Omiyage
Small gifts that you give to family and friends in Japan when you visit or come back from a trip.
Every time I travel to Japan I take a suitcase full of small gifts. Some items that have been requested, special foods, clothing, kitchen items books and movies.
Or... when son goes to see his brother two six packs + of some special micro brewed beer.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj680a1MFpqwwu4lNvc5Z7UGv68Ks7r6xkWXs2vVUpjA4i2HapTlAuQ3-mjdi3AD4SNCI1FlmROgtYhfvzISJPAghGbl5MxjDzfjopLYP6ZTRhpIIiicd2UROdHoH4ESvkFtqPVq1F-5Vw/s400/CIMG7994.JPG)
Son brought back some great gifts, left to right
Awamori (Okinawa Shochu), Umeshu (Plum wine), Ume Niguri (Plum unfiltered sake)
Yuzushu (Yuzu wine)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWzg6aAZXkbqBmQ_3Fs6DM3prbbi8HYZbqIqZDhiGz_1sq4pCoIEUMVYZjQvsQLswtvuigBlfr42Zy1R2QdKgp33i1WyT5Z4hS3IGj6p7ee1BZ8drhBF5ujTxbODU3_uLMEsNuY-5vTFE/s400/CIMG7995.JPG)
I think this is the most beautiful label and soft color of the wine.
is just amazing !
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZuB1HntMPCyPnYe1vV3cHjEJro6fE7yCBqkw5mJCL6l61FukJHoDKRfBPgQLjpjmcDsTZPs-RDReSQIbfmOpP0HYqkbqr32rbEVOnvPu-8uGgdE5dSjR7HG8GOXuOyRbwpgUs6ARXfo/s400/CIMG7999.JPG)
Gifts from my son's wonderful Mother in Law.
Yuze Ponze, Red Chile flakes in fish sauce and Pickled Daikon radish.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_BWz1ywumeaZV4_eTupIar525eKBQpZWqdPiSPOAQJi18XtYDKixVylaBgS8jdAdfUFBP9bzUpVeWT22ih8pdDB1sL7VjEe_4486RdGxSkA4b1RBFQBzfZ9XgSlL5caXI9IU2d4XXjA/s400/CIMG8001.JPG)
Great paper napkins with Origiri (rice balls) and a (empty) Perssiom Cider drink bottle.
What a interesting label.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf5ka8Q3YR86vQFN6DMDwhrFU6tWd6POayy0-B7YrLSRJym2pCLp0pALsVsJWZc8aAyE0JllIPrsZzPQqVxmA5fBm17Pg3CNalW7-hElCVpYLIcn_bqMqbxqWjLH2KyWvh-uqI27__JU/s400/CIMG8003.JPG)
Umeboshi (plum) tea from my son's Mother in Law
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8r3mSJu5vklA4Fy0kH_R1pu5wF0QVxgXHDriHzgygn4yrDY9HPBXGjrIeiEXe11rv-Kq5sOnxJABUOOEepkKg2-9rvgg2Kf7mzb8iIywsiQIXcboJbYMkK4B8F5VX4y1WRwxTKjrsC0/s400/CIMG8004.JPG)
When you take one plum and put in on hot water it opens up like a flower.
When I try it later I will take some photos.
More gifts photos to come an later posts.
........................
Two comments asked about the flowering cactus from Mondays post.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhMtYURJNAsbmFakXiPamfkmqvWk5eRpQ89i4ef2E5-DP7ps6KHFWtFdsqHuo-1CidJ_tRa7z47HbE6Gt3PMa3PcxcF2YqQaIWNkDeINTYXkMOMPQefvPNh7r-MOYNHDrGsOS20IgbvA/s400/CIMG7956.JPG)
Echinposis Oxyonia, Easter Lily Cactus
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC215YWe72UUugKwjhAxf5OhPFmB-L_2qJq3aF5XjR_Q8ZLOpkuczI33dDIm6MmH7wQJ4NL_-hTLQx8w2ObgDVPyg2eha2jRH9AfODV8IBB6xBfUmwxI0hg88bqQMjjLjdbjU2PmEkRlU/s400/CIMG7958.JPG)
Joe, asked about the small cactus.
Yes, it is a very large bloom that comes from a small clumping cactus.
The blooms are about 6 + inches round, the stem is about 6 to 8 inches tall.
They bloom May to June, at sunrise and last a day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-WQq4Br3a9Ij7WhyphenhyphenmMpjnr3dmwBSuz02cX8VPzrJtQ1V4IRjIFsW2-m94wIDp108fIMfnw1EID3pjFp9-PphqXU0M5-1umSIEijD9GAz5qtq7_rsiRgQpRzVYPjtZBGRwQ3NEZxXQXI/s400/CIMG4690.JPG)
Here are some photos from last year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlf5EW6N2wyUAFpUSz-RPfy2QxGxZVMI7p0Z8JXFXrXLQrpS76D7W0U-Lq-dLeR40GhgfZ3olcCknD-9CkNIYi4ghNlm7HK083H19-O5NOz_EPxDk1hbEBpxNV9CTEIevk45vVSkZiD4/s400/CIMG4693.JPG)
Denise asked how do I grow them ? well, I don't do anything.
Cactus+Arizona= good !
Sun, splash of water, and some cactus food in summer and that's about it, neglect helps.
But...
The pack rats have been eating this cactus and I have been moving it around, trying to find a place it likes and away from the *^&#$;%*#^* pack rats !
So the blooms are not as nice as former years.
................
Here is your pretty for the day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZAjpTStKQjuEMoexLnD2tNkz5tSEc5JdzzZbByh0F9Nav49wSltEZJwoyCCwtd4A4t-tHwnh9_ZETpUqFIzBx-M7NA2ricO-CdB5je17HSbiTfe56WCjaf1Vlv3QcmRcPnCjQAkdDv0/s400/CIMG7982.JPG)
Photos taken from my pool of the wispy clouds that look like a Jellyfish.
I should have gotten out, I was doing my exercises and really didn't want to stop.
I guess I should have, since the clouds where so ethereal, it was an impossible cloud to focus on.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTInywA18Z4M_hrdUTCuseERFKGGusuiqP_q47oct40N6HOFFxKgy77ZfDPV9IDB9zKEr_djfPPgqgwfQ29LvGpc_LwmHHsjBoUuJW_W6qqhOlOCyubv3SxLFNAEQJJPIpJENvgcCVTtQ/s400/CIMG7978.JPG)
The wind was really whipping the clouds around that afternoon.
umeboshi. . . parsnip
music. . . Cloud Age Symphony, Okino Shuntaro