Viki's Visits from Japan

Still at the zoo

2010-10-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

Was impressed with these trees. Colors were unique and so were the hanging roots.
They do have real elephants but this was cuter.
Dad, Ka-chan and Nami getting ready for lunch.

Honolulu Zoo

2010-10-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

This sign shows how far we are from all the famous world zoos. Honolulu Zoo is quite small but very children friendly. My son bought a family year pass and they enjoy going here a lot.

On this day, we met up with other wives of residents who enjoy these outings with their kids too.

During the rain we took refuge under a roof with milk cans and a ceramic cow.
There is a sign on the cow and it wasn't until after we took these photos that I read the sign, "Do not climb or sit on this cow!"

In Hawii

2010-10-27T02:29:00.000-07:00

With Nami in Honolulu Zoo

Did you ever watch turtles doing it? Well here is a pair and too bad you can't hear the noise they make! I never though turtles could say anything but they were really drawing attention to themselves.
One of the highlights of Nami's day is when Daddy comes home and takes her for a bike ride.
My first day in Hawaii, I had a delightful lunch with friends from the AFWJ club. Some live in Hawaii and others were just visiting...but all of us have Japanese husbands.

One month off

2010-09-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

There will be a silent month coming up as I'm heading off for Honolulu to take care of Nami this month with a bit over a week being spent flying up to Idaho to be with my 90 year old father.

I'll return in October to let you all in on my adventure.

Eating out with Ema

2010-09-06T05:59:00.000-07:00

Chikuwan is my favorite restaurant in Kamakura. They specialize in SOba and GObo tempura. Here Ema is chewing on a gobo after we took off the fried batter.
believe me she will eat anything. I even gave her a taste of the lemon slice. She made a face but held out her hand so I gave it to her. SHe didn't taste it again, but tried to get her mom to try it.

Golf at Hayama

2010-09-04T02:24:00.000-07:00

Andy took us to Hayama Kokusai Golf Club on Jack's birthday. It has to be one of my favorite golf sites. It is built in a place where almost nothing else could be so good for the eco system.
Courses are narrow and many up and down and on top of peaks.

We were taken by escalator and on a track in this 4 person cart around the course. Andy had a remote control to move the cart when no one was in it. It was impossible to get off the track and onto the fairways, so we did get in a lot of walking too.

Nami & Ema's Birthday presents

2010-09-03T02:49:00.000-07:00

I finally finished embroidering and piecing together the sea theme jean quilts for my 2 granddaughter's birthdays. Here is Nami's. She will be 2 in September.

Ema will be 1 in October, but I will be over with Nami in Hawaii in September so had to finish Ema's early.

Fireworks

2010-08-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

I always love to watch fireworks.

Sodegaura Obon festival cont.

2010-08-25T02:52:00.000-07:00

Jack and I took chairs to enjoy the fireworks and the festival doings.
Above are some of our churches kids who were there too.
The Fukuodai groups dancers. My tennis friend and student from years ago.
Below was the large group of bonodori dancers that were traditional style.

Obon, cont.

2010-08-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

The festival at German village consisted of a dancing circle of different groups dancing around to the music. 30 years ago when I last visited a festival, 100% of the dances were bonodori or Japanese traditional dances in yukatas or in the jimbei style wear. However there was only 2 groups of traditional dancers. Above you can see the large group of Hawaiian dancers and below are the energetic jazz dancers followed by the young girls in kind of a pep rally, cheer leader fashion.

Of course no festival would be complete without the mayor and vp speeches! Behind them are Chiba kun in Red and another animation that I forgot who he is!
Here are the airobic dancers again. It was so hot and they were so fast moving. Next post will show the Japanese traditional dancers, who were in the minority.

Obon /Yukata

2010-08-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

Jack and I went to the Sodegaura Summer Festival at German Village. I wore a yukata that my mother-in-law made for me.
Posing by the sunflowers on the walk into the village
MIL putting on the obi. I bought a pink one I like better than this yellow, but haven't worn it yet.
Lots of stuff to put on underneath and just too hot to wear it all!

Mei (May)

2010-08-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

This darling baby came to visit us with her parents. Her father is my son's cousin and same age.
This baby named Mei, is PIL 4th granddaughter. Their 5th will be born in October! The generation above her was almost all boys.
Another pose of sweet little Mei
Below she is being help by her great grandmother.

water flowers

2010-08-08T17:02:00.000-07:00

In my little fish pond, the water flowers are blooming again. So pretty, but don't ask me the name of them. To me flowers are to be enjoyed not named. Even the fish no one can tell us what they are. I just call them medika, but people tell me they aren't true medika.

