for travel or gifting purposes!

I’ve been trying out the fragrances over the past couple of months, and have broken them all down and collected my thoughts for you.

Aloeswood

To me, this is the most classic-feeling. It has an almost dreamlike quality, heady but grounded. Something about it smells very “traditional”, like you might smell it in a temple or a minka, but not in a fussy or dated way. Just in a vital, historical, transportive way.

Green Tea

This one is so bright and fresh. It’s got notes of grassiness and an almost citrus-like property. It’s incredibly balancing and would make a great incense for the morning, or to help with focus while working. It’s definitely a light green tea scent, not an earthy matcha-type, and reminds me of a high-end spa. I really like it!

 

Osmanthus

I really enjoy smell of osmanthus, something that’s criminally under-represented in western fragrances but thankfully a staple of Asian scent profiles. This one captures the beautiful floral, slightly fruity aspects of osmanthus blossom without verging into cloying. I knew I’d like it, but I didn’t know I’d absolutely love it.

Sakura

As much as I love sakura for body and personal fragrance, and continue to hunt for the perfect one, it’s not my go-to for home or lifestyle type scents. That said, this one really surprised me. It’s definitely fresh, clean, and floral, but without any of the powdery or soapy quality sakura can often have. I can’t really describe it, other than a happy, upbeat sort of floral. If you need a mood booster, look no further!

 

Sandalwood

As someone who lives in North America, I’ve long associated the scent of sandalwood incense with head-shops and a certain sort of lifestyle. Nothing against that sort of lifestyle, but it’s not exactly a fragrance I find myself leaning into. I was apprehensive about these, but I’m so happy to report it was all for naught.  This is slightly spicy, slightly woody, and not remotely redolent of unwashed hair and the devil’s lettuce.

I still don’t think it will be my first choice, but it’s definitely a more elegant and elevated sandalwood than I was anticipating.

Overall, the aloeswood and osmanthus top my personal list but any of these would be a fantastic addition to a welcoming home. If you’re not ready to commit to a scent, or are just looking for a housewarming or hostess gift, this set is perfect for you. You can find Nippon Kodo on their own website, or on Amazon.

 I purchased this item myself and chose to review it.This post contains affiliate link(s). If you choose to purchase, I receive a small rebate or commission which goes to the continued maintenance of this site.If you have a topically appropriate craft, product, or service you would like me to review, please contact me. 

Review – Onigiri Shop Montreal West

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When I was younger, here in Montreal the only options for Japanese food locally were fancy expensive restaurants or the Teriyaki Experience in the mall food courts. It was still considered foreign and exotic and not really of appeal to a broader audience. As time went on, sushi became more prevalent and easily accessible, and then the ramen wave hit, and now Japanese fast casual is a staple in most urban environments. However, one thing I’d yet to see anywhere other than festivals or events put on by the JCCCM is onigiri, or seaweed-wrapped rice balls.

Enter Onigiri Shop — an adorable local chain that serves, you guessed it, onigiri (amongst other things). There’s one quite close to my house so a little while ago I took the opportunity to check it out and grab a couple of onigiri to try out. I’m very happy I did!

The location is tiny, but has everything they need and feels very charming. It’s actually within a few minutes of my old high school and I used to spend time here 25 years ago when it was a used bookstore! Since then it’s been a cupcake shop, and Indian takeout, a Jamaican takeout, and now Onigiri Shop. I hope they last a while, as the food was affordable and really tasty. I will say there is very little seating space, as it’s definitely intended as a take-out location, but they told me they’ll be putting seating outside when the weather gets nicer.

First off, can we appreciate the tiny adorable box they come packaged in? Both the onigiri I purchased fit snugly in there and felt very secure on the ride home. I just hope if you buy more you get a larger box. One way to find out. I guess I’ll have to go buy more!

I decided to sample one fairly standard and one more unique offering; I chose one with spicy tuna and one with kimchi and avocado, and they were both delicious. The rice is nice and well-seasoned and holds together well, and the fillings are bright and flavourful and there’s plenty of it. There’s a bit more seaweed than I was expecting but it helps the onigiri keep its shape while you’re eating it so I don’t mind. It worked nicely. I do look forward to trying some of the other options, as well as their non-onigiri menu items and desserts, maybe on the patio area in the summer if I am around.

Overall, I’m quite impressed with the food, price, and convenience of this location of Onigiri Shop. I’m curious to see how other locations compare, and how consistent they are. That’s always a toss-up when it comes to chain franchises. But I’m very glad to have another tasty grab-and-go option when I’m out and about!

Movie Review – Kokuho

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What would you give — or give up — for a chance at true greatness?

Kokuho (国宝, “National Treasure”) is a stunning glimpse into the heart of kabuki set against the backdrop of post-war economic boom. An epic tale of family, masculinity, craft, and friendship. Without spoiling it, the movie follows Tachibana Kikuo, the orphaned son of a Yakuza boss who is taken into the care of national kabuki treasure Hanjiro Hanai II. Hanjiro is currently raising his own son Shunsuke to become his successor and inherit the title of Hanjiro Hanai III. Both boys come to take on the roles of onnagata, performers who play the female roles in kabuki, which contrasts sharply with the hyper-machismo of the Yakuza world that Kikuo knew beforehand. The boys are trained in unison, leading to a beautiful rivalry full of professional and emotional passion as well as heartbreak, and ultimately, triumph.

