From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Taiko Family

太鼓の家族

 
  
下に日本語で書くことがあります。 If you spend any time at all in Japan, you will hear and see TAIKO.  Taiko is traditional Japanese drumming, especially popular around neighborhood festival (matsuri) season.  Taiko is essential for Bon Odori, the lovely Japanese group dance done around a raised platform on which a taiko drummer keeps the beat, and you will often hear taiko resounding from deep within a temple or shrine. 

When I think of taiko, I can hear the deep, loud, full beat of the nagado daiko (the most popular kind of taiko drum), the way it starts slow, don.., don.., don.., and gradually increases in volume and speed, joined and joined again by other rhythms, becoming something I feel to the core, something wonderful and moving.  And when I think of watching taiko, I think of my best friend and her two handsome sons performing with their group.  Yes, they are truly a "Taiko Family" along with Dad who supports their taiko habit and takes pictures. 

When I first met Rebecca, nearly nine years ago, she was already into Taiko.  At that time, she was taking beginner taiko classes at the Tokyo American Club from Moko Igarashi, who is still her teacher today.  Rebecca had attended the TAC orientation program for people new in town, "Tokyo Here and Now" and had watched Moko-sensei and some of her more advanced students perform a couple of pieces.  She instantly fell under the spell of taiko and signed up for classes that very day.  Her boys were very young then, preschool and second grade, but soon they were taking classes too.

A tiny woman of unbelievable energy and talent, Moko Igarashi runs the taiko school, Miyabi Arashi, which means "Beautiful Storm".  She teaches children and adults in various Tokyo locations, such as ASIJ, the American Embassy Compound, the British School, Nishimachi and Tokyo American Club.  Moko teaches in English and in Japanese, often both.  She has quite a personality, is friendly and outgoing and seems to have an endless supply of personal energy, and boundless enthusiasm for taiko.  For a couple of years, Jonah took taiko classes, so I would drop him off and pick him up, and it was always thrilling to hear the taiko drums, which, though covered in towels to muffle the sounds during practice, were still thunderous and thrilling, partnered with Moko's instructive yells and whoops.  I even took classes myself for awhile, but I really don't have the endurance (or the rhythm) that taiko requires.  I'm glad I tried it, though, as I can appreciate a performance so much more having held the bachi (sticks) in my own hands.  It is much, much more difficult than it looks, but oh so fun, from the very first day.

Which brings me back to my friend and her "Taiko Family".  For years, Alexander and Ellis, along with their mom, have attended a two hour class every week, and then would have additional extended practice sessions twice a month.  Like with any other musical instrument, practice is essential, but taiko is really loud, so neighbors don't appreciate it if you practice at home with a real taiko drum.  As the boys grew older and stronger and taller, they became more and more skilled.  Some years ago, Moko asked Alexander, the oldest boy, to join her advanced troup.  He continued to put out his best effort and enjoyed performing with this select ensemble in many special venues throughout highschool.  He's performed in the ballrooms of fancy hotels at parties for famous people and to huge audiences in major auditoriums.  The whole family has traveled to far off places in Japan to attend taiko events such as Kanezawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture and to the Sato Island Earth Celebration, as well as places closer to home such as Yokohama and Yoyogi Olympic Stadium.

When it came time for Alexander to compose his university application essay, he wrote quite eloquently about going to taiko practice when he would rather play with his friends, getting up on stage even though he's quiet and reserved, and all the ways he felt that taiko had impacted his development.  Alexander was accepted into the college of his choice, and now it looks like Ellis will be following a similar path.  Moko has asked him to join her elite troupe.

Taiko's range is broad.  Moko teaches small children, and she perfoms with her own teacher, the master Sen Amano, who has been playing taiko for more than fifty years.  The performers play various types of drum, using their sticks not only on the tops, but on the sides, against each other, and in the air, as well as other instruments such as mokkin, a kind of xylophone, shinobue, a bamboo flute, and chan chiki which are small cymbols.  Generally the heavy drums remain stationary and the players move among them, such as in "River Piece".  Other popular pieces are "Running Horse", "Chichibu", and "Edo no Hana". 

Please take a look at these photos taken by Zhongmin (also known as Dad.)

上の物語を要約してみます。すみませんですが、私の日本語は上手じゃないから、多い間違いをしたので、英語の物語を訳してながら、たくさんのを失います。でも、英語の物語を読まなかったら、意味を分かれると思います。それで、私の日本語の勉強することです。

日本に来たら、時間が過ごしたら、太鼓を見て、聞きます。太鼓は伝説の日本のドラムすることです。人気があるだので、とくに近所の祭りで、盆踊 りのため必須です。神社や寺院から太鼓の音響が聞こえます。

私は太鼓について考えたら、長胴太鼓が聞きます。先ず、ゆっくりのビットはだんだんもっと大声になります。だんだん速くなります。他の韻律は参加してので、私の体野中にすばらしいことが感じれます。太鼓を見ることについて考えたら、いつも一番の友達の家族を考えます。レベカという友達と二人のハンソムの息子は太鼓をすることができるので、レベカのご主人はスポートして、写真を撮ります。

昔の８年以上にレベカと会ったときに、彼女はすでに太鼓をしています。いがらしもこ先生から東京のアメリカのクラブで初心のクラスをするので、今まだもこさんは先生です。レベカは初めてにもこさんに見たときに、もこさんはアメリカンクラブで特別な太鼓のパフォーマンスをして、レベカは直ちにクラスをサインアップをしました。その間に、二人の息子さんはとても若いけど、もう直ぐに二人も太鼓を始まりました。

いがらしもこさんは雅嵐の太鼓の学校を創立をしたので、もこさんはとても面白い人です。彼女の精力と才能も凄いです。いろいろ東京のところに事もたちと大人たちも教えます。たとえば、東京アメリカンクラブとか、西町学校とか、アメリカンの大使館の住宅とか、ブリトシの学校とか、ASIJ（モニカとジョナの学校）。日本語で、英語も教えますので、たびたびに両方使います。もかさんの個性は自身で好意的なですので、太鼓の熱中症は高いです。二年間ぐらいジョナも太鼓のクラスをするときに、私は連れて行って、連れって着てながら、わくわくさせたの音を聞こえました。練習ながら、タオルが太鼓をおおったけど、音は雷のようなあります。もこさんの教えたの大声で叫ぶことも聞こえたので、面白いクラスだと思います。私もしばらくにクラスをとったけど、残念ながら、太鼓の必要な我慢とリズムがありません。でも、やってみたことがうれしいなので、パフォーマンスを見たら、もっと分かります。

