On our way to Hatsugama, or the first tea gathering of the year, we saw a bunch of local people who had got together and stopped over at this place.

This festival is called “ Donto Yaki “. People bring New Year’s decorations, wooden daruma dolls or the first calligraphy of the year to burn them.

 In Japanese, “Yaki“ means burn and “ Donto “ sounds like “ don’t “ in English. However we burn many things.

Here you can see some red dolls called “ daruma “. This doll represents Bodhidharma, the Zen founder born in India in 6^th century. It is said that he sat in silent meditation for nine years, facing the wall of a room at the Shorinji Temple in China to attain enlightenment !

 Some people buy these daruma dolls. When they buy them, the dolls’ eyes aren’t painted but when the doll owner’s wishes came true, they paint in the eyes. In Fuji city, we have a daruma festival in the beginning of February called “ Bishamon festival “. At that festival, many kinds of daruma dolls are available. Every year some people buy new daruma dolls for their New Year’s resolution. To give thanks and to wish for another successful year, they burn the previous year’s dolls.

We have the proverb, “ If you fall down seven times, get up eight “ in Japanese “ nanakorobi yaoki”. That means never give up.

 Some people burn the first calligraphy of the year. If the calligraphy goes up

carried by the wind, the person’s calligraphy might improve.

A happy New Year !  I wish all of you health and happiness this year!

This year 2012 is a year of the dragon. This dragon comes from the Chinese zodiac. According to this zodiac, each year a different animal plays a role as a symbol of the year. Last year, a rabbit was the symbol. According to my father, rabbit years often bring big changes or upheavals I remember my father mumbled this on New Year’s Day and we had a big disaster last year. My father isn’t a fortune teller but he simply said what he had heard from his parents or grandparents.

 I think it’s very important to listen to older people or learn from history or folk tales. I also believe Japanese old belief that what you say will occur.

For example, if you keep telling good things these lucky incidents are sure to happen and if you keep telling negative things these unlucky things may occur.

 Now this year’s symbol, the dragon, is an imaginary animal as you know.

It is said that this animal brings us the blessing of water. Water is very important for us but we sometimes miss giving thanks for it. Japanese have considered nature as a group of gods but these days we sometime forget about it.

 I sometimes visit this shrine deep in the mountain. Some people say this place is a so-called power spot. I know some people train themselves under the icy waterfalls. (not for me though . I heard an interesting story from a person who takes care of this shrine. We are supposed not to catch and eat the fish in the river since it belongs to gods of this place. But someone caught a fish and ate it. Then he had a terrible stomachache. He apologized for his wrong doing many times, then the pain went away. This waterfall and river is such a mysterious place.

 Even on hot summer days, this place is very cool. But in winter it’s not as cold as I expected. This area is surrounded by mountains and looks like being protected by them. In fact, even after a typhoon passed by this area wasn’t messed up much.

 I can get very good water from this shrine. The quality of the water is very good so I can make delicious tea or coffee. I also can cook tasty rice or miso soup with this water. Another good thing is that this water doesn’t go bad for a long time. So I keep this water in the tank for emergency.

 Of course I always make sure to thank the gods at this shrine. This year I specially begged the gods to protect us from natural disasters.

December 22^nd is the winter solstice. Traditionally, we eat a dish called

“ toji kabocha “, simmered pumpkin and azuki beans. Both of the ingredients are very healthy and its combination is said to be perfect.

Pumpkin is a summer vegetable but we can preserve it for some time it as long it is uncut. Its rich carotene prevents us from paralysis caused by strokes. Azuki beans are also good for many things. We have many drinking parties in this time of the year but azuki beans work as an antidote.

 We take a bath with yuzu so that our body stays warm. It is said if you do that you don’t catch a cold.

 I found these Japanese sweets at a store in Fuji City. They said this set is for the winter solstice. One dumpling with a small green cup is yuzu. Another yellow one topped with azuki bean means “ toji kabocha “.  They are beautiful and taste good.

