Shimanami Kaido and End of the School Year

04/02/24 • 47 min

This week we’re talking about one of Japan’s most famous cycling routes (the Shimanami Kaido), soy sauce that spends three years in an open fermentation, and what the end of the school year is like here. It’s Spring Break in Japan, and the cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom!

More about the...

Shimanami Kaido: https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html

Tobishima Kaido: https://setouchicycling-tobishima.jp/

Yumeshima Kaido: https://cycling-ehime.com/en/routes/the_yumeshima_kaido/

Okamoto Soy Sauce: https://okamoto-shoyu.com/

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.
Have a question or idea? Send us an email at [email protected], or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

More about the...

Shimanami Kaido: https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html

Tobishima Kaido: https://setouchicycling-tobishima.jp/

Yumeshima Kaido: https://cycling-ehime.com/en/routes/the_yumeshima_kaido/

Okamoto Soy Sauce: https://okamoto-shoyu.com/

Previous Episode

Riding the New Hokuriku Shinkansen Extension From Kanazawa to Tsuruga

The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line was extended for the first time since 2015, and we got seats on the very first train from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, the new end of the line!
Why did we wake up at 4am? How was the train journey? What did we do in Tsuruga? We’ll talk about all that this week!
Links to articles about Tsuruga that we mention:
Why Tsuruga? https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15200878
Impact of the Line: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15201001
Anime statues in Tsuruga: https://ourstarblazers.com/vault/371/

Next Episode

Cherry Blossom Picnic in Kanazawa & the Japanese Food Pyramid

This week Kanazawa has been covered in pink cherry blossoms! We talk about getting to enjoy a hanami (flower viewing) picnic on the Sai River, where the tradition of these picnics started, and typical things you might eat and drink to celebrate.

Speaking of food, we’ll also talk about the Japanese “food pyramid” or the dietary recommendations, and compare them to American food and nutrition.
Articles we mentioned:

Economic impact of cherry blossoms: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/03/15/japan/society/hanami-economic-impact/

Hanami marketing: https://tokyoesque.medium.com/japans-hanami-marketing-helping-your-business-bloom-during-sakura-season-247a5cfb85af

Japanese Spinning Top Food Guidelines: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/bunya/kenkou/pdf/eiyou-syokuji5.pdf

5-A-Day in Japan: https://www.5aday.net/en/

“My Plate” in US: https://www.myplate.gov/