Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is also Thanksgiving in Japan. Their Thanksgiving is more like our Labor Day, because it is a day to give thanks for working and workers. Since it was a holiday here the schools were closed. Yesterday we visited a Middle School and today we had an opportunity to meet with some parents of Yukuhashi at their city hall and then go to the Shin Buddhist Temple. At the temple we listened to a traditional Japanese instrument, called the Koto, partook in Chanoyu (tea ceremony), and we learned about Japanese calligraphy and Ikebana (traditional flower arranging). The generosity of all the people we encountered today was overwhelming. The Japanese people are so very giving and proud of their traditions; they warmly open their hearts to us and I feel so very fortunate to really be experiencing Japan from the point of view of the people who live here. What follows are some images from the last two days.