Welcome to Moonstarr's Asian page! My fondness for the continent started with Japan, beginning with my fondness for anime. Lately, I've been learning to cook Asian food on my own, and living a partly Japanese lifestyle. I use a futon bed, eat on the floor at a small table with chopsticks and drink lots of tea with Asian snacks. The food is very healthy, so please don't be afraid to try. I know it can be hard to find things sometimes, and search engines are tricky, so below is a list of links.
I am studying the kanji at a university, in second-year Japanese. Later, I will take up Korean as well. I also study culture on the net, in books and with videos form my local library. ASU and some community colleges offer courses in Asian study. I practice Buddhism, which has brought me more peace than anything else in the past. Tai Chi Chuan, a Chinese martial art, has been theraputic, as well. I studied the Yang style for one semester. I have also studied fencing (European style), Shinkendo (Japanese), and Shotokan Karate.(See also Although I'm mostly of Celtic and Norse descent, I study not only Japan but other Asian countries sincerely, and I hope to visit many of them. I believe that being open and sincere is important to life as well as to learning. You never have to follow a way that you don't feel comfortable with, but please be accepting and understanding. Please ask any questions at my e-mail, or message me on Yahoo Messenger.
Asian Shopping Online
Maruwa.com Well-orginized, with pictures of almost everything! A food site.
Mount Fuji: another site with food and more, also well-orginized and with pictures!
J-List has many items, well-orginized, though mostly anime. They do have snacks, including Pocky!
Quickspice.com A wide international selection of cookware and foods, with nice pictures!
Utsuwa.com has tableware, including bento boxes.
Recipes
Tokyo food page. There is tons of info in here besides the recipes!
Culture, arts and Religion
A site about Japan with tons of useful information.
Real Japan; very cool and useful.
Kikkiman Institute For International Food Culture.
A light site about manners in Japan.
Womyn in Buddhism
Mythical & Mystical. Kwan Yin and more.
Buddhist Information
I have had the great joy of meeting several Sanghas (Buddhist communities/groups). I am currently practicing with a Tibetan Buddhist group, and we meet in Tempe twice a week.
Another group is through Soka Gakkai, and they chant the Lotus Sutra together. Please visit their website for more information and locations. They are very kind and open to new members.
I also visit a Shin Buddhist temple, and they are very nice. There is usuall usually a discussion group after Sunday service, and children are welcome. There is even a sunday school for kids! I really liked it here. It is located at 43rd avenue and Indian School (Phoenix, Arizona). Visit our website for more information. I went to their Obon Festival last year, and it was really awesome! The also celebrate Hanamatsuri and Matsuhairi.
Some other links are as follows: U.S. Buddhist Directoty. Find a group near you!
A buddhust bookstore. They have books on other topics, as well.
Buddhust ceremonies. I think this site is Thai, but it's in English.
Dharma Shop. Lots of beautiful items.
Buddhism Depot. Lots of text about the sayings of Buddha.
E-sangha, an online forum for Buddhist discussion.
Good questions, good answers on Buddhism.
A page on Japanese Pure Land Buddhism.
Worldwide Representation of the Karma Kagyu Lineage Complete List
Karma Kagyu. A Tibetan lineage.
snow Lion productions, for your Tibetan Buddhist reading and items.
Clear Light Buddhist Center. They hold meditation groups every Monday.
Misc. and Regional
If you live in Phoenix, AZ I know of some great places.
I've recently learned that in Japan (maybe other countries too), they don't use shopping carts, just hand-baskets. This makes sense, as it saves space. Please don't be irritated if you can't get a cart or are pressed for space. It's their way.
Manila Asian Mart is where I shop. I was a bit nervous the first time I went, but it's great! It is located on Dunlap (aka Olive) and 35th Avenue(really close to Metrocenter) on the southwest corner. Manila has all kinds of items from all over Asia; packaged food (even snacks), imports, local items, produce, baked goods, meats and seafood, frozen, cookware (I got my dishes there). Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese and more! It's big like a supermarket!
In the same plaza is K's Gifts and Housewares, an adorable little place, mostly Japanese and Korean. As the name implies, it's housewares galore. There's too much to describe; it's adorable!
New Tokyo Food Mart is across from the Safeway on 35th avenue and Northern, southeast corner. It's a bit tucked in and small, but very cute. They have a few magazines, and all kinds of Japanese items, plus some tableware and household items. The prices are a bit higher than Manila, but it's cleaner and has a slightly different selection.
