Fussa Firefly Festival 2013

Boarding a train with our toddler in Japan always involves a bag of snacks, books, and our iPhone. Given his love for trains, I am always surprised how fractious he can become when on one. So it was a relief for us all when we arrived at mecca spot, Ushihama station, for the hotaru (firefly) viewing at Fussa Hotaru Park.

Locals who breed the fireflies, released them along the riverbank for the masses to enjoy while we drank chuhi's (alcoholic soda pops) and ate fistfuls of ika (squid), senbei (crackers) and edemame (soybean) snacks with friends. It was not as crowded as we had expected and the light rain was refreshing. There was the usual festival fair before arriving at the park, elementary school firefly artworks, food stands serving okonomiyaki, yakitori and kebabs and a variety of kids target games.

Japanese event performers wearing wild masks and beating drums scared the pants off Brent whose firm 'LET'S GO' triggered our eventual departure from the festival of 2013.

FUSSA FIREFLY FESTIVAL

Ccilu | Throw out your Crocs Japan

Dare I say it and offend a family of Croc lovers, but I have never warmed to the brand. In fact I have had luke warm enthusiasm for any waterproof shoe that wasn't a rain-boot, and if memory serves me well I have never owned a pair of those either.

Then today I saw Ccilu's (pronounced chilu meaning liberate in Japanese) outdoor shoe collection on display. Seriously stylish with contrasting colours. this shoe launched in Japan is set to take the globe by storm this coming Spring/Summer 2013. No heavyweight celebrity endorsement as yet (does AKB48 count?) they is really perfect for sloshing about in during the rainy Japanese Summer and the warmer months too. I would happily tolerate this waterproof shoe in our genkan (entrance hall).

Ccilu

Daycare in Japan | Sunscreen Prescriptions

Japanese women go to great lengths to preserve a fair complexion, so it was with surprise that I learned that a doctor's prescription would be needed to have our daycare apply sunscreen on Brent. As the weather warms, we are in the process of getting such a note and I have been stocking up citronella spray to combat the mosquitoes as well. The school rule extends to anything that might cause allergic reactions, so his morning routine in Summer has me spraying up a storm in the genkan (hallway) before he heads out the door with his dad.

To top up my own SPF protection last week which had run dangerously low, I got this sweet Rose UV Body/Hair Spray SPF 50+++ by Gift For Me. Complete with a little PLACENTA and HYALURONIC ACID in the mix, I am ready to face the outdoor walks to work.

Hobonichi Haramaki | A Japanese Babyshower

A conundrum in itself it is not a Japanese custom to do a baby shower, but as with any event polished with Japanese finesse, my friends baby shower went off without a hitch complete with a handcrafted diaper cake by the hostess.

Girls gathered to play silly games - sorting socks, guessing her belly size and identifying baby food ingredients were all part of the fun.

The food was a perfect mash-up of Cornish pasties, strawberry salad with a few Japanese accompaniments thrown in for good measure.

Particularly delicious were the bitter Pocky with some fruity white wine on a warm day.

Talk of babies, haramaki (Japanese belly wraps) and Mojitos, kept the chatter afloat before dressing the 'babies' in their gear. My own haramaki was rather utilitarian, but I love the designs of some of the ones at  Hobonichi Harumaki.

nugoo | No Two Tenugui Are Alike

Tenugui have been popular in Japan since the Kamakura period 100 years ago. With the regular use of cotton for Japanese goods, this crafted fabric became a household staple in Japan. An accessory to the yukata (traditional Japanese clothing), the tenegui is made with edges that are cut rather than sewn. People are then able to modify the cloth to a size that is most useful to them.

nugoo's tenegui are made in the traditional way using 'Sosogizome' (soak dye) where each item is hand dyed by experienced craftsmen. Due to this process each cloth, typically 33x95cm, has its own charm and colour variation. A display of their seasonal wares including bookcovers caught my attention on Saturday evening at Yurinda bookstore.

nugoo

YURINDO | A bakery in a book

A new Saturday night hangout for us, the local book store Yurindo, what rebels. Nothing like a bit of nostalgic reading of The Hungry Caterpillar and the discovery of some wildly illustrated Japanese books to keep us coming back for more.

Beyond a few board books our Japanese book collection is drowned out by English titles and I am on the lookout for some fun new ones to call our own. Where to start? The punk rock fruit platter or the dictionary for young bread lovers? I know which one our little baker boy would choose...

ぱんだいすき

Yurindo

SEVENDAYS SUNDAY | Design and Kids Space

After celebrating my late father-in-law at a memorial ceremony today, I had time to look around Aobadai after a spectacular lunch at The Aobadai Forum Hotel with our relatives.

We kept the toddler amused with the kiddy setup (a tv-screen and a soft-playpen) in SEVENDAYS SUNDAY while I raided the shelves. I loved the KIKKERLAND products they stocked. So much so that I have found myself lusting after Stack The Carrots Jenga and these cheerful wrist bags.

SEVENDAYS SUNDAY