little JAPAN

When;

Sunday 20 May 2012 from 10:00am - 5:00pm (Door Open 9:30am)

Where;

Box Hill Town Hall & Box Hill TAFE
　1000-1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill (Melway：47D9)

website;

http://www.jcv-au.org/japanfestival/

wow!

It’s already Children’s Day (こどもの日 Kodemo no Hi) .

I had a baby boy last year since then I haven’t update my blog.

It’s very special for him to celebrate first “boy’s day”!!

I made a cake which shape of fish and again decorate Yoroi Kabuto and Koinobori.

We went to pick chestnut at Dandenong Ranges .

Chestnuts are very popular in Japan.

We cook them with rice or roast in the oven .

It was fun for kids to find good chestnuts it was like treasure hunt!!!

Thee 5th of May is know as Children’s Day (こどもの日 Kodemo no Hi) which is part of the Golden week celebrations. It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month. The day traditionally celebrates as “Boy’s Day” but now celebrates both girls and boys.

We decorate Yoroi Kabuto and Koinobori for boys.

We usually eat rice cakes but it difficult to get the ingredients in Australia so I made lemon cake instead.

I miss Japanese sweets.

Many friends went back to Japan in March and April because of a new school term.

One of my friend gave me gifts when she left Melbourne.

This is a scarf which can be used as a towel as well.

I can wash it with normal clothes.

There were many color I could choose which was blue, green, red etc„,

It is good for summer you can wipe your sweat and avoiding UV rays …

but I think I will use as a scarf because I don’t want to be wearing with dirt ;)

In Australia the school year begins in February whereas in Japan it starts in April which is a beautiful seasons full of SAKURA-cherry blossoms.

I miss “Hanami parties” in the park with a BBQ, drinks and Karaoke. We always have lots of fun playing games under the Sakura trees. 

Two weeks has passed since the earthquake shook Japan.

Many people asked about my family in Japan.

They live in Kobe which wasn’t affect by it at all.

I appreciate everyone caring about my family.

I watched news on TV for two days; that made me depressed and I had nightmares so I just read articles instead of watching news.

I experienced “Great Hanshin earthquake” in 1995.

It was awful but this latest earthquake is much much worst because of the Tsunami and Nuclear crisis.

I hope everything is going to be alright for Japan.

We donate all money you spend at Little Japan Kids clothes for the month of April.

My daughter got new digital camera from her Japanese grandpa.

CASIO  ”EXILIM” 14.1 Mega Pixels

which is better than our other two digital camera.

We bought awhen we went back Japan 3 years ago. 

It’s quite big and difficult to use for us.

The other one is a PANASONIC “LUMIX” that we bought 2 years ago in Japan.

I had been using CASIO but the store attendant recommended it and it had cute design so I bought it.

It’s OK but it can’t be connected to our Mac so I have to put memory card into NIKON one when I want to download photos which is a bit pain.

So I’m really happy that she’s got the CASIO now!

I wanted to buy PENTAX new Digital SLR when we went back Japan last year but I didn’t this time.

It’s popular at the moment and is much smaller than our SLR. Anyone can take nice photos with this camera … you don’t need any special skills.

 You can customise your camera.

Whenever I go back Japan I see new products on the TV and the train. And everywhere famous people are promoting the new products so I can’t ignore them and I want to buy them all.

Going to electronic shops is crazy, too.

The shop’s song always gets stuck in my head. There are so many products, lots of costumer and shop assistant yelling “Today’s our special is….” which start to control my mind.

The point is you can ask discount! Some shop gives you tax off if you have a foreigner passport.

If you are really keen to buy electronic thing I recommend to go “DenDen town” which in Osaka or “Akihabara” in Tokyo.

There are many electronic shops on the street and they beat the price of each other!

We cerebrate “Hinamatsuri” on the 3rd of March.

I made “Chirashizushi”

“Chirshizushi” is known as scattered sushi and is served on plates or bowls with colorful toppings. 

It is traditional to eat Chirashizushi on Hinamatsuri day.

And Japanese grandpa send these from Japan ↓

These are also traditional snacks for Hinamatsuri.

These are round rice cracker which got many taste in it .

My favorite are chocolate or soy sauce!

Hina Matsuri translates into “doll festival” but this is more commonly known as Girls Day and is celebrated every 3rd of March.

We display this doll before Hina Matsuri and after a few days we have to pack them up because of legend if you keep them longer the daughter will get married late.

These were mine but now they are my daughter’s.