Tokyo Sky Tree

Tokyo Sky Tree Tower

Just when I thought Japan is incapable in competing to tallest structure section because of the frequent earthquakes in the region, then I`m proven wrong. My sensei received a magazine today from one of the steel companies in Japan and they highlighted this "history in the making tower".


Tokyo Sky Tree will be completed in December this year and will become the tallest tower in the world beating Canon Tower, the tallest structure in an island beating Taipie 101 and the tallest structure in the world second only to  Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It will stand proud at 634 meters.

Tokyo Sky Tree Tower
with total height of 634 m

Located about 1km east of Asakusa - a town filled with the atmosphere of a shitamachi (the traditional name for the area of Tokyo that extends from Taito, Chiyoda and Chuo Wards east of the Sumida River where many merchants, craftsmen, etc. reside) - and about 2km northeast of Ryogoku - a town famous for sumo wrestling.

The new tower stands in a major traditional international tourism zone of Japan.

*Address: part of Oshiage 1-chome and part of Mukoujima 1-chome of Sumida Ward in Tokyo.

This tower will house broadcasting stations, restaurants and of course common to tall structures, viewing deck. When open on spring of 2012, Tokyo sky tree will become a must visit for locals and tourists alike. I just hope I could stay much longer in Japan to see the completed Tokyo Sky Tree. 

The delicate way of cooking Fugu - Pride of Kanagawa City, Japan

Kanagawa city is famous in unique type of restaurant. These restaurants serve fugu (globefish or puffer fish) dishes. My sensei told me that to be able to serve this delicious delicacy you need a special licence from Japan`s Health Ministry. Globe fish or butete is famous poison fish in the Philippines and killed many families. I was a bit scared but I trust Japan`s people.

Since I can`t read kanji, my sensei explained the photo above. Those are the parts of the globefish that will be serve to us in different ways of cooking.

First served was saki (Japanese wine). It was special in a sense that the fish tail was burned and added to the wine, they said that it adds aroma and flavor. Unfortunately, I don`t drink wine so I can`t compare the taste.

Next was the skin covering the upper part of the fish, it was boiled and mix with special sauce (I think vinegar and soy sauce with green onions).

Then we have the raw meat of the fish. It was sliced very thinly and as you can see there is completely no blood.

Then the fried jaw served with grilled sweet potato, fried bell pepper and a slice of lemon.

And finally the nabe, here all the remaining part of the fish were served raw and will be cooked with other ingredients as soup.

Cooking basket, pretty interesting!

There is a magnetic conducting plate inside to conduct heat from the heating plate to boil the water.

The ingredients, notice the fish meat.

Almost cooked, yummy!

It was my first time to eat raw fish the Japanese way and I love it. Of all, I love sashimi (raw fish) the most, it doesn`t taste like fish at all. It taste like raw squid but more delicious. But take note, since it required special license to serve this dish, ordering fugu is quite expensive!