Minami-Sunamchi Temple

The other day my mom and brother and I went to Minami-Sunamachi. My mom was so excited to show us this temple that she had seen. After getting out at Minami-Sunamachi station we had a little walk. We saw many cool things. The flowers and trees are becoming such beautiful colors at this time of year.
Once we reached the place where the temples where we looked at all of these statues of people who had died. I was thinking that maybe they had protected Tokyo and that is why there gravestones and the area around it was so beautiful. One thing that our mom wanted us to see was what the people did once they came up to the temple. We just stayed quiet and watched their actions for a while. What they would do is they would go up to this pretty fountain where the water comes out of the dragons mouth and get theses cups and wash there hands from the fountain. Then they would buy incense. Next they would walk up to this covered fire and burn there incense. I saw many people after they burn it they would cover themselves with smoke. Then they would enter the shrine usually bowing before they walk up the stairs. Once they got in they would pray.
Later my mom and I were looking at these wood pieces with Japanese writing on them. There were many of them hanging up. After that we walked over to this big sign and stared at it like we knew what we were reading. Then this older Japanese man walks up and ask my mom "Do you know what that sign says?" She turned around and looked at him and said "Have no clue.... do you know what that sign says?" Then the man started laughing and said "Yes! But it is very hard to uh translate! into English." Then he looked at t and started reading to us what it said. It turns out that there are many different types of Buddha and this temple worships one of them. He said that this temple garuded and protected Tokyo when a horrible disaster hit. We had no idea what he meant by a horrible disaster though. Then we had a little conversation about ourselfs. Next then man turned to look at us and said, "I must go pray now" making his hands in the prayer simbol. Then we said our goodbyes. It was a very interesting experience for us and for him. I'm sure that it was fun for him to meet some Americans and to be able to practice his English on us.

Pictures

Chopsticks

I'm sure all of you have heard of the Japanese eating utensil, chopsticks. Now that I live in Japan pretty much whenever you eat use chopsticks, even corn and peas! Chopsticks are made of Japanese yew wood and are given to guest at most Japanese restaurants.
There are many manners with chopsticks; You are not suppose to wave them in front of food dishes deciding what you want to eat, to bring a bowl closer to you by grabbing it with your chopsticks, grabbing a bowl in the same hand your chopsticks are in, and it is very rude to stab your food with your chopsticks or leave with your chopsticks straight up in your food, this is how the Japanese honor the dead.

Kimonos and Yukatas

The kimono and Yukata are Japanese traditional style dresses. A Yukata is a kimono but is built for the summer and is more casual. It is also worn after bathing in traditional Japanese inns. The Kimono is the national costume of Japan. Kimonos are T-shaped robes that rap around your body and are tied with a belt. There are many different types of these clothing for women, men, and children. There are special ones for weddings too. These elegant Japanese style dresses can be seen all over Japan.

Delious, Gourmet food. Yum!

This is a picture of some of the food we had to eat when my family and I went to a traditional style restaurant. To the left is my mom finding some seaweed in her soup. To the right is some type of fruit we found. Of course I was the first one to try it, immediately spitting it out. Later that day my mom told me that I ate a fruit covered cockroach. Then she laughed and told me it was a type of plum.

We have seen so many different types of food. Going to an average grocery store is an experience. They have squid and octopus tentacles in packages in the food department. They have these dried up fish that are really small and you see them almost everywhere. All of their food is in very small portions, like the peanut butter (that is if you can find it) is very small. You can't buy gallons of milk only quarts. It is almost always packed.
In about every shopping store they have a bakery connected to it. The bakeries have many different things in them; a lot of them are French bakeries too.

Ginza

The other day my family and I went to a place called Ginza. They have huge stores to go and shop at. It is beautiful here.
When we went there we saw huge stores with designer names, many beautiful displays. Huge statues and art displays.
Ginza is Tokyo's most famous shopping market with dining and entertainment district, huge department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, and night clubs and cafes. Ginza is one of the most exspencive realistates in Japan with one square meter of land in the district's center is worth more than 100,000 US dollars.

Tokyo Tower

Tokyo Tower is in Roppongi, and is the world's highest self-supporting steel tower and is the tallest man made structure in Japan. This tower is huge and can be seen from very far away. It is white and orange and is lit up at night to be seen by jets.

The other day my family and I went down to Roppongi and wanted to see from the top down at the city. It was very cold and once we got there it was packed. It was an hour wait to tickets and there were people being carted in on buses, like field trips bringing in children.

At the bottom of Tokyo Tower they have an aquarium, a gift shop, a food market, food court, jewelry shop, and many more things. It is just like a mall.

Tokyo Tower is located in the middle of city block of Roppongi.

Since it was an hour wait we were not able to go up on it but we'll be returning soon.

Sweet, sweet Japan

I love Japan. There are always exciting things here and you never know
what will happen or what to expect.
Tonight at dinner we had rice, beef, pork, and salad. Of course we ate
it with the traditional chop sticks, which I am getting a lot better
at using. After trying a little piece of my pork I went to the salad
and started eating that. After a few bites I stopped and stared at a
leaf on my chop sticks for a little while. I couldn't believe what I
was seeing. There was a small little fuzzy green caterpillar curled up
on my salad leaf! I was so shocked. I said "Ohmygod! Dad there is a
caterpillar on my leaf!" he came over and I handed him my chop sticks.
He looked at it a while and than went into the kitchen. I suddenly lost
my appetite and didn't eat much more. Through the rest of dinner I
wondered if it was placed in there on purpose because I didn't think
it was alive and I didn't see it move. I was wondering if they
actually ate caterpillars in there salad or if it was an accident that
it got in there. I knew that there are some pretty disgusting foods
here from seaweed, squid, to octopus and many more things; they eat so
many different foods than Americans' eat. And then I got to thinking,
if I had been born in Japan and grew up eating the foods they ate and
went to America and got a smoothie or pizza or some food that we eat in
America if I would thought it was disgusting like finding the
caterpillar in my dinner!

Kiba Park

Kiba Park is a park that my brother and I found in our first few weeks of staying here. It is about fifteen minutes from our house. This park is very popular and on weekends it is packed. The first part you see is this huge open feild with a lot of beautiful trees. They have a play ground, obstacle courses, and bike paths. My brother and I go on the bike paths very often. They are really cool and go a very long ways. From the picture to the left you can see a bridge, this bridge is only for walking and when you go onto it it is amazing. You can see so far away and it is so beautiful. I think that one of my favorite parts about Kiba is the tennis feilds that they have here. Even though I really stink at tennis and make a foul of myself everytime I want to go play, I really enjoy it. This park is very cool and a wonderful place to go to realax. There are a lot of joggers and adults exercising. This park is very fun to go to and my brother and I enjoy it a lot.

-D'Ette

My blog page

Hi, this is my blog that I will be writing on weekly about Japanese culture. I will write about wonderful information about Japan. I hope that you enjoy this as much as I do.

-D'Ette