Botan in the garden!

My mother sent me this photo. It is in our garden. 

I love peony.  (japanese name is Botan) I have got kimono with botan patterns on it. 

This is the one!!

sakura

I heard the cherry blossoms are at their best this week.... I am far away from home... I wonder how they look like... how they bloom.... how they smell...

This is last year's sakura. I know this year's sakura is slightly but certainly different...

I miss them!

bento lunch box

I love bento boxes. (Japanese lunch boxes)  This picture was taken in Shinkansen train from Kyoto. It has 3 rice balls, some vegies, and fried chicken. Very well balanced meal. 

In bento shops, I always have to spend a long time because there are so many kinds of bento!! Meat? Fish? Vegis or Seeweed? Very impressive. 

My grandma was a farmer, I think she always took a lunch box like this, to work in her rice paddles. I am sure it gave her a pleasure and relax time. 

the reason why people go shopping everyday

I love SASHIMI, though I don't eat much while I am in Australia... 

Sashimi is very typical Japanese meal, because it has to be fresh.(Because it's raw!!) May be that's why many Japanese people go grocery shopping everyday. When I just came to Australia, I was impressed that people go shopping only once in a week. It is very reasonable. 

Antagata dokosa - where are you from?-

The second podcast programme updated!! I choose Antagata dokosa this time.

This is very Japanese traditional tune. I used to sing this when I was small.

I love all kinds of Japanese kids songs, and I think they often sound spooky... I don't know why. I love the spookiness of Japanese culture. I love 'Kwaidan' by Yakumo Koizumi (Lafcadio Hearn). I did music by his "snow woman" last year. I will start the next one soon.

Anyway, enjoy "Antagata dokosa"!!

So shun fu -early spring-

I updated the first podcast programme!!

I choose old Japanese song "so shun fu" (it means early spring).

I think it makes you feel longing beautiful spring time.

So shun fu podcast programme

beautiful sky

This is one the reasons why I am in Australia!!

Beautiful sky!!

MOMOCHIYO WEB OPEN!!

Momochiyo web is now open!!!!

MOMOCHIYO WEB

Podcast programme is starting soon, and a lot of fun!!

MOMOCHIYO-what does it mean?

I changed my name recently. My real name is very Japanese, which means hard to pronounce for English speaking people!!

I love my name, MOMOCHIYO. MOMO means peach in Japanese. Peach is a fruit which is served for God. There is a famous story "MOMOTARO" in Japan. The story is about a boy who was born from a gigantic peach!!

CHIYO means forever. In Japanese national anthem, there is a phrase "Chiyo ni Yachi yo ni". Beautiful!

And also, there is a saying "Bear fruit"!

I am really hoping MOMOCHIYO's music reach you so that you can taste it!!

Kimono flautist found!!!

Today, I found "kimono" flautist in the city!!

I collect "flautist" figures!! Yes, there is an elephant, a monkey, a mouse....

But this is the very fist one wearing kimono!!

Back home!

I just got back from Japan. About 2 months stay. I had a lot of amazing experiences.

We went to 7 days trip! We visited Ise, Kumano, Nara, Kyoto... We visited so many shrines! (I am very keen shrine lover!)

I would love to share photos from the trip...

Let's start from Kyoto!!
In kyoto, I was so lucky to meet real Maiko and Geisha san! I was so excited, because it was the very first to time to see them!!

It was pity however I couldn't see their obi! It is winter, they need to wear coats....