A Little Taste of Spring-Early Cherry Blossoms at Miurakagan

Seems like each time we turn around there is something new to explore here.  You would think that since we have been lucky enough to have three different tours here that we would have run out of places to see in our immediate vicinity.  Living here is always an adventure day.  Each and every time you step beyond the gate.                                                    

After a great weekend with the family I decided the weather was so incredible that I wanted to venture off while the kiddos were in school.  Amazingly enough, even though I was by myself, I really enjoyed the quiet.  Boarding a train from Yokosuka-chuo I headed down to the end of the line bound for Miura-Kaigan.  Taking the express train I was at my station in no time.  A happy sign welcomed me to the festival celebrating the beauty of "Kawazu-zakura" early blooming cherry trees.                                                              

I meandered up the street that has a magical canopy of Kawazu-zakura on one side.                                                                   If I haven't written it enough...I adore flowers.  These blossoms last such a short time that so when you hear they are blooming don't hesitate.  Get on a train and go see them!  

By the time I was getting on my train to head back to Yokosuka-chuo I was refreshed, rejuvenated, and loved my little taste of Spring.

Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's Party!'  
~ R. Williams

Tateyama City's Legendary Nanso Satomi Samurai Parade

HS and LD at Tateyama Castle

 Across the Tokyo-wan from the Mirura Peninsula lies a hidden gem.  Tateyama City.  Getting to the Chiba prefecture is a breeze...no need to travel up through the bustling metropolis of Tokyo only to head back down into the tranquility of Chiba.   Skip all that and take the Tokyo-wan Ferry that departs out of Kurihama Port (20 min drive from the main base).

Knowing that this year I had no reason to stay around for the Navy Ball, I decided that the best way to celebrate the Navy's 240th birthday was to hop onboard an ITT bus and celebrate with the kids in Tateyama as we were hosted to the Tateyama City's Legendary Nanso Satomi Samurai Parade.   A castle?  A scrumptious lunch? Samaurai recreation of an old legend?  Festive Japanese people drinking beer and sake as they carried and pulled mikoshi along a street in a coastal town?  YES, please!  Sign us up!

The ferry ride is about 45 minutes in a multi-leveled vehicle ferry.  It is quite comfortable and has nice sitting spots where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the fishing ships cast their nets into the water and cargo ships steaming towards Tokyo.  Chiba prefecture loomed ahead of us with mountains heading straight into the sea.  With an overcast sky, it definitely looked magical.  Chiba prefecture is not that populated the natural beauty of Japan is the showcase.  Upon arriving, we boarded the bus again and drove about 40 minutes to Tateyama-jo in Shiroyama Park (jo means "castle" in Japanese).

I adore castles in Japan.  I don't care if most are recreations of the original.  They are impressive, imposing, and absolute proof of Japanese ingenuity.  They are built using the same techniques that they were originally built and the craftsman ship is phenomenal.  Tateyama-jo is one of four castles in Chiba prefecture.  It had an interesting musuem located inside that was dedicated to the novel written in the 19th century by Kyokutei Bakin, "Nanso Satomi Hakkenden" or "Legend of the Eight Dog Warriors."   The long and short of this epic story follows this excerpt from a Kabuki play:

The Satomi clan is being attacked and its lord offers his daughter Princess Fuse to the warrior that will bring him the head of the enemy. It is his loyal dog that kills and beheads the enemy and, saying that her father must not go back on his word, Princess Fuse goes with the dog.

Nevertheless, the Satomi clan is defeated and one of its loyal retainers goes to rescue Princess Fuse, shooting the dog, but unfortunately shooting Princess Fuse as well. The eight crystal beads of her rosary, each engraved with the Chinese characters of one of the Confucian virtues, goes flying through the air.

Miraculously, each will be found with a newborn baby. These eight children, all of whom have the character inu for "dog" in their names, eventually meet and join together to restore the Satomi clan. The play features all the stars of the company and follows the adventures of the eight dog warriors as they meet and gradually join together, leading to a climactic fight on the roof of a dizzyingly high tower.

Pretty intriguing story and the kids were hooked.  Win for me.  I wasn't rushed through the museum.  What would this have to do with the festival we were going to see later, you ask?  Apparently, part of the Nanso Satomi Samurai Festival would be a recreation of the power that the Satomi clan held over the Bosu peninsula.  They were the dominating family during the 9th and 10th generations of the Satomi Feudal Lords.  So, the samurai we would see later were meant to represent the Satomi clan.

Path leading from the teahouse

HS and LD await their "macha"

One cool aspect of the castle was that on the grounds there was a traditional style teahouse and an exquisite garden.  For 300yen we were able to enjoy a cup of green tea and sweet.  Don't mind if we do.  I adore the many customs found while just watching a tea ceremony.   From Tateyama-jo we boarded the bus again and headed to lunch.  This would be one of the most unforgettable lunches to date.  Words can't even really describe it.  Just know via the photos below...that we usually eat EVERYTHING...and well...we did for this lunch although I knew I was not going to do well with a fish starring at me as I ate sashimi.

LD's lunch:
Rice with salad, shrimp tempura, and fish patty
side of creamed corn soup
little dish of chowan mushi

HS and I were treated to a sea snail being
cooked over individual hibachi.
Please note:  I took one for the team.  I ate mine
but gave permission for HS to leave his alone.

