Torch Festival

Our region we have annual summer torch festival.

Many lanterns(chochin in Japanese) are lighted up

along the street for welcoming

bravely young men with traditional costumes

If you like to see more on the video :D

Hanabi in Japan

Hello,hello,hello!!!  How have you been? Hope you're all right :)

Still we're really having crazy hot summer as  i've not experienced ever.
We cannot air-conditioned off  all day long.
Many people have been rushed to hospitals with heat stroke.



Anyway,　last Sunday we looked up fireworks (HANABI はなび 花火) at my town with very exciting!

We 're sitting on the seat or something at the dry riverbed to see fire-works.

Our Japanese Hanabi　were made by Hanabi skilled workers for summer Hanabi festivals.

So this time I can  succeed to upload my video here. Hope you will enjoy it.

Rainbow Sky

Hi, friends! Hope you are all are well..
Our temperature is getting heat and high..35C in Japan too...terrible hot summer!　The air-conditioners are all working all day long and always keep ice-creams in the fridge..

All of students are having summer vacations until September here.

I luckily caught this beautiful rainbow sky yesterday.
How fantastic!!!

Keep cool and take care :)

Hard To Say...

Hi,friends!

I love this song ! Chicago!!






..considering to myself it's truly hard to say I 'm sorry sometimes though...
But I guess it might be just difficult to find good timing to apology each other,doesnt it?
How about you?

Have a nice weekeend! ；）

Etegami

My granma is 99 yrs old. Here's some Japanese pictures (etegami) which means postcards with original drawings by herself.

Pls pop into the site bellow :)
http://cherish08-mami.cocolog-nifty.com/photos/etegami/


Thank you for kindness,

Happy Dad Sunday

Hello, Kon-nichiwa!

It was raining all day long on Saturday. But Sunday we had sunshine a little between raining but very humid though... i went to see my Dad and celebrated happy father's day with my husband. It was later 1-week though...

We call to dad 'Otosan'

In fact, my Otosan is brave man because he is a survivor and  a soldier in his cancer himself. Oh we are very blessed!!! How can i express to gratitude of this great thing !!!!

I brought this very charming hibiscus flower pots for Dad.

Seems they are as if smiling :)

And beer beer beer with cheerful

we had a lot of laughs and talking with very fun!!!!

..and a wonderful summer shirt for gift.

Hey!!..good-looking? :)

..anyway Japanese people always do not say 'I love you' each other in our family especially, because it is our custum.

Japanese people are mostly shy. Of course we are always thinking about each other deeply just the bottom of heart ourselves.

However I dare to say 'thank you and I love you,Otosan' though my blog...heehee:))  thanks Blog Land :D

TAKE CARE!!

Thank you for visiting today!!

Have a lovely week and enjoy!!

Afar from Japan

Mami :)

Happy parcel from UK

Hello friends!! Konnichiwa!!!

In June,we're in rainy season Tuyu here in japan -I woke up very early this morning with big thunder..
Hope you have good weather..

...Last Saturday our postman knocked on my door and delivered a happy parcel from London!!!!!!
the Lady is Susie who lives in a wonderful cozy cottage with pretty garden!!
I am honour to be the winner of her the twelfth post anniversary giveaway!!!
Congratulation to Susie!
How inspired me!!

..a pretty red London Bus key ring !!! How cute!!!!

..and another lovely goodies..Huum..I  feel London air :)) 
oven glove and English summer medow seads//

Thank you Susie for thinking of me afar from UK.

Arigato !!

Have a nice day!!!

Mami

Japanese Irises

Hello Minasan !!!!(= means everyone in Japanese)
Ogenki desuka?( How are you?) Hope you're having wonderful June.

.. this week my father and I went to a garden to see Japanese irises for 10-minutes ride by bicycle   :)
 So we are glad to take you into the garden a while. The day was sunny and hot day we wore half leaves shirts ..we got wondeful sunshine!!

This  is  the Chinese garden...isnt it pretty? Purple gradations look so gorgeous!!

.. pond and fountain-the splash seems cool :)

...beautiful flared petals

..spotbill ducks family

this seems Orizuru

..lovely

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

mamixxxx

Do you knowCool Biz..?

Not sure you know 'Cool Biz' because it might be a Japanese-English

 We also  have 4 seasons here. Our temperature is turning into Summer.
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) began advocating the Cool Biz campaign in summer 2005 as a means to help reduce electric consumption by limiting use of air conditioning.

According to the Environment Ministry, central government ministries were:
to set air conditioner temperatures at 28°C until September.

The Cool Biz dress code advises workers
to starch collars so they stand up and to wear trousers made from materials that breathe and absorb moisture.
Additionally, workers are encouraged to wear short-sleeved shirts without jackets or ties.

Many workers, though, were confused about whether they should follow the new stipulations—many came to work with their jackets in hand and their ties in their pockets. Even those who liked the idea of dressing more casually sometimes became self-conscious during their commutes when they were surrounded by non-government employees who were all wearing standard business suits. Many government workers said they felt it was impolite not to wear a tie when meeting counterparts from the private sector.


All of the government leaders practiced Cool Biz. Prime Minister Koizumi was frequently interviewed without a tie or jacket, and this produced a significant advertising effect.

So recently Cool Biz is getting to exprole not only public offices but also most of companies, department stores ,super-markets...