Puppy/Swallows

2010-08-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

No, we don't have a new puppy. This precious little sweet dashund/chuwawa mix belongs to my friend. Nice to have a puppy near but not be responsible for the shots, piddles, etc.
Every year we have swallows who make their nest in/on our garage. This year we had 5 babies. The heat got one and we had 4 left. Jack saw one had slipped out and he was putting it back into the nest when the whole nest tumbled to the ground and the babies all flew away! But flew back to the side roof to wait for feedings as they were still too little to go it alone. Now they just come back in the mornings to do whatever it is swallows do--hopefully having a breakfast of mosquitos.
Nest on the ground/babies plus some friends on the roof.
Babies in the nest before it fell. These of course are all backwards in sequence.

Party at Peggy's

2010-08-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Birthday girl.
The daughters who attended
Yummy.
In front of Peggy's house.
16 of us foreign wives.

Sorry for taking a break!

2010-07-25T05:36:00.000-07:00

Haven't been posting lately for 2 reasons. It is just so hot and I'm so lazy with nothing new to say! Also I got a new cell phone and haven't figured out how to get the photos from there into this computer. I bought the adapter for the micro chip in the phone but it won't download.

Well, I'm not going to sweat that now. I will get back to blogging soon hopefully.

BBQ cont.

2010-07-14T01:09:00.000-07:00

Above is the youngest baby in our group. and below are the older kids. It is seldom that these older kids want to join us, so had to get a photo of them together. The kids in between were impossible to get together.

BBQ in Chiba

2010-07-10T01:54:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday the 4th of July 25 foreign wives of Japanese men met for a BBQ. It was hot and sticky but we enjoyed getting together with old friends and new ones. About 1/2 the husbands were there too and many kids. I hate to say it but I think I was the oldest one there.

Ema on Nami's puzzle mat

2010-07-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

Nami's first surgery

2010-07-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

When Koji sent this e-mail to me. I was thinking, "Oh, no is she in the hospital? What kind of surgery did she have?" Then I scrolled down and saw this photo!

Looks like she might even be left-handed.

Ema again

2010-07-01T16:37:00.000-07:00

Here she is with her other grandpa....they are having her learn to call him iichan (short for Ojiisan). Below she is with her uncle.

When it rains and we are walking they have a special cover for the stroller. But it can get like a sauna in there in this weather.

Kamakura hydranges

2010-06-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

After church on Sat. Andy and Waka took us up to see the famous free hydranges view. It was beside the temple where we saw lines of people walking the temple grounds which are the most famous for this summer flowering bush. But this place is up a trail beside the above cemetary.

It was raining this day and so many people wanting this view even in the rain.
Had to throw in this knobby tree that we saw on our walk.

graduation final photos

2010-06-30T02:06:00.000-07:00

Denny and Joan were representing the Idaho family at the graduation.
Here is the Japanese girl married to one of Koji's classmates and their son. He is also in the Navy and she will graduate from Nursing soon.

Graduation park party cont.

2010-06-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Above is the Miyagi family who also had a medical school graduate. The boy on the left is a wonderful tennis player.
Nami enjoys sliding down the slope.
Mommy's and babies.
Here we have proof of Denny being a tease to our tiny Ema! She was sleeping.

Picnic after grad.

2010-06-27T03:47:00.000-07:00

We gathered in the Loma Linda Park for a fun pizza picnic after the graduation. Almost all the Japanese students and friends came.

Brother Denny and wife Joan flew down from Idaho to help us celebrate.

Military graduation cont.

2010-06-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Our whole family poses outside after the military graduation.

Swearing in as officers above, below they pose with their officers above them.

Here the Airforce officer gives Koji his new ranking.

Military graduation

2010-06-23T01:59:00.000-07:00

These LLUMS graduates met after graduation to get their officer upgrade. First 3 are Army, Next 2 are Air Force and the last one in white is Navy.
Here Andy and I are with Dr.Henry Lamberton, one of the professors who also was a good councilor to Andy when he was there. His wife is from my home town area and he always is so happy to see us.
The lady on the right is the one who keeps everything moving the way it should. I noticed she the one to organize all the events from Friday night to this military ceremony. She admitted to me that this last one was the most difficult to get people to follow correctly.
Andy is in the Navy and the girl on his left graduated with him. Her father is also Navy. Here Andy is talking to the Navy highest officer there that day.
Koji and Ka-chan posing before going in to the ceremony.

Graduation/with President Hart

2010-06-21T16:54:00.000-07:00

Here Koji poses with the Japanese friends who came to congradulate him.
Koji and Shishin Miyagi the other Japanese medical student graduate.
Family pose with Richard Hart, LLU President. Actually he is also a childhood friend and a distant cousin.
President Dick Hart with his wife Judy. He also received 2 of my leis. Below with me! I missed meeting his brother Ken (another childhood friend and now a doctor in LLU area) and his parents who I've known all my life. His father was my father's roommate in academy 70 some years ago! Then dad's sister married his father's brother! That is how we are related.

