O-Shogatsu! or Happy New Year!

Our lonely apartment  (we're bottom left)  We're the only ones here on New Year's week.

Across the street is a couple about our age.  Their son's car was there most of the week.

New's Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan.  They know about Christmas, and I think celebrate it somewhat, but everyone celebrates O-Shogatsu.  It is a family time.  Children make a pilgrimage from wherever they are to spend O-Shagatsu with their parents, if possible.  We live in a four-plex.  All three of the other residents are young adults.  We were the only ones here all week.  Our across the street neighbors- about our age had their son there most of the week. 

We traditionally make aebelskivers on New Year's, but this year we didn't have the special pan, so made French toast instead. 

We spent a lot of the day trying to figure out how to make filling for the cream puffs we were making to take to a New Year's Party that evening.  I purchased a custard pudding mix, but couldn't read the kanji/hiragana/katakana instructions.  Ken worked tirelessly trying to read them.  With his reading and my cooking knowledge we made something that worked.  I'm not sure if it was right, but it worked!  Shopping and cooking in Japan is a challenge.  I made frosting for the cream puffs, only to find I had made it with corn starch instead of powdered sugar!  That went in the garbage and I tried again.

Cooking the custard in our tiny kitchen

Traditionally, Japanese people go to a shrine to pray on New Year's.  We went to witness it at Tsuruoka Park.  There were throngs of people.

The walk to the shrine was lined with booths selling food, charms, prayers, gifts, etc.  It was much like a fair.

Candied Bananas

We didn't think it appropriate to take pictures of the shrine itself, but wanted to capture the throngs.

They tie their prayer on lines

People reading their prayers/fortunes

Tsuruoka Park is gorgeous. We took a nice walk around the mote that surrounds what used to be a castle.

Black Kites

The Partially Frozen Mote

I am amazed at what is still alive and growing when covered with snow.

We then visited a gorgeous wildlife refuge

There is a good man in our branch who also loves birds and directed us to this beautiful park.

This picture of the lake from the top of the dam

The cream puffs/ eclairs turned out great after all that!

The four elders here also came to the party.  This is a typical Japanese table- low and everyone sits on the floor on cushions around it.

Our hosts for New Year's- the Nomura's.  She is the Relief Society president in the branch.

The food was plentiful and delicious- traditional New Year's foods.

There were other guests as well.

Delicious Sashimi- Raw Fish.  There was also cooked chicken with onions. 

Sister Nomura demonstrates how to make your own sushi:  Take a piece of nori (dried seaweed) and put on some rice, then add whatever raw fish or cooked chicken and veggies and other delightful things you want and roll.  Every bit of food was consumed.

It was such a fun evening and cultural experience! 

We are loving our time in Japan.  Everything is different and backwards from what we're used to, but we are so happy to be here in this little branch.  We love the people and are keeping busy visiting and serving.  I will post more about the wonderful people and the new world we're living in.   Happy New Year!