JAPAN

I went to Osaka, to my grandfather's cousin's house. Her name is Michiko, and while we were there she helped me put on a Japanese kimono. 

 

 I went to Kyoto. This is a photo of us and our cousin Miyoko and her family.  While we were there we went to a traditional Kanko festival where a bunch of men young and old wearing traditional clothing representing the five towns carry their town's shrines to the same place. 

 

I went to a town named Gobo and stayed with Takakazu and Kayoko. This is Kayoko holding a sword that she uses for Tai Chi. She taught me how to open a Japanese fan.  She also taught me some Japanese phrases: "arigato gozaimas" means thank you, "ohio gozaimas" means good morning, "kombanwa" means good night. 

 

 This is Michiko and I having fun, posing like Japanese girls do for photos.  Michiko taught me how to say "kay ko des" which means no thank you.    

 

These are two of Michiko's grandchildren Kazuma and Manaka in Nagoya. Their father is Michiko's son Ken and their mother is Ken's wife Yuko. 

 

This is my cousin Yuya and me with the artist Hashizume Kiyoshinuki. He made this painting by carving the design on canvas and soaking it in handmade indigo dye.

 

And here are a few more photos from Japan:

 

 Takakazu and Kayoko

 

Kentaro and Junko

 

In front of Taka and Miyoko's home in Kyoto, with Miyoko's daughter Hanna and Taka's mother.

 

The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto 

 

cousin Ken Otokubo in Nagoya

 

 hand washing tradition at To-ji temple, with Taka, Miyoko and Yuya

 

and Hello Kitty

 

 

Japan