たくさん年間で、レベカとアレグザンダーとエリスも毎週２時間のクラスを参加したので、毎月に延ばしたの練習もしました。他の楽器を学ぶことのような、練習は要るけど、太鼓は煩いだから、家でできません。そして、二人の男の子は背高くなって、強くなって、上手になります。そして、もくさんはアレグザンダーに精鋭な太鼓のグルプに参加し招待をしました。高校生で、よく努力をしてので、たくさん面白いパフォーマンスをしました。いいホテルで、有名な人のためパーティで巨 大聴衆席も太鼓をしました。家族はいろいろ日本のところにパフォーマンスをしに行きました。たとえば、石川県のかねざわとか、山梨県のこふなど、さと島の地球の祝賀も、横浜と代々木オリーピクステージアムもパフォームしました。

大学に適用するときに、アレグザンダーは雄弁なイッセーを書きました。もちろん、太鼓について書いたので、子供のごろに練習をしたくなったなど、ステージの上に行かなかったなど、いろいろ方法太鼓は生活を影響させました。よかったですので、アレグザンダーは一番欲しいの大学に受け入れました！たぶん、エリスも同じコースであるので、最近もくさんは彼に特別なグルプに招待をしました。

太鼓の範囲を広いです。もくさんは小さい子供たちと大人も教えます。時々、もくさんは自分の先生とパフォームして、せんあまの様は５０年間に太鼓をしっています。いろいろ太鼓の種類だので、他の楽器も使います。たとえば、篠笛とか、ちゃんちきなど、木琴、フルートも使います。パフォーマンスの間にばちは太鼓の上段とか、側とか、空気も使います。大体重い太鼓は動かないので、皆はダンスをします。人気がある歌はチチブとか、走馬とか、内川太鼓とか、江戸の花などです。

ジョンミンという父親は撮ったの写真を見てください。
 

 

61/2 Hours, 16 Friends, 26 Kilometers

六つ時間半、十六人の友達、二十六のキロ

 

下に日本語で書き事です。もっと写真はここにある。More pix HERE.

Wednesday was a holiday, so many of my skater friends didn't have to

work.  Yagami-san took the opportunity to organize another of his adventure skates, and this one was just exactly what I like.  I will list the things I liked about this skating event.

• It was far enough to give us plenty of exercise, 26 kilometers. 
• The route passed through many different areas of Tokyo, special sections like Akihabara, Nihonbashi, and Ginza, each with their own flavor.  Skating near the bay, seeing the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba across the water, crossing bridges spanning canals, the hub at Shinagawa, the interesting old timey areas of Oimachi and Omori, then the bedroom communities southwest of Tokyo and finally a lovely, tall bridge over the Tamagawa River before reaching Kawasaki City. 
• The route was smooth for the most part, which is more enjoyable for skating.  I don't prefer skating over rough terrain.  I can stand it for awhile, but I don't like to do it for long periods.
• The route didn't include any dangerous areas, such as long downstairs, or steep downhills, or heavy pedestrian or bike traffic or long distances on busy streets.
• The route was always within reach of vending machines, so I didn't have to carry extra tea.
• The weather was perfect.  It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold, so I didn't have to carry extra layers, and there was no chance of rain.
• The other participants were all very pleasant people, 15 friends who I enjoy spending time with.  It was really nice that Nobu-san joined, it's been a long time since we've skated together.  He's one of my "oldest" skating friends, he was there the day I broke my shoulder on the Rin Rin Road 7 years ago.
• Everyone knows how to skate well, so there weren't any dangerous newbies in the group who could inadvertently make you fall. (I resemble that remark, see previous comment:)

  

• The food was fun and tasty. Yagami-san choose a fine place for lunch.  The soba was very good, not overfilling.  Then, soon after, we skated to a couple of shops to buy bean paste snacks for a dessert to enjoy in a park further along the route.
• The pace was perfect.  Yagami-san planned very well and made sure we rested here and there along the way for short intervals, and for a long time at the park in Shinagawa-ku.
• The goal was sufficiently grand.  The name of the temple is Kawasaki Daishi, which means Big Teacher, and its an amazing place.  I realized I had been there before, maybe five years ago with a different skating group. 

  

  Here's the website for the temple.   I'd like to go and explore it again with my family.
• To top it off, we enjoyed a Japanese sweet called Kuzumochi.  Mochi is a kind of pounded steamed rice cake, and the light brown kuzu powder comes from a starchy mountain root vegetable, like arrowroot.  I had an ice cream sundae that incorporated these and sweet red beans in a shell.  It was pretty good.
• And finally, getting to the start point, and getting back home were both quite easy, start to finish took about 8 hours.  A really wonderful day.  
• Here are all my best pix of the Fall Kawaski Daishi Kuzumochi Run

先週の水曜日は休日から、スケータ友達たちは仕事に行きません。それから、やがみさんは冒険のスケートを作りました。今度のは私には丁度いいです。そして、下にこのスケートの好きものをリストをしました。（でも、上の英語より、ちょっと短いです。

• ２６キロから、運動は十分です。
• 新しいルートから、たくさん面白いことを見えます。上野から始まったので、違い所に通り抜けた、たとえば秋葉原、日本橋、銀座です。湾の隣滑ったので、レインボーブリジとお台場も見えます。品川は中枢ですので、多い町と大森も面白い近所だので、遠くてきれい橋を渡った後に、川崎に着きました。
• ルートは大部分のすべすべしたので、楽しかったです。
• ルートは危ないじゃない。階段や険しい坂や忙しい道もないだので、安心しました。
• ルートはいつも自動販売機があるので、重いバックパックがありません。
• 天気は完璧でした。すごく厚いじゃなくて、すごく寒いじゃないので、

  

  雨が降らなかったです。
• 参加した人人はとてもいい人です。全部は私の友達です。お久しぶりにのぶさんは参加したので、長い時間前に会いました。７年前に、りんりんロードで角の骨を折ったときに、のぶさんはいました。
• みなは上手なスケータから、危ない新人がありません。
• 食べ物はおいしかったです。やがみさんのランチのレストランはいい選択でした。蕎麦はおいしかったので、うんと食べたの感情じゃなかったです。そして、ランチの後に甘えデザートを買えました。公園で食べました。
• ペースは完璧です。やがみさん上手な計画を作ったので、時々短い休憩を取って、品川の公園でもっと長い休憩を取りました。

