I rang in the new year with my teammate, Beth. I had planned to go to bed early, but she would have none of it. So we watched a movie and ended just in time to do a count down. Then we tried to position our hands to make ’2011′, but the 2 was difficult so it turned out like this:
January 1st-3rd is one of the most important times of the year in Japan. Everything stops and people return to their hometowns to visit family. They eat special food, relax, enjoying each other’s company. It’s similar to Christmas in the U.S. I imagined I’d stay in on that day, but Beth and I were invited to join our good friends, the Fukunaga Family, for their New Year Celebration. This family has become really special to me. Two years ago I did my first overnight stay in a Japanese home with them. Since then, they’ve become good friends and Chiaki, the wife, has been such an asset in learning Japanese language and culture. Every week she gives her time to meet with me and practice conversation. She also tries to invite Beth and I to family events so we can experience real Japanese life and culture first hand. Here are some pictures from out time yesterday:
We started the day with traditional Japanese food for brunch.
Then we took a Wii break
Beth won. Kanta and I are trying to hold back our contempt.
Next we made mochi. It's a traditional Japanese sweet made from pounded rice and sweet beans. It was our first time making it, and it kind of reminded me of making biscuits. I'm not really sure why - it's not at all the same.
Japanese card game. So fun!
Yakiniku and sushi for dinner! Two of my favorite Japanese foods together 
Group shot before going home. In the back right is Mrs. Fukunaga. We did all this at her house. Very sweet woman, good artist, and cook!
So that was my New Year’s Celebration. What did you do? Tell me about it in a comment, please! Also, do you make New Year’s Resolutions? I’d love to hear some of yours. One of mine is to blog more. I know I’ve said it before and, as evidenced by the 7 month gap from May to December, that didn’t go so well. I’m not really even sure anyone checks here anymore. But I’m optimistic for the New Year, so I’ll give it a shot.
Before I end this, I want to introduce you to Hirokochannel. It’s a channel on You Tube made by a Christian Japanese girl who is my age. Before coming to Japan, I followed her videos pretty regularly, trying to learn about the language and culture. There’s all kinds of different stuff about Japan on her site. I think she does a great job, and I’m excited to have permission from her to post some of her videos here to help give an idea of what life is like here in Japan. Hiroko lives in Tokyo, which is over 2 hours away from Osaka by the fast train. Here’s a video she made on New Year’s Eve. You can see famous Tokyo Tower, as well as masses of people making their first visit of the year to the temple in hopes of receiving blessings on the upcoming year. Get some insight into Japanese thinking and traditions, and let that inform your prayers for the Japanese.
God Bless!
