Nov. 30 - My colleague Mr. Fukuda from our Agricultural Trade Office recently introduced me to the Shimizu family when they visited the United States Embassy. After talking with them in my office, I realized we share a lot in common. For one thing, Mr. and Mrs. Shimizu both teach High School just like my parents in California.

Their daughter, Ayaka, was very shy at first, but then she told me about her recent trip to the state of Iowa in the middle of the United States. She enjoyed visiting the state fair and sampling Iowa food. She said she liked the home-made ice cream the best. She reminded me of my younger sister in many ways.

The Shimizu family won this trip to Iowa by winning the Yamanashi-Iowa Friendship Recipe Contest. They told me they really enjoyed their trip. They stayed with Chuck and Kathy Safris, their American host family in Des Moines, who showed them many new things. They rode a vintage tractor, walked across a river on a wooden covered bridge, and mowed a lawn using a power mower. The Shimizu family also introduced their Iowa host family to some Japanese customs. Their host family especially enjoyed their gifts of beautiful cotton yukata.

One day, Mrs. Shimizu and her daughter prepared her award-winning original recipe for their host family. She cooked meatloaf made from beef and pork. Her Iowa host family thought this dish was especially delicious and went together well with farm fresh vegetables and Iowa's famous sweet corn grilled on the barbeque. The two families enjoyed this delightful meal together outside on the deck while they gazed over the green fields.

If you wish to see more photos of the Shimizu family’s visit to Iowa click here.

If you wish to try their meatloaf recipe, click here (Japanese).

Until next time,

Jim