  

• ゴールはとても雄大でした。のぶさんは川崎大師の意味は大きい先生と言いました。とても面白いところです。あそこにいるながら、前に来たと気づいていました。たぶん、５年前に、まっちさんとスケータイベントで行ったことがありました。家族とも一回行きたいんです。
• 最後のすばらしいことは、川崎のくず餅です。私はアイスクリムのサンディーを食べたので、くず餅と餡もありました。おいしかったです。
• 最後に、私には、スタートポイントとゴールも大体やさしいです。家から出たときから、家に帰ったときは８時間です。とてもよかった一日でした。
• これは私の秋の川崎大師くず餅ランの写真です。 

  

   

Broken New Years Resolutions

壊れた新年の抱負

 

日本語は下に書きました。Seems a bit late to be writing about New Years Resolutions?  Not really, because some who have made New Years Resolutions may still be keeping them.  Maybe struggling not to break them, or have broken them, but haven't abandoned them altogether.  I've been doing a little research and found that over 80% of NYR are broken by the end of January.   Experts have plenty of advice, basically centered on keeping the resolutions reasonable, setting incremental but specific goals, making a viable plan based on self assessment and education, and rewarding yourself for small successes.

The very nature of resolutions made for New Years tends to set us up for failure.  The all or nothing approach means that just one slip, and the resolution was not upheld and this makes it easy to forget the whole idea.  Further, there's the tendency to name everything we want to change about ourselves, creating an expansive self-help wish list, and never actually taking it seriously enough to make a plan.

That was my issue.  I had too many resolutions and not enough resolve.  But I'm not feeling negative about this at all.  (Robin, I know what you're thinking:)  Effecting positive changes is very difficult, and requires a multi-faceted approach.  I think it's okay to reach this point and take another look.

Here's some of my New Year's Resolutions and (their current status):

*Lose 7 kg.  (so far, I've lost and gained the same 1 kg over and over) 

*Aerobic work out at TAC more often (went once, first week of January.  Bad hip pain after running on treadmill.  Maybe better try a different approach.  Still trying to decide what that will be....)

*Go to Yoga classes several times a week (I've made it to class at least once a week, and have done yoga on my own at home sometimes.  Still not enough, need to go to class)

*Drink less coffee and wine and drink more water and green tea (doing better)

*Eat more tofu (YES, I'm eating tofu almost every day.)

*Get more sleep (fail)

*Write a blog entry once a week (fail)

*Eat smaller portions and more healthy foods (this week, started keeping a food diary, the shame will help)

*Clean out the den (not yet...) (ditto for all the other cleaning projects on my list)

*Start doing abs every day.  (Uh... starting tomorrow.)

  And there were a couple of others that I'll just keep to myself.  The other day, thinking about this blog entry, I realized that my New Years Resolutions weren't having a banner year, and I came up with a tool to help me rectify that situation.  It's an easy to use excel worksheet where I can enter daily data such as meals, exercise, what I'm accomplishing and how I'm feeling.  I hope to use this to help me improve a number of issues.  Just recording those potato chips and donuts was a deterrent.

Here on this page, and on smugmug from the link below, are pictures from our New Years Eve celebration at Zojyouji Temple near Shiba Koen and the Tokyo Tower.  Yoliko-san and Yagami-san went with us and Toby, and with thousands of people, we counted down the New Year and enjoyed champagne before walking home around 2am. 

The first Tokyo City Run of the New Year, we skaters went to Hie-jinja which is a shrine on our route.  There we got Omikuji, which are fortunes that you pick in a special way by shaking a numbered stick out of a jar.  Monica got one and so did I.  Monica's friends tried to help her translate hers, and I talked to a skater friend about mine, and then later, with the help of my teacher, Matsui-san, I learned even more by studying the kanji and looking up vocabulary.  Apparently it's going to be a pretty good year, with some excellent information such as WEST is my favorable direction, health and wellness will improve, success with school, finding lost things, and several other enticing tidbits.

While skating, I told my friends I was going to try to make shabu shabu that evening for the family, for the first time.  I had ordered everything through the co-op, pork and beef sliced thin, tofu and vegetables such as chrysanthemum leaves, chinese cabbage, negi (long onions), enoki and shitake mushrooms, and I had also obtained the two special dipping sauces, goma (sesame) and ponzu (citron).  As well, I had the right equipment, a nabe pot and a heater.  But I wasn't sure about the water/broth to cook everthing in.  A couple of my lady friends had good ideas, and told me to use instant konbu dashi. (seaweed flavored instant bullion)  Well that was just the ticket.  I already had it, so no problem.  The family really enjoyed the shabu shabu, it was easy to prepare, and a fun family meal. 

At the Christmas Run, last month, Ake-san gave me a present.  It's a cookbook of Japanese home cooking, written by a famous Japanese cookbook author, and it's in English.  I'm looking forward to trying more Japanese foods that I've enjoyed in restaurants and at people's homes, but never made myself.  When we move back to the US, I'm going to miss this delicious and healthy food, and knowing how to make it will be very important.  Thank you, Ake-san!

Go here for some good photos from this story. 　この物語について写真を見たら、私の写真のサイトはここにあります。

上の英語の書き事は新年についてです。最初の話は抱負についてだので、  両方一般と私に特有についてです。たくさん抱負を作ってけど、しにくいです。でも、続くがんばります。それを分かりたかったら、インタネットの翻訳を使ってください。

後で、新年イブについて書きました。よりこさんとやがみパパと増上寺に行きました。とても込んでいました！真夜中までカウントダウンをして、シャンパンを飲んで、全部を見ました。とても楽しかったです。

  今年の最初の東京シーティランで、日枝神社に行きました。そのときにモニカと私はお御籤を貰いました。モニカの友達たちは翻訳をやってみましたが、難しいです。よしのさんは私のを読んで、教えたので、まついさんという日本語の先生と漢字と語彙を勉強しました。とても面白いです。今年はいい年とらしい。方角は西です。紛失物が見つける、旅行は問題ない、健康は回春の兆しある、養生す。いいね。

滑るながら、友達たちと話しました。しゃぶしゃぶを始めに作ってみるつもりと言いました。 そして、アドバイスがくれました。コープから、色々原料を注文をしました。たとえば、牛肉、豚肉、ねぎ、白菜、きく？、椎茸、えのきを買いました。二つソースも買って、ポン酢、とゴマです。なべの皿があるので、ヒータも準備をしました。でも、私の質問は熱湯かどうか出しが使いますか。友達のアドバイスはこんぶだしを使って、インスタントは大丈夫です。よかった！ある、ある。そして、その日に家族は初めての家でしゃぶしゃぶを楽しました。

クリスマスらんで、あけさんは私に料理の本をくれました。とてもいいです。英語であるので、家の日本料理を作り方を学べます。新しい日本料理を作ってみるを楽しみにしています。いつか日本から引っ越すときに、日本料理を食べたいので、自分で作ると思います。日本料理はおいしくて、ヘルシーですね。あけさん、ありがとうございます。ドンさんも、プレセントをくれてありがとうございます。

Here a wedding, There a wedding.

