Amazing winter time

     Winter time in Japan is quite interesting. I would love it, if I wouldn’t have to go everywhere on bicycle, especially to work at 4 in the morning. But I must say, that after finishing the work, I get to see all the sunrises, amazing sunrises. They always make me so happy and their beauty makes me sometimes cry. It is something you need to see one day.

The city where I live, Atsugi, is in east side of the Japanese island. We have mostly nice dry cold weather. Almost no rain or snow, but we had about 2 cm snow few weeks ago… The hills around our city looked so amazing, covered in white colour of the winter. The highest hill is about 1200 m tall, just beautiful.

On the other hand, the west side of the island is almost all the time covered in snow. Some parts have 2 to 3 meters of snow throughout whole winter season. And actually this part of Japan is not that far away from us. It is tough life especially for elders.

One of the most famous places to visit in the West side is called “Yuki-no-Otani” (The Great Wall of Snow). In this place there is about 5m of snow every year. Amazing. 

Another amazing winter magic made by human beings is in the North of Japan. There is a Winter snow festival organized in Sapporo every year. It is a place I definitely want to visit one day. It looks cold, but amazing too. The coldest place of Japan is of course in that area. This winter they had about -30 degree there. But look at the pictures….

Another amazing winter magic, but made by nature is also in the north area. There are amazing trees covered in snow and ice, called “snow monsters”. Another place I will definitely visit one day. Just check the pictures… Magical…

So that is something I wanted to share with you about the amazing Japan in winter. And here is little bit about me…

My school is finishing in one week, so now we have final tests (essay writing, grammar and kanji test). I have now 3 days holiday, which is great. I have time to study. 

     That also means that my original plan to study in Japan is at its end. Unfortunately, I did not realize that my student visa will expire in that case by 1^st of April. That makes things very complicated and difficult, especially with upcoming wedding party. I would have to leave the country, at least for one day, and return. But without any visa and that means also no working permission, etc.

     But I have a very intelligent lady next to me, and she said that it will be easier if I study for one more semester. And it will cost about the same amount of money as travelling abroad and coming back. How can I say no. 

     So there you go, I will continue my study till August. Which is only great, cause my Japanese is still very poor.

     That also means that my visit to Europe is postponed. I won’t be able to visit Allanton ceremony, but maybe I will be able to come sometime in August. Not sure now.

     And the last thing to say is… that from 29^th January 2012, I am officially married with Mitsuyo. Just yesterday I picked up the documents from local government office. 

     As Donald sang to me at Allanton many times before I left: “I think I am turning Japanese, I think I am turning Japanese, I really thing soooooo… “

     

     Wish you all the best….

The New Year - お正月

     For the New Year (正月) we went to visit Mitsuyo family. It is very different celebration compared to Europe, but actually it is similar to Christmas time.

The families get together, prepare special food, watch TV and eat a lot.

Before we left we decorated the house with few nice looking decorations. One for the doors outside and one inside the room. I am not sure about their meanings, but it has something to do with greeting the God, I think. 

got caught (this one is made of rice)

 

on our doors (looks so nice)

 On the 31^st lot of people visits temples and shrines. They wait till the midnight and right after the first seconds of the New Year come, they enter the shrines and pray to God. They really want to meet God as soon as possible in the beginning of the year. Sometimes they have to wait for 3 or 4 hours in queues to get to the altar to pray.

Here is a photo I found on Internet, cause I am not really interested in queueing for hours.

 In Asakusa, Tokyo

Others on this occasion perform a purification ritual, that you might heard of, and that is standing under the waterfall (or in sea, or some pool of water in temple). I have seen on TV a little boy, maybe 5 years old, to perform such a ritual in sea. Brave young soul. 

 found on Internet

If people don’t visit the shrines or temples at midnight, they will definitely go on the 1^st of January. We went as well.

But before that we had breakfast made especially for the New Year. It is a mixture of many things and mostly it has sweet taste. The breakfast started with ritual of drinking sake and I must say that I really enjoyed that one.

 sake ritual

special New Year foods

After eating a lot we went to local shrine, which is famous for its cherry trees. Of course there was a lot of people (as it always is in Japan, when there is holiday time), and many little shops to sell delicious foods and drinks outside the shrine.

After entering the shrine, we had to wait in queue to wash our hands, (which I didn’t – I was a bad boy). After that another queue to get to the altar (which I did – I was a good boy), and then other queues for other things, like special protections for the house or people, special food, special fortune telling papers, etc. (which I didn’t – I was bad boy again).

Interesting was that after our prayer at the altar, maybe one minute after, we had an earthquake. Not strong one, just an average one, but of course for many people it has a meaning, a message from Gods of Nature or the Earth.

Well with this message and good fortune telling for the Year 2012, and drinking nice hot seaweed soup we did some shopping and returned to the house. 

In the evening we played games at Wii Nintendo. It was great fun. If you have kids (or adults), and they bother you with buying them some game console, get them this one. They have to move as they play. 

In sword play I have badly lost with Mitsuyo’s mum, in Ping-Pong I have lost too with her father, and in other sports I have lost even more, but it was really great fun and we actually continued playing till about 2 in the morning.

Really recommend it.

 Mitsuyo's parents enjoyed it too

 archery (at least one game I was good at)

Well and that’s about all. 

Wish you all great fun in the New Year 2012.