Summer is (unofficially) over

Since I grew up nearby famous beach in Japan, I've never ever worried about getting tan. I was kidding around in the sand almost every day in summertime, got tan like well-toasted bread. I couldn't wait to see my friend on September 1st - the first day of second trimester in Japan - with so many unforgettable memories and bunch of homework that we owe (yes, August 31st is the last day to have done all that stuff with headache). Summer vacation for school age is only 42 days, not like one in here, but we still had countless of fun stuff during that period.

When I was 19, I found some dark spot on my cheek after coming back from beach with obvious tan line. I asked mom, "what a heck this is??". She replied calmly "that's the proof of that 'you are not that young to get outside without sunblock'. So you can't go anywhere without sunblock anymore."


So you think this is NOT a food-related post again, but absolutely yes.


My mom said "eat carrot like bunny, beta carotene helps to heal your skin damage". I followed that. I stuck to carrot diet for a while. And she added "lycopine in tomato also helps you" so I add tomato juice on the faith of mom's secret.
I still stick to vitamin-rich diet since then. To keep their skin fair-and-clear is kinda social status in Japan. Most of Japanese actress has flawless fair skin (even it's a bit yellowish) so general consumer like me always tries to keep it like that.

But why should we stay all day under the shade even it's beach? Why should we so protective like painting whole body with messy SPF50 lotion? It's summer(and almost over). We have a right to enjoy it. Don't cry over spots. If you made it, you fix it.

Years later, I haven't masked my face with high-SPF lotion any more. Just dust a bit of zinc-oxide powder for natural looking sun protection, and eat a lot of veggies to prevent/heal sun damage. I believe that's enough to maintain my skin.

Now I'm secretly developing new items. Something that you guys eat more veggies handy and yummy. See? You are not alone.



Well, again, I consume veggies like dinosaur. Do I look young? or very age appropriate?

Hoisety, not talkig about Hospitality

This is absolutely NOT a food-related article, but I want to introduce some ridiculousness of Japanese Culture...

Women were chatting in a Locker room at gym,

"I had an interview last Friday. I couldn't believe that she was wearing long-sleeved jacket, and pantyhose! It was 100F on Friday, but she wore pantyhose!!"

"Really? Your work has very strict dress code?"

"Yeah, but no one in our office wear pantyhose. "


I was just hearing the chat curiously, but I couldn't stop to cut in.

"Well, pantyhose is required in general office work in Japan, even there's much muggier than here."

Women were like jaw-dropping and all said "Really?!?"

"Yeah, it's really."


I had no doubt to wear pantyhose for any "official" and formal occasion. No office worker goes to work without pantyhose unless her office allows casual wear to work. Even humidity is over 70% during the summer in Tokyo, women never hesitate to put their pantyhose on before they leave home.
Everything is completely different.
I was so surprised when I saw a woman who wore black mini dress with spaghetti strap and stiletto (yep, of course, with bare foot) for funeral. That's absolutely no-no in Japan but still okay in here...That was the moment I realize my common sense doesn't work in United States.


One of our best customer, who's working for company called Gunze, one of the most biggest intimate distributor in Japan, was sighing deeply over the sales of pantyhose in NY is not like in Japan.
I understand why. They (maybe) tend to hate to wear those, especially in this season.
I've never seen the one that is designed for this climate here. It always looks so shiny, tight, unnatural...uh, that's probably the pantyhose should be, but I never get tired to raise my voice...ahem... "if you want flattering look but can't deal with this uncomfortableness, buy Japanese. You may experience a totally new world of pantyhose - dry, breathable, natural but stunning look."


If I had millions of dollar, I'll definitely open Pantyhose Shoppe on Madison Avenue. No kidding.