They excuse not to wear to customers politely before that.

Students used to change to summer uniforms in June.
And also mothers used to change cool colours (or summery)at home and to prepare summer wears in the closet or drawers :)

Today my husband  did wear in Cool Biz, too!!

How do you think about?

Have a nice week!

Is IT A Bottlebrush？

As you knoｗ, this is a kitchen tool. Glad you have :D　I dont have :-)

I saw this uniquely plant yesterday at neighbors garden. It is rarely here.

Bottlebrush (Callistemon) is a genus of 34 species of shrubs in the family Myrtaceae. The majority of Callistemon species are endemic to Australia; four species are also found in New Caledonia. They are commonly referred to as bottlebrushes because of their cylindrical, brush like flowers resembling a traditional bottle brush. They are found in the more temperate regions of Australia, mostly along the east coast and south-west, and typically favour moist conditions so when planted in gardens thrive on regular watering. However, at least some of the species are drought-resistant.

Did you  finish to wash glasses as well?

Have a nice weekend!!

Mami from Japan

S is for 'Spanish Steps'

Hi,friends!Hope you all Ok.
I'll join the class of Jenny Matlock's Alphabe Thursday.

As you know,this picture is...Yes!! Spanish Steps in Rome!!!

.. I'm going to entry the concert in next June and I suppose to play the composed song by Yasuhiro Kobayashi who is the famous accordionist called coba - 'The Temptation Of Spainish Steps'. The song is so exciting!! and i play the accordion sounds with the electrical organ.

However unfurtunately i've never visit to Spanish Steps also Italy  so I couldnt come out  images just pictures as well.

Please let me know about the Spanish Steps whatever you have images or ideas. anything OK

...how come my dear Italian Friend Michela? ;)

Thank you very much to visit for today!!

Have a nice Thusday and the rest of the week!!

Mami

Q is for Quit something..and Queue

Hello!! I've been absent from Alphabe Thursday but today I 'm glad to take part in..
So today's letter is Q.  Q is Very difficult to find words but  absolutely interesting to know others' postings!! 

Why dont you play?

I' ll choose 'quit'
This story is very serious and secret especially to my husband..heehee :)
I'll write about 'quit something' now. You might already notice of the story..

My husband had been smoking for years (about 10yrs) and he had 40-50 cigars for a day. Terrible!!!  I hate smoking and its smell even get headache.
I had been asking him to quit smoking for years , of course. However he didnt say YES. Gee..
At last, he decided to quit smoking 10 months ago for his coming years. For him? .. for me and for us!! Right?  The healthy life is necessary
How long i've been wanting for his decision!!  And he positively  quit smoking in just 3 weeks.  A big present for me than anything, isnt it?
The fact is so gratified me.

After quiting, he gains not only good condition but also too much? wight though..  I have another worry.. I have to ask him to quit sweets, anyway.. :(

But i think quit something is hard work but positively thing.  Be sure something good things would happen.



And another Q is for queue..do you like in a queue in front of the restaurant or anyplace?

This photo shows us  People were waiting for advanced reservations before the sale in a long queue for hours during  over night last day. Wow!!

i am not in a queue..though



So today is still cold here..why?? already May isnt it?  Hope your weather is fine!!

If you want know more others posting,please visit Jenny Matlock

Thanks :)

Mother

Hi, friends!! Hope you all spent your special Happy Mother's Day..

...this pretty pretty carnations  from my son and daughter to me yesterday.
It is so grateful and blessing to myself on that day :)　

On Saturday, I went to pray the Myoshinji temple in kyoto for my husband's Mother Yoshiko(passed away last year). This is one of the highest and histrical temple in Kyoto of Japan.

As i found the message as bellow for us written by the temple's priest on the boad so I'll try to translate in English a bit.

it says ; 

When Mother is(alive) here ,

you feel comfortable. 

When Mother isnt here,

you feel vacancy.

母＝Mother


Have a nice week!!

A lot of Sunshine and Colours

We had national holidays last 7 days called 'Golden Week' in Japan. Our family decided to spend holidays for family time or relaxing. Luckily we had a lot of sunshine during  holidays.　

...enjoying  badminton ...hee hee. Lots of fun!!! ( It has been long time for playing with my daughter)-so we were not good players actually though...:-o

...reflections

..today was raining but trees with green leaves looks so delightful ;)

Good for eyes isnt it? Vitamin colour for us.

I bought this hydrangea pot last day.This flower matches in the rains.I like blue one!!

..flying carps in the sky

..goldish carps in the pond

ＫＯＩＮＯＢＯＲＩ

I went a park near by river yesterday. It was a beautiful day!

What an  attractive scenery!!

This flying carps called KOINOBORI in Japanese. We traditionally celebrate boys good health and happiness.  They also hoist koinobori, carp-shaped streamers that symbolize strength and success in life because Chinese legends say carp become dragons when they swim up whitewater rapids.

A big black carp is as a father,a red one as a mother,and small ones as children. They are stood at the family which have boys and we can often see KOINOBORI at this time. But these are across the river!! Fantastic!

Seem like as Carps are flying  or swimming in the blue sky.

It was a bit windy day but I felt very comfortable spring fresh air on my face.
Waters go fast..So nice!

Have a nice the rest of week and wonderful weekend!!