If you have just heard the sirens and are wondering WTF! They are a tsunami warning for Numazu. There is an estimated 0.5m tsunami for the coast of Japan due to a 8.0 Magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean near Indonesia.
Tsunami walls are several meters high, so there is little to worry about unless you are on the beaches in which case evacuate to higher ground beyond the tsunami wall immediately. Stay safe and follow the lead of the locals. Everything seems safe.
Links
That last siren you heard was a tsunami warning for a 50cm tsunami. Apparently the warning period with begin from around 11:30pm. The tsunami appears to be as a result of a magnitude 7.9 earthquake off the coast of the Philippines. According to the JMA website the Tsunami warning is set to ‘advisory’.
Baird Brewing will be holding the Fishmarket Taprooms 12th year anniversary celebrations this coming weekend from July 20-22. This a massive weekend with great food and Baird Brewing’s finest beer. There will be brewery tours and a BBQ at the brewery.
Te brewery BBQ will be from 1:00-5 or 6:00pm and the taproom will be open from 1pm til midnight. All food and beer will be 500yen and you will be able to get a special 5,000yen card for the celebrations that will entitle you to 12 items plus a Baird Brewing Glass. Awesome deal.
Fishmarket Taproom manager ‘Cajun’ Chris and I have made some amazing sausages for the celebrations. You can taste our deliscious sausages from Saturday July 21. I’ll even be there behind the BBQ. Be sure to ask for my sausage.
Catch you there.
One of the joys of Living in Numazu is that they have a Yamazaki Vinos. And one of the joys of the Yamazaki Vinos is the wine tasting.
The Vinos in Numazu is in a sneaky little spot on the basement of the イーラde (Iira-de) department store snuggled into a corner of the Yamazaka grocery store. The cellar-like subdued lighting and sanded pine timbered walls stenciled with the shop name to look as if it had been branded creates an oasis from the surrounding supermarket.
Getting a tasting is simple. Just rock on up to the counter and ask. There is a list of wines on display on the shelves behind the service counter and a plaque showing prices for tastings, glasses and the whole bottle.
The wine list is carefully selected and only the better quality wines make it to the tasting list. Every time I have gone for a tasting there I have always experience quality. However, that quality doesn’t always come with a high price. The selection is expansive. Today’s selection varied from 150-1050 yen for a tasting or 350-2650yen a glass. Of course the more expensive wines are at the top end of the tasting cost and frequently retail for around 10,000yen a bottle and taste like you have just drunk unicorn milk.
From today’s tasting my hands down, pants off favourite was the Havens 2009 Chardonay Oakville from the Nappa Valley. This creamy Chardonnay was rich in vanilla with subtle notes of cinnamon and peach. It combined perfectly with their European cheese platter from their fromagere in Shizuoka. There are a dozen other snacks on the menu to accompany your tasting. The tastings average around 600yen a plate.
The staff know their stuff too. While I was there I noted the staff guiding customers with their recommendations and offering wines in different styles and price ranges to satisfy them. However, I did make the mistake of commenting about one particularly good tasting only to have the wine seller animatedly tell me all about it. This would have been fascinating had I understood a word he had said.
Yamazaki Vinos is not exclusive to Numazu. It is actually part of a high end supermarket business with several chain stores. The prefecture capital, Shizuoka, has two Vinos that I have visited and also is home to the best fromagere I have found in Japan.
Hours (bar) – 11:00-21:00hrs(last order 20:30)
English menu – No sorry but its pretty easy to figure out. Just point and say tasting or glass.
Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for Mayl 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.
Beer – Shizuoka Summer Mikan Ale is back in Baird Brewing’s Taproom again. This refreshing beer is an annual favourite. At 5.5% is is a Goldilocks beer for summer.