結婚式はここ、結婚式はあそこ

 

We have had the great pleasure of attending a couple of wedding parties lately.  I say "we" because even though I didn't get to go to Tennessee for Lance and Tamra's wedding, I've worked extensively on the photo albums of the pictures Martin took, which will be our wedding gift, and I almost feel like I was there.  I really did attend the wedding party for our skater friend and his lovely bride here in Tokyo, as did his and her coworkers and many of our skater friends.  Pictured above are most of the skaters who attended.  Take a good look.  You won't often see this motley crew in formal wear.

  I can't really compare the two weddings because we didn't attend Irie-san's actual wedding, but I think it will be fun to look at some of the similarities and differences of the two parties.  It is customary that the Japanese couples have a party after the very formal and traditional wedding, to which they invite their many friends and coworkers.  This is called a nijikai, which means second party.

That being said, let's do a little comparison of wedding customs and traditions.  The Japanese wedding nijikai is set up at a restaurant banquet room, and friends are positioned at the entrance to check people in and take the admission fee.  This is different from the American wedding, where it is not customary to pay a fee, but it is normal to give a gift which can either be a useful item or money.  The nijikai could be compared to the reception, and it will generally last for two hours, whereas the American reception generally lasts several hours.

After people have assembled, the Japanese couple makes their grand entrance.  It was very interesting, with much bowing, they briefly bowed to everyone individually in greeting, so as they took tiny steps forward, they looked to each side and bowed and bowed and bowed on their way to the front of the banquet room.  After that there was a champaigne toast, which is not so different from the American version.  The restaurant served a delicious buffet, (as it was Lawry's, I must admit I went through the roast beef line twice), there was a game, and speeches, the one by the bride was very gracious. (I didn't understand most of it, but I recognized the formal language).  When they cut the cake, I didn't see him feed it to her, if he did, but when she fed it to him, it was with a surpising amount of intensity.  Look at the picture above, and notice her mischievous expression.  He, on his part, took it like a man, and ate it right up.  When the newly married couple had made their entrance earlier, he was wearing a red sash over his tux, and later, he presented this sash very formally to a male friend, while his bride presented her bouquet to a woman friend.  My guess is that these friends are an unmarried couple, and it is the Irie-san's wish that they be the next married couple. 

Of course, the American tradition is to toss the bouquet to all the unmarried women, and the one who catches it, will be the next to be married.  It's a very popular tradition, but the only thing that I don't like about it, is that children seem to always get involved.  Obviously, it's just for fun, but still, if you are a single girl, hopeful for marriage, and every time you get a chance to try to catch a bouquet, the clamoring little girls in front always grab it, what's the use?  If you have to wait for them to grow up and get married before you have a chance, you probably shouldn't believe in this tradition.

A related activity which is almost as popular, is having the groom toss the wife's garter to the unmarried men.  Actually it is even more interesting than that, as first, the groom "goes and gets" the bride's garter from under her dress, generally with his teeth.  This makes for some interesting photos, which took up a whole page in the album we're making for Lance and Tamra.  They did it in a very cute way, her sitting on a chair, with appropriately sultry music being played, and Lance ducked under her dress and kept coming out with surprising items, eventually the garter.  The funny part, and very common I think, is that all the single men assembled, but when the garter was tossed, it dropped to the floor twice and had to be retossed.  Studying the photos, you can understand why.  Only a couple of guys were actually trying to get it, most of the guys were holding their hands down, clasped, in front of them, watching, but trying not to accidently catch it..  But my friend, Laura's beau was really putting out the effort, and he was eventually successful.  I'm sure we'll hear more wedding bells in the future.

With the American wedding reception, there are several customs.  Of course there is usually drinking, good food, and generally two cakes, one a tall white elaborate one, and usually the couple feeds each other a piece of cake, sometimes carefully, sometimes a bit aggressively.  The second cake is called the grooms cake, and is usually a different flavor, maybe a fruit cake or something interesting.  The custom is for the bridal couple to take the top, smallest layer of the main wedding cake home and put it in their freezer to share on their first wedding anniversary.  I wonder how many people actually remember to take it out of the freezer and eat it together one year later.

Usually there is dancing, first with the wedding couple, then the bride dances with her father and the groom with his mother.  Then more dancing, and more dancing.  Usually there is a band or some other form of music.  You can tell by the pictures of Lance and Tamra's wedding that the band was good because the dancing was a big hit.  Well I know this for a fact, because I saw this band perform last summer in Nashville and they were quite entertaining.  Gee, I wish I could have gone to Tennessee for that wedding.  It really looked like fun.  The send-off to the bride and groom was a bit unique.  The guests all lined up outside with lit sparklers, and formed a path that the bridal couple followed to an extremely large and shiny white truck.  There was a ladder for the bride to climb into the truck, and she waved goodbye with tears of joy as they drove off to their honeymoon.

The send-off for our Japanese friends was similar, but maybe more traditional.  All the guests joined hands and formed a tunnel, under which the happy couple slowly walked through.  In the course of their procession, various friends put their arms down and momentarily trapped them.  It was all very festive, so very fun, and Martin got some good pictures.  Of course, he was not the only one with a camera, we're in Japan after all, everyone has a camera.  This is one well documented event.

