More treats than tricks

As Halloween got closer and closer,  I got more and more nervous.  Halloween is my son's favorite holiday.  He has always loved dressing up in costumes and the opportunity to get candy is super exciting for him.

Since Halloween isn't widely celebrated here, I didn't want him to feel let down or disappointed.  So, I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to make it special for him.  A week and a half ago, we ran into some of my son's school buddies at Toshimaen.  The mom invited my son to a Halloween gathering right after school.  We excitedly accepted.  It would take some coordination, but I was sure I could make it happen.

This morning, my son went merrily off to school knowing the day was going to be filled with joy.  I went to the store and spent the remainder of the school day cooking, doing laundry, and cleaning my house.  I also got everything ready for all the afternoon's activities.

After picking up my son from school, we headed to the park.  The other families met us there.  All the moms were quickly changing their kids into costumes.  I loved seeing all the cuteness.  Soon all the kids were running around the park like a bunch of hooligans, laughing as they darted about.  We let them expel some energy, then it was time to pass out the candy.  The moms spread out.  Some hid behind trees, while others stood out in the open.  The kids, still full of energy, ran from mom to mom trying their best to say trick-or-treat.

My son's face was shining with glee.  He didn't care that he wasn't going from door to door.  He was happy wearing his costume, playing with friends, and collecting candy.

We had to leave too soon.  My son had a class to attend.  I sat in a coffee shop and relaxed while he did his thing.  When his class was over, he passed out little gift bags of candy to his classmates.  They were shocked and excited.  I was impressed with how many thank you's he received.

We then wandered over to a friend's house who asked us to come trick-or-treat at their place.  Their family prepared some treats for him, and were excited to have him come in his costume.  It was so much fun to pop over and let him ring the doorbell.  He turned on the charm and gleaned way more than one piece of candy.

Up next was a visit to our next door neighbor.  She was delighted to have her first trick-or-treater in years.  My son was excited to have another chance to perfect his trick-or-treat technique.

At the end of the day, my son was glassy-eyed with happiness.  He gave me a huge hug before he headed to bed and whispered in my ear "Today was the best day.  I loved everything."

Mapping it out

It isn't every day that a person sees the Google Maps people.  I think it is pretty neat when I do because I regularly use Google Maps.  In the US, I've only ever seen cars taking photos and recording locations, but this time it was a guy walking around the park with a backpack.

I wonder if this is a Japanese machine or an international one.  No matter the answer, my expat friends and I have no idea how we used to live here without smartphones and online navigation systems.  It certainly makes life so much easier!

Ready for the sniffles

At my son's school, all the kids wear little fabric pouches on their hips.  Inside the pouch is a pack of tissues and a tiny hand towel.  I bought one for my son last year.  He picked a light blue one with strawberries on it.  He wore it constantly, except when I was scrubbing it repeatedly.  School is filled with discovery, including getting very dirty some days.

School is also full of runny noses, especially this time of year.  Wearing the pouches makes a lot of sense since their pants have such tiny pockets.

I was getting pretty tired of washing it to keep the light color bright, so before my beloved Craft Park (the local fabric store) closed its doors I bought some darker fabric.  I used my son's current pouch as a pattern and whipped it up in a short time.

When my son saw what I made, his whole face lit up.  It is so nice to make something for someone who is so appreciative.

It's tradition!

As soon as I saw the Nerima City Office Regional Promotion Section's Facebook post about a traditional craft tour, I knew my family would be keen to join the fun.  We have really enjoyed past tours and we are very interested in traditional crafts, so it was a good match for us.

The group met at Nerima Station shortly after lunchtime.  After a short greeting and introduction of our translators (this time we had English and Chinese translators, but if needed several other languages can be supported), we headed into the Nerima Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition.

We walked over to a small area where we were able to watch and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony demonstration.  While everyone wouldn't typically be in chairs during a tea ceremony, this was the best setup for the exhibition.  Watching a woman (I've never seen a man perform a tea ceremony) calmly and precisely walk through the steps of making matcha is beautiful.  First they shared wagashi (beautifully created sweets in the shape of nature to be enjoyed with matcha) with everyone.  Then they told us about the ceremony and different components, like where the person of honor sits and how the participants should admire the cups as much as the tea.

