Stacy Kurokawa Cooke comments

We are in Japan a lot of the english we hear comes from japanese people. I hate "let's..." Also, "Fight!"meaning give it your best

We live in Japan where quinoa is not grown. It is expensive and not readily available. How about some theme using a seasonal local ingredient...daikon, soba flour, persimmons...?

I learned two things about commuting to school this year from my own experience as a parent. 1) I wanted to move to a rural area in Japan where few other children live, mostly just agricultural vehicles on a long straight road between rice fields. The commute for my soon-to-be first grader would be a little over 3 km. We tried it; my conclusion--country kids with such a walking commute in all weather conditions must become generally physically stronger and healthier than their city counterparts who have short walks, and have to breathe in car exhaust. (2) If we did move to the aforementioned location, I'd love to ride my bicycle with him part way to school (or give him a ride in bad weather), to a place where other kids gather to walk, but that I am told is NOT done. Cycling even only part way, with Mom, is too dangerous I am told. And no place to park the bicycle (along the fence line doesn't seem to be an option). I also wanted to cycle to my son's preschool with him, he on his own bicycle as he is now six and a good rider. I found a safe route. Then my son confessed he felt ashamed about being the only one to cycle to school. The staff had indicated their disapproval, told me I couldn't leave my son's bicycle there for the day, and so we gave up that idea.

What local Japanese vegetable works for "shallots"?

Perhaps giving the teachers (or any employees) more time for a personal life may improve things a little. I guess that many teachers don't have much work/life balance, have family time and time for a decent marriage.

In Kansai and interested in touring the Yamazaki distillery? Check this : http://en.japantravel.com/view/whisky-tour-between-osaka-and-kyoto

sfjp330, basements = mold in Japan.

I am reading Pollen's Omnivore's Dilemma. Without knowing this issue deeply I suspect cocoa growers get just a tiny percentage of the profit per chocolate bar/produced. I'd like them to get more, to improve the situation in their respective countries, for producers to sponsor their training and education. Scarcity of chocolate is better than glutting the market isn't it ? If the the land was bought up, the highest technology/engineered cocoa plants, chemical fertilizers and larger scale harvesting with huge machines (fewer farmers) was implemented, we would have no supply problem, we'd have cheap chocolate but few would benefit in cocoa producing countries .I think most chocolate lovers are more than willing to pay more for organic chocolate.

how about edamame?

My kid's silly youchien uniform is shorts, all winter long. Secondly, I don't get that there is a special date to change over clothes. Dress according to the weather people!

White high top runners, grad jackets ( Graduation Year and School emblazoned, leather sleeves) and mullet hair cuts (these fashions in the backwoods of Canada)

Parking attendants. We entered City Hall parking lot last Sunday where we encountered a man directing cars. On a Sunday. No Festival. Not crowded. Not hard to find a space. On busy days, this is a nice service but on a Sunday???