Baby it's hot outside

Anytime a friend offers to take me to Costco, I jump at the chance.  Even though our kids were out on summer holiday, my friend and I decided it was time to go.  We could fit all three kids in the backseat since only one of her kids is still in a car seat. 

We headed out early, so we could arrive when it opened.  I had a list of fun things to buy for myself and 2 other friends.

After a glorious trip to Costco, my friend and I had three energetic kids that needed to run and have some fun.  It was decided that we should head to a park.  It was hot outside, 35°C/95°F, but it was also windy.  My friend found a "ninja training" park about 15 minutes from the magnificent warehouse.  We packed our treasures in ice and headed over.

The kids started shrieking and throwing fists in the air as soon as they set their eyes on Misato Park.  There were so many things to climb and test their limits on.  While on the one hand we loved hearing their cheers, but on the other hand, they needed to stay safely in their car seats until we were parked.  As soon as the car was turned off, they scrambled to get out. 

We grabbed bottles of water and watched the kids take off.  I quietly set my timer for 10 minutes as they hit the treeless play structure. 

The three kids immediately climbed up and over and across all sorts of equipment.  They were so happy to be free to play.

When my timer went off, we called the kids over.  They drank water and we put ice packs on their necks to keep them cool in the sweltering heat.  After a short break, they headed back out. 

There were several play structures in the same area of the park.  There was also a misting area.  But none of them had any shade to speak of.  So, we let the kids play for 3 - 10 minute stints before we called it a day.  It was sad to make the kids leave, but it was important to stay mindful of the heat.  Heatstroke is very serious here in Japan.  According to Japan Today (a Tokyo based online newspaper), just last week, 11 people died and 5,600 were sent to the hospital with heat related medical issues.

We agreed that we need to try to take the kids again when the weather isn't so crazy because this park is truly insane.

A little scientific fact

While my son is on vacation from school, I try to do a balance of activities.  Some things are completely my agenda, while other activities are totally kid focused and driven.  Of course, I also plan days where we do absolutely nothing, not even going to the park, to force him to figure out how to entertain himself.

Today we followed his recent obsession with science and headed to the Itabashi Science & Education Museum.  It was a bit of a bike ride in the heat of the morning.  Despite leaving at 8:30 am, it was already 32°C/89°F.  But we drank a lot of water and headed for the air conditioning of the nearest science museum.  My friend's daughter joined us as she is out of school and looking for things to do.  Despite being 9 years older than my son, she enjoys hanging out with us and we are pleased to have the company.

We arrived shortly after opening.  I saw a vending machine selling tickets of some sort.  I asked the woman at the desk how much the museum cost and she informed me it was free.  They only charge for the planetarium shows - ¥120 for kids and ¥350 for adults ($1.10/$3.25).  I was a bit shocked, but happy to enjoy a practically free museum with my kiddo. 

Just inside the entrance, there were several robots for the kids to interact with.  It was exciting for my little robot fan.  Some of them were interactive and even spoke to the kids.  The kids could climb inside one robot and use the controls to be an extension of themselves.  It was pretty neat. 

After the robots, we headed downstairs to the exhibits.  Everything in the basement was pretty tired.  The exhibits were a bit dated, but my son didn't mind one bit.  He ran from the huge human digestive system to the propeller to the solar powered cars.  He was delighted to play with everything.  Frankly, I didn't mind that it was old school.  My son doesn't care that something has seen better days.  All he cares about is that it works. 

After a couple hours, we went to the planetarium show.  The first half showed us lots of starts and constellations.  The second half was a popular cartoon that was about telescopes and viewing the stars.  It was an interesting combination. 

The museum is pretty small, but we spent 4 hours there.  Between the exhibits and the planetarium, he was very entertained.  Although it was pretty empty when we arrived, by the time we left, it was pretty packed.  On a day that reached 35°C/95°F outside, it was a great alternative to playing in the park.

