Chinese New Year

I have got the CNY blues and I have decided must getaway if i possibly can every year. Like last year, we went to Krabi/Phuket. That was great!

CNY has never been the same since my parents passed away. Its difficult to describe but CNY for me was always like going back to be with the folks back in hometown. Now its like your roots are gone you know...

I really envy those people of my age who still have their old folks around. You'd better treasure them..all their nagging and fussing and scolding...its all irreplaceable!

So forget my blues...go on ...have an Ox-picious year.
Wishing you prosperity(Kong Hei Fatt Choy!)
May all your wishes come true(sam seong see seng)
Wishing you good health(sarn tai keen hong)
Wishing all your path be smooth (man see lu yi)
Wishing you many children(thim ting fatt choy)

The 15days of the Chinese New Year

First day, zhengyue 1, ’Birthday of Chicken’
The first day of the New Year is known as Yuan Dan (Chinese: 元旦; pinyin: yuándàn (First Morning of the year), New Year’s Day, First Day (or Duan Ri).

During the 15 day period new year visits (Traditional Chinese: 拜年; pinyin: bài nián, translated: pay respect, worship, salute the year) will be made to family and friends. On the first day, the oldest and most senior members will be visited, the visits serve to strengthen family kinship. Bài nián refers to both, pay a New Year's call as well as 'wishing somebody a Happy New Year'.

There is also the tradition of welcoming guests with tea and sweet treats, such as sugared fruits which are supposed to sweeten one’s upcoming year. Sweets and fruits are served on a round or octagonal tray - the form resembling togetherness and hence the tray is most commonly translated as the "Tray of Togetherness".Most likely the amount of sweets will be arranged in eight units, as the number eight symbolises luck.

At times, an arrangement of nine units can be found, the number represents wealth, good fortune and family unity (note that for the Chinese the number '8' is a lucky one and for the Thai- Chinese it is as well the number '9'). The visitor will bring a small gift to the household which will be visited- usually oranges, tangerines, mandarins or such alike, as the fruit symbolises gold, hence wealth and good fortune.

The day symbolises as well a new start in one’s life, refreshing hopes for prosperity, wealth and happiness. Abstaining from meat consumption on the first day is believed to enhance longevity. Additionally, a vegetarian dish helps to purify and cleanse out the body as well as it honors a Buddhist tradition that nothing living should be killed on the first day of the New Year.

According to a Chinese legend, Nüwa (Traditional Chinese: 女媧; Simplified Chinese: 女娲; Pinyin: nǚwā) is the goddess who created the world. She created certain animals on different days, hence each day is considered the birthday of the corresponding animal. Human beings were created from yellow clay on the seventh day after the creation of the world. Lion Dances can be seen on the street, or a troupe might be invited to perform on private premises. During the Chinese New Year Festivals, Chinese operas and Dragon Dances will be performed in the streets.

Second day, zhengyue 2, ‘Birthday of Dog’

Traditionally married women will visit and pay respect to their birth parents. Prayers are offered to ancestors as well as to all the gods.Since the day is characterised by the birthday of the dogs, pets and strays will be fed well.

Third day, zhengyue 3, ‘Birthday of Pig’
Families who had an immediate relative deceased in the past 3 years will not go house-visiting as a form of respect to the dead. The third day of the New Year is allocated to grave-visiting instead. Some people conclude it is inauspicious to do any house visiting at all, as it is believed that evil spirits roam the earth this day and hence it would be bad luck to be outdoors.
Businesses which had been closed during the prior festivities will be reopened and prayers will be held in order to be blessed with prosperity in the upcoming year. Conservative Chinese businesses do not open until after the fifth day due to priviously mentioned roaming ghosts.

Fourth Day, zhengyue 4, ‘Birthday of Sheep’

The fourth day is basically a continuity of the third day.

Fifth day, zhengyue 5, ‘Birthday of Ox, Cattle’

The day is regarded as the birthday of the god of wealth and hence respect is paid to the god. Also, it is considered not too wise to leave the house for too long, just in case the god of wealth should pay a visit to the family's house.All businesses will be reopened on that day.Sweeping the floor is not considered bad luck anymore.

