Beach Season

Beach Season "officially" begins on July 1 and goes through the end of August.  It is a true season in Japan - the beach shacks go up and people come out in droves.

If you happen to be part of the "pastey-white-gaijin" crowd, Beach Season begins the moment you pull off the wool socks and your tuque!

Last Saturday, the woolens were put away and sand buckets were packed.  William and Pierce joined us at Miura Beach for some digging

and kite flying.  Dwayne brought the kite to the boys (pre-PCS closet cleaning).  Stefan could make the beetle's pincers "pinch"!

One of the only other beach-goers that was NOT fishing was also of the pale-skin-gaijin crowd.  He and his daughter walked by.  He stopped, gawked at the bustle of the boys and asked, in disbelief, "Do you really have FIVE BOYS?!?"  I really should have told him, "No.  I have six..."  But, I only claimed my three and that the other two were friends.  We added Matthew to the mix later that night.  As Eric put it - it was only a 20% increase!

It was the first time in a VERY long time that Eric and I just SAT AROUND!  We even played some frisbee.  And THAT is why we had five boys at the beach - they entertain each other!  When they aren't eating, that is...

A security guard came and told us... something.

We had to enlist the help of an interpreter.  Dougie told us that we needed to leave by 5 because they were bringing cars down to setup for the Yabusame.  That explained the horses!

I think we came here on the same weekend three years ago.  When we were here TDY, we came to this particular beach and saw the horses running then to.  Fast forward three years and its the same thing...

We had a great day that was turned into a great night with FIVE BOYS lined up on our living room floor (Ian was put in his own bed...).  We watched The Love Bug, ate popcorn and prayed a silent prayer (PLEA, really) that the five boys would be exhausted and just fall asleep.

20%...  Matthew, our 20% addition, was the 20% that fell asleep...  40% coughed (the Anthony boys) and the other two quietly wiggled.  And schemed... I lurked.  Stefan ran into me as he rounded a dark corner.  He started to cry...

Well, sheesh!  If I couldn't have guessed he was up to something rotten before...  He drew the short straw and was going to try the "sleepers-hand-in-warm-water-so-they-wet-the-bed" trick.  He did not want Matthew to wet the bed, so his plan was to wake Matthew up.

Both he and Dougie got sent up to their beds under the guise that they were coughing too much (they were - no joke) and needed sleep (they did!).  I reminded Stefan how much pranks like that violate someone's trust.  And can ruin friendships.  Stefan continued to cry and actually thanked me for catching him!  Priceless!  I sure hope he maintains this sentiment through the years!

I went stalking downstairs again.  And ran into Pierce.  Scared him!  He told me he was going to the bathroom...

And was putting a bowl away...

ha HA ha HA ha!  Rats!  Foiled again!!!

Matthew was the first to fall asleep, the last to wake up (I was envious!)...  No one was up before 6 - so it was really like sleeping in!

Bonfires!

Whoah!  Where has the time gone?!?  It is now 2013, Year of the Snake, or, Hebidoshi (in Japanese).

Happy New Year!!!

Plenty has happened since my folks left, and I really hope to backlog that AND my parents visit.  I am making it a rainy day priority!  But, for now, I will just catch you up on today...

Here in Japan, they make these HUGE bonfires with the various New Years decorations and good luck charms (so that bad luck is not brought on to them for keeping them - we apparently are doomed!).  There were some flyers that said the Kurihama bonfire was happening at 10:30 today.  Knowing the stack is a near explosive pile of tinder and it does not last long, we got there early.  10:00 right on the nose.  The Japanese are always right on time...  this was at 10:03

Maybe the flyer meant it would be OVER at 10:30?

Below is the bonfire just down the beach.  Eric was talking with a man that told him it was an entirely different community down there.  NOT Kurihama...  I had taken a stroll down there while he was chit-chatting as I was looking for the wanderer...

Yes.  It was definitely a different community.  It is the first time I have felt out of place while we have been in Japan.  I know we ARE out of place, but I have never gotten the "vibe" that I was in the wrong place.  Well, I did here...  We wondered if it had anything to do with it being near the prison (built on the waterfront, btw...)

While I was gone, the Prodigal Son had returned...

In the meantime, we had partaken of the customary Oshiruko (お汁粉), or Red Bean Soup.

Oshiruko is a traditional soup made of azuki beans (sweet red beans) mashed with sugar and blocks of gooey mochi.  "Gross" you say?  Nope!  Super tasty AND it is said that it will ward off any colds for the next year.  I am counting on it!

They were serving tea cups full of sake.  By the time Eric and/or I warmed to the idea of having one, they had stopped serving it.  Next time I will just take one, regardless!

Strings of pink and white mochi were hanging between bamboo poles.  Once the fire was smoldering, the lines were draped over and the mochi toasted (like a marshmallow).  It was then eaten, although I do not know its significance.  Health/wealth/luck/prosperity no doubt!

The mochi symbolized happiness (red/pink) and purity (white).

Dougie missed out on the Oshiruko (and was none too happy about it - had a good cry over it!  Lesson learned?!?).  Somehow Stefan acquired some of the toasted mochi (dropped in the sand?!?) and 

and he generously (???) gave it to Dougie.  It was a little ashy...

Douglas tossed to the "Ocean Gods".  Even they rejected it - notice it washed up on the shore?!?

The fire got picked through, items not fully burned were prodded, pine boughs were added to the top where the needles sizzled, popped and singed off.  The "sticks" were then sent home with people (aka: Stefan - the Raven of children).  We have no idea what the significance was, but it clearly has some meaning.  Ultimately, his got "left" at the train station as I had to remind him to "watch the tip/don't poke anyone in the eye!" just once too many...

Kite flying is a tradition at the New Year.  We have to regularly remind Stefan that he cannot just go and ask people if he can fly their kites...

Perhaps Eric needed a reminder too?!?

People also fish.  All the time.  Anywhere.  With these ginormous rods.  It kind of makes you want to throw a line out too...

Maybe it is just an excuse to sit down.  And smoke...

Ian was checking out the collection of little rowboats - and basically thought the rope was just the most hilarious thing that he had come across.  I am just now noticing he is no longer carrying the bag of treats a man had given him earlier.  I sure hope some other kid nabbed it and is enjoying it!

We took advantage of being in Kurihama and went to one of our favorite Ramen haunts.

The shop has two tables in addition to their counter.  The tables (cable spool reels - Mom, just like our kitchen table, only shorter!!!) are on the sidewalk.  The shop "expands" by hanging heavy clear plastic down from their awning and putting in space heaters!  It more than doubles their seating...

I ordered two gyoza and two Miso Ramens -  upgrading one to a large (to split amongst the boys).  This is all done in Nihongo (Japanese) - in Kanji - on a ticket machine.  I thought I was really something else.  And then...  TWO of these mixing bowl sized ramens came to the table.  HUGE!!!  I think the lady really thought I was indeed "something" and just gave us two larges figuring I had no idea what I was doing (true).  We did not finish either one, but we sure did enjoy the ramen after a good bonfire!