Tanabata Festival

Do you know "tanabata" festival? It's one of traditional festivals in Japan. It's said that the prince and the princess who cannot meet can finally meet only on July 7th. It's the only chance they can meet; however, it has to be a clear night. Since the Milky Way separates them (they can't cross the river!), they can meet only at a clear night when you can see the Milky Way clearly.

Unfortunately, July 7th is usually cloudy or rainy every year. Tonight is cloudy. Man, it's a tragedy...

Well, we write a wish on a piece of paper, called tanzaku, and hung it in a bamboo tree. This year I wished quick recovery from the earthquake.

Today lots of small kids and their mom got together and celebrated the tanabata festival and had lots of fun. All the kids wore jinbei, which is clothing with a yukata top and shorts, and they were really cute. But only one of the others and I brought yukatas to the place, and of course I put it on right away. I put a yukata on one of a Japanese moms, one Filipino woman, and one Thai woman. They seemed to enjoy wearing it. One thing surprised me was that the Filipino woman knew how to fold a yukata! I gave her some advice and she quickly learned it! Amazing isn't it? Not many Japanese people know how to fold a yukata, but a non-Japanese person knew more! I hope she remembers it!

Wedding Anniversary

Our 2nd wedding anniversary came on 5/11. We instead had special lunch on the 15th. Last year we went a 2-hour cruising for the 1st year anniversary at night. We took a great look at night views in Yokohama Bay and had a good time.

This year again we went to Yokohama for our anniversary. We had great lunch at this restaurant inside Yokohama Marine Tower on Sunday. I really loved the course I ordered!! My main dish was a fish fillet with balsamic vinegar sauce.


The first dish was the appetizer. It was tomatoes with fresh ham.




This pumpkin soup was awesome! It was really creamy and tasted like melting away.



Needless to say the main dish was great.



Desert is always great.






Our 2nd wedding anniversary came on 5/11. We instead had special lunch on the 15th. Last year we went a 2-hour cruising for the 1st year anniversary at night. We took a great look at night views in Yokohama Bay and had a good time.

This year again we went to Yokohama for our anniversary. We had great lunch at this restaurant inside Yokohama Marine Tower on Sunday. I really loved the course I ordered!! My main dish was a fish fillet with balsamic vinegar sauce.

We also had red wine. Well, we were going to order roasted beef at first, so also we were going to order red wine. However, suddenly we changed the order and I picked fish...but I forgot to change my wine to white! Well it was tasty anyway... Oh, why did I have wine? I prepared solid food and milk for my baby, so I didn't have to feed her at the restaurant and was able to have wine! haha!

Now I have to think where to go next anniversary!

Girls Day

Yesterday it was Girls Day that celebrates girls' good health and happiness. I made sushi for my little daughter though she couldn't eat it yet. The picture isn't good quality but you can see what I made.

I put tuna, ikura, crab meat, peas and shiitake mushrooms. Those were put on vinegar rice. I made the rice into circle, and so it looks like cake.