 Since it was very cold we enjoyed hojicha. In winter, we drink hojicha more often because we would like to drink it hot. In the case of sencha, we don’t use water that is less than piping hot. After eating a rather fatty meal, hojicha refreshes your mouth. I heard it’s very good for the people who had surgical operation because it can heal a damaged vascular system.

 I have a feeling that this winter in Japan is going to be very cold. I have to take good food and drink not to catch a cold. I am almost in winter sleep mode.

I took a British person to my favorite enzyme bath in Fuji city.

One American said that by his experience, Japanese people like to make people from foreign culture surprised or even scared. If they are not surprised, Japanese people become very disappointed.

It may be right. In fact, I wanted to show him something unusual.

Enzyme bath consists of rice bran, fermentation agent and water. All of the ingredients are from nature. These things produce heat. We soak our body in the rice bran which is from 45C to more than 60C. We can’t take a bath in water as hot as 50 degrees but in the case of an enzyme bath, it’s not a problem. We can choose the temperature depending on our preference.

 This bath is good for the people who are fatigued without any serious health problems and even for people who have cancer. The owner of this bath told me that her client who has three tumors kept taking this bath. Then to their surprise, three tumors are united one and made the operation easier, then the operation went well and the person became healthy.

 My friend works hard and travels a lot, also he had a slight cold on that day.

Usually the one who tries it for the first time takes a bath around 15 minutes, but he said he would like to stay longer and ended up taking it for 25 minutes. After taking the bath, he looked very exhausted and sleepy but after that he looked refreshed. I hope more people experience this magical bath. Even babies who have skin problems can try. I heard it’s much better than taking medicine. I guess babies can be given something wrong from their mothers but since they are young , it’s easier to get rid of it.

For senior citizens, it helps them to rejuvenate by adding more enzymes.

I went to the tea gathering at Kobayashi En in Fuji City the other day with my friends. We all felt grateful for the generous and warm hospitality with which they served homemade sweet and delicious tea. We could also learn lot of things about tea ceremony.

Learning about tea ceremony is learning Japanese culture. Since tea ceremony comprises literature, philosophy, architecture, pottery, kimono, flower arrangement, cooking and tea of course. Tea ceremony is not simply drinking tea.

 Our everyday lives are hectic and it’s not easy to have a chance to enjoy tea in such special circumstances. This moment is very important for me.

After tea ceremony, we took a walk in the garden. It was sunny and warm for December. I discovered my favorite flower called “ wabisuke “. It’s a kind of camellia. (Green tea is also camellia, as I’m sure you know.) Camellia blossoms stand out in the winter garden with their glossy leaves and cute blossoms. Whenever I see these kinds, I feel like they are giving me energy.

The first tea ceremony in 2012 at Kobayashi En is on January 8^th from 10:00.

Admission per person is \500.

Though it’s a little early for Hatsugama ( New Year’s Tea ceremony )

we made this Hatsugama Tensin ( light meal ) anyway.

1.    Steamed sushi ( down on the left ). Prepare sushi rice and combine simmered brown mushrooms and simmered lotus. The rice is served in a relatively deep bowl and topped with sliced omelet and crab meat. Then steam the sushi.

In many cases, sushi isn’t served hot but in winter hot sushi tastes very good. I think it’s worth trying on cold days.

2.    In the middle, the round purple thing is called “ kinton”. It is a typical New Year food. “ Kinton” made from sweet potatoes and chestnuts are common. This one is made from purple sweet potatoes. Peeled and boiled and mashed, then seasoned with sugar. It is decorated by gold powder on top. We put only a little bit of gold. Our teacher said, if you add too much gold, it doesn’t look elegant.

3.    The soup called “ wan mono “ is on the right down. The white dumpling in the soup represents petals. A ball made from prawns and burdock is in the dumpling. When people eat the dumpling, they discover what’s inside.

I think it’s a nice surprise.

4.    On the square plate, on the left is soused blue fish rolled by kelp. This kelp is probably used only for kaiseki and not easy to find at normal supermarkets. This kelp is softer than other dried kelp. It was the first time for me to handle this it. It is a very healthy and delicious food to eat. The combination of vinegar, ginger, blue fish and kelp sounds perfect for people who might have trouble with heart-related disease.