Koji gets his MD

2010-06-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

Koji coming down the steps with his MD certificate.

Notice he has my two shuriken(little sharp stars made of origami that were used by the Japanese Ninja to fight) I made these in the hospital when I had my operation and then strung them up for Koji and several of his friends. Notice in the first photo he had more leis but these arrived too late for the ceremony.

Graduation at LLUMS

2010-06-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

LLUMS graduation . Here the graduates are lined up to get their diploma's on the far side. Shake hands with some teachers/president/ etc and then walk down this close side.

Koji and fellow graduate march to the front to take their seats.

Play in the water

2010-06-16T00:09:00.000-07:00

Nami and her little friends cool off by playing in the water.

Friday evening cont.

2010-06-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Here is E with her Dad. She was born too late to get her silver cup at her dad's graduation.
Here the little girls are acting up. Good thing they did the graduates with kids first so they could get out of the way for the more serious part. After the kids cups they had each graduate go and find his parents (or wife in parents not there) and then come get in line and the as their names are called go up and the parents would put on the cape over the gown as the announcer told where each graduate would be going to do his/her residency and in which field. Also told the name of the parents (sometimes even a grandparent) who would be caping them. I was so sorry that I couldn't get anyone to take our photo doing this. So you will just have to imagine what we did.
With N. it was impossible for K to get in a position to take our photo, but I got her!

Silver cup

2010-06-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Again these are in reverse order. Nami is enjoying her silver cup which was a present from Dr. and Mrs. Hadley. It is a tradition that each baby born during the parents years in medical school is awarded a silver cup with her/his name engraved on the cup.

Here Dr. Hadley presents Nami with her silver cup.

Medical students babies

2010-06-13T04:54:00.000-07:00

Here all the parents are with the babies with the graduate in the gown. The following photos are in the wrong order to show our brave little Nami walking down through all those people and then to end up on the stage.

Baby grads

2010-06-12T18:32:00.001-07:00

On Friday evening before the Sunday graduation, they have a special service. The first part is where the medical students march in and sit in the front. The first to march in are the graduates with their babies that have been born during their years in medical school.
Here N and S march in with their daddy's. You can see some had 2 babies in their school years.

Here S and N show off their father's hats. Wonder if 25 years later they might wear the same hats? These are the only 2 babies whose fathers are native Japanese. There is another whose mother is Japanese and the father is a spanish speaking American. He is also their friend but couldn't march in together.

Fun times in LLU area

2010-06-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

On Sabbath afternoon Denny, Joan and I enjoyed singing with my friends we made years ago in Yap and CHuuk. Koji and Andy were playing softball and soccer with the young people. We were babysitting Nami too. Below again with our friends. Elva was the lucky girl who in Yap got my little red Sera toyota. Arnil was the principal's wife and like my sister for all these many years since our first meeting in Chuuk.

Above Koji catches N stealing some of his food!
Nami is typical kid in that she loves stomping in water. Below she gets her bath with Ema.

Church party for graduates

2010-06-09T17:10:00.000-07:00

The first day we were there the church had a supper and congradulations party for all graduates from kindergarten to medical school.
Here the pastor is interviewing Koji about his future plans.
Koji's family eating their supper. Koji always loved curry rice.
N loves fish and all animals to look at--hopefully not to eat.
cake for congradulations.

May 23 to 31

2010-06-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

2 sisters and their 2 daughters.
N taking a photo of E, but this of course is only in her imagination.
2 cousins enjoying a not nap lay down.
On the plane going to LAX
Shopping for star wear at Narita before flight.

Silent for awhile

2010-05-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry, but there will be no new posts until June. I'm going over to LLU for Koji's graduation. When I return there will be new photos and messages.

Saniku Reunion at old campus

2010-05-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

This was a cute little Italian Greyound. Still a pup.
Here Jack sits with several of his classmates. His class was probably the best represented.

H. Mizutani (was Suzuki in high school) was the main chef. In Japan it is quite common for the husband to take the wife's name instead of her taking his. This is to keep her family name going when she is an only child.
Everyone posing for the photo. Several came later, sorry.

Waffles/BBQ

2010-05-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

For breakfast we had yummie waffles. Then prepared for the group coming in for BBQ.

Below is the mother of a new AFWJ member. She was our age and we enjoyed her coming too. We are roasting marshmellows on the coals.

A neighbor came back from fishing and donated these fish.
BBQing isn't my thing as I've always stayed a vegetarian. I did make some yummie veggie foil packages that everyone enjoyed: potato, carrot, onion, sweet potato, topped with butter, salt and pepper.

