13 years

so many things have happened in those 13 years

good things, bad things

missing you especially today, Mom

Love you.

mil's (final)

I told you about BIL telling Satoshi that they needed to make more changes to MIL's

It was about the same time when BIL was getting scammed

He lost his savings

And then he did something unthinkable

He stole from the company that he worked for and gave the money to the scammers!

Luckily the company did not press charges

Thankful that Satoshi’s company allowed him time off and to work from home/Kyoto in order to take care of things

Long story short, we had to sell MIL's

Because his name was also on the deed, Satoshi also received some monies from the sale, but needs to use this money to pay his taxes from the sale of the house

SIL divorced BIL to protect herself from any responsibility of BIL’s debt

Satoshi also cut ties with BIL so that we would not be responsible for any of BIL’s other debts

Before MIL's was sold, I had Satoshi bring the ihai (spirit tablet) of the ancestors, MIL & FIL to Tokyo

And the Kannon (goddess of mercy) that was on the butsudan (family altar)

A very sad adventure but lots of important lessons to learn from

I appreciate all the good mojo from family and friends throughout all of this.

MIL’s (part 7)

(photo from before the renovations)

when I posted part 6 I thought everything was pau (finished)…not!

so Satoshi went to his Uncle’s funeral on Monday.

His brother attended also (apparently he wasn’t gonna go at first but did after he heard Satoshi was going)

Apparently at the funeral, his brother said they needed to talk about "things"…

Apparently he said there were problems with the renovations

And now there were more things that need to be done

Um it’s been over 6 months since you moved in and only now you bring this up?!

If you remember I was kinda of peeved 

I probably would’ve been okay with them bringing this up now if they had sent photos before they moved in...like "here is what the renovations look like now, and we're moving in soon"...

And then they could’ve said “we’ve lived here for several months and realize that blah blah needs to be fixed and we need to renovate blah blah too”

MIL’s monies were apparently used up for the renovations and they now need us to pay for these “extra” things that need to be fixed, because they apparently do not have any savings…grr

I really hope they honor their part of the agreement

saying goodbye

Sunday, we found out that Satoshi's uncle passed away

He played his violin at our wedding reception in Japan many moons ago

Satoshi couldn’t go to the wake yesterday but will attend the funeral and cremation today

We will miss his spunky character

thanks for today

my pedometer app thingy that is on my phone didn't track my steps, so I only had 14! WT?!

Tuesday, I met up with my Aunty and her husband to take them to Yoyogi Park where we saw the early blooming sakura (kawazuzakura, I think)

only 10 trees here, but they were pretty, have brought V here in the past

And then to the Eastern Palace Gardens which you enter from the Otemon Gate.

You need to get your bags checked but it goes pretty quickly

They also had some other early blooming sakura varieties

Lunch was across the street under the Palace Hotel at Inataya

We were with the salarymen (office worker) crowd, so orders are taken quickly and food also comes out rather quickly

The coating on the outside was a little thicker than most tempura you see in Japan, it had been awhile since I’d had sweet potato tempura, so ono!

The food was good and prices reasonable..1580 yen (tax included)

After lunch, Aunty's husband went back to the hotel, because Aunty wanted to go to Nippori to buy fabric, the last time I was here was in 2018

And then we went across to Yanaka to have something sweet at Waguriya.

This shop has 17000 tsubo (13 acres) of chestnut trees in Kasama, Ibaraki!

This mont blanc was different because it was only chestnut purée nothing underneath! and the gateau chocolat was decadent and rich…delicious 2500 yen (tax included)

I was very disappointed and shocked with the two East Asian women sitting next to us though, photographing/videographing their desserts, smooshing it up with their spoons while photographing/videographing then not eating it at all! grr!

Tokyo People (maybe) in Yoyogi Park

not Tokyo People...snoring loudly while we took photos of the beautiful camellia tree next to him...look at the big Asahi beer next to him too!

I haven't seen that size beer for many years...

Tokyo furry one! real! at Yanaka

It was nice to spend time with family.

Thanks for today

Inataya

1-1-1 Palace Building B1

Chiyoda, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays

Hours: 11:00-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-22:00 (dinner on Wednesdays only)

Waguriya

3-9-14 Yanaka

Taito, Tokyo

Closed Mondays

Hours: 11:00-17:30

devi india

My Aunty and her husband were here so we met up with them at Devi India on Monday.

It was a little tricky to find because the place was not properly noted on Google maps.

I ordered the Tandoori plate, this came with chicken, shrimp, a sausage and tandoori chicken, oh and a little veggies

Delicious but way too much food!

My aunty ordered the same thing and also ordered a naan.

Satoshi was actually not sure he could make it, but luckily he was able to come!

