YUZUYA 5 Bankan

On March 13th, my sister had a wedding ceremony at a shrine (浅間大社, Sengen taisha). Among many young Japanese couple choose a western style wedding these days, my sister and her husband chose a Japanese one.


Our parents didn't have a wedding ceremony when they got married. And so, there was no photo and story about it. Until very recently, a wedding ceremony didn't exist in my life. But now, my sister was doing it! The wedding would be a special event for us.




Taking a bag the morning for wedding





Wedding ring - my mother doesn't have. Somehow, they didn't do almost anything for their wedding





割烹料亭　たちばな - Japanese restaurant TACHIBANA. People who wear kimonos change their cloths here, and then, go to the shrine with others. After the wedding, all of them coming back here and have a lunch together.



Inside of the restaurant.





From the restaurant, Mt. Fuji is seen.





It's ready now and the wedding begins!

Some people say that Japanese love the nature and care for them very well. It may be true, but it was little bit different at a train station in my parents' town.

There were beautiful trees of Sakura along a platform at the station. However, those trees were suddenly cut down a couple of months ago - all of them. My sister and mother were very surprised by seeing the empty space and asked the reason. According to the station officer, some people who parked their car under those trees complained because their car was damaged by a branch of the tree. They said a wind break off a branch and the branch hit a car. I don't know the details. But why, why a solution to a problem was "Cutting all trees"!? It's so sad. I feel sad about people's heart around those trees.



Those Sakura trees were amazingly beautiful during the spring. I still remember how wonderful it was.

Yabusame, which means (sort of) houses and Japanese artchery, festival was held in Fujinomiya city. I went there to see these houses. There was no artchery on the day, but I was very happy to see the beautiful creature.

Japanese language uses Chinese character which is called Kanji (漢字) by Japanese people. And so, seeing Kanji doesn't amaze me at all. But, when I saw a hundred characters which indicate only tea, it did.

In Japan, there is a store for only Tofu and related products. :D


Tofu store


Many kinds of Tofu


Deep-fried tofu, etc.