Recap of June

June marked the official ending of another school year. The kids successfully completed kindergarten and 2nd grade at Hiroshima International School. Julia loved Mr. B as her teacher and Luke (and his teachers) survived all-day kindergarten. June marked 11 months of our expat assignment in Japan. And all I can say to that is "Wow we came a long way in one year!".  

 

 

June also marks the beginning of the matsuri season (summer festivals) in Japan. Every local shrine has a summer or autumn festival. Often the festivals include processions of elaborate floats, food stalls, hanabi (fireworks), games (scoop the goldfish), taiko drum concerts, or kagura (Japanese traditional theatrical performance). At the beginning of June Hiroshima holds the Tokasan Yukata festival. the festival is said to have begun over 400 years ago, Tōkasan signals the start of summer. It has come to be known as yukata festival as locals take this early opportunity to give their colorful yukata summer kimono their first airing of the year. We bought a yukata for Julia and had a fun time exploring the festival.

 



 

*Yukata festival, Cam playing baseball with a Japanese Kendo (martial arts) stick, & Cam riding his favorite Japanese cartoon character: An Pan Man (bread head man!)