Sanja Fesitval, Maddie's 8th Birthday, Tokyo Giants

Once late spring arrives in Japan the annuals festivals (matsuri) start up and it seems there is a different one every other weekend. On May 17th we went to the Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa which occurs on the third weekend of each May. The Sanja Matsuri is one of three great Shinto festivals in Tokyo and this one is considered one of the wildest. Throughout Asakusa you hear continuous flutes, drums, and other musical instruments along with chanting, singing, etc. There is food, picnics, and people having a good time everywhere. Over two million people attend over three days. One of the rituals for each of the neighborhoods to build and carry over 100 portable shrines (mikoshi) through the streets of Asakusa. Each portable shrine "contains" a kami, or deity which are carried around the streets by Ujiko (people from neighboring communities). The shrines are big and heavy so a lot of men and women in the costume of their neighborhood carry them. The shrines are thought to bring good luck and fortune to the homes and businesses in the neighborhoods.



As you can tell by the video, the people are very passionate about this festival. Some people carrying the mikoshi looked like they were having a blast while others didn't appear to be having as much fun (they were getting squished!) but still participated. You can see in the video that the people will switch out with others when they get tired. It was fascinating to watch.















Madeline had an "Enchanted" 8th birthday slumber party on May 23. There were six girls there including Maddie. These are Maddlie's closest friends and all are in her cartwheel "club." The girls watched the movie Enchanted and had a fun fashion show with Maddie's wardrobe (among many other things!). The next morning Darren took them to Arisugawa Park (across the street from our apartment) and they all ate ice cream at McDonald's.

I made a three tiered "enchanted" cake for the party. The cake mix was $7.50 a box (it took two boxes) from National Azabu Market (this is the non-Japanese market that is more expensive than local markets). The strangest thing though, is that they don't sell packaged frosting in Tokyo. So I had to make the frosting with powdered sugar. THAT was an experience since it soaked into the cake and gave it a funky...or should I say...enchanted look. But...sugar is sugar when you get down to it and it was a yummy cake!

The kids' new favorite outdoor activity is to go fishing for crawfish in the pond at Arisugawa Park (we catch and release). Darren and Nathan have made several traps out of plastic water bottles. So far we have caught small crawfish (see in the net below) and minnows. Apparently crawfish-trapping is a universally-loved activity for children (and parents) as we have met kids from many countries here sharing their latest "catch" and trapping techniques. So far the record goes to a Japanese boy who caught a deep-red crawfish longer than your average cell phone. Sorry I didn't have our camera that day!

Below is Darren and Maddie netting some crawfish by the rocks.

Nathan is still waiting to catch that "mack" daddy crawfish!
































On Friday, June 6, we went to our first baseball game at the Tokyo Dome. We watched the Tokyo Giants play the Chiba Lotte Marines (no not US Marines, just the name of the other Japanese team). As you can see from the video, the fans go crazy (in a VERY organized way of course!). They knew every word to every chant and every song. It was much closer to a European or Latin American soccer match than a US baseball game. Nathan and Madeline really got into it which was fun to see. Of course we were excited when the Giants won in the 10th (overtime) inning with a "walkoff" home run with two outs to win the game! Final score 4-3.




Here are some of the goodies we got at that game. The ketchup/mustard packet was cool. You just squeeze them together and they both come out on your hotdog withour having to get your hands messy. Too neat.














There are girls that walk up and down the bleechers the entire time selling various things. The beer they sell comes in kegs that that girls wear on their backs! We were joking that at least the girls weren't wearing high heels!





The kids finish school this Thursday, June 12th! Our wonderful friend (and the kids' teacher from the USA) Paige is coming over to visit us for 2 weeks. She arrives this Thursday too! We are so excited!!!! The kids and I will actually be flying back with her to the USA for our summer vacation. We will be in the US from June 12th-August 13th. We are excited to see all our friends and family!

Language Lesson of the Week: Months of the Year

January - ichi-gatsu
February - ni-gatsu
March - san-gatsu
April - shi-gatsu
May - go-gatsu
June - roku-gatsu
July - shichi-gatsu
August - hachi-gatsu
September - ku-gatsu
October - ju-gatsu
November - juichi-gatsu
December - juni-gatsu


Funny Photo of the Week:



This is a picture of a roller coaster right outside of Tokyo Dome. As you can see, it goes on top of and through a building! I guess when space is tight...