O MiyaMairi

About 2 weeks ago we put on our best clothes and visited Meiji Jingu (Meiji shrine) for Hanna's OMiyaMairi ceremony. This is a ceremony to introduce her to the shinto gods and pray for her health and wellbeing.

Japanese parents normally do this when the baby is 1 month old, together with their (paternal) grandparents. But we thought it would be too hot in summer, so we did it in November. Rika's mum came up from Ikadaba specially, with a family baby kimono for Hanna to wear.



The ceremony was held in a a hall just to the east of the main shrine. The ceremony was really interesting. It lasted about 20 minutes. For the first 10 minutes the priests chanted prayers for each of the children in turn. This was in archaic japanese so I understood as much as Rika did!. Then they performed music with drums and flutes and 2 priestesses danced a sacred dance. Hanna cried during the chanting, but she stopped crying and watched quietly when the music and dancing started.

This is Rika and her mum with Hanna outside the hall after the ceremony.


Hanna with her gorgeous hat decorated with cranes (represents long life because they are supposed to live 1,000 years).



After the ceremony we took photos in the grounds of the shrine.




Meiji Jingu was also having a harvest festival so it was decorated with produce like cabbages and pumpkins. This is the display from the Japan Agriculture association (Tokyo branch) of a ship made from vegetables. I was particularly impressed by the sail made of leeks.

Visits with Friends

Over the last 2 months we have had visits from friends from London.

Paul and Katsu visited in October. This is Paul with Hanna.



They were very busy doing business research so it was very nice of them to make time to visit us.



We don't have any photos of Katsu because he is too shy.



Last month Ryosuke and Lisa visited. This is us at Sangubashi station.



And Ryosuke with Hanna.



We also took Hanna to visit my work. This is Hanna with my colleagues Ueno-san and Sharlyna.


Hanna enjoying time with Sharlyna.

Memorial Service

Last weekend we went down to Ikadaba to visit Rikas mum and attend a 1 year memorial service for Rika's Dad.

The service was held in Rika's mums house and was attended by about 40 relatives and neighbors, who all managed to fit in the main room sitting on cushions (the sliding doors of the 2 main rooms were removed to make one large room, demonstrating the practicality of the traditional Japanese house.)



The service was led by a Buddhist priest from the local temple, known as 'go-zen-sama' (literally 'honorable at the front'). It consisted mainly of chanting sutras, starting with the Heart Sutra, then the Shushougi. During the chanting the priest would occasionally stop and let us carry on so you had to keep up!

The priest also gave a small sermon, pointing out that one of the teaching of buddhism is that nothing stays the same forever, and life goes on, for better and worse. And on the bright side there is a new baby in the family, and the gaijin seems well behaved. (Go-zen-sama also kind enough to bring some information for me on Soto zen temples in Tokyo that teach in English, which was very thoughtful of him).



After the service everyone visited the the family grave to pay their respects. And then most people went on by bus to a local restaurant for a family meal together.



The meal itself was quite lavish with nice sushi, fish, tempura, a little stew, shellfish, soup, desert... The lady sitting opposite is Mrs Yamada, the mother of Masahiko (my brother-in-law in-law).

It was a good opportunity to take Hanna round and introduce her to the various relatives. This is Suzuki-san, Rika's dad's younger brother. (Hes name is Suzuki not S. because he took his wife's surname).



This is Rika's mum's sisters Yata-san and Obigane-san, and Miamoto-san, Rika's mums older brothers wife.



As you can see my halo was particularly strong that day. This is Miamoto-san, the youngest of Rika's mother's 9 brothers and sisters.


After the meal, we returned to Rika's mum's house, for some more chat and playing with the baby. This is Hanaoka, Rika's mum's older sister. I think Hanna looks a bit like Hanoka-san.



This is Mrs Suzuki and Hanaoka-san.



This is Mr & Mrs Sagai (Rika's fathers younger sister).



Hanna was in a good mood throughout (except when we neglected to change her). I think she brought some happiness to what was otherwise a fairly sad day for everyone.

At the table

Hanna is now 4 months old and she has really changed in the last month. She is now much more sociable and interested in what is going on around her.

One activity she now seems to enjoy is to sit on my knee at the table and enjoy meals together.



She will happily sit listening to conversation and watching. The video below was recorded at Rika's Mums house at Ikadaba a couple of weeks ago - she is obviously following who is speaking.



Another hobby is to watch me eat. I think she was really amazed to see the food get scooped up and then disappear into my face!



Hanna also seemed to have a particular interest in my glass of West End Extra Light 0.9% larger. But I guess it IS a girls beer.






She is now getting interested in putting things into her mouth. Her fingers, my fingers, the coffee cup int his case.

Dancing (with Dad)

Hannah has been practicing her dancing moves

Another good peroration.

She has also been practicing crawling. A long way still to go...

Public Speaking

Hanna has been hard at work today practicing public speaking:



I like her 'peroration'.

Look who's talking

In the last week or so Hanna has started practicing talking, especially when she is sttting down with Rika.

One of the first words Hana has said to Rika was 'gyu' （ぎゅう） which is japanese for 'cow'　(牛).


And of course 'Gaaa' (hic)


We took this video of conversation with Hanna. (For best results, rotate your monitor or head by 90 degrees!).