OrpheusGrey

Kurashiki-shi is a neighboring city of Okayama-shi, reachable by train in only 15-20 minutes. When we applied for the JET Programme we put Kurashiki as our first preference for placement. Okayama-shi is certainly the next best place, given its proximity. But after visiting Kurashiki I believe we might have liked living there more.

It has a decent size downtown area, with the biggest shopping mall in the prefecture. It also has a beautiful historical district, lined with canals and old warehouses from the Edo period. Basically it has all the big city conveniences while still being small, quaint, and full of traditional culture.

On this visit we toured the city and the historical Bikan district, guided by our friend Zet (Suzette) who lives there. Then we met some friends at Zet's place to make takoyaki for dinner. Takoyaki is octupus tentacles mixed into a batter with green onions, other chopped veggies, and fish flakes, then fried in spherical wells to form a ball. Dip them in a little mayo or some takoyaki sauce and they are quite a delight.

The flipping of the takoyaki balls is the hard part. It is done with a small toothpick like instrument. You have to hook the bottom of the ball and flip it 180 degrees to expose the uncooked half to the heat, without destroying the perfectly spherical cooked half in the process. The cooks at the takoyaki stand in the station manage to cook a few dozen balls all at the same time. They are quick flippers. Us, not so much.