kenleewrites in 日本

The skies over Tokyo were extremely clear on new year’s eve. Every single star was there in plain sight, waiting to welcome the new year. Can you see the stars in that photo? And no, that photo above is not a HDR picture.

I was doing what I always do this time of the year. Watch Kohaku Uta Gassen and rushing off to the local shrine for 初詣 (hatsumoude) 20 minutes just before midnight. Hatsumoude is a very important event in Japan. It marks the first visit to the Shinto shrine at the beginning of the year.

Did you know there was a blue moon on new year’s eve? It’s called a blue moon because it’s the second full moon in the same month. A rather rare event. Now you know the story behind the phrase “once in a blue moon”.

Can you see the rabbit in the moon?

I wasn’t the only one making my way to the shrine. Other locals were also making their way there to get out of the cold.

There’s a nice camp fire waiting at the shrine.

It was really warm!

When I got there, it was still pretty quiet. There were some kids playing by the fire.

Free sweet potatoes on the grill.

When the clock struck 0000, everyone wished everyone a very happy new year and we all got in line to say our prayers for the new year at the shrine.

You have any wishes for this new year?

My wish for you, my reader, is the wish of good health.

Stay healthy and continue reading what little I will write in 2010. ^^.

Although it’s a local shrine, I keep telling everyone that it’s as huge as Meiji Jingu. ^^.

Everyone gets a free cup of amazake. Sweet Japanese sake helps warm you up from within.

You can tell how warm the fire was just by the average distance everyone was standing away from her.

A cool old dude.

Don’t remember what I was doing waving my arms. Probably something along the lines of

“Hurry hurry! My back is on fire!”

hmmm… are my eyebrows getting bushier by the year?

The people at the shrine were very nice. There were free popcorn for the kids. You like pop corn? I only like those black pepper flavored ones which I’ve only been able to find at Disney Land.

People kept coming as I was leaving. I hope they had enough amazake to warm everyone up!

My new year’s eve was a rather quiet night spent watching kohaku uta gassen and visiting the local shrine.

How was yours?