Parachuting into Church

Well not exactly into church. Friends donated a parachute to the church before the snow came. For those not familiar with it, a few years ago someone was creative with material resembling a parachute. A few handles were sown on around the outside. People stand around and lift the parachute as high as they can and then touch down to the floor. The material is light and the trapped air stays in for quite a while. The material is in different colors and as colors are called, places are changed. Or everyone can turn and sit inside.

I highly recommend it. All ages, a status of life enjoyed it. Even the cool high schoolers and the 70 yr old grandparents.

Tako Yaki

What is Tako? It is Japanese for octopus.

Often is group events the tako yaki hotplate is pulled out and people's eyes lite up. I haven't found anyone living in Japan who doesn't like it. Visitors sometimes turn up their nose.

A batter is made and spooned into halfmoon cups in a cast iron hotplate. After it starts to cook, little chunks of tako are put into the batter. After the bottom s cooked, the little balls are turned over.

Usually a sauce is put on, then eaten by the dozen.

The Art of Mochi

Mochi making is an art handed down thru the generations. We have taken it on as one more way to identify with people. It also provides a place to do it. Most families eat mochi but rarely do they have home made mochi anymore. Up til 10 years ago almost everyone made it.

Sticky rice is soaked from the night before and then steamed for a few hours. It is dumped into a hollowed out tree stump and then pounded until becoming a sticky mass. They with dexterity it is formed into little balls. Before eating, one decides what to put in the middle or coat the outside. Favorites are azuki bean paste, sesame seed jam, soybean paste. It can also be put into soup.

It is one treat that I can eat and eat and eat...

Bingo in Church!

Even tho the Japanese evangelical church tends toward serious behavior, a common game during special events is bingo. Cards are handed out with random numbers. Until recently I only saw the spinning ball with little numbers balls but now there is a digital version. After the Thanksgiving Party and Christmas party, all ages really got into the game with shouts of joy when they were able to say BINGO. Prizes were 100 yen specials.