July 10 - Being from San Diego, California where the summers are hot, but dry, I faced difficulty adjusting to the heat and humidity during my first summer as an exchange student in Japan. Even though I was an active teenager then, I lost the energy to venture outside. One day my Japanese host brother, sensing my listlessness, invited me to a local shop for a Japanese summer treat – shaved ice. That sounded so interesting that I agreed to go out with him on a walk. As we approached the shop, I saw the bright blue sign hanging outside with the Chinese Character for “ice” written in a large red letter. I thought that this dish must be something very special. It was. We enjoyed eating a large pile of refreshing shaved ice with orange syrup. I can still remember my first taste which was simply delicious and refreshing. It helped me forget the summer heat and humidity completely. Ever since that day long ago, I have looked forward to summer as the season to enjoy this treat.

Recently my wife and I went shopping in Ginza for a yukata for our two-year-old nephew who lives in the United States. We became hot walking around, so I suggested that we look for a shaved ice shop to cool off. She accepted this offer with alacrity and we found a nice spot in a second floor shop overlooking the shopping street below. Ann’s favorite shaved ice is ujikintoki – sweet green tea flavored shaved ice with azuki beans and mochi balls. I ordered a fruit flavored koori and my dish came with slices of banana, melon, peach, and orange, as well as dried apricot and a cherry on top. As we were each enjoying this delicious bowl of shaved ice, I told Ann the story of my first bowl of shaved ice years before.

We also recalled that when President Obama vacationed in Hawaii last summer, he took his two daughters to enjoy a bowl of shaved ice. This dish, which was brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants, has become quite popular there. I suspect that President Obama, like me, must have a fond memory of eating shaved ice as a boy.

Until next time,

Jim