Japanese Culture

Elder Aaoyagi's wife was so kind to invite a few of us to her home to experience some wonderful Japanese culture.  She is a very refined and artistic lady and she was so gracious to help us to understand and learn more about Japanese people, flower arranging, Koto playing, tea ceremony, etc.  Dressing in a kimono is not easy.  You need someone to help put it on and and take it off and it take a very long time.  I think it took about a half an hour.  There is stuffing and many, many ropes underneath and outside and it must be done properly.  You are required to exhale and hold your breath while the ropes are being pulled very tightly!  Japanese women have very good posture and are very thin because of the kimonos, I think.  The kimonos are beautiful and Sister Aoyagi allowed us to choose from her very many of what we would like to wear.

Here we are with Emi from the office to interpret and three of Sister Aaoyagi's dear friends who came to entertain us with the koto music and they helped to prepare her delicious lunch.

Here they are teaching me to play.  It is really a beautiful instrument and I enjoyed playing it very, very much..  I found some music on youtube that you can listen to if you would like: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=totT2-eHLNQ

Here are the sweet friends playing.  The one in the front is 88 years old.  She was a nurse until she was 76 years old.  She got cancer and was recuperating at her daughter's home when she was able to hear about the church and the gospel.  She kept saying over and over that she was grateful that she got cancer so that she could find out about the church.  She was so happy to be a baptized member of the church and that she is able to have an eternal family.

Here I am going in to the (herbal) tea ceremony.  This must be done properly.  You must bow while on your knees, slide the door open, bow again, slide into the room.  In the old times the room had a very short small door.  One of the reasons for this was so that any long swords or weapons could not be brought into the tea room.  After you slide into the room, you must then gracefully stand up, taking small steps, and not stepping on any of the edges of the mat, and you then sit down very carefully on your knees.

Here we are in the room, waiting for our herbal drink. 

Here is Sister Aaoyagi's friend preparing the hot water and mixing the herbs in a very particular way that must be done properly in every respect.

Another picture in the room.  This is a rice mat that we are kneeling on.

Sister Aaoyagi was so kind to instruct us on how to properly make our flower arrangement.  She allowed us to take them home.  Mine is on display in our office and it is very beautiful.

Sister Ringwood and Sister Aaoyagi with Sister Ringwood's flower arrangement.

Here I am beginning my arrangement.  It is actually more beautiful than the picture depicts.

The one on the left is the finished product.

The tempura she made was soooooo good!  Everyone loved the shrimp tempura the most!

Here is the beautiful lunch that comes in a beautiful lacquered obento type box that has a beautiful lid on it.  There is fish and rice and sweet beans and chil type and sushi and salad and strawberries and bulgogi beef and so much more!  It was delicious but so much food (especially with a kimono on!  No room for food.)

Here is Sister Aaoyagi's granddaughter just coming home from school so it must almost be time to go home.  This was an all day event!

But before that, we must eat some of Sister Ringwood's beautiful cake with fresh strawberries on top.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!