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Train etiquette
Etiquette means manners, and manners are very important in Japan. We see posters in the train stations with reminders, such as this one:"Please be careful not to lean against the person sitting next to...
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What's that 9:30 p.m. sound?
For weeks now, we have noticed a peculiar sound out in the street next to our apartment building, always at around 9:30 pm. It is the sound of two wooden sticks being struck together, like a...
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Last time I posted about a sound we hear outside each night - the fire prevention volunteers. There's another sound that was a mystery until recently, when one of Tommy's school friends explained it....
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Tokyo Quilt Show
"Wishes" by Yoko Ueda - in response to 3/11The Great Tokyo International Quilt Festival draws huge crowds every January. I went twice and it was exhausting, but inspiring. I was happy to be tall...
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Setsubun
Setsubun marks the day before the official start of spring. It is recognized on February 3rd by... bean-throwing!In shops and homes, people toss roasted soybeans into the air while chanting "Out with...
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Ishiyaki Imo
Another sound we sometimes hear outside is a plaintive, slow, sing-song, chant, "shi..... yaaaaa kiiiii... iiii mo..o...o..." which is difficult to describe but you know it when you hear it! It is...
View ArticleOnomatopoeia
And continuing with the theme of SOUNDS....The other day we had fun trading onomatopoeia with a friend who is learning English.Some of the most common word-sounds in Japanese are:doki doki (dough-key,...
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Snowy school day!
On Wednesday, Tommy, Kaela, and I walked to the bus stop (I substitute taught that day in fourth grade) in the pouring rain. By the time our bus arrived at school 30 minutes late, the rain had turned...
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Bunka
Fourth grade classes at ASIJ are exploring Bunka, or Japanese Culture. For many students, Japan has been home for years, but for some, Japan is a new and foreign country.Student examples of...
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Matsumoto, part one - the castle
This past week, Mr. Nanto's Aunt Masako was visiting Japan from the states. Very early Saturday morning we took a train and met Masako and her sisters in Matsumoto, their hometown. Straight from the...
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Matsumoto, part two - yaki-imo and art
After seeing Matsumoto castle, we spotted a "Yaki-imo" truck, and got a sweet potato snack:Masako's sister Akko-san picks out the type of potato we want.Masako juggles the bag of steaming hot potatoes!...
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Matsumoto, part three- "kaiseki" cuisine
In Matsumoto, Masako's sister graciously provided rooms for us in a traditional Japanese inn, or "ryokan." After settling in, we were shown to a private room where we were served an 8 course...
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Matsumoto, part four - Ryokan
A "ryokan" is a traditional Japanese inn, and Masako's sister graciously invited us to stay with them at a local ryokan. What an experience! This is where we had the "kaiseki" meal I wrote about in...
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Tai Yaki.... and Dosojin
Today Aunt Masako left to go back home. It will be a 14 hour flight to Washington, D.C.! We spent the morning running some last minute errands in our neighborhood, Azabu Juban. Masako loved this...
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Daio Wasabi Farm
When we were in Matsumoto last weekend, we also visited Daio Wasabi Farm. Wasabi is a root, and is sometimes called Japanese horseradish, and it's related to cabbage and mustard. It is used as a...
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Costco
Once a month or so, a friend who has a car generously invites me along to Costco, where we stock up on basics like rice, meat, cheese, paper towels, etc. Here are a few items I don't buy:Sushi, of...
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3/11 remembered
Hello Russell Street! It feels like it's been awhile since I've been able to blog. It was spring break last week, and I went to Denver to visit my grandma (!) who recently turned 90. It was pretty...
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Cherry Blossoms
It is cherry blossom season in many parts of Japan. We took a subway about 3 stops from our station and explored a new-to-us neighborhood. Cherry Blossom reports on the evening newsFamilies, friends,...
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Weddings
The other day Mr. Nanto and I took a walk through a nearby park where several wedding parties were gathered. Here, the groom is walking followed by the bride and her mother. The red umbrella symbolizes...
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Sakura at Gotemba
Last week, my good friend and fellow teacher visited from MA. She had lived here many years ago and was anxious to visit her old "hometown" of Gotemba, a small town at the base of Mount Fuji. We took...
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