  I thought you might be interested to see some of the others who brought their camera to the event.  On your left is a group of guests taking a good shot at the bride and groom, and here is my good friend, Naomi-chan with her camera.  She just might be the next to get married.  I've got my fingers crossed for you, Shigeshige.  One other custom of the Nijikai is to play a video which would be a collection of pictures of them as children, when they are dating, videos of their parents talking about them, and in this case, Irie-san's parents went around to all the important points in their town and filmed his elementary school, etc.  These are always interesting, especially if there are pictures of skaters included:)

After the wedding party, since our apartment is so close to the restaurant, we invited the skaters over for   a drink.  It was a Sunday night, and only about 9pm,   so several folks came.  As Martin and I have been working on the photo albums of his best friend's son's wedding, the finished one was right there,(which is composed of enlargements of the wedding itself and posed pictures afterwards like this one to your right) and the skaters took a look.  Well, that was really interesting.  Japanese friends are always asking me about how things are done in America, in comparison to how things are done in Japan.  And since we had all just been to a Japanese Wedding Second Party, it was especially appropriate.  Martin's pictures are quite good, and I hope our friends will like their albums.  This week, before his business trip to Hamamatsu, we finished the second album of smaller pictures of all wedding related events, yesterday I bought the materials needed, and tomorrow Martin will construct a shipping container and I will mail it.  That's proof that this couple, married ~22 yrs, can still work together to get something accomplished.

By the way, I should mention here that of the other three wedding parties I've attended since coming to Japan, all three couples were soon expecting a baby.  Here is my sweet friend, skater Kaorin-san.  My other good friend and fellow skater, Yumi-san, is also expecting.  The hubbies are very happy, and I wish everyone much happiness and good luck.  Campai!!

上の物語は長いですね。最近ブログのフォーマットを変わっているので、ポーストを久しぶりに書きました。このポーストは最近にマーティンはアメリカに一番の友達の息子さんの結婚式に参加して、たくさん写真を撮りました。それから、私は彼をアルバムを作る手伝いました。もっと最近、私たちは入江さんというスケータの二次会に参加しました。それはとても面白かったです。アメリカの結婚式の文化や習慣と日本のは対照しにくいだけど、それについて話しました。今度殆ど英語だけ書いたけど、次はたくさん日本語で書いてがんばります。

Umbrella Festival

傘の祭り

   

日本語の短い解釈は下である。I call this picture Yakitori Fuufu, because one name for a married couple is fuufu.  They were working a booth, making yakitori like they've probably done together for years.  This is one of the photos that Martin took at the Azabu Juban Matsuri (yearly neighborhood festival in nearby Azabu Juban).  We've been to this matsuri several times, and it seems like it's usually raining every year at this time for several days in a row without respite.  But when the sun comes out, it seems to get really hot, really fast.  So what can you do.  It's a trite saying, but true, that the rain didn't dampen spirits at the festival.  We thought, even with the rain, that it would be good to go to the festival because it might be less crowded, and maybe it was, but it was still packed, as this matsuri is very popular every year.  Martin took lots of photos of people (mostly of girls, I noticed) laughing and smiling and having a great time even as the rain poured down.  Thank you for letting me share your photos, Martin.  Please take a look at these photos in their larger size on SMUGMUG, as some are quite good.

Toby is very fun to take to a festival, and even though we can take him on the train in his doggy carrier, we chose to walk to Azabu Juban instead, so we wouldn't have to shlep the light but bulky carrier around in the crowd.  Instead, I used a little pouch a bit like a baby sling, and that worked out well when it was too crowded to let him walk.  Toby is a people magnet,and everyone wants to pet him, always saying "kawai" and "cute".  I always enjoy talking to the people, hearing their stories about their own dogs.  Once they realize I can speak a little Japanese, they really get to talking fast, and lose me completely, but I just smile and nod, and it's fun.  When it was time to go, we found a taxi who didn't seem to mind our dog, so that worked out well.  By that time, I was drenched and tired of juggling the leash, the dog, the umbrella and beer.  But we'll do it again next year, if we're still here.  

上の写真のタイトルは焼き鳥の夫婦です。麻布十番祭りで、焼き鳥を作っての二人はいつも一緒に働くと思います。何回もその祭りに行ってので、時々雨が降ります。この時期は雨がよく降ると思います。でも、皆は楽しんでいると思います。祭りはいつもとても込んでいるので、重い雨から、もう少ない人は来ると考えたけど、今度もたかくさん人は来ました。マーティンは祭りで写真を撮って楽しました。殆ど全部はかわい女の人と気づきました。笑。皆は笑って、微笑があります。マーティン、写真を使うこと許可するためにありがとう。ＳＭＵＧＭＵＧで大きいサイズを見たら、よくよいと思います。

トビは祭りに連れて行くことは楽しいです。犬のケリアーを使ったら、電車を乗ることができます。でも、麻布祭りはとても込んでいるので、ケリアーはちょっと邪魔をさせるので、麻布十番に歩きました。それよりも、込んでいる間で、トビのため歩くことは危ない間で、ベービースリングのようを使いました。トビは人の引きつける犬らしいです。皆は彼を触って、話します。いつも”かわいい”か”cute”と言います。私は人と話して、楽しんでいます。人々は自分の犬について話したいので、彼たちは私は日本語を分かると思って、よく早く話して、私はあまり分からないけど、微笑をして、頷いて、大丈夫と思う。出る時に、犬を好きなタクシーを見つけたので、よかったです。その時に、私はずぶぬれになったので、犬とか皮ひもとか傘とかビールを処理しにくいでした。来週も、まだ日本にいったら、行きますよ。

And finally, we rarely see lightning here in Tokyo, nothing like it used to be in Tennessee, but recently, Martin had a chance to get this picture.  ついに、東京であまり稲光を見ない、テネシー州らしくないです。最近マーティンは珍しいチャンスがあたので、下の写真を取りました。                                                           　　　　オリギナルサイズはSMUGMUGである。See it in a higher pixel size HERE.

Jonah's Izu Experience

ジョナの伊豆の経験

  

One of the many things we love about living in Japan, is the international school our kids attend, American School in Japan, or ASIJ.  One of the many programs in the Middle School is the 7th Grade Outdoor Education Program, which involves a weeklong class-trip to Izu.  This is a multi-faceted program, integrated into the science curriculum with the theme "Man and His Environment", but also emphasizes social relationships, reflecting the developmental status of the students at this age, and Japanese History and Culture of that area.  In the above picture, Jonah and Andrew are swimming with dolphins.  Besides spending alot of time learning about marine life this school year, they had swimming in PE class, and learned how to snorkel in preparation for this event.


