The Prayers in Meiji Shrine

Meiji Shrine (明治神宮) was still full of
people coming to pay the first visit of the year.
We call this visit Hatsu-mode (初詣).
One of the things I always love to
is to see what everyone has written on their ema (絵馬).
It’s a wooden plaque
and people write their prayers on it.
(Not sure how ethical it is…but I see a lot of people doing the same!)

I think this one was my favorite.
This little boy drew a picture of Ultraman
and also wrote as his prayer
“I hope I get presents.”
Too cute.
I hope he does, too.

The Films of New York

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
I am head over heels for this Tumblr site
FILMography!
Christopher Moloney apparently takes these photos
by holding these black and white movie scenes
against the current New York landscape.
It’s amazing how many movies have been filmed
in this gorgeous city of New York.
But not only that,
I love how so many of the places
are still there to capture.
Any Wednesday (1966)
Home Alone 2 (1992)

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Leon (1994)

One Fine Day (1996)

Shaft (1971)

The Avengers (2012)
Sunday in New York (1963)
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
[via The Atlantic Cities]

The Next Holiday

Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Is it too early to be thinking about Valentine’s Day?
I know a lot of people don’t like this holiday
because of the commercial hype.
But I like it.
I even kind of love it.
One of the reasons is because
the men at work really look forward to
getting a Valentine’s Day gift.
Oh yeah, in Japan the girls give something
to the guys on Valentine’s Day.
(We have another day for the guys to give back to girls…White Day)
I used to bake cookies and cupcakes
because I had so many people I needed to give to at work
and I was totally broke so it was cheaper to bake.
But then last year,
there were more girls in my section
and since we could all split the cost for chocolate
I bought my coworkers Pierre Marcolini chocolate.
And I thought they would be happy to get good chocolate, right?
I actually got complaints!!!
They were like
Homemade cookies are much more heartfelt and
Where’s the effort in buying chocolate?

Well, I’ll tell you my effort!
I waited in line for 30 min to buy that
chocolate on the day before Valentine’s Day.
(Most chaotic day in the sweets section…never again.)
But it was also kind of nice that they liked my baking.
Which means I need to make something
better than what I made in 2011.
What do you think of these recipes?
Brownie Heart Cupcakes

Cupid Cupcake

Raspberry Almond Financiers
(via Martha Stewart)

The Nanakusa Gayu

This is Nanagusa-gayu (七草粥).
It’s tradition in Japan to eat this on January 7th.
It’s a dish of rice porridge with
seven different types of wild herbs.
Nanagusa means seven herbs in Japanese.
It’s an old tradition that came to Japan from China
sometime during the Heian Period (794-1192).
We eat this in hopes for a healthy new year.
My mom also told me that the reason we have this tradition is because
we pretty much celebrate the new year by eating and drinking.
And we eat this rice porridge because it’s easily digested
and our poor overworked stomach can get some rest.
Plus the herbs are good for you.
The seven herbs are:
Seri: Japanese Parsley
 Nazuna: Shepard’s Purse  
Gogyo: Jersey Cudweed
Hakobera: Common Chickweed　 
Hotokenoza: Nipplewort
Suzuna: Turnip
Suzushiro: Radish

The Trip Back to Tokyo

Heading back to Tokyo today.
We took the express from Imabari and
headed to Takamatsu in the next prefecture.
Slept through most of the train ride
but caught a sight of the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
We call it Seto Nai Kai.
It’s the ocean between mainland Japan
and the island of shikoku.
And there are apparently over 3,000 islands here.
The view is really fantastic.
We got to the airport with plenty of time to shop for souvenirs.
And we both went through airport security and
promptly got on separate airplanes.
The reason for this is that
my sister flies JAL and I fly ANA.
So this is how we always head to the airport.
Go together, get on different planes.
I landed in Tokyo a bit before my sister
but we met up at and went to Dean & Delica Cafe.
I love this place.
The yummy apple cider.
The pretty wood floor.
We were both beat but
it was a great way to end this trip.
Quiet time at the cafe to
recharge for work starting tomorrow.
Starting the year 2013 in Tokyo.
This is going to be my year.
I’m pretty sure of it.
Dean & Deluca Cafe Haneda
03-5757-9605
Haneda International Airport Terminal 1
3-3-2 Haneda Airport
Ota-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 7am-9pm

The New Years Service

It was really nice starting off the year at church.
The new years service was really inspiring.
We always have a potluck
after the new years service at church.
A full on traditional new years dish would be
the Osechi-ryori, a bento box filled with various foods
that have some sort of meaning behind it, to bring in the luck.
But we usually do a semi-traditional new years potluck
with dishes like Nimono (boiled vegetables),
Zenzai (red bean soup with mochi),
and Ozoni (mochi soup). 

But we did include a couple of traditional foods
that are eaten to bring us luck or a better new year.

We had Konbu (rolled seaweed).
It’s similarity to the word Yorokobu, meaning Joy,
is considered to be a very good thing.

Also had Kuromame (black soy beans).
It symbolized health and is meant
to wish everyone a healthy new year.

Considering how much we all ate
I think we are going to have a fabulous new year 😀

Oh! And we also took family pictures
for our Nengajo (traditional new year postcards)!
It’s been great welcoming a new year with family!

The First Light

In Japan it’s tradition to go out early on New Years Day
and to watch the first sunrise of the year.
We call it Hatsuhinode.
(pronounced “Hah-tsu-hee-no-deh”)
Sunrise in Ehime was 7:14am.
It’s always a pain waking up early on New Years Day
after being up so late the night before.
But last year for the first time
I woke up in time to see the sun rise.
And it felt great.
So I did it this year, too.
Basking in the rays of the first sunrise feels great.
And I am super energized for the new year!
I think this is going to be a tradition.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!