Ryu Aomi on a trip discovering the best food countries. Engaging in nature and Buddhism in between:)

I’ve arrived and am working in Tsukiji!! It’s been about 2 weeks since I started working for Saito Suisan Fish Company. It’s located in central Tsukiji, the old fish market of Tokyo. Here hundreds of seafood come and go from Toyosu , our new fish market. Which fish makes the shelf all depends on the sea, so there will be a rare type of crab or fish one day then a different one might come the next day. It's not a factory. It all depends on the sea, the weather, the nature. History still here Tsukiji was a place for professional chefs to come buy their ingredients, mainly seafood. Due to aging the main building now moved to Toyosu, and Tsukiji is becoming more of a tourist spot selling seafood, wagyu, and desserts. But working here I still see professionals coming to find particular fish, or something different to put on their menu. Our side as a fish shop will be the conossieur to tell them how the seafood tastes and ideas how to cook them. We support the restaurants to keep the ing

 I’m going to be working in Tsukiji, the old central market of Tokyo starting January, 2024. I never really thought I would have this kind of opportunity, very happy and excited to work at one of the fish shops there. What really interests me is that a small incident led to Tsukiji. Incidents lead to actions, then leads to the next, then the next... So today I wanted to share what led myself to work in Tsukiji from staying in Bali. It all started in Bali I started to really think about working as a cook while I was in Bali. I was on a trip around Southeast Asia to figure out what I wanted to do post Covid. I want to start something in the streets of Bali!  My 1 month with the happiest locals I met in Bali I stayed with a local family in Bali via Airbnb, and the family would kindly invite me to the traditional ceremonies and feasts they frequently have while I was there. I realized myself engaged watching them slow cook their traditional food, the techniques and materials would actually

Last week I wrote the one reason I invest half of my portfolio on gold. Why I will continue to invest in gold Even in Japan, investing in the S&P 500 is very popular. Another competitor to the S&P 500 is investing in world stocks. A basket of U.S. stocks has outperformed a basket of world stocks in the past. Although I think it’ll still be the number 1 country in many aspects, you never know what will happen to the U.S. U.S. stocks takes up 50-60% of investing in world stocks anyway. Then I like the idea that some portions are diversified to population growing countries to diversify. It just doesn’t feel right to bet on just one country. If something were to happen to the U.S. a basket of world stocks will be rediversified to higher performers. U.S. Stocks actually weren’t the best performer According to a book Just Keep Buying by Nick Maggiulli, I learned that Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh, and Mike Staunton analyzed that South Africa, Australia, and Sweden performed better than th

If you google why invest in gold you’d have enough answers to invest in it, but I won’t find my main reason I invest in it. During Covid, my financial situation wasn’t very good and I needed money to pay my workers. I was selling my belongings, which were sold for a fraction of the money I bought them. But the only one that were priced a lot more than when I bought it, was gold. Gold on an emergency In Japan when a financial crisis or any other unexpected global issue arises, we hear 有事の金 which can be translated to “gold during a negative event.” I remember gold coming down with the pandemic, but then there was a timing when gold surged and hit the news. I didn’t want to sell my gold but I thought it was time and went to Ginza Tanaka, an established gold shop in Japan. But I noticed something interesting. There were of course people selling gold, but there were people buying. The elder lady sitting near me seemed to come consistently. I asked the shop whether they have regulars come to

On my recent day off I was packing and preparing to move from Hokkaido to Hakone, an onsen town near Mt. Fuji. The transition from Hokkaido to Hakone hasn't been very smooth, a lot of critical mistakes from the agent that were avoidable. It requires a lot pf patience, I'm tired than I usually am and I haven't been in the best mood possible. But it’s like a pattern. Shits occur. The important thing is you learn from it and think what could I have done for a better outcome. Have more space  I used to think I need to better prepare to avoid these things from happening. But who predicted Covid? I didn't have enough space in my head to cope with the unexpected. So having space for flexibility is crucial to keep myself In an overall good mood. Good mood, good life. So, trying to avoid unnessary trouble from happening is important. But yet what you do after troubles occur might perhaps be more important.  Buddhism and Mindfulness helps solve my challenges.  I've been readi

 Last week I posted how I seem to attract opportunities more than others do. My life question and my answer so far. Of course, good education is a good way to go for, but even if you don’t have it being good without expectations will take you to opportunities you’d never think of. Today I want to share what a high school student did staying in a hotel I currently work for. Dear Housekeeping The hotel I work for has 600 rooms so it accepts high school trips to Hokkaido. The hotel is categorized as high end, but it collaborates with high schools to accept big parities like schools for a lower budget than usual. It helps the future of the hotel, and the students as well.  The hotel is a well known hospitality brand in Japan, so I can feel that the students are excited about the opportunity to spend time here. I should’ve kept the letter one student wrote to housekeeping, which I regret but it said something like this, Dear Housekeeping, The bed and pillows were very comfortable, nothing I