GW cont.

2010-05-12T01:14:00.000-07:00

3 of us sleeping on the futons in the living room. Slept really good.
Doing the dishes after dinner
Our okanamiyaki dinner. Everyone made their own. Yummie

In the back room looking at the house.

GW beach at Misaki

2010-05-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

This house has been being extended and added-on to for many years. According to Susan this man is building it himself and he brings cement blocks made in milk cartons and brick by brick had made this castle like house and now is adding a garage.

This shark just starved to death?
Looking out to the ocean and up the river where the surfers are enjoying the safer water. We understand the actual beach at Misaki is not to be swum/surfed as too dangerous an undercurrent; however it is ideal for fishing.
Isumi river.

GW taking it easy

2010-05-08T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hostess with the mostest! Here she is taking a breather from our laughter.
Another relaxer, but this chair is not so comfy.
This is where the 4 of us enjoyed just taking it easy in the beautiful sunshine with the gentle breeze.
After the BBQ the group of us posed for my timer.

Golden Week at Misaki

2010-05-07T05:45:00.000-07:00

6 of us got together here in Misaki for a day of fun. After a sandwich bar lunch we walked to the beach. All of us are members or former members of AFWJ.
To get there I had to cross the Chiba Boso Peninsula. One of the ladies rode with me and we were laughing at this cute slow train that kept crisscrossing in front of us.

bamboo shoots/Ema can stand

2010-05-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

Ojiisan is teaching Waka and her mother about the bamboo shoots. Below Waka is trying her skill at getting the shoot dug up.

4 generations in the bamboo forrest.

Ema can stand up now for a few seconds without having support. But she still can't crawl!

bow/arrow/on a horse

2010-05-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

While visiting in Kamakura, we walked down to the temple where they had this demonstration of the horses galloping down the lane and the horseman shooting the arrow into the target.
The crowd was too thick to see much.

There was even an ambulance that needed to get through and the people on this street had to make space!
This was part of the walk to the temple from the kids house.

Signs

2010-04-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

Poor Ema had a rash after her bath. Her parents had stopped feeding her soft food and had her only drinking breast milk thinking she had a food allergy. However, she broke out after the bath when she had not had anything to eat. I suggested maybe a soap allergy. So they changed to a natural soap for babies and I heard she is fine again and can eat again too.
We went to play tennis at Ikego (Navy housing area for Yukosuka base) and I thought this sign was more Japanese English than American. Andy and I laughed at the last line. What does that mean? Curb your dog from doing what?
Since the first of April we have moved our school to our own residence. It took lots of work to get everything moved--especially the signs. Above is our driveway and below is at the top of the hill.

Better Camp cont.

2010-04-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

Between the lodges and the autocamp/tent site there is this path into this little creek.

Beyond Jack is a waterfall slide.
Below is the take off point for the hike into the creek.

BBQ and sink area for the tent campers.

Better Camp place

2010-04-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

We liked this place better. Above shows how it is laid out with a parking spot, tent spot and sink and electric hookup.
I think this is a campfire place? and below incase of rain a good place to eat.

Below shows a view of how the spots line up.

Camp sites in Chiba

2010-04-16T01:33:00.000-07:00

Since my AFWJ group want a camp out in Sept. or Oct. and I am Chiba leader this year, Jack and I went to check some areas out. We liked this campsite in some ways. Lots of these orange balls for the kids to swing on.
The cabins we alright, but no electricity or water
But the toilets were the biggest negative. I don't like to squat--my knees just can't take it.

The washing cooking are isn't too bad and the tent sites were quite nice.

Craft and Chat

2010-04-13T03:12:00.000-07:00

Lunch with friends after the Craft and Chat.

Craft and Chat. This group meets once a month to work on craft/sewing projects. This was my first time to go. Will I go again? It meets during my tennis time.

Zoenji Temple

2010-04-12T00:21:00.000-07:00

After Ema's dedication and potluck we returned to Andy's home where Grandpa decided to sleep and the rest of us walked up to the Zoenji Temple. This tells us it was built in 1327 and is in the top 5 important temples in Kamakura and in the top 15 in all of Japan. (I think that is what they told me in the translation--but I have been known to make mistakes)

Above is the cave and dirty lake. We couldn't get closer.

Ema enjoyed going up the steps more than I did!

Dedication Continued

2010-04-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

Family photo of Ema's relatives attending. Waka's brother on the left and her parents in front, Jack's parents in front of us.

Ojiisan and I are enjoying conversations with Ema.

She can now sit by herself for a long time without falling over.

Ema's dedication

2010-04-06T06:51:00.000-07:00

Waka's father is the pastor so Ema was very good when he held her and prayed.

Below Grandpa holds her as Ojiisan and Obaasan look in the hymnal.