Outdoors – The Citizens Forest campsite will be ready at the start or July and will say open until August 30th
Concert – Chiiki FU-RE-A-I Concert – A concert will be held in Heda. Quartet – from 14:00 – July 7
Party – Baird Brewing’s Taproom will have its 12th Anniversary this month. Everything is Y500 — beers (plastic cups) and food. Sat & Sun they will also have a BBQ in the brewery parking lot, 1:00-5:00 or 6:00. The taproom anniversaries are huge fun for Numazu and not one to miss. Here is a quote from the Cajun himself Chris “Friday from 5pm begins the weekend specials with our 5000yen Drink/Food card. We call it a Nonbe/Tabe-ken. All Beer and Food will be 500yen for the weekend but the card will get you 12 items for the price of 10 and a free BB glass when you finish the card and present it to one of the staff. Cards are valid only for the 12 Year Anniversary weekend. Use them this weekend or lose them.” Sounds good to me. July 20-22
DJ – Spazz if You Want Too will be back again at Speak Ez – July 6
Festival – Tanabata Star Festival will coming up soon. In the Nakamise the whole mall will be decorated until July 7. Special performance of Yosakoi dancing on July 7
Activities – Yosakoi – one of the biggest events in Numazu teams of traditional dancers from around the country country compete. You can be one of the dancers. Information session from 19:30 July 13
Activities – Want to get involved in the Numazu Summer Festival this year. Become one of the Mikoshi (mobile shrine) carriers. You can make a booking by phone 055-931-1111 or 055-934-4716 by July 13
Festival – Heda port festival will be on this month. Shrines, fireworks and weird cardboard box races on the sea. Well worth a visit. From 13:00 – July 21
Festival – Numazu Summer Festival – The biggest even in Numazu all year. Stall, beer, drunken Mikoshi carriers, beer, fireworks, beer, yukatas, beer, dancers, beer – July 28 and 29
If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area feel free to post them in the comments below.
Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for June 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.
Beer – Baird Brewing’s Fishmarket Taproom has two beers that came out at the end of this month as part of the May Hop Madness campaign – Triple-Dry Bohemian Pils (5.7%) and 4-S Belgian Blonde Ale (5.5%). I think I will check them out this Saturday night.
DJ – get down to the Spazz if You Want Too party at SpeakEZ. June 2
Event – Want to meet the glorious curves that is Miss Ose? Then Fresh OSE Diver’s Day is your day. She will be there, bikini clad, with her friends waiting for you… to help pick up rubbish along the shores of Ose. There is nothing hotter than picking up trash – especially coming into summer. Besides you will be helping to preserve the environment for future generations and … blah blah blah insert enviro-social conscience message here. There will be a Miss Ose contest and bingo. I hear that first prize is a night with Miss Ose herself – Thought I can’t verify this fact. Okay I made it up. 9:00-16:00 June 3
Concert – Summer Jazz Concert at San-Well Numazu – Free – 14:00-15:30 June 8
Exhibition – A exhibition of the movie “Otoko ha Tsuraiyo” and will be on display at the Senbon Mini Gallery this month. June 10
Exhibition – Pressed flower art work at the Senbon Mini gallery – June 12-14
Nature – The firefly’s will be out this month and they are not to miss. Join the group up in Ashitaka Park at the Youth House in Nature – 18:00-21:00 – June 16, 17
Culture – Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony will be held an the Numazu Imperial Villa again this month. 10:00-15:00, June 17
Show – Numazu Comedy Theatre will be hosting the 25th Vaudville in Town. admission 1600yen – starts at 14:00. June 17
If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area feel free to post them in the comments below.
The nation is in uproar this week after a recent press release by JP Bank’s public relations officer Haben Yuuon. The release disclosed to the Japanese public that all the ATM’s will be taking an all expenses paid vacation to the Cayman Islands for the Golden Week holidays.
After the collective rising creassendo of “uuuuuuhhh!” had subsided among the press members present at the release, Mr Yuuon explained that “our companies ATM’s have not had a holiday in many years and deserve a well earned break”.
It was only hours after the press release that the company’s decision was met by many and varied criticisms.
“What if I spend all my cash at the snack bar on the 3rd? How will I be able to go out the next three nights?”, Takeru Fujisawa, 35, said from his bedroom in his aging parents house.
Another outraged citizen stated, “I can’t believe they are getting a holiday. I haven’t had a holiday in 15 year…I even work more hours than them. It is so unfair.” a bleary eyed salary man dispaired.
However, the majority of the anger seems to have come from the timing of the vacation. A possible spokesman from Occupy Tokyo, a two man and a rabbit sub-branch of the Occupy Wall Street movement said, “In these tough economic times it seems like a slap in the face for the country. I am not quite outraged that the JP Bank should be wasting money on pleasure trip for these over-privileged ATM’s. It is a massive waste of investors and customers money”.
The JP Bank has refused to respond to any criticisms.
Seriously though, the JP bank ATM’s will be closed on the 3, 4 and 5 of May due to system maintenance. If you need to get money out during this time either use a convenience store ATM.
More information at the JP Bank homepage.
Scott
Baird Beer has done it again. They have offered an event that I am compelled to tell you about immediately while my lunch goes cold (thanks) – May Hop Madness Month.
