Happy New Year of the Ram!

2015 is officially here! What adventures will we have? Who will we meet? Where will we go? I smell a lesson plan brewing...

For my first day, I did my series of firsts.

First, I went for a walk to the Contemporary Poetry Park to take some pictures of the first snow. In light of that, I bring you "Ari no, mama no" or "Let it Go."

降り 始めて　雪は 足あと　 消して。 ましろ の 世界 に 一人 を 私。
Furi hajimete　yuki wa ashiato keshite. Mashiro no sekai ni hitori wo watashi.
The first fallen snow has no footsteps. A lonely world and I'm alone.

Sound familiar? Anyway, I walked around and snapped a couple pictures but mostly just enjoyed the quiet atmosphere as 2014 faded away. Then, I could hear voices counting and from the highest point of the park, I looked south and saw fireworks in the sky and heard people screaming and shouting! At the same time, under all that noise, I could faintly hear a temple bell being struck again and again like a heartbeat.

I went home to take a quick nap, but woke up again at 6am to go watch the first sunrise. It was cold and cloudy, but a few minutes before 7, the sky started getting brighter and the first rays came up over the eastern hills. It was a gentle sunrise, nothing triumphant or dynamic, but beautiful.

After that, it was time for the hatsumode, or first shrine visit. There was already a line outside Suwajinja, but I huddled there with everyone else, smelling the vendor stands as they heated up the takoyaki grills and started melting sugar for candied strawberries.

Inside the shrine, people clapped, bowed, threw coins and tossed their old charms onto the big bonfire.

In need of some caffeine, I went back home again and java'd myself back to life. After some ablutions, I grabbed my camera and ventured out into 2015. All day, it snowed on and off with periods of bright sunshine now and then. If I have any skills at reading weather fortunes, it's going to be an exciting but positive year.

Call me an optimist.

I started by checking out the Lucky Bag sales at Sakurano, hoping to find some coffee bags. I wasn't particularly inspired, but maybe I'll go back tomorrow. Honestly, I was just looking for instant, but mostly it was whole beans or grounds. We'll see if I feel high maintenance tomorrow.

I doubt it's a thing, but I went for a first stroll about town. All over, business are closed for a few days to celebrate the new year with family. A signature symbol of the new year is the kadomatsu, a bamboo stand set by the door, but both businesses and families also hang shimekazari.

Typically made from bamboo, wood, paper, pine or rice stalks, they come in all shapes and sizes are bring good luck and happiness to the building where they hang. No matter what the make or size, they're usually very beautiful. I could definitely see a market for them at American Christmas Bazaars!