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Just dropped my parents at the airport - they've got to go home now :(
Can't believe how quickly this week went when them. I'm pretty tired, as I
had to get up at half 3 in the morning to meet them at the hotel. Probably
will have a little sleep this afternoon.
Anyway, like I said, this week was fantastic, we had a wonderful time ^_^
And New Year was certainly....something else. Thought I might write in
more detail about what me and my parents got up to here, as I haven't had
a chance to all week...
SUNDAY - Parents arrived, 9pm. Picked them up at airport. After
checking in, went to the Irish pub for a few drinks. Mum and Dad
experience Japanese hospitality for the first time (bowing, always
smiling, always very helpful).
MONDAY - Come round to pick up parents from hotel at noon. As
anticipated, parents are jetlagged and have only just woken up. Take them
by bus to my apartment and treat them to sushi and onigiri for lunch (I
didn't make them, I bought them from the supermarket). We all exchange
Christmas presents and for me, this feels like Christmas morning!
Me and me mam, outside the Kaikan (the dormitory where
I live)
Afterwards, I take parents to the Kokai-Retro-Toori so they can have a bit
of a "traditional" Japanese shopping experience. My parents are thrilled
by all the interesting sights (especially the fish market), and with how
friendly everyone is. They also get to sample a lot of traditional
Japanese food stuffs.
The Kokai-Retro-Toori (semi-traditional Japanese market
place)
At night, we go out to a nomihoudai/tabehoudai izakaya for a Bounenkai
(End Year Party) with my academic advisor's students. A really enjoyable
night - I act as interpreter between students and parents for the whole
time. Parents and several students get pretty drunk. Parents can't believe
how good the quality of the food and sake is. Food includes of nabe-ryouri
(boiled fish and veg, a traditional winter dish), horsemeat soup, raw
salmon and uni (sea urchin). Parents really enjoy chatting to Matsuurasan,
who's pretty drunk and therefore has the confidence to use English to
them. After meal, parents treat students to chocolate oranges and a round
of drinks at the Irish Pub. Is the first time the students have
experienced an "English-style" pub, and the English tradition of buying a
round of drinks as thanks.
At the Bounenkai (End-year party) with student friends
- Kitanosan, Nobukunisan, Akisan and another guy who's just weird and
never talks.
TUESDAY - Go to Kumamoto Castle. Is first time I've actually been
inside the castle buildings. We see the original turret (which you have to
remove your shoes to enter), as well as the main structure which was
rebuilt after being burned down. Very informative museum enclosed inside
main building. Parents and I fascinated by how Japanese traditional wooden
buildings like this are built without using nails - pieces all slot
together.
The last remaining original turret of Kumamoto castle
The rebuilt Kumamoto Castle
Samurai Guard!
In the evening, go to Yoshi-Fugu, a fugu (blowfish/pufferfish) restaurant,
which is a speciality food of Kumamoto. Eating fugu can be dangerous, as
if it is prepared incorrectly it can lethally poison you. Have about eight
courses of fugu (including raw fugu, boiled fugu and fried fugu), and
survive. Fugu is more about hype than taste - taste is actually fairly
bland. Restaurant is very traditional and we have to sit on the floor,
which is bad for Dad and his back, so he doesn't enjoy it. He's also
hungover from the night before so doesn't do the fugu justice.
Eating fugu.
WEDNESDAY - Whole day of shopping at Shimotori and Kamitori.
Parents really enjoy it - buy loads of things, mainly as souvenirs for
other people. Parents both particularly like the Hyaku-en (hundred-yen)
shop and stationary shop, which has lots of traditional gifts. Dad treats
me to a wonderful brush-pen for writing Japanese calligraphy. Dad also
likes Besto-Denki, the huge electrical store. Treats me to some new
speakers for my laptop ^_^ Mum likes the clothes shops. She finds the
funny Engrish (Japanese "English") slogons on the T-shirts really funny.
Only just stops herself from buying a shirt proclaiming "RERISH THE
THOUGHT."
In the evening, go to Juuhachi-ya, a basashi (horse meat) restaurant.
Horse meat is another Kumamoto speciality. Has a far more relaxed and
casual atmosphere than Yoshi-Fugu, as well as chairs, so parents enjoy it
more. Meal includes about 8 courses of horse meat (raw, boiled, burgers
etc.) as well as a two-hour nomihoudai. Food is delicious, as is the sake.