In northern China, people eat Jiǎozi (dumplings) on the morning of pò wǔ (Traditional Chinese: 破五, Pinyin: pò wǔ, translated: break five).Friends and classmates will be visited.

SIx day, zhengyue 6, ‘Birthday of Horse’

The sixth day marks a time to visit temples, relatives and friends.

Seventh day, zhengyue 7, ‘Birthday of Man’

The seventh day of the first lunar month is named renrì (Traditional Chinese: 人日, Pinyin: rén rì), literally Human Day and is considered to be the birthday of ordinary, or common men. The day is also called Day of Men or Men Day.

According to Chinese legends, Nüwa (Traditional Chinese: 女媧; Simplified Chinese: 女娲; Pinyin: nǚwā) is the goddess who created the world. Two legends refer to her creations.Nüwa and her brother Fuxi survived a devastating calamity, which had wiped out all other life. Retired to Kunlun Mountain they prayed for a sign from the Emperor of Heaven. The divine being approved their union and the siblings set about procreating the human race. Note: in some texts or according to other legends, Nüwa is considered to be Fuxi’s wife.

Renri is the day, when all common men are growing a year older and the day is celebrated with certain foods according to the origin of the people. The ingredients of the dishes have a symbolic meaning and they should enhance health. To honour Nüwa's creation of animals either vegetable dishes will be eaten or a raw fish and vegetable salad called yusheng (simplified Chinese: 鱼生; pinyin: yúshēng).Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish (鱼)" is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance (余)", Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homonym for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

Eighth day - The Completion Day

On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to the Jade Emperor.

Ninth day-The birthday of the Jade Emperor

Highly revered in taoist believe. The Jade Emperor is also known as the Yù Huáng or Yù Dì, and is identified as the God of Heaven, the Ruler of all Heavens (of which the Chinese have over 30), Earth and the Underworld/ Hell, Creator of the Universe, later the Emperor of the Universe, and Lord of the Imperial Court. He is said to have been born several millennia before our era as the offspring of the King of the Pure Felicity Kingdom of Lofty Heavenly Majestic Lights and Ornaments and of the Empress of Precious Moonlight.

From the Tenth to the Twelfth Day of New Year there is more feasting with friends and family.

Thirteenth day

A time to diet a bit after so much rich food, vegetarian food like rice and mustard greens are eaten to cleanse the digestive systems.

Fourteenth day, The Lantern Decoration Day

Preparations will be made for the Lantern Festival.

Fifteenth day, Lantern Festival(In Msia..known as Chap Goh Meh)

The 15th day marks the first full moon after the Spring Festival and of the New Year, also known as yuán xiāo jié meaning "first night of the full moon". The day is as well known as Lantern Festival day. Another reunion dinner is held with lanterns and oranges being a large part of the celebrations.It is customary to eat special sweet dumplings called yuanxiao or tangyuan resembling the shape of the full moon. These round balls are made of glutinous rice flour stuffed with sugar fillings, symbolizing reunion.

During this festival lanterns are displayed, at times as lantern fairs, and children are carrying lanterns to temples.The festival is associated with guiding lost and ill bred evil spirits home, while celebrating and cultivating positive relationship between people, families, nature and the higher beings as they are believed to be responsible for bringing and returning the light each year.

Chap Goh Meh is also celebrated in Malaysia by throwing oranges into the sea/river by single maidens wishing for a husband!!

The Moo Moo

We will feel the yoke of responsibility coming down on us this year. No success can be achieved without conscientious efforts. The trials and tribulations the Ox year brings will be mainly on the home front. It is a good time to settle domestic affairs and put your house in order.

Way-out fashions, abstract art forms and newfangled notions will be given an impassive stare by the phlegmatic Ox, while politics and diplomacy will simply be treated with indifference. Better stick to routine and support conservative policies. Frivolities are out!This year will no doubt bear fruit, but the motto is: "No work, no pay!" Time waits for no man; if we are too lazy to sow then we can blame no one if we have nothing to reap. We will find a great many things requiring our attention, and the list of what needs to be done will seem endless.