The award of a lifetime

In less than a year (361 days to be exact), the Olympics will premiere in Tokyo.  We see more and more signs of the big event around town.  Recently my husband saw on TV that we could go see the actual metals at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.  They are only on display for a short time (until July 31), so my son and I made it a priority to go see them while we had the chance.

I've never really been a sports person, but the Olympics is exciting nonetheless.  While I'm not a sports fan, there is something for everyone.  Part of it is the anticipation, since the event is only every two years.  Another part of the excitement is feeling a unity of everyone cheering together. 

For me, all the people and teams are worth cheering for.  I grew up in the era of Wheaties, where Olympian were featured on the box long after the games had ended.  These athletes were admired because they were amazing.  Each time I watch the Olympics, I flashback to this same feeling of reverence. 

We arrived at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building shortly after 10:30 am.  Although it opened at 9, my son and I chose to avoid the crowded morning rush on the train, knowing we would have to wait longer in the end.  After a stressful ride the other day, where my son almost lost his shoe trying to get off a packed train, I felt it was better to give him a bit more time before forcing him back into another sardine experience.

The line was long, but we made the best of it.  At first he found benches to sneak off to while I kept our place in line.  Up next, he enjoyed a couple snacks of cashews and crackers.  We played a clapping game where I would clap a rhythm and he would repeat it back.  Finally, we amused each other with a game of shiritori (she-re-tor-re) - a game where one person says a Japanese word, and the next person has to say a word using the last syllable of the first person's word.  All this entertainment made the wait fly by.  Soon it was our turn to see the metals.

I don't really know what I was expecting.  Other than the knowledge that the medals were made from recycled phone and computer parts, but seeing the gold, silver, and bronze medals was exciting and fun. 

After seeing the medals (which we were only allowed to take three photos of), we saw that we would be able to actually HOLD the Olympics torch!  I was floored!  I saw the torch once in person when they went running past a bookstore I was in.  Never in a million years did I ever think I would hold one!  No matter how far-from-athletic I am, I will always be able to say that I held the Olympic torch.

I learned baseball/softball will be returning to the games and 4 sports will be making their first appearance.  Karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing will all be featured in the 2020 Olympics. 

The whole experience made me very excited for the Olympics.  Much more than I have been.  So many exiting things to look forward to. 

Must shop to cook

I decided I really want to prep cook for the week again.  It has been so hot and muggy, having just one hot day is so much better than 7.  So I made a list in my mind and headed to the store.

As I pulled up to the store, I noticed something was amiss.  There was scaffolding in front of the building!  What was going on?  There was a sign tapped to the window of the store, which I quickly photographed and sent it to my husband. 

He replied, explaining they were closed for renovations.  While I was a bit disappointed (and frustrated because I didn't know they were closed even though they had probably posted the information and I didn't notice/see it/understand), at least I could go to another store. 

That's exactly what I did.  I brushed myself off and headed to another store. 

My husband, son and I worked together to cook food for the week.  Our menu consisted of roasted chicken, stuffed peppers, miso eggplant with pepper stir-fry, baked zucchini with tomato sauce and cheese, sautéed bean sprouts, and roasted carrots.  The work was super easy because we worked together.

Some days a closed store can really get me down.  Other days it doesn't even phase me.  Today, I had something to look forward to, so it didn't bother me.  If it was closed permanently, it would have been a different story.  Ugh!


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Recipe for Miso Eggplant with Pepper Stir-fry:

3 medium eggplants
4 small Japanese peppers (which are more bitter than bell peppers)
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp miso
1 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp sake
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil

Cut the eggplant and peppers into bite-sized pieces.  Heat oil in pan and stir-fry the veggies.  Once softened, add the remaining ingredients.  Cook for 1 minute and serve.

