It was her third trip to the library this week. Daniela visited the library so often that she knew the place like the back of her hand. This time she was there to do some research on “amigurumi” and “taiyaki” from Sophie’s letter, and here was what she found:
Amigurumi [ah-mee-goo-roo-mee] is the Japanese art of mainly crocheting yarn typically into small stuffed animals, artistic renderings or inanimate objects endowed with anthropomorphic features with a pervading aesthetic of cuteness. The word is derived from a combination of the Japanese words “ami”, meaning crocheted or knitted, and “nuigurumi”, meaning stuffed doll.
Taiyaki [tahy-yah-kee] is a traditional Japanese snack. “Tai” is a type of fish, while “yaki” means fried. It is made by pouring regular waffle batter into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling, commonly being red bean paste, chocolate or custard, is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.
As Daniela walked home from the library after finding out all she could about the two Japanese words, there was only one thought circling her mind. She wanted to learn how to make amigurumi!
