New Year visit to Sengen Shrine and more

It's a tradition here in Japan to go to a shrine or temple on the first week of January to pray for good health and prosperity for the new year. My family did that today. We visited to Sengen Shrine to pay respect. 2009 is the year of the ox... my year actually!

We also tried the OMIKUJI-- meaning "sacred lottery". It predicts the person's chances of his or her hopes coming true. Sachan and Papie got DAIKICHI-- an excellent luck while I got KICHI-- an ordinary blessings... ... so I attached my strip of paper to a tree to prevent the bad luck written on it.Japanese DARUMA or wishing dollsActually... it is also written in my omikuji that my luck is almost there... all I need is to reach it out. While walking home from the shrine... I found 10 yen at Sengen street. Papie told me to pick it up and keep it. I become confused and asked him... "is that the meaning of the luck that I was suppose to reach out?!" hehehe! I kept the 10 yen coin... as amulet... maybe that will bring me luck! I hope so x(_ _)x

Below are some of the amulets I bought with the 10 yen coin amulet!Sengen Shrine entrance from Sengen streetSome of the amusing attraction along Sengen Street
After Sengen Shrine... Papie treat us to yAkInIkU Restaurant!
GOcHiSoSaMa dEsHiTa... that's what we call... a blessing! (^-^)v

Happy New Year 2009

A Japanese New Year decoration--our SHIMENAWA displayed at the front entrance to prevent "evil spirits" from entering the house.

I missed the first sunrise of the year! I woke up late already (what's new anyway!) since I slept almost 4:00 am already! Wheeew, not a good start ^-^;
I soon prepared our New Year dishes for our traditional New Year celebration at home.

Our OSECHI RYOURI, traditional New Year's dishes with OZONI, a Japanese soup containing mochi rice cakes.

Family pictures without lola. She's included in the pictures but I was forced to cut her due to bruises on her face after she slipped and fell down 3 days ago. Poor lola... she looks like panda now! 'hoping she get well soon. Every year... Lucky joined our celebrations... we don't want to miss it... so Sachan brought her photo and offered Lucky's fav... kamaboko-- minced and steamed fish! ↓　We also offered foods to altars of our departed loved ones like to lolo... ... and not to forget... our Lucky!
Happy New Year to all! More blessings and good luck to all of us!

KOTOSHI MO TANOSHIKU, GENKI DE GANBARIMASHO!

KORE KARA MO... YOROSHIKU ONEGAISHIMASU!

o(^3^)o

Goodbye 2008, hello 2009!

Ready for count down... Wala naman gaanong handa except for some chicken macaroni, embutido and pansit. We reserved most for our Japanese traditional foods... OSECHI RYOURI.

Sarah and Yuta joined us for count down at home. Yuki was in Tokyo with his cousins.

↓Hindi po yan palabok! It's my pansit bihon with kanton (?)... it's actually a ramen noodles... I learned that from Dang! 　Not bad!While waiting for the countdown... we're busy sending some messages to friends and relatives and at the same time, watching NHK musical program. 　　After the program... we had the countdown and we had some banging at home while yelling "HAPPY NEW YEAR" together!I had a four set playing billiard with Yuta. It's a kids stuff but it was fun!Uncle Jo and Dang came about past 1:00 for some greetings! Thanks for the accesories gifts from Dang!Thanks to year 2008 and welcome to year 2009!

Last day of year 2008!

... and now the end is near♪and so I face the final curtain♪... well, that's according to that popular song!

Wooow, times really traveled fast... ang bilis-bilis talaga! Now... here we are waiting for the count down for year 2009.

Here... we treat our selves to a revolving sushi restaurant for lunch!

Problemado si Papie... kc s'ya na naman taya!

Lola enjoyed her lunch too especially her sweets!

Mahina kami kumain... alang gana!

We had late dinner. It is traditional to eat soba or buckwheat noodles on New Year's Eve since thin long noodles symbolizes longevity. It is called toshikoshi or passing the year soba.

To sum it up, year 2008 has been a good year to me! Maraming blessings inspite it's been tough financially! Palagi naman! Well... anyway... to all of you out there... YOI OTOSHI WO... meaning, "have a good year passing"!

OTSUKARESAMA KAI

Last night, Philippine NAKAMA had a treat for all the volunteers staff of Phil NAKAMA Christmas Party 2008. It's like a thanks giving gathering or OTSUKARESAMA KAI for the job well done by the staff members at the Xmas event. Out of 13 members... 8 were able to join.

Our first plan was to held it in Karaoke but on the last minute... we decided to do the gathering at Izakaya Wara-wara along Ryougai-cho.

We enjoyed the tabehodai, nomihodai order!
What we enjoyed most aside from foods, drinks and chattings was the fact that it was almost a treat from Phil NAKAMA... as in PALIBRE!
Sorry for those who wasn't able to come... thanks for the hard work and GOCHISOSAMA DESHITA! Hanggang sa uulitin! o(^-^)o

Christmas celebration with Sachan!

Sachan arrived from Niigata City last Friday night for her winter vacation!

After having dinner together at Jolly Pasta, we celebrated our Christmas at home.

It's one day late already but as a family tradition... we still prepared a Chrismas cake to blow!

The next day... Sachan opened up her gifts from me and papie!

Better late than never.

Christmas Illuminations

Christmas is not complete without any decorations... like illuminations. It's like Christmas magics that adds spirits and sentiments of the season. Here are some Christmas decors around...

Our Christmas TreeNativity at night Christmas giftsOur Christmas Tree at the lobbyChristmas illuminations outside our home
One of our lanterns from Philippines.

Climbing Santa Claus... not to rob... I'm sure!Christmas Tree's silhouette in the morning
Christmas Illuminations along Aoba Symbol Road. This will last till February.
Christmas at Jonaic Catholic Church ... the amasing nativity!The four Christmas candles. These symbolizes the four Sundays of December. The pink candle is the Sunday for Christmas! I just learned this lately from the church staff. (^-^)d