AURA Creations

As I opened the two glass doors to the restaurant, I could immediately smell the wonderful aroma. The restaurant was packed. I spotted quite a few tables with Japanese diners. It’s Sunday night. That’s a good sign.

One quick glance at the menu revealed a wide variety of traditional Japanese dishes like tempura, teriyaki, sukiyaki, and shioyaki. Nothing special really until I started looking at the appetizer menu. There were a nice selection of namamono (raw items), agemono (fried items), and yakimono (grilled items). These were the real gems of restaurant.

The seaweed salad ($4.30) was cool and refreshing. Mixing in cucumber strands was a nice touch. The dish really made my stomach juice flowing.

The soft shell crab tempura ($6.80), along with some spicy radish bits mixed in with a special tempura sauce offered a sharp contrast to the seaweed salad. I particularly liked the way the crab was cut which made it very easy and enjoyable to consume.

The dobin mushi or soup in the teapot ($10.80) was a fun alternative to miso soup. It reminded me of pouring hot sake into little cups, only it’s soup instead. The soup was very flavorful, thanks to the pieces of chicken and mushroom hidden within the teapot.

It’s not often you see amaebi ($5.20) on the nigiri sushi menu, I made no hesitation in ordering it. The sushi included two pieces of raw sweet shimp on rice along with the giant shrimp heads deep-fried placed on the side. I loved the crisp and silky texture of the amaebi. The deep fried shrimp head were done well. I ate the entire head in one gulp.

When I ordered the Alaskan black cod kasuzake ($9.80), the waiteress immediately smiled with delight. I knew I ordered something good. The fish came in two large pieces. One bite into the cod and the buttery meat just melted in my mouth. It was the best cod I’ve had in ages.

I finished off with the unagi don or eel teriyaki over rice ($9.98). The unagi was thick unlike most places. There was just enough sauce to not overpower the flavor of the eel. After the meal, I sipped some green tea and enjoyed the remainder of the night knowing it was one of the best Japanese meals I’ve had in the south bay.

Azuma
19645 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 257-4057

“If only fire and water can be as one like the reflection of fire on water.” Released by Sanrio films in 1981, Sea Prince and the Fire Child (Shiriusu no densetsu) is a beautiful retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Created and produced by Shintaro Tsuji, the founder of Sanrio, the film proves that Sanrio is not only a company that makes great Hello Kitty paraphernalia, but also touching animated films that cater to the young at heart.

Unlike the Little Mermaid, which pleases the American audience by turning it into a lighthearted comedy when the original story is a tragic one, Sea Prince and the Fire Child tells the story like it is. Love, friendship, jealousy, honor, and courage are all central themes to the story.

The siblings Oceanus the God of Water, and Hyperia the Goddess of Fire, used to live together in harmony until one day Algaroc the God of Wind, split them apart by turning them against one another. After this incident, the fire and water people are forbidden to see each other. Syrius, a young innocent sea prince, ventures out to the edge of the ocean, meets Malta the fire child and eventually falls in love. A water child cannot survive the bright sun light. Similarly a fire child cannot be touched by water. The two young hearts find themselves isolated from their friends and parents, only longing for the night where they can see each other by the seashore, far away from suspicious eyes.

The audience is never quite sure if the forbidden love will succeed in the end. There always seems to be a turn of events in the most desperate of times that keep the audience’s hope up.

In the age of computer graphics animation, it’s a delight to see hand drawn animation cells in action. All characters move with fluidity and have great facial expressions. The background scenery is colorful in a style similar to the Disney film Fantasia that debuted in 1941. The water and fire worlds contrast each other greatly, further showing that there is no middle ground for the young couple.

Besides the wonderful animation, the music works exceptionally in capturing the mood of the different scenes. The main music theme is unforgettable. It’s been stuck in my head ever since I’ve first watched the film in childhood.

In our jaded society where divorces are frequent and friendships are few, Sea Prince and the Fire Child is a film for adults and children alike, and reminds us of the importance of friendship, love, and doing what’s right. Unfortunately the film is out of print. Good luck in getting yourself a copy!