Scallop Cuisine !

by Kazu

Almost the end of our working day in 2025, Hamatonbetsu Town located in the northern part of Hokkaido Island set a pop-up shop in Hotel Polestar Sapporo near my office and I bought a chunk of scallops for year end holidays.  

Fresh sushi-grade large scallops were served with seaweed called Wakame, sauteed with sliced Japanese taro and butter.  My sister-in-law kindly boiled bracken root and bamboo shoot to be accompanied by pints of beer. Sweet grilled egg was from the famous former Central Market of Japan Tsukiji.  　

 

December 31, 2025 !

by Kazu

It depends on the custom of each household whether the Japanese traditional and typical year-end/beginning meal package stuffed in Japanese lacquered meal boxes accumulated on the table, shuld be served at the end of year or the beginning.  

I think these are the typical contents of the meal package of the year end/ beginning. Herring roe with chopped sea kelp and squid flavored with soy sauce and fish broth, boiled salmon or herring rolled with sea kelp, chopped and pickled radish and carrot are my favorite.     

Mushed chest nuts, boiled black beans,　　sliced fishcake called "Kamaboko" and grilled egg&fish roll are not so smashing but the must-to-have in the meal package. We started to savor the meal in the boxes at the end of 2025.
 

Red Eagles Won the Game !

by Kazu

The result of the ice hockey game was Hokkaido Red Eagles' win. The local ice hockey team was sponsored by the paper manufacturing company "Oji Seishi" that rule the City of Tomakomai.

The move of hockey pack was so swift that it was a little bit tough for old foggy to catch up with the fast-moving pack hit with the sticks swung by the players. 

The city can accommodate  many tourists brought by cruise ships and tankers as well as ice hockey players. I think a little bit twists and optional tours should be arranged for the globe-trotters who drop by with cruise ship.

 

Itanki Beach in Muroran City !

by Kazu

It was cloudy and not so fine in Muroran Itanki beach on that day. It seemed that it was snowing on the western part of the Iron City Muroran. Nobody was working on the beach other than myself. 

The rising sun was hidden by the gray cloud unfortunately. The city started to breathe and wake up with the chilly breeze from the ocean though the factory near the beach seemed to have been working all night long without rest. 

We took train and moved to Tomakomai City to have lunch and watch the ice hockey game of Hokkaido Red Eagles. The ice arena built by the paper manufacturing company "Oji Seishi" again. The seat-heater was so comfortable and helpful for us.

 

Ippei in Muroran City !

by Kazu

On the next day of the last working day in 2025, we visited the City of Iron manufacturing Muroran Cuty and had the famous grilled skewered pork and chicken. In spite of the order of our request, the Japanese chicken rissot came first. Usually, we wrap up our dinner with this tasteful soup rice. 

Basically, the grilled skewered chicken and pork in Muroran are served with tasteful delicious sauce developed in each restaurant. We had these dishes in famous "Ippei" near the hotel we stayed Dorny Inn Higashi Muroran on that day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Every time we visit the City of Iron Manufacturing, we savor the cuisine so much and enjoy the collaboration of the landscape and the artificial construction such as the iron manufacturing factory and cafe with curious atmosphere.

 

At the end of the working days in 2025!

by Kazu

We make a point of having Christmas dinner in my condo. and wrapping up our working days in Taiwanese Restaurant "Real Taipei" that has skilled and seasoned chefs from Taiwan.

I think the taste of dumplings Xiao Long Bao　is superior to other Chinese or Taiwanese restaurant in Hokkaido, other than Tin Tai Fung in Stellar Place Sapporo.

We love the plain Xiao Long Bao of the restaurant even though they have a variety of Xiao Long Bao that contains truffle, crab meat, scallop, Korean pickled and spicy Chinese lettuce. The dough of the Xiao Long Bao is very thin and delicate.

The year-end dinner course of the Taiwanese restaurant Real Taipei contained fried shrimp, fried noodles and three kinds of appetizer for toast. 

 

Art of Sweets in Norva, Intercontinental Sapporo !

by Kazu

This is the inside section of the Norva's Special sweet. The wide variety of small cakes absolutely makes you so happy and filled up with satisfaction. The patissier of the cafe & bar seemed to have high degrees of skill and love to make the people happy. 

The entrance of the place of happiness was decorated with this gorgeous Christmas tree and other artistic objects along the way to the elevators. We area very happy to have the Inter-continental Hotel in Sapporo and many sophisticated guests from all over the world.