Charlie McCarthy?

2010-04-04T03:23:00.000-07:00

Mom used to tell me that the wooden dolls of a ventriloquist were called Charlie McCarthy at least that was a famous one in her time. Waka's father does a good job with his Ken-chan. Here he is telling the children visiting the church about Easter.

Ema enjoys playing with toys now.
During vacation my friend Vivian came with some visiting friends from USA that were interested in ceramics. I hope they like Japan.

Misc. stuff/ Kamakura and here

2010-03-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

This house is up on the hill above us and for sale for only 2,000 man. (Japanese money would be about 200,000 dollars in USA. But very cheap for here. We looked inside and completely redone and lovely huge garden and at least 6 parking spots, 3 under cover and 1 or 2 in the garage.
The above house is where my son lives in Kamakura and it is also for sale for 5,000 man. But the house below is kitty corner to his house and remodeled but not so nice or new for 3,200 man but it must have sold because this week when we visited the flags were gone.

A flower salesman with his donkey walking the streets of Kamakura

Below a sample of Japanese English on the sign in the bus to Shinjuku.

Reiko's photos showing in Shinjuku

2010-03-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

Reiko Shibata spent 4 years traveling all over Japan and photographing women from many countries who are making their lives in Japan with Japanese husbands. Above is a British friend who lives in Kyushu and yes she is a priest.
I am on the top right and just below me is another British friend who lives in Hokkaido.
Left is a Korean lady who lives near us and we called her over to our place for the photo shoot. Top left on double row is my dear friend who has left Japan.
This is my friend of 34 years who visited the showing with me. We met in California when Jack was a student there and I was teaching Japanese housewives.
Here I pose with Reiko. Above is my photo and below is my Hokkaido friend again.

Ema again!

2010-03-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Ema is developing quite an interesting personality. Lots of new expressions.

Her first new taste besides mother's milk is licking on an apple.
She fell asleep so daddy could eat.

Goodbye Epson/ last of skiing

2010-03-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

My Epson digital camera I used for so many years took the last photo of the Benz above. Jack wanted to take another photo and I handed him the camera thinking he had ahold of it and he thinking I was still holding it. It dropped on the cement and bent the pop out lens. So it is now garbage. Andy and Waka gave me their old one which is much better so after today the photo here will be from that camera.
I just can get over the penguin style of the young snowboarders! Of course with their feet both stuck on the board, I guess they don't need long legs!
Ema with her mommy and below with me. Notice how our colors match! Pink and Brown!

Our men loading up the van to return home.

Marunuma Kogen cont.

2010-03-21T04:19:00.000-07:00

Here we all are at the top. The little yellow house behind is where we had lunch.

The red roof is where the gondola brings us up.

Jack, Steve (Andy's doctor friend who went with us)and Andy ready to ski down.

Lunch time on the top!

2010-03-19T04:46:00.000-07:00

Instead of fighting the crowds down at the main lodge we came to the top for lunch. I walked around with Ema and was quite a hit!

This little nook behind our booth was the perfect place for Ema to get her lunch!

Old stuff misc.

2010-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:00

Ema likes to sit on her daddy's lap and see what is going on. No way will she sit in a baby seat to watch us eat. She still doesn't want to eat anything except suck on an apple occasionally.
Andy trying to ski with Ema. It was hard on his back and threw his balance off.

Sad moment at Narita when we said goodbye to Nami, Koji and Ka-chan. Next time we see them will be at Koji's graduation the last week of May.

Ema with Sweetheart

2010-03-15T02:09:00.000-07:00

Ema isn't sure what she thinks about my jumbo Sweetheart Orangatang. When I bought all my beanie babies and buddies, I got a lot of raised eyebrows from the family. However now everyone admits my granddaughters are going to enjoy my collection.

Tunnels finished.

2010-03-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

A nice view of Mt. Fuji at sundown time.
This door behind the guy in the black jacket is the only hint that you don't just have a mountain of rock behind.
Have to bend down to keep from hitting your head...but we have to realize the Japanese men of over 60 years ago were shorter than the men of today. Below is the only door in the tunnel system. All the rocks they took out of here are what went into the bay to make the flat area where many of the Navy base activities are.

Tunnels cont.

2010-03-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

These walls show what a task it was for those Japanese to make these tunnels.

I understand all of the rocks taken out of here are what made the housing and commissary area of Yukosuka Navy base.

Water undergroud?

2010-03-05T23:58:00.000-08:00

This is how Ema was carried in the underground tunnels
Why is everyone going up these steps and then what are they looking at?
There were two places where they got their water in the tunnel. Above was the hole and below was the hole on the rise that everyone was walking up to peer into.
Looking down into the raised hole. The water looks so clean, but we didn't dare taste it.

