First of all,
happy new year to everyone!
I hope this new year will bring as much happiness as it does to Eiko and I, as we have just spent our first Oshougatsu as husband and wife.
We actually spent New year's eve at home, comfortably together, after having spent the whole day cleaning up the apartment until the last bit of dust was gone, in order to well prepare the new year.
However, the next day, we went to Eiko's parents' place to have a typical
Japanese dinner for the New Year and drink to celebrate!
Everything was just perfect, even though I was not always sure about what I
was eating (I have to admit that my tolerance to unknown food has considerably
increased ever since I came to Japan).
Some pictures and description in Japanese) of the food
prepared for Oshogatsu and after.
Finally, today, Eiko and I went to pray at Meiji Jingu, along with some other thousands of Japanese. I think we were still lucky as we didn't have to line up for too long, but I believe that the huge TV screen placed 300 meters before the shrine is there to entertain people while they are waiting to move a few meters forward, during peak hours.
We also got some charms to protect us against car accidents for example (that one was addressed to me, especially!) or a wooden arrow to protect us against misfortune (the picture in the corner is a close-up on the bell attached to the arrow).
I like this period of the year in Japan for all the tradition that comes with it.
