Game On Exhibition at Miraikan

Kids already decided that we were going to Miraikan to check out the game exhibition again. I let them go play by themselves the most times. We spent a whole day there again. Mo lost his wallet at some point, though they kept it for us. Awesome!

Some photos here.

A short video of Mo playing game here.

Hiroko Takahashi "RENOVATION" at Tokyu Plaza Ginza

Rare snack Mo found

 Fish bone

 Jelly fish...?

I found them and going to eat them!!

Dinner with Tai and his mom

Caffeinated at Nozy Coffee

Okinawa noodle for lunch

TIS Cherry Blossom Fair

Ton had hula on stage scheduled in the afternoon, we headed to TIS for their charity event on sunny day. Saw several friends, Ton danced with other hula girls, Mo played with his friends then and afterword. Fun!

Photos here.

Video of "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai (Plants of the Sea)"

Kids art from school

Uploaded photos of art and projects from school kids made last school year.

Ton's photos here.
Mo's photos here.

Second tooth fell!

Goodies from Yo's mom's shop

 Big cookie for Mo.

 Lemon meringue for Ton.

 And catered lunch for me.

My Taiwanese fix for lunch

 魯肉飯 Minced pork rice, Taiwanese dish of pork stewed in soy, served on rice.

And bubble tea.

Goodies from Kuwait

Y&Z's grandpa was in Tokyo for business, and I went to pick up those goodies at his hotel. Kids were very happy, says those T-shirts smells like them! Thank you very much!!

Veggie ramen at Sora no iro, Tokyo station

It was more like pasta than ramen, to me.

Breakfast with Uncle Evan

Men in town for biz, breakfast at City Bakery as usual. He was damaged the night before, a bit jet lagged, etc. though still in good shape.

Chef Mo

He wanted cook sea bream for acqua pazza. He knows what he was doing.

Mo's Entrance Ceremony to Elementary School

Beautiful weather, cherry blossom in full bloom, today was the day for Mo to join the elementary school. Dressed him in shirt and nice pants, which he had a little drama trying on at shop the day before, and we showed up to school.

He could sit during the ceremony, could respond when his name was called, and could manage the group photo at the end.

In the class room, he was placed next to another boy who went to the same kindergarten, another hyper kid. I smell troubles...

Congratulations, Mo. You can proudly say you're 1st grader and can go out all by yourself!

Photos here.

Playing under cherry blossom falling

And a video of mo catching cherry blossom petals.

Late lunch at Maison Landemaine Tokyo

Inuyama Festival Day 2

After a wonderful breakfast at hotel's executive lounge (Yey!), we bought some lunch and food to share, and went back to Inuyama again.

Walked around, kids played some games on the street, bought some snacks, went to look for Lilo's dad who were pushing the YAMA. After goofing around, checking Lilo's cousins, we moved on to elementary school's playground so that kids could release some energy.

Unfortunately rain started later in the day, and the night festival was cancelled. Then everybody came back home, started partying.

We had 8 pm shinkansen reserved so said good-by to them and headed back to station.

Thank you very much for Tanaka family for your hospitality and kindness. We'll see you in Hawaii in summer!

Photos here.

Inuyama Festival Day 1

One of my friends from work many years ago, now living in Hawaii, was back at her parents' near Nagoya with her daughter. As the first weekend of April was a festival weekend in her home town, we planned a short trip to meet them. Took 8 am shinkansen to Nagoya, after a quick breakfast at Dean&Deluca at Shinagawa station, then switched to local train which took us to Inuyama City, in total of 3 hours.

Met friends and her daughter, Lilo, at the station, we took walk in the crowded street, food venders and games only opens during the festival stood next to each other. Kids went crazy, tried everything they were interested, off course.

Eventually we arrived at her home, which is an important cultural property in the area. Her husband was also visiting, just to join the festival. We've met her parents a few times already, and things went kinds of what it was like back at my home, too: men drinking, slacking, smoking, etc.; women cooking, serving food and tea non stop; occasional cries from babies and kids; frequent visit by relatives and friends.

Went outside, streets were filled with people, where you usually don't see anybody  around. Walked toward the Inuyama castle, which has Haritsuna shrine at the bottom of skirt. This festival is for this shrine, and festival itself is national important intangible cultural property. Total of 13 YAMA, 3 stories float, each has mechanical doll on the top, unique to each own town.

At night time, they light up lanterns, real candle light, and make turn at corner by lifting front of float, and turn the rear wheels. It's called DONDEN. It might be difficult to see it on the video but they lifted 5t weigh float and made turn.

It was late for us by then and we left for Nagoya to check in at hotel. Good night. 

Photos here.

Soba dinner on TGIF

 Tempra soba for boy

White soba for girl