Dear Esteemed Explorer,
Building on the warm memories shared in our first part, we warmly invite you to join us as we continue to explore the new enchantments of Endonji Shopping Street. Our previous journey uncovered the delicious secrets and the historic charm of its streets. Now, we aim to deepen that exploration with fresh discoveries and weave even more heartwarming tales together.
Our next destination is a beacon of innovation within Endonji Shopping Street—a building distinguished by its sophisticated design. This hub, home to modern tenants, offers us a unique experience where tradition and modernity seamlessly blend.
At a beer shop located on the ground floor, we were introduced to a “Eject Mind capsule,” a rare beer from New York scarcely found in Japan, with a color as rich as orange juice. On this day, feeling as warm as spring, the cold beer was especially refreshing. Tasting it revealed a luxurious mix of flavors: sweet and sour like tangerines, followed by the refreshing bitterness of hops. Such a rich blend of sweetness, sourness, and bitterness meant no snacks were necessary; the beer alone was thoroughly enjoyable.
Sipping the beer brought back fond memories spent with my father, as if time had folded to allow us to relive those priceless moments once more. The conversations we had in pubs, the salt-seasoned pork skewers we savored together… Through beer, my father’s bond with me remains alive and well. Though usually reserved, my father would become lively over a beer, sharing stories from his childhood, including the thrilling tales of dodging machine-gun fire from military planes. Reflecting on those days with my father, I now find myself forging new connections and creating new memories. We would love to hear about your special family dining memories too, so please do share them with us.
Feeling refreshed by the beer, we ventured further in search of local flavors and found ourselves at a nearby butcher shop!
Just a stone’s throw from where we enjoyed Nagoya dialect fortune-telling, the shop follows the Japanese tradition of using unwanted fat as frying oil for croquettes. Fresh from the fryer, their croquettes, brimming with minced meat, offered a delightful harmony of fluffy potatoes and meat. We’re curious, do butcher shops in your country fry croquettes too?
Enjoying freshly fried croquettes at the butcher shop reminded me of precious moments with my father. Those croquettes, savored after visiting a large bookstore on our special monthly day out, represented a moment of happiness, blending my father’s love with the anticipation of reading. Living in the mountains of Mikawa, that once-a-month outing with my father to the city was a day I cherished. My father, knowing my love for books, would take me to a vast bookstore filled from floor to ceiling with books, allowing me to fill a basket to the brim. Right across from the bookstore was the butcher shop, where we’d enjoy croquettes before heading home. Eating those hot, fluffy croquettes, I was enveloped in the kindness of my father and the joy of new books.
To refresh our taste buds after the savory croquettes, we ventured to the eastern edge of Endonji Shopping Street, where a quaint tea shop awaited us. Warm Japanese tea was served, its intricate blend of bitterness and sweetness providing a profound and refreshing flavor experience.
In my family, dinner was always a time for the four of us to come together. The Japanese tea my mother would serve after dinner marked a cherished moment for our family to conclude the day—a time that warmed our hearts. This warm tea, enhancing our family bonds, has etched precious memories deep within my heart. Now, with our family gatherings limited to just twice a year, those moments have become all the more precious, reminding me of the invaluable worth of time spent with loved ones.
With this, our culinary journey through Endonji Shopping Street comes to a close. Though we indulged in sweets, okonomiyaki, beer, croquettes, and Japanese tea, it’s the memories we shared that filled us the most. Sharing my stories with you has been a joy, and feeling our connection through this tale is genuinely heartwarming. I eagerly look forward to the day we can meet in person at Endonji Shopping Street. While our narrative may pause here, your story is just beginning. Deepening our connection through this shared journey has been a delight. Until we can meet in person, I look forward to hearing your stories. Anticipating our encounter at Endonji Shopping Street, let’s embark on new adventures together!
Koki@SamuraiWanderer
