Ali and Lou in Japan - Week 2!

Ali and Lou came to see me at the end of March for 2 weeks.....although I blogged some of their time here, I left it to them to blog their encounter. Here is Lou's blog of their second week in Japan.

Week 2 by Lou

Monday 12th March - The recovery day and Gyoza!
After snowboarding all weekend and partying (Ali and Kyla!!!) till dawn today was going to be tough. It began by all three of us intending to, but not taking the rubbish. I don’t think anyone could have peeled us out of our beds too early! Poor Kyla did manage to make it to school.

Ali and I decided to go to the supermarket to make Gyoza for Kyla to demonstrate our new found skills learned at the homestay. We managed to figure out most ingredients however struggled finding starch (white powder is hard to distinguish!) and soy sauce (there was a whole aisle of brown juice!).

We then met Belinda and Kyla in Nagano. We visited the international corner in Monzen Plaza for some lunch and popped to the clothes shop where Kyla has made an impact on the girls who work there. So much so they requested a photo of her not once but twice! One girl had even written a note for Kyla in English.

Eventually after walking the streets of Nagano we found ourselves in a Thai themed cocktail bar/shop. We managed a set of some gorgeous cocktails.

We then jumped in a taxi and went back home to make gyoza. We also watched Lost In Translation – mine, Kyla and Ali’s traditional holiday movie!

Tuesday 13th March - Sake, Sushi, Sashimi and School!
Today we went to Kyla’s visit school. What a welcome we were given. Conversation flowed along with green tea. Then one of the teachers gave us a grand tour of the sports facilities and club activities. We watched Kendo, Judo, Baseball, Track and field, Volleyball and even joined in some badminton practice.

After school we visited a superb traditional cake shop where we bought more gifts. After a brief soba noodle infused lunch we made our way to Xebio sports store. After wanting to purchase everything in the store we each left with a bag in toe (only one mind!), went to buy postcards and going to get ready for an evening with Ikukos parents.

Kawanakajimi - where we stopped for lunch

We drove to their village (Yoshi with 26 houses) their house looked like a castle – it was beautiful; a garden waterfall and pond with koi carp, traditional Japanese interior that was modelled on a castle in Kyoto. We sat around the kotatsu to keep warm, whilst an amazing banquet was layed out.

An in traditional Japanese style the sake flowed as soon as we sat down.

Kyla got in full conversation with Ikuko’s father (via some translation from Ikuko!) . It was one of the best evenings of my life - a great experience, and not one most people have in a lifetime.
And happy birthday once again Ikukos dad!

Wednesday 14th March - Tea ceremony lesson.

We took the shinkanson to meet Miki in Saku . She was there waiting dressed in her Kimono looking stunning. She took us to her house for a look and to see her cute pets first and then to Moss burger for lunch - still in kimono! Then onwards to the tea ceremony. Another gorgeous house and a ceremony held by Japanese ladies ready to give us another unforgettable experience.

The teacher.


Preparing the tea.


Drinking the tea – oishi – delicious!

Thank you Miki!

Back in Nagano, our last eve there all together (for this trip anyway!), we decided what better way to spend it than with great friends, 2 microphones and some ‘tunes’!

You guessed it karaoke!

Ali the shy but talented!


And Kyla you ‘Wild Thing'!

Unfortunately a member of staff asked us to leave just after 2am using a mobile phone for translation purposes.