The Spartan influence of the Ox will be a constantly cracking whip over our heads. Better to apply oneself diligently than waste time arguing with the authorities. They will prevail, as the year of the Ox favors discipline.Most conflicts this year will arise more from a lack of communication and refusal to give in on small technicalities than anything else. But hang on and be patient. Everything will be sorted out and we will be rewarded for our efforts--so long as we remember to do things the conventional way. This is no time for tricky shortcuts.For the rebels, it may be worthwhile to point out that although the stoical Ox is soft-spoken, he carries a big stick, and this is his year.

THE OX PERSONALITY

The Ox or the Buffalo sign symbolizes prosperity through fortitude and hard work. A person born during this year will be dependable, calm and methodical. A patient and tireless worker, he sticks to routine and conventions. Although he is generally fair-minded and a good listener, it is difficult to make him change his views as he is stubborn and often has strong prejudices.Still, because of his steady and trustworthy character, the Ox person will be entrusted with positions of authority and responsibility. He will not fall short where duty calls. As a matter of fact, he should be careful not to get carried away.

Beneath his somewhat modest but neat appearance, the Ox shields a resolute and logical mind. His intelligence and dexterity is hidden by the reticent and undemonstrative front. But in spite of being basically an introvert, his forceful nature can turn him into a commanding and eloquent speaker when the occasion arises. In times of turmoil, his presence of mind, refusal to be intimidated and innate self-confidence will restore order. He walks with his head held high

.A person born under this particular sign is systematic. He adheres to fixed patterns and has great respect for tradition. In fact, he tends to do exactly what is expected of him and is so predictable, that he may be unfairly criticized for a lack of imagination. But the dutiful Ox knows that only through doing things in their proper order can he hope to achieve lasting success. His is the uncluttered mind. You won't find him muddling through life depending on his luck to pull him through.

What people born under the other signs may accomplish by guile and wit, the Ox-born will by sheer tenacity and dedication. You can rely on his promises; once he gives his word, he will stick by it. Public opinion means little to him. He will apply himself wholeheartedly to whatever task he is doing and finish the job. He detests loose ends.The Ox can be terribly naive about affairs of the heart. He cannot fully comprehend the entrapments of love, much less employ enticing strategy and other allures to plead his romantic cause. Don't expect lyric poetry and moonlight serenades from him. He just doesn't have the right chemistry for these sort of things. Even his presents are likely to be strong and durable wares: unpretentious and long lasting.

Because they are traditionalists, the Ox man and woman will also be inclined to long courtships. It takes time for them to develop intimate relationships. They are slow to warm up and reveal their true feelings. The Ox man may be a knight of the most distinguished order, a gentleman of the highest caliber, but he can turn into a fumbling, tongued-tied lad when it comes to wooing his fair maiden.But if you marry him and place your trust squarely on his shoulders, he will never disappoint you; he will stick by you faithfully all his life. You never need worry about the rent or the bills getting paid. He may not keep you in diamonds and furs but life will be as comfortable as he can make it and you will never be in need.

If you have the good fortune to marry an Ox lady, you sure picked the no-nonsense type of girl. She'll starch your collar just the way your mother does it, fold your newspaper neatly on the breakfast table every day without fail and poach your eggs to perfection. Even that "good morning" kiss may seem like nothing more than a dutiful peck now and then. But if you think of her as being boring or too set in her ways, consider this. She is neat and punctual. You will never go through married life without clean shirts or holes in your socks or having to eat burnt dinners. Honest, hardworking and above reproach, she will make an ideal wife. The checkbook will be balanced and your joint account never overdrawn. It's up to you to liven up her life and take the lead. After all, the Ox person usually performs more than his or her share. A lot of wonderful things come wrapped in plain brown paper. The Ox is one of them. Don't ever belittle the packaging. She is worth her weight in gold.

Aside from his many sterling qualities, the Ox person is also known to nurture grievances far too long. He has a long and exacting memory, and injuries can be registered down to their last detail.Where other signs such as the Tiger, Rooster or Rat may complain vehemently when they are upset and the Sheep and Rabbit will sulk and become morose, the Ox will react by plunging himself into hard work to alleviate his misery and tension. If severely disappointed in love, he may bury himself in his work forever and lead a solitary existence instead of running the risk of ever being humiliated or rejected again.