I am always impressed with the ceremony itself, but also with the enthusiasm my son shows toward traditional events like this.  He asked my husband several questions and cheerfully drank the matcha.

When everyone was done with their tea, we walked over to the wasai booth.  Wasai is Japanese dress making, most specifically the sewing of kimono.  It is all done by hand using techniques passed down from generation to generation.  As a person that sews a little bit, it was a beautiful thing to see.  He worked so quickly and used his foot to keep the tension in the fabric.

We then learned about the process of making hand-drawn dying called yuzen.  By drawing directly on the fabric with rubber and rice it prevents parts of the fabric from accepting the dye.  The artist then removes the rice and fills in the areas to create amazing pieces of artwork.  I was floored to learn that when they colorize the drawing, they do it over heat.  How they don't burn the fabric is beyond me.

There were lots of other booths demonstrating a variety of crafts that we enjoyed learning about.  My son really liked trying to weave braids and blow into a shakuhachi (a bamboo woodwind instrument).

After the exhibition, our group walked to a local junior high where we had a lesson in origata (paper folding using washi traditional paper that used to be taught to women in etiquette classes).  We had so much fun folding paper into gift envelopes, chopstick holders, and toothpick pockets.

The day was so interesting and informative.  It is always wonderful to learn more about Japanese culture.  I am so appreciative of the opportunity afforded to us by the city through these outings.

We went up, up, up

A while ago another Hike it Baby mom and I decided to host a hike on a trail.  Many of the hikes with the Tokyo branch are at parks - which is great, but sometimes we just want to be out on a trail.  I find this yearning so funny since my mom always tried to drag me hiking and I almost never wanted to go.  In those years, I didn't feel suffocated by the city and lived in a place with beautiful green landscapes all around me.  Although we live right next to a fantastic park, sometimes it just isn't enough.  In Japanese they say I need "shinrin yoku" or "forest bathing," a cleansing that only nature can provide.  Science has proven that walking through the woods can boost immunity, reduce stress, and improve sleep (among other things).

Eager to hit the hills, my husband, son, and I got up bright and early and headed out.  Mount Kinsho was calling our name.

We took a couple trains to reach Tobu Takezawa Station, meeting with our friends on the train heading out of town.  When we arrived at the station, we saw several signs warning of a local poisonous snake.  Undaunted, we headed to the trailhead.

Just a short 5 minute walk from the station, we found ourselves immersed in the woods.  The trail was rather wet from the recent rains, but we trekked on.  We walked past a lovely stream.  Soon the trail headed up and we left the stream behind.

The hill quickly included stairs.  I've been on lots of trails with stairs and these ones were not too intense.  It does help that we were hiking with two young kids.  One thing I like about hiking with young ones is that they go slow enough that the adults can really enjoy the scenery!

Photo credit to my HiB friend!

Photo credit to my HiB friend!  She takes amazing photos.

We stopped several times for drinks and snacks as well as several spider sightings.  After an hour and a half, we made it to the top.  (The map said it should take us 40 minutes, but short legs take longer.)  The view was awesome, especially when we realized we could see Tokyo.  The boys took turns looking through binoculars at buildings in the distance, mountains, and countless butterflies.

Photo credit to my HiB friend!

It was a wonderful time breathing the fresh air and hanging out with a friend.

Just a short distance past the summit, is the Ogawa Genki Plaza Community Center.  We were super excited to go there, but found ourselves disappointed to find out we missed the planetarium show.  But we didn't let it get us down, we continued on our way to Yoshida's Farmhouse and exploring the Ogawa area.

While walking back toward the station, we realized that our train wasn't for another 40 minutes.  So, we took our time getting back to the station.  Trains only pass through two or three times an hour depending on the time of day.  As we walked up to the station, we realized we had three minutes to get onto the platform.  But as we hurried down the steps, my husband herded us over to the right side of the stairs.  He then mentioned that going up the other side was a mamushi or Japanese pit viper, the poisonous snake all the signs warned us about!!!

