The land of fresh air, fruit trees, mountains, and the best onsen (hot spring) I have ever been to. Also, it is the home of my grandparents, a fact which renders the aforementioned features to a merely complementary role.
Ojiichan and Obaachan! Also known as my mother's parents, or Takehiko and Tsutako Okada. I am sure you will note their casual yet elegant fashion. Why is it my grandparents can dress better than I?
Ojiichan and Tola in my grandparent's sitting room. You cannot fail to notice that Ojiichan has a charming smile ; also that Tola is obviously smitten.
These bamboo dragonflies are but one example of my grandfather's exceptional skill in handicrafts. Anything from glass bead-work, to little magic trick contraptions to amaze even the most skeptical schoolchild. The bamboo dragonflies pictured above are an amazing creation: they balance themselves in the air with their nose dug into the tip of (in this case) a tiny bamboo stalk. I actually managed to balance one on the end of my FINGERNAIL. They just float there, their bodies parallel with the ground...
Here are two of them perched on the same twig. The key is in the forward angle of the wings.
Aiko, Ojiichan and Obachan's tiny dog. She waits for Ojiichan as he gets his shoes on inside... she just waits... waits... ears perked, eyes alert.
Yaaay! Ojiichan!
Tola does not like dogs.
Taking a drive in the old van which, even when it's in 4th gear, sounds like it's in 1st.
Ojiichan preparing mochi which are pounded rice cakes. Traditional Japanese new year's food.
Mount Fuji.
Tola
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