Still underground.

2010-03-05T03:07:00.000-08:00

The guide knew more than most of us, but he admitted they really don't know many things about this underground network of tunnels.
They do know that there was a hospital under here and here is a part of the bed that survived.
One of the few lights under ground.
What were these shelves for?

They think this place below was where they might have had their buddist religion stuff.

In the Tunnels

2010-03-03T04:17:00.000-08:00

It was amazing the network of tunnels and passages that run under the Navy base. Learned that there were many still unexplored because of danger of cave-ins. In fact there was a tunnel that supposedly ran all the way to Yukota or was it Zama or Atsugi? I forget but there was also a tunnel under the bay to Monkey Island. However these were not open and we were not even shown where they were. The navy volunteered to give a TV crew a tour to broadcast about these tunnels, but the Japanese Yukosuka government said no. Private tours are okay but they really don't want the publicity.
This is one of the scary critters that still occupy the tunnel. We were told they are harmless unless bothered then their sting will be very painful but not deadly. No one in our group bothered them!
Here is a typical branch. I visited the catacombs outside Rome years ago and this is the closest similarity to them.
We were told to bring flashlights as the guides large lantern would not be enough to keep us safe.
Some VIP guests had come to visit and they had run a few blocks of wires for that tour, but only a very few places had the original wires of the original users of the tunnel cave.

What is under Yukosuka?

2010-03-01T18:46:00.000-08:00

My son is a Navy man stationed in Yukosuka Navy Base. He arranged for us to go on a tour with him down into/under the base. Here we are gathered in the biggest room in the part that is currently in use.
This is a meeting room underground in that section. As is the photo below.
Below shows the space around the inside core which is made modern for working in.

Here we take off and go into the tunnels. These were made by the Japanese before/during the war. When USA knew they would be coming into Japan, orders were given to protect Yukosuka as the Navy wanted to be able to use this wonderful port....and these other unknown parts of the area.

Ema skiing cont.

2010-02-28T16:33:00.000-08:00

Can't resist this great photo of Waka and Ema. Below is a very short video of Andy skiing with Ema.

Ema Skiing?

2010-02-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

video uploaded

2010-02-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

I uploaded a funny video of Nami and her baby dedication on my facebook. Please go there to see it as I can't seem to understand how to upload such a long heavy video to this blog.

On the road home

2010-02-24T23:58:00.000-08:00

I couldn't resist taking this photo to show how the Japanese expect you to use their toilets.

One funny sign I forgot to get a photo of was OUR WASH ROOMS ARE AUTOMATICLY FULL
Nice day to see Mt. Fuji on the way home too.

Nami in Kobe

2010-02-24T00:30:00.000-08:00

Nami adapts quickly to new things, but she clung to my beanie dog while checking out her other grandparents home in Kobe.
In front of their house is this water drain ditch that Nami felt was her private road.
She also loved the little horse that was there waiting for her to gallop away on.
In the back seat of the StepWagon, we had made her a special padded bed since we knew that for the many hours it would take to go to Kobe from Chiba, there was just no way she would stay in the car seat all the time. She quite enjoyed her little jail.

Kobe at night

2010-02-23T01:36:00.000-08:00

While visiting in Kobe with our daughter-in-law's family and while Koji was doing a rotation there, we enjoyed seeing the night lights of Kobe. Here we are on top the mountain near Aruma Hot Springs.

These photos were taken down on the Kobe Port.

Another view of the Kobe Port.

Love Hotel again

2010-02-22T01:24:00.000-08:00

In Kobe again we stayed at the Love Hotel. Now who wouldn't prefer the above king sized bed to a single bed in a tiny room at the Aruma Onsen for 4 times the price?
Here Jack is trying to get the Karoke programed. On the left was a strange chair and below is a close-up. It came with instructions, but also needed money to get it working. We passed on that!

Here we are in the free robes singing our hearts out.

perfect cowlick/relatives visiting

2010-02-20T01:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen such a perfect cowlick? Anyone know why they call it that?
With the relatives visiting, Ema enjoyed her view from Daddy's lap. While below the older kids play.

Remember the choco lab of yesterdays post? Well, after that photo he got loose and caused a real scare as he is too exuberant for the little kids and actually quite dangerous. So he was finally caught and put in the car prison. Nami had to go visit him.

Relatives visiting over NY

2010-02-19T02:22:00.000-08:00

One of the joys of NY in Japan is many of the relatives come visiting, or we go see them. Above Uncle N came with his choco lab and of course Nami was excited. Below is his son and family. Only boy in a group of many new baby girls.

