27th March (Monday)
The company which we are attached to is upgrading to a larger building next door. So they invited a priest from the local jinja to perform some rites and blessing of the building. It is quite a simple ceremony spanning 20 minutes in all.
29th March (Wednesday)
Two of our fellow colleagues are returning back to Singapore, so we drop by a Okonomiyagi (Japanese pizza) house for lunch. One of our buddy is quite good in preparing the Okonomiyagi, so he has the honours for being the main chef for the afternoon.
A photo shot of all of us - 7 in all.
17th April (Monday)
Besides attending the weekly Japanese class, the Koriyama International Exchange Association also organise monthly activities for us to find out more about the Japanese culture. One such activity I participated in is a Origami class. In the class, I got a chance to meet lots of fellow Japanese who are equally enthusiastic in getting to know us.
This event coincide with night hanami (sakura viewing). So after the class, we had some light hanami refreshments and all of us took a stroll through the park which is next to the city hall.
20th April (Thursday)
Throughout the two weeks on the way to work, I had the opportunity of observing the sakuras growing to its fullest bloom.
One of the days, I decide to make a detour and take a walk through the park.
22nd April (Saturday)
The sakura is at its fullest bloom, so all of us went down to check it out. It is spring time and the Japanese are celebrating Spring festival with these large fish kites.
We visited the Jinja next to the Park and it is thronged with shops and people. It is indeed in big contrast to the first time I been here (Koriyama 1 entry)
It is nightfall and all of us gather with the rest of the locals for night hanami - with dinner at the park.
28th April (Friday)
Today is Obata-san birthday!! Written on the cake are "Mayumi sama Happy Birthday". Obata-san is our local colleague who has helped us greatly in many matters. As she is sitting just next to me, she has also become my part time Japanese teacher.
Here is a group photo of all of us. This day is also a last day for one of our fellow colleague as he is leaving back for Singapore the next day. So that left 4 of us.
