Miso soup

Few weeks ago, my husband saw his friend buying Miso paste (a fermented soybean paste originating in Japan). Since we are here in Japan, we have never tried miso soup, so he asked me if I want to try. My answer was NO, NO, NO!!!
But after searching about the health benefits of Miso paste, I changed my mind. This is what I have found:

• Because Miso is fermented with a B12-synthesizing bacteria, miso has been commonly recommended as a B12 source for vegans.
• Miso is quite high in sodium (1 ounce contains 52% of the recommended daily value for sodium), but a little miso goes a long way towards providing your daily needs for the trace minerals zinc, manganese, and copper.
• A single tablespoon of miso contains 2 grams of protein for just 25 calories. An impressive nutrient profile for a flavoring agent!
• Miso's Minerals Support Immune Function, Energy Production, Bones and Blood Vessels
• Protection Against Breast Cancer

After knowing all these benefits, no way I can say no to Miso.

The Miso I am using is called 純正こうじみそ (jyunsei-kouji-miso). This one is Halal, it contains only soybean, rice, and salt. As you see, no preservatives or additives which means more healthy (BTW, I am trying to avoid eating products that contain long term harmful additives).

Miso soup is very easy to make, just take a cup of warm water and add 1 table spoon of miso paste, then you can add the mixture to a vegetable soup, to noodles, or just drink it as it is.
For more information about Miso, see the following website: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=114#healthbenefits

A Few Quick Serving Ideas: (from the previous website)

• Miso soup is quick and easy to prepare. Heat miso paste and water over low-medium heat. Eat as is or add in some traditional fixings including shiitake mushrooms, tofu, scallions, burdock, carrots, and daikon radish.

• Miso-tahini sandwiches are one of our favorites. To make your own, just spread miso on a piece of bread and then top with tahini. Enjoy as is or add sliced avocado.

• Use miso as an ingredient in marinades for meat, fish, poultry or game.

• Carry dried miso soup packets with you and enjoy them as a pick-me-up coffee substitute.

• Combine a little miso with olive oil, flax seed oil, ginger and garlic to make an Asian-inspired dressing that can be used on salads or cold grain dishes.

Japanese Toilet Training for Kids

Do you want to know how the Japaneses train their children for the potty, see this video, it is a Japanese cartoon to teach children how to use the toilet. Nothing can surprise me here in Japan!!

Online Japanese language tools

This a list of my favorite (and may be the best I know) online Japanese language tools:

• Translator, to translate from Japanese to English and from English to Japanese: http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/
• To read a Japanese text (Yomikata):
  
• http://www.popjisyo.com/WebHint/Portal_e.aspx
• http://yomoyomo.jp/
• Dictionary (eng-jap, jap-eng, kanji+kana+romaji): http://kanjidict.stc.cx/dict

Have a nice Japanese reading!!!

How to send items through post office

Many times, I want to send some items through the post office but each time i found it difficult because I do not know all the possible options available and I could not ask because I cannot speak Japanese.
So I decided to search on internet about shipping in Japan. This is a summary of what I found.
For a summary about shipping rates through post office, see the following page: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokunai/parcel.html#02

1-Yuu-pack ( ゆうパック)

• Use for: heavier items over 500g
• Cost: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/fee/simulator/kokunai/parcel.html#01
  
• More information: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/parcel/you_pack/index.html (Japanese)

For heavier items, postal Yuu-Pack is probably the best option. You need to fill in a blue form with the receiver's and the sender's details, including phone numbers. You can specify a certain time of day for delivery. The fee will depend on the overall size, not the weight, of the package, so try to squeeze it into a small box! You receive a 100yen discount on the price if you take it to the post office by yourself,rather than having the parcel picked up from your home. A few days later you will receive a postcard to let you know the package has been delivered.

Options for Yuu-pack:

Yuu-pack can be sent 着払　Chakubarai　(in english, COD for cash on delivery) or 　代金引換　daikin hikikae　(in english POD for payment on delivery).

