Hiroko's Hitokoto: March 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Mo happy with a "Chocolate Frog"

He bought those frog shaped chocolates at Universal Studio Japan. Don't worry, they don't start jumping around...

"Peppermint Toads"

Toad shaped chocolate

Last day of preschool, pick up by Masa

Masa helped us with drop off and pick up. She's been helping us especially when it rained, and twins love the car ride! Maybe we don't need to ask her to pick up, though hope she can continue giving us a ride to park and other places! Thank you, Masa!

Fly For All #大空を見上げよう

It's an event by an air race pilot Yoshi Muroya called Fly For All. It was so cool watching the big smile drawn in the sky right above me! I could see another one above Shibuya, but actually he was flying really high up, as high as Mt. Fuji. It was such an amazing event, uplifting! Thank you!

A big smile in the sky above Tokyo Tower

Another one above Shibuya!

Sandwiches from Viking Bakery

Viking Sandwich

Strawberry & mascarpone sandwich

熊本産苺「アスカルビー」とマスカルポーネのサンドイッチ

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

We're witches!

That bloom is really worn out, though...

Lunch at Yotsuya Ippindo

While waiting for my friend to show up, I witnessed no line at WAKABA in front! Before anybody gets in, I purchased their TAIYAKI (fish cake). But I'm here for Taiwanese pepper buns, and I added soy soup and a peanut cake. The tables were all taken, people came by on a regular basis. Yum! Will be back again!

四谷一餅堂でランチ。お友達を待っていると、目の前のわかばさんの行列が無いではありませんか！すかさずたい焼き購入です。でも今日の本題は胡椒餅。鹹豆漿（シェントウジャン）がまだあったので、花生餅（ピーナッツ饅頭）も一緒に注文。やっぱりザーサイはみじん切りが良いね。店内満席、人もそれなりに来ています。ご馳走様でした。また来ます！

胡椒餅 Taiwanese pepper buns

わかばのたい焼き

Cherry blossom sighting at Aoyama Cemetery

Walking around Aoyama Cemetery. It's surreal that cherry blossoms are falling and covering graveyards, and its beauty, ephemeral, tranquility, everything I don't have enough words to express. And there were white dandelions on the ground. It's very unusual in east Japan. It made me happy to see a couple of flower petals on the loaf of bread I bought before the walk.

青山墓地で花見。散りゆく桜の花びらが古いお墓に降り積もるのはなんともシュールで、美しさ、儚さと、静かさと、何とも言えず、非日常的。そんな中、足元には白いタンポポ。東日本では珍しい。家に帰って見たら、お散歩前に買ったパンに花びらが付いていたのが何だか嬉しい。

Ships at a graveyard

Old Christianity graveyard

白いタンポポ White dandelion

Cherry blossom tunnel

Cherry blossom petals on a graveyard

Flower petals on a loaf of bread

Videos of cherry blossom falling, cherry blossom falling like snow, and the last one.

Japanese breakfast at Denny's

Eating at my own pace is such a luxury for me these days, especially such a traditional Japanese meal, even at Denny's.

Monday, March 29, 2021

Naoya putting hammock by himself

A video here.

Park after preschool

Naoya going through the tunnel

Masaki following

Mo using sawing machine

A video here.

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Arita pottery cups from Arita Town in Saga Prefecture

Found these on the web, fell in love, but not for purchase. These are the return gift of paying "hometown tax" to Arita, which is a system in which you can choose to pay part of your residential tax to a specific local government. My husband made a tax payment to the town of Arita, and these cups showed up in a couple days! These make me happy! Thank you very much!

有田焼タンブラー。ウェブで見つけて欲しくなってしまい、でも普通に売ってない。佐賀県有田町のふるさと納税の返礼品なのです。有田陶器市のイベントで使っていた紙コップの模様を焼き物カップに写して作ったそう。旦那様が税金払って2日で届きました。有難う！

Twins checking out the new park

Hommura park was going under the construction for about a year, and opened again the day before. The toys are suitable for little ones, and they are new! We'll come here more often from now on!