Erika's World

Her Grandfather teach her how to ring the bell of Butsudan.

Well last Friday in commemoration of Obon festival we went again to Anjo City  to visit the grave of my mother in law who passed away almost four years ago also  to offer a pray in the Butsudan.  The main reason going there is to have a reunion with my husband’s relatives which happens every year. We had a rich and delicious dinner that night while chatting and laughing and of course the main attraction was my baby Erika, she sing and dance and made gestures that we really enjoy watching.

Next Day it was Saturday we went to Anjo’s nearby place Kariya City where my sister in law lives. There was a live kiddie show and attractions that Erika love to watch. At night there was the famous Hanabi Taikai or firework show wherein people excited to see. Before the night comes the place is crowded with a plastic vinyl seat (my husband called it blue seat ) for a good view of the fireworks at night. My sister in law made us onigiri or riceball we ate while watching the hanabi.

Every time Erika wacth this video she always clap her hands.

Note: Erika had her mumps virus vaccine today.

Last month we celebrate Tanabata Matsuri at home and this time Erika loves the colorful Tanabata festival held in Anjo City where her father’s relatives live. According to my husband The festival starts 50 years before wherein on that time huge streamers were only made of papers and was being prepared many weeks before the festival comes.

Now, streamers are made up of cloth and shinny ribbons and is hanging everywhere.  Other  shops made contribution by putting their own creations in front of their restaurant or firms.

Dancers on the street

These are small shops  or store selling foods like Okonomiyaki, hotdogs, grilled squid, kaki kori or ice cone, toys, ice cream, games and others.

I  saw shops that offer to sketch your face and massage service.

There was also a photo gallery about world war II sponsor by Japanese soldiers.

At the end of the day Erika got a blinking cat ears on her head in remembrance to the festival.

The jurisdiction of the festivity is too wide that major streets need to be close and it lasts for three days.

Last year Erika celebrated with us tanabata festival and tonight was her second. We made her again a small bamboo tree with different style of papercraft.  This time I made the papercraft decoration better than last year’s decoration. And since it is a star festival I hanged many stars on her tree. I also made a small lantern which made my husband surprised  after seeing it, he could not believe that I did it better now because last year I don’t have any idea how to decorate the bamboo tree. I also made a three pieces papercraft butterfly I saw the tutorial in you tube and it was so easy but then my husband says it was his first time to saw a butterfly on a tanabata bamboo tree.

People write a wish on a paper called tanzaku and hang it on the tree. So The wishes we wrote in the tanzaku was:

• for Erika: to stay healthy and smart
• for family:  health and not to involve in any accident

My  step children too wrote wishes for their work I just can’t understand since it was written in Japanese.

After all the members of the family hanged their wishes we brought the tree to the garden and waited for the stars to  appear in the sky . I remember my last year’s wish for Erika was hopefully to heal her illness and it happened. Do you have a wish?  who knows it may happen…

It was still cold when we leave Japan last month and it is unexpected this month of April how warm it is during the day … before  I always feels cold until   May . Now we’re wondering how hot it will be this coming summer. Read the rest of this entry »

It is perhaps too early to prepare for this festival since Hina matsuri / Doll’s festival or Girl’s Day  should be celebrate on every third day of March but dad were just so excited to display my dolls so that Read the rest of this entry »