Me eating basashi
THURSDAY - Day has disappointing start, as Tatsuda Nature Park is
closed. Instead, parents come to my apartment for an hour of drinking tea,
and to see a bit of Japanese residential area. We then go to Ace Suupa, so
parents can experience Japanese supermarket, as well as to buy souvenirs
and sushi for lunch.
In the evening, go to Donna Mama's, which is a two-hour tabehoudai/nomihoudai
joint. Food is a mixture of Japanese (nabe-ryouri, breaded potato, egg
fried rice, green beans, fried chicken) and Western (spaghetti, pizza and
chips). Once again, atmosphere is very lively and casual.
FRIDAY - Almost everywhere is closed as it is New Year's Evening,
however Suizenji Park is open so we take a bus there. It pours down with
rain but the park is still pretty - it consists of a sculptured landscaped
shaped to resemble a mountain range, overlooking a pond filled with ducks
and enormous koi carp. There are also several Buddhist temples (otera) and
Shinto shrines (jinja) around the park where we can practise the ritual of
paying respects at a shrine - ringing the bell, putting a coin in the
collection box, clapping hands twice and bowing (this will all come in
handy for New Year). However, Suizenji's most striking feature is its huge
number of tourist souvenir shops. Spend a while wandering around those,
and then go back to Kumamoto City by tram - the first time I've ridden
one.
Suizenji Park. You can see how the landscape has been
sculpted to resemble mountains and the ocean, like in a Chinese painting.
Rinsing my hands to purify myself before making a wish
at the shrine.
Awesome pic of the koi carp in the Suizenji Park pond.
My Dad is such a good photographer...
For lunch, we go to Ban Ban Sushi, a kaiten-zushi (conveyor-belt sushi)
restaurant where all dishes cost just 100 yen. Parents can't believe how
cheap the food is. Have a great time sampling different sushi - I manage
to eat more than both of my parents!
It's New Year's Eve, so after a nap and sake at the hotel we go to
Kumamoto Castle where they are holding a Count Down for the New Year. This
is actually so unspectacular it's funny - after a huge build-up including
live bands and movies, the New Year is marked by the setting off of five
tiny fireworks. And then everyone goes home!
SATURDAY - New Year's Day, and my parents' last day in Japan. We
have a very traditional Japanese New Year's Day. We start by having
osechi-ryouri at the hotel - a traditional Japanese breakfast only eaten
on New Year's Day. The food is outstanding - fine quality raw tuna,
prawns, sweet fruits and vegetable, delicious fish soup, and black beans
sprinkled with gold leaf, among many other delicious foods. The waitresses
are all dressed in kimono, Japanese traditional music is playing and
the windows overlook the moutains and Kumamoto Castle, so everything feels
really Japanese!
Eating Osechi-Ryouri (traditional Japanese New Year
breakfast)
After breakfast, we head to Fujisakigu Shrine, the largest shrine in
Kumamoto City. It is absolutely packed with Japanese of all ages who have
come to be blessed for the New Year. Unlike a sombre Christian festival,
the shrine has a very festive atmosphere - there are stalls everywhere
selling food and lucky charms, as well as games that might be found at a
funfair! In the shrine itself, we get to witness the Japanese at their
most superstitious and religious. First, they purify themselves by rinsing
their hands and mouths in a water fountain. Then, they perform all the
usual rituals at the shrine (hand clapping, bowing etc) and are blessed by
a priest, one by one. They also burn last year's good luck charms and
daruma (lucky wishing dolls) in a bonfire outside the shrine, symbolising
the completion of last year's wishes. Japanese of all ages take part in
these rituals, and not only enjoy it but really seem to believe that they
will bring good luck - they queue for ages to purify themselves and to be
blessed.
Fujisakigu Shrine entrance on New Year's Day - packed!!
Burning last year's lucky charms and daruma
(wishing dolls) outside the shrine.
All shrines have a gate like this (torii), which
symbolise crossing over into sacred grounds.
After a day of wandering around some of the other smaller shrines and a
nap at the hotel, we go out to the Irish bar for a last drink, which is
thankfully open. We also eat some of their delicious mixed cheese and mochi
mentai pizza. It's a great way to end a wonderful week.
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