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    • Spring
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    • Autumn
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        Shizukuishi

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        Getting Dirty in Japan

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      • getting dirty in japan

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    • Snow and Ice
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        Shizukuishi

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        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
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        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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Japanese Winter Veggies

While the winter season often sees farmers putting away their tools and heading inside to start planning for the new year, in Japan, especially south of the Tohoku Region, it is when some of the tastiest items arrive. Daikon, kabu, komatsuna, Chinese cabbage and spinach are a few of the more popular winter vegetables to be had, but farmers also roll out a bevy of others that are just as tasty, but perhaps less well known such as karashina and wasabina

While some, like daikon, can be found year-round, winter is when they really shine. Each possesses a particular hardiness in this season of cold, frosty nights, bright sunny days and long stints without rain. Cold temperatures cause these plants to produce more sugar in an effort to protect themselves from freezing. Water gets shunted to their roots resulting in a greater concentration of sugars in the leaves. The result is not just vivid colors but quite literally, a sweet addition to the winter menu.

Komatsuna

Named after Komatsugawa on Tokyo’s far west side, this veggie gained fame when served to Tokigawa Yoshimune—the eighth shogun—for lunch in 1719. It has since become a year-round staple of the Japanese table. Winter, though, finds it at its best in salads or added at the very end to any soup for a splash of emerald green.

Wasabina

Another spicy leaf, wasabina takes its name from the famed root, wasabi. An ovalish green leaf with a serrated edge, wasabina packs a gentle punch that lifts any winter soup or salad out of the doldrums. Try it blanched for a zingy ohitashi side dish, too.

Karashina

This lesser-known leafy vegetable can be found in vivid green and deep burgundy. Its fronds are feathery or serrated with a nutty and slightly spicy taste. Perfect in hot or cold salads, traditional varieties are thicker lobed like kale and in a pinch work as a decent substitute in soups or stirfrys.

Daikon

The long torpedo-shaped white radish oft found in supermarkets is but one of a multitude of daikon available. Red, purple and green varieties can be found this time of year along with a black-skinned variety that is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Serve pickled, raw, or in homemade oden for some colorful and tasty fare.

Where to Find Them

Bugrass Farmers for greens, assorted daikon, plus a variety of other seasonal delights.

MomoG Farm for those amazing black radish and delightful greens as well as popcorn.

Natural Farm TOM for seasonal root vegetables and an assortment of greens.

Ome Farm for kale, karashina, arugula, and an assortment of root crops including beets.

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CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madara...

Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.

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