Akemashite Omedetou

Akemashite Omedetou, “Happy New Year” to you all

My second day in Japan fell on New Years Eve. Being a Sunday, Matt and Jess took me to their church. We trekked there on foot and train today, leaving the bikes at home. We walked along the Edo Gawa (the river near their house) where a few homeless people live. They create tents on the river, fishing and washing in the river. They are very clean apparently, upholding normal traditions like having tatami mats in their tents and never wearing shoes inside. Many of these people became homeless after the ‘bubble’ (an economic boom during the 1908’s) broke and there were no jobs available anymore. Many people became unemployed and there is a large shame associated with this. Suicide is an option that occurs a lot, as families at least receive insurance payments. However, some people just withdraw from the family and live alone. Along the Edo Gawa we could also see the Tokyo Skyline and a few of the local birds.

We caught the train then to church, grabbing Starbucks along the way. The church matt and jess attend is a bit of a mix with roots in Baptist and Lutheran. They describe it as ‘bible centered worship’. It was very refreshing to walk into this little down stairs room where the piano was being played and people were reflecting on the verse on the screen Ps 80. There were about 10 people in total (the biggest service they have had!). It is encouraging to realize that all around the world people are worshiping Jesus in their own ways. The service follows a clear guideline with interesting things I had never seen before such as the Catechism questions and the Doxology. Each week they read a chapter from the old and new testament (which matt and jess read out this week, big words and all!) and there is a short message after each. It was a very ‘meaty’ way to learn and I found it encouraging. We had a quick meal at “Yoshinoya” which is like traditional Japanese fast food, my meal of beef, rice and salad cost $4.80. Nice.

Matt took us to his studio at MLS where he works with Japanese children from age 2 -14 ‘teaching English through drama’. It was cool to see a bit of his world!

Being NYE in Japan we were to be eating at home, as it is a time for family and reflection. Jess invited her neighbor Haruko over for dinner. On the way home we went to the shops and markets to get food. It was busy and loud. Food is very expensive! Rice, being their staple is $10 for 2 kg! Go figure! $20 will get you two small pieces of meat, or a small packet of grapes or a rockmelon. However alcohol is cheap as, 4L of whiskey is $30. Great if you are an alcoholic, but it certainly doesn’t fit in a brown paper bag!

We shared “Shabu Shabu” for dinner. A gas plate is placed in the middle of the table, and a pot of boiling water on top. Vegetables and meat are placed inside by those at the table and taken out when cooked, then dipped in sauces and placed on a bowl of rice. It’s a nice sharing meal.

We greeted the New Year with champagne and kitted up in Eskimo clothes to go into the 1 degree cold to do fireworks! Matt showed me how and I did a few which was fun J we then trekked to a Shintu Temple, where many people were out getting blessings. There was music, sake to drink and a fire to keep warm by. We had lots of fun with Haruko who showed us the way.

I hope your New Years Eve was great fun and that you enjoyed celebrating with family and friends!

Welcome to 2007 people! God bless

Melissa