Yyogi Go-Chome Mikoshi

For the Yoyogi Hachi-Man Shrine Matsuri (Festival), each 'chome' (neighborhood) in the area has its own celebrations which then converge on the main shrine.



Most 'chome' have a 'mikoshi' (portable shrine) and a 'taiko' (drum), which are carried/towed around the neighborhood as a sort of blessing. Our 'chome' has a mikoshi and drum for the children which formed a nice procession. "Washoi boom-boom-boom, Washoi"!


The mikoshi and drum were taken around the neighbourhood 3 times over the long weekend. We attenmded twice. This is Rika, Hanna and friends in front of the mikoshi.


This is our neigbour Minami-chan, who lives upstairs and is always very nice to Hannah. When we come home in the weekend Hannah often calls out 'Minami-chan!'.


Hannah helping to pull the Taiko (drum) along.


As we go round the neighborhood we had lots of rest breaks for refreshments. Here drink and ice-cream.





A chance to catch up with the neighbours. This is Hannah and Ao-chan, Minami-chan's sister.





Having a break with dad.

Hatsudai 'Awa' Dance Festival

The Hatsudai Awa Odori Matsuri (Hatsudai Awa-dance Festivsal) was held in during the 'Silver Week' holiday, on Tuesday and Wednesday. We went both evenings.




The dance is a folk dance from Tokushima in Shikoku.





Hannah shot this video.










At the end of the evening, the dance troups all danced in fixed places down the road, and us spectators all had a chance to dance as well.

Shaka Shaka Shua Shua

One of the areas where we have had 'deferred success' (i.e. failure) is brushing Hannah's teeth. She really doesn't want to let us brush her teeth. So we don't brush her as often as we should, and she has built up of plaque on her front teeth.

One strategy Ive followed (unsuccessfully) over more than 6 months is to brush my teeth with Hannah every night after her bath. Hannah clearly enjoys this time with Dad, playing with her toothbrush and eating baby toothpaste, but she has never been very interested in brushing properly.


She is easily distracted, especially when she needs to take an important call.


When we have the energy, we follow-up in the bed-room. To avoid struggles it is necessary that Mum first brushes Dads teeth to show how much fun it is (and to prove the toothpaste isn't poisoned).

(Hannah took this viedeo with a little help from Dad)

All going well, Hannah will then allow Mum to brush her teeth. More often we have to struggle and hold her down.


Shaka shaka


Shua Shua


Hannah has a strong sense of fair play so she will often insist on brushing Dads teeth too.


O shimai! Ii ko, ii ko (all finished, good girl/boy )

Lookalike (5)

Peko-chan (the mascot of Fujiya cake shops) and our Hannah are surely related?





---------Peko Chan---------------------Hannah---------------

More Milestones

Hannah is really developing rapidly and the milestones just fly by one after the other..

1. Using chopsticks.

Hannah unexpectedly started using chopsticks at the harvest dinner with Rika's family. So we gave her a set of training chopsticks to use.







2. Arguing back to Rika.

Hannah usually has a strong idea what she wants and can be quite difficult to control, especially at bed time.
* One evening in bed Hannah kept playing rather than going to sleep, so Rika told her that if she kept playing we would both go downstairs and leave her alone in the room. Hannah immediately callled the bluff by saying 'bye-bye'.
* We have been reading a book called 'No David!' about a boy who does lots of things he shouldn't, including running around without clothes on. Later when Hannah wouldn't get dressed after her bath Rika said 'if you do this we'll have to call you David'. Hannah's reply was "Hanna-chan David ja nai, Mummy ga David dayo" (Im not a (naughty) David, Mummy is!)
* Hannah sings the song 'Zou-san' (Mr Elephant) with the altered lyrics "so yo kaa-san mo kowaii no yo" (Mummy is scary too)

3. First Video

This is one of the fiest videos Hannah recorded herself



4. Toilet Training

Hannah has started toilet training. This is the first photo I took from a few weeks ago. Just after this photo she pressed the buttons on her right and switched on the bidet! ('bikirishita!' - what a surprise!). So to avoid flooding we have had to switch this off at the wall.


Its a few weeks later and Hannah is just potty about the toilet. This maybe encouraged by seeing other chikdren at school who are toilet trained. She tells us when she she wants to go.











And she washes her hands afterwards (shes been doing this for fun for ages).

GeiDai Matsuri

On Sunday we were invited by Naochan and Nichan to see a performance of Masumi's rock band at her university festival.

Masumi is attending the prestigious National Fine Arts University in Ueno. (Tokyo geijitsu daigaku or 'geidai'). As you'd expect, the festival was impressive.

Hannah and me in front of one of the Mikoshi made by the students for the festival procession.




This is Masumi playing sax in her band. The members are mainly classmates who normally play classical music.






Masumi, Rila and Nao-chan after the performance.







The festival was held in the campus which is a lovely spot just next to Ueno park and zoo.


Another student band from Masumi's faculty.




Another Mikoshi made by the students.


With Nichan and Naochan in front of the Mikoshi. Ive borrowed the 'happi' coat from a student.





The horse reminded me of 'Gurnica' by Picasso.


Later in the day we saw some of the other Mikoshi being moved through Ueno park near the campus.




This also reminds me of a Picasso painting but I can't remember which one.


This Mikoshi was made by Masumi's class

Ueno Park

After the festival we went to Ueno park to hang-out,and enjoy the afternoon.


Does my bum look big in this?



There is a small fun park near the zoo, and Hannah enjoyed several rides on the merry-go-round.













This statue is called 'conspiracy of a wise man'


Another art work, a large steel sphere.




Evening sun in Yoyogi park on the way home. A real end-of-summer feeling.