This January we finally enjoyed our first traditional Japanese New Year Celebration, complete with a taiko drum performance and mochi pounding.It was a cultural event hosted by a local chapter of Ikebana International, of which many Americans are members. The setting was very historic--the private residence of a Buddhist monk on the grounds of the Great Daihatsu (the Great Budda). Anyone who comes to visit us has visted the Great Budda. Here Sydney and her friend Zelig hold what might as well be the "golden tickets" to the Great Budda, as we visit for maybe the seventh time in 2 1/2 short years.
This impressive private home accomodated more than 150 guests. We all sat (on comfortable stools) in the large, open tatami room, which had large glass doors to the lawn and garden area, where the taiko drummers performed.
It was somewhat difficult to see from the back (where we like to sit with our two antsy children), so Sydney, Zelig and several other kids were ushered by the hostess up front for a better view.
Sydney really enjoyed the drum performance...until the New Year dragon emerged, at which point she retreated away from the open windows. Shortly after, she called out to Zelig, who had his legs dangling out the window, fearing he might fall down to the dragon.
Then it was time for the mochi pounding, a traditional Japanese New Year ritual, where friends and family take turns with the kure (hammer) to pound cooked sticky rice until it turns into mochi. At New Year's, it is usually shaped into a chewy, sweet ball with a nutty sweet soybean powder coating called kinako. Here our friends Nicole and Kathleen give it a go.
After the ceremonies, Brian contained the girls while I gathered our Japanese bento box lunches and mikan. It's late, so Miranda is so hungry she chews on her hands while Sydney is happy with her blanket.
After a full day, we made our way back to Yokosuka by train--with our trash still in hand. Believe it or not, this is a typical Japanese experience in and of itself.