Family, Friends, and Food in Japan

My oldest boy, Ischin! He and I got to play one afternoon of tennis.

Before tennis we went to Midori Gama farmers market

This cute young guy sold us little fishies~

It was interesting, the boxes he used to measure out the fish, the more expensive fish, of course, was sold by the smaller box.

Fish REALLY on a stick, ready to be BBQ'd, no, no, no, that's American style... simply roasted Japanese style, over a fire

One afternoon I got to get together with my long time friend-student at her home for lunch, along with her friends. The kimono-clad woman to the far right was her tea ceremony teacher

Her old traditional home is still kept in such amazingly condition.

I think this is called a NOREN, blowing in the Spring breeze, in the hall between two rooms.

The rooms are divided by these doors which still are the originals, from how many years ago?

On the other side of the doors, also the original paper, which had writing that is old Kanji, not readable by most any Japanese today! 

This, I was told, is a Japanese Woman's Sword, brought to the house by the woman marrying into the family four or five generations ago. It's called a "Naginata" 薙刀

I'd seen these back rooms years ago, but had forgotten how amazing they really are. I'm especially take by the paper shoji doors, with the incredibly fine woodwork.