Sightseeing around Hiroshima in One day

These are the photos and a video from my trip.

My parents live in a town called Saka, 20 minutes train ride from Hiroshima. During my visit to my parents’ house, my best friend in Tokyo came to see me. This was her first visit to Hiroshima. I planned sightseeing trip with her to go to interesting place to visit while we could talk.
We met at Hiroshima JR(Japan Railway) station at 10:00am and took JR train and short ferry ride to Miyajima. (http://www.miyajima-wch.jp/index_e.html You can watch interesting video on this site.)Miyajima is famous for Historical Shrine and Torii gate built in the water. We walked around and ate roasted oyster and cooked conger eel on the rice which are caught locally. (http://www.miyajima-wch.jp/en/tradition.html) We visited Old Shinto Shrine and a large old Buddhist temple.
Next we went back to Hiroshima city to the Peace Memorial park. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3400.html). We walked around A-Bomb dome and the park. We had leave without seeing Peace memorial museum and it will be her next visit.
Finally we went back to the JR Hiroshima station. Hiroshima is famous for Okonomiyaki(Checkout http://www.japan-guide.com/r/e100.html0. We went to the second floor of the station building to have the Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki at Reichan2 where local Hiroshima residents’ favorite Okonomiyaki restaurant.
We were full and happy spending nice time together. We departed to catch our train home at 6:00pm. My friend called me and told that it was one of her best days in her life.

Life is very long.

I realized that I will likely live to 80 years old. I looked up CDC website to found life expectancy of US is 77.7years. Though I am not senior yet, I have several old friends and often think about how I like to live my life when I am 70 or 80 years old. Since I am Japanese descendants my life expectancy probably even longer.( see about.com)
I went to two parties to celebrate longevity of Japanese American seniors yesterday.
One was a late New Year’s party of Hyakudokai. Hyakudo means hundred years and still active. We were one of few attendants under 60 years old and my husband was one of few non Japanese descendants.
4 seniors were awarded to be 80 years or older. One awarded man was 96 years old and was in a good shape.
Another party was for our friend and ex-neighbor, Jake, whom I invite to our Japanese dinner Thursdays. The party was to celebrate his 90 years old birthday. About 100 people were at a Chinese restaurant. His families, friends, and his church members were there. People spoke about Jake how they met Jake. Jake built his church with his wife, taught and helped many children of his church members. 6 ladies played music for Jake. Jake played harmonica with his best friends. Jake looks very happy and told everyone that he get younger and younger every day.
This is an example of someone who has many friends live long and happy life.

Happy New Year from Seattle

On the eve of 2010 New Year, my new friend invited our family for champagne and some food by Space Needle. It was the great location to view the fireworks. I had to take video and share it with world although I was not planning to take fireworks video for the third time.

Christmas Music by Garfield High School students

Enjoy holiday music played by the High school students.

Seattle Mount Baker Fire house Groudbreaking

I went to attend the ground breaking celemony of Mount Baker fire station in the cold morning of December 10, 2009.
Mayor Greg Nickels attended this events along with neighbors and Seattle Franklin High School’s principal Ms Wiley.
Please see the photos.

Japanese monster video:GeGeGe no Kitaro

When I was young, "Ge ge ge no Kitaro" was one of my favorite show on TV.
I found "Obake Night Baseball" with English subtitle posted YouTube.
It was a old version of the show and black and white.

Cougars (WSU) Marching Band

I went to visit Washington State University (Cougar) for Home coming events on second weekend of October. I saw Cougs against Arizona State University. I love the marching band and videotaped the Cougar marching band from their warming up to their performance at Martin Stadium.