WAKAYAMA!

Went to Wakayama this weekend, a nice little ocean town not too far from Osaka. Ahh, the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The rock behind me is a famous rock in Wakayama. It's cool how there is that hole right in the middle. Ok, so Wakayama is famous for the fresh fish. Actually, all Japan is famous for its fresh fish, but Wakayama is especially famous. You can't go to Wakayama without eating some Sashimi and Sushi (that would be raw fish). After eating raw fish for lunch and dinner on Saturday, having some kind of fish something for breakfast on Sunday, AND having raw fish again for lunch on Sunday...this little inland, beef-loving, Grill-it-Bake-it-Fry-it girl is a bit fished out. Hajime said, "When I saw Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and saw the big octopus attacking the ships, I wondered if the octopus would be tasty." Only would a Japanese ever have that thought. Here's Hajime with a gigantic octopus arm. Whale Bacon was for sale. I think Japan is the only country to sale whale. They also had whale meat for sale. This bacon here costs around 28 American dollars. Aika...stinkin' cutest little girl ever. She came with us this weekend. She humbled me this weekend by telling me, while I was trying to desperately to carry on a conversation with her in Japanese, that I couldn't speak Japanese. Shot down by a five year old. Beautiful Wakayama. Beautiful Japan. This is the beach at Wakayama, called Shirahama. Doesn't it look like Brazil or Hawaii or something? I did not feel like I was in Japan. Miki, Satomi, me, Hajime, and Kei...beach bunnies! Here's Aika and her brother, Taru, doing stretches before they went swimming in the ocean. Stinkin' cutest kids ever. Miki and Upi...they just got married in February and are the most precious Christian couple ever. When I saw them holding hands walking down the beach, I had to take a picture. And the sunset in my beautiful Japan!

Random things about Japan today...

• Today is my older sister Kristin's 28th Birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM JAPAN, KRISTIN!!! (She got married a few months ago...this pic is from the wedding)

• Today we learned that comb-overs in Japan are called "Barcodes"! Because the way the hair falls and has all the spaces it looks like a barcode!! I almost pulled something laughing so hard when I heard that!!!

• We went to a HUGE fireworks festival this week. It was incredibly crowded and trees were blocking the fireworks where we were sitting, but Yuka and Kaori looked totally adorable in their yukatas!! Shiona and I...we felt a little left out that we weren't wearing our yukatas but we still look cute, too :).

Lost in Translation

• "Katie, you are naturally stupid." -Ai
• "What?! Do you know what you just said to me?!" -Katie
• "Yes. You're a forehead." -Ai
• "What?! A forehead? What are you trying to say?!" -Katie
• "Oh, not a forehead. An airhead. You are an airhead." -Ai
• "What?! That's a mean thing to call someone, Ai!" -Katie
• "Oh, no, that's a compliment. People in Japan love airheads, so it's good you are an airhead." -Ai

Yep, this actually happened. Ai is super cute and now I know it's a compliment to be an airhead in Japan.

Miss Japan 2006

I've always loved beauty pageants, especially the Universe and World pageants. These girls are bright that compete in the Miss Universe Pageant, and it is so interesting to see all the nations and their sample of beauty. Last night, Miss Japan, Kurara Chibana, was first-runner up for Miss Universe 2006. She is from Okinawa, the southern little island of Japan, can speak four languages, and is a journalist. She looks like the classic Japanese girl to me. Miss Puerto Rico was crowned Miss Universe 2006.

First Festival of the Summer

I love Japan because seriously they have the best parties and festivals ever. Summertime is filled with all kinds of festivals, and this evening there was a little festival at the elementary school down the street. This festival was a dancing festival, and this thing is in the middle with the guy playing the drum and everyone dances around it. People dancing around the tall thing...I have no idea what it is, but it's like circular Square Dancing. Cute middle school girls wearing their yukatas. Cute little old ladies watching the dancing. The concession stand. Cute little girls working the concession stand with their yukatas on. And the cutest little girl wearing her little bitty yukata.

Quote of the Day

"When guys play team sports, their age goes down by ten years." -Liz, while watching "Remember the Titans"

To Hajime's House We Go

We went to our dear friend's, Hajime, house this weekend, and had a great time with LOTS of food, koto playing, and green tea! Hajime is a tremendous Christian with a wonderful family who was so kind to let all us foreigners invade their home. This was like my 7th time to invade their home. Tempura...that is, fried shrimp, fried potatoes, fried eggplants, fried peppers, and fried onions that you dip into some kind of sauce. It's nothing but southern food with a Japanese name. Hajime with her mama! Lizzy learning how to prepare green tea. Japanese view it as an art. Hajime serving me green tea. She placed the tea in front of me and then we bow to each other, and then I take it. Drinking the green tea. These are your missionaries in Japan...Lizzy, Hannah (my MK neighbor), and Kaylie (the summer missionary). The group with Hajime's mama. That's a koto in front of us.

Thanks, Bradley!

For my Martin peeps, Bradley Mayse made this for me. Oh, Bradley.

He looks like a big monkey

This is Tsubasa. She told us she had a boyfriend, and then pulled out this little toy monkey, and said, "This is what my boyfriend looks like. He looks like a big monkey." Such affection.

