The blog looked a little sparse in October, and I apologize for that. Things have really picked up here since the move to Tokyo and while I did my utmost to blog in advance of my parents' visit last month, somehow the free time I thought I'd have was lost in the flash of weeks.... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Children’s Day
We're coming to the meat of Golden Week right now, with Greenery Day (Midori-no-Hi) drawing to a close today. Tomorrow, May 5th, marks Children's Day, one of the more visually exciting holidays of this period. For many years, Children's Day exclusively honored the male offspring of a family. After all, girls already have their own... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Foundation Day
Today is a holiday in Japan, but not that you'd really notice. And frankly, given Japan's somewhat inglorious history in the first half of the 20th century, that may be entirely by design. Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinen no Hi) makes no secret of what it celebrates - the foundation of the nation of Japan and the... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Respect for the Aged Day 2014
Parts of this post were originally published on September 17, 2012. Greetings to you all from the land of the free and the home of the brave. Yes, I am currently back in the US, trying to recover from jet lag in time to celebrate my younger brother's wedding at the end of the week.... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Obon 2014
I was going to start off this post complaining about the heat (again 😛 ) but a quick glance through the archives showed me that last year's Obon post started off the same way. I suppose I'd better dial down the whining ... autumn will be here soon enough, I guess! Obon officially starts today,... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Umi no Hi (Marine Day)
Readers in the southern hemisphere, beware. I'm coming. And I'm bringing my winter woollies with me. Good GRIEF is it hot here lately. I could certainly do with a romp in the snow. Yes, summer is in full swing it seems. Though this year's rainy season was predicted to be heavier in July, we seem... Continue Reading →
Celebrate: Sports Day
I have to admit, in the pantheon of official Japanese holidays, this has always been one of my least favorites. Why? No reason other than that for three straight years, I was subjected to the incessant loudspeakers of the elementary school behind my Okinawa home as they practiced for their Sports Day undokai (more on that... Continue Reading →