Festival with the Kosakas

In April, we went to the town, Nada, to join a mochi-throwing festival with Joe's old host family, the Kousaka's. Basically, men climb a temporary structure that is positioned next to the local shrine and throw mochi (a Japanese tradition sweet). If you catch one, you are granted a year of luck! Well, since Joe was the tallest person in the crowd, we are going to have a verrrrry lucky year! Actually, he felt so bad for the surrounding people, that he kept on giving away the mochi he caught. Does that mean he's going to be EXTRA lucky? We shall see...

Drive out the Devil...

On February 2nd we had our friends Taube, Julian, Lynn and Rob over for dinner. It just happened to be a festival day, "Setsubun". The tradition of "Setsubun" is to eat as many dried soy beans as your age +1 and then throw them outside to drive out the devil. Also, you are supposed to eat a long role of sushi with your eyes closed while wishing for what you want the year to follow. Let's hope the devil stays away and we all get what we wished for...

Ikebana

On Thursday night, Katie met with her friend, Jodi, to have a lesson in Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging). Their friend, and teacher, Eiko, led them through a step-by step process of how to properly arrange flowers the Japanese way. There is a definite science to this cultural tradition. For her first time with Ikebana, Katie did a pretty good job. Her "sensei" even said that she was a natural!!!

Nada Festival (AKA Fighting Shrines)

One of the most famous and historic festivals in all of Japan is called the Fighting of the Shrines. Historically, over 1000 years ago, the current emperor of Japan observed as two portable shrines collided as they were headed opposite directions across a bridge near the community of Nada. Every year since, they have held a festival, in which the portable shrines of the different areas within Nada purposefully crash into one another. This festival is acknowledged as the most dangerous in all of Japan, as there are a number of injuries and deaths each year.

Because it is such a famous festival, the price for a tatami mat with a view can go for as much as $20,000! Luckily, our dear friends, the Kosakas, are members of this specific community, so our mat was free because their children were involved in the festival.

Cool story, while walking around in the shrine grounds overlooking the festival, we started chatting with a really sweet girl. She seemed to ask a lot questions for not knowing us all that well, but we came to find that she is a reporter with the Kobe Shinbun (Newspaper)! The next day, amongst all of the stories in and surrounding the Nada Festival, there was a blip about Katie Casey-san and Joe Casey-san, and how they were awestruck because they don't have festivals as dangerous and beautiful as this in America! Cool, huh?

Shinkaike Festival!

Nearly every community in Japan has their own festival in the month of October, celebrating the coming of Autumn. Some festivals are Nationally renown, with an elaborate history, others are more quaint. On this particular weekend, the community of Shinzaike held their festival, and welcomed the English teachers living in the area to help celebrate. It begins at 9AM on a Sunday morning, with a traditional raising of the portable shrine, followed by a shot of sake! We spend the better part of a day parading the shine around town and showing off our stuff to the other communities. Mecha-Tanoshikata Desu! [So much fun!]

Okinomiake

In early September our new friends, Eiko and Mayumi, came over to our apartment and taught us to make Okanomiaki (Japanese-style pizza). We had such a fun time, and Katie even ate octopus in hers (although she preferred the shrimp).