February 2023

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[Matsunoya's "My Tsukemen!"]

Matsunoya is a famous restaurant in Nishijin that opened in 1937. Udon noodles and set menus are the signature items on the menu, and the restaurant is bustling every day with local residents and students alike.

The other day, we had our first tsukemen (noodles with oil cake and pork) (catch copy: "my tsukemen!"), which was so delicious that we thought, "Tsukemen at home would be nice, too," and immediately tried to make it with the help of the pictures. The dipping sauce is simmered until the onions and pork soak up the flavor, and the udon noodles, in contrast, are thoroughly dipped in iced water. The reason I took on the ice water in the cold kitchen of snowy winter Kyoto today was because I wanted to try this udon served in a "Kanamari Deep" bowl. Just imagine the firm and chewy white udon noodles in a beautiful silver tin bowl.

As you can see in the photo, the Kanamari Deep can hold 4 bowls of udon (approx. 720g), so it is the perfect bowl for those who want to try a large bowl of tsukemen at home. The tsuke-dare sauce can also be served generously in the Seiryugama's Donburi. We were able to enjoy tsukemen at home until we were full.

"Kanamari" is not cast metal, but is formed by hand by craftsmen who hammer tin plates into a mold one by one. The thickness of the tin gives the bowl a good sense of weight, and at the same time, it is a luxurious bowl with a taste that can only be experienced through handcrafting. It is perfect for salads, fruits, and noodles such as pasta, udon, and somen. We are sure that you will enjoy your meals while feeling the craftsmanship of our artisans. The actual products are currently available at the Sanjo and Wakamatsu showrooms, so please take a look when you stop by.

Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Kanamari Deep
https://www.shokunin.com/en/otera/kanamari.html
Seiryugama's Donburi
https://www.shokunin.com/en/seiryu/donburi.html
Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/
Matsunoya
https://goo.gl/maps/8NBbA4VKbWWZ5cdW8
Article: Matsunoya, a famous restaurant of the "Mr. Living National Treasure Next Door" class
https://jp.shokunin.com/archives/52010595.html

References
https://ja.kyoto.travel/tourism/single01.php?category_id=4&tourism_id=2492
https://cookpad.com/recipe/7402757 (Reference recipe)

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They are beautifully made and I have been using them regularly. I have attached a picture of one of the bowls holding a meal I cooked in a donabe that I purchased from Shokunin.com in 2017 and have used regularly since. It brings me joy to use these items.
J.M. from USA

Seiryugama's Donburi
https://www.shokunin.com/en/seiryu/donburi.html

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[Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto in Winter]

The cold weather has returned, and today Kyoto is covered with a light dusting of snow even in the city. Although the cherry blossom season is still far from over, there are several cherry blossom viewing spots in Kyoto that can be seen even during the winter season. I would like to introduce two of them to you this time.

The first is the "Oeshiki cherry" at Myorenji Temple in Kamigyo-ku. The name "Oeshiki" comes from a legend that the cherry blossoms bloomed on October 13, the day Nichiren Daishonin passed away. As a variety, it bears the name "Jugatsu-sakura," and has been known as a horticultural variety since the Edo period (1603-1868) as an interspecific hybrid of the Mame-sakura and Edohigan cherry trees. The pretty double-petaled flowers, light pink in color, bloom from early October every year, and continue to bloom here and there throughout the winter as if in a breathless state, reaching full bloom around the time of the Flower Festival in April, the birthday of Lord Buddha.

The other is the "Oike cherry" planted in front of the Kyoto Oike Soseikan, located westward on Oike Dori from in front of Kyoto City Hall. "Oike cherry" is a nickname for this cherry tree, which is actually a hybrid of yamazakura (Prunus jamasakura) and Oshima-sakura (Prunus speciosa), a type of cherry tree called "Fudan-sakura." The word "fudan" means "without ceasing." The cherry blossoms bloom from December to April with a pale, light red color, delighting the eyes of people passing by on Oike-dori. In the midst of modern Oike Dori lined with buildings, some people may be cheered up by the healthy appearance of the Oike cherry, which blooms small flowers in the cold weather. It is not unusual to see people pointing their cameras at them.

Myorenji Temple, where the Oeshiki cherry is located, is a 5-minute walk from the Imadegawa Showroom. Kyoto Oike Soseikan, where the Oike cherry is located, is a 5-minute walk from the Sanjo Showroom. When you visit our showroom, please take a look at the beautiful winter cherry blossoms nearby as well.

Imadegawa Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/imadegawa.html
Sanjo Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/sanjo.html
Myorenji Temple
https://goo.gl/maps/N8Mh68dmA8JHCsaT8
Kyoto Oike Soseikan
https://goo.gl/maps/MxDdwUtG7fV2unpS9

References
https://www.jalan.net/news/article/590903/
https://media.mk-group.co.jp/entry/sakura-oeshiki/
https://kyotopi.jp/articles/gOQ6x