8 • COLUMNS NIKKEI VOICE • MAY 2020 Running through a pandemic: The early morning runner

After running for 40 thon. are as important to me as the years, tips for running In training, I ran up to 170 ki- physical. Quickly, I had to revert lometres, 11 to 12 times a week. to early morning runs to be able in the age of COVID-19 Those with more natural abili- to be able to run stress-free. ty might get by on less mileage, There was a time when I would but being able to log mega-miles wake at 4:45 a.m. and get out the Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi without injury was one key to door at 5:15, for up to 10 miles of Columnist my success. I was able to run for running before work. Drawing on nearly 30 years injury free. those memories, I’m getting out Marathon training at this level the door just before dawn. TORONTO — With nearly four required tenacity and an ability to At this time of the year, that decades of distance running un- stick to a plan, come rain or come means getting up a little earlier der my belt, I have some stories; shine, but never with the con- each day. I have looked ahead and running 23K in the Klondike straints imposed by COVID-19. see that I’ll need to head out the Road Relay at 2 a.m. with reports Since retirement, I’ve had the door around 5 a.m. by the time of a grizzly bear on course, run- luxury of running at any time of summer solstice comes around. ning 10,000 feet above sea level the day, and my routine has been Most people must be enjoying in Ethiopia and crossing the fin- to run after the morning rush sleeping in for a change as early ish line of the Boston marathon hour or in the early afternoon. mornings have never been quiet- nine minutes before the bombs However, heading out for a er than they are now. went off in 2013. And now, run- run at my usual time in the first I am often the only person in ning through a Trinity Bell- pandemic. "However, heading out for a run at my usual woods Park, a I’ve been a known hotspot daily runner for time in the few days of social distancing was for social dis- the greater part fraught." tancing viola- of my running tors. years. But I do While I started as a fitness few days of social distancing maintain more than two metres runner, I discovered that I was was fraught. I live in the Duffer- from the skunk that I see regu- PHOTO COURTESY: LYNN DEUTSCHER KOBAYASHI “born to run” and went beyond in Grove neighbourhood, which larly grazing in the outfield of the my original fitness goals to com- is a moderately dense, close-to- park’s ball diamond. Columnist Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi running the Boston Marathon 2007 pete, peaking as a competitor in downtown neighbourhood. It really is quite a lovely feel- - 400 meters from the finish line. my late-40s and early 50s. I felt like I was in a game of ing these mornings. And while I During this time, I set a 30K Frogger, a video game released highly recommend the pleasures national record at the Hamilton in 1981, coincidentally, the same of this unusual quiet, I am hoping overtaken by faster runners and outdoors safely, `but what’s need- Round the Bay, set an Ontario year I began to run. The objective that few people will be converted cyclists, who think speed gives ed as well is a cyclist and runner’s age-group record of three hours of that game was to direct frogs to the habit. them the liberty to pass by with version of the Skier Responsibili- and 10 minutes that stood for to their homes by crossing a busy Despite only seeing a hand- little room to spare. ty Code. six years, placed third in my age- road and navigating a river full of ful of people while out in the While there are many sites like Here’s my adapted version. group at the Boston Marathon, hazards. early morning, there have also Mountain Equipment Co-op, and first at the Chicago Mara- The mental benefits of running been frequent episodes of being with advice on how to exercise See RUNNING P. 16 Stories from a mountain town: The God in py. To cook it, eat it, and most of cured and is typically used for all, to share it with others. In a cooking in a wide range of sweet household that wasn't open with and savoury dishes. feelings, food was the closest to The history of mochi saying, “I love you.” The first mochitsuki occurred -af My mother and I disagreed on ter the birth of rice cultivation in many things growing up, but we Yamato, in the Nara Prefecture both shared a love of Japanese on Honshu Island, during the What's not to love about food. Often when I eat mochi Yayoi period (300 BC – 300 AD). and other Japanese food that my Red rice was the first variation the soft, squishy pillow mother loved so dearly I think of used in the production of mochi of deliciousness? her. I imagine we are sharing the and eaten exclusively by the em- food I eat while I am here in Ja- peror and nobles. pan. During the Heian period (794- Caroline Ishii What is mochi? 1192), mochi was used as a 'food Columnist Mochi is made with short-grain for the gods' and in religious of- . Traditionally mo- ferings in Shinto and Buddhist chi was made during mochitsuki, rituals. Besides general good for- OCHI, — I love mochi. the rice pounding festival. tune, mochi was also known as What's not to love about this soft, The hot steamed rice is placed an omen for happy marriages. squishy pillow of deliciousness? I in a stone or wooden mortar and The tradition of eating mochi know I am not alone. What is it pounded with a wooden hammer at New Year's began during Ja- about mochi that people love so until it becomes a soft, sticky pan's Heian period (794-1185). much? dough and made into round mo- The nobles of the imperial