For those in Tempe, I suggest Fujiya. -ya in the suffix for store in Japanese. This is on Priest and University, just down the road from ASU. They have a good selection, so give it a try! Right next to it is a bakery and Tokyo Stop, which sells Japnese fast food that's really delicous.
Japan Express, on 51st ave and Olive, also has yummy Japense fast food. They're in the Fry's plaza, so stop by some time. They have good prices!
I don't know this one's name, but it's on 43rd avenue and Dunlap, which is right by where Dunlap starts the be called Olive. There's a stripmall on the northeast side, with an Asian restuarant and a sportscards store. It has a variety of items, from food to household, and is small. I think this is the first Asian store I've been to.
The Chinese Cultural Center is a fun place to visit. It's a whole plaze of Asian food, furniture and other goods. It's just south of the Loop 202 in Phoenix. Just check the phonebook for an address!
I know of some good sushi restuarants. The Sushi is on Bell and about 67th ave, in the Fry's plaza, southeast corner. Sakana has 2 locations: in Tempe on Elliot near the freeway near a McDonald's, and near loop 101 and 59th ave(?), across from an Albertsons. I've heard that Ichiban is good (it means number one in Japanese), but I don't know where it is. Another really nice one is Mr. Sushi, on Northern and I-17, across the freeway from Village Inne, in Glendale/Phoenix. They're on the Northeast corner, tucked in a little. They are really delicious and nice. I love their bento lunch boxes! I have also been to Ra Sushi, but I prefer other restuarants. Their food is good, but the service is not up to par. There is one on Mill avenue in Tempe.
In Tempe, Seoul Garden has delicious Korean food. They also have good prices compared to many Asian food restuarants. It's on Rural and Apache, just south of ASU, next to Wendy's. Try the soon Tofu soup! There is also Seoul Korea restuarant on 43rd ave and Peoria. They are a little pricy, but delicious!
Thai food is so delicious! It's usally spicy, but you can order it mild. If you've never had Thai before, I really reccommend it. Thailand was once known as Siam, and many restuants use this in their name. There are Thai restuants on 43rd ave and Olive (near the pizza restuarant) and on 51st ave and Northern (NE corner). Both are awesomely delicious. Be sure to have some Thai iced tea or coffee. (note: don't ask for chopsticks in a Thai or Indian restuarant. Restrict these requests to Korean, Chinese and Japanese restuarants!)
Indian cuisine is some of the best I've ever had. I could live out my life on Indian food. The appetizers are good, the meanls are awesome, and yo are certain to have vegetarian choices (which are heard to get in Korean and Japanese places). The curry is always amazing. Indian food is the most pricy of all Asian restuarants, but it's worth it. You get a type of thin crunchy bread as a starter (it's like chips with a few sauces), then you can order entrees, jasmine rice and breads. Naan is so delicious! Indian restuarants that I love include the Himalayan at Metrocenter and the Taj Mahal on Bell near Wal-Mart. If you get a chance to visit Sedona, there is an awesome Indian restuarant there as well.
If you want Chinese food, I have a few suggestions. Grand Dragon, on 47th ave and Olive in Glendale (Circle K) is my favourite. Shangri-La is also delicious. They are on Cactus a little west of the I-17, across from 7-11. There are plenty of Chinese buffets and fast food, but I prefer the menu restuarants. These have the best Chinese food! Some of you may have heard of a few high-class Chinese rastuants. These are often Americanized, so the food isn't as authentic. I prefer the lower prices of other restuarants.
There are countless Asian food restuarants in all parts of the valley. Just look some up At yp.yahoo.com, the Yahoo yellow pages. Don't forget to try Vietnamese food too!
At Matsuri, you can see Kimono and martial arts demonstrations, visita tea ceremony and hear good music. It's free to go, but bring plenty of money for the delicious food and souveniers. It's fun for kids too. I bought my kimono and obi there, and many local shops have a booth there.
More information.
The first Korean festival was held in 2005, at the Japanese festival site. It's small, but let's support them! Hopefully they will become as big as the Japanese festival.
At other times of the year, other Asian events are held. Check the New Times or other resources for information.
At a certain time of the year, the last weekend in February, you can visit the Matsuri Festival. Masturi is Japanese for festival. They have good food, information, presentationas and some cool items. It is almost always held in downtown Phoenix by Rosson House. I go just about every year!