Happy New Year!

New Year in Japan is a big deal. usually stores and companies take at least first 3 days off. homes are decorated with stacked rice cake with tangerine on top and wreath made with pine, bamboo and plum. when we woke up at yuko's grandmother's house, we were served "otoso" which is a medicinal sake and followed by feast which lasted all day. jamie is see cutting a big sheet of mochi, a rice cake. we went to shosekiji temple on the night of 31st, rang a huge bell to get rid off our "sins" we committed (sort of like a confession except you get to bang a huge bell!)