Mt. Hiezan with Michi...

View from the top, looking down on our city...

School kids at the temple...

The last cherry blossoms...

Mountain pigeon...

Incense burning...

Michi made us Bento lunches...

Isn't this little feller fantastic??

There is a mountain behind our town called Mt. Hiezan.  Ray and I took a cable car to the top to visit the old temple the first week we were in Japan.  It only seems right that in my last week here, my friend Michi would invite me to join her and her friend on a hike up.

Before we left, we visited the guys at the weight room...

The rhodies are out in full bloom.  Reminded me of home...

Being in this temple was so solemn.  It was very interesting practice of worship, and because our language limited us from much conversation, I spent most of the time talking with my God...

The last beautiful cherry blossoms...

Overlooking Lake Biwa...

The Lakes finished their last regular season game today.  This weekend they took on the #1 team, the Ryukyu Golden Kings.  Despite two frustrating losses, I think they all can look on the season as a success.  As a first year team they truly came into their own and earned a dedicated fan base.  For Ray, it was an incredible opportunity to play for an outstanding coach and with amazing teammates.  He came to love basketball again.  He was able to gather 23 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists today, despite the loss.  

Some final Farewells...

KOMPAI!! (CHEERS!!!)

Our good friends Bob and Sanae, and their daughter Joie, left for Hawaii today and we won't see them again before we head off the island.  So, on Sunday we made a big feast and said our last goodbyes.  Bobby's and Brayden's folks were able to join as well!

On Monday Ray and I took his day off by heading in to Osaka.  We had a very nice time enjoying the flowers and trees at Namba Parks.

We then met up with Osaka Evessa players Justin and Nile and their wives for a little bowling.  Ray blew us all out of the water.  Who knew he had those skills up his sleeve?!

Last Home Games...

This past weekend the Lakes played their last two home games of the season, splitting wins with Rizing Fukuoka.  Despite the loss on Saturday, Ray captured two days of double/doubles, and the Lakes were able to return on Sunday to gather a dominant win:

Saturday: Lost 67-74; 21 points, 11 rebound, 2 assists and 4 blocks.  

Sunday: BIG win 97-64;  12 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assist and 2 blocks.  

The Lakes fans were at their best this weekend.  It was truly a treat to recognize so many loyal faces from games throughout the season.  It made Japan feel like home.

The woman on the far left has created huge banners for most of the players.  She made a couple of very nice "quilted" banners for Ray which we will be bringing home. The woman in the middle is her daughter.

This is my friend Maho.  Her and her sister and mother drove us to the games on Sunday.

Both teammates Brayden and Bobby had the honor of having their parents in town for the games.  This is Brayden's mom and I before the game...

Singing the Japanese national anthem before the game...

Half time entertainment, mini cheer gals.  (Does this remind me of 2nd grade Wolf Pups or what?? :)

Sorry- no video!  Ray in action, photo style!!

Ray did great on his free throws this weekend.  I love the look on coach's face here...

The Lakes Cheerleaders...

After Sunday's big win.  It was so cool to end the season at home on such a high energy!

Each player got interviewed after the game.  Ray had the honor of going first and thanking the fans and staff....

They couldn't be cuter...

The Lakestars travel to Okinawa this weekend for their final games of the season.  Okinawa is ranked first in the nation.  IF the Lakes win both, they may have a chance at the playoffs (they are vying for the 4th seed entry vs. Fukuoka who they played this weekend!!).  We will keep the blog updated with info!!

Sanno Festival with Michi...

On Tuesday, my friend Michi invited me to join her to witness the Sanno procession in a nearby town.  Despite the rain, I had a delightful time experiencing a true Japanese tradition.  

The Sanno Festival is held for four days and at different locations all over Japan.  It is a time for people to go to the shrines to make prayers or wishes for the new babies born in the new year, and to celebrate spring.  The four days are filled with different ceremonies to worship different gods, and it is culminated by a long procession of 7 heavy shinto shrines carried on the shoulders of hundreds of men, dressed in traditional costume. 

We traveled to Sakamoto, a beautiful town a few stops from our apartment, to watch this interesting rite take place.  The cherry blossoms said their final goodbye...

Our first stop was a nearly 200 year old soba restaurant.  Soba is a type of thin buckwheat noodle.  This particular restaurant used to serve fresh soba noodles to the royalty who lived in the Hiezan Temple on the mountain above Sakamoto.

Michi introduced me to soba ice cream!  All my caution disappeared at first bite- it was SO good! 

Michi in front of the restaurant...

The procession of dignities from the upper shrine....

This is one of the 7 "mikoshi" or portable shrines, each with a god in it...

The festival seemingly focused a lot on saki (rice wine).  Saki bottles lined the steps of the shrine, given by donors as an offering to the gods. Interestingly enough, the saki was all opened and drank by the costumed men who later carried the enormous shrines.  Oh yes, drunk men with heavy objects on their shoulders...

After the first procession we returned to the soba restaurant for soba noodles.  This is Michi with her herring soba.  I ordered my normal "kitsune" soba, which has tofu on top.

Now begins the real festivities.

Here are men and boys of every age linked arm in arm, swinging and yelling, making a long walk up to the top shrine to pick up the mini shrines.

We took a small break to have traditional matcha (strong green tea) and manju (small steamed mochi cake with red bean paste inside)...

This is the continued procession of men down the hill after the shrines have been picked up.  Seven shrines in all travel on men's shoulders for nearly a half mile.

The way up the hill...

Down the hill, shrine in tow..