A suprise gift

Japanese people tend to be very generous and sharing people.  I don't know if they are like this in general, or just because I am a foreigner.  But I'm regularly surprised with kind gifts and above and beyond sharing.  For example, any time one of the park moms goes somewhere on a trip, they bring back omiyage for everyone in the group.  These gifts tend to be small (individually wrapped) rice crackers, cakes, cookies, or something else edible. 

Yesterday my phone rang shortly after I had left to go on our Hike it Baby adventure to Shinjuku Gyoen.  My friend wanted to bring something over to my house.  I explained that I would be home later in the day and she said she would come over then.

After I returned, she came to my house.  She brought with her 3 beautiful, huge peaches.  She told me that the rainy season had greatly affected the peach crop for farmers.  Too much hail and not enough sunshine means that it will be difficult to get good peaches.  She got a box of peaches as part of a farm share she is a member of.  This very, very kind woman wanted to make sure I could enjoy some of the best Japanese peaches, so she brought them to me as a gift.

This present was beyond kind and generous.  After refrigerating the peaches for a couple hours, we cut one up to share as a family.  It was incredible!  My son did not want to share and I finally had to tell him he couldn't reload his fork until his mouth was empty.  He did not want to share at all!  Honestly, I didn't either, but I did.

We ate another peach today and are saving the last one for tomorrow. 

It was such a kind and thoughtful thing to give to us.  We are so blessed with friends that make a point of sharing. 

Strolling through the forest on a hot day

With the end of the rainy season, the heat has come on strong.  To escape it for a bit, I organized a Hike it Baby event at Shinjuku Gyoen's Mother and Child’s Forest (Haha to Ko no Mori).  We've been there before, so I knew it would be at least 1-2 degrees cooler in the forest shade.  The difference between 34°C/93°F and 32°C/89°F is immense!

We met 3 other families for our stroll.  The kids were full of energy and eager to explore.  For some reason, I felt like I was on a mission to go.  The kids wanted to walk, so that is exactly what we did.  We ended up walking through the forest paths several times because they were on the move!

We saw a lizard, plenty of bugs, and some beautiful flowers.  The scenery never disappoints in this park!

The parents had plenty of time to enjoy chatting with each other.  It's always so great to just relax and discuss things on my mind.  I've always been a talker.  It just refuels me to gab and I like getting to know new people.  Today's mix of parents included new and familiar faces, which was really nice.

Every time I go to this park, I relish in its vast beauty.  After wandering around in the Mother and Child's Forest, we also enjoyed the Japanese garden.  The older kids had so much fun running around in the grass while the youngest baby took a nap.  It was a really wonderful time.

Passing such a hot day in a lovely shaded park was fantastic.  Once again the kids reinforced the fact that kids don't need play structures to have a good time.  All they need is space and freedom.

Feed me!

Since I am the adult who is at home (also known as master of the domain and ruler of the abode), I am in charge of 95% of meals.  It can get really tiring.  Even after 2 years, I often struggle with menu planning using Japanese ingredients.  Popular at-home Japanese recipes don't typically come to mind.

As the heat has risen, I have not wanted to cook.  By dinner time, I am just hot, tired, and don't have the capacity to make a meal.  But we can't eat out all the time!  It isn't good for our wallets or waistline.  So I need to come up with something.

This past weekend, I decided to prep cook for the week.  That way when dinner time rolls around, I can just heat and eat.  I just made a couple quick things and have tried to use them in different ways throughout the week.

I cooked some marinated meat with mushrooms and onions.  It could be used in rice bowls, bento boxes, or mixed with vegetables and pasta.

Roasted veggies were up next.  These are my forte.  I cut up broccoli, carrots, and pumpkin.  I tossed each with a different spice and baked them separately for perfect tenderness.

I, of course, made a batch of hummus.  I can't stop eating it since making it last week.  I also cut up several carrots and celery (which is actually hard to find because celery is typically sold in single stalks with lots of leaves).  Putting these in a jar of water, keeps them fresh for up to a week.

