Mamemaki

This year, on February 3rd, the Japanese celebrated, Mamemaki, which is a bean scattering festival. The best place to go on this day is to a local Japanese Shrine. They perform the ceremony several times a day. The purpose is to drive out the evil spirits and bring in good luck for the New Year. The Japanese people also throw beans out of the windows and doors of their homes in order to drive out the evil spirits and bring good luck into their homes. You also are supposed to eat the number of beans for the number of years that you have lived.

The festival was beautiful, especially with the snow, the Japanese VIPS doing the bean throwing must have been SO.... cold without coats and in their traditional Yukatas. Of course no Japanese event can be complete with out the Ninja Turtles. Who would have thought!

Our gracious friends Mitsuko and Kaz offered to take us to the festival near their home and then have us over for dinner. We took Lexi and our friends Keith and Aggie and Cary and Marty organized the event with Mitsuko.

It was the coldest day so far, at least it felt like it. It was snowing heavily, damp and cold. We took the train and met Kaz and from there we went to the shrine. It was beautiful , but freezing. It really was an interesting ceremony and I am really glad that we went. Afterwards we had a wonderful dinner at Kaz and Mitsuko's home. Mitsuko made enough food to feed an army. She made sushi and tempura, several salads, rice balls, fried chicken and many other yummy dishes. Mitsuko you really went all out. Thanks for making us feel so welcomed. Thanks to both you and Kaz for you generous hospitality.






Our fearless leader, Mitsuko. Alexis with Mitsuko's husband Kaz!