The Ox will insist on settling his accounts. Debts will be paid to the last decimal point. If he owes you something he will never forgive himself if he doesn't show his gratitude in a tangible way. No profuse but empty phrases of appreciation from him. He considers flowery words and lavish flattery uncouth and beneath his dignity. But won't it come as a surprise to you when you find out that that gruff fellow, who barely managed to mumble a "Thank you," left you something in his will? Well, that's a typical Ox gesture for you. If anyone's actions speak louder than his words--his do.

Beware of the Ox's legendary patience, because when an Ox person loses his temper, he is really something to reckon with. It could be a terrifying experience. There will be no reasoning with him: he will act like a bull and attack anyone in his path. The only advisable thing to do is to get out of his way until he cools off. By and large, however, he is seldom given to such taxing display of fireworks unless he finds his situation truly unbearable.At home, his word is law. He knows how to give orders as well as follow them. And he expects his directives to be carried out to the letter.

He has a materialistic outlook on life, and although he may be inordinately fond and proud of his family, he demands a lot from them, too. He will use the yardstick of success and personal achievement to measure his love for them. Even though he is not easily moved by emotions, he is a good provider and is capable of great sacrifices for his family's welfare. When and where it really counts, he will not let them down.

An Ox person will always be an asset to his firm and family. He has no reason to feel insecure himself as he will be well cared for all his life. Reason dictates that one so valuable should not be left to fend for himself.The Ox born during the day will be more aggressive and active compared to the quiet night ox. Similarly, the winter Ox will have more trying times and a leaner life than the summer Ox.

The native of this lunar sign is a down-to-earth type and will follow his head rather than his heart. So if you want to win your case, appeal to his reason and intelligence. Make a list of the pros and cons and support every request with pertinent and reliable data. Sentiments alone rarely make him change his mind. He also has a remarkable constitution and does not get sick easily. Proud and uncompromising, the Ox is disdainful of weakness in others. If he can learn to cultivate more humor and compassion, he will be much happier.

A natural-born leader and disciplinarian, he tends to be too rigid. Likely to be a self-made man, he staunchly believes everyone should pull his own weight--and no hedging about it either. At his worst, the Ox is unapproachable, inflexible and narrow-minded. His lack of tact and consideration for others coupled with a militant view of life at times could make him unsuitable for positions involving public relations, diplomacy and finesse. However, he is respected and liked for his basic honesty, unpretentiousness and steadfast principles. He inspires loyalty in all his subordinates, as no task is beneath him.As mentioned earlier, the Ox person is not one who will go for the shortcuts. His quiet dignity and strong morals will prevent him from resorting to unfair means to achieve his goals. He will dislike asking others for help. As a matter of fact, he is so self-reliant, that you may have to beg him to accept a service.

The Ox-born has dynastic tendencies. Careful and conscientious, he builds things to last. This sturdiness in his genes will extend to his offspring and generations to come even if they are not born under the same sign. His excellent character makes him an empire builder. He will take all precautions to ensure the prosperity and survival of his lineage.As the paterfamilias, he will lay down the laws pontifically and stand for no youthful rebellion. He builds his life around his home, his work and his country and will always prefer long-term, stable investments.

Being a strict creature of habit, he is no gambler: risks and razor-thin margins unnerve him because they endanger his deep-felt need for security.Of all the twelve signs, the colorful Rooster will bring the sunshine into the Ox's orderly life and make a splendid partner for him. Both have high respect for authority, admire efficiency and possess strong dedication to duty. These common attributes will unite them. Equally well suited will be the affectionate Rat or the wise Snake, both of whom will care deeply for the worthy Ox. Dragon, Rabbit, Ox, Horse, Boar and Monkey will also be compatible to a lesser degree with the Ox. But the Dog may find him too bland and criticize his lack of humor; the Ox himself will not care too much for the company of the capricious Sheep or the rebellious Tiger native, who in turn will resent his regimentation.

