SOARING SKYWARD: Tokyo Diary

Fall Colors

skyward — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:30:57 +0000

We are busy with school, work, and life in general. But we are alive and well. Stay tuned!

Serene Joys — Revisited

skyward — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:26:55 +0000

http://lovelindy.wordpress.com/2008/08/22/extraordinary-moments/

It’s been two years since I posted this. I find myself just as nostalgic —-perhaps even more so now that my children are two years older.

Sumo Wrestlers!

skyward — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 11:17:06 +0000

What a privilege ………

skyward — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:41:45 +0000

…to live in such a beautiful community in Tokyo. This is one of our beloved parks.

My Favorite Japanese Game: “Dorokei” (by Daniel)

skyward — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:50:21 +0000

In Japan, there are a lot of ways to play. First, I will introduce a game that we do not have in America.

My favorite game is called dorokei. In dorokei, there are two teams. One team hides a ball, and the other team picks a base. After the game starts, the team with the base tries to find the ball while the other team tries to catch the other team’s members by holding on to them for ten seconds. If all of the people get caught, they lose. If the treasure is found, they win. I liked dorokei because you have to use a strategy: to look for the ball without being seen. I played this game almost every day. About 50 people played. It took a lot of time, separating everybody into two groups.

Swimming Lessons (by Daniel)

skyward — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:09:01 +0000

When I first heard about swimming at school, I was surprised because there is no swimming class in America. In Japan, there is a swimming pool in almost every school. We sometimes have a swimming class. At the beginning of school, there is an opening ceremony where the head teacher puts salt and wine in the water. At the class, we first go into the pool and practice staying under the water. After that, we all walk in the same direction and create a current and practice swimming the opposite way. Then, we swim laps, and have free time. When we swim laps, we use the crawl stroke. At free time, we usually splash water at each other. Swimming can be very tiring because we have to swim a lot. I had the most fun swimming against the current.

Here in the Heart of Tokyo….

skyward — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 01:56:46 +0000

Yes, we live in the heart of Tokyo —both literally and figuratively. But the city is not all about skyscrapers. Sure, in this city that never sleeps, there are super-high buildings, designer boutiques, and packed trains transporting sober-suited “salarymen” to the same destination called Japan, Inc.

But Tokyo far surpasses a mere embodiment of Japan’s global corporate power. Take, for example, Chiyoda-ku, where we affectionately call our adopted home. One is captivated by the natural beauty surrounding the Imperial Palace.

Good Friend (by Daniel)

skyward — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 05:21:52 +0000

When I first went to school in Japan, I was very nervous. After I introduced myself in front of the whole school, I saw the third grade classroom. I was given a desk in the front row. After I became acquainted with everybody, there was an earthquake drill. After that, school was over.

On the second day, I made friends with a boy named Yoichiro. I was glad I made friends with him because he told me all about the school. Yoichiro and I usually played at recess by riding on each other’s back. We have also gone to a place called Kidzania together. It is a place where you can experiment with all kinds of jobs such as a police officer, a photographer, a firefighter, and a dentist. Yoichiro taught me many Japanese games such as “dorokei” –it is a game where thieves try to steal treasures while police officers try to tag the thieves. I wish I could take Yoichiro back from Japan because he is a very, very good friend.

Unmistakable Signs of a Glorious Season

skyward — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:28:42 +0000

A cafeteria’s sign proclaiming, “We are now serving reimen (cold noodles).”

Children carrying “pool bags” for their swimming lessons at school. (Yes, American readers, virtually all Japanese schools have their own swimming pools. My kids’ school has a large indoor pool open to the public as well. Their swimming lessons began in early May, replete with a solemn “opening ceremony.”)

Oh, and those hydrangeas, and their deepened colors. Here in the heart of Tokyo, they are everywhere, but I especially admire the purple ones by the nearby Chidorigahuchi moat surrounding the Imperial Palace. As I take a stroll in the morning, I make it a rule to stop by, savor them, and take photos capturing the short-lived glory.

I see, feel, and smell the new season everywhere.

Job Well Done, Daniel

skyward — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:09:20 +0000

He played the violin at his school’s morning assembly.

How nice that he has been able to share his skills in Tokyo as well.