Panda

We visited Ueno zoo during golden week to see pandas called Riri and Shinshin because Kana loves pandas very much.  There was a very long queue to see them and it took almost an hour although we enter the zoo around 4 o'clock.  When we were in front of them, we couldn't stop to see them and take photos of them.  I glanced at them and clicked the shutter quickly.  I hope to see them a little bit longer next time.

My Birthday party



My birthday party was held at a french restaurant "Escale" that is small but sophisticated in Hotel Monterey Ginza.  The best things are the price and quality.  The special full course dinner costed only 4000 yen.  You can feel the excellent atmosphere and are served high level staff services.  Ginza is the most expensive area in Japan so I'm convinced it's perfect french restaurant you can't find just anywhere.  They put the message on the plate of dessert for my birthday.

Lunch at Tennocho

I had curry lunch at Everest Kitchen at Tennocho with a friend of mine.  Our kids used to be same nursery and we hadn't not enough time to chat for long time as they went to other school.
We talked about their school life and the difference and son on.  The curry was good taste and low price (700 yen) and served with a drink and salad.  I would like to come again this restaurant with Kana who loves naan really.

Cherry-blossom viewing

Spring is the time for cherry-blossom viewing in Japan.  It is late blooming this year more than 7 days.  Japanese people enjoy that they drink and eat with their family or friends.  We visited Negishi shinrin park in Yokohama having lunch box Kana made.  The day was really perfect weekend it was sunny and almost no winds and cherry-blossom was full bloom.

Fukushima nuclear power plant

My home town is Iwaki in Fukushima where there are the nuclear power plants.  My parents and my sister live there and it's 40 km from the plants. When the plants damaged on March 11, they were not forced to stay at home and to evacuate from their area by Japanese government but cars of Iwaki city council had been running with announcement to people to stay at home. At that time, water had stopped and foods in supermarkets had been shortage for the earthquake.  There were no public transport that railways and highways were seriously damaged, and petrol ran out at all over the city. Many people wanted to use their cars to get water and foods and to leave their home but they couldn't.  Anyway when they need water and foods, they had to go out , and at the same time they were frightened by nuclear radiation.
On March 16 midnight, my family finally evacuated from Iwaki city.  They were not sure, if they had enough petrol to reach my home in Yokohama. But luckily, they were able to arrive here...
Now life line like water, foods and petrol in Iwaki have recovered but still many aftershocks and nuclear problems has continued.

After-school lesson

Many kids in the nursery where Kana goes tend to go after-school lessons like swimming, piano, dance.  I suggested her if she would like to do it like other her friends, but the answer was asways "No" with the reason "Is mammy close to me...?".
She likes to learn addition and Chinese character (Kanji) at home by workbooks published by Kumon company for long time.  But the other day, it was so difficult for her that it confused her brain.  The level of the workbooks had reached high level for her to study by herself without any support.  Then I suggested her to go to Kumon that when I was young, I experienced for almost 7 years and Ken as well for some years. Unexpectedly the great answer returned and she said she wanted to study not only arithmetic but also Japanese.
I was not supposed she would go Kumon such early point, but it is good time to start the after-school lesson as she interested in learning.
Yesterday was the day to go to Kumon for the first time.  She was a little nervous but kept concentrating and the teacher praised her good work.  On the way home she seemed to be satisfied with the work and enjoy it!!

Hakone - Fujiya Hotel

Fujiya hotel my mom had requested for long time and we stayed luxuriously is in Miyanoshita where it takes 30 mins by Hakone Tozan train going through fabulous vista and switchbacking some times.  It is constructed by 4 buildings built in the different age, and many famous people such as the current emperor and empress and Charlie Chaplin and Helen Keller stayed in this historical hotel.

We participated the tour that the hotel organize it to show some part of area of the building and to introduce their history. And then, Kana enjoyed swimming at the pool with her grandfather.

Our stay plan included breakfast at the main dining "The Fujiya" I was awaiting for having it in the classic and graceful atmosphere I had never been. We were able to chose from American breakfast, and French toast accompanied by hand made strawberry jam was really delicious.

After having breakfast, We headed out to see Mt. Fuji that is one more main event for my mom who had not seen it every time when she came to Hakone.  We went back and forth around Motohakone by bus to find a nice view spot, then finally we found out nothing is better than Ashino lake in Hakone to see Mt. Fuji.