For most foreigners, the word "Hiroshima" summons one thought: the atomic bombing, and nothing else. But tell a Japanese person that you visited Hiroshima and you'll get the following question: "Did you try the okonomiyaki?". By no accident, our hotel sat right next door to the famous Okonomiyaki Village, and I saved okonomiyaki for the last …
Continue reading Grandpa Don Visits Japan, the Final Chapter: Okonomiyaki and Karaoke
Grandpa Don returned home to Texas this past Sunday, and we miss him! During the last few days of his trip we visited Hiromshima. We packed in so much during the four days we spent there that I'm breaking up our Hiroshima visit into a few posts. Last Wednesday we boarded the shinkansen bullet train in …
Continue reading Grandpa Don Visits Japan: Arriving in Hiroshima and Visiting Miyajima Island
We are in Hiroshima to round out Grandpa Don's last few days in Japan. Most of the photos are on the big fancy camera, and I will write a long post about our visit with those photos when we return home to Yokohama. But I want to record my impressions of today's visit to the …
Continue reading Today’s visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Monday was the last day of school and early dismissal at noon. I showed Don around the school and snapped this quick photo. Then Tessa and Don headed down to Motomachi for lunch while Cy and I ate at sushi-go-round. After lunch we regrouped for a quick outing. A pop quiz for all of …
Continue reading Grandpa Don visits Japan: the Kids’ School, Cup Noodles Museum, and Shabu Shabu
This Sunday morning the five of us attended Mass at our church, Sacred Heart Cathedral. In the afternoon Tessa headed to a friend's birthday party while the menfolk and I set out for lunch in Chinatown. First we stopped by a shrine and watched people make their offerings. It's called 横浜関帝廟, which a little Internet sleuthing tells me …
We have our first visitor! It's Grandpa Don, Mark's dad, who flew in yesterday from his home in San Antonio. Ever the gracious guest, Don gamely came along as we dragged him to one of our favorite local spots, Sankeien Garden. Back in April we visited Sakeien at night for some nighttime o-hanami, or cherry blossom …
Continue reading Grandpa Don Visits Japan: Day 1, Sankeien Garden
Today I took part in yet another Field Trip for Parents organized by the kids' school. Our group of eleven St. Maur parents joined an equal number of participants from the other international school in town, Yokohama International School. We set off on the train for a cooking class at the Yokohama Fish Market. Because …
This morning after church Mark and Tessa set out for brunch with a Tessa's classmate and her dad. While Mark and Tessa enjoyed their quality time together I decided to torment Cy with one of those parent-thought-up outings. It's a relatively clear day and we can probably see Mt. Fuji, so I decided to head …
Continue reading Ahoy, Shipmate! Visiting the Sail Training Ship Nippon Maru
Last week my lovely and talented sister Joanna sent me this link about flavors of American junk food unique to Japan. "You find any of these?", she asked. "Of course!", I replied. And I do see odd versions of American staples like Kit Kat, Doritos, Cheetos, and Ritz most times I go to the store. …
Continue reading Let’s Eat Junk Food: Japanese vs. American Doritos
Today I visited a tea house in Yokohama with a group of moms from the kids' school. Our guides for the day were members of the Kanagawa Systematized Goodwill Guide Club, or KSGG. KSGG volunteers organize outings, run tours--and help dress foreigners in yukata, or cotton, summertime version of kimono. KSGG volunteers provided the yukata and all accessories. …
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