February and March

In February we traveled to Sapporo on the northermost Island of Hokkaido. From the train we caught a rare glimpse of Mt. Fuji covered with snow.  

In Sapporo, we saw the building site of the new temple being constructed there.

We also had time for a short visit to Shiroi Koibito, a chocolate factory.  Here is the assembly line making cookies which have white chocolate between two layers of cookie.  It reminds me of something from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

We also got to try some of their sweet treats in their restaurant.  Yum!

Our visit to the mission in Sapporo was at the same time as their world-famous ice and snow sculpture festival (Yuki Matsuri).  Below is one of the ice sculptures.

Here is a snow sculpture.

Some of the sculptures seem as large as real buildings.

We gave health training to the missionaries.

Sapporo is famous for its very fresh fish used on their sushi.  These men look like their ate their fill from the looks of their stacks of empty plates!

When we returned to Tokyo, it was snowing.  We had several big snowstorms this winter in Tokyo.

On a sunnier day we went hiking on Mt. Takao (near Tokyo) with some other senior missionaries.

In addition to nice views of Tokyo, there were many Buddhist temple such as this on the mountainside.  

There were also many statues such as this guy with the long nose!

Japan has many ancient trees.  They take care of their trees and build supports to protect them.  In some places we can see roads lined by ancient cedar trees like this one.  It is huge!

Hina Matsuri is a festival of dolls.  Girls were given dolls on Girls' Day.  This collection was of dolls from Kyushu, the southern most large island of Japan.  Many were antique.

Our Kids Eikaiwa class came to an end.  We had a farewell party and invited the parents to hear their children's short speeches in English.  We have learned to love these precious children and will miss them.

We are meeting lots of Chinese people here in Japan and they often are interested in the Church.  Here is a young couple that we helped teach about the church.

We also helped a Mongolian learn about the church.  His family are members in Mongolia.  He came to Japan to work and study and also wanted to learn about the church.  He came to church but couldn't speak Japanese or English.  Because we knew a little (very little) Mongolian, we got involved and helped find a translator for him to take the missionary lessons.  Here he is at his baptism with the translator and a missionary.

We found a section of Tokyo called "Korea Town" and went their for Korean barbecue one Saturday.  They cooked the meat on a grill at the table.  The gave us a lot of different toppings.  We wrapped the meat and the toppings in a lettuce or shiso leaf and at them (much like wrapping things in a tortilla for a taco).

More toppings and tofu.

Also in Korea town were shops and sights of Korean pop culture such as this:

We also saw how to make candy by stretching a block of honey.

March 1 our 30th grandchild was born.  Isn't he adorable?!!

We visited Sendai Mission.  This is the area of Japan that was devastated 3 years ago by an earthquake and huge tsunami.  It was the anniversary of that disaster and in many places it was remembered with displays of flowers to depict the many lives that were lost--15, 884 people died and 2,636 people are still missing.  About 267,000 people are still living in temporary housing and other makeshift residences. 

 Here is one display of tulips.  

In Sendai mission we gave health training to the missionary leaders--young Elders and Sisters--who will train the other missionaries.

Back in Tokyo the plum trees have started to bloom.  This picture is taken in the park across the street from the temple (which you can see the top of, if you look carefully). 

This is the wonderful group of people that we teach Eikaiwa (English conversation Class) with.

I attended a Relief Society activity where we learned how to exercise to avoid aging.  I hope it works!  We had lunch afterwards.

More beautiful ume (plum blossoms)

Visiting a sick Elder in the hospital.  He is doing well now.  

One Saturday we visited Tokyo Sea World at Kasai Rinkai Koen.  I thought a lot about the wonderful variety of things that God created to make our world a beautiful place...

Youth from our ward greeting us with signs showing their names in Japanese:

On of our Japanese teachers.  We appreciate their help so much!

Here are two sister missionaries along with a new member.  The new member is chinese but has lived in Japan 15 years. She is a pediatric heart surgeon.  Last year she did stem cell research in the US and joined the church while there.  We have really enjoyed getting to know her.  Clair has also enjoyed reading some of her research.

Two of the church office employees came over to help me finish making miso soup and give me suggestions.  I don't know if I will be able to find all those ingredients in the US, but I want to try.

Sakura has begun!  Sakura is the cherry blossom time.  It was just beginning here at the Meiji shrine.

People camp out for a week or so during Sakura so that they can picnic and enjoy the cherry blossoms with their friends (They also drink lots of Sake!)

Tori gates of the Meiji shrine (Shinto).

I just passed this shop and wondered what my children would have said had I brought home food like this--various sea weeds, fish, dried fish (see the small ones in packages at the front), greens, etc.  It is actually pretty good.

Another picture of the park (with the temple in the background) at Sakura time:

Sakura by the temple:

We live across a narrow street from a wedding hall.  Some friends took us there for my birthday.  Left front is our other Japanese teacher.  They are all special friends and we love them!