5.    In the middle of the square plate is pickled carrot and Japanese radish.

Both of them are symbols of happiness at New Year. The ribbon-like black item is made of kelp.

6.    On the right of the square plate is baked chicken. Ground chicken is baked with mushrooms, lotus and ginger, seasoned with soy sauce, sugar and saikyo bean paste. Its shape represents a fan which symbolizes felicity.

Each one of the dishes has meaning. I think this beautiful tradition has to be maintained.

I went to Ryutakuji in Mishima on Nov.23^rd with two Americans . This day is a national holiday called “ Kinroukansya no hi “ or giving thanks to those who work.

However many people I know went to work on that day. Japanese people work hard or some just pretend to work hard but our economy doesn’t improve much. I wonder why.

Every year on Nov.23, Ryutakuji opens the temple for “Kanpusai”, which is a kind of maple-viewing festival. They display paintings, calligraphy done by many famous priests or painters etc. It seems that each year more and more people visit the temple on this day. They never advertise the festival but people learn about the festival by word of mouth.

I arrived at the temple almost the same time as last year. I didn’t have to queue last year but I had to wait for about 15 minutes this time. They controlled the number of the people who can get in so that we could have a good look at the works.

This year the leaves haven’t turned into autumn color, so let me show you the one I took two years ago.

We saw some pictures describing hell. In Buddhism, we are supposed to go through seven trials after death. The trials take place every week. In the paintings, some are forced to see themselves in a mirror showing what they have done during the lives. They are at a place called “ enma cho “ where “ the king of enma stays who tells the dead people how eivil they are. Bad people have to endure many kinds of punishments, such as being broiled, being put into boiling water, or being forced to walk on mountains of needles. They are in great pain but they can’t die since they are already dead.

One of the Americans said that the paintings look very bureaucratic !

I hope the real “ enma cho “ is not as bureaucratic as they are in this life.

He said that they have similar kinds of paintings to teach people morality but they have a different style.

We said we should make many copies of this hellish scene and distribute so that they can discourage bad people from doing something wrong.

We talked with some trainees called “ unsui”. Last June , went to the lecture given by “ Roshi “ or the head priest of the temple during “ settusin” , a very strict training period. I heard one of them chanted sutra and was fascinated by his beautiful voice. I told him that his sutra is as beautiful as music. He said,

“ But I’m out of tune.” I can’t believe that. Ryutakuji people’s sutra is very beautiful. I hope they will make a CD and release it.

In December, the settusin period is from 1^st to 8^th. During that period the head priest gives a speech from 13:30 to 15:00.( Those who attend it must be there by 13:15)  Anyone who would like to listen to the lecture can join for free. Next year settusin starts on January 17^th and I heard this is the most strict one in a year. I don’t think I can do zazen almost all day long for a week. But I can listen to the lecture called “ teisyo”.

However all trainees look beautiful. I wondered why. Probably they move their bodies a lot, doing zazen with deep breath and eating only basic food make them look beautiful. I wish I could be like that!

After visiting the temple, we went to a buckwheat noodle shop nearby.

The shop was crowded. We had this set menu for November. It has noodles with mushrooms, Japanese omelet with baked buckwheat soybean paste and dessert of pumpkin. It was very good and inexpensive. They served buckwheat tea generously. It made our bodies warm up. It’s always pleasure for me to show them something Japanese since they understand and appreciate Japanese culture. Thank you for coming.

I went on a short hike in the nearby mountains. The main purpose of hiking is enjoying drinking tea after walking as we view autumn colored leaves.

The weather was all right and the temperature relatively high for the beginning of November. It was a little too early for leaf-viewing though.

We discovered a small path along a main road then we pulled over in our car. This path is very quiet and the air is fresh. Its slope isn’t steep so it’s easy to walk as you breathe fresh air in. I don’t know why tea or onigiri ( rice balls ) taste so good outdoors. I don’t like tea from a thermos so I bought a small burner and kettle to make tea outdoors. In some places around Mt. Fuji, natural spring water is available but I brought water from my place. With this small but powerful gas, I can get cup noodles ready, too.