HS and my lunch:
Bento box with three tiers:
1st Tier:  Veggies and Roots with a Salmon and onion salad
2nd Tier:  Sashimi
3rd Tier:  Rice
Chowan Mushi
Dessert

Taking photos with the Samurai

Once we finished our lunch it was time to head to the festival.  We arrived just in time to enjoy the proclamation speech beginning the festivities and enjoy the costumed warriors parade down the center of the street as if they were still in feudal time.  The kids enjoyed watching them and were amazed at the footwear...HS wants a pair...ummm...that would make a statement at school.

Festival masks...can't ever leave without one!

Festivals in Japan are a huge celebration.  Drums, scents, and laughter fill the air.  Make sure you choose a festival mask!

Showcasing their Mikoshi 

The Mikoshi bands are always fun to watch

Eventually I need to just post on the customs and traditions of the Mikoshi.  Think of each Mikoshi as a team.  Those who participate wear a uniform decked out in their "team" colors.  They participate in the festival as a unit.  They party together, shout together their cheers, eat together, and drink together...a lot. of. sake.

Drinks to go onboard.
Gotta stay "hydrated"

Love how the children are always in the parades helping
to bring the mikoshi down the street.  True handing down of
the culture

View of the parade from the
Tateyama train station

Wordless Wednesday {Caught}

Fall keeps us caught within our love of the nature, beauty, and color.  

It's a symphony of sight with every tree playing a part within the concerto.  

For those weeks that we can be caught within the concert we can dance along to the beautiful music and just be

caught. 

Caught Among the Clouds

Caught in the Lens

Caught in the Finale

For three weeks straight, our clan drove the Shenandoah Skyline Dr. 

Each week the symphony was a little different.  

The first week the trees along the drive were caught clearly within the first movement.  The colors were beginning to pop and come alive.  Each leaf was touched with the change of color.  

By the second week, they had made it into the slow movement of the concerto.  The leaves danced and twirled down in bright hues and covered the trails with a carpet of yellow and rust.  It was an oriental carpet created with the beautiful patterns of leaves mixing and scattering.  

Our final week as we camped within the beauty of the region we were able to experience the finale.  Trees were standing bare, the last of their leaves clinging by a small thread.  

The gates of the campground were ready to shut, ending another season of family memories, and awaiting the spring when they would be reopened for another group of eager families, scouts, church groups, and lovers of the sound of nature's concerto. 

The endless sea of cars full of people ready to be caught had diminished leaving only the sweet sounds of nature behind to finish its concerto.

Sublime Shenandoah

What a wonderful, wonderful weekend! How fun was it to take in the beauty of the region, enjoy a picnic, take a hike, and rock to and fro as we listened to cicadas humming! We left mom and Papa and are already plotting our next adventure.

As the heat becomes a summer furnace of humidity in the east, state park cabins beckon for explorations and more memories.

The Shenandoah is simply sublime. It is an oasis nestled away calling out to give rest and peace to the city dwellers.

Some will ignore the call.
We will answer gladly.

Excitement Reigns

It has finally happened. The moment that HS had been waiting for since he went to his first den meeting. Dun...dun-dun-da...dunnnnnnn....He is now an official little Tiger Cub. Dues have been paid. Beads are being earned. Uniform is in hand.

Heading home from school, HS said, "Mommy. You went the wrong way. This is not the way home."

"Nope. It's not. I'm heading somewhere else first." I said, trying hard not to give away the surprise.

"Ahhhhh....we're probably going to the commissary." He grumbled. Not so fond of the grocery store anymore, but boy did I have to resist the urge to say anything.

"Mommy...I would love to play with my Lego's. I'm tired. Can we go home?!?" he continued to whine as he pouted in the backseat.

"I'm sure you're going to enjoy this outing. Now hush and quit whining." I responded as I tried to merge into a very packed H1 heading into downtown Honolulu.

HS didn't say much on our way to the Boy Scout hut. He had really wanted to head home. However, as I turned off of the Pali Highway his eyes spotted the sign...a small little plaque with the Boy Scout emblem. Home went out the window. He was clutching the door to see out the window.

"Mommmmmyyyy!!!! It's the kingdom of Boy Scouts!!! It's the HUT!" he gasped. At this point no whining, no pouting. Just pure adrenaline rush. He was approaching the sanctum sanctorum of Boy Scouts. The place where all uniforms, badges, patches, books, flashlights, and cookie cutters come from for all of the boys on Oahu...the Aloha Council for the Boy Scouts of America.

The shop was a veritable treasure trove. I tried hard not to marvel and gawk as I walked in the big doors and a wall dedicated to all the Eagle Scouts from the Aloha Council loomed over the great hall. The shop itself is a wonder and tribute to all things camping and anything and everything that could ever be related to a Cub Scout/Boy Scout. They even had cookie cutters, scrapbooking paper, thank you notes, and bumper stickers! It's a wonder that we made it out with only the uniform and a flashlight thrown in because it looked so cool hanging from his belt.

HS immediately was drawn in to the vortex. While I stood in amazement holding LD, he went running on full steam towards the uniform section and proudly began telling me what he needed:

"I need those shorts...that shirt...yep, that's the one! I also need one of those handkerchiefs like what poppop uses for my neck. WOW! They have the socks, too!!!" I swear he didn't stop for air! As he tried on his uniform he continued to relay how cool it was that he was here. Right now.

"I thought you wanted to go home..." I taunted. "What!!!?!? And miss this?!?!? No way!" he laughed as he stepped out proudly clutching his new uniform and all the patches for it and headed toward the books full of what every boy scout dreams of...badges, patches, and more badges.

Excitement. A feeling that reigns and trumps going home...even if that's where you thought you should be going...