Shinsaibashi!

It all started with Japanese Christians who had a burden for a specific area of Osaka called Shinsaibashi. This area was known for being rougher and being a magnet for young people. More specifically, the Japanese Christians felt the need to go the American Village (Amera-Mura), a section of Shinsaibashi. Meant to be a replica of America, one walk through Amera-Mura and you can physically sense the darkness. Japanese would warn me not to go to Amera-Mura at night by myself. Japanese Christians began to meet once a week and prayerwalk the area, asking God to open doors to get the gospel in. Completely unaware this was happening, other missionaries and I felt a need for a volunteer team in May to prayerwalk this area. We didn't have any kind of ministry in this area of Osaka, but wanted to see something start there. We broke the team into four groups and sent them out to prayer walk Amera-Mura. After they had finished praying, they gathered back in the courtyard of the area, and as they were standing there, people began coming up to the team and asked them what they were doing. By just merely standing in the courtyard, the team talked and shared with 13 people that night. Later we learned that the area was consistently and fervently being prayed for by Japanese Christians. A Japanese Christian guy moved to an apartment in Shinsaibashi to live among the people there. His apartment has become a headquarters of sort...each weekend Christians, both Japanese and foreigners, gather there for prayer and worship, debrief and bounce ideas and strategies off each other, and then head out to Amera-Mura to be among the people and to purposely go out with the intention of evangelism. Doors are being opened and the gospel is entering an area that is without doubt under the enemy's dominion. It's very exciting to be part of this...an effort where Christians from established churches and house churches coming together to reach an area that is difficult but in desperate need of Christ. Pray for Shinsaibashi and Amera-Mura! The mini-Statue of Liberty in Amera-Mura. Street in Amera-Mura. A sign in Amera-Mura...it's a clothing store. The courtyard in Amera-Mura...a major gathering point in the area. On the weekends, it can get really crowded here. Street in Amera-Mura. Stores in Amera-Mura. Graffiti. I try to stay clear of any tattoo/piercing salons that say "No Pain, No Gain". Some fashion in Amera-Mura...it's kind of a new twist on the kimono.

Dewey Donation System

Like to read? Here's a fun thing to donate to...the Dewey Donation System (www.deweydonationsystem.com) has helped libraries rebuild their book collections after wildfires and the tsunami in 2004. Now they are helping libraries in Mississippi hit by Katrina. You can donate some cash or check out the libraries' wish lists at Amazon. I ordered the children's book "Hamsters to the Rescue" by Ellen Stoll (makes me think about my old guinea pig, Eeyore) and "Traditional Taekwondo: Core techniques, history and philosophy" by Doug Cook (the website said it's a growing sport in that area). Yay, public libraries!!

HANSHIN TIIIIIGERS!!!!

Shiona was given two free tickets to a Hanshin Tigers baseball game. The Tigers are the baseball team for Osaka, and Osaka is very faithful to the Tigers. Tiger fans are notorious for being loud, loyal, and always decked out in Tiger colors. So, Shiona and I dressed in Tigers attire, complete with hats, shirts, bags, noisemakers, and posters, and made our way to our third baseline seats where the Tigers took on Yokohama Bay. Me and Shiona in front of the Koshien Stadium where the Tigers play. This stadium is famous for the ivy growing up all around it and it still has a 1930s feel to it. The field!! Me and Shiona in our Tiger gear...we are wearing the same shirt (we each bought the same shirt separately) that says "Whether win or loose, I'm always a Tigers fan". I also have a matching pink Tigers hat and pink Tigers purse. At the end of the 7th inning and again at the end of the game, everyone blows up these balloons and lets them go at the same time. Here's the balloons at the end of the game with the scoreboard in the background. Tigers won 2-1!!!!!! Me and Shi with one of our posters, "These Americans love the Tigers!!" We were kinda hoping to get on tv :). And here's an actual conversation Shiona and I during the game demonstrating our knowledge of baseball...

• "We can take pictures of ourselves during the halftime." -Shiona
• "There isn't a halftime, Shiona." -Katie
• "Are you serious? There isn't a show in the middle of the game?" -Shiona
• "No. There's like 7 or 9 innings and there's no breaks." -Katie
• "I could have swore there was a halftime show at the Mariners game I went to." -Shiona

Celebrating America's Birthday in Japan!

Time for a mandatory 4th of July entry! I had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating with fellow Americans and a few Japanese friends...complete with a BBQ and fireworks! Whoo-hoo! Barb, me, and Liz (Please notice we are dressed in red, white, and blue...totally by accident). Not to toot my own horn, but I made that cake. I'm pretty proud of my improving domestic skills. Can't have a 4th of July BBQ without Kraft Mac and Cheese (thanks to for a volunteer team!) and BBQ sauce (thanks to K-Mart in Guam). Furthermore, can't have a BBQ without oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (thanks to Lizzy's mama), Pork and Beans (thanks to Mark and Jennifer), and overpriced watermelon (thanks to a local grocery store). Lizzy the Chef! Sitting outside for hours eating and eating and eating. And fireworks!! Well, technically, not fireworks, merely sparklers, but you have to think positive! Here's Ai waving her fireworks. Lizzy and Iko, who looks a little dangerous with a sparkler in his hand.