Fuji the Snowman comes to Okazaki!

Ok, kids. Time for the Fuji-the-Snowman Sing-a-long!. . .Fuji the snowman,
Was a jolly happy soul,
With a cup for a hat and a line for a nose
And two eyes made out of coal.

Fuji the snowman,
Came from Gifu-ken they say,
He was made of snow
But the children know
That he didn't want to play.

There must have been some magic
In that red cup hat they found,
For when they rubbed his belly
Fuji began to make a frown!

Thumpety-thump-thump
Thumpety-thump-thump
Look at Fuji scowl,
Thumpety-thump-thump
Thumpety-thump-thump
I think he's trying to growl!

Yes. . .I've lost it. The heat is starting to affect my brain.

Creepy Crawlies

This week with the Ecological Sustainability Division has renewed my childhood hobby of catching frogs, lizards, and snakes! I saw 30 some frogs, two snakes, a deer, and four wild monkeys! The brown frog is a female Japanese meadow frog and the green one is a male. They ribbit only in Japanese. . .

Still the Most Awesome Family Ever. . .

Bokka no Sato

This place was soooooo pretty! It was like one of those really pleasant dreams--frolicking through a meadow of flowers. . .with Johnny Depp. But seriously, Bokka no Sato is a farm/amusement park that grows fields and fields AND FIELDS of lavender! And roses and other smelly-good flowers. But mostly lavender. Oh, the aroma. . .I will never forget. We even ate lavender ice cream. . .(drool). Donald, remember that ice cream in Amanohashidate? It was like another one of those "out-of-body" ice cream experiences you can only have in Japan. Workers taking a break in a field of poppies and lavender. . .

Shirakawago

At the crack of dawn, we got up to drive 4 hours to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawago. It was absolutely beautiful. The village houses are over 300 years old and are known as Gassho-style houses. Their characteristic steep roofs help in protecting them against the 10 feet of snow the mountain village gets every winter. The grass roofs are made entirely of rice grass without a single nail, staple, or piece of metal holding it together. The roofs are literally "sewn on" with handmade grass twine.Every 30 years, the roofs have to be replaced. The community gets together and repairs each others' roofs because the process is so time consuming and costly. The people living in these Gassho houses lead a traditional lifestyle, similar to that of their ancestors 300 years ago. This is a "must see" destination for anyone interested in traveling to Japan. The mountain scenery is breathtaking, I have never seen river water so blue--it looks like they put dye in it! The irrigation gutters running alongside the streets are filled with clear river water and are full of koi, trout, and eel. The Gassho houses and the laid back villagers create a very warm and welcome feeling for any traveler. Definitely planning on returning here-- pack your bags, Chaddy!Isn't my host mother a doll?

Okazaki Castle

Yes, it has a moat. . .no gators, though. This was the castle where Iyeyasu Tokugawa was born. He was then held hostage throughout his childhood by a rival clan family. When the clan was under attack during a feudal war, Iyeyasu escaped and returned to his castle with an army which liberated Okazaki from the rival clan. He is the George Washington of Okazaki. . . At the turn of every hour, the castle "coo-coo clock" opens up to reveal the great Iyeyasu dressed in theater costume. He does a little dance and sings songs about his famous last teachings. Okay, so maybe he is more like the Colonel Sanders of Okazaki. . .Moat.

Hurray for Traffic Safety!

Okazaki's (and the whole Aichi prefecture for that matter) number one cause of death is traffic related accidents at pedestrian crosswalks. That's why the City takes the initiative to instill traffic safety practices in children at a young age. Children must raise their hand when they cross the street to enhance visibility for drivers.
They are taught to look left, right, then left again before crossing the street. We even taught them a little song to help them remember.
Ok, kids. . .5, 6, 7, 8!"If you're foreign and you know it, raise your hand!. . .
If you're foreign and you know it raise your hand!. . .
If you're foreign and you know it,
And you really can't help but show it,
If you're foreign and you know it, raise your hand!"

Shinto Sunday

Being the first of the month, a Shinto ceremony is held at the shrines to thank the Kami-sama for providing good rains and a plentiful harvest. The lotuses out front also bloomed and they were absolutely breath-taking!
This is a "miko" dancer. She is a female priestess who purifies the alter through dance.

The Best Way to Learn Japanese Numbers is to Work at a Fruit Stand!

That's right, 8 hours at a friggin' fruit stand will have you counting back yen faster than you can say "sashimi"! No really, I had a great time and the people--as always--were very welcoming and friendly.
Okazaki City Hall Agricultural Division maintains a cooperative with a Twin City--Ishigaki, Okinawa. Once a year, the Okinawans come to Okazaki to sell their products and Okazaki residents go to Okinawa to sell their products. This weird little thing called umebodo--that looks like microscopic grapes on a stalk of kelp--is apparently a hot item. It tastes like sea salt. There was a huge rush at opening and we sold out of it within 10 minutes.
I was particularly fond of the "peach pineapple." It's a little pineapple that tastes like a cross between a peach and a pineapple. One could be yours for only 9 US dollars. . .

All day, there were taiko groups performing outside. I love taiko and I was fortunate enough to get to participate in TWO group performances! I guess I stick out like a sore thumb when it comes time for audience participation selection.And now on to a section I like to call, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT PLANT??