Grandmother Kiyo-san's 88th Birthday
Micah and Ayu were married in Birmingham August of 2007 and Ayu's parents, two of her three sisters and grandmother, Kiyo-san came for the wedding. It was soon evident that she is a huge heart not bounded her tiny 4'8". Despite no verbal communication, we felt immediate connection that has grown beautifully since. So we were absolutely delighted to learn that we would be able participate in her honoring for 88. Her wish was for the family to gather for dinner at her favorite udon noodle restaurant.
It looks small from the outside but inside is quite spacious. They make their own noodles on site daily from a secret recipe for which they are famous.
Buddhist temples are almost as ubiquitous as churches in the US and also quite ornate in their own way. This one was next door to the restaurant, so we had to check it out while we waited for our guest of honor to arrive. Unfortunately, it has been allowed to become dilapidated as have many all over Japan. We are told that there is less interest among the younger generations.
And of course the neighborhood solar array.
Ayu is the oldest of four Yamaguchi granddaughters (no males), and this is Kana, number three, with her two sons, Seya and Shua. Her husband, Sho and daughter Rinoa, their eldest child, were not able to join us. They expect number four next month.
Youngest sister Yui and husband Yudai. They have two daughters, Miu 14 who we had met as a baby on our last visit, and Rinka 10. Miu had a tennis match and was unable to join us.
Our magnificent guest of honor and her daughter Tomi, Ayu's mother. Warm, loving hosts, Tomi gave us her bedroom on our first visit and moved into Kiyo-san's room in their tiny condo. Family is very important in this culture, and they have certainly welcomed us into theirs! They are overjoyed to have us back. Disappointingly, we are now 30 minutes away from them up the mountain, and are not able to see as much of them as we would like.
Aza and Rinka, bestie cousins like to dress as twinsies.
Two year old Shua into the fried noodles, shaped like hearts, which were brought pre-appetizers.
Seya loving on great-grandma.
And now the meal! Here's roasted duck, sautéed onions and little chopped up pieces of organ meat - heart? liver? or?? This will be added to the noodles.
Ordered specifically for us to experience, this "tofu skin" stuffed with sweet rice flavored with we know not what, was a pleasant surprise. We expected it to be a savory side dish. OMG - it was ambrosial! This is a good place to comment that the sugar industry has not distorted the Japanese pallet, so sweets are gentle and subtle.
Surprised that our tofu encrusted sweet rice was not desert, this appeared before all the adults. The cake was only slightly sweet with a spice that Miriam could not identify (highly unusual). In the little bowl, are sweet beans in some kind of gelatinous sweet sauce topped on the side with a mysterious mixture of ground nuts and sugar. On the side was whipped cream. Traditionally, the adults eat what they want and the kids only get what's left!
Seya working hard to look like a tough guy in Alim's hat.
Besties twirling their skirts while adults are saying their goodbyes and Ayu handles the checkout.
Fortunately, we were able to have this celebration before the approaching typhoon!