The movie spans decades, from the early sixties straight through to a finale in 2014. I am not here to summarise or spoil it, so I am not going to delve into the plot, but that timeframe encompasses so much character development, both positive and negative. We see Kikuo and Shunsuke’s lives interwoven as they train together, rise to stardom together, let bitter rivalries and the public’s fickle attention get the better of them. We see them at their highest, and at their lowest, and at all the poignant messes in between as their careers ebb and flow, and as they drift and out of each others’ lives. Kokuho is not what I would consider an uplifting movie, but it has moments of great optimism and hope, and a pure and devoted heart.

I admit I went into the movie biased for two reasons; first, and most obvious, is the wardrobe and set design. This movie is absolute eye-candy for anyone interested in kimono and traditional Japanese arts. The second — and far more vapid — reason is that Watanabe Ken plays the veteran kabuki star, father, and mentor Hanjiro. I could watch that man read the phone book and be happy with my life choices, if I’m being honest.

Kokuho is a visual masterpiece, a lush love letter to a venerated art form. The story unfolds in a sharp contrast of dramatic, gut-wrenching action and quiet, meditative moments that embody the Japanese concept of ma (間), a sort of purposeful void, pause, or empty moment that helps to emphasise the action or space surrounding it. Ma is often used in traditional theatre, both noh and kabuki, and I have no doubt the similar use of pauses, silences, and visual empty or liminal spaces was absolutely intentional. However, it can make things hard to follow if you are unfamiliar with it; jumps in scene, location, or emotional tone may end up feeling disjointed or even badly edited to viewers without that frame of reference. The lives of the actors are interwoven deftly with stage performances, which help to underscore the reflected themes and emotions happening in both, but again, this may prove distracting or confusing for some viewers, especially those coming into this with little to no knowledge of kabuki.

It may be due to this that Kokuho was not nominated for a best foreign film Academy Award, which is a travesty in my opinion. I haven’t seen any of the films that did get nominated but I stand stubbornly by my statement, because this is my blog and I can. It was nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, which I absolutely understand. Not just for the traditional oshiroi and wigs, but for the incredibly natural aging that happens over the course of the film. It’s impossible to tell what ages the actors actually are, and if they were aged down or up. I do hope we get to see the team in kimono (and maybe even nihongami) on red carpets during awards season, but I don’t have my hopes up.

There’s a reason Kokuho has become the highest-grossing live-action film in Japanese history. It’s more than a “foreign film” at this point, it’s a global phenomenon. And not without due cause; it is a feat of both visual and emotional storytelling. It’s rare that I sit through an entire movie without getting up at least a couple of times to pee or stretch my legs — let alone a movie with a three-hour run time. During my first watch, I somehow managed to stay put for the whole thing (minus one quick washroom break), and at no point did I find myself wondering how much was left. The second watch-through was much longer and more fragmented over the course of several days, as I paused regularly to take notes and capture images.

One repeated device in the movie that I really appreciated, as someone not terribly familiar with kabuki, was these cards at the beginning of every major dance sequence. It helped give context to each dance, which is vitally important since, as I mentioned earlier, the themes and emotions conveyed in the dances often mirror what’s happening off-stage in some way.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Kimono Tsuki review if I didn’t talk about the kimono, now would it? The thing that started my love letter to the Japanese arts, and continues to be my primary obsession. The stage costumes, obviously, are all lush, gorgeous, and deftly handled. The costumes in kabuki tend to be relatively standardized and help to identify the characters and archetypes being performed, so it’s no surprise that a movie that is such a passionate and thorough love letter to the art form went all-in with the costuming. What really caught my attention, kimono-wise, was how well the non-costume outfits were coordinated, and how well they telegraphed pertinent details such as age, status, time of year, and yes, decade. From the rough meisen day-wear of the 60s to the subdued silk houmongi of the 80s, they really ensured that the style, colours, and patterns of each kimono accurately reflected what situation and timeframe of the movie we were in. Considering the attention to detail in the rest of the movie, I should not have been surprised by this, but it was still a lovely thing to see.

Speaking of “lovely things to see”; when I say it was nearly impossible to keep my screenshotting to a minimum here, you need to believe me. Since Kokuho is over three hours long and nearly every scene is visually stunning, I had to be selective. I also had to skip over large chunks to avoid spoilers. And I still ended up with all these breathtaking images I had to share with you.

My only real “complaint” (such as it is) about the movie is that there are so few women in it, and they’re so one-dimensional that they may as well all be the same character. However, this is the story about two men, their friendship, and their journeys, so nearly all the secondary characters are equally undeveloped. Kabuki has historically been a male-only field — hence the need for onnagata — so it makes sense that the female characters are basically set dressing or accessories. It is simply something to keep in mind if that sort of representation is important to you.

Kokuho will be receiving a wide English-subtitled North American theatrical release this coming Friday, February 20th, and will hopefully be available on streaming and blu-ray later this spring. If you are creative at sailing the seas of the internet, there are ways to find it currently (which is how I was able to get screenshots) but I urge you to show your love and support for this fantastic movie by seeing it on the big screen. The visuals alone will be worth it.

Kokuho on IMdb
Kokuho on Wikipedia