With a few shrieks released, we ran to the ticket gate where my husband reported the snake to the rail staff.  They got the message and we proceeded onto the platform with moments to spare.

It was a fabulous day.  The weather was perfect.  The kids had a blast.  The adults enjoyed the outing and time together.  Plus, everybody got a good dose of shinrin yoku.

This old house

We met up with a Hike it Baby friend this morning to do a short hike and explore the Ogawa area in Saitama.  After hiking Mount Kinsho all morning, my husband, son, some friends, and I wandered over to see Yoshida Farmhouse.  I have heard about this old house from a couple people and wanted to see it for myself.

Using Google Maps it was pretty easy to find, which is good because the local signage was a bit inconsistent.  But as soon as we walked up the driveway, we were all impressed.  It has a lovely thatched roof, tatami rooms, attic space that people are welcome to go into, and a lovely ambiance.

They encouraged us to explore the whole house, even the second story where they pointed out a small hole for the kids to peek through down to the first floor.  I loved hearing them squeal with laughter when they caught sight of each other through the floor/ceiling.

The building was a bit smoky from the open fire, but when we realized we could cook yakitori and dango, we didn't care about the smoke.  The boys were excited to cook their treats, as were we.  After grilling them for a short time, the kids took turns dipping the little balls into a soy sauce and sugar slurry.  We then grilled them for a bit more before digging in.

While the adults sat around the fire and chatted, the boys headed outside.  The staff played badminton and baseball with the kids, entertaining them for a while as we finished our tea and had a nice little chat.  They also showed them a couple traditional toys that were a big hit, including two sticks that when rubbed together make a propeller revolve.

I don't know much about it beyond that it was built in 1721.  But it was a really neat old house, tucked in the middle of several houses (that were all built much more recently).  I'm glad we made the effort to go investigate this old home.

Raindrops are falling on my head

We were so relieved to learn that the latest typhoon would stay over water and not hit land.  This means we didn't have to deal with the winds, but the rains still came.

Just as I was going to sleep last night, I could hear the rain falling.  I love falling asleep to the sound of rain.  It is so peaceful and relaxing.

When I woke up it was still raining.  After getting ready, I bundled us up and we headed off to my son's school.  It was pouring down rain.  Even with rain boots, a rain coat, and an umbrella, I was still pretty damp when I returned to the house.

I spent the day working on the computer, keeping my head down only looking up periodically when the rain got really loud.  All day it kept coming down in droves.

By the time I needed to pick up my son, water was flowing over the street and sidewalk.  All I could think of was those areas still dealing with the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis.

Walking back home was fun, but wet.  I couldn't believe how many moms were riding their bike in the pouring rain.  I have ridden my bike in rain like this and I couldn't see!  In my opinion, it is quite dangerous.  Of course, I wasn't raised riding my bike all the time and I live super close to the school.

Overall, we received 92 mm (3.6 inches) of rain today!  It was unbelievable!  Then at 4:00, it suddenly stopped.  Nothing more has come from the sky.  The streets and sidewalks have dried up and the world is acting like nothing happened.  I've often tried to tell people about the "light switch" rain in Japan, today being the perfect example of it.

Cup of chai

For a country that really likes its tea, you don't see a ton of chai around.  It can be found, but it isn't super common.  As a chai fan, I enjoy a good cup of it once in a while.  When I have the sweet and savory beverage, I like to sit back and really relish it.

While my son was at ballet class, I had some time to kill.  So, I popped over to "Bakery Old Kitchen Organic".  The Hikarigaoka shop is teeny tiny with one table of pastries in the center of the shop, an ice cream freezer off to one side, and a counter where they make drinks and customers pay.  They do have a second floor for customers to sit and enjoy their treats. 

I picked out a mini pizza-like pastry and ordered my chai.  I headed upstairs and secured a table.  The ceiling on the second floor is only 5 feet high, so I had to duck.  When my friend told me that she loved sitting in the cozy little upstairs, I thought I wouldn't enjoy it.  But as soon as I was seated, I felt so comfortable. 

