Yokohama Hanabi

One thing that always makes me think of summer in Japan is the fireworks displays. They are rather different than the ones in the UK which are mostly in the dead of Winter. Yokohama last Sunday was sweltering hot, a million miles way from the damp and chilly British winter. Although the heat was made more oppressive by the fact that we had to wait 5 hours in order to get a spot with a good view. Therefore we (myself and some Japanese friends) had no choice but to keep cool with an extended wine and beer picnic.

After plenty of good food and drink the show exploded into life at about 7.30pm when the first of 6,000 fireworks lit up the night sky. The truly great thing about these displays is the variety of fireworks. Particularly, I like the themed fireworks, for example the heart or Kitty shaped ones. But, the most impressive ones are the traditional looking chrysanthemum shaped ones, where size really does count. The massive ones being rewarded with claps and screams from the crowd.

The display takes place every year and celebrates the Opening of the Port of Yokohama, this year its the 149th anniversary. It attracts around about half a million spectators, which becomes clear when everyone tries to go home.

New Year

Well I have just got back from welcoming in 2006 at the local Shrine. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who had headed out just after midnight in order to be one of the first to pray for good luck. I thought there would be a few people but I wasn't expecting the 30 minute queue that greeted me on arrival.


Anyway, it was good to rub shoulders with the locals and drink in the excitement of seeing in the New Year, even though it was bloody freezing. It was expensive too, because I had to buy some lucky charms to keep the evil spirits at bay. This is due to the fact that 2006 is my unlucky year in the Japanese calendar. I just hope that the expense is worthwhile and 2006 will be better than 2005.

New Year is Coming

New year is the most important holiday in Japan and everywhere is gearing up for it. Outside my office today, loads of cute girls dressed as Santa were tempting us passers-by to loosen our purse strings in order to buy the New Year's TV Times, which by the way, came complete with loads of goodies from the Japanese pop group SMAP. You would have thought that after ten years a boy band would have lost its popularity, especially when they can't sing and are no longer as cute as they used to be, but not here in Japan.


Even the local shrine in Hikawadai doesn't want to be left behind and is busily erecting tents, so that come New Years Day, we locals will be able buy loads of charms from them. Also the number of drunk business men on the trains is up this month as they all stagger home after pissing it up at one of the numerous 'End of Year' parties. I wish I could join them, but for me it just seems to be work and yet more work.

Degu

From today I have to share my small home with some new flatmates. However they shouldn't take up too much space as they are two degus (Pronounced Day-goo). But, what is a degu, I hear you ask, is it some strange mythical Japanese animal or maybe the latest robo pet from Sony? Well, no! In fact it is a squirrel-like rodent from Chile that is rapidly becoming the must have pet, probably as a result of their cute looks, here in Japan. Hamsters watch out!


They are only a few weeks old at the moment and quite small, but they are really noisy. They are continuously either running in their wheel, squeaking or doing both. However, I must admit it is a pleasant background noise and rather adorable. Plus the way they interact is amazing, because they do everything together. The only problem I have is to work out names for them. Might go for Speedy and Nippy as one of them runs like crazy, while the other seems more intent on nibbling my fingers. It doesn't really hurt though, I am sure its just a sign of affection.

Earthquake

Sorry for the delay, but I am back and have lots to write about. Firstly, there was another rather large earthquake last night at around eight thirty. At the time, I was working on the 10th floor of one Ikebukero's tallest building. And boy did it scare the shit out of me. I can tell you, it isn't much fun being in a building that's gently swaying from side to side.


At least I wasn't the only one, as the place went deadly quiet as we all waited to see what would happen next. Finally the rocking stopped and things got back to normal. In the end, it was a bit of an anticlimax, a couple cds and a beer bottle fell over at home and I had to put up with the inevitable train delays. A tad dull really!!