Christmas in Japan

After having such a wonderful Christmas Eve, it was difficult to make Christmas Day any better.  In my family it is a tradition to have a big breakfast Christmas morning and I was not about to let that slip in Japan.  Drew couldn't wait to open presents, so after all of the unwrapping I whipped up some bacon, eggs, and banana pancakes.  Turns out the bacon here is more like Canadian bacon and does not produce nearly the amount of grease that I am used to.  Nevertheless, it was quite a tasty meal that was reminiscent of home.

Due to my reduced state from jet lag, I never did get around to buying an actual Christmas tree.  We had to make due with this two dimensional tree instead.  There were presents under it so I think that means it counts.

We took a trip into Tokyo to see the sights and shop around for the gifts we've decided to get each other.  I want a nice Japanese kitchen knife and Drew wants a Japanese tool that is a mix between a hatchet and a knife.  It's easier if we pick out our own and Tokyo is definitely the place to shop.

While in Tokyo Drew said he had something he really wanted to show me.  By now I can tell when these statements are going to be followed by something ridiculous.  This was one of those moments.  As we rounded a corner, Drew pointed up to this statue explaining that it is fondly referred to in Japan as "kin no unko," or "the golden turd."  Apparently, this is supposed to be the Asahi flame.  Asahi is a beer company and their brewery offices are in the building to the left of the flame which was made to look like a beer mug.  Thanks Drew for showing me the poo.

We almost ate at a Thai restaurant that night for dinner but it just wasn't going to fit in with the Christmas spirit.  Instead, we resorted to a Mexican restaurant to make us feel more at home.  They even gave us a glass of sangria as a "Christmas present."  We did end up having to order extra food though because Drew's burritos were the size of tacos and my tacos were the size of nothing I've ever seen in America.  Even that tiny bowl of chips and salsa in the picture was $5.  By far the most we've ever spent on Mexican food, but it sure was fantastic!

Here's a little video just to capture how massive the crowds are at the crosswalk in Shibuya.

Christmas Eve and KFC

I can't remember if I already mentioned this or not, but Drew discovered, while teaching one of his classes, that Japanese people have a connection between KFC, My Old Kentucky Home, and Christmas.  He had brought in articles about Kentucky including information about the Derby, mint juleps, our state song, etc.  One of his students surprisingly knew our state song and said, "That's a Christmas song, right?"  This confusion has occurred because, apparently, it is a tradition in Japan to eat KFC on Christmas Eve where they happen to sometimes be playing "My Old Kentucky Home".  Thus, people have assumed our state song is actually a Christmas song. Ha!

In order to do as the Japanese do, Drew and I took a trip to KFC on Christmas Eve because where else would anyone eat on this special day?!  We were not disappointed with the experience.  By the time we placed our order there was a long line forming behind us and it was only 4:30 pm.  It wasn't even an option to eat-in because the dining area was roped off and being used for extra staff members who were needed to meet the demand.  It was also interesting to see what their menu had to offer.  The chicken and coleslaw were the same but they had no mashed potatoes and their biscuits were shaped like doughnuts.

See the hole in the middle?  Why?  I guess I've never actually seen a biscuit here, so maybe doughnuts are the closest thing they have.  They even sent packets of syrup as a topping.

That evening we headed to a Christmas "Illumination", as the Japanese like to call it, in the Ashikaga Flower Park.  Wow, wow, and double wow!!!  I can't even explain how amazingly awesome the display was.  My pictures will not do it justice.  Drew knows I love Christmas lights, so he got major husband bonus points on finding this place.

The entrance

Inside a Christmas tree

Wisteria flower display

Pyramids on the ponds 

Having a blast

I had to include a couple videos to at least try to capture the spirit of this place.

To finish off the night we had to, of course, have "Christmas Cake".  Their traditional Christmas cake is a white cake with whipped cream icing and strawberries on top.  Drew brought up three different flavors that were leftover from a Christmas party.  The original, chocolate, and some sort of nut.  

It was great to get the full experience!

The Cold

I've made it back to Japan and am working on getting my body to do what I want when I want.  Today a 1:00 pm (felt like 11:00 pm) nap was inevitable after waking up at 5:30 this morning.  No complaints here though because I've had a normal appetite and only a slight decrease in energy.

Turns out the mild weather in Kentucky was not a good thing to be exposed to before coming back to Japan during December. I was spoiled by the temperatures and by my parent's fully heated house the past two weeks.  The chill in the air never seems to leave our apartment here in Oyama and a bike ride to the grocery today was a lot different than my car ride to Kroger last week.

I've known that I would need some new indoor hobbies during the winter season since I will be avoiding the cold.  One of those will hopefully be knitting.  Thank you Kerry for providing me with the beginning materials!  I know absolutely nothing about knitting, which is evident by my many attempts to cast on, perform the knit stitch, and cast off.  It took me five tries and well into the night to get anything but a knot.  I'll be needing a lot of practice.

