Sakura Matsuri / Science Magic HIGE dance

It was fantastic performance!

Audience, teachers, children, and adults all enjoyed our performance.

Ryan

Kyle and Killian

Elisabeth and Killian

Killian

Jump rope

Jump rope #2

I hope all of us have a peaceful, restful weekend.

Thank you.

SETSUBUN / Bean-Throwing Festival

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of each season in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called "Risshun" celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival. In its association with the Lunar New Year, Spring Setsubun can be and was previously thought of as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (bean throwing).

Mamemaki (Bean-Throwing) is usually performed by the "toshiotoko" of the household (i.e., the male who was born on the corresponding animal year on the Chinese zodiac), or else the male head of the household. Roasted soybeans (called fuku mame) are thrown either out the door or at a member of the family wearing an Oni (demon or ogre) mask, while the throwers chant "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!". The words roughly translate to "Demons out! Luck in!" The beans are thought to symbolically purify the home by driving away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them. Then, as part of bringing luck in, it is customary to eat roasted soybeans, one for each year of one's life, and in some areas, one for each year of one's life plus one more for bringing good luck for the year to come.

Oni (demon or ogre)

At Hideko's class

At Hideko's class

Mochitsuki Festival

Thank you for coming to Mochitsuki Festival. Unfortunately Ryan was sick that day and couldn't come play with us.

I didn't know it was that crowded, but children did a great job at the stage.

They have learned this song "Blind Mary" faster than we did the first song "Down by the Sally's garden".

The third song will be more difficult...