Bon Season

= Happy Summer!

The summer heat is here (in full force) and with it all the summer festivals! Even though the summers in our part of Japan are pretty hot and miserable, the festivals and activities that take place during this season are enough to make me love summer here anyway.

With summer comes Bon Season! That means music and dancing, street vendors and yummy treats, lanterns lining the streets and the aroma of incense filling the air! Oh, how I love it!

Obon is officially celebrated from August 13-15th, but like Christmas in the States, the Japanese celebrate for nearly 2 months.

This past week, one of my English students told me all about “Obon Celebration” as she calls it. (This particular student meets with me once a month and makes it a priority to have a mini lesson with me – ironic I know – during her 2 hour English lesson, to discuss Japan traditions and holidays. Considering there is a Japanese holiday almost every month, there is always something to learn from her!)

Obon is a very important time of year for the Japanese, it’s when they celebrate their loved ones who have died. Traditionally they go to the shrines where their deceased’s graves are on the evening of the 13^th, carrying lanterns to wake the dead. Once at the shrine, they “get” the spirits of their family members and bring them home with them. For the next 3 days they celebrate, preparing food and serving it to the spirits.

On the 15^th, they end the celebration by sending the “spirit” down the river…thus telling it to go and be free until next year…this is done by making a little alter-like contraption with candles and flowers, food, what-not and sending it down the river. (My student told me that in the more recent years, they have been told that this litters the water and therefore they now just burn the alter.)

Part of the Oban celebration is the Awa Dance Festival, held every year during the days (months actually) of Oban. Awa Odori dancers parade the streets dancing choreographed moves and chanting to the beat of the taiko drums! Very entertaining...attracting over 1.3 million tourists a year!

Bon Odori dancers also dance during the Awa festivals. Bon Odori, meaning simply Bon dance, is easier movements than Awa dances. (Awa Odori means “fool’s dance” due to it’s technical choreography and rigorous practice schedules - so as to perform perfectly) This fool would’ve done Awa had I had the time to make all the practices, instead I performed the Bon Odori dances again with several other fellow Americans from Atsugi base.

Ouch! Check out the shoes (geta) that the Awa dancers have to wear! No thank you!

Bumpada bum padabum goes the Taiko Drums...

Beretta watched the drums carefully, very carefully...she wanted to make sure that loud noise was safe! (She actually barked at them when they started playing...wasn't a fan)

For one of the festivals, my friend Tami and I decided not to dance and instead dress up in our own yukatas. She had found mini dog yukatas for the pups (they love to dress up their dogs here!) so we brought them along as well. Of course the Japanese loved this...the dogs were a hit...everyone wanted to pet them, take their photos and kept telling us over and over - "kawaii" (cute)!....The lady in the picture with us is who watches our dogs at our base kennel! She loves Beretta and Bella....she says they are "best friends"! Ha! They were excited to see her too! As dog moms, Tami and I love the fact that we can leave to go see our hubbies in port and know our dogs are in good hands! Thank you Masako!

The Bon Odori songs differ depending on what region you live in. But during our weekly Bon practices we learn many dances from multiple regions (18 in all I think). Then dance at 3 separate festivals, showing off our red, white and blue yukatas (summer kimonos) as well as our dance moves.

Bon season is officially over...sad ;( but then again, there's always next year! Come visit us during July or August and you too can take part in the Japanese's summer celebrations! Sugoi! (Awesome!!!!)

Time Down Under

Nick recently got back from an IA (Individual Assignment) in Australia. (Whoohoo for the hubby being home!)

His time in the "Land Down Under" was brief, but he came home full of Aussie lingo and information. In the days that have followed his homecoming, Nick has shared many tidbits (as well as treats) from his time in Australia, I wanted to share them on our blog as well.

Nick is gone A LOT and he goes A LOT of places, but sadly, more often than not his time away is not documented! (Let me just be honest that it is hard to keep up with the blog, documenting everything we have done over here...we are always busy and most of the time are separated, making it that much harder!)

Gomenasai (I apologize)...I am trying to be better.

Nick's IA was in Australia at Camp Growl - Shoalwater Bay Training Area, north of Rockhampton. He was there for a joint exercise called Talisman Sabre or Saber (both are used) between the US and Aussie military. (For more info on the exercise click on one the following links: Exercise Talisman Saber and Talisman Sabre)

Nick slept in a sleeping bag on top of a cot, inside a tent...it was freezing at night and as you can tell from the picture, it got so cold that they would sleep fully zipped into their sleeping bags (covering their heads like in a cocoon).

Where they took a shower...basically a bucket bath...a small bag filled with water and hoisted up, but not enough to stand straight up, therefore one had to hunch over while trying to shower before the bucket's water was gone (only about 3 minutes)!

For the guy who doesn't do his own laundry....Nick had to wash all of his clothes by hand...using shampoo no less!

Nick with Captain Kendall Crocker (one of the Australians Nick befriended while at the camp), in front of the Australian Army's blackhawk.

Kangaroos...

Ginger Beer...the real thing...brewed in Bundaberg, a town not far from where Nick camped. The exercise was "dry", therefore this ginger beer was "refreshing" as Nick put it, after a day's work!
Marbled Frogmouth...a nocturnal bird, native to Australia, that Nick happened upon...

Nick got a laugh out of scaring me with legends of deathly animals that habitat Australia's woods. I didn't think it very funny, considering all that was protecting him from those wild animals was a tent!!! (Ever heard of a Drop Bear???)

More roos...

I asked Nick for one thing - pics of those big Australian rats - maybe one day I will get to see them in person as well

More of Nick's buddies at Camp Growl...

Notice anything different about this Burger King sign???

Roos everywhere, even fake ones in the park!

Four X Ale House, the Beer Brewery Nick took a tour of while in Brisbane..during his layover.

And we thought gas was steep in Japan!

Chill, the hostel Nick stayed in while in Brisbane.

Tim Tam's....chocolate cookie-like bars that Nick brought back from Australia. Super yummy! In Australia, they create what is called the "Tim Tam Slam" which is where you bite both ends of the biscuit off, plunge one end into a cup of coffee, suck the hot gooeyness from the other side, then quickly shove the rest of the molten goodness into your mouth and enjoy! (Nick's wording, not mine)

Nick also brought back - Vegemite...made from used brewers' yeast extract, a by-product of beer manufacturing (as well as various veggies and spice additives). The Australians love this stuff, it's used like jam, to spread on bread and such.

The only other thing I asked Nick to bring back was a boomerang...one can't go to Australia without getting a boomerang! This one Nick liked because it was more authentic than most he saw...hand-painted, complete with the makers signature.

Australia was #1 on Nick and my list of places to visit while living overseas....now at least one of us has been there (I am putting aside my bitter face, in hopes that one day I too will get to visit the Land Down Under!)

Nick enjoyed his time Down Under, but we are both glad he's home...

Until his next adventure, we are here and enjoying Japan!