I've had a lifelong passion for chi cakes. Most mochi sold these court believed that long strands PHOTO COURTESY: CAROLINE ISHII food. I was born into it, with a days are made by machine. of freshly made mochi symbol- mother and father who loved Fresh mochi can be enjoyed ized long life and well-being. A sampling of some of the many different types of mochi treats columnist food. My moth- Re f e r e n c e s Caroline Ishii has encountered while in Japan. er was an ex- "Often when I eat mochi and other Japanese to mochi can cellent home be found in the cook, who made food that my mother loved so dearly, I think of oldest Japa- The spirit of mochi society has depended on rice har- delicious Japa- her. I imagine we are shared the food I eat." nese novel, The Mochi isn't merely a food, it has vests for their survival and have a nese food. My Tale of Genji, inadama or spirit. The Japanese deep respect for rice and its spir- father's experi- written around culture, through Shintoism, be- it. Wasting rice is still considered ence as a short-order cook when immediately, dipped in 1,000 A.D. by Murasaki Shikibu, lieves in yaoyorozu no kami, a great sin in Japan today. he was young made him very and sugar or eaten with kinako a novelist, poet, and lady-in-wait- meaning there is a god or spirit in Celebrating with mochi quick at making breakfast. (toasted soybean powder) and ing in the Imperial court. everything. Growing up in Toronto, I was in- Sitting down at the kitchen anko (sweetened adzuki paste). Mochi became popular among From a seedling to an ancient troduced to mochi by my mom table in the morning, out would Fresh genmai (brown rice) mo- the Japanese and an easy-to-car- tree, from your sweater to your as a traditional food for Japanese come a complete breakfast with chi is often eaten with steamed ry source of energy for farmers shoes, and from rice grain to mo- New Year's Day. eggs, fried potatoes, bacon, toast, kabocha squash and finely grated and samurai, especially during chi. Therefore, we need to respect Kagami mochi (mirror mo- and porridge before I could say radish. It's delicious! winter. The sound of samurai and have gratitude for all that is chi), a stacked pair of rounded that I didn't feel like breakfast. Often shaped into rectangles pounding mochi was a sign that around us. Food made my parents hap- or circles, mochi hardens as it is they were about to go into battle. Since ancient times, Japanese See MOCHI P. 15 MAY 2020 • NIKKEI VOICE COMMUNITY • 15

From MOCHI P. 8 Like mochi, is eaten all year round, and there are many rice cakes topped with an orange, varieties. was placed in our home to wel- One of my favourites is shirat- come the new year deities. In the ama, a small mochi dumpling of- morning, we would eat ozoni, a ten used as a topping on desserts. traditional hearty with mo- I love shiratama dumplings on chi cakes. top of ice cream parfaits Later we would have with anko and kakigori shaved ryori, the traditional new year ice with matcha syrup and anko. spread for good luck, which my The pairing of mochi with mat- mother prepared all week. cha and adzuki is for me, a match Living in Japan, I was surprised made in matcha heaven! to see all the different kinds of Mochi is also used in a wide mochi. There are special mochi range of savoury dishes, from following the seasons and accom- dishes like nabe and oden panying special occasions. Here to chikara , where a toast- are just a few of the many: ed mochi is placed on top of the Sakura mochi starts appear- udon noodles and . It is also ing in stores with the arrival of often toasted or grilled and eaten spring. This is a pink-coloured in a variety of ways, depending mochi filled with anko and PHOTO COURTESY: CAROLINE ISHII on the region and family prefer- wrapped in a pickled cherry blos- ences. som leaf. Mochi is sold in almost every food store in Japan, and there are different types of mochi for different seasons and Modern mochi creations have Ichigo is a strawber- celebrations. become popular in North Amer- ry covered in a thin layer of anko ica, such as mochi ice cream, and enveloped in mochi. The two which are small balls of ice cream have now become some of my fa- and wrapped in an oak-leaf. around: mochi is the filling inside Yatsuhashi: One of the best- wrapped inside a mochi covering, vourites in my mochi repertoire. Daifuku mochi: Translated other elements. known local food products of in a variety of flavours such as Hishimochi is eaten on Hi- as big belly rice cake, this mo- Classic botamochi uses a firm Kyoto, these are fresh mochi tri- coffee, chocolate and mango. namatsuri, Girl's Day or Doll's chi is regarded as a bringer of adzuki paste packed around the angles with a cinnamon flavour, Now I have a craving for mo- Day, and celebrated on March good luck. The soft round mo- small ball of rice cake. wrapped around anko. chi and will go out to buy some. 3. Hishimochi resembles a lay- chi cakes are Mochi- Lucky for me, it is sold in almost er cake with its sections of red, often