High School Students from Beijing !

by Kazu

Hordes of high school students in Beijing, China paid a courtesy call on Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Nakano. They visited Sapporo just before the hottest season in Hokkaido.

I hope they enjoyed their short stay in Sapporo City and other area of Hokkaido. They kindly bring the souvenir of calligraphy for the Vice Governor.

I was not sure what the calligraphy meant but such kinds of good-will exist in reality and it may be able to right the wrong in this world, I hope.

Sea Urchin Restaurant Murakami 4 !

by Kazu

Grilled sea urchin in the shell provided us with the condensed taste of sea urchin and made us feel like in the ocean.
Tempra of sea urchin rolled in dried seaweed struck us as a twist of the sea urchin cuisine.

But what we were eager to savor amply was sea urchin rice-bowl and cold pasta topped with special grade sea urchin. It's the season of fresh taste of the ocean !

Sea Urchin Restaurant Murakami in Sapporo 3 !

by Kazu

Uni dumpling was also flavored with thick starchy broth sauce. Fried egg with sea urchin inside had so sophisticated taste that strike a balance between the top grade food materials.

The fresh veggie salad topped with sea urchin was so refreshing and got us ready for savoring enough next dish.
Sea urchin gratin appeared after the salad.

Sea Urchin Restaurant Murakami in Sapporo 2 !

by Kazu

The top-of-the-tops sea urchin "Ezo Aka Bafun Uni" was so nice and had deep tastes. Sea urchin boiled down in soy sauce and dried and fermented bonito broth was fit Japanese sake to a T.

Sea urchin rolled with dry sea-weed and rolled in egg was flavored with thick starchy sauce made form soup stock made from dried and fermented bonito. A dumpling that contained sea urchin followed.

Sea Urchin Restaurant Murakami in Sapporo !

by Kazu

My wife and I made a point of savoring fresh raw sea urchin of top grade every year in its fishing season. We used to visit Shakotan Peninsula for that before but nowadays, we enjoy the taste in a certain restaurant in Sapporo.

The name of the restaurant is "Uni Murakami ". As you may know, "uni　雲丹" means sea urchin in Japanese. This year,  we decided to take "Uni Special Course" in the restaurant.

We can savor the sea urchin fresh from the ocean only in June, July and August. The starter of this course was the slice of sushi-grade fresh raw Japanese yellow-tail, sweet shrimp and Ezo Aka Bafun Uni which means Hokkaido Red Horse Dung Sea Urchin.

"Wrapping-up Parfait" in Hokkaido !

by Kazu

It is said that "Wrapping-up Parfait", in Japanese "Shime-Parfait" is the custom peculiar to Hokkaido people. AFter binge drinking or party, the dessert should be fruit parfait in Hokkaido.
My wife and I had strawberry parfait and chocolate fruit-parfait with our friend from Hawaii Mr. Pali Kaaihue, the Hokkaido smile Ambassador in Hawaii.
Every time he visits Hokkaido, we shared happy time savoring culinary delights sourced locally in Hokkaido and singing in Karaoke studio.
We really appreciate his consideration and cooperation to deliver the information on the charms of Hokkaido. 

Arte Piazza Bibai !

by Kazu

These are the works of a well-known artist born in Bibai City. His name is Mr. Kan YASUDA. He contributed his concept of the education for infancy to his hometown.

This premises and the building of an old grade school is currently used as an museum, kinder-garden and cafe as well as the place of comfort for the citizen of Hokkaido including Bibai City.

The building of former gym of the grade school is currently used as the place for exhibition and music concert as well as a variety of performance.