Mmmm!!! I'm bored...not!!!

Another long weekend!!...........what was the reason for this one??

We have already had a collection of public holidays in our first, almost five, months in Japan. We've had Marine Day, Respect for the Aged Day, Autumnal Equinox Day and this latest one was Health and Sports Day.

Health and Sports Day marks the anniversary of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan. It is held on the second Monday every October and is a day to promote sports and physical and mental health. Most communities and schools across Japan celebrate Health and Sports Day with a sports festival which is similar to a mini Olympics. The schools in Chinatown certainly threw themselves fully into the holiday.

Since moving into Leyton House in Yamashita, Yokohama we have been watching and listening to students in nearby schools rehearsing. Sophie, Bek and I have stood outside a school listening to the brass band and we have watched lion practice and other activities from our 16th floor. In the photo below you can see where we live. Our apartment is two floors below the name. so you can imagine we have a great view of lots of things around us in Chinatown. Chinatown is directly below us. Until this weekend we had not realized the reason for this total dedication over the past three months at least.

Chinese National Day (over a week ago) was a prelude to the celebrations in store for this weekend. On this day we had five Chinese lions, dancing their way through Chinatown accompanied by drums and crackers, snapping up red monetary gift pouches dangling in front of each store. The Lion Dance (Cai Qing) is an exciting event for all; shop keepers and tourists alike. Marion and I followed the lions around like 'snappy happy' tourists. We had happened upon this event when riding home on our bikes. In typical Marion fashion she lost her bearings and disappeared into the crowds. With five lions dancing in different parts of Chinatown it was not difficult to get distracted and disoriented. I returned to Leyton House but there was no sign of her, so I went out again in search of her. Fortunately she was found and safely returned to the apartment. Losing your way in this busy place with its maze of lantern festooned streets and crowds is to be expected.

There is no doubt though that walking around these pretty streets at night is a wonderful experience. Having experienced it in the extreme heat of Summer and in the balminess of Autumn I am intrigued to know how it will feel in the chill of Winter.

This weekend the celebrations of Sport Day and the festivities associated with the celebration of the Double Tenth Festival resulted in one very busy Chinatown. Chinatown came alive with folk dancers in traditional dress, lion dances and a parade through the streets. As Paula and I wandered through the streets we were swept up in the excitement and found ourselves accidental 'alien' participants in the parade. I had a balloon and Republic of China flag thrust in my hand and before we knew it we were in the parade. We felt like interlopers and received a few stares but what could we do?? A guy beside us shrugged when we commented on this and said 'Well I'm Japanese not Chinese!'

The temples were busy with people crowding in to pray and burn incense. 

Food stalls selling dumplings, dim sims and other Chinese food were kept busy with the thousands of hungry people strolling through the streets.

Chestnut sellers busily dispensed bags of chestnuts, not my cup of tea!! Palm readers were kept busy predicting futures.....children played happily and others just found the whole thing too exhausting!!

Chinatown was not the only busy place. The foreshore all the way from Yamashita Park to Minato Mirai was also a hive of activity.

Oktoberfest 2010 at the Red Brick Warehouse ran for ten days.  A huge marquee and outdoor area was cordoned off and the area was crowded each day. Naturally, on the weekend it was packed. Thousands of people crowded into the area, sitting at long tables enjoying each other's company and, of course, drinking lots of beer. Typical of activities organised here there was no apparent 'anti social' behaviour exhibited by those who over imbibed. Beer was first introduced to Japan in Yokohama and, as such, the Red Brick Warehouse make the natural place to have the celebration. Next year will also mark the 100th Anniversary of the historical buildings so I would imagine it will be a big one!

I recall researching this area a little before arriving in Japan. As we were cycling and strolling through there this weekend, I commented to Steve that it has far surpassed any expectations I had!! It is a beautiful area where people can relax and stroll safely, day and night, during the week and on the weekend. There is always something happening...artificial beaches, expos, bands, singing, jugglers, comedians, ice cream stalls, the list goes on and on!

At Yamashita Park an International Food Festival was in full swing all weekend. Individual stalls selling food from all over the world filled the park. The whole area was crowded with queues of people waiting to purchase food at reasonable prices and families spread out on rugs, at cafe style tables and on park benches.

The choice of foods was amazing and I had difficulty settling on kebabs from Jordan and naan bread and curry from India. Paula settled on the same but as we strolled home through Chinatown she also enjoyed a Chinese sausage on a stick and an ice cream.

Yokohama is also home to one of the largest Jazz Festivals in Japan and this weekend jazz musicians performed at 50 locations throughout the city, with one at the Red Brick Warehouse and another at nearby Kannai.
It is brilliant to see a city/country that provides so much free entertainment for all; young and old. I can't wait to see what APEC will bring during November. I do know that the security build up has been intense, so you can be sure it will be well controlled. Eight thousand people from 21 countries will visit Yokohama city. Apparently we will not even be able to leave our bicycles unattended in the Minato Mirai area...unattended bicycles can be used for terrorism and illegal demonstrations!!!! They will be impounded and a transfer fee will be imposed on the owners.

I had no idea our life in Japan would be filled with so many exciting options. For how ever long we end up being here, it will not be long enough to experience everything this wonderful country has to offer.  Whether you are catching trains, walking, cycling or driving there is always something to see or do!!

The people of this country truly celebrate together and never miss an opportunity to enjoy themselves!!

