Seijin no Hi (Coming of Age)

A friend snapped this photo at the local mall.

The second Monday of January is set aside for Japan's National holiday called Seijin no Hi. This holiday has been recognized for over 60 years and is a Coming of Age day for both male and female Japanese who have turned age 20 between April of the previous year, and April of the current year. 

Coming of Age ceremonies (seijin-shiki) have been performed for centuries marking a Japanese person's entrance into adulthood.  Currently, on Seijin no Hi, the celebrated go to local government offices for a ceremony and gifts in the morning, then continue the festivities with a shrine visit and partying into the evening.

Most girls dress in formal kimono, wear faux fur and go to a salon to get primped for the occasion.  When I was driving on Seijin no Hi, I saw many girls leaving salons with their hair done up so pretty.  Japanese males may wear a traditional dark kimono with a hakama, but as time goes on, many are found wearing suits and ties to celebrate their special day.

Loosing a Loved One While Abroad Part II

Before I move forward in this New Year I wanted to write a little bit about my Uncle Kevin.  He passed away just before Christmas at age 51 from cancer.  The news of his death is heartbreaking even though it was apparent that the cancer had been spreading violently over the past few months.  Kevin's death, coupled with the death of my grandfather just three weeks before, has been a very difficult time for our family.  Its especially sad that my uncle left behind a lovely wife, two daughters (12 & 14) and a handful of friends and family who will miss him dearly.

Although my uncle and I weren't particularly close, we were only 9 years apart in age. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents when Kevin was still living at home.  Looking back, there are many things I remember about him:  he always had a meticulously clean car, going to see him at Marie Callenders where he worked, watching him play High School Football, his friends always being so nice to me, and him trying to scare me with a blackened front tooth and his hair pinned up in my grandma's clip (he was a teenager...what more can I say).

The last time I spoke to him was on Skype last summer.  He looked and sounded good even though he was was receiving treatments.  This is exactly the way I want to remember him.

Please click on the link below to read a blog entry from my Uncle Jeff.  He wrote a heartwarming story about Kevin and Starbucks: 

http://www.colliersparrish.com/BrokerProfiles/index.asp?logon=jfredericks&officeid=27&PageType=B&brokerid=

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu (Happy New Year)!

I'm proud to say that we made it through 2011 in one piece. The year had so many ups, downs, happy times and sad times.  The great thing about having a New Year is a fresh start!

Kanpai 2012!

New Year's is a very celebratory time in Japan.  Typically between January 1-3 the Japanese will visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumode. This tradition allows people to say good wishes for the upcoming year, plus you are able to purchase a slew of charms, or omamori.

We were outside at Midnight on New Years and heard the bell at our neighborhood shrine.  Many people in our neighborhood were heading to the shrine to welcome the New Year.  We also decided to check it out and I'm glad we did.  It was very festive at the shrine with fires were burning in pits (also see the picture on the page), sake, people in traditional dress, and omamori.  I'm so happy we had the pleasure of participating in this annual ritual. 

Ritual of clapping, bell ringing and bowing.

Yesterday, a friend and I went to Kamakura where Hatsumode was still going on at The Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine.  I think there were more people there yesterday, than when we visited it last year during this time.  It was a beautiful, crisp sunny day to visit this lovely shrine.  We are looking forward to this New Year and what it will bring!

Omamori. 

People walking to and from shrine.

A spectacular view.

Purezento

I am playing around with various colors and backgrounds on the blog.  I figured that with it looking the same this past year, that it was time for a change.  I'm hoping by January that I'll have a look I'm satisfied with.  Until then, please be patient with me.  I'd also welcome any suggestions if you may have them. 

Since this is the giving/receiving season, I just wanted to comment on presents.  I feel like I fit in here in Japan because I've always been a gift-giver.  Even from a young age I liked giving people presents.  Its very satisfying seeing someones face when they are presented with a gift.  Here in Japan, my friends (American and Japanese) often give each other gifts when getting together.  I certainly don't expect someone to give me something, but its always a nice surprise.  

As much as I like getting and giving presents, I'm also enjoying the gift of spending time with friends.  I enjoy the gift of: having lunch together, getting a pedicure, drinking coffee, going shopping, and traveling to near and faraway places.  These kinds of presents you simply cannot put a price tag on. 

The centerpiece I love so much!

One of my most favorite presents this month is a handmade holiday centerpiece.  Our Japanese neighbor made it for us.  She wanted to show her appreciation for inviting her to our neighborhood ornament exchange.  This was a lovely gesture and I love looking at it on our table everyday.