 

 

<Jonah's Izu booklet          

Monica's Izu booklet (from 2 years ago)>

                              

 Izu is a large mountainous peninsula southwest of Tokyo.  With its jagged coastline and a combination of temperature and currents, it's ecosystem supports a vast diversity of marine life, birds and plants.  The week they are actually in Izu is only a part of this program, and the Izu booklet helps to reinforce the  learning before, during and after the trip.  The booklet contains lots of important information such as rules, plans, schedules, and procedures specific to this group, this trip.  There are also maps of the Izu area and a Field Guide that is actually made by the students as they study science before the trip.  Jonah was responsible for researching and writing the field guide cards on the Little Egret (bird), Sea Cucumber, and Feather Duster Worm (marine invertibrates).  Other students did other creatures, and the teachers assembled the result as individual field guides which the students referred to during field research at Izu, including inspecting tidepools, hiking and snorkeling.  Other aspects of the Izu booklet include in-depth coverage of special activities they do such as beach clean-up and algae pressing, taking compass readings, songs, poem writing, and extensive note taking for the culture day at Shimoda.

Sure, that's all fine.  Lot's of learning, but the best part was that Izu was really fun!  Jonah's hands-down favorite activity was sea kayaking.  He said it was so awesome!  He really enjoyed maneuvering the kayak along the beach, going fast around the rocks and risking tipping over in the waves of the open sea.  He said there was a very long training session for safety before the students actually got into the boats.  He also really liked the dolphin swim, when he wore a wet suit, snorkel and flippers, which happened at the Aquarium, as well as the seal show which was "really cool" and seeing this huge blue crab.

Jonah enjoyed seeing the black kites at the cliffs over the sea.  These large birds would fly up very high, looking like an eagle, and then swoop down in a swirling corkscrew manner diving for food which they would catch with their feet.  When the students went to the cliffs, it was after the "Trust Hike", where they were all blindfolded except the student in front, and they held the shoulders of the person in front of them, a team building activity.

The students slept in minshuku, on futon with sleeping bags.  The meals were all interesting.  One night, they made a community meal of spagetti and salad.  Jonah got an extra oreo for saying "thank you". (that's my boy).  Another night they went to a local Japanese restaurant, and Jonah had Tonkatsudon, which is a breaded chicken filet on a bed of rice with sauce.  Once they went to an onsen, and another night was the bonfire and cook-out.  Half the 7th grade class went Jonah's week, and half went the second week.  They were further divided for activities, so there was always a managable group.  Often the day's activities would keep them away from camp all day, and they would go into the kitchen after breakfast and pack their own lunch.  Jonah always made himself a ham sandwich because the ham was so delicious, he said. 

For several weeks before the Izu trip, the 7th grade had been studying about the the arrival of Commodore Perry and his Black Ships during the mid-1800's.  The students went by cable car to the mountain top where the lookout first saw the ships, and later rode a replica ship, 1/3 the size.   From it's deck, they tossed shrimp senbei for the black kites.  It was thrilling.   They also got the chance to view some very old scrolls which he found fascinating. 

Understated but very true, the 7th grade class trip to Izu was a unique and unforgetable experience for our 12 year old. 

  Dear My Japanese Friends,  最近の生活はとても忙しくなりました。色々理由から、そのブログにあまり書きません。未来に良くなりたいですが、今後ろに遅れたです。それで、私の日本語は下手なので、翻訳を作ることは長い時間かかります。今度、英語を読んで、写真見て、翻訳のサイトを使ってもいいですか？ごめんね。

Izu PPT made by Science Teacher is Download 2008_izu_test_review.ppt

それは科学先生を作ったの面白いパーワーポイントです。

Ohanami on Skates

スケートのお花見

下の物語はお花見の滑ることについてです。 この日本語は短い要約です。今年のお花見はとてもすばらしいかったと思います。いい天気だから、桜の花の時節は長くて、きれいです。そして、たくさん照っているの日だので、皆は楽しめました。７年かん日本に住んだけど、毎年は違いますね。時々他の年のお花見はあまりよくない。風とか雨とか寒い天気からです。今年の上野のＣＲとリンリンのお花見ランの写真を載せました。

Isn't this magnificant?  It was truly a wonderful Cherry Blossom Season in Japan this year, starting early, lasting long, and accompanied by enough sunny weather to enjoy it fully.  Sometimes, the weather... cold, rain and wind can thwart nature's design to provide this glorious hallmark of the onset of spring.  But this year, we had our share of lovely blossoms and even the chance to enjoy them on skates more than once.  You can click on any of these pictures for a larger view.

Ohanami, literally, means flower viewing, the word is お花見、the first letter isn't a kanji but the honorific "O" which is often attached with respect to certain words.  Some other words that can start with this "O" are oshigoto (work), osake, (liquor), and osushi (you know what sushi is).  The second kanji 花、hana, means flower, and 見, means see.  Traditional Ohanami celebrations occur all over Japan at this time as the cherry trees are blooming.  The basic ingredients are something to eat, something to drink, a blooming sakura (cherry) tree to sit under, and someone to enjoy it with.  The skaters do all that, but adding the skates makes it very interesting indeed.  On March 30th, we skated a special route, designed to enjoy several places where many cherry trees are concentrated, such as around Ueno Pond and several points near the Imperial Palace.  After reaching our usual goal of Jingu, the City Run skaters moved to the Aoyama Cemetery, stopping on the way at the convenience store for Obento (lunchbox food) and the all important Osake.  There, under our usual tree, we all enjoyed a very nice Ohanami.  Then, a nice surprise, my best friend, Rebecca, who is not a skater, YET, but knows my friends, just happened to choose that day and that place to enjoy Ohanami with her son, Ellis.  She saw the skates laying around, and assumed correctly, that she'd find me there too.  Here she is with skater, Luis.  And, though I or Martin took all the other pix on this page, I wanted to share this one (of me) from Iwa-san.  I just like it.  Please see Iwa-san's photo documentary of the 2008 Ohanami Ueno City Run HERE. 

So, a wonderful cherry blossom season was thoroughly enjoyed in Tokyo, and, besides our Ohanami City Run, Martin and I often walked out with Toby to our neighborhood sakura trees which are lit at night and very popular with the crowds, and we even took Toby on the train to Ueno Park one evening, and found it crowded with happy merrymakers celebrating under the blooms.  Because it's a little colder further north, and the cherry trees bloom about a week later in Ibaraki Prefecture, we had a chance for a second helping of Ohanami on Skates.  That would be the Rin Rin Ohanami Run.  As I've mentioned here before, the Rin Rin Road was once a railway, so it is flat and mainly straight and traverses the landscape for 40 kilometers, (about 25 miles).  Yes, it was on the Rin Rin that I broke my shoulder several years ago when I first started skating, and I've skated it several times since, spring and fall.  Martin skated the Rin Rin last spring for the first time, and this year I was able to convince Jonah to go.  However, for several reasons, we decided to only do the first half of the trail, just 20 km. There's a bus station at that point, so bus to train to home took about two hours. 