It's great to be back here with Drew but I will miss everyone back home.  Make sure to keep in touch!

Home for Christmas

It's about that time of year.  Only three sleeps before I hop on a plane back to Kentucky.  I'm getting really excited and I wish I could go ahead and fly out today.  However, it probably is a good idea to wait until this weekend when Drew can show me how to get to the airport.  On the way back to Japan I will be navigating the way home by myself so I'll need to pay attention.  I am the WORST with directions, if you didn't know that already.  The journey requires getting off one train, leaving that train station, walking to a different train station, and getting on another train.  It's the walking to a different train station that has the potential to cause problems for me.  At least we finally got a cell phone so I can call Drew from a payphone if I get completely lost.

I'll be returning to Japan Dec. 18, which gives me a nice window to decorate our apartment before Christmas.  Here is what we have so far.

This was a gift to Drew from one of his students.  We currently have it hanging over our unused TV.  We have plans to purchase a 100 Yen ($1) tree and ornament set.  It will be tiny but it will have spirit!  

See you soon America!

Ne-Ne-Ya

Right after I arrived in Japan, Drew and I noticed workers at the restaurant outside our window dragging a bunch of items out the back door.  At first we thought maybe they were performing an annual cleaning, but then the dumpsters arrived, as well as trucks to haul off wood and metal, and we decided it was much more serious.  We continued to watch (playing out our own version of Rear Window) and took bets on whether the whole building would be torn down, the restaurant was being remolded, or the building had been sold to another company.  

Turns out the same company that owned the original restaurant was turning this building into a different restaurant that they also own.  The new restaurant opened in mid-November and has been hopping ever since.  On the day of the opening we witnessed this ceremony.

The ceremony consisted of speeches, clapping, and chanting back and forth between the management and the waitstaff.  Everyone got in a big circle and did some sort of a cheer at the end.  It was very enthusiastic.  For some reason I don't think this is going on at an Applebee's opening back in America.

Drew and I visited Ne-Ne-Ya early on a Monday evening to get in before the crowds.  It is set up with little private dining rooms, sectioned off by sliding doors.  Half of the menu was drinks, so I think we annoyed our waitress when we only ordered water.  I would categorize most of the food options as appetizers and all of them are expensive for their size.

The taco rolls were our favorite item.

You also can't go wrong with cheese fondue.

It was a fun experience, however, I think what we will mostly get out of this new restaurant is the opportunity to listen to all of the drunk people yelling right outside our window each night.  Joy!

Christmas in Tokyo

We took a trip to Tokyo to do a little Christmas shopping and I was happy to see holiday spirit all around.  It's good to know that I'm not falling behind in getting pumped for Christmas while in Japan.

There are endless shopping spots in Tokyo so we thought it would be the best place to get our gift giving juices flowing.  Here you can find anything you've ever imagined.  Like these ear muffs that I made Drew try on.  They just fit onto your ear without any head band.  I guess Drew isn't convinced.

We also stopped by the Tower Records store, which quite possibly is the largest record store in the world.  Each floor was a different genre of music.  It was strange to see a country/bluegrass section.  I guess I can't imagine Japanese people jamming to Wynonna.

There was a LEGO exhibit set up in one of the stores.  It cost money to go in but luckily they had a few outside on display to satisfy our curiously.  Only free LEGOs for us!

Suga Shrine

Drew didn't have to work last Friday so we visited the main shrine in our town.  There is actually a really nice path up to the gate.  This may be the shrine that we visit for the New Year's celebration, which is the major holiday in Japan.  We can't go too far because the trains shut down at midnight and we would be stranded.

Always seems to be raining on Drew's free days

Signs of Christmas are beginning to pop up all over town, including Christmas music in every store.  While on our way to the train station we ran into a hand bell concert in one of the shopping centers.  Very festive! 

Warm and Snuggly

I am always very cold and, with winter approaching, I've been worrying about how to stay warm while sleeping in our partially heated/unheated apartment.  Apparently, Japan has the answer.  A yutanpo!  These are little (or big) hot water bottles in a flat stone shape that usually come with some sort of soft cover.  You fill them up with boiling water, slip them into their cover, and place them in your bed.  Drew and I picked up a small one for me the other day.

We still aren't sure what it is- a bear perhaps??  But he's soft and fuzzy and I love him!  Now at night I fill him up and carry him around wherever I go.  Surprisingly, he stays very warm for hours.  It has been a big help for my extra cold feet.  This guy will be coming home with me.