Dolls...Dolls...Dolls!!

Dolls........not a particularly rivetting conversation piece but each to his own. We all have different interests. Not something I would normally be interested in but .......

The Yokohama Doll Museum is located very close to where we live in Yamashita-cho. I had read about it in various tourist articles and personally had not really been that interested. Our latest alien visitor, Steve's mum Paula, was very keen to visit and learn a little more about Japanese culture. So after a stroll down Motomachi Street and a coffee stop at Starbuck's, we headed off to the museum.

The entry fee was 800yen which seemed reasonable, but was 300yen more than the advertised price. Apparently the fee can be altered according to the current displays. I had read a fairly negative critique on the Internet which said 'Give it a miss' but we decided to form our own opinions. Experience has taught me not to always trust what you read.

Even so, as I entered I was still feeling like I could take it or leave it. Paula on the other hand was enthusiastic and instantly impressed. I will concede it was interesting to find out the origins of the museum and the reasons for its establishment. Within its walls there are more than 3500 dolls, from Japan and around the world, on display. The Dolls of the World and Japanese dolls are very beautiful, but I found the story of the 'Friendship dolls' the most interesting, from an historical point.

These dolls depicting young children were particularly lovely. The crying baby was so realistic that you wanted to gather it in your arms to stop its crying!!

The 'Dolls of the World' collection was extensive but most of my photos have depicted some of the Japanese collection.

I do admit that looking at dolls is not everyone's cup of tea. However, to learn a little more about Japanese and American relations, considering the huge impact the war had on both countries, was interesting and very informative.

Japanese friendship dolls and the American Blue-eyed dolls were programs of goodwill between Japan and America. An American Sidney Gulick, who was a missionary in Japan, initiated an exchange of dolls between children as a way to ease cultural tensions in the 1920s. He was familiar with how important dolls were in the Japanese culture. Over 12,000 American Blue Eyed Dolls were sent to Japan. A Japanese viscount responded by initiating a program to send 58 dolls to American museums and libraries. The best doll makers were commissioned to make the dolls. They were 32-33 inches high and dressed in beautiful kimonos made of silk. Dolls would be sent to their new country complete with their own passport. Sadly many of the American dolls were destroyed during during the war when tensions were at their peak. Blossom can be seen at the museum. Most of the Japanese friendship dolls still exist and are on display throughout America.

We completed our visit painting miniature Japanese models (less than 1cm tall) to add to the large display shown below.

If you have plenty of time whilst in Yokohama, the Doll Museum provides a peaceful respite from the normal humdrum. I didn't feel I had wasted my money but then again I have the luxury of visiting these attractions at my leisure.

It's a Dog's Life !!!

Do you believe that after we depart this world we come back as something else??............then I suggest you think about coming back as a dog in Japan. Seriously these must be the most pampered pets in the world.

After a jaunt out on the bikes the other day we decided to head down Motomachi Street, a very fashionable street just across the canal, to grab some bread. Unbeknown to us there was a special event for dogs occurring. What a crack up!! There were dogs dressed in all kinds of outfits and their owners were proudly strutting around with these 'designer pooches' on the end of  leads or in specially designed pushers or prams. Many pooches also sported underwear, peaked caps and tips in their hair. On the whole they were a very well behaved group and there was little trouble.You couldn't help but be amused by this very lovable group of canines! I suspect these very pretty and well cared for pets could be a little neurotic and, maybe just a little, spoilt!!

Hey!!! Wait for me..........wait for me! Let me go! I just saw this really cute chick! I want her....I want her now....Let me go!!!

"Oh I say mummy look at that gorgeous outfit...quick follow her!!"

"Hey you guys......just because you're bigger than me doesn't mean I can't look."

"Get me out of this pram...I have problems to solve.....like......which good looking chick I am going to crack on to ?!!!"

The owner of this dog was very proud that an American friend had given her a Spiderman outfit, perfect for that special day out.

SMILE.......YOU'RE ON DOGGY CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!!! 

There is a huge business in 'doggy' products and many big department stores devote a whole floor, or certainly part of, to supplying all the things a pampered pooch could ever want. Your beloved pet can select between a variety of styles, from jeans and windcheater, frilly dress, tracksuit and, of course, there is pyjamas for evening wear! In one store they were even selling doggy pools complete with water slides. On my gosh...how extreme!!!

Just the other day I saw this girl with her dog on her lap. This is the first time I have ever seen a dog on a train. I have been aware of dogs being carried in their special carry bags but believed that dogs were not allowed on the trains, the same as bikes. Upon investigating this issue I have found that pets  under 10 kg  which can fit in a case of up to 70 x 90 x 90cm can be taken as “hand luggage”. Heavier pets, or pets that cannot fit in the designated case, are not permitted (with the exception of guide dogs and other assisting animals that meet the Japanese Railway definitions).

So these dogs will grow up and eventually be able to travel on the trains. Small compensation for such a responsible job....that of a Seeing Eye Dog!!

It's must be very humiliating for these pampered pooches to see signs like these......but...

.......some things don't change. Even designer dogs have to go to the 'loo'!!! There is a 'trade off' though....someone is always there to wipe your bottom!

So to all you pet owners out there...just ask yourselves this.... 
IS THERE MORE I COULD BE DOING TO MAKE MY PET'S LIFE MORE COMFORTABLE????