I had brought up my pastry with me, and the chai latte soon followed.  I sat back with my book and just enjoyed the moment.  Between the tea, my book, and the bit of ambiance, I felt super relaxed. 

All too soon, it was time to pick up my little dancer.  I departed the café feeling a little lighter.  I know I'll be back to recreate this little "momma time" scenario again. 

Rice with tea? Seriously?

There are those foods that Japan is famous for.  The ones that everyone can list off quickly from the top of their heads if someone says "what is Japanese food?"  There is sushi, tempura, yakisoba, and yakitori.  But there is so much more than just these famous foods. 

When my husband isn't feeling well, he wants his ultimate comfort food - ochazuke (oh-cha-zoo-ke), or tea rice.  At home, people put rice into a deep bowl.  They'll sprinkle a packet of seasoning on top and then pour either tea or hot water over it (depending on the seasoning packet).  I like to add a pickled plum, called ume, to mine whenever we have it. 

I'm sure some people make their own seasoning for ochazuke.  Of course, just typing that made me want to investigate and try to make my own...  At any rate, most people go for the super simple packets.  We picked some up from Tokyo Disneyland last time we were there.

Just like many other foods that have primarily been home foods, chefs have taken this comfort food to a whole new level at restaurants.  We recently enjoyed ochazuke at a restaurant when we had a crazy busy day and wanted to eat something super simple for dinner. 

I understand why this is my husband's comfort food.  It is easy on the stomach but still tasty. 

Enthronement

Today was another holiday.  My husband was home from work and my son home from school.  While I was happy to spend the day together, it feels like there has been holiday after holiday.  The past eight weeks (since my son went back to school), three of those weeks have had a national holiday and one had a school holiday!  It is no wonder I've felt like it was holiday after holiday.

Today's holiday was Enthronement Day.  It is the day the new Emperor proclaims his accession to the throne.  It is a day full of ceremonies of historical significance. 

The ceremonies were not open to the public.  There were 2,000 attendees, including top Japanese governmental personnel and foreign dignitaries.  We stayed at home and watched everything on TV.  The four hour coverage included a few highlights of previous enthronements, which was very interesting, but the modern day ceremony was what really interested me.  I always wonder what is going through their head as they slowly walk through the very formal ceremony. 

There was supposed to be an Imperial procession throughout the streets of Tokyo, but it was delayed due to the Typhoon Hagibis that wreaked havoc on many areas of Japan last week. 

Since we were in the US in May when he took the throne, it was neat to be in Japan for this. 

Getting ready to learn

After much consideration, my son has decided to pursue ballet as his extra curricular activity.  After communicating with the school, we needed to buy him some ballet slippers, knee length shorts, and a white shirt for class.  I didn't want to order the shoes online, since they would be his first pair and I really wanted them to fit perfectly.

I asked a friend whose daughter is in ballet where she buys the official gear.  My friend told me about a shop within biking distance that would be able to help my son. 

After picking my son up from school, we headed over to Ballet Shope Etoile in Sakuradai, a neighborhood in Nerima.  The temperature dropped suddenly following the typhoon, which made for a slightly chilly ride.  I'm so relieved to be cool any time I'm outside, but my son was a touch cold on the ride.  In another week or two, he'll often be wrapped up in a blanket to protect him from the wind when we are riding around.

As soon as we arrived at the shop, he didn't care that he was cold.  He was very excited to buy ballet shoes.  The staff were very kind and helpful, taking him to the shoe corner of the shop and having him try on a couple different pairs of shoes.  She was very apologetic that she only had 3 pairs of black shoes for my son to try.  There were also nude, brown, pink, and grey, but the school had specified black, so that was what we bought.

They brought out three different shorts for him to try on.  With a smile, he hopped into the dressing room to try them on. 

He quickly made his decision.  We checked out and headed back home with his new gear.

It is so exciting to start a new adventure.  Getting the official clothing gets him one step closer to his first day of class.