Akasugu Mar-Apr 2009

Akasugu Jan-Feb 2009

Kichijoji

Last Sunday it was still warm so we hopped on another train and went to Kichijoji.

Kichijoji is a suburb about 30min to the west, at the end of the Inokashira line. It is on the border between the inner wards and outer subusbs of Tokyo metropolis.

Hannah having a nap on the train out.


Kichijoji has a good shopping area (we looked at refrigerators) and a well-known park with a small zoo and amusement park.



Hanna was very impressed by her first experience of a 'kaitenmokuba' (merry-go-round). Happy smiles and laughter on the ride then screams and tears when we took her off it!

Plum Festival

Last weekend Tokyo enjoyed a freak flow of warm air from the south. Temperatures rose as high as 23C on Saturday and the high teens on Sunday.

We could see the first signs of spring. Our neighbour's plum tree is beginning to bloom.


We jumped on the Odakyu line and travelled a few stops out to Umegaoka ("Plum hill") where they hold an annual Umematsuri ("Plum festival").


Umegaoka has a nice park on a small hill with a garden of plum trees. Most of the trees were only just beginning to bloom.


The festival was busy with lots of families. It was warm enough to enjoy picnicing in the park, and there was lots of nice food available from the various stalls.







There seemes to be a photo competition associated with this festival. Camera enthusiasts were out in force, and the camera club had a tent showing the best photos from last years festival. They had even arranged for 4 nice young ladies to model in front of the flowers.


My favourite area was the stage, with performances from the local singing and dance clubs.






Hanna enjoyed this very much. She also quickly made friends with the camera club.

Photoshoot

Last wednesday was a public holiday, so I could spend the day with Rika and Hanna. The holiday was 'Coming of Age Day', which is the day 20 year-olds celebrate formally becomming adults.

Hanna still has 18.5 years to go but we sent her out to work anyway - down the photo-mines at 'Akasugu' magazine.



First step is 'makeup' (to make her skin look younger).



Then a bit of play to get used to the set and the team. (One sign that this team are real professionals)


Hanna was modelling some clothes and a hat.

Hats require alot of patience since small children don't much like them and keep taking them off. Hanna in particular....



As you can see it took many many attempts to get this right....



In fact about 20......



Which may be some kind of record....



Everyone was very nice to Hanna and patient.



But they had to try all their tricks - like squeaky toys,snacks, and bubbles.....



Success at last. Thanks to the old 'coughing-fit' ploy!


The reward for all this effort was the image below which was published in the May-Jun edition of Akasugu.



Hanna was down to model 3 different outfits that day. The second shoot was with another child and it was just as difficult. Hanna didn't want to stand still while the other child was perfectly behaved!

After that they let Hanna go without doing the 3rd shoot.

Story Time

Hanna now enjoys bedtime stories. She likes to have 4 or 5 read to her after her bath.





Her current favourites are 'Good Night Dear Moon' and 'Inai Inai Baa', and anything with cats. She prefers Japanese books but she grew to like Hairy McClary (until Sasuke peed on it!)



We have to stick to simple stories because I can't read very well and she gets impatient when I struggle with the hiragana.