Across the year
Posted on 08. Jan, 2007 by dimaks in Life
My new year’s eve would have been “alone in the night”, had one of my labmates (Kurihara San) not invited me to his hometown Saitama. Or maybe I would have spent it with some filipino friends in Tokyo. Saitama is about an hour and a half car drive from Tsukuba.
Saitama Prefecture is located in the middle of the Kanto Plains,with the abundant nature of Musashino and the Kanto-mountains lying to the southwest. There are fertile land and forests,through which rivers flow,and different flowers bloom throughout the year. You can also see the traditional culture traced far back to ancient times and feel the atmosphere of old Musashino through the beautiful nature still remaining even in the urban area. Source
Anyway, we left Tsukuba at 3:30pm and arrived at Saitama by a bit past 5pm. My host family was very hospitable and accomodating. After a short self introduction and greetings, we sat down on the carpet in the living room while the famous tea is being served on the table. After a few chat, we headed to the home’s “Ojiisan” (grandfather) and there I was also introduced to the other members of the family. The 80+ years oldman was so kind and invited us to take a quick view of his farm in the backyard. Afterwards, Kurihara San asked me to visit his grandmother’s tomb and pay respect by lighting up about 8 incense sticks, put them on top of the tomb and did a short prayer. We then went back home and did a few chat while watching tv and eating one of Saitama’s food specialty Ebisen (yummy salty chips made from rice which comes in different flavors).
Past 8pm, we left the oldman’s house. Upon arriving at my host family’s house, dinner is almost ready. There were lots of foods (Oshichi Ryori) prepared for the “shogatsu” (Japanese new year). Japanese believe, one should eat lots in this ocassion. Though I did not bother to ask why, I just savored away the hearty meal served on the low Japanese table and let my chopsticks do the rest of appreciating the dish. The ocha (Japanese tea) gave perfect sips while the sweetened beans and mashed sweet potato were excellent dessert duo.
Came 12mn, I together with Kurihara San went out to meet some of his friends in the nearby temple. After about 5 minutes walk, we saw the long line of men, women and kids heading towards the huge bell suspended and each would ring it, as hard as possible (to drive away evil spirits/energies) using the log suspened like a pendulum. We joined the line. Right after, we went to the front of the nearby temple, tossed a coin into an iron-grilled bin, made a wish, clapped 3 times, pulled the long thick bead attached to a basket-like thing suspended above, prayed then bowed. It was a cultural experience for me since I am a muslim. But then, as far as I know, Islam is very subtle when it comes to diversity and tolerance. On the way out of the crowd’s line, there was an oldman giving everyone a goodluck charm. Next to him was an old woman, serving hot “sake” in a plastic cup for the observants that night.
The next day, January 1st of 2007, the Kurihara family was kind enough to tour me to Nikko city, one of Japan’s tourist destinations. I really did not expect such extended kindness. We left at around 10am and arrived at Nikko by about 12 noon. Behind us at the photo on the right is the Mt. Nantai.
We went to several lakes and falls and also nature observatories. They were beautiful. Thanks to my new Olympus, I was able to capture those beauties. The photo on the left is the Ryuzu (Dragon’s head) falls. Named as such because of the way the water falls – splashing and winding among the big rocks, down to the lava bed of Mt. Nantai. It takes about 15 minutes of walk going down to the lowest stream of the falls. I forgot the name of the lake in the following photo, but interestingly, the waters are clear-frozen already.
It was around 3pm when we decided to head home. The sky was gray-shaded already due to the uneven rainfalls in the afternoon. We did a short stop-over at Kogen falls and bought some foods and drinks for the trip back home to Saitama. Past 5pm, and it was almost completely dark, we finally got home.. tired. As expected, tea was already prepared for our refreshment.
After dinner and short talks with the family about Philippines and Japan’s this and that, I had to bid farewell to “Otosan” (Father) and “Okasan” (Mother). As I was about to render my last bow to them, Okasan handed me back the paper bag I brought for the “Ube Halaya” (Violet Yam) as my “Omiyage” (Souvenir) to them. But this time, it carries “Mikans” (Citrus fruit), Brocollis, “Mochi” (Japanese rice cake, frozen) with matching “Nori” (Dried seaweed sheets) and paper mats for oven toasting.
An hour and a half trip concluded my journey back to Tsukuba.
To the Kurihara Family, “ã»ã‚“ã¨ã†ã«ã€ã‚ã‚ŠãŒã¨ã†ã”ã–ã„ã¾ã—ãŸâ€ （Honto ni, arigatoo gozaimashita – truly, thank you very much).
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23 Comments to “Across the year”
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Dimaks is a part-time blogger born in Cotabato City, Southern Philippines. He loves a wide array of things: Martial arts, Scootering, Painting, Photography, Cooking and of course eating. Indulge with his blogging rounds!
Prab
Jan 9th, 2007
Makes me wanna visit Japan and look for my own “cultural experience.” The food looks really yummy, by the way.
munkeen
Jan 10th, 2007
Yea..i agree with you, Prab
I’m still thinking of where to go after my final year, maybe Hong Kong or Japan
but Japan would be abit difficult; the language barrier
Thanks for linking us
and hope 2007 will be a great year for all of us
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
dimaks
Jan 10th, 2007
@munkeen
you’re welcome! you are right on the language barrier, but good thing, I think Japanese people are slowly realizing the issue on language barrier and they are now a bit active in learning other languages especially english and dutch.. perhaps many other languages too. In the tv programs, they even devoted slots for foreign language learning.