Several features make the Rin Rin Road perfect for an Ohanami Skate.  You can take a train out of Tokyo to Iwase, where we met our group eventually totalling 27 people, walk a short distance from the train station, and pick up the trail.  From there, you skate 40 km, and end at Tsuchiura, where you can take the train back to Tokyo.  Back when the Rin Rin was a railway, of course there were train stations and platforms.  Now that the tracks have been pulled up and the trail paved, all that remains of the train stations are the laid stone walls, and in some cases, the paved platforms, and in every case, glorious very old, large, established cherry trees.  It is on one such platform that we enjoyed our lunch under a tree that had been planted in the 1920's.  It was just delightful.  This road is also used for bicycles and running.  The scenery is lovely, with open spaces running through very green agricultural area irrigated in the same way as rice paddies, many places were flowers and young trees have been planted along side, interesting villages, and the looming Tsukuba mountain up ahead.

  Please see our pictures on SMUGMUG of the 2008 Rin Rin Ohanami Run. I do want to mention, though I'm embarrassed to admit it, that while Martin and Jonah and I only did a half Rin Rin this time, several members of our group did a "Double"!  Yes, that's 80 kilometers!!  They started around 8am at Tsuchiura and skated 40 km, met us, then doubled back and skated 40 more, while we got off at the half way point.  Here's my hero, Yumi-san, the organizer of the event, and one of the Double Doers.  She may be a bit tired, but always has that lovely smile, no matter what. 

 

Holy Week

聖週間

 

We've been spending a lot of time at church lately, him with the altar server program, me with the parish council, but this week, Holy Week, it's even more so.  We really wish we didn't have to miss the special Easter Vigil, but we're going to Viet Nam and Cambodia tomorrow.  It's a week-long trip, packed in one duffle bag and one carry-on  per person.  Tomorrow is a full day's worth of travel, Tokyo to Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia, via Hochiminh City (used to be Saigon) in Vietnam.  We'll come back to Hochiminh later after Angkor Wat and a couple days in Phnom Phen.

It's the kids' Spring Break, so we've been planning this for awhile.  Martin wanted to go to Vietnam, he's very interested in geo-politics and he makes it seem very interesting.  When I was a child, the War in Vietnam and the domestic scene, with anti-war protests was on the news every night.  So there's that, but I'm also looking forward to seeing the ancient temples in Ankor Wat, whereas Martin is excited about the history museums in Pnom Pen.  Monica and Jonah are both looking around for the beach, alas...not in our plans.  But they are both experienced and congenial travel companions, and I'm sure they'll make the most of this opportunity to see another place in the world.

What does all this have to do with St. Patrick's day?  Good question.  Timing.  Martin took a few pictures at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Omotesandou last weekend.  I really like some of these pictures, please take a look. 

I have many good resolutions for when I get back from this trip.  Here is one:

I will start an English Conversation class for my beginner English speaker skater friends and their families.  We will have this class about twice a month on Sunday afternoon after City Run at my apartment.  In a group setting, for an hour and a half, we will talk, play games and enjoy speaking English.  There will be homework, but you don't have to attend every class.  The first class will be on April 6.  I will write more on Mixi after I return from Indochina

旅行後に、私は英語の会話のクラスを始まります。このクラスは初学者のためのスケータと家族のためです。　クラスは日曜日のごご、シーティーランの後で、毎月二回ぐらい催します。グルプは一時間半で、遊技して、お喋って、笑って一緒に。宿題ですが、やさしいです。初めのクラスは４月６日です。インド中国から帰る後でミクシでもっとを書きます。

Here is another.  I've learned a lot in Dreamweaver in my class at Temple.  I've reworked half the index page of my homesite.  When I come back, I'll move forward on that, and upload the page renewed as Dreamweaver.  That's a landmark start, and I can go on from there. 

That's just two.

   

Active body, active mind

活動的な体、意欲的な精神

今度日本語を書くなかったです。次のとき。It's been so cold here in Tokyo lately, often as low as 2°C. (36°F), about normal for January.  But if it's not raining when Sunday rolls around, of course we join City Run.  Last Sunday, there were only a few participants at Ueno, but more arrived (including Monica and Jonah) at Tokyo Station.  Here's a few pix from that fun event.  Thanks to ShigeShige for taking the above gathering photo, but I took most of them.  Somehow, we managed without Iwa-san. 

The night before was the monthly Tokyo Saturday Night Skate, but this time Papa-san changed the route so that we could end up in Roppongi and go see my favorite rock band, Invago, play live at the Rock Factory.  Just a few pix from the skate and the fun afterwards, but no pix of the band because we were too busy dancing!

So, they say that the secret to dealing well with aging is to stay active, and hopefully yoga and skating will be enough because I enjoy both.  But what about keeping the mind active?  My bet is on LEARNING. 

Though I've been studying Japanese for several years, and my writing is getting better, I'm still barely able to have a conversation.  When I write in Japanese on the computer, I can take my time, use my dictionary and internet resources, and check the grammar in my reference books.  But speaking has to come straight out of my head, and the vocabulary in that small space is inadequate.  What I've decided to do, with the help of my teacher, is to seriously study Kanji.  I think this will help me improve my vocabulary by discovering what I already know and applying it to learn more.  Each Kanji has at least two readings, so that when one kanji is paired with another kanji to make a word, the kanji will be read one way, and with another kanji it will be read another way, but if you see it by itself it's something else.  I actually know more than I am using, and I just have to make the connections and grow the vocabulary that way.  For example, 火山、KAZAN, volcano, is 火 KA fire, (as in KAYOUBI, Tuesday, or fire day) and 山, read YAMA by itself, but SAN when put with the name of a mountain, such as Fujiisan, and the san changes to zan in the middle of the word.  Or how about the word progress, JYOUTATSU, 上達、which is hard for me to remember, but looking at the kanji, the first one, 上, which means up, is pronounced UE by itself.  But I know the word 上手、JYOUZU, which means fluent, or skill, with the second kanji 手、(pronounced TE by itself and meaning hand), so I can make that connection, and learn more words that way.  My method is to write the kanji many times, all the while thinking of the words that can be made with that character, some of which I already recognize when I hear them. I'm using some smart kanji flashcards made by White Rabbit Press, then build on that with my teacher at the lessons.