Whatever happens, one can be sure that the success enjoyed by the Ox will have been earned by his own merits. In short, the strong and disciplined Ox does not expect and will not be getting any free rides in life. This stalwart fellow will emerge a winner through his own efforts and no one should be more deserving.

Alaskan Crab Salad

After blogging about cockroaches, its rather insensitive of me to blog about good food right? But what the heck...just to introduce this delicious yummy salad i had recently at Hanazen(see earlier post in November for more info on this restaurant in Jaya One).

This is really delicious pieces of Alaskan crab meat on top of a salad of tomatoes, lettuce and avocado topped with fish roe and dressing. The brownish dressing tastes like abit of sesame or peanut sauce!

Sorry i dont have the price as it was a treat from the chef!! Very generous of him, i must say cos the crab is seasonal and supposedly quite expensive!

La Cucaracha

While spring cleaning recently, this cockroach came out from the woodworks, so i whacked it hard! You can see the head is decapitated and some one leg came off....but guess what? The feeler(the long one) was still moving eventhough the head hanging by just a nerve(i think)!!

Thought only the tails of lizards still move after broken off from the bodies! Yes i am ruthless when it comes to insects...

Best National Geographic Pics

Its clear why these pics were voted some of the best from National Geographic....If a picture can paint a thousand words then these pics really do provoke your emotions and you realise how marvelous and beautiful God's creations are.......

Most Laughable Quote

“If WiFi is harmful, the first two people to get fried by radiation would be Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi and myself as we work up to 12 hours a day at our offices on Komtar’s 28th floor where there are four hotspots." (Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng when launching the free Wifi test-drive promotion period at Komtar today)

Michelle Obama

This must be the most unflattering pic of michelle obama....look at her teeth...reminds me of Alvin the Chipmunk!!

Much ado has been made of her inaugural gown. She finally chose a design by Jason Wu - a Taiwanese American (quite unknown 26-year old) .Cant say she made the right choice as she kept having to pull it up while dancing and even walking. Was quite afraid she would fall down as the layers of cloth were just way too much!

Anyway 1st thing the Prez should do, is to fix an appointment for the missus to visit the dentist!!lol

Bye Bye Bush

Bye Bye Bush....this is supposedly a popular pen holder used in Iraq! lol

Blackberry Clutch Purse

I kinda like the functionality of this clutch purse where you can put your handphone or Blackberry, iPhone or iPod together with all your credit cards, money and stuff.

Features:
* 5 pockets for bank or business cards * Internal slot suitable forBlackberry/iPhone/iPod
*Coin compartment
* Internal bank note compartment
* Extra compartment for receipts or passport










Dimensions
External: 17cm [w] x 12 cm [h] x 3.5cm [d]
Internal Blackberry Slot: 14cm [w] x 10cm [h] x 2.5cm [d]














However must say i dont like the gold blink blink python skin thing. It also comes in silver blink blink python !! lol















You see for short trips to grocer or eatery nearby i would have to carry a my wallet purse and a plastic casing for handphone inside a clutch bag. So this innovative clutch minimizing 3 items into 1 !! FAntastic!!



























This purse comes also in rattlesnake and lamb leather from Spain. Costs US$380 a piece so any purse manufacturer out there who can copy this design in soft PVC and sell for less than RM100 would be much appreciated. Please include in a clutch handle as well for easy carrying.

Welcoming the Year of the Ox ...

Its that time of the year again, when every nook and crannie has to be swept and cleaned for a brand new year! Sweeping not only the dirt but all the bad things of the previous year(symbolically of course!). Out comes all the deco and the house looks red and clean again! lol. This year, i bought this golden ox from Yulek Market, costs RM19.90! Hey i am hoping for a Bull Run....ya hoping all the bears will keel over and die...










These flowers are a must for Chinese New Year.... Peony and Peach Blossoms symbolizes never ending or continuous friendship. Got them at Petaling Street. Cheaper than most other places.

Peonies and peach blossoms are often featured in vases for together, they convey the wish for lasting wealth, nobility and peace “fu4 gui4 ping2 an1”.


















