Koinobori

The cultural posts are going to increase for the next two weeks. From April 29th to about May 6th is Golden Week here and one of the holidays in that week is Children's Day, or as it used to be known Boy's day. I happen to have two boys under my charge, so it is a big deal around these parts. Edamame is totally obsessed with koinobori. This was fueled further when we saw a fairly sizable koinobori at one of the houses near church. He just stared and asked questions about it until 007 and BK picked us up. He even made his own this morning with all of his ties.




We will soon be purchasing another 'fish' for the koinobori because we had another boy. You get one for each boy. Wikipedia will fill you in on it, but what I've been told(which is different, but both versions are probably right) is that the Black carp is for the dad, red for the mom, blue for the first son, and then add more for each additional boy. Don't worry girls, you got Hinamatsuri/Girl's Day back in March, so there is balance.

This year is BK's Hassuzekku, or first Boy's Day. It's a pretty big deal, so we'll likely have a nice little family party when we're visiting Obaachan and Ojiichan in Chiba.

In prep for golden week I tried taking passport pictures again. If you're not keeping count, this is the third time I've tried. Still too many wacky shadows. Like I told 007, I SUCK!

Weather Talismans and more!

Edamame is an avid reader and really loves this ABC book that we got from someone. I HATE it because it has so many mistakes in it I cringe that he might learn "Engrish". One of the good things he learned though was about 'teru teru bozu'.


I thought they were ghosts, but nope, they are there to ward off bad weather and rain. Kids put them up the day before field trips, etc. for nice weather. I'm excited to make this a little tradition in the house. I'm starting to pick the stuff we want to pick up, and toss the stuff we don't want. I'm still up in the air about what to do on Easter(I'm not a fan of commercialize Christian holidays, but how much of it is culture?). Anyway, fun to hang in windows, umbrellas. Tissue ghosts aren't just for Halloween anymore.


Oh, and 'cause I know you want to see me first thing in the morning.