Time in Japan

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Autumn Equinox

Today is the autumnal equinox. It's a national holiday in Japan. Both it and the spring equinox are days to visit family graves and pay one's respects.

My friend was going to do that today, so I went along for the ride. She dropped me off at a large 100 yen shop while she visited some family members.

On the way, we stopped at a veggie stand. This stand had pick your own edamame. Edamame are soybeans that you boil and eat. Usually with beer.






















To cook them, boil them in salted water for 10 minutes.

To eat, stick the pod in your mouth and use your teeth to pop the soybeans out. Yum!

I tried growing these once in Wisconsin, but the bunnies ate my plants.

Here is one of the beans.








On the way home, we stopped at a dahlia garden. This garden is one man's hobby. He also does amazing ink and brush paintings, which he invited us to see.







1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Happy Equinox--a great day for a holiday. Spring equinox is another good one, especially in the north. We have edamame and beer too, so let's party. Have never seen it grow. Your friend is very nice to show you all these good places. Good pics of flowers, and you.