These white dragon biscuits(milk type) costs RM22 this year. Up RM4! One of Syd's favorites. I havent bought the kueh kapek/love biscuits as yet tho...


















































Zamioculcas or bamboo plants are twisted in spirals to take away bad vibes and bring in the good ones. In Mandarin, it is called jin qian shu.

Its Chinese name means gold tree, its leaves bears resemblance to Chinese-style gold ingots.

The bamboo is very resilient throughout the four seasons, and has come to stand for endurance and courage in the face of hardships. It’s the symbol of a noble and strong character.


Fishes signify ABUNDANCE of prosperity. The fish is common because the Mandarin word for fish is "yu", which is a homonym for "additional" or "surplus".

The Double Fish - Fish are a symbol of wealth, abundance, harmony and bliss. When shown in a pair, it is a symbol of harmony between partners and families.














The Chinese traditionally give each other oranges during the new year for two basic reasons :1) round fruits symbolize coins, which stands for fortune and 2) the Mandarin word for orange is "ji" which is a homonym for the Chinese word that means "good fortune".











Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one's relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children.

Tang House of Fish Ball

Went all the way to Sea Park, PJ for lunch today. With such a grand name as Tang House of Fish Ball, you just have to try it out! It is located beside KFC in Sea Park at Jalan 21/19. You wont miss it cos there's a huge green signboard! Parking may be a slight problem unless you are lucky to get a parking space right in front. Otherwise just drive around and walk abit.

See this sign that says no preservatives and boric acid!! So you know, their stuff is freshly made daily.

I ordered this Mee Pok dry which is like Hakka Noodles but comes with few slices of fish cake, 2 fish balls, some minced meat and deep fried pork lard(a must have!). You can discard the pork lard for health reasons but it definitely gives the noodles a kick!! Each bowl of noodles is RM5 each.


Ordered extra fish balls at RM3 for 5pieces. The fish balls are very bouncy and you can taste the fish(not flour!).

The fish cake here is also a must eat! Cost RM8 per piece but its really worth it. I ordered an extra piece to go!

This bowl of 5 pieces of fish paste (2 deep fried) tastes like the fish balls. I suppose same ingredients only different shape! Costs RM6 and comes with some slivers of bittergourd. Quite unique and refreshing!

Tang House also serves a variety of Cantonese tong sui like this Ginger Sweet Potato tea(RM3). They also have the usual of Barley Fuchuk Gingko, tau fu fah, green beans sweet soup etc.

All in all worth the effort to drive there on a weekend. Less traffic and better opportunity to get a parking space as during weekdays, this place would be quite congested.

$100K Tuna

I love tuna especially tuna belly which looks like fatty pork and it just melts in your mouth. So when i read about this $100K tuna, just thought of sharing this article which appeared in The Wall Street Journal with you.

The Tokyo restaurant world was shocked this week when a 128 kilogram Japanese bluefin tuna fetched 9.63 million yen, or $104,800 -- the highest price paid for a bluefin tuna in eight years. Two restaurants with distinctly different styles bid jointly at Tokyo's first fish auction of the year, splitting both the cost and the fish. To see what they got for their money, I sampled the tuna at both places during the three days it was available.


Half the trophy tuna went to Kyubey, a posh sushi bar in Tokyo's glitzy Ginza district that serves 40 kinds of fish and counts Sony Chief Executive Howard Stringer and Steven Spielberg as clients. The service and the food is so personalized here that the chef asks whether you want your Post-It-size slice of abalone raw or steamed, brushed with soy sauce or salt. On my recent visit, a single sliver of the prized bluefin cost $22. It also was offered as an item in the 10-piece, $60 lunch set, which is what I ordered. The pinkish-brown chutoro, or medium-fatty tuna, I ate at the black-lacquer sushi counter was so smooth that the whole thing melted away in seconds, making me wish for a second piece.



The tuna's other half went to Itamae Sushi, a Tokyo outpost of a casual, Hong-Kong restaurant chain that has been expanding recently. The restaurant, packed on a recent afternoon with blue-suited office workers wolfing down $11 lunch specials, had posters plastered all over the place to tout its achievement: "We bid successfully -- for a whopping 9.6 million yen!"

