EDITOR'S CHOICE
Dear jstyle,
My boyfriend and I recently visited Japan for the third time. Each trip has been unique and memorable, especially this one as we scaled volcanic Mt. Asahidake, with its dramatic steamy vents, and hiked the lush green trails of Daisetsuzan National Park [both in Hokkaido]. The food was just glorious at the various ryokans we stayed at and it was a delight tasting the intricate and sometimes unidentifiable delicacies laid out before us after a hard day's hike.
After coming back home to Sydney, we found that we really missed good Japanese food. We discovered that there are great Japanese grocery shops in Sydney such as Maruyu on Clarence Steet. It was at the grocery shop that we found a copy of the spring issue of jstyle and couldn't believe the abundance of Japanese restaurants, recipes, and Japanese cultural events that were listed in your magazine. It was as if a whole new side of Sydney was opened up to us. I doubt I'll be missing great Japanese food any longer as there are so many restaurants to choose from. Thank you for providing Sydneysiders with such a high quality magazine, full of useful and educating articles on Japanese culture!
Eve Jary,
Kingsford, NSW
Dear jstyle,
Thank you for your informative magazine. I travelled to Japan in 1998 before I was married and returned with my wife this year. I was surprised by how much has changed! Now, I've resolved to try and keep up with this fast-moving country. I find your section on Japanese news particularly informative. I would, however, really like to see more political information. We are such close neighbours with Japan but I hardly see any Japanese news in Australian newspapers. Japan appears to be going through a time of political change and it would be good to read a publication that looks at this from a uniquely Japanese perspective.
Keep up the good work.
Malcolm Hunt,
St Kilda, VIC
Dear jstyle,
Your story about Fiona Graham, the Melbourne schoolgirl turned geisha, is inspirational. Not only did she, at the young age of 15, make a complete change in her life by adopting Japan, against all the odds she went on to become the first Western woman to be accepted as a geisha.
Even before she could start her training she had to overcome 400 years of strict tradition to be accepted as a novice, then she had to complete years of sustained preparation. If it was easy to become a geisha, Fiona's transformation might not be so impressive; however, by all accounts it is an extremely difficult apprenticeship in a very strict discipline.
Not satisfied with achieving her goal, she set out to change the mistaken way that geishas are usually portrayed by Western films and books, thereby raising the level of respect in which all geishas and their profession are held.
Fiona Graham is an inspiration to teenagers everywhere who might think they are stuck in the place in which they were born, no matter how much they want to break out and start a new life.
I hope she is successful in obtaining invitations to speak at Australian universities.
Frank Moore,
Cremorne, NSW
Dear jstyle,
I have always been inspired by the simplicity of Japanese cooking. The subtle flavours of the ingredients really carry the dishes. And it's so healthy! There is a small Japanese restaurant around the corner from my office and I go there for lunch frequently because I know I won't have to feel guilty about it afterwards. I eagerly anticipate the recipes you include in each edition. So does my husband. We would love to try cooking some traditional Japanese banquet food and would love to see some of those recipes. My husband and I have begun saving for a trip to Japan in 2010 so we can find new ways to delight our taste buds. Totemo oishii!
Rachel Parker
Surry Hills, NSW
