March 23, 2024

Wife, Partner, and Fire Patrol Leader

Meet Obi Wan Naomi
I doubt you have ever heard of the "Hi no Yojin" (Beware of Fire) tradition in Japan. It's a practice deeply rooted in community service. Last year, my wife Naomi assumed a role that embodies this communal spirit by becoming our local neighborhood association's fire patrol leader.

Back in the Edo Period -- from around 1600 to the late 1800s -- fire was the main way that Japanese folks stayed warm, fed and clean. Fire prevention efforts consisted of a group of neighbors walking around and beating two wooden sticks together to remind everyone to be careful and diligently tend to their fires. Local Hi no Yojin groups would walk around the area and clack wooden sticks together, an acoustic reminder for everyone to beware of fire.

A typical Hi no Yojin group in Fukui. 
Credit: Chunichi Shimbun
Even in modern Japan, many apartments and houses have no central heating and little insulation. People still tend to heat their homes, apartments and rooms with electric or gas space heaters. So, the tradition of a community fire watch lives on.

These days, the fire patrols are a responsibility shared by a neighborhood's residents, just like garbage sorting and disposal, or group clean-up days of drainage grates and parks. Our neighborhood is fortunate to have a good mix of people, but with an aging population and many empty nesters, our turn came to organize it and Naomi took on the task. According to her, the lengthy planning meetings were tiring, while the actual walkaround patrols were mostly short and symbolic. The patrols were once every couple of weeks during the winter months in the evening. Naomi's group, all sporting fluorescent safety vests, would take a brief walk around the neighborhood. They would clack the wooden sticks. This serves a dual purpose: reminding residents, especially the elderly, about fire safety. Additionally, the visible presence of the patrol acts as a deterrent to petty crime, an ersatz neighborhood watch, which they also do sporadically during the warmer months.

Naomi did her civic duty on behalf of our family by leading this activity for the local community. It does foster a sense of community spirit, which is probably why it persists to this day. And it's a great example for our daughters and me.

February 27, 2024

2023 in review Part 2

Summer still rocks. Maybe I am one of the few souls on this earth not too bothered personally by the warmer temperatures--yet. That said, it was a long, hot summer and the heat lingered through almost to the end of the year…

July
There is a park near our house where all the neighborhood festivals and gatherings happen. For the first time since the COVID pandemic social restrictions ended the community held its summer Obon dance festival. Marina was very excited and dressed up in cute summer yukata, which is a less ornate kimono-like garment that’s made of cotton or linen rather than silk. It’s much cooler for the wearer especially in the summer humidity.
I also went to a Seibu Lions game with Jun Kolanowski. Simple pleasures like watching the ballgame, drinking a few cold ones, and catching up.

August
We traveled to Naomi’s parents place in Hiroshima Prefecture for a visit over the Obon holidays. Our time there was filled with eating, catching up with them, more eating, drinking copious amounts of beer, and avoiding the heat. We went to the Japan seaside for an ocean swim and enjoyed the lack of traffic jams. I visited some friends and went to see two Hiroshima Carp games: one with my bud Scott Mackulski and the other with Lady E., which was a nice surprise.

This photo is Naomi and Marina paddling around a small pond with a fishing hole not far from where her parents live. Very relaxing, very pastoral.

September
Naomi and I celebrated our 20th anniversary this year. We found a new favorite seaside restaurant to have a nice dinner, mark the anniversary with away-from-kids time, and listen to nice jazz mixed with the sound of ocean waves. This photo is from our first anniversary.

October
Who is this? Meet Dick Desperado, famed Ontario outlaw. Or maybe a guy in a Hallowe’en costume. You decide.

November
I greatly enjoy the chance to go out hiking with the boys. November’s spelunking was another opportunity to have some quality time ragging on each other, get some exercise, and drink a frothy cold one at the end of the day. It was near Hanno in Saitama Prefecture, and I really liked the temple we visited up on the mountain that was dedicated to “zori”—Japanese thong sandals. Only in Japan, man.

December
My brother Steve-O and I have been trying to talk more online since our last trip home to Canada. It’s his birthday this month. So why not celebrate that? He’s a good person, a great sibling and he’s found a lovely, smart wife to round out his rough edges. Happy b-day, bro.

Oh yeah…in December the Rising Family™ took a trip to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. But I’ll cover that in a separate post, coming soon!

Photo credit: Alamy in Leeds
Let me conclude this review by expressing my gratitude to our metaphysical sponsor, Mr. Henry Rollins, for his ongoing support for the past three years. Interestingly, a recent photo of Hank unintentionally captured a pose that seems to embody the state of the world at the end of 2023.