I tried this loose leaf drip. A kyusu (tea pot) is too heavy to carry but with this pack, we can enjoy loose-leaf tea. As I opened the package, its fragrance pervaded the air. You don’t have to look for a café when you go for a drive.

Sitting in a car long hours makes you tired. It’s important to take a break from time to time. You might find something you miss, if you just keep driving. I love to find lovely little things existing without being noticed.

The weather in Japan is kind of irregular this year. Sometimes it’s too warm or hot and the following day it gets cold all of a sudden. We have to pay more attention for our health so as not to catch a cold. In fact, I haven’t had any serious health check for several years. I drink and eat as much as I feel like though. To avoid seeing a doctor, I do yoga and sometimes take an enzyme bath.

This brown sand-like thing is rice bran. Water is combined with it to induce fermentation. This fermentation brings about heat. We soak our body in this rice bran. Its temperature reaches around 60C.,but I don’t like it too hot so I take it at around 50C. At first, I was a little scared but now that I have got used to it I sometimes fall asleep while soaking. This bath helps our immune system work better, encourages our metabolism and aids detoxification.

I heard many people’s body temperature is lower than before. I wonder why. We have more food than before. I think about fifty years ago, Japanese people didn’t eat a lot of meat or fat. I heard a long time ago, milk or eggs were only for sick people. However Japanese people’s average body temperature was higher then than nowadays.

After taking this enzyme bath, skin and scalp get moisturized and smooth.

My body stays warm even on a cold day and I can sleep very well.

I heard this bath is good for the people who have cancer, diabetes and rheumatism. According to some book, if you stay in a 60C bath for 20 minutes, you burn off calories as much as when you run a 15km marathon or do aerobics for two hours. That means it’s good for losing weight. I’d like to take this bath as often as I can.

I went to a tea gathering at Kobayashi En with two Americans who study Japanese Literature. Kobayashi En is a tea farm in Fuji city. They grow and process Japanese green tea. They have a beautiful garden with three traditional buildings. We usually have sencha and sweets in one building.

After that, we went to another tea room called a chasitsu. On that day we arrived a little early. As we were waiting outside of the gate, the young owner came out to usher us in. I asked him about another building I haven’t been to, and he showed us inside the building willingly. We were all amazed to see the beauty of the room and the material they use for the building. The wood used for the building is about 400 years old and the building is made of one big tree.

 They are on good terms with many zen temples such as Ryutakuji ( Mishima ), Nanzenji ( Kyoto ), Myoshinji ( Kyoto ), Tofukuji ( Kyoto ) and etc. so they have calligraphy or drawings made by Roshi ( head priest of the temple ). I was also intrigued by the calligraphy written by old politicians and the story behind it.

 They were going to have a group of tourists on a bus that day. The tourists were to have lunch in this building. They ordered Obentou ( box lunch ) from the Japanese restaurant nearby called Takito-rou. In summer, people can observe fire flies at the small stream in the garden while having a cup of tea.

We stayed too long in this building since the place is cozy and his talk was interesting.

We moved on to the chasitsu. One of my companions has experienced this gathering last month but the other person looked a little nervous since it’s his first experience. I told him that going through the entrance called Nijiriguchi is just like going inside John Malkovich, and then we all laughed.

In tea ceremony, they change the style of serving or setting of the chasitsu depending on the season we are in. Since it’s November, the fire place called “ Ro “ is moved closer to guests. This is only one of the ideas of hospitality.

The tea ceremony teacher looked very happy to have two guests from foreign culture and knowing they are American, she brought up the topic of Donald Keene and was excited to know that one of them studied under Donald Keene at the graduate school of Colombia University. The tea ceremony teacher always gives us a lot of information all about tea ceremony related things.

Tea ceremony is related to almost all parts of traditional Japanese life so it must be a good way to know Japanese culture.

We are very happy to share a luxurious time with delicious home-made sweets, matcha green tea, and the first sencha we tasted won the first prize for green tea this year ! It tasted very delicate and elegant.

 Anyone who is interested can join in this gathering. The next gathering is December 4^th from 10:00AM to 13:00PM. Fee: 500 Yen each.