Monther's Day Gift(2)

We had a nice Mother's Day in Japan. A group of people went out to a local confectionary factory (お菓子の香梅西原工場) to learn how to make Japanese style sweets. The sweets were ones that looked like fish, or flowers, or birds. We each were shown how to make two types of flowers, and a bird. It was nice of them to do the instructions on mother's day since it looked like the plant was actually closed for the day, but four of the worker's come in to do a demonstration for us.














陣太鼓(jintaiko) is famous Japanese Okashi maker.














Starts with two different color of sweets doug.














Make it to the fish shape.














Use bamboo to curve it.















寒天（かんてん）is brushed on at the end to made it shinny and firm.














Art fish is made.










We learned how to make Peach flower.
















and botan(牡丹) flower

















and a bird.

























We made all the flowers and birds.

Mother's Day Gift(1)

This morning, I was going downstairs to prepare breakfast as usual. When I open the kitchen's door, I was so surprised there were a big house with all cute animals made by balloons. "Happy Mother's Day -- 今日は仕事しなくでもいいよ！（Today you don't need to do work)” from my son. He spent more than one hour to make them!!! I quickly brought camera took many pictures out of the art balloon.
My daughter made swans with pins for me. It is very thoughtful and cute.

In the afternoon, I had a special wonderful music concert performed by my kids. They played “Lovely Spring(春よ恋)”, ”Fall Leaves(紅葉)”, ”Home Town(故郷)” and others by Ocarinas and violins.

I had a wonderful mother's day. I felt that I had another birthday! Hope all of you enjoyed too.

Golden Week and Kids Day

Golden week is the longest holiday in Japan, usually starts from end of Apirl to begining of May. It includes Showa day 昭和の日（from last year), Constitution Day(憲法記念日), みどりの日(day of green) and Children's Day(子供の日).

Today is Children's Day, we went to Zoo and Botanical Garden, it is a beautiful day and enter is free for the kids. A lot of families brought the kids to play. We spent 3 hours there, however only had less than 30 minutes to actually see animals and plants. The kids went to play all the carnival rides and really enjoyed the kids day.

Tea-cup ride.














Disco-ride














Farris wheel.














Whale's adventure














Chain Tower.














Garden green.














Kangaroos.

Japan Largest Ston Starcase(2)

Before school starts, we challeged the Ston Starcase again. This time the kids went to the top of moutain before we did.

The second time was so much easier than the first time. We spent some time to view the wonderful screen and also visited Syaka-in that was built 1200 years ago.

Going to See Cherry Blossoms（Hanami 1）

Over 10 years ago, in a Japanese listening class, a cherry blossoms conversion held at a park was showing from the video. I didn't understand most of coversations, However, "How wonderful..." spoke by a Japanese woman wearing the tradition Japan dress (着物）left a deep impression to me.

I was wondering why Japanese really like cherry blossoms so much.

The first time went to Hanami(花見) was at Sumida River park in Tokyo. It was beautiful. The second time went just two weeks later, the cherry flowers dropped like snowing. The third time is all gone, left a inch flowers on the ground. The beautity of the cherry blossoms and the shortness of the cherry blossoms caught the heart of the Japanese, I think.

Today we went to Hanami. The Kumamoto castle surrounded by the cherry blossoms is
more splendid than Hanami just in a park.

Kumamoto is earliest cherry blooming city in Japan this year. The weather is wonderful and we had a pleasant day.

The White Day

March 14 is the day the men return the chocolate to the women, one month after Valentine's Day. In Japan we called "The White Day".

I am working at the development which the men are 10 times more than girls. However, with the company many-year traditions, we bought chocolate to all the men on Valentine's Day. In return, we received a big amount high quality chocolate in White Day.

Happy White Day to all!

GODIVA -- very popular and high quality chocolate.









Very testy white chocolate cookies.













White Day 2008, sweet candies.

Hinamatsuri in Japanese Families

The doll festival has been a Japanese tradition for more than 1000 years. Families who have girls display hina-dolls around March 3rd, and will put all the dolls back to the boxes usually not later than March 10th.

During the Hinamatsuri, my friend had chance to visit a Japanese family, who has 3 girls. The family was displaying a big set of Hina-dolls in their Tatami(畳) room to wish their daughters health and happiness (Seven Tier of Steps).

The dolls are not the everyday play dolls, a heritage of the household, handed down, many of them, from generation to generation. The grand parents love to buy new sets of dolls for a grand girl baby born as a gift.

A set of Hina-dolls usually consists of at least 15 dolls, all in the ancient costumes. The dolls most highly valued are the Dairi-sama, which represent the Emperor and Empress in resplendent court costumes of silk. They are attended by their two ministers, three kanjo (court ladies), and five court musicians. All are displayed on a tier of steps(usually five) from 3 to 6 ft. long and covered with bright red cloth.