filled "Mochi is a small gift of deliciousness from the gashi are every food store in Japan, even in white, and green mochi and is cut with anko or traditional my small town. into diamond shapes. white bean gods. There is the spirit of rice in every mochi, sweets that Mochi is a small gift of deli- Kashiwamochi is eaten on ko- paste. bringing us energy, blessings and love." look like mo- ciousness from the gods. There is domo no hi or Children's Day on They come chi but are the spirit of rice in every mochi, May 5. in white, made with- bringing us energy, blessings and A national holiday in Japan, light green and light pink colour Oshiruko /Ozenzai: A soup of out rice, and instead use starch love. No wonder it continues to families celebrate the happiness and two sizes: mini and regular sweetened azuki beans with piec- or wheat flour. bring happiness to so many. Jap- of their children by flying carp- palm-size. es of mochi. In winter, Japanese Dango is a dumpling that anese soul food is great for these shaped streamers and eating Botamochi: While daifuku people often eat it to warm them- looks and tastes like mochi but is challenging times and for all sea- kashiwamochi, a mochi with fills mochi with other ingredi- selves and it is believed to drive made from mochiko (rice flour), sons. anko or a white paste filling ents, botamochi is the other way away illness. and not glutinous rice. ***

From TAMADA P. 10 fact that I get to play a character I looked up to so much is a literal dream come true! NV: The cast of the show is a di- verse group of young girls, what do you think is the importance of having diversity in film and tele- vision? MT: I think diversity and inclu- sivity is so important. It’s very meaningful for younger gener- ations of all backgrounds to see representations of themselves on the screen and in the story. The Baby-Sitters Club also breaks many stereotypes, and PHOTO CREDIT: DR. JONATHAN ETO promotes respect for other cul- tures. This can be applied to real Eriko and Ju of Ju in Markham's J-Town. life for our generation and be- yond! From J-TOWN P. 4 NV: As a young Japanese Cana- J-Town typically starts their dian, do you feel connected to monthly sidewalk sales in May in your Japanese Canadian identity? PHOTO COURTESY: DA COSTA TALENT sary when the pandemic struck addition to hosting their seventh What are some of the ways you and have been reduced to pick-up annual Summer Festival in July, During the quarantine, Momona Tamada keeps busy by doing her school embrace or celebrate your heri- work, dances and bakes. and UberEats to spread their de- but unfortunately the activities tage? licious food. have been temporarily postponed MT: My parents are immigrants “We have lost many customers until further notice. and they established friendships this quarantine? What are some MT: I have always helped my come to eat regularly. We have “Many of our customers look with other Japanese people when of the ways that you stay busy, ac- mom in the kitchen since I was been making efforts to let cus- forward to these events as we they moved to Canada. My fami- tive or entertained? two years old. I always loved tomers know we open for take- showcase Japanese Culture ly friends have been there since I MT: Everyday I do some school- watching my mom bake and out but we assume that most of during this time.” says Teruyuki. can remember and we often gath- work and try to fit in some work- cook. The first time I baked and customers enjoy not only our “I believe that small businesses er and celebrate many of these outs, even though I prefer danc- decorated a cake by myself, I was food and also the atmosphere like will have a very rough road ahead. events together! Some things we ing with my friends! five! I took a baking lesson when Japanese IZAKAYA,” explained With this pandemic, it will take celebrate together are: I also bake AT LEAST once a I was six, I remember I was so manager Eriko Yamamoto. time for all businesses to recover. Mochitsuki - making mochi week, go on walks, watch tons proud and happy. When asked how they are try- As we do not know when this will Omisoka and New Year's (with of Netflix and do pretty much During this time I have made ing to stay positive, she replied, become better, the uncertainty Toshikoshi noodles and os- anything that will keep me enter- all types of goodies like angel “Owner chef Ju is always think- creates worry and anxiety to the echi!) tained. food cake, cookies, cupcakes, do- ing what customer needs. He is owners. The only thing we know Hinamatsuri – Girls' Day NV: Like Lara Jean from P.S. I nuts, churros and crepe cake... to the happiest and can stay positive is that we will get through this Kodomo no Hi - Children’s Day Still Love You, you're an avid bak- name a few! when customers are happy to eat and will continue to offer Japa- Nagashi somen - somen slide er and cake decorator. Where *** our food. So thinking of custom- nese products to our customers.” (such a fun way to eat noodles did you learn to bake and are you Look out for Momona Tamada ers happiness and create new For more information on and cool down on a hot day!) creating anything in the kitchen in The Baby-Sitters Club on Net- dish is most important to stay hours, visit www.j-town.ca. NV: What are you up to during during the quarantine? flix in late 2020. positive.” ***