Day 21 –亘理町:What’s the Theme Color of Wateri Town?

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Every town I have been to have a theme color. For example, Marumori is ocean blue, while Zao is snow white. However, the theme color of Watari was rather hard to decide; I tried to settle down this issue by walking around and find, but the answer was still not so clear. When Dheanara Pinka, a 21 years old Tohoku University Foreign student, came to Wateri, she was just as confused as I was. “It must be pink.” I mumbled to myself when she gracefully blended into the pink mansions on the street.
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“I would choose blue.” Said Ms. Pinka, when she was amazed by the castle-like architecture of Wateri station under the blue sky.
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Indeed, the sky in Wateri is always with the perfect amount of clouds – no more and no less; it added a little blue into everything, including the birds’ habitat on city lamps.
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However, my mind changed again, when I looked at the eyes of a cat, gracefully stretching itself in the morning sun. “Yellow…Yummy…” I thought in my mind when the cat stared at me back.
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After walking across the downtown for hours, I realize the truth that Watari might be a little bit too colorful among the colorful towns of South Part of Miyagi. Thus I think it is better for the reader to well decide, what the theme color should be, for this beautiful little town.

荒浜漁港-A Song for the Fisherman

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Watari Town is just near the sea; therefore, seafood is very…convenient for the local residents. Today I waked up very early in the morning, just to look at the auctions of the fish at the morning market.
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The fishing ships usually go out to the ocean to catch fishes at three o’clock in the morning, and the auction usually start at 8 am sharp.
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Everyday there are many people joining the early morning auction, which reflects to what degree does Japanese people love seafood.
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The fish market is very beautiful in the morning. It looked “delicious” to me. Although I had already had breakfast in the hotel, but I just could not resist the smell and good looks of the fresh seafood.
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The market to normal customers are just near the Arahama-Gyoko.
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It is nice to know where the wonderful food, which we enjoy every day, actually comes from.

亘理温泉鳥の海-Hot Spring, Seaside View and Tsunami Heritage

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There are not so many hot spring in Wateri, at least not as many as other towns I visited in this trip. But the hot spring of Watari Hotspring Torinoumi (亘理温泉鳥の海) is a must-experience one in Wateri.
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The Watari Hotspring Torinoumi was a luxury hotel in Wateri town before the tsunami. The first floor was under reconstruction thereby it now only temporarily open its hot spring on 5th floor to customers. As most places on earth where we get to enjoy the seaside and beach is without real hot spring experiences, be it Miami, Singapore or Maldives, Wateri seems to be the pioneer in combine the seaside view with hot spring spa.
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Last year, more than 150,000 tourists visited Watari Hotspring Torinoumi; the hot spring of Watari Hotspring Torinoumi has magic curing effects and a grand view of the outside.
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The top of is a good lookout for the city and sea around.
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The hotel arena of Watari Hotspring Torinoumi will be re-open again in this summer. The address of 亘理温泉鳥の海 is as follows.

馬上かまぼこ

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The Kamaboko (蒲鉾) of Bajo (馬上) is regarded as the best souvenir for friends if you travel to the Tohoku Area. Established more than 100 years ago, the Bajo Kamaboko (馬上かまぼこ) is now in the hand of the 4th generation.
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Kamaboko is a traditional Japanese food made of cured surimi. the Bajo Kamaboko is different from Kamaboko of other places in that the shape of the Kamaboko is Bamboo leaf. The most expensive Kamaboko is made using Bigand thornyhead or Bastard halibut, while the normal ones made from Walleye Pollack, European hake, Canary dentex, Golden threadfin bream or Southern hake.
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The Kamaboko of Bajo was cooked in several ways, it could be fried, steamed, smoked, boiled or toasted; and it could be hand-made or machine-manufactured.
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The Bajo Kamaboko has the most state-of-art Kamaboko manufacturing equipment in the Tohoku Area, while it maintained the hand-made manner for some of its special products.
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Kamaboko are usually served at celebratory and holiday meals, as the normal red and white color of Kamaboko are considered to bring good luck. The colorful Kamaboko which can be found in markets are made by skillful experts as special gifts for friends and family.
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The Bajo Kamaboko was so yummy that I can stop loving it ever since I tried it. The address of 馬上かまぼこ is as follows.

ジョアンナ洋菓子店

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After enjoying the hot spring and Bajo Kamaboko, I was still haunted by the color question. Thus I decide to eat something sweet to add more energy for me. The Joanna Bakery (ジョアンナ洋菓子店) is a small bakery shop in Wateri and it is quite famous.
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This special cake made from caviar is their No.1 ranking product, it was more special than any cakes I tried before.
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The other cakes in the Joanna Bakery was photogenic, adding more color to my previous question.
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The Joanna Bakery was rebuilt under the help from volunteers after the tsunami: you can see signatures on the paper for remembrance.
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The addess of ジョアンナ洋菓子店 is as follows.

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Well, my friend, this is the end of my stories today. Here is the question, have you decided the theme color for Wateri Town? If the above information is not enough for you to decide, then, go to Wateri – a place you won’t forget.

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