Lost the Game!

by Kazu

We went to the Bal Pagk Complex "Escon Field"again to wat the baseball game of Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters and eat the special hotdog with the sausage made by the owner of the team Nippon Ham Company.

It was the first time for us to watch the game in the ballpark this year. The price of foods and drinks are comparably expensive. So we

should keep the amount of them to pig out appropriate. 

It was so cold and windy that the roof of the ballpark was closed on that day. The inside of the ballpark

heated up because Nipponham Fighters were

behind thegame on that day.

 

Naritaya Lunch !

by Kazu

Again, the starter of the lunch in Naritaya Buckwheat Noodle Bar in Niki Town was;

 1. Soybeans curd with mini tomato

 2. Boiled Pork slice of Yoichi Kitajima Pig

3. Yam soaked in the soup of buckwheat noodle

4. Yoichi carrot jearkey 

5. Cream cheese

 (1) soaked in white fermented soybeans paste

 (2) with honey and black pepper. 

We enjoyed the taste of the quality buckwheat noodle itself with simple cooking. Some people who really love the taste of buckwheat itself eat the noodle with only salt or green horse radish. I did not try that on that day but the special sauce for the noodle struck me as the the godsend from the earth. 

 

The Buckwheat Noodle Bar Naritaya in Niki Town in 2025 !

by Kazu

This wine label was drawn by our friend, an illustrator who issued a variety of child book and characters on the world of two dimension. Her characters are so cute and popular in Hokkaido. Please try "Obake no Maaru" which means "Maaru the Ghost"  . 

We visited our common friends' buckwheat noodle bar in Niki Town "Naritaya" again and this time, we started the lunch with this appetizer;

 1. Soybeans curd with mini tomato

 2. Boiled Pork slice of Yoichi Kitajima Pig

3. Yam soaked in the soup of buckwheat noodle

4. Yoichi carrot jearkey 

5. Cream cheese

 (1) soaked in white fermented soybeans paste

 (2) with honey and black pepper. 

 

What is Coalmine Area ?

by Kazu

In Mikasa City, Hokkaido, the coal bed methane and hydrogen extracting experiment is being conducted for years and a variety of plans were figured out and on the way. Sorachi region in Hokkaido Island has millions of tons of coal underground. In this area, grilled and skewered chicken is so popular and tasteful.      

The grilled intestine and breast of chicken is very famous and based on how whole chicken should be make the most of.  The breast of the chicken is skewered with pieces of onion and grilled on the red charcoal. The grilled intestine of the chicken may be the typical cuisine in coalmine area.   

 

Exploring Mikasa City !

by Kazu

I think this "Haunted House" was made and run when the city fully flourished with its coal production decades ago. In the downtown of Mikasa City, we found a curious shop on the second floor of an old building. I am not sure how the attraction was popular in the city.  

On the other hand, some new eatery and confectionery were taking its root in downtown. They were opened by the graduates of Mikasa High School majoring in culinary arts. 

The appearance of the eateries were modern and of good taste but the success may depend on how the citizens support and use those eateries, I think. Making ends meet in this downtown must be a little bit tough. 

 

Mikasa City in coal mine area !

by Kazu

Have you ever heard of the production of high-quality coal in Hokkaido? I visited the shaft tower of "Ponbetsu" coalmine in Mikasa City for business jaunt for the first time in the past decade. 

We had to find a restaurant to have lunch in downtown and did one eatery but it seemed to be closed in appearance.

As we were getting closer, we found it opened and was in service. Most of us had chef's signature " Jumbo Pork Cutlet Curry Rice striking our stomach. Kindly, the Mom allowed us to have this coconut powder cake made in Inaba Confectionery with complimentary coffee accompanied to the lunch. We found a hidden nice eatery in Mikasa City. 

 

Samgyopsal in Yasai mura, Sapporo !

 

by Kazu

We found so nice samgyopsal restaurant where we could eat up as much veggies as we could. The name of the restaurant was " The Veggie Fields".

The amount of the pork and spicy pickles in the course was limited but you can order the set of veggies on tk-tke board shown on the left side.

Rugby Footba Game started 2025 !

by Kazu 

The professional Rugby football game season started even in Hokkaido though it was cold and windy outside of the stadium on that day. 

It seemed that my wif loves to watch the Rugby football game but is not familiar with the rule even now. Even so, I love to see her excited, cheering and discouraged.

Lupine is t he motif of the team headed

by the former captain of the national team Mr. 

Michael Leech. When the supporters cheered up their team, they cried out like wolves.

 

Lake Utonai Listed in Ramsar Treaty !

by Kazu

It was not the season of the migratory birds to have a rest on their way to the northern regions on this globe. 

I could not find any migratory birds  in Lake Utonai on that day. Even so, many tourists dropped by the Migrato Birds Observation Center.

 

Itanki Beach to Lake Utonai !

by Kazu

After the sunset, the blue sky got darker and the orange lights on the coastline got brighter an reflected on t surface of the ocean.

The next day, on our way back to Sapporo, we dropped by Lake Utonai listed on the Ramsar Treaty to be preserved as the sacred place for migrant birds and other creatures.

 

Itanki Beach in Tomakomai at Dawn !

by Kazu

Before dinner after enjoying the ice hockey game won by the Red Eagles  in Tomakomai, I jogged around Itanki Beach and the downtown of the city. 

Fortunately, I really enjoyed the beautiful landscape of the ocean, clouds, wind and sunset in the magic hour on that day.

The beauty of the pale, dark blue and pink color created so nice scenery with the silhouette of the coastline.It was so beautiful a day in Tomakomai City.

 

The Ice Hockey Game in Tomakomai again !

 

by Kazu 

We could get seats warmed up with electric heater. I did not have to wear thick ski pants  to watch the game but as I experienced the coldness during the ice hockey game held in Sapporo before that,   I brought my ski pants to be on the safe side. 

The Red Eagles based in Tomakomai with local cheering-up had never lost the game when we visited and watched their games .