When will spring come to Japan??

I'm waiting for SPRING to come to JAPAN. It seems that Milan has over 15 degrees now, and also Hong Kong... But Winter has come back to Japan these days and staying,,,,,,,,,

Before Eric is going back to Hong Kong, we have been to a lighting event called Kyoto Hana Touro.



This photo that I took in Park Maruyama(Gion), their Sakura is waiting for spring to come to Kyoto.

Here, I found a special garden that is representing Japanese sensitivity.

There is a beautiful moon there,



The other picture is here.


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Spring has come to Kyoto...

We have come back to Japan 2 weeks ago, Ume flowers are blooming in Kitanotenmangu in Kyoto, and it telling us "spring has come to Kyoto already!!" It's located in north Kyoto where is traditional and the oldest place for Geisha.

In 25th of February, they have a traditional festival called Baika-sai, it's related to its roots. This shrine enshrines Michizane Sugawara , who because of his great learning during his lifetime is worshipped as the patron of learning. Michizane was first especially favored by Emperor Uda, who bestowed great trust in governmental affairs upon him. But later he was exiled to Kyushu because of slander and died in exile in 903. After his death, severe earth-quakes and thunderstorms did constant damage in the home provinces, and it was thought commonly that these were the result of his wrath.

To the right hand left of the main shrine(Haiden) are growing pine and plum trees with a historical connection with the deity of the shrine. Michizane loved blooming plums because of not only its beauty, but also the fact that we can see plum's characteristic which is really brave because it will bloom when it's in the early spring, and still cold, it will not be afraid of cold.



The many plum trees in the shrine precincts are due to the fact that Michizane was fond of plum trees in his lifetime.

The trees are the important connection between the past and present, they are telling us a history of the man who loved these beautiful flowers and it's characteristics.

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Come to reality!~

Finally, we said good bye to Milan. After 11 hours travel on the plane and more than 12 hours sleep, we've had our first Japanese sushi today which you cannot find out from Milan!




I am crazy about these 2 sushi~~~

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Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy New Year!



Our new year's dinner tonight~ BBQ pork, we call it "叉燒" in Chinese name!~ although my one is not exactly the same as Hong Kong's, but the taste is 90% the same. That's because of in Italy, they have nothing for making BBQ pork as they never have it since their "grand grand grand grandfather".

But Japan, they have the similar BBQ pork, I like both Chinese and Japanese's one. If compare with the taste, Chinese one will be more sweet than Japanese's one as we will put honey when we burn the pork.

We are going to leave this DAMN country on 22th of Feb~~~~ Great! really happy new year!

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Cafe? no, Tea.

There is a tea place in Milan, Italy is famous at their hi-quality coffee, but this is the tea place called Pottery cafe.

I always use this cafe as a meeting place, I can spend really long time inside. Because mostly Italian people prefer to take coffee and sit and talk for a long time(noisy a little bit) but here I feel relax and people are also quiet to enjoy their tea time.

the cafe is in London also, so that we can choose many traditional English teas, but also we can see some special tea like "tranquility" or "Spicy passion"...

Their food is all using organic materials, I always order Chicken and Vegetable. They also have vegetarian food and I can see many vegetarians in Italy.



Italian Slow food is this,



they are providing "my cup" services, people can paint their pot or cup, plate and they will bring it to another city to burn it. You can eat & drink with your design cups or plates here.

I wanted to try, but it's too late...


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