Not too long ago, I was pleased to have spent a sunny afternoon with my wonderful friend Yoshi, whom I met last year in Sydney. It was great catching up on our lives then in the International House, and it made me realize that time has passed and we have to keep walking on, embracing the new chapters in our lives. Yet, what is enduring would be the true friendships that I am very privileged to keep through changing times.
The Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens belong to the Mito Tokugawa family and was formally inaugurated as a garden in 1938. The garden features a central pond with small paths that lead to calm and peaceful gardens.
It is hard not to fall in love with such serenity.
Afterwhich, we had the opportunity to visit the Yasukuni Shrine in the late afternoon. The Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to the soldiers of the Japanese WWII. From Yoshi, I learnt more about the Japanese politics and the reasons why this shrine is considered to be politically sensitive and controversial. It is interesting to observe how visits to the Shrine by Prime Ministers or other Ministers might be perceived differently by countries like Korea and China.
It is hard to explain everything here, but ask me someday again and I would be happy to share with you what I know.
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This annual fusion dance competition was held in conjunction with Cultural Day as well. Dancers from all the different prefectures in Japan gathered in Aqua City to perform and compete.
A Kimono head instructor first showed us how to don a kimono correctly. The entire process took about 40 minutes! We were then individually guided by our own instructors as we barely remembered the steps. 
Clad in our kimonos, we were then treated to a traditional tea-tasting ceremony. It did feel that we were transported back in time, where there was much importance placed on beauty, precision and a deep understanding of nature using our senses. 
My first time in a kimono. :)
& (possibly) a moment of grace?
It took us some time to get to the garden as we had to walk baby steps. ;)
In the afternoon, we then attended a Traditional Japanese Music Concert. It was my first acquaintance with the light yet powerful sound of the flute. The nagauta (traditional music that accompanies the Kabuki theatre)ensemble consisted of singers, shamisen (a plucked lute) and the hayashi ensemble of the Noh.
Interestingly, this concert was a collaboration with the British council so there were some English kids who performed the drums alongside their teacher. It was very entertaining! 
Caught a glimpse of the 'stars' after their performance.
Happy tea-drinkers!
It is hard not to fall in love with such serenity.
Afterwhich, we had the opportunity to visit the Yasukuni Shrine in the late afternoon. The Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to the soldiers of the Japanese WWII. From Yoshi, I learnt more about the Japanese politics and the reasons why this shrine is considered to be politically sensitive and controversial. It is interesting to observe how visits to the Shrine by Prime Ministers or other Ministers might be perceived differently by countries like Korea and China. 
***