Also putting my brain through a work-out is my new class at Temple University.  It's been 20 years since I last sat in a college classroom, but after sleeping with Dreamweaver under my pillow for a few months I realized it wasn't seeping in, so I signed up for this class on website design which began last week.  The instructor is knowledgable and personable, and the HTML textbook is interesting, taking a complex subject and making it learner friendly.  We'll see how that goes as the weeks pass.

THIS and THAT:  

One day recently, we visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography and enjoyed the innovative exhibits called Still/Life by four contemporary Japanese artists.  After we left the museum and walked into the Ebisu Garden Place square, we happened upon one of the featured artists creating a collaborative project of whirling people.

Monday of last week was a holiday, Coming of Age Day, and I accompanied Martin to Meiji Jingu so he could take pictures.  On this day, called Seijin-no-hi, anyone who will turn 20 years of age that year celebrates their arrival to adulthood.  Though we only saw a couple of young men in the traditional dress, there were many pretty young ladies in kimono, some with a parent, some with a boyfriend, but mostly with their girlfriends.  Please see Martin's 成人の日photos album.　I didn't get the connection, but there were dozens of magnificent ice sculptures lining the way the Meiji Shrine.  My favorite was the ice skater above. 

Sunday, we had a few friends over, including Toby's surrogate brother, Indy.  Here's Martin posing with both doggies.  My good friend, Junko-san was kind enough to give me some tips on dog care.  Remember, she's the creator of Toby's journal from last summer.

And, surprise, surprise.  It actually snowed yesterday.  It was so pretty.  School wasn't called off, the snow stopped falling mid-morning and turned to rain, but it was nice while it lasted.

    

Never a dull moment

絶えず大忙しいで

English is written below.  上の陶器美術物は３００年以上前に京都の近くに作られました。先週レベカという友達と出光美術館に行って、展示を見ました。活け花先生は”乾山の芸術と光琳”を推薦しました。それはとても 面白かったです。乾山と光琳は兄弟です。光琳は陶器を作って、乾山は画家です。 上の大皿は一つから１２個セット。各自個は各自月で、俳句と芸術があります。私の一番の気に入りのは上です。 藤井と鳥のは３月のためです。ウェブサイトは出光美術館。

いつも忙しいだけど、先週最もです。木曜日から日曜日まで、私はたくさん色々していましたので、私だって信じられない。たぶんヨガから、最近もっと勢力があるので、全部をできました。美術館後でレベカと梅の花という豆腐レストランに食べに行きました。それはおいしくて、きれい装飾です。とてもすばらしい経験です。

その４日間で他のできたこと正し順序じゃない：

• 活け花のクラスを参加する。
• ヨガくらすに行く。
• 二つ英語のクラスを教えました。
• 海野さんの忘年会に参加して、写真はイリエさんとおいしい食べ物です。
• 教会に行く。
• くきさんの英語のサロンの大きいクリスマスパーティを手伝いました。たくさん日本人女性を何回も前に会いました。それはとても楽しかったです。前年２５年間母に違う手製の装飾を貰います。その装飾を使って、衣装を作って、プライーズを勝ち取りました。（笑）
• ＩＮＶＡＧＯ,私の気に入るの音楽のバンドを六本木に見に、聞きに、行きました。バンドの歌歌手は私のＭｉｘｉ友達です（Luca)。また来週末にバンドは三回上演します。いつかこのバンドは有名になると思います。これはグルプの最初ＣＤです。次のＣＤは直ぐに来ます。
• 主人の懇願から、車でナビを使って、知らない所に行って、特別物を持って帰りました。(ピーナッツバター１４つ）私にはそれはとても難しかったです。ナビは日本語でだし、私は本当に方向音痴がある。そうすると大きい混成です。
• オンラインでクリスマス買い物をしました。それはしにくい。長い時間かかりました。
• クリスマスランの計画を作って手伝いました。（レストランに行って、予約を作りました。）やがみさんのサイトに見てください。皆スケータは参加つもりして欲しいです。
• 上野ＣＲに参加しました。その日に外苑の銀杏木は美しくなりました。
• 子供たちとクリスマス木を建てました。
• 娘を医者に連れて行きました。お世話をしました。

The top picture is a piece of artistic pottery made near Kyoto more than 300 years ago.  Last week, I went with my friend, Rebecca to the Idemitsu Museum of Arts to see the exhibit "Art of Kenzan and His Brother Korin" which was recommended to us by our Ikebana teacher.  It was totally amazing. Korin made the pottery, and Kenzan, the artist, did all the painting.  The above picture is actually a dish, part of a set of 12, one for each month.  Each correlates to a beautifully written poem which was also on display.  The wisteria and bird dish above, for March, was my favorite.

It's always busy, but last week, from Thursday to Sunday I got so much done, even I couldn't believe it.  Maybe because of yoga, I'm more energetic lately.  After the art museum, Rebecca and I went to a tofu restaurant, Umenohana (plum blossom).  Not only was the food delicious, but the decor was lovely.  A totally wonderful experience.

Some of the other things I did during those 4 hyper-busy days, in no particular order are:

• Ikebana class
• Yoga class
• Taught two English lessons
• Went to Unno-san's End of the Year party.  The picture is of Irie-san and some delicious food.
• Church
• Participated in Kuki-san's English Salon Christmas Party.  This was totally fun.  I've met all these ladies several times before.  I even won a prize for the best costume, incorporating my Mom's homemade Christmas ornaments which she's given us every year since about 25 years ago.
• I got to go see my favorite band, INVAGO, play in Roppongi.  The lead singer of the band has become my friend.  The picture is of their first CD.  They're currently recording their second CD.  This weekend they'll be performing all three nights in different places.  I just know they'll be famous some day.
• At Martin's request, I used the navi system in the car and went to a place I didn't know to pick something up for him.  (14 jars of peanut butter) This was really hard, partially because the navi system is in Japanese, but mostly because I am totally directionally challenged and always lost.  So it was a major accomplishment.
• Did my Christmas shopping online.  Terrible experience with American Eagle Outfitters.  Took a really long time, and I don't know if the stuff will even come at all.
• Helped Yagami-san plan the Christmas Run (Skating through town wearing Santa Outfits on the 24th.)  This will be Martin's first Santa Skate.  I'm doing the restaurant reservation and food ordering. 
• Ueno City Run. Skated from Ueno to Aoyami with skating group.  The Ginko trees at Gaienne (goal) were so fabulously beautiful yellow gold.
• Took Monica to the doctor and gave her special attention.
• With the help of the children, put up the Christmas tree.
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