Real Thanksgiving

Drew has been adamant that it doesn't count until it is actually Thanksgiving Day back in America.  This is why I get a look from him when he comes home to find me listening to Christmas music already.  Well, now it's official!  To celebrate "real" Thanksgiving I made an all American meal.

Homemade hamburgers, french fries, and corn on the cob.  Here we are enjoying it over Drew's dinner break.  He was so happy to see tomatoes and ketchup waiting for him (not things I usually keep around).

For dessert I made "cookies" out of bananas, oatmeal, raisins, vanilla, and olive oil.  Wasn't sure how it would turn out in the toaster over but it seemed to work just fine.

Kiryu Festival

On Monday we headed to Kiryu in Gunma prefecture for their Ebisuko festival held at the Nishinomiya Shrine.  This festival has been taking place since 1901 and is in honor of the god Ebisu, god of commerce and prosperity.

People come to the festival to pray for business success and to buy an amulet (these look similar to a wreath) to hang for good fortune. There was also a station to drop off the one you bought last year so that it can be burned.   Here is a whole wall of them.  

There was a very long line to get up to the shrine to make an offering.

Of course the food stalls were endless.  We settled on bacon and pepper flavored french fries.  I did make Drew take a quick picture (excuse the blurriness) of this hot dog stand.  The hot dogs were twice as long as the bun!

Overall, I think we mostly enjoyed people watching.  Especially when someone would make an expensive purchase and we were able to witness the complimentary dance and shout that was subsequently performed.

Thanksgiving Feast

Drew and I were invited to join his boss, family, and a few friends for a Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.  There were about 7 adults and 5 children in total, making for a nice celebration.  We even met an older gentleman from Kentucky who grew up in Owensboro like Drew.  It was a real treat to celebrate this holiday with fellow Americans while so far away from home.

My contribution to the feast was my Grandma's no-bake cookies and my Aunt Billie's macaroni and cheese. To Drew's dismay no macaroni and cheese was left for us to take home.

Surprisingly, my favorite part of the meal was the turkey and gravy.  It must be because we don't get as much meat here as we normally do at home.

Butterball picked up from our Costco trip

Corn, gravy, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.

The dessert table was out of control.  We had homemade apple pie, brownies, cinnamon rolls, my no-bakes, Japanese cake rolls, and a cannelloni dessert.  I think I ate more of the sweets than I did the actual meal.  Drew and I felt full for two whole days after this.  Fantastic!

Pocky Day

There is a Japanese snack called Pocky that is a long, crunchy biscuit-like stick that is dipped in chocolate.  It is likely that you may have even seen them before in some of the international aisles at the grocery.  One of their great marketing schemes was to declare November 11 Pocky Day since 11/11 looks like sticks of pocky.  Can't miss out on that!  We made our purchase last Sunday night, going with the chocolate rolled in almonds variety.

Puzzles!

I have always loved puzzles but it has been a long time since I've had time to mess with one.  Turns out I was in luck on Monday because Drew was busy, all my normal cooking/cleaning was finished, and it was gloomy outside.  What was I to do?  Take a trip to Toys R Us of course!  We actually have one just a few buildings over from our apartment.

I can't actually remember what size puzzle I've normally completed in the past, but 1000 pieces seems to be the most popular type here.  Drew found that one of the cheapest options happened to be a picture of Cinque Terra, Italy, where we traveled one summer.  My only problem with the puzzle was that it had 1000 pieces but was only going to be 38 x 26 cm in size.  Compared to the other puzzles it seemed very small.    Drew investigated the box further and found that it was a micro puzzle.  He assured me that the puzzle pieces would only be about half the size of a normal puzzle piece.  Wrong!

I put my hand in this picture so that you can see just how tiny these pieces are.  I find that it is very difficult for me to even handle a single piece.  So this may be a long project.  

This is as far as I got on that rainy day.  It is now stored under the couch for a similar occasion to arise.

Tochigi Autumn Festival

Drew and I attended the Tochigi Autumn Festival on Sunday.  I always find it interesting to check out the food stalls.  Drew ended up ordering takoyaki (octopus dumpling balls), while I stuck with the more familiar yakisoba (noodle/veggie dish).  He later ate a chocolate covered banana and I found a tasty churro for dessert.

Look at these meat spirals!

We wandered up and down the street in search of our favorite float.  It ended up being the chicken float for both of us.  

A close runner up was this guy, wielding a large sword.

Drew got the most excited when he spotted the children's games.  I'm pretty sure he was disappointed he didn't get to play.  I was a little worried we would somehow end up with a prize goldfish.

Oyama Balloon Festival

While Drew was at work on Saturday, I rode my bike to a nearby park where a hot air balloon festival was being held.  There is something about those colorful balloons in the sky that make it impossible not to stop and check it out, no matter how many times you've seen them before.  Too bad Drew had to miss out.  It was the perfect day for it.