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February 26, 2024

2023 in review Part 1

Here we are in late February, and I have yet to complete my reflections on the Rising Family’s™ past year with my traditional roundup of representative photos. No excuses, dear readers.
For me, 2023’s theme was war and place (no typo, bear with me).

First, we have the ongoing war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza that provide more horrific images of human suffering and death almost every day. As these major wars persist and people become numb to the violence, it seems as though there are more active armed conflicts involving sovereign states than at any time since World War II. Depressing, right?

Adding to that sobering tapestry is the state of our planet’s living space. The omnipresent narrative of rising temperatures and the disheartening signs that efforts to curb global warming aren’t improving things has been presented with a monotonous, predictable sense of fear. This situation is unprecedented, and our collective efforts and words seem powerless to prevent the relentless progression of this catastrophic trend.

Personally, I believe there are still reasons to be hopeful. My Rising Daughters™ are still forming their worldviews and careening toward their futures. My optimism remains unwavering. Our everyday life experiences showcase encouraging developments that counterbalance the grim headlines of 2023. The promise of artificial intelligence, the growing prevalence of eco-conscious initiatives (and concrete grassroots action), and the intrinsic desire for peace among ordinary people all contribute to my sense of hope. Thus, I’ve boxed up all the shit news from 2023 and put it in my mental attic, and gaze toward to a better 2024.

January
It was a happy day because it was my firstborn daughter's birthday. 16 years: so far, so good, and “I am thankful” is an understatement. Lady E. is on a good trajectory and we celebrated that. As a “dad-ism” I told her: Never let anyone say you can’t do something, especially if it’s your own voice. Also, learn and have fun and enjoy the moment. But I don’t think she’ll remember any of that--ha ha.

February
I love Enoshima. It’s a small island south of Yokohama that is a popular tourist destination and a getaway for locals seeking some respite from the city. Every year the island hosts an illumination event with a bajillion festive colored bulbs lighting up the night sky, and with towering Christmas trees and freaky light shows. This year, Naomi and Marina joined in the gawking at the beauty assaulting our eyes.

March
My wife and I occasionally like to have some time away from our daughters. As the weather warmed up in March, we decided to go see some of the lakes surrounding Mt. Fuji. All of the “Fuji-go-ko” (Fuji five lakes area) are an easy day drive for us, and Lake Kawaguchi offered beautiful weather and lovely views of Fuji-san still ringed with snow on the day we visited.

April
Marina, a.k.a. “The M.”, entered her middle school phase in April AND celebrated her birthday, too.

May
Naomi and I took another mental health scooter jaunt southward to the coast. In this case it was to Jogashima Park just as the spring flowers were blooming. The flora were as beautiful as she was in this photo.

June
Not much happened in June. I did take a business trip to Bangkok. One of the perks after all the meetings is to hail a tuk-tuk and take in the buzzing vitality of that amazing city from the backseat. Who needs air conditioning?

To be continued...

January 28, 2024

Blazing into 2024 Dondo-yaki style

Image by pngtree.com
In the first few days of January, as is our tradition, the Rising Family™ kicked off the new year by visiting a nearby Shinto shrine. Like many other folks, we went there to pray for good luck, health and happiness in the coming year. Then, on January 20, I doubled-down on Japanese new year traditions by going to the Dondo-yaki festival at Umi no Koen (Marine Park), one of my favorite seaside parks in Yokohama, just 25 kms south of where we live.

Kadomatsu
But what is Dondo-yaki? It's a traditional festival held throughout Japan in mid-January, marking the end of new year celebrations. Sometimes described as a “fire festival”, people burn decorations such as kadomatsu bamboo decorations they place near the entrance of their homes or businesses at the onset of the new year to bring good fortune. It's considered bad form to reuse these decorations, so they are dispatched in a huge, roaring bonfire to keep in good stead with the gods. You can also burn paper omikuji fortune scrolls or omamori amulets from last year, then buy new ones for good luck this year. After the fire’s intensity subsides, mochi rice cakes or sweet potatoes are roasted above it. As morethantokyo.com puts it to describe the festival’s spiritual complexity, Dondo-yaki are bonfires where communities burn their New Year's decorations while sending the god of the new year back to the realm of the spirits. My takeaway is I like the symbolic gesture of burning the markers of the immediate past and moving forward.

The pyres before the flames
The Dondo-yaki festival at Marine Park is an annual family event. After we moved to Yokohama with the Rising Daughters™, one year we bundled them up and attended our first Dondo-yaki at Marine Park. This year, I went solo on my scooter since our now-teenagers deemed it "too cold and boring." Nevertheless, I was glad I went. The salty sea air, the scent of burning cedar and bamboo, and the savory food aromas were memorable. The low buzz of group conversations and the shrieks of kids having fun created a pleasant atmosphere to truly welcome the new year. 

