JAPANESE RESTAURANTS

Japanese restaurants usually specialize in one type of food.
 They are different types of restaurants and these include:

a) Sushi-ya
These restaurants speaciliaze in sushi.Customers sit either at a normal tabler or at a counter(sushi-bar) behind which the sushi chef is working.

b) Soba-ya
These restaurants speacilize in soba and udon noddles dishes. Most noddle dishes come either cooled with dipping a dipping soorce in a hot soup and different topping

c) Ramen- ya
They speacilize in ramen dishes , Chinese style noodles served in a soup witn varioud topping topping.Every ramen-ya has developed its own soup.

d) Kare-ya
These are restaurants that speacilize in curry rice (kare-raisu) dishes. They are usually found near railway stations.

e) Okonominayo-ya

They tend to speacilize in Okonomiyaki and sometimes monjayag. Customers are usually preparing their okonomiyaki -ya themselves in a hot place which is built into the table

DRAGONS IN JAPAN

The Japanese people have a very rich and interesting culture. One of the things that caught my eye, was the significance of dragons in Japan. They are not a very popular highlight and that is one of the main reasons I set out read more about them, and this is what i found out:

Dragons in Japan are wingless and serpent-like, with long, scaly bodies and reptilian heads. They have three toes on each foot, unlike the Chinese dragons, which have five toes on each foot.

 The have variuos significant meanings in Japan.

• They are associated with water. They are believed to live in bodies of water such as seas and oceans. There are a number of myths and legends concerning dragons that lived under the sea.
  Those legends may have contributed to the Japanese dragon's most recognizable modern variant: Godzilla.
• They are also believed to have some powers ;
  

  Certain Japanese emperors claimed dragons as distant ancestors. Though wise and benevolent, dragons often remain indifferent to human affairs, concerned more with the grand issues of the universe. Nevertheless, they are capable of bringing good fortune to those humans who please them--particularly fishermen, who can be assured of fair weather and a healthy catch if they please a dragon. Dragons also have the power to bring rain, aiding farmers and ensuring a good harvest.
• Some had some roles;
  

  
  

  

  Ryo-Wo is the ruler of all the seas, while the dragon Mizuchi holds sway over the rivers. The dragon Yamata no Orochi had eight heads like the Western hydra; he was killed by the wind god Susanoo, who cut the body open and found a magical sword inside.
  
  Just like many cultures and traditions believe in various creatures, the Japanese hold several myths and stories concerning dragons. They even believed that the many storms and earthquakes that occur in Japan frequently are caused by dragons fighting with other mythical beasts such as phoenixes and tigers.
  
  Some famous Japanese Dragons include ;
The Blue DragonProtector of the Zodiac
O GonchoA white dragon that once every fifty years transforms into a golden bird. Its cry brings famine.
UwibamiMore akin to the stereotypical evil Western dragon, Uwibami was a great beast that would snatch men from their horses and eat them.

Yofune-Nushi
Another less than pleasant dragon who craved female human flesh and demanded a maiden sacrifice once a year.
It is exciting and interesting to learn about Japanese beliefs and traditions. They can help us understand a lot about their present beliefs. There are also many dragon tattoos that make up the rich Japanese art.

FACTS ABOUT JAPAN

Did you know japan experiences 1000 earthquakes in a year.