This is Wakkanai!

This is Yoriko-san and me at Cape Soya in Wakkanai, Hokkaido!

The Northernmost point in Japan didn't disappoint with a temperature of -8 degrees Celsius and freezing-cold strong winds.

The trip was about 500 kilometers (one way) from Tsurui-Mura Village. We spent the night, tooks some time to look at some spotted seals in the morning and then headed back home.



Thankfully our friend Makoto-san was in the drivers' seat. It was a little scary when the high winds blew snow across the roads causing frequent white-out conditions.

Dangerous. (Abunai)

But exciting too. (tanoshikatta)

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What's a Wakkanai?

It's a place. The northernmost place in Japan. And I am going there for two days.

Apparently you can see the Russian island of Sakhalin from Cape Soya.

When I get back I'll let you know a little more about Wakkanai.

Wakkanai...sounds like a location where I should be doing the hula. Don't you think?

But the northern winds and ice won't allow me to take off my touque and mittens never mind put on a grass skirt and move like a tropical sea!

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Year of the Rabbit

The card sending tradition in Japan is all about wishing others a Happy New Year! Postcards (nengajō) are sent annually to family, friends, work colleagues...
Here are some of the cards we have received in the mail so far.



If you look closely you will see that many of the cards have pictures of bunny rabbits on them.

Before 1873, Japanese New Year was based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Even though the Japanese now follow the Gregorian calendar, they blended the two cultures by having New Year's celebrated on January 1 and by recognizing the Chinese zodiac sign of the New Year. The Chinese zodiac has a cycle of 12 years. Each year is represented by a different animal.

And 2011... is the rabbit.

Happy Year of the Rabbit everyone!

(shinnen) akemashite o-medetō-gozaimasu (Happiness to you on the dawn [of a New Year])

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