Yesterday evening I met one of my cousins for the first time in about 15 years. I have a poor quality scan on my computer of a photo taken way back in 1993, which apparently was our most “recent” meeting. It was a strange reunion in that I didn’t really speak to her that much. Actually the strangest thing was when I got home and encountered this person and had no idea if she was my cousin or the friend she was travelling with.

Happy New Year. 明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしく!All the best for 2008!

It’s been close to 10 years since I’ve experienced the turning of the year in Japan. A significant change to how I spent it last year. Last year I counted out 2006 with my parents standing in the freezing cold on Westminster Bridge watching the fireworks around the London Eye.

This year, I spent with my grandparents and my mum at the ancestral home here in Japan, pinning an お守り / omamori / amulet to the North corner of the 茶の間 / chanoma / living room. Although I feel Japan is not that religious it’s times like this that I realise that there is a deep rooted tradition in religious rituals, etc. I look around this home and there are amulets and various “blessed” objects on show everywhere.

It’s a real pure, refreshing atmosphere to be in.