I strolled past stalls where you could buy street food, practice calligraphy, watch traditional dances, or purchase raffle tickets. Amid all this activity, three huge bonfires were set alight, surrounded by several hundred people, all kept safely away from the flames by local firefighting units.

Burn baby burn, Dondo Inferno
As I wandered around the sandy beach and under the cedar trees to observe everything and stay warm, I contemplated the year ahead. Tradition and natural settings sometimes provide the most refreshing perspective on what the new year may bring.
😁😁😁

December 31, 2023

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Tremendous 2024

The Rising Family™ had a delightful hybrid holiday season, blending tradition with a touch of travel adventure.
Our home in Yokohama sparkled with outdoor festive lights, and this radiant Christmas tree flanked by Santa's two resident helpers set the stage for our traditional photo moment. However, this year, we craved more than just the familiar festivities. We longed for the twinkle of Yuletide lights and warmer outdoor temperatures. We snapped this photo early before we took our Christmas holiday on the road. Our greatest gift this year was the chance to explore southern Vietnam, bask in its warmth, and connect with its generous and welcoming people.
Although our location changed, the holiday spirit was paramount. We engaged in online calls with family in the Great White North and experienced the joy of Christmas Day at the beautiful and renowned Tan Dinh Church in Ho Chi Minh City.

Wishing everyone peace, joy, and a heartfelt Joyeux Noel. Here's to an amazing 2024 ahead!

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December 22, 2023

Seasonal Serenity: My pen pal Rob

In 2023, a year filled with an overdose of unfortunate events and bad news in the world, I'd like to share a partial antidote through a heartwarming personal story. Let me take you back two decades when I worked as a contract employee in a government office in Hiroshima, handling inbound phone calls from English-speaking foreigners. Despite the language and cultural barriers, these calls often led to fascinating and unexpected conversations.

One such encounter was with Rob A., a retired gentleman from California deeply passionate about Japanese culture and peace promotion. Although Rob is a pseudonym, the events recounted here are entirely true. Our first telephone conversation was spurred by his inquiry about his city's peace promotion delegation visit to Hiroshima which also revealed Rob's captivating storytelling and genuine interest in diverse subjects.

As a retired businessman with a rich background in multinational companies and stints in Latin America and Asia, as well as membership in the Adventurers’ Club, Rob had a remarkable ability to share his life experience. Our first call, lasting about two hours, ignited my interest in his fervent opinions on life, peace, and squeezing the most out of life.

After that first chat, our sporadic correspondence through email led to exchanges of opinion, occasional disagreements, and an evolving pen pal friendship. Despite having no direct connection to my work or personal life, Rob offered insightful comments based on whatever I’d been writing about in the Rising Daughters blog or about international affairs in emails, and he expressed genuine interest in my family's endeavors.

A few years passed and our exchanges touched on various aspects of life — from his overseas work experiences to my adventures in new fatherhood. Rob, an unrepentant Baby Boomer, occasionally hinted at feeling too old to travel outside the U.S. At one point, he shared plans for what he considered his "last trip" to Japan. Seizing the opportunity, I offered to take him on a personalized tour of Hiroshima, an offer he accepted.

Our virtual friendship came to life during his visit. Meeting Rob face-to-face felt surprisingly familiar, like reuniting with an old friend. The photo above captures a moment at one of my favorite viewpoints of Miyajima, overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. It was a fine day, and I knew he genuinely appreciated the hospitality and the view.

I hope Rob reads this. (As far as I know, he is still alive.) He is a good human being with a thirst for life that is infectious. When I was considering how to bring a bit of holiday cheer to this blog, I thought that an account of this pen pal exchange across time zones and generations would be fun. I suppose the recipe of folksy advice and common interests were what left me smiling whenever I read one of his pointed questions or while crafting my responses to him. It was a kind of gift of knowledge and experience. It is a nice memory for me and reflects the spirit of Christmas in many ways.

Keep on keepin’ on, Rob!

November 30, 2023

Scenes of the season

Sometimes it's fun to capture the normal activity that happens during the seasons with simple, everyday pics. Here are two...

September
Last year, at Lady E's Culture Day at her high school, Naomi and I weren't given license to do very much (like meet her friends, or enter her classroom!) due to teenage angst about potentially embarrassing parental behaviors.
One year later, her attitude toward her parents magically changed, and I was even allowed to snap a photo with her!

October
I was able to see more pro baseball games this year than in recent years. The Summer Game extended well into the autumn months for me. This photo comes from a game between the Yokohama DENA BayStars and the Hanshin Tigers. The Tigers won that game and went on to win their first Japan Series championship in 38 years. It was still hot under the sun!

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