Mie and Nagoya

Well I just spent the weekend with yet more of my family. It was a wonderful time with them in Mie at Chiho and Shinichiro's house. We went to the town where the biggest shrine in Japan is with thousands of other people. It was absolute madness there. The town itself is one of the oldest and has shops for you to buy all kinds of things from food to dishes to omiage (souveniers). We got to see a short Taiko (drumming) show which was pretty neat and unlike at the family reunion these guys have giant muscles and are very serious. We picked up food from different stalls along the way and then at the end sat down and ate it together before going to the shrine. the path to the shrine is long but the gardens are beautiful. There was a massive lineup to get into the shrine which would have taken forever and with two little kids at 3 and less than a year old we would not have lasted. So we turned around and walked back through the village.

When we got back to Chiho and Shinichiro's house we had do-it-yourself sushi for dinner and I was so tired. I think I was getting sick that I had to go to bed early. The next morning we all packed up and said our sayonara's and poor little Himeka was so sad to see me go because she would be lonely again. Her mom had taught her how to ask me for a hug in english so she would climb on top of me the whole weekend. I have decided that I want to learn how to import Japanese toilets...Other than the beday part I love the fact that they have heated seats and some of them make the water noise so no one hears you peeing. Also when you flush you wash your hands with the new water that is being put into the tank. How green is that!?! I also want to have their shower room but thats a whole other story.

On Sunday March 22 Mizuho (my very distant cousin) took me into Nagoya where he lives and took me to the Tokugawa Museum where they have over 10,000 items from the Tokugawa Castle and it showed all their luxuries. They also have the first copy of the Illustrated Tales of Genji but you cannot see it as it is too precious to have on display. They also had their Doll festival exhibition up which was incredible. It had the Doll collection that the wives of the Tokugawas owned and all of their accessories. insane.

Then we went to a shrine and picked out good/bad luck wishes/fortunes. We both ended up with good luck! then we walked through a shopping area that was filled with all kinds of shops where you could buy kimonos and clothing from all over the world. I got to try Takoyaki (octopus balls) and yes they were delicious.

Then we drove past Nagoya castle as it was raining before going to play Pachinko! I had no idea how to play but it turns out all you do is turn a knob and watch the silver balls fall...very strange. But it was fun and since Nagoya is the birthplace of Pachinko I had to try. it was Mizuhos third time ever going. Then we went for Teppanyaki, Mizuho's favourite, and to where he used to work, he is an expert and I have told him that he needs to come to Victoria and open one there!!

well I am off to Kyoto. Sorry this is so long but it is going to have to satisfy your needs for awhile as I do not know when I will write next. I am now stuck using internet cafe's. Miss you all and I wish you all could be here with me.