753 Festival

In Japan, on November 15th, girls and boys of the ages 7, 5, and 3, go to the temple with their parents in order to pray for good health. It is the 753 festival (shichi go san). The little kids are dressed up nicely in their kimonos, the parents and relatives look their best and everybody is celebrating this day. It is a family festival, everywhere families with their children, taking family pictures. Also, the kids seem to lose their shoes all the time, I saw many parents picking up tiny shoes.

 

A day for family pictures

  

The kids get surprise bags with toys and sweets

  

The little children are dressed up like mini adults

  

The shrine was well frequented

 

The kids get long sweets, which stands for a long life

After watching the little kids we went to Takasaki Mountain in Beppu to see little monkeys. They move around freely and you could actually touch them. But it is forbidden as you can see on this self explanatory sign.

 

I love Japanese signs. They are always foreigner-friendly

 

Everywhere monkeys

  

Cute!

  

The monkeys are not afraid of people. You could actually touch them.

 

Maybe I should have gone to him to take care of my hair....

This way please 

 

 Mr and Mrs Monkey

At the end of the day we cooked with our Japanese friend some Hijiki - it love it! 

It is kelp, tofu, carrot, seasoned with dashi, soy sauce, sake, and sugar. 

It is a typical Japanese dish. It is exotic for me, because it is so different from what I eat in Germany and yet so delicious!

 

In the back also chicken seasoned with sesame oil on raw shredded cabbage. And in the middle my version without chicken - raw shredded cabbage with sesame oil. It is fun to cook Japanese food!