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Sometimes we’ve wondered if it is really worth taking Reni to music lessons at Yamaha Music School. There has been many a Saturday morning when Reni has told us that he doesn’t want to go or that he can’t do it. We always try to encourage rather than force him to go.

For a while Reni was unwilling to participate in a group lesson because he felt that he couldn’t keep up with the other kids. His teacher, Emi-Sensei, was super kind and accommodating, teaching him privately after the group lesson. Even despite this concession Reni was reluctant to practice or continue. Fortunately however there was one thing that he did want to do – he wanted to perform in the annual concert. To do that, we reasoned with him, he would need to practice and take lessons. And so he agreed to continue.

This weekend just gone, after all the dramas and tears Reni’s perseverence came to fruition when he performed in the annual concert. On the way to the venue we listened to the songs that Reni would sing for the concert. I thought he might sing along but there was not a word from him while the songs played.

Reni’s group was late in the schedule so we had to watch for nearly an hour before it was his turn. After getting up early to go surfing in the morning i was admittedly a tad tired and kept nodding off. When i heard Reni say to Yoko that i was sleeping i thought i had better pep up!  I discretely munched on some dried fruit and nuts that i had brought along in case of such a scenario. Syd was rather pleased too; he loves banana chips!

Eventually Reni disappeared in order to prepare. Soon after he emerged onto the stage and performed playing the organ with great concentration and excellent posture. Following that the class sang a couple of songs. Reni had obviously listened very attentively. He sang with great gusto, mouth wide open, clearly pronouncing every word. Reni can be quite shy about his music but give him a stage and he’s quite the showman!

Congratulations Reni. You did a fantastic job!

The school year is drawing to a close. The school spring holiday is the last week of March and the new school year will begin on April 1st. To mark the end of the end of their year at kindergarten Reni and his classmates had a small concert.

Fortunately i wasn’t busy at work so i was able to attend the concert and Yoko was able to get time off work too. All of the kids were dressed in their smocks and had party hats on when we arrived. To open the show they sang a song while all us parents listened and filmed our little prides and joys.

Besides singing the children played percussion to a few songs too. Reni played the wood block for one song and a small drum for the other.Following the songs the class divided into boys and girls for two dance acts.

After the dances the class divided into smaller groups for the next few acts. These included a review of the year’s activities and a demonstration of some of the games and activities the children have been trying during the year. Reni was in a group of boys that demonstrated their skill of using yoyos.

It’s so exciting to watch Reni developing so fast. He can be resistant to change at first but once persuaded he’s very positive. He can’t wait to get his new school bag and enter grade one of primary school now.

Oh Boy! How time flies! Reni is 6 now and will start school in April. Our little boy is not so little anymore.

To celebrate Reni’s day we went to the food court at the local shopping centre, Fuji Grand. Reni loves the ‘om-rice’ (rice covered with omelette) they have there.

After dinner we returned to the apartment for celebrations and dessert. As has become custom, the birthday cake was adorned with a train from the Thomas the Tank Engine series whose number corresponds with the age. This year Reni being 6, Percy was on his cream sponge cake.

Although it was a very low-key affair, we all enjoyed Reni’s birthday. And the cake was delicious of course

New Year’s Eve was extremely cold here in Tokushima – so cold in fact that none of us were prepared to venture outside to see in the new year. i didn’t even bother staying up until midnight and was fast asleep by the time we entered the new decade.

An event to be held in the main shopping arcade and on top of Mt Bizan, the mountain overlooking Tokushima, was widely advertised. The flyer said there would be DJs playing at the top of Bizan until sunrise. i thought i’d try to catch the last hour or so of the free music and watch the first sunrise of the year, thus i went to bed early.

It was still dark when i set off but the sky was well lit by a full moon. It was so bright that i didn’t even need to use a light to make my way up the mountain. When i reached the summit all was quiet. Either the djs were playing in the arcade or they had all packed up and gone home because it was just too darn cold. Sunrise was still at least another hour away so i walked around and did some stretching to try and keep warm.

As daylight neared some trucks arrived carrying groups of taiko drummers. A crowd gradually began to form. Witnessing the first sunrise of the new year, known as hatsu-hi-no-de, is a popular tradition in Japan.

From the summit of Bizan we were treated to a spectacular sunrise as the sun rose above the low lying clouds over the Pacific. With the first light the drummers, clad only in light cotton clothing, began beating their drums energetically. Despite the cold it was a good way to welcome the new year.

Later on in the day following lunch we decided we’d try another Japanese New Year tradition, hatsu-mo-de, the first visit of the year to a shrine or sometimes temple (to pray for a prosperous and trouble-free year). Unfortunately it seemed that most people in Tokushima had the same thought as us. The traffic jam leading towards Oasa Jinja, Tokushima’s largest shrine was so long and slow that we soon gave up our plan and decided to just do some sightseeing at Dochu, an interesting formation of sandstone pillars further west of the shrine.

Even along the narrow back roads there was much traffic headed towards the shrine. At times it seemed like it would be impossible to progress any further. Eventually when it seemed we were in the clear we were forced to make another detour because a car had broken down in the middle of the road. By the time we reached the pillars it was nearing dark and the threat of snow was imminent.

After checking out the pillars we retreated to the warmth of the nearby hotel and got some hot udon noodles to warm ourselves up. While we were eating we were visited by an audacious stray cat. It was very vocal and obviously starving as it was prepared to climb onto the table to get at the food despite our presence. We dubbed our new found feline friend the boomerang cat – every time i hurled it from the table it would immediately return to scavenge some more. Perhaps i was a little harsh on the poor pussy but it was quite entertaining!

Two years ago we were fortunate enough to have Mum & Dad & Bec visiting for New Year’s Eve. Last year (a few weeks ago) we were lucky once more; this time Mum & Dad were here for Christmas and New Year.

After Mum & Dad arrived in Tokushima on December 23 we started our Christmas festivities that night at a public event held at a park in Naruto, the next city north of Tokushima. My futsal (5-a-side soccer) team-mate, Dave, kindly advised me about the event.

The park was decoratively lit with Christmas lights, there were vendors selling a variety of food and drinks and free entertainment was provided. Although there were not many people in attendence and the weather was chilly, the event had a warm, friendly, family atmosphere about it. Everyone, adults included, received a stocking full of gifts, kindly provided by the local government.

Before continuing, i should mention that Christmas doesn’t really have a lot of emphasis here in Japan. It’s primarily a time for retailers to take advantage of. Christmas Day is not even a public holiday here so Yoko had to work on the day.

After opening gifts from Santa, the boys and i spent most of Christmas morning opening the multitude of presents that Mum & Dad had heroically lugged all the way from Australia. We received many wonderful presents. Thanks to everybody for their generosity!

From around mid-day we attended a Christmas Party for members of the Tokushima foreign community at Dave’s Mexican restaurant, Sombrero’s, in Naruto. It was a big pot-luck party with many delicious dishes and two mouth-watering roast chickens. In typical Christmas fashion, there was more than enough food to go around.

There were quite a few young children at the party. Santa dropped in to say hello to them and give each child a small gift. Santa happened to be a toned triathlete with a raucous Aussie accent – immediately recognized by Reni as our mate, Aaron. Syd was less accepting of Santa, refusing to venture forward to receive his present from him. While the kids played together with their new toys in the small playground behind Sombrero’s, the parents drank, nibbled and chatted. A good time was had by all.