By mixing up carbs and adding things here and there, our menu didn't get old.  As an added benefit, I didn't feel like I cooked all week!  On Monday, I whipped up some broiled miso eggplant to go with our rice bowls.  Tuesday, I mixed feta cheese (from Costco) with the meat to create a different flavor.  Wednesday's dinner was a bento at the fireworks.  Tonight I made sandwiches with the meat and ate the last of the roasted veggies on the side. 

I also made bentos all week for my husband and a couple for my son for our adventures.

I might just do the same thing again next week.  It really helped me get through the hot weather and chore of imagining and creating a whole week's worth of meals.

Let the show begin

Fireworks are called hanabi (han-ah-bee).  The word is made up of two words meaning flower and fire.  I've always loved that image.  It is such a perfect description.

Fireworks are synonymous with summer in Japan.  Depending on how far you are willing to travel, you can see fireworks pretty much any night of the summer season. 

Japanese people are always surprised to find out that Americans only have major fireworks 2 times a year - New Years and Independence Day (July 4).  I get asked "how do you decide what fireworks will you go see?"  It is a very valid question.  One that I hadn't really considered before.

Our family was able to enjoy our first fireworks display of the season tonight.  Once a year the local Japanese military base opens up and invites everyone in for a big party.  Tons and tons of people from the community head over to enjoy the show.

We enjoyed a picnic, a show of dancing and music, as well as fireworks.  It was a super fun evening with family and friends.

I had to lay down while watching to fireworks because we were so close.  They were exploding right above our heads.  As we laid there ohhing and ahhing, shells started falling down around us.  After  the show was over, the kids loved running around gathering as many shells as they could!

Here comes the rain again

They tell me that today is the last day of the rainy season.  It feels like it has been going on forever!  I learned that last year was one of the shortest rainy seasons, but this one is lasting a bit longer than usual.  What is really different is that this rainy season has been super gray.  For the past several weeks we've had an average of 2 hours of sunlight a day!  It has reminded me of the Pacific Northwest winter, except it is hot and humid!

Each summer, the kindergarten opens its pool for a few days for students to have the chance to swim, but also to transition to summer a little smoother.  2 of the 3 days have already been canceled due to rainy conditions.  Tomorrow is the last chance for the kids to enjoy a class swim time together. 

Right now it is pouring so loudly outside that I can hear it through the closed door and over the air conditioner. 

Typically you hear of people doing rain dances, but I've been doing the end the rain right now dance!  Of course, once it does stop, I'll be complaining about the heat and humidity as they get worse and worse during the next couple months.  My oh my!  Nothing like a Japanese summer.

A bag to last 6 years

Even though my son just started his summer vacation, I am already thinking about back to school.  Not about him going back to school, but actually about back to school supplies.  Luckily, he doesn't need them in September because at that point he is returning to the same class.  But if we are still around next April (which is a big possibility), we will need to purchase him a randoseru (ran-dough-se-rue) - a special leather backpack used by Japanese elementary school children.

Whenever kids are going to and from school, you see them wearing these bags.  It is a very big deal to get one before the start of first grade, as it will be used for all 6 years of elementary school.  Wait, wait - one bag that lasts KIDS for 6 years!  Is that even possible?  It is and they do it. 

I have coveted randoseru for years.  People first started noticing the bag in 1887 when Emperor Taisho was gifted one when he started elementary school.  It grew in popularity, especially in the cities, until the 1960's when the economy was booming and the backpack became the norm.

Traditionally, boys carry a black version while girls utilize a red bag.  However, these days randoseru come in a rainbow of colors. 

I see them for sale in department stores, home décor shops (like Nitori where we bought most of our furniture), and even Costco!  They vary in price from - brace yourself - typically $200-$600.  I'm not joking.  But when you think about it, that is $33-$100 per year.  Thinking of it that way, the price doesn't seem too steep.

But it is still a big investment.  I am on the lookout for a good deal on one.  Quality of the $600 bag, for much, much less!  Wish me luck.