@prab
well, it is always good to visit japan with some friends already here so they can tour you around without the potential hassles. otherwise, you would be opted to get assistance from local touring agencies, which i think would cost considerable dimes. yeah, i love how japanese prepare foods, they are very good in packaging and presentation.
anniesf
Jan 11th, 2007
you make me wanna go to japan real bad >.
dimaks
Jan 11th, 2007
Well, I think where i’ve been is just one of the worth-visiting places of Japan..
herb
Jan 11th, 2007
saya naman! kaya pala ina-bandon mo kami ah. hehehe… buti na lang may nakalimot na muslim ka at nakapag-porky spaghetti kami. ehehehe… (^__^)v
dimaks
Jan 11th, 2007
hehe, the trip was committed bago ko malaman ang tungkol sa tsuku party
gratz! nakapag porky kayo :p
charm
Jan 12th, 2007
thanks for dropping by..
hndi ko akalaing may matutuwa sa mga entries ko. hehe. ^^,
i want to go to Japan..
hay, kaya lang walang pera.
dimaks
Jan 12th, 2007
@charm
sa ngayon sa tokyo-tokyo ka muna, sa may SM North
manzkee
Jan 12th, 2007
I was in Japan last May 2006, and I love the foods- and people are nice.
tina
Jan 12th, 2007
how nice… winter… and the falls. so sweet.
dimaks
Jan 12th, 2007
@manzkee
glad you enjoyed your stay..
@tina
ty for dropping by
Prab
Jan 12th, 2007
Just a thought: So I’m guessing you can speak Nihonggo fluently? I took up Jap 10 & 11, but sadly I’ve forgotten what I’ve studied. Perhaps there’s a whole new “kind” of memory aside from the short term and the long term: The kind that allows you to remember things just enough in order for you to pass the test.
kathy
Jan 12th, 2007
nice pics! i’ve never visited nikko during winter.. so that’s how the place looks like this time of year. you should try going there during autumn…that place is fantastic! btw, if i’m not mistaken, the frozen lake you saw is probably Lake Chuzenji…malapit ba ito sa may red na Torii (gate)? if it is, then that should be it.
dimaks
Jan 12th, 2007
@prab
hmmn, does that correspond to jap lvl 10 and 11? because jap langauge course here were offered in terms of levels. Right now, I’m in level 3-1 and good japanese speaking guys are usually in lvl 4, 5 or so. ’til now, I rate my jap conversation skill as still on the survival grade hehe.. ive been here since april 2006. Things are really different inside the classroom and outside.
@kathy
I forgot the exact name of the frozen lake but it sounds like what you’ve mentioned. Hmmn, now ill look forward for the autumn season in nikko. Tnx for the tip.
thanks for dropping by
verns
Jan 13th, 2007
hey Dimaks! Thanks for dropping by my blog..appreciate it. I hope you don’t mind if I link you.
Anyway I’ve never been to Japan, only been to Korea and some Koreans don’t like Japanese people hehe Anyway wow…it’s early morning here and I haven’t eaten my breakfast yet that’s why my mouth is watering when I saw the pictures of the food hehe looks really yummy. By the way…I am nearly done reading Memoirs of Geisha and they always mention the “sake”. I hope someday I will be able to taste it…IN JAPAN! lolz.
anniesf
Jan 13th, 2007
how are you?
wordpress is really hard to change the theme >.
Prab
Jan 13th, 2007
Jap 10 & 11 are just basic Jap. Just kitakana, hiragana and some kanji. Sometimes I regret not paying more attention in class, tuloy. I would’ve been able to use them at least if I find myself in Japan.
dimaks
Jan 13th, 2007
@verns
i’ll do the same.
…sake? its great, you gotta try it someday.
you’re welcome and yes, pls. link me up
re: koreans hating japs, yeah i heard about it. its just weird korean tele-novelas are now flooding japanese local tv networks in japan (as far as i know).
i got the file of the movie memoirs of a geisha, its excellently done and the story was astoundingly personified plus the charm of zhang ziyi
@ anniesf
hmm, a lil bit uneasy after finding that the theme “2813″ was gone in the wp dashboard.. regards!
@prab
i see.. i remember that katakana thing – its an alphabet jap people use for foreign words, like when they do the japanization of foreign words. once in our jap langauge class, we even had this joke about the emergence of “katakana sickness” since we mastered hiragana first and we can barely read in katakana. you’re right and its not yet too late, it feels really good when you are able to ask where is the toilet or how do i go to this place, things like those, in a foreign country.
ems
Jan 14th, 2007
wow youre studying in Japan? Just wondering though, why did you choose Japan to pursue your studies? I was able to visit Japan thru a business trip and the country is really Good amidst the traffic Jam, heheheh
What I like best in Japan is their food.. yummy!!!
dimaks
Jan 15th, 2007
@ems
thanks for dropping by..
haha, its so ironic, my reply to you was really about transportation of sort but then you just mentioned about traffic jam. well, the fact that i admired transportation system and management of Japan, i made a mental plan years ago to study in this country. plus, the research center where i work in the Philippines largely collaborates with Japan particularly its transport research centers/academes. yeah, foods are great but for me, not all of them or at least, not my type(?).
BRB
Jan 17th, 2007
Hello! Nice pictures. I especially like the one with Nantai-san in the background. Marami bang snow sa paligid? My friends and I have been planning to climb Nantai-san but we’re worried about the snow especially on the road to Chuzenjiko. Ma-yelo ba ang mga daan?
dimaks
Jan 18th, 2007
@BRB
Nung papunta kami, may mga snow na sa gilid ng kalsada, kumakapal ito habang paakyat ng bundok. Malamang mas ma-yelo pa ngayon. Salamat po sa pagbisita