Nami is so curious about everything. With her is a 3rd cousin who is actually the oldest in this new generation of babies. Below she is with her uncle and his wife and baby with my son and his family in the middle.
Katsumi and his family. This second cousin (his father and Jack are cousins) spent a lot of time with Koji growing up. He has an older brother as does Koji and the 4 of them played together almost daily. The brush above in the photo below is actually part of the Iizuka land so it is only a skip and a hop to visit them.

100 Days for Ema

2010-02-16T16:03:00.000-08:00

Granddaughter Ema Jayden had her 100 day photo ceremony. I understand this is a Japanese custom. This kimono was the same one that her mother and grandmother wore on their 100 day ceremony.
Part of the ceremony photo dishes. Not sure how Mickey is related?

My first impression was this photo makes her look like a baby during Shakespeare's time!
More of the western touch.

Last of the Sparklers

2010-02-15T18:06:00.000-08:00

These 4 came from overseas to sparkle in Sapporo!

More Sparklers.

2010-02-14T16:12:00.000-08:00

Other Sparklers

2010-02-14T02:55:00.000-08:00

This precious little baby was the only baby there and I don't think there was anyone that didn't just love her.
This Hawaiian Hula Muumuu really was gorgeous.
Kashikoi sparklers
Even our MC minus her jacket really sparkled.
2 more great sparklers.

Sapporo Sparklers

2010-02-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

C & N sparkling at the Cabaret. N was also our Uncle Willy, but hard to tell by this sparkle.
Loved H. and her blue sparkle...everyone actually did great to sparkle.

M. had build it sparkle!My roommate M and I. I stripped out of the pink sparkle tights as I just couldn't keep them up while moving around!
Dancing to music freely after the cabaret...so many sparklers.

Ainu /hotel room

2010-02-12T04:47:00.000-08:00

Maria and I posing in the Ainu kimonos
A nice sample of the Ainu patchwork.
Our hotel room. Lovely room on the 10th floor Nice firm beds with down comforters and choice of a hard or medium hard pillow.
Lovely bathroom with TV for bath viewing. Sorry but I never tried it. Just too much excitement to want to watch Tv too.

Ainu Cont.

2010-02-10T20:16:00.000-08:00

We got to try on their ceremony wear.
Posing with some of the Ainu girls.
Here we are forming a circle where they will teach us one of their dances.
This was our final group meeting and love circle farewell song.

Ainu Presentation

2010-02-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

On Sunday morning we had a lovely Ainu group come and teach us about their culture. Here we are trying to learn to play the Mouth Kouto. called Mukuri in Ainu language.

Here the Ainu ladies are doing a chant/clap song.
This girl is the best at playing the mouth kouto. Each one of us got one as a part of our convention package and I'm practicing, but finding it very difficult to get any sound at all.
These girls are playing the regular Ainu Kouto.

Cabaret cont.

2010-02-09T00:53:00.000-08:00

At the end of the Cabaret, the ladies were invited to come on the stage and dance freely. A lot of sparkle and fun was had by all.

This was one of my favorite acts. D. gave us a lesson in the many uses of chopsticks. She even used our guest to advantage. If any of you are wondering our special guest was a time traveled William Shakespeare, known in our cabaret as Uncle Willy. He had comments before and after each act.

Another hilarious act was put together since the convention started. S and L found through out the hotel and spa funny English. S read the English comments and L would act them out.

Cabaret Performers

2010-02-07T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here is our Isle of The Rising Sun singers. Sung to the tune of House of the RIsing Sun.
Our gorgeous Hula Dancer. Yes she is originally from Hawaii.
This girl was an add on but boy did she give us the FEVER. No cd just her lovely voice.
These 2 did a lovely job of singing new words to Skip to My Loo. Notice the spelling of Loo. That is because the new words used that a lot!

Below is the cute skit about 2 Kiwi high school girls getting lost in Hokkaido.

Tomorrow I'll try to explain the guest sitting to the left on this photo and standing in the photo yesterday. Who is he do you think?

Drawing/ misc.

2010-02-06T15:38:00.000-08:00

Can you guess who this is? Tomorrow I'll explain our mysterious guest.Only 4 of us from Chiba: Peggy, Viki, Catherine, & Vivian. Never remember a convention when there were so few of us.I was the one in charge of the Charity Raffle. Susan did the drawing and here is the #1 winner.
Winner #3 and below is #4. Where is #2? Well tickets started selling at the Kanto luncheon and the Chiba Christmas party, but we said you didn't have to be present to win. So #2 was one of those who couldn't attend, but still one a beautiful ceramic plate made by my husband.
This raffle brought in 87,000 yen to the club's charity fund, but it was understood that 1/2 would go to a special member of our club who is fighting cancer.

Ice Festival cont.

