What Does Christmas in Okinawa Look Like?

Most Japanese do not celebrate the Christian holiday on December 25th but the commercial  aspects of the Western holiday have made their way to Japan.  Christmas is a big date night here and people eat KFC "Christmas Chicken" and Christmas cake.  

Here is what Christmas looks like in Okinawa.

Distal Radius Fracture

I'm home again, now with a big ole cast on my right arm. It's uncomfortable but not really painful unless I accidently bump or twist my arm.  The surgeon put a plate with screws in to keep it connected.   Who would have thought a simple fall would result in this? Maybe I need to slow down and be more careful.

Happy Birthday to the Emperor of Japan!

Today is a national holiday in Japan because it is the Emperor's birthday!

2016 Kanji of the Year

The Kanji of the year is a Japanese character chosen by the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society through a national ballot.  The character with the most votes, selected to represent the events of that year, is announced in a ceremony at Kiyomizu Temple.  This year the Kanji of the Year is  金, kin, which means gold. This is the third time Gold has been chosen (also in 2000 and 2012). The kanji is written in an elaborate style for the announcement.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Trip Stitching

I did get a little airport stitching before I broke my arm.  Don't know when I'll be able to stitch again.

Bad news from the doctor -  I have a complicated break.  I'm having surgery today and will spend a few days in the hospital.  I'll have a metal plate put in that will be removed (more surgery) when it is healed in about a year.  The cancer drugs are on hold because of low WBC and infection.  I'll be okay, but I sure seem to be having some bad luck lately!

Broken

I'm home from my trip.  The original plan was nine days in Naha, Okinawa, then a few days in Nagoya.  I had to cut out the Nagoya portion of my trip because on day 7 in Naha I fell and broke my right arm.  I know, I can't believe it either.  

I don't know if I tripped on the stone step going into my hotel, or if I stepped on the loop of my shoelace or what, but I hit the stone hard and fast.  My right knee and arm really hurt, so I asked for a bag of ice at the hotel desk and went up to my room. By the time I got there, my wrist and lower arm were already swelling.  I went back to the hotel desk and they called the hospital to tell them I was coming and a taxi to take me there.  I was at the hospital a long time, mostly waiting, but also to see the doctor, get x-rays, see the doctor again and have a cast put on from the heel of my hand to mid-way between my elbow and shoulder and have my knee bandaged.  The hospital in Naha made an appointment for me with an orthopedic doctor  at my local hospital for today and sent the x-rays and doctor's notes.   I'm really impressed with healthcare in Japan.  I've had to take advantage of it more than I like, but I have been taken care of very well. The total cost for the visit, x-rays, cast, sling, patching up my knee, and sending everything to my local hospital was 7850 yen, or about US$ 66.50.  

These are bad pictures, but they kind of show my injuries.

arm-mirror view

knee

At least it happened near the end of the trip.  I was still able to take some craft classes and go to the aquarium and do the fun things before this happened. I'll try to post about those things soon. It was pretty painful at first, but now it's just uncomfortable.  It's also very difficult to do things with just my left hand, like typing.   Some things, like braiding my hair or flossing my teeth, I can't do one handed.

Hopefully the doctor will have something good to tell me today.

Monday Morning Star Count - Japanese Hexie Placemats

Before my trip I worked with the Japanese fabric hexagons again.  I made eight flowers and have finished two of them off as placemats.  I stitched them to woven placemats that I purchased.   I think the others are also for placemats.  We'll see.  I love the Japanese fabrics, but some of them are difficult to push a needle through.

Heart Ornament Finish

I finished the stitching a few weeks ago but the heart shape made me reluctant to do the finishing.  Before I left on my trip, I finally decided to just do it.   I think it turned out pretty good.  I used invisible thread to connect the front and back.

Birthday Trip Stitching

I have a few weeks free between terms, so I'm away on a trip to celebrate my birthday.  As with every trip, I take three stitching projects with me.  This trip I brought along a sashiko panel and white thread,  some small bits of fabric and varigated thread to start some new fobs, and a Birthday present from my friend in the US - beautiful blue 32 count linen,  thread, beads, and pattern to make a rose needlebook and fob.

I'll be back soon and tell all about my trip, and show the progress on my trip stitching.

More Birds

I love seeing real live nature.  I saw another of the black ducks, this one with white on its head/beak.  

I love these big white egrets.

Where Do All the Ballerinas Go?

I took ballet classes for many years, so I was interested in an article I read on Tokyo Weekender about Japanese ballet dancers.  The article said that although Japan is producing more world-class dancers, they aren't staying Japan.  They are leaving Japan for foreign dance companies. In Japan, dancers have no unions or legal protection and dance is seen more as a hobby, not as a professional job.  In other countries, ballet dancers are professionals who are protected by labor laws. The National Ballet of Japan opened in 1987 and has struggled since then with funding.  Ballet isn't as repected and doesn't have the history that Kabuki or other performance arts in Japan have.

The National Ballet of Japan

Work In Progress Wednesday - Finished Felt Coasters

The felt coasters are finished and I think they turned out well.  The finished size of each is about 6 inches by 6.5 inches, so they can hold big mugs.

Ichigo Oreos

Yes, it's true.  Japan has strawberry Oreo cookies!

Monday Morning Star Count - Two Holiday Coasters

Blogging Five Years!

I can hardly believe I've been living in Japan for five years now!  I started this blog about a week after moving to Japan and I've posted every day since then. It's been a mixture of Japan adventures and stitching.  I hope I get to continue living here and posting at least another five years. Thank you all for continuing to read and comment!

Fuji San in December

Mt. Fuji is a symbol of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sometimes I forget how close I live to it.  It's practically in my back yard! These were taken a few blocks from my apartment when I was out for a walk. Isn't it beautiful with snow?

Is It A Duck?

I see lots of water birds in the stream near where I live - Herron, Igret, Ducks.  I saw this black bird all by itself in the stream.  I didn't get a good picture because it kept trying to get away from me.  I'll be watching for it and maybe its family in the days ahead.

Birthday Snowman Stitching

This week the stitch group met and started working on Christmas ornaments with cross-stitch snowmen on them.  I've been told it never snows here, so these are the only snowmen we will be making.  

Because it is my birthday, they made me a paper chain necklace to wear and gave me these fantastic strawberries.  It is not yet strawberry season so these huge berries are quite precious! My stitching friends are very good to me!