Category: Family

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Friends, Place, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

12 December 2018: Christmas Shopping

Posted on by sonokotchi

Mom has been asking me to take her for Christmas Shopping, particularly Christmas Tree Hunting.

She is looking for a Christmas Tree.

We are looking for 2 m or higher, a large size for typical Japanese housing.

Therefore, I took her to IKEA Tokyo Bay (Funabashi/HQ) and Costco Makuhari.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find a suitable Christmas Tree, but bought necessaries such as sparkling juice, chocolates, cheese, mixed nuts, etc for coming Christmas dinner.

I love Scandinavian designed household products at IKEA.

I love American food and goods.

We bought two dresses for a little niece; she loves them.

At the evening, I went to Ginza Mitsukoshi Department to buy appreciation gift for our flower arrangement teacher together with a mate.

We made a set with Fortnum & Mason Christmas Spiced Tea and Shortbread.

Hope she would enjoy them.

Posted in Family, Feelings, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

3 January 2019

Posted on by sonokotchi

I bought my little niece a piano lesson book at Book Shop Book First Roppongi for her New Year Gift yesterday.

There are words for songs, music notes and piano keys inside.

The notes and keys are indicated in colors to learn easily and there is self play mode to learn rhythm as well.

I’m happy to see her playing over and over.

The room was full of music then.

Now she went back home so it’s quiet in house.

I miss her.

Posted in Cooking, Experience, Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Japanese Food, Place, Restaurants, Shopping, Tokyo

2 January 2019

Posted on by sonokotchi

I started my new year morning with Shishimai (lion dance) and Masuzake (Japanese sake in a wooden square cup).

After experiencing Japanese traditional new year, we went for Belgium breakfast at my favorite breakfast restaurant: Le Pain Quoitidien, Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

I had New Year Special Menu.

I started with a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate 2019.

Off course, I enjoyed all food.

Furthermore, I received a new year gift from the restaurant: Fukin (Japanese traditional kitchen cloth) and a ticket for free audio museum guide.

After heavy brunch, I played with little niece at Hinoki-cho Park.

Though we had a heavy brunch, we enjoyed strawberry tea with Phillips Chocolate the Boston’s Oldest Chocolateir for tea break.

Coincidently, I used a mug that I bought it at Pier 1 Imports in Boston.

We relaxed a bit at home and went for grocery shopping; I cooked Yakiniku (Korean BBQ) for dinner.

Can I call BBQ cooking ? hahaha

We are spending New Year in very traditional way: relaxing family gathering.

Posted in Choco-chan, Cooking, Family, Feelings, Food, Japanese Culture, Place, Restaurants, Shrine and Temple, Tokyo

Praying at Tenso Jinjya (Tenso Shrine), Roppongi

Posted on by sonokotchi

We went for a new year prayer after lunch.

This small shrine, Tenso Jinjya (Tenso Shrine) is our family shrine.

I drew a fortune paper which is inside of dragon.

I can keep this temple’s God, dragon as a good luck charm.

My fortune is good luck.

After prayer, we had our break at Mercedes Me Downstairs Coffee Shop, Roppongi.

When we returned to home, we relaxed and had a dinner at home.

My little niece made me dessert: parfait.

We had it with a Swiss Hot Chocolate.

So sweet!

Posted in Choco-chan, Experience, Family, Feelings, Place, Tokyo

1 December 2018

Posted on by sonokotchi

It is Choco’s graduation day.

We participated 10 lessons to find a way to live together comfortably.

Three months ago, I was worried, but now I’m confident and happy to live with him.

There was a set of test.

Though we didn’t pass all tests coz some are not relevant to our life style, we enjoyed participating the test.

Others are better trained but I found they participated in kindergarten to get extra training.

No wonder.

Choco received a diploma from Familina Garden Minami-Aoyama.

Good Job, Choco!

Posted in Daily Life, Family, Feelings, Friends

18 & 19 November 2018

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I packed boxes for next moving day.

The mover collected them in early morning to deliver them at my new place around noon.

There are only two of them but very fast and efficient.

I could start unpacking in the afternoon.

I’m still unpacking now because I am considering where to put them for easy handling in my daily life.

I’m also sorting things.

If things are not needed for a new place; I also Sayonara them.

Sometimes, it takes time to make a decision.

Some of them look old and tired, but I have many memories so difficult to let it go.

hahaha

Posted in Family, Feelings, Food, Health, Japanese Culture, Nature, Shrine and Temple, Travel

17 November 2018

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I participated in the 7th anniversary of Aunty’s Buddhist Ceremony at Onjuku, Chiba.

Many of my relatives gathered on Saturday morning.

We miss Aunty; simultaneously, we enjoyed talking among us before and after the ceremony at lunch.

After the ceremony at the temple, we stopped by one of our relative’s house to talk more.

They gave me souvenirs: fresh vegetable from their house farm

These are so fresh and healthy because they don’t use any agricultural chemical at this farm!

Posted in Experience, Family, Feelings, Friends, Japanese Culture, Place, Surprise, Tokyo

My First Rugby Game and Baseball Tournament Among Six Universities

Posted on by sonokotchi

I went to watch the professional rugby game at Chichibu no Miya Rugby Jo (Prince Chichibu Rugby Stadium), Aoyama, Tokyo.

The match was Suntory Sungoliath vs Hino Red Dolphins.

I was seating at Suntory side; therefore, I bought a cup of beer to support the team.

It was fun to watch because the team that I was cheering, Suntory Sungoliath, won by 50 points.

That wasn’t it.

I could enjoy another game.

The Jingu Dai 2 Kyujo (the Jingu No. 2 Baseball Stadium is next to the rugby stadium.

The baseball game between Tokyo University and Hose University was about to finish (8th inning); as such, we could enter the stadium for free or without a ticket.

This is also my first time to watch Baseball Tournament among Six Universities.

Todai (Tokyo University) lost the game but it was fun to cheer the team.

I’m glad that my friend asked me to join.

After enjoying two games, I returned home to cook for my parents for dinner.

Posted in Choco-chan, Family, Feelings, Hotel, Shop, Shopping, Tokyo

Sunday For Choco

Posted on by sonokotchi

When I show him his carrying bag, he gets so excited to go in; it makes my preparation easy.

We went to the clinic to get his shot for rabies at Green Dog Tokyo Midtown Roppongi.

Yes, this my regular shop to buy his products.

It’s conveniently located near my apartment and it has facilities of shop, clinic, pet hotel and grooming (beauty salon).

I bought a treat pouch and foldable cup here.

I’m using this treat pouch for basic training at home now.

I can clip it on my clothes so I can treat him any time; it is washable because it’s made by silicon; and it can close automatically because there is a magnet.

He is smart, but I learned I need to be patient not to confuse him.