No Man's Land

This is something I love about Tokyo, there is ALWAYS something going on. Today we went over to the old French Embassy to see an exposition. The embassy has moved so they are using the old one for artists to express themselves. I took some pictures and have uploaded them to my gallery. The day was free (well 1000 Yen for Mia and Gian to join the artists and make some hats etc) but the rest was free, really interesting so we had a nice afternoon.

http://www.ambafrance-jp.org/spip.php?article3720

New Years Eve

First of all HAPPY NEW Year to everyone.

We were kindly invited to our neighbours flat for drinks/food and then we planned to visit our nearest shrine at midnight. We really wanted to see how the Japanese spent their New Years Eve so this part was important for us.
We arrived next door with Sushi (made by moi), Champagne and dessert and met some new people who were all French but all very nice (despite being French) :-) only joking Anne!!
There were 6 families so about 24 of us in all, everyone took something with them so dinner was lovely, lots of champagne was consumed and then we all left about 11:30 to make our way to the shrine. The kids are all about the same age so that is great, they all got along really well and had a lot of fun.
There were lots (and I mean LOTS) of people at the shrine but they were all very quiet and all in line waiting to go to the front of the shrine to prey. We didn't join the line but we did wait around and soak up the atmosphere. At midnight we all said Happy New Year and they had taken a bottle of champagne so we all had a glass of that (and were told off and asked to only drink outside the shrine) fair enough!! Got home about 2am and collapsed into bed. This morning we were invited back for lunch, everyone was abit quieter today, a few sore heads but lovely to spend time with them all again.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2010

OK I have found this information about Tokyo and New Year so thought I would share it. We are off to our lovely French neighbours house for drinks and then we will all go together to a Shrine at midnight. Looking forward to it. Will update on what we did tomorrow. I would like to wish all my friends and family a fantastic new year and look forward to seeing you all again Very Very soon. I miss you all x

"Tokyo, the capital of Japan has its own way of entering the New Year and bidding farewell to the old one. “ Dezomeshiki” and “ Special Opening of the Imperial Palace Grounds” are some of the activities that are part and parcel of the New Year in Tokyo.From praying to partying, New Year in Tokyo are one of their own kinds. People in Tokyo pay holy visits to temples and shrines on the occasion of the Japanese New Year called “ Shogatsu”. New Year in Tokyo are known for the exciting Dezomeshiki, New Year's Parade of Firemen. Traditional acrobatic stunts are performed by the firemen of Tokyo in the parade during New Year in Tokyo.Another major attraction of the New Year in Tokyo is “ The Watch-night bell ”. The night bell is striked 108 times on the last night of the passing year at the temples all over Japan.
This ritual has a myth behind it, according to which, the bell is striked 108 times to get rid of the 108 worldly desires. "

3rd Visitors Mum and Dad Shand, UK, 18 - 30 Dec 2009

It is 08:15 and I have just put my mum and dad into a taxi to take the to Tokyo Station where they catch the train to the airport to go back to the UK.

They arrived on the 18th December, the last day of my sushi course and Mia and Gian's school for the holiday. Perfect timing. Mia and Gian were so happy to have them here (as were Graham and I) and it made Christmas really special for us all.

We showed them alot of Tokyo and I know they liked this big city. My father, however, is totally obsessed with the Japanese toilets and has even taken a video to show his friends back home, you have been warned. :-)

Like all the visitors we have had so far we have really enjoyed seeing them, showing them our new (temporary) home and sharing some lovely times. Thank you so much mum and dad, we will miss you. Thank god for Skype.

Sushi Course

Details to come.... please wait :-)