kamakura - it's an igloo

went to a big snow festival named KAMAKURA. that's the name of the igloo in the photos. it's a festival to pray to the water deity for a good rainy season for rice.
that's why inside the KAMAKURA they have the little vases, which are really vessels for rice wine to the water god.
it was fun! it was snowing!
we stayed at a hotspring hotel and had 2 days of hotsprings.
yeah, it was relaxing.

it's like yellowstone nat'l park in my backyard

so i worked at yellowstone national park and the grand tetons national park when i was in college, during the summer of course. and YNP has amazing waterfalls. just out of the blue hideto's dad, who grew up in akita and knows about all the great places to go, one day says, "let's go for a car ride" and we drive for about 20 minutes and get out of the car and WOW there is an amazing waterfall. just like YNP.

may the shrine be with you

ok, this shrine is in our house and i have to worship at it everyday. and i can't get away with no praying either, because i have to ring the bell and everyone can hear it in the house.
i just say thank you for life. it's really convenient! instant communication with god! reminds me how lucky i am.
once a month, a buddhist priest comes and chats on the big pretty pillow for about a half hour and they pay him a hundred dollars. he came the other day and i sat with him and i just prayed the whole time for gali's new baby.
and when i'm in front of it, it reminds me of XT. i think she'd really like it.

cover everything in the winter

in akita, there is snow, but it's not really cold. not like MN where you can't go outside for more than 30 seconds.
one day, right at the beginning of the winter, i came across this little "jiso" (a buddhist thing) and someone had put a hat and a scarf on it so it wouldn't be cold. sweet! but the funniest thing about it is the hat reads "Dollywood" - hehehehehe.

being 3 in Japan

japanese culture is rich in experiences for children. when they turn 3, 5, and 7, there are celebrations. noi turned 3 and she had a day of photos, a day at the shrine being blessed, and a party at a fancy restaurant. noi didn't wear a kimono to the shrine, but she wore one for the photos. instead she went shopping with her grandma and received a fancy dress. grandma picked it because it looked like a "burberry" dress. yes, my japanese relatives are into designer fashion. i wore my vintage leather and fur jacket that i bought at a used clothes store in the haight- hehehehee. these are photos of the shrine, noi in her fun pink hair holders, and hideto's sister and her husband. he works for coca-cola and they are sending him on a trip to the US this coming week. he's going to SF! and las vegas, sacramento to see almond farms, LA, universal studios, napa, and staying at hotel nikko- just blocks from our old pad.

back on planet blog

fell off the blog planet. life is so full, so good, and.....really busy......

since november 1st, well, we have snow and fun fun fun. we met our friend brian, from hideo and I's Akita University days, and played with his family. his married to a japanese lady that went to our school too. noi was happy to meet a friend of mommy and daddy, since we haven't met anyone since leaving SF!

photos......