My "FIRSTs" in JAPAN: Yuki, Sakura, Onbashira

YUKI (Snow)

In Japan, we live in Suwa-shi, Nagano-ken. It's a province so during winter-spring, it's really cold there and it even snows. Luckily, I was able to catch the last few snow of Winter-Spring transition.

 in the neighborhood

Speaking of snow, we actually went to the Kuruma Yama (Mt. Kuruma) to experience the last day of ice skiing. The ice was about to melt at that time 'coz it's already Spring.

SAKURA (Cherry Blossoms)

Sakura trees actually look boring, not until you see them bloom during the 1st few weeks of Spring. I was there in Japan during the last week of March and the Sakura flowers haven't bloomed yet. They bloomed only in the first few weeks of April, and they fell at around the middle week of May. There's even a Sakura festival where people gather under the long strip of Sakura trees. These trees actually looked good on the sides of the streets, most especially at night 'coz they were lighted up by lanterns. Such a pretty view.

at our neighborhood park/playground

Sakura haven't bloomed yet

at a park with lots of Sakura trees

Tsubaki flowers

 like the other families, we also had a picnic at the Sakura-filled park

ONBASHIRA FESTIVAL

I also felt happy having witnessed the Onbashira Festival which happens in Suwa only every 6 years. According to Wikipedia:

Onbashira (御柱祭) is a festival held every six years^[1] in the Lake Suwa area of Nagano, Japan. The purpose of the festival is to symbolically renew the Suwa Taisha or Suwa Grand Shrine. "Onbashira" can be literally translated as "the honored pillars".

The Onbashira festival is reputed to have continued, uninterrupted, for 1200 years. The festival is held once every six years, in the years of the Monkey and the Tiger in the Chinese Zodiac, however the locals may say "once in seven years," because of the traditional Japanese custom of including the current year when counting a length of time.

Onbashira lasts several months, and consists of two segments, Yamadashi and Satobiki. Yamadashi traditionally takes place in April, and Satobiki takes place in May.

Yes the festival takes place somewhere near our neighborhood. And it was all over the news. People walk up into the mountains to cut the huge trees and they bring these trees down. At times, people get hurt physically as this event takes place. Some even dies. Most of the people participating are oldies but they're really very strong. They even cross rivers while carrying the huge logs. And the best part of all is their costume that looks something like this:

So those were the "firsts" that I have experienced while I was in Japan.:)

Why I gained 3 kilos in Japan...

I have been in love with Japanese food, even before I have gone to Japan. Before, I thought the sushi, sashimi and ramen I used to taste in the Philippines actually tasted good; not until I was able to taste authentic Japanese dishes! They have really yummy and healthy food in Japan and it's the main reason why I gained 3 kilos in my 3-month stay there.

Here's a rundown of my favorite food places in Japan. I just can't get enough of sushi, sashimi, ramen, gyoza, yakitori, yakiniku, takoyaki, steak, etc.

 Cafe Gusto

 Genki Sushi

 Ishiyaki Steak

 Italian

KFC Drive-Thru 

 Mister Donut

 Ramen & Gyoza

 Starbucks

 Street Food

 Sushiya

Royal Host

Takoyaki

 Yakiniku

Yakitori

dessert

Besides Japanese food that we used to eat every time we're out, we also cook some Filipino and Japanese dishes at home. But everyday seemed like a fiesta because of a lot of dishes we used to prepare.

Plus Japan got the cutest and yummiest cakes.:)

my cousin prepared this for her mom 

I got these as presents on my 23rd birthday

Yay! I super miss authentic Japanese food! Plus everything about Japan. I hope to come back soon.

I love Sushi!:)

I found this video which won in the Animation Category of the Youtube Video Awards 2010. The most popular videos per category (total of 7 categories) were chosen by YouTube users (by number of applause).

Ready to Rock 2011!

It's been a long time since my last post here in my blog site. But as a part of my New Year's Resolution for 2011, I'll make sure that I update my site more often from this moment on.


Anyway, as part of the yearly tradition of our group, we again had another New Year party at our friend's place. This year's theme: ROCKSTAR! Simply because we're gonna ROCK 2011!:)

It was fun and crazy. Had the traditional photo shoot with the sparkles and the champagne! And every new, we grow in number. More friends means merrier year.

I am very excited to what the rest of the year will bring to me. But hopefully, it's gonna be a FABULOUS year for me and my friends. Now I am more than READY TO ROCK 2011!!!!