Gion Hatagen

My sister-​in-​law likes spicy food, and a great fan of this shop. On the other hand I’m not good at spicy cuisine, because I have stomach upset easily.
This shop deals in a variety of red peppers called Togarashi such as hottest red peppers called Saikyo Ichimi (Saikyo means the strongest, here strong means hot or spicy), red peppers with Japanese horseradish, called Wasabi Shichimi, or Shichimi flavored with citron or Sansho and others. Here you heard the goods, Ichimi, Shichimi, or Hachimi Togarashi. Ichimi means the one made of only one flavor, Shichimi, seven flavors, and Hachimi, eight flavors, that is Ichi is 1, Shichi is 7, and Hachi is 8 and Mi means flavor in Japanese. Japan boasts in many flavors such as gingers, citrons, Sansho (Japanese pepper), perilla using for cuisine, which causes rich flavors in Japanese cuisines.
By the way when I was absorbed in watching the products, an elderly sales staff explained about them eagerly or recommended ones for souvenirs. Wasabi Shichimi, or red peppers flavored with Japanese horse radish is loved by foreigners or elderly persons, who mix them with Onigiri or rice ball. A citron one is suitable for souvenir, for its reasonable price (430 yen) and its cute body (it is stuffed in a gourd-​shaped bottle).
The female employee was so ardent that I felt a little ill at home. When I was at a loss, other customers entered the shop and I felt relieved that she found another target.
I hope sales staff will only look at their prospective customers and not talk to them unless they talk to the staff. I really felt relaxed as I was released from her.