Ornament Exchange

The weekend before last, I had my American and Japanese neighbors over for an ornament exchange.  This is a new concept for Japanese because most of them have never gone to, or heard of this type of party.  When I sent out invitations for the party, I had no expectations as to who would come.  I was just hoping to have at least a few people.

Chocolate fondue, dips, sweets, etc.

To my surprise, we had a large turnout.  We had over 20 people here, and everyone was so excited to come to an Amerika-jin's house.  One neighbor even brought his video camera and was filming the party.  The Japanese were so generous with gifts, and food (largest chocolate bar I've ever seen, some Champagne, sweets, sushi rice, fruit and cupcakes) to share with everyone.  A large number that came spoke some English, but even the ones that didn't, had a good time.  I had someone translate the directions of an Ornament Exchange.  My only suggestion was that if someone really wanted a certain ornament, then it was okay (daijoubu) to take it.  Many Japanese are shy, or don't want to hurt someones feelings...but I gave them permission to "steal" something they wanted.

I'm just so happy to have opened up our house to the neighbors.  Next weekend I'm planning on having a few kids over to decorate sugar and gingerbread cookies.  Glad to make memories with people from our host country.

Loosing A Loved One While Abroad

Gramps and his entire family.  Kona, HI  7/09

This blog entry is a tribute to my grandfather. He left this world on Wednesday (11/30), at the age of 87. He was surrounded by his wife of 56 years, his oldest son, and his daughter; my mom. Although I knew his body had been failing him for sometime and that he wasn't going to live forever, his passing has been hard to digest, especially being so far away from home. I feel quite helpless, but luckily the guilt is lessened a bit by technology (Skype, email, etc). My mom has been trying to update me almost everyday, which has been good. I am happy to be in the loop from across the world.

My grandfather did not want a memorial service.  I am left with memories I will cherish, even if they seem small, or trivial. Here are some of the things I remember, find funny, and admire about the man I knew as my grandpa:

1).  He had an amazing memory.
2).  He wasn't the best driver. He used to floor it between stoplights and then brake abruptly when the light turned red.  Those who rode with him know exactly what I'm talking about.
3).  He was a whiz at Crossword puzzles.
4).  He taught himself Spanish.
5).  He loved reading. I was impressed that he read books in Spanish.
6).  He didn't put up with whining when I was a kid. He used to tell me as an adult that I turned out so good because he gave me the occasional spanking when I younger.
7).  He had the best laugh and smile.
8).  He hated chicken and turkey from the work he did when he was younger.  On Thanksgiving, he would eat whatever substitute my grandma would make for him.
9).  He was an extremely hard worker and did a variety of interesting work (real estate, worked at a slaughtering house, Pile Driver, Navy, etc).
10). I have many memories of us relaxing at the beach in Del Mar, CA and some vague memories of the condo in Mexico.
11). He loved his cats.
12). He was so proud of me for graduating from college (even though I was 35).
13). He was proud of Justin for getting an Engineering degree. My grandpa went to 3 years of Engineering school at The University of Washington then had to drop out of school. He was happy to give Justin his slide-rule years ago.
14). He was the youngest of 6. His parents were immigrants from Norway.
15). He loved his family very much. 

Since moving to Japan I would get regular emails from my grandparents saying how much they liked this blog. My grandpa was in Yokohama during the war, and probably went to some of the places I have written about. I'm so happy that I was able to connect with him from afar.

While I am sad I will not be able to see him again, I am happy that he's in a better place.  He wrote a very large memoir and I am really looking forward to reading it. 

Fruit Picking

There are many tours available that will take you on a fruit picking expedition.  They can be quite expensive, but of course the cost of the tour includes transportation, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy.  I've always wanted to go on one of these tours.  You can go blueberry, apple or strawberry picking, to name a few.

Last month, some friends were telling me about local mikan (satsuma oranges) orchards where you can pick your own fruit.  Instead of going on a tour, I decided that we could make this trek on our own.  I found the directions online (although we noticed many different mikan orchards in Miura), and it was only a 25 minute car ride from our house.  For 650 yen (about $8) per person you can pick/eat as many mikans as you want.  The orchard provides you with clippers, a cute little plastic basket, and bags or boxes.  For about 350 yen ($5) per kilo, you can pick your own mikans to bring home!  This is a bonus because when you go strawberry picking, you cannot bring any fruit home with you.

This was a really fun and relatively inexpensive family outing.  It was a perfect day and a bit cool.  The weather didn't stop the Japanese from picnicking in the orchard.  That is what I love about Japan.  The Japanese always sit, eat and enjoying their surroundings.  We have so many simple lessons to learn from these wonderful people.

About 2000 yen.