He had their shrimp curry, onion naan and ordered a salad too, he was hungry! because he didn't have time to eat during his tour...

My Aunty's husband had the butter chicken and saffron rice

Everyone enjoyed the food and there was leftovers
 

Aunty gave us all sorts of omiyage from Trader Joe's (even another mini TJ bag) and sweets from Shirakawago (thank you!)

My other Aunty gave us a big bag of mac nut chocolates (thank you!)

Glad we could spend some time with them 

Thanks for today!

Devi India

inside the Shinagawa Yokocho

3-25-23 Takanawa

Minato, Tokyo

Hours: 11:00-14:30 (lunch), 17:00-22:30 (dinner)

mil’s (part 6)

Well the renovations are done and BIL & SIL are moving in this weekend (photo from before the renovations)

if you missed out on what happened, please read this

I’m a little peeved that we had to ask them how things were going for them to give us an update

Anywho, glad the renovations are done and at least now we’ll have a place to stay whenever we go to Kyoto

thanks for today

Cousin D was here with his family.

Luckily we were able to meet up on their last day in Tokyo, last Sunday

We met at Ginza Six's Sanada, which we've been to before.

It was nice seeing them and it sounded like they enjoyed their first trip to Japan.

Another cousin C was also here with her family and we were lucky to be able to meet up on their last day in Japan, this past Saturday.

We went to Oraga Soba inside of Shinjuku Isetan.

It was nice catching up with them and it also sounded like they enjoyed their first trip to Japan.

Thanks for today C & D!

We appreciate you making time to meet up.

Safe travels!

mil's (part 5)

MIL's renovations started this week and will end hopefully sometime in November.

Hoping it will all go smoothly and stay within budget.

17 years + MIL's (part 4)

Saturday, we got together for FIL's 17th memorial service.

Seems like yesterday and yet not.

Unfortunately BIL forgot FIL’s photo for the service

And Satoshi forgot the arare that we planned to give as our offering for the service

Lunch was at Hyatt Kyoto's Touzan, we've eaten here many times over the years.

Back up to Wednesday, BIL asks Satoshi if we can meet up on Sunday to discuss MIL's house...

well, we had only planned to stay Friday night then return to Tokyo after the service Saturday...

(like BIL couldn't have told Satoshi this when they met up in February?!)

So…BIL is going with his architect

With MIL's money, they will get the house cleaned and if there are areas that need to be fixed, they will get it fixed

And if everything goes smoothly, BIL & SIL should be able to move in by the end of the year...

After MIL's monies run out, whatever costs incurred will be paid by Satoshi, and BIL will pay Satoshi back his half.

Anyway, that's what's what...

Thankful we were able to get together to remember FIL.

And thankful, things with MIL's is going as well as can be.

mil's (part 3)

Saturday, Satoshi went to Kyoto to decide what things he will keep and what will be thrown out.

 

Afterwards he met up with classmates for drinks

The next day, he and BIL met with the architect.

He even had a “model” to show them.

BIL has been talking with a different architect, so they’ll see what he/she comes up with then make a decision.

MIL’s (part 2)

So...the architect said the house is kinda “leaning”...eep!

He said he would think up different ideas/plans for Satoshi & BIL to look over

BIL and Satoshi talked over the weekend, it turns out MIL still has a little savings (whew! but um why wasn’t this brought up earlier?!)

So BIL & Satoshi will use this money to purge stuff and maybe have stuff fixed?!

If there are added costs after they use up MIL's monies, Satoshi will pay and have BIL pay him for BIL's half of the costs.

So I think purging is the next phase…I told Satoshi he should ask BIL to let him use a room in BIL's apartment to store the stuff Satoshi wants to keep, then BIL can arrange to have MIL's purged and cleaned during 2024?!

Dunno when BIL & Satoshi will actually start doing anything, though I’m crossing fingers they will start soon...send good mojo.

MIL's

Over the past couple of months, BIL and Satoshi have been having talks as to what to do with MIL's house.

In the beginning, Satoshi left everything up to BIL, so BIL was talking about selling the house, but then they both started thinking about "life after retirement"…

Satoshi says he isn't quite ready to move back to Kyoto just yet 

On the other hand, BIL & SIL are ready to move out of their condo, especially since it is kind of out of the way and they don’t like their condo association.

On top of all of that, in 2024, Kyoto will start charging a tax for houses that aren't being lived in.

BIL says they don't have money to pay for renovations or to buy a new house, which means that Satoshi will have to pay for most, if not all of the renovation costs/or to build a new house.

Satoshi's friend put them in touch with an architect, so Satoshi is in Kyoto today to meet with him.

The architect will check the foundation today as well as for termites (and maybe other critters, eep!)...

