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The second snowfall in Tokyo after more than one year

The snowfall expected on February 20 did not turn on as expected at the early morning. I pinched my cheek. That would have been a rare opportunity to witness the second snowfall for me in Tokyo. Unfortunately the snow turned rain.

It was not unexpected today as there was a forecast for snow after 10:00 hrs in Tokyo. It was an amazing scene for me to watch through the window glass the snow falling outside. I could not resist asking my boss to go out to watch the snowfall.

Memories travelled back to childhood when we sat at the stairs in front of our ancestral home to watch the monsoon rain. That was just rain, the plain water drops showering from heaven. Then we could hear the elders at home discuss about the snowfall at countries where the temperature dip lower than the freezing point. Did they mention ‘Japan’ when they talked about snowfall? I am not very much sure. I remember, they sure mentioned the name Siberia. Subsequently, what they told was due to Japan’s proximity to Siberia, snow fall is usual in Japan too. Then the mind imagined a place called Siberia, where people wear many thick leather dresses to protect themselves from cold wind and snow. Not sure whether I really could imagine a snowfall but really wished to experience a snowfall. How thrilling it will be! The heaven throwing down the white cotton bundles!

The elders were talking about the science behind the rain and snow. When the ground temperature is below the freezing level, the snow falls from the sky as it is with out getting converted into water drops. If the ground temperature is above the freezing level, the snow will be converted into water drops well before it reaches to our visible range of height in the sky. This transition from snow to rain happens at a midpoint in the sky. It was something like this that elders at home discussed and wanted to convey to the little ones.

The monsoon rain slanted along with the wind and touched our feet. We pulled back our feet to play with the rain drops. There was fun while playing with rain, but the nature’s mysterious sequences excited us to explore further. We were not allowed to sit more time with our feet outside to let the rain drops fall. The elders at home were strict and they allowed us to play with rain five to ten minutes. Then the call from inside will come first for everyone as a group, then for one by one repeatedly till everybody of us get into the rooms.

I am free now to enjoy the full snowfall outside. Not only I can show my legs to the snow, but I can also go out and have a walk around to allow all the snow to fall on my head!. Why I need umbrella? Snowfall has just started at around 10:00 hours. While going for lunch, we could take some snaps. Most of them are inside my friend’s camera. Hope I can post them soon to share with all of you.

Today's (27/02) snow did not pile up to form a thick layer like the one happened last year. The snow was melting immediately once it touched the ground.

I was half wet while taking the photo. Even though the snow was melting, it remained on the dresses for sometime.

NAMASTE FOODS - A Home away from Home for Indians in Tokyo

Namaste Foods at Higashi Ojima – Indian spice, grocery and food shop

I was an occasional customer at Namaste foods at Higashi Ojima when I was staying at company apartment at Kiba. Bala-san used to help me to get the Apa Kabar? International prepaid telephone calling card and tell the number over phone. Higashi Ojima was not so far away from Kiba. It is only a 30 minutes by Tokyo Metro trains. I need to take Tozai line from Kiba to Monzen nakacho then from there change to Toei Oedo line up to Morishita. From Morishita, I will move to Toei Shinjuku line to reach at Higashi Ojima. Since Balasan’s apartment is near to Namaste foods he did not mind to help me.

The meaning of ‘Apa kabar’ is ‘What is the news’ in Indonesian language. Apa kabar card is an attractive selling item for many of the Asian expatriates in Tokyo. The cost of one Apa kabar card is 2400 Yen at Namaste foods. With one apa kabar card I can call to my home at India for 6 hours 40 minutes (to mobile phone) if I use the Yahoo BB landline phone. When I moved to Higashi Ojima on September 2008, one of my problems, the availability of Indian food is almost solved. The Namaste foods at Higashi Ojima have many Indian food and snack items at their store.

Namaste foods is owned by a Japanese man who like India and Indian Culture. Running a grocery stores like an Indian shop at Higashi Ojima is not only a business for him. More than business it is his passion towards India that interests him to help the Indian expatriate society in Tokyo. It is a service he does to the Indians living in Higashi Ojima and the near places.

The most important thing is the owner of the Namaste foods ‘Katouno Tatsuhiro-san can speak Hindi apart from his mother tongue Japanese. He is also good at his English skills. One day I was surprised to hear him talking in Hindi to one of his customers over phone.

Namaste Foods have many Indian food items like Ready to Eat brands from MTR, Priya etc. MTR is one of the largest selling Ready to Eat brand in India and outside India. Sambar Rice (Curry Rice), Kesaribhath, Channa masala, Dal fry, Palak Paneer, Rasagulla, Mixed vegetable curry, Muttar paneer, are some of them I used to buy.


The snacks from India like the murukku, mixture, moong dal, Raita boondi, Shahi garden, Nylon sev, Haldiram’s masala peanuts, masala channa, etc are also available from Namaste foods. Maaza mango juice is really cheaper in Namste foods. One liter bottle of maaza mango juice costs only 200 Yen at Namaste foods.

Katouno-san told he will soon start home delivery service and this will help many Indian expatriates and Japanese people who wish to try Indian food to order the items from home. This will enable the Indian people living away from Higashi Ojima to get the Indian food delivered at their door step. The shipping charge is free if the total purchase is more than 10,000 Yen. The margin for free shipment is very attractive as the food items purchased at home for one month will generally cross this amount. The delivery will be through Fukuyama Transporting Co., Ltd. The payment as per the information from the website can be Cash on delivery or Bank transfer. Please check from the website for the details of bank for bank transfer.

Namaste foods at Higashi Ojima is easy to access. The Indian store Namaste foods is near to the Higashi Ojima station in Toei Shinjuku line. After getting down at Higashi Ojima station you have to pass through the Ojima exit. It is near to Shin Ohashi street. Stepping down the staircases of the railway station, Namaste food is just less than one minute walk. The store is on the ground floor (First floor in Japan) of the building No. 9-3-12. The address and telephone numbers are given below:

NAMASTE FOODS
Higashi Ojima Metoroad 18
1F, 9-3-12, Ojima, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
Tel: 03-5836-6638, Fax: 03-5836-6639
Email: shop@namaste-foods.com
Or info@namaste-foods.com
Website: www.namaste-foods.com

Contact for Indian foods now!

I highly recommend shopping at Namaste foods, Higashi Ojima. Katouno-san is very kind and well mannered gentle man who possess good knowledge about India, Indians and the culture of India. He had visited India many times and is fascinated by Indian culture.