1. Chakubarai: The receiver pays the Yuu-mail rate, plus 20 yen for this service. sender fills out a pink COD form. The receiver's phone number is needed. sender can specify a time of delivery (morning, afternoon, late afternoon, evening).
   
2. Daikin hikikae: Payment on Delivery allows the sender to post the parcel to the receiver at the receiver's expense AND collect an extra amount on top of the postal fees.

For more details about options available for Yuu-Pack:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/you_pack/add.html

2-Yuu-mail (ゆうメール), called before "sasshi kozutsumi "（旧冊子小包）

• Use for: books, magazines, cds, dvds, videos up to 3kg, H+W+D limit: 1.7 m
• The flat rates for anywhere in Japan are:
  
  up to 150 grams: 180 yen
  up to 250 grams: 210 yen
  up to 500 grams: 290 yen
  up to 1 kg: 340 yen
  up to 2 kg: 450 yen
  up to 3 kg: 590 yen
• For more information about Yuu-mail (in japanese) http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/you_mail/index.html
  http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/you_mail/use.html

Yuu-mail can also be sent chakubarai (in english, COD for cash on delivery), entailing an extra 20 yen collection fee or sent Daikin hikikae (POD for Payment on Delivery) (see Options for Yuu-Pack for more information).
For more details about options available for Yuu-mail : http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/you_mail/add.html


3-EXPACK500（エクスパック）500
Sometimes it is possible to cram something that would be going for the top rate of 590 yen of the Yuu-mail into a 500 yen ExPack envelope, saving 90 yen.

• Use for: anything that will fit inside the envelope
• Fix cost: 500 yen for whatever you can fit inside the envelope (248mm×340mm) and the weight limit is 30 kg.
• More information (japanese) http://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/expack/index.html

There is a flat 500 yen charge nationwide, as long as the parcel fits inside the envelope provided. There is no need for complicated postage calculations and affixing stamps, and in addition to collection by postal workers, the "EXPACK 500" can also be mailed in a post box 24 hours a day. Moreover, by entering the barcode, tracking information can be checked via PC, and a seal to confirm receipt can be obtained from the recipient.
You can track EXPACK500 on the internet or cell phones. There is no insurance for these so you should not use them for valuable or irreplaceable items and it is not permitted to use them to send money. These envelopes will not fit in the mouth of some older mailboxes.

Halal Milk for babies

Few months ago some muslim women asked me about halal baby milk. A japanese mulim woman helped us to get more information about the baby milk prouced in Japan.

Unfortunately, the only confirmed halal milk for babies we know is "Chirumiru" of Morinaga: from (9months to 3 years)(http://www.hagukumi.ne.jp /products/chirumiru/chirumiru .shtml)

The japanese sister, asked the maker Morinaga about "HAGUKUMI" suitable for newborn until 9 months, this is Morinaga answer:

"Lecithin is from soy bean, but unfortunately, Hagukumi contains enzyme from pork (or lard)."

The milk of Meiji is Haram (confirmed form ingredients).

All the other brands could not confirm if their products are halal. The japanese sister has asked both of Bean Stalk Snow (group comapny of Yukijirushi) and Wakoudou (group company of Asahi Beer) about their baby milk, unfortunately, their replies were not satisfactory.

Both of them said that as ingredients, haram materials are not included, but they do not have total control on the manufacturing process of their suppliers of ingredients. Enzyme or other ingredients may have been produced or extracted utilizing the material derived from pig.
Therefore they cannot guarantee if their products are halal and they request consumers who have religious restrictions shall not use their products.

If you want to use the baby milk for a baby from 0 month until 9 months and to be sure that the milk is confirmed Halal, I think the only choice you have is the soy milk baby formula, I do not know the brand names but I think it is easy to find it in the store. But, I have been told that soy milk is not good for baby health if used for long time.

I do not know if it is possible to import baby milk from Islamic countries but I think the muslim community here in Japan should consider this option since the only halal baby milk we know is "CHIRUMIRU" of Morinaga and it is only suitable for babies above 9 months.