A Wee Backtrack

On July 12th Kohei and I arrived in Japan. Saying some teary goodbyes to grandmas, grandpa and my folks, the plane ride was a surreal travel through space and time, having been 2 years since my last venture on this soil.

Within a week, Kohei and I made the pilgrimage to Akita for Obon, a gathering time to remember ancestors, visit graves and pay respects to extended family members. As always, Kohei`s family is warmly inviting. We stayed for two nights, ate delectible foods and slept soundly despite summer`s raging heat. Summer festivals are a welcome respite from the heat. We passed one on our drive.



Though Obon is first and foremost about family, Kohei`s parents let us jet off to Akita City one morning for a flash visit with old friends. Miho and Ritsuko are Akita`s most gracious divas and our most precious friends. They are insanely busy with planning parties around the prefecture, both with international guests and with our fav local djs. How can you top a weekend of grooving in the pristine mountains of Akita, next to an outdoor hotspring bath surrounded by humble, loving friends?



Soon Miho had to be off to work. Ritsuko, the eternal social monarch managed to get the boys gathered together in half an hour for a quick hello. The guilty party below is known for keeping the vibe pounding for days with never a wink of tire: Kohei, Ritsuko, Sato-san, Yanagita-san and Go.



Mom, Dad and little Kuri-chan (Chestnut) escorted us part of the way back to Fukushima where Kohei works. It gave them a chance to go for a drive and also was a great help to us in navigating a portion of the 6 hour journey home, not to mention the lunch they treated us to at a fabulous green-tea-flavoured soba shop.



Even in the rain its entrance way was stunning



S`all for now ;)