sonder
n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness
General Topic discussions:
We will investigate 2 research topics as a group in Japan; our first topic will examine the history of Hakodate port and our second topic will compare Western branches versus local Japanese ice cream companies. The first topic is significant to the history of Hakodate, including the westernization of Hakodate and Japan. Additionally, the red brick houses surrounding the port were some of the first warehouses in Hakodate, creating jobs and opportunism for the community. The conversion from warehouses to shops and museums was an interesting facet to explore. We will visit the Hakodate port and the surrounding red brick buildings; a historical museum also resides in this area, which we are planning to visit to obtain research knowledge about the topic. We will also observe the port to examine how individuals utilize it (e.g., fishing, trading, socializing, etc.) to better understand the historical and social significance of the port. We expect to learn about the historical value and evolution of the Hakodate port in order to appreciate the cultural significance and role of the port in shaping the Hakodate community and identity. Additionally, we expect to gain a deeper understanding of the globalization, Westernization, and trading of Japan. The second topic was chosen because all group members enjoy ice cream. We will compare flavours, colours, textures, and ingredients of ice cream between familiar companies in North America branched to Japan (e.g., Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery) and local Japanese-established companies (e.g., MILKISSIMO). Ice cream is commonly considered a social activity and is important to many of the Japanese community. In Sapporo and Hakodate, we will first search up North American and local Japanese ice cream companies within a reasonably close proximity, then we plan to visit several ice cream shops to compare flavour intensity and taste, appearance, textures, and prices whilst controlling for flavours. Each group member will sample each ice cream sample to validate results since this research is subjective. We expect to learn about ice cream as a cultural, social part of society specially in Japan. Through our research we expect to learn more about the differences relating to ice cream in terms of western and Japanese ice cream attributes (price, flavors, production); additionally, we expect to learn more about the Japanese palette where different flavors can show how the Japanese pallet enjoys their ice creams. We will learn more about the value of enjoying ice cream socially and whether ice cream in Japan shows difference aspect about enjoying ice cream with friends and family.
group reflection: May 21, 2018
Port Hakodate and Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses
We have found some information on the Port of Hakodate, although it has been more challenging than expected since there is not one museum of information, but instead the information is spread out on signs and in museums all over the city! The port is important to Hakodate in that it is part of Japan’s history, as it was one of the first ports to open Japan to international trade in 1859. It helped expose Japan to Westernization and trade, but also was important to Hakodate for industry, as the port now created a fishing industry. The influence of the west was not just limited to trade, dress, or customs but also architectural techniques, as seen in the red brick warehouses.
Some history we have learned about the Red Brick Warehouses as businesses is that they were founded by Kumashiro Watanabe who came to Hakodate from Nagasaki in 1863. He founded the house that sold imported products and ship chandlery. He also donated and funded projects such as schools, hospitals, parks, etc. and made Hakodate the city it is today. He started his business in 1887, but the warehouses were rebuilt in 1909.
The modernization of the red brick warehouses can be really seen. There are many services offered here, such as ATM, currency exchange, various rental services, free wifi, etc. There are numerous stores and cafes within these warehouses. Every time we visit these warehouses, we find something new to explore. There is always something going on and something to learn from, and there is never a dull moment. For instance, every time we go in, the ice cream store has new flavours of ice cream to try. This ties in both our ice cream project and our Port Hakodate project!
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Lifestyle and Social Impact of Ice Cream
We intended to investigate the culture of ice cream within Japan through our visit. We wanted to see how ice cream in Japan has been influenced by comparing different Japanese vendors, as well as company branches common in Japan and Western countries. Additionally, we wanted to examine the social significance of ice cream within Japan by observing the atmosphere surrounding and within the ice cream vendors we visit. During our visit in Hokkaido, we visited 5 ice cream vendors: McDonald’s, Baskin Robbins, Milkissimo, and two unnamed vendors at the base of Sapporo TV Tower and at Tachimachi Cape. In terms of flavour criteria, we noticed that many flavours we regularly consumed in Canada (e.g., vanilla or chocolate) were similar in taste to the products in Japan, though it was consistently noticed that Japanese ice cream tended to be less sweet than Western ice cream. We also found lots of variation and creativity in terms of flavour, such as adzuki bean or several popping candy-infused varieties. At Milkissimo, seasonal, unique regional flavours were featured such as sakura, fresh corn, and black sesame. Additionally, we found that Hokkaido farms are known to produce fresh milk; many times, Hokkaido milk was a popular flavour featured in many ice cream vendors. Ice cream seemed to hold great social significance in Hokkaido. Not only did we notice many specialty ice cream shops, but many shops selling a wide variety of other goods also offered ice cream and advertised this by placing a large vanilla soft cream structure as a widely recognized and commonly seen symbol. We also witnessed many people enjoying ice creams, of all different age ranges, whether in friend groups, school groups, families, dates, or individuals by themselves. Additionally, since ice cream vendors were so commonly seen in Hokkaido, we believe ice cream holds strong social significance in Japan as a convenient, cheap, and delicious vessel for socialization.
