Raising a Blonde Samurai ~ Moving to Japan with Kids ~ Page 2

Some large department stores offer areas for kids to play. Iwataya in Fukuoka has a popular babysitting service where you can enjoy shopping in their high-end department store free of distraction while the kids are entertained. Parents are given digital pagers.

Quality and Variety
As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, I am sure Japan has the largest, most discriminating shopper population on the planet. Things can be expensive but quality is high and plenty of bargains can be found during sale season at large department stores. By shopping around we’ve found international and health foods, discount groceries, membership stores, dollar (100 yen) stores, American toys, English books, antiques, recycled appliances and furniture, factory outlets, and amazing electronics.

FESTIVALS and SPECIAL DAYS

Festivals and special days are frequent, on average more than once a month. Children are invited to enjoy the festivities, and our son happily joining in is one of our finest memories of Japan. Note: please reconfirm dates, some change with the year to coincide with weekends.

Cherry Blossoms
Families picnicking under spring blossoms, strolling along canals lined with flowering trees, children playing badminton, seniors dabbling in watercolors; sounds like a scene from the 1800’s, but this is Japan in the 21st century. “Hanami” (han-a-mee: cherry blossom festival) is the end of March or early April depending on winter’s effect on the delicate pink and white buds. Companies hold annual picnics, and family and friends flock to the parks to sit under the “sakura” (sak-oo-ra: cherry blossoms), which last about a week. Adults hang out drinking sake or beer; parties begin early in

Enjoying the Blossoms

the day and last until the wee hours. Kids play and run throughout the parks (partiers’ picnic sheets hold their spot for the day). Along paths under the blossoms “Yakitori” (yak-ee-toe-ree: Japanese barbeque) is served up. The largest viewing area in Fukuoka has 3,390 trees; Hanami is deservedly world famous and a must while living in Japan.

Children’s Days
Little children dress from head to toe in traditional garb for their special days: March 3 is “Hina-matsuri” (hee-na-mat-soo-ri: girl’s day) when elaborately dressed “Hina” dolls (dolls dressed in historic costume depicting the royal family) are on display countrywide. May 5 is “Kodomo-no-hi” (ko-do-mo-no-hi: children’s day but especially focused on boys), during the weeks before colorful carp wind socks fly throughout the cities and countryside, and reproductions of samurai armor are displayed. November 15 is “Hitchi-go-san no-hi” (hitch-i-go-san no-hee: seven, five, three day), girls 3 and 7 years old, and boys 3 and 5 receive a blessing and candy from the priest, thanking the gods for allowing them to survive- years ago many children died young.

Fukuoka City Festivals
Every area in Japan has special regional festivals. Dontaku (don-tak-oo) is Fukuoka’s citizens’ festival which is held on May 3 and 4th during Golden Week. A celebration near Hakata Port

Hitchi-go-san: Children’s Day

Yamakasa (yam-a-kas-a: men’s festival for the spirit of Hakata people) dates back 750 years. Young boys begin by helping with the event and after a number of years can finally join the race signifying their passage from boyhood to manhood. Held midsummer, July 15, men in diaper-like thongs race with seven enormous, elaborate floats decorated with life size dolls. Floats weigh over one ton. Many more floats are on display throughout the city.

Hojoya (ho-jo-ya) began in 919 and now attracts 1.6 million people. Beginning with a Shinto ritual, birds and fish are set free to symbolize respect for all animals. Held Sept. 12-18 at Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka, some 700 stalls are set up with traditional games and food for sale. Freshly harvested foods at the shrine signify the changing of season from summer to autumn.

Fireworks
“Hanabi” (han-a-bee: fireworks) displays in Fukuoka are stunning. One hanabi event held at Fukuoka Momochihama beach in July lasts well over an hour, and is presented simultaneously at two ends of the beach. It is choreographed to music played out of enormous speakers. Hundreds of thousands of people attend and the calm comings and goings of such a crowd is impressive. Everyone relaxes on their picnic mats for the elaborate show- best of all, it is free. “Yukata” (yu-ka-ta: summer kimono) clad teenage girls are a beautiful and common site during the summer events.

Large National Holidays
Golden Week (28 Apr.-May 5), New Year (Dec. 31-Jan. 3) and Obon (around August 15, 3-7days) are times to avoid travel in Japan. They are national holiday periods, many people take vacation and prices can double or triple.

THE ARTS

Concerts of traditional taiko drums (tai-ko: traditional drums) are held frequently and sometimes free in the parks during festivals. The famous taiko group “Kodo” is highly recommended. We’ve attended classical music, rock, pop and jazz concerts here by international and Japanese artists, always well organized and enjoyable. Kids are seen and welcome almost everywhere. Museums and galleries show world class exhibitions- Monet, Van Gogh, Egyptian exhibitions from the British Museum and priceless Chinese national treasures are just a few.

It is tradition in Japan to learn the art of appreciating beauty in all of our surroundings. From hand woven silk obis (kimono belts) to ceramics to origami (o-ree-ga-me: paper folding). In Japan, art is part of life.

Fukuoka Museum

Bowing
Often we see Japanese bowing while talking on the phone. Bowing is respectful in Japan. Everyone does it. Different levels of bows will be observed; I have seen children bowing to a grownup to say “I’m sorry”, a maitre’d nearly touch his nose to his knees to thank us for dining at his restaurant, I execute a formal "get out of my way!" bow to drivers blocking my car. We bow for hello, thank you, goodbye, excuse me, and just about every other expression imaginable.

Gas station attendants bow in thanks and to show respect. Immaculate service station attendants usher us into the gas station bowing, start pumping the gas, clean all the windows, ask if there’s any garbage in the car and when finished, they’ll stand on the road bowing to stop traffic and to make it safe to leave. Getting a tank of gas makes me feel like royalty.

Gift Giving
Going to someone’s home, we always bring a small gift. Stock up. These gifts are given frequently with food items most appreciated. Japanese always bring gifts back from trips, even if it was just to the next city 3 hours away. It is an important custom.

Take Off Your Shoes
In many places- homes, some schools and even offices, we’ll be expected to take off our shoes. Telltale signs such as slippers ready to slip on and other people’s shoes at the door are clues. The habit keeps the street dirt off the indoor floors. Once indoors, we must be prepared to go one step further going into a tatami room or onto a special carpet- there it is recommended to remove the slippers as well. Young kids adapt to the habit quickly and parents learn to keep up or risk their toddler running down the street alone while they are still trying to get out the door. Many Japanese wear shoes with laces but leave them tied very loosely in order to slip them on for a quick exit.

*We live in Fukuoka City, on Kyushu, southernmost island of the main island chain of Japan. Some things in this article will be different from other areas of Japan; everyone’s experience will vary.