2010-02-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

I wanted a photo of Vicky and her husband with the other 3 of us Victoria's there, but low and behold the whole group insisted on jumping into our photo!
These guys were given our cameras and were shooting our photos. I'm thinking some of them might have had their own cameras working too.
Our young single guide. Same age as my youngest son!
It was cold, but not so bad as it could have been.
We got to go up on the scaffolding to see the close up work. Here are the guys doing the details. I was afraid to look down!

Ice Festival Behind the scenes

2010-02-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

One of our member's husband is a member of the self-defense force and every year they do one of the major sculptures for the Sapporo Ice Festival. He arranged for our bus to come into the grounds and also arranged a tour so we could see how these wonderful sculptures are made. He is above with his wife and 2 sons.
Work in progress on the scaffoldings.
Explanations to us about the project. This years project is "Baekje Royal Palace of Korea" It's measurements will be 15 meters high, 24 meters wide and 24 meters deep. It takes 750 six-ton dump truck loads of snow. They are making 50 kinds of blocks for a total of 4,500 blocks. 3,900 people will be working to finish this project from January 6 to February 3.
On the way I snapped probably the most famous photo shot in Sapporo. This clock appears on many of the cookies, candies and other presents you might get from Hokkaido.

Otaru glass blowing

2010-02-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

Inside the bus to Otaru
Kay and I saw this sign by the glass blowing shop. So had to have her pose there!
She decided to blow a glass mug for herself. First she had to listen to an explanation of what she was going to do.
Here she is doing her first blow. Above you can see also the price for this work and the styles to chose from.
Second blow and after the blow, the guy does the rest of the work. It will be cooled, wrapped and sent to her address as she couldn't wait the few hours for that.

Otaru tour, etc.

2010-02-03T00:30:00.000-08:00

This bus took us Saturday morning to Otaru, a famous port city with fun shopping.
Kay and I posing in front of a snow house sculpture.
Interesting building--but no time to check it out as it was an eating place and we decided to skip lunch and enjoy shopping.
The famous Canal. On the right was supposed to be flea markets in the warehouses but we found it was only food places.
Friday night we played a draw a famous person game. Any ideas who the famous person was at our table?

Hokkaido AFWJ Convention

2010-02-01T21:58:00.000-08:00

This is the view from the elevator looking down to the buffet breakfast/lunch place.

Below is the view from the tables looking up at the elevators.

View from my room on the 10th floor of the best hotel in Sapporo, the Gateaux Kingdom Hotel and Spa Resort.Fellow Vegetarians! We had fantastic food.
Inside the little snow house outside the hotel.

Saiho Chinese Restaurant

2010-01-26T23:27:00.000-08:00

Jack's cousin has a Chinese restaurant in Kisarazu where we love to eat. Since we are vegetarian we take our own glutten meat and burger and get delicious subuta and gyoza made vegetarian style. Nami loved the noodles from my katayaki soba. Ema gets her Chinese food second hand.

Victorian Christmas tree

2010-01-25T19:38:00.000-08:00

Since Nami would be having her first hands-on Christmas I decided to make the Christmas tree one she could touch and enjoy. I found a delightful book at a recycle shop on home-made Christmas decorations and tried to copy the style of the Victorian Tree. I added lace to my old gold balls and made some decorations then added some of my beanie bears and buddies at the base to cover the stand. Well not when Nami decided they were hers to hug.
She was excited with the tree and loved to discover each different aspect.
A close up and with the lights on the tree on and the room lights off.
The tree topper was fun to make. It is a styrofoam ball with plastic flowers poked into it and ribbon streamers falling down the tree (this keeps the ball in place too.)
Nami's favorite things though were the bears. Thanks to TY and my old collection, my granddaughters will have bears to play with for years!

Doing ceramics?

2010-01-24T23:17:00.000-08:00

While her mommy was busy trying to make some udon bowls, Nami found a new pet!

Grandpa was decorating his big work.
Mommy made long snakes and wrapped them around and shoved them together to make a bowl.

Anpanman Jungle Gym

2010-01-23T18:33:00.000-08:00

At the recycle shop Koji bought many sacks of bars and slide/swing. The store said they couldn't guarantee everything was there, so it was cheap. Like 9 dollars.
Koji went on the internet and found the Anpanman jungle gym set that looked the same so he would have an idea of how to put it together, since no instructions came with it....another reason for the discount.
Took awhile and several times taking apart and doing again.
Result was a perfect set for Nami. Cost listed on the internet and in stores here is close to 200 dollars. Next problem was how to get it out of the house without taking it all apart again!
It is now set up over in Ojiisan's spare room waiting for Nami to return or Ema to grow up some more!

Sodegaura Park cont.

2010-01-22T22:32:00.000-08:00

Walking the boarded sidewalk. In spring the Iris planted on both sides is famous.Throwing out seeds for the ducks and watching them come.

This is the closest they get.