The spoils of Good Luck Bags - Fukubukuro. We went to Uni (a local department store) to buy Fukubukuro, and got some good "hits" this time. You buy the bag but cannot see inside it - however you know basically what you are getting, say "girl's clothing size 7" for example. Sometimes you get stuff you don't want, but this year we were lucky; it was mostly needed.

Kylie and Julie got new "Jerseys" - gym outfits - and some back-to-school goods.

First Shrine Visit - Hatsumoude

We did our "hatsumoude" first shrine visit today, at the usual place - Gorei Jinja in Gumisawa, Totsuka. Here's the entrance, but the fire is BEHIND the lady, not ON the lady -

Here's the bottom of the stairs, to the main worship area. You pass through this big "O" in a figure-eight pattern, for good luck and to cure your ills.

Here's a look at the area where you pray, with festive decorations -

And, after you pull your "takekuji" lot, and get your fortune, you make a wish and tie the paper onto this apparatus -

Now we can have a prosperous new year!! (I hope.)

Japan New Year Good Luck Decoration

This year, Kylie made the "shimekazari" decoration for our door. Good luck!

Japan New Year Crab!

Akiko having some delicious New Years Crab, part of our "osechi" feast.

Cogley Osechi

For our osechi this New Years, we had amongst other things roast beef, really delicious datemaki (the yellow roll-looking things), Peking Duck, home made sweet beans, and Crab. Mmmm!

New Years Girls

Happy New Year 2003!
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Read a new article about Japanese New Years Culture.