So..if the base of the house and structure are still strong (though the house is over 50 years old), Satoshi thinks they should just get the house cleaned and if need be maybe do a little fixing up.

But if not, they would need to rebuild

Stay tuned and send good mojo

10 years

sometimes it seems like yesterday, yet it is not.

Think about you all the time but especially today.

Was happy to see many rainbows while I was in Hawaii.

Miss you Mom. 

this and that

Tokyo People: this grandma reminded me of my grandma, she wouldn't use her cane just carry it...

sometimes I see Tokyo People with some “interesting” things written on their clothes..."think rich look poor"

or on this lady’s bag, "any piranha tries to chomp me, I'll pound him"...didn't know Snoopy was so violent! ha!

shakuyaku (chinese peony) season

we thought this dark thick grey cloud that looks like a mountain range might be the dust cloud from the gobi desert...ick!
 

went to Ikegami Honmonji and the surrounding temples to check out their flowers...wisteria

botan (Japanese peonies)

more botan

azaleas

wisteria...

Yesterday, went to check out this wisteria near Sakaeya Bakery.

It had been a year since I had been this way, many empty lots and construction along the way, was hard to remember what had been there before.

2 ladies were sitting and chatting under the flowers, so I tried to make sure my photos didn't include them.

Bought a bacon egg burger from Sakaeya Bakery 260 yen (tax included) and mini donuts filled with sweet bean paste 240 yen (tax included)

The weather was very blazing!

Earlier in the week…Thankful for BFF who opened up a letter I had received from my bank in Hawaii

Apparently back in December 2022 one of their employee’s email account was accessed without authorization and there were emails and attachments that might have had my info in it! 

after an investigation that ended in March 2023! it was determined that an email/attachment that had my info was involved, gah!

If you ask me it was kind of a long period between December and now to tell me about it…

So, I froze stuff and canceled stuff, what a p.i.t.a. trying to remember what info I'd given to set up accounts, especially when I sometimes can't even remember what I've eaten for lunch the day before...hope the person(s) involved got laser beamed…

Sadly my aunty who is also with this bank told me she received the same letter…eep!

Hoping no other “excitement” comes from this…

I just found out that one of my Dad's sisters passed away. We will miss you Aunty J.

Not wanting to end this on a sad note...can I show you the last lily from Easter?! Still going strong.

Hope things are better where you are and you are doing well.

Have a safe weekend.

this and that

When I saw this at Bakery Alice, I had to try.

I don't know if it is the same as the Supreme Croissants made by Lafayette Bakery, but these were delicious.

Filled with whipped chocolate cream, the insides were light and not overly sweet.

The outside texture was crispy and coated with lots of chocolate.

Satoshi’s was strawberry filled with strawberry whipped cream.

I think Bakery Alice calls these vinyl croissants probably because they look like records.

They are definitely smaller and cheaper than the Lafayette croissants...320 yen (tax included).

Umeshu...4 more months to go...

Wednesday we flew to Osaka then bussed it to Kyoto.

Dinner was at Lipton in the Porta Mall since we wanted to use the travel coupons we received and also because this shop was recently renovated by Satoshi's classmate.

Sadly, the food was expensive and nothing too special.

MIL's 3rd year memorial service was held on Thursday which was a holiday, the Emperor's birthday.

Glad the drizzles stopped for a bit.

This was the 1st time I've seen the ume trees in bloom where the graves are located.

Lunch was at Yakiniku Tendan with the family (no photo)

After checking into the ryokan we would be staying at, I had curry rice and Satoshi had curry udon at Mimikou, which has been in business in the Gion area since 1969.

This curry wasn't heavy, it was super flavorful because it uses dashi (fish and konbu stock)

It was nice to see Kyoto Tower lit up.

The taxi driver as well as we were surprised to see this huge kokeshi doll in the front of Higashi Hongwanji.

It was a quick trip to Kyoto, we were glad to be able to go.

Satoshi still needs to go through his things at his mom's.

It was raining in Kyoto but we were lucky it wasn't when we got back to Tokyo

Have a safe weekend.

Dormy Inn Kyoto

558-8 Higashishiokoji-cho

Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Phone: 075.371.5489

Ryokan Heianbo

725 Higashishiokoji-cho

Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Phone: 075.351.0650

Lipton Porta

902 Higashishiokoji-cho

Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Phone: 075.343.3901

Hours: 8:00-22:00 (Closed when Porta is)

Yakiniku Tendan

1-225 Miyagawasuji

Higashiyama, Kyoto

Phone: 075.551.4129

Weekends & Holidays: 11:30-23:00

Weekdays: 17:00-23:00

Mimikou Porta

902 Higashishiokoji-cho

Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

Phone: 075.352.3322

Hours: 11:00-22:00 (Closed when Porta is)