The crazy mofo’s at Baird Beer HQ have been slaving away in the beer mines to give you 15 glorious hop-forward beers for the month of May.
If that’s not enough for you to set up tent out the front of the Fishmarket taproom or any of the other Baird Beer Taprooms around Japan, the brewmaster Brian is offering up the 15 Hop beer challenge. If you are ready for the challenge get yourself a May Hop Madness Month card from any of the taprooms (it’s not a prepaid card) and every time you try a new May Hop Madness beer in the Month of May get it stamped. If you can get all 15 beers then you will receive an exclusive Bard Beer logo glass.
While the names and details of all 15 beers are tightly under wraps, I did manage to offer my body to Chris, from the brewery, in exchange for some details of the first release of the beers (it’s okay he was surprisingly gentle):
(1) Teikoku IPL
(2) Daidai IPA
(3) 4-C Strong Pale Ale
Keep up to date on the next releases for May Hop Madness Month on the Baird Beer homepage.
Cheers,
Scott
Highlighting the best of what’s on in Numazu for May 2012. If you like something click on the link for more details. If you have an event you want to add put it in the comments below.
Beer – Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be having May Hop Madness Month. They will be offering 15 amazing hop beers. If you want to take up the challenge then you can ask for a special May Hop Madness Month card (not the prepaid one) and take up the 15 beer challenge. If you can drink all 15 throughout the month and get a stamp for each then you will be rewarded with a Baird Beer logo glass. Promotion last all through May and until the supply lasts so get in early. May.
Golden Week Beer – Baird Beer’s Fishmarket Taproom will be running longer times for your drinking convenience this Golden Week. Check out their details on their homepage. 12pm- 12am April 28,29, 30 : 5pm-12pm Wed May 2 : 12pm-12am May 3-6.
Concert – Senbon Plaza will be host to a koinobori concert – first in first served, capacity 230 – 13:30-15:30 May 3
Festival – Koinobori Festival -Yes the beautiful carp streamers will be flying again this year and the Minatoguchi Park (the one next to the View-O). There will be stalls, craft activities and stage shows. Check it out and round it off with a pint at the Fishmarket Taproom. 10:00-15:00 May 4 and 5.
Party – Open party in the park come along and make some friends, eat, drink and play frisbee. Free BYO everything. Senbon park 1pm-5pm May 5
Dance party – Spazz If You Want To live DJ night at SpeakEz. May 5.
Exhibit – The Numazu Imperial Villa will be celebrating Boy’s day with a Koinobori exhibit and traditional costume display. – Adults 100yen Children 50 yen. 9:00-16:30 until May 7
Exhibit – The Numazu Fine Art Association will be holding an exhibit this month on the 1st floor of the City Cultural Centre – 10:00-18:00(17:00 last day) May 7-13
Culture – Tea Party or perhaps a tea ceremony will be held at the Numazu Imperial Villa May 13
Sport – NICE will be hosting Tai Chi Classes at the city gym – 1,500yen fee – 19:15-20:45 – May 14, 21, 28 June 4
Dance – Salsa Night at SpeakEz. Get your Salsa on at this fun dance night with a lesson at the start and then open dance after. Entry fee appies. May 18
Festival – Suisanmatsuri ( Fishery Products Festival) celebrate the produce of the sea at this unusual festival at the Numazu Port. Don’t forget to see the seafood auction and unusual display of marine life. Great event. May 19
Live – Acousitc Night at SpeakEz – May 25.
Music – J-Pop night at SpeakEz – May 26
If you know of any other event going on this month in the Numazu area or you need me to make any corrections feel free to post them in the comments below.
Scott
Come join the fastest growing sport in Numazu, Capoeira. Capoeira is a styalized martial art from Brazil featuring acrobatics, dance and music.
Capoeira is a great full body workout and improves your strength, agility and flexibility.
Our little Capoeira group here in beautiful Numazu attempts to do all these things in a fun, friendly environment. We’re no pros but we would love it if you come join our little Roda (that’s the circle we play Capoeira in).
Training is totally free, just bring a water bottle towel and sports shoes.
We are going to try for four sessions this Golden Week (weather permitting) and you are welcome to any and all of them.
Schedule
(keep an eye out for schedule changes)
28 April – Saturday 3:00pm start. (following day at 9:00am if raining)
30 April – Monday 10:00am
3 May – Thursday 10:00am (following day 10:00am in case of rain) Cancelled.
5 May – Saturday 10:00am (following day 10:00am in case of rain)
We meet at the Numazu central park (沼津中央公園) on the south side of the station.
Scott
Numazu Traveler 