Autumn is here, and that means the return of nikuman (niku-mahn), those delicious Chinese steamed buns that they sell in convenience stores. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than munching on one of these hot meat-filled buns, which are so soft and tasty and warm, you don’t feel the cold at all. If you should ever tire of the standard flavor, there are variations, too: an-man with Japanese sweet beans inside, curry-man made with spicy curry, or another favorite of mine, pizza-man, featuring pizza sauce and cheese. Autumn is also the season of School Sports Day, when parents go to their children’s school to watch them run relays and try to be the fastest in the school. It’s a great time to show how proud you are of your kids — which is called oya-baka or “parent-fool” — and jockey for the best position so you can capture video of your son or daughter crossing the finish line with your brand-new Panasonic video camera.
Nikuman are among my favorite Japanese foods.
