The Rabbit & The Moon

In Japan, every year in Sept. and Oct. there is a little in-house offering to the full moon. The Japanese think the shadow on the moon looks like a rabbit. Hideto's mom said this was the first year in many that she could see the moon so clearly and it must have been so clear because Noi had returned to Japan. She also set up an offering for the moon in one of their tatami rooms that had a large glass sliding door so the moon and the rabbit could see the offerings, which were fantastic sake (made at the factory behind Hideto's parent's home, which happens to be one of the best sake in Japan, did I mention I've been having a glass everynight?), edamame, and the most delicious grapes! (grapes are very expensive here, but there are unbelievably delicious. I've never had them in the states). Everyone in his family came in and lit the candles and then said a prayer to the moon, asking for good luck in the year, etc. I felt very lucky to be here. Of course Noi couldn't stop eating the edamame and grapes and usually it's bad luck, but it's okay for kids to do it as long as they say "thank you" to the moon!