Itamae Sushi didn't even pretend to be making money on the bluefin. It stuffed the fish into its voluminous tuna lunch set, which includes chutoro, chopped tuna, soy sauce-soaked tuna and tuna maki rolls -- 10 pieces for $32, offered to the first 20 customers of the day until the restaurant ran out on Wednesday.

On the day I visited, the lunch set sold out promptly. I managed to sample a piece of chutoro from the restaurant's last remaining block of bluefin and found it tasted clean and smooth. It wasn't as firmly pressed onto the rice as at Kyubey, though, and it flapped around when I picked it up.

How two such disparate establishments came to share one extremely expensive fish says as much about the no-holds-barred competition among Japan's 32,000 sushi restaurants as about the Japanese passion for eating first foods of the season and of the year, which they believe are "auspicious," bringing good luck.

Japan's foodies have long been obsessed with everything from the first bamboo shoots in the spring to matsutake mushrooms in the fall. Food snobs spend a fortune for first-of-season foods that will plunge in price in a matter of days or weeks -- and often taste better at the height of the season. Just this week, a 10-ounce box of the first crop of Japanese greenhouse cherries sold for $380.

Miki Hizume, a 44-year-old Tokyo housewife, went straight to Itamae Sushi with her husband the day after the bluefin auction, which was the first of the year and an important occasion because it came so soon after the festive New Year's celebrations. Ms. Hizume said the bluefin sashimi was so fresh she could feel the smell rush up to her nose as she popped the first piece in her mouth. "I feel so lucky to be able to taste it," she said.

High bidding for Japanese bluefin has set off media feeding frenzies in recent years. In 2001, a Tokyo restaurant paid a record $219,755 for a 202-kilogram bluefin. That was an eye-popping $1,088 per kilogram -- even more than the $819 per kilogram paid earlier this month. Last year, a Hong Kong entrepreneur named Ricky Cheng plunked down $66,035 for the most-expensive tuna at the year's first auction, becoming the first foreigner ever to buy the top tuna. Mr. Cheng, best known for his ramen noodle restaurants and the budding Itamae Sushi chain, became an instant media star.

Yosuke Imada, Kyubey's second-generation owner, watched with unease as Mr. Cheng was referred to as "Sushi King" in the Japanese press, when it was establishments like Kyubey that regularly purchase top-quality fish. Traditionally, the 63-year-old Mr. Imada says, he has frowned upon buying at the first auction because the fish command a high premium that doesn't always match the quality. But this year, he couldn't sit still. "I said, 'Hey, wait a minute. Why is Hong Kong getting it all?' I had my pride."

As they learned of each other's interest in the first auction, Kyubey and Itamae Sushi decided to strike a deal to bid for the fish together and split the cost if they won. While the price was extra high this year because of bad weather and a poor catch, both restaurants say they would have gone even higher. One technicality: Kyubey secured the half of the fish that was facing up when it was caught, which is considered of higher quality than the side facing down.

So was it worth it? To my disappointment, both Kyubey's Mr. Imada and Katsura Nakamura, head of Itamae Sushi's Japanese operation, say their bluefin's quality wasn't the best they've seen. At 128 kilograms, it wasn't as fatty as bluefin in the preferred 200-kilogram category. The fish was caught on Dec. 29, and while taste improves with several days' aging, the expiration date was approaching.

Mr. Imada says even selling at $22 a slice, the tuna won't make Kyubey any money. His half of the fish will yield only about 3,000 slices, and including labor costs, he says he won't come out ahead. Still, he appreciates all the attention he got at a time when the economy is rapidly deteriorating and corporate entertainment is poised to take a big hit. "I'm going to do it again next year," he says.

On my visit to Itamae Sushi, Mr. Nakamura offered me a slice of a different bluefin tuna, one that had been caught just two days earlier. He said even though its cost was a fifth of the first-of-the-year tuna, this one was of higher quality. Indeed, the fresher fish did have a brighter red color, and the fat burst in my mouth. "This drives me crazy," Mr. Nakamura says, but adds it was a marketing effort that would be worth repeating next year.