The sign on the right window means "half off" or so we were told.
Not bad, two (somewhat) large pizzas = $37!
We haven't had much pizza in Japan because we don't have an oven and cooking pizza on the stove top or in the microwave has failed us. We loved Presto Pizzazz Pizza Oven idea but we were not able to find one here. BUT once every month Pizza Hut has a half off special, so we had to take advantage of it this time around! The sign on the right window means "half off" or so we were told. Yummy greasy goodness!
Not bad, two (somewhat) large pizzas = $37!
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Nothing like strawberry and milk flavored Pepsi! Eek! We had to try it....
Actually it tasted like strawberry flavored Sprite. Perhaps they meant strawberries and cream flavor.... We live in a part of Sendai called Izumi, its located about 6 miles north of the city center. When we first heard that Dan received an offer from the Sendai 89ers we were a little hesitant knowing the recent natural disaster that struck the Sendai area. We were under the impression that the city was completely damaged and everything was in disarray. There was a nuclear meltdown going on (just south of Sendai in Fukushima) and anyone thinking of going to or near Sendai was a fool. After talking with some people and doing some heavy research, we found out that the total destruction was limited to the area near the coastline, a good 40 minutes from the city. The earthquake and tsunami was epic and devastating, but it didn't wipe out the city of Sendai like american media reported. Gotta love how the international media portrayed what was going on in the area!
After much deliberation we decided to take the risk and move to "disaster-stricken Sendai." When we got to Sendai we were surprised to see a beautiful city standing before us with no signs that the biggest earthquake in Japan's history rocked it a few months prior. Everyone was going about their business, streets were packed with pedestrians and cars. People were laughing, talking and visiting the many stores, restaurants, and bars. This city of a million people did not show visible signs of damage, and we were happy to see that our decision was a good one. From what we know now, most of the damage happened on the coast, the area we have not visited just yet. The airport was completely damaged but both times I visited it was at night. We drove by a pile of tsunami debris but again at night its hard to tell what exactly you are looking at. Our Japanese friends told us that the streets of Sendai used to be smooth but now they are uneven and bumpy. The other day I walked around Izumi to see if I could see any visible damage to show you all. Since I grew up in Warsaw and then lived in Chicago for almost 18 years, I know that in all big city there will be damage from cars, people, and the weather. Poland still has buildings that have not been reconstructed after the communist regime swept through and Chicago has the pot holes that could easily engulf a Smart car. So for me actually realizing what was earthquake damage and was just regular city wear and tear has been difficult. But here are some images of damage around Izumi: I always enjoy looking at The Boston Globe's Big Picture section, the images are always so powerful, so real. Over the last year the section has featured a lot of unforgettable images of Japan and the earthquake/tsunami of March 11th. Here is the latest Big Picture that shows Japan's nuclear exclusion zone, crazy to think that we only live 73 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Japan's nuclear exclusion zone Here are a few the earlier features of the Big Picture.
I can't possibly fathom what this country has gone through over the last ten months. Happy New Year! Celebrating New Year's Eve in Japan is a little different than our normal lively State side celebrations. For the most part it seems that Japanese celebrate their New Year in a similar matter to our Christmas festivities, with family and friends at home. Shimekazari This Japanese New Year wreath is hung on the top of the entrance to houses or businesses to drive out evil spirits or block the invasion of bad luck and welcome the Shinto Gods. After the New Year, shimekazari, along with other ornaments are brought to local shrines to be burned. Ours is way to pretty to be burned! Hopefully we won't have bad luck if we keep it! Osoji At the end of the year, people clean their homes, cars, offices and anything else that needs intense cleaning. Scrubbing, sweeping, waxing and buffing! By cleaning, they get rid of last year’s dirt and feel purified and refreshed to start the New Year. We walked by our local car wash and we have never seen it so busy! Our cleaning involved throwing out the trash, drinking some wine and relaxing - after all we cleaned last week when our cousin came to visit! No need to clean twice in one week. :) Visiting a Temple/Shrine I read so much about the Japanese visiting temples on December 31st and since we weren't doing much, I dragged Dan to the Rinnoji Temple in Sendai. I think the temple looked great but we couldn't tell because it was pitch dark. We were the only ones there and by the look of things we were not going to see much that night. So frustrated and cold we trekked back to the Kita-Sendai subway stop. Ugh! I so wanted to experience the bells being rung 108 times at midnight and crowds of people praying. Kōhaku Uta Gassen From what I read online this is a popular Japanese singing contest between a red team and a white team. We found this by total accident, I thought it would be fun to channel surf all four of our Japanese channels. Dan just rolled his eyes as soon as the TV flickered on and decided it would be a good time to go shower. I have to say, maybe if I understood Japanese it would be more intriguing but instead it just sounded like a lot of brutal singing. So I moved on to our next channel and between the infomercials and singing competitions, I found a symphony performing Bethoveen`s Ninth Symphony. Beautiful performance and in Japan it is commonly associated with New Year - who would have thought! As soon as Dan came back we decided it would be a better idea to put on Parks and Recreation. Now here is the kicker, three Apple products and none of the times match up....Thank goodness for the old fashioned clock! Making a pizza without an oven can be a little tricky. Most Japanese homes don't have an oven yet major grocery stores sell frozen pizzas. Dan tried microwaving one before but it didn't quite work, so we thought we would try this.
We could use a Little Caesar's Hot-N-Ready about now! How else are we supposed to cook a pizza, suggestions? When Dan was at an away game in Okinawa, I got a chance to venture out of Izumi and explore the Osaki Hachimangu Shrine in Sendai city. The shrine was simply stunning! It was exactly what I was missing in our everyday life in Japan; the old beautiful Japanese architecture and the sacred traditions of the far East. I even got a private tour inside of the shrine! I was so taken back by their generosity and willingness to show me around. I only asked if I would be able to go inside to take a look, they agreed but I got the two hands crossed for photography (meaning no pictures inside, haha) A Shinto priest as well as an English translator gave me a mini tour. The inside was simply beautiful, rich in color, as well as traditions and spirituality. The woodwork was painted over 400 years ago and has not been touched since, only the outside of the shrine has been restored. The shrine itself was constructed between 1604 and 1607. While inside, the priest and the translator showed me the proper way to pray: you bow twice, clap your hands twice, make a sincere wish , and bow one more time. (I bowed twice at the end and they started giggling... hey, gotta love the foreigner trying to fit in, ha) Ema are votive plaques. At most shrines, one finds a stand with hundreds of small wooden plaques attached to it. These votive plaques, sold at the Shrine, are called ema. Worshippers buy the plaque, write their wish on it, then hang it on the ema stand, in hopes the shrine deity will grant their wish. All types of wishes are made -- couples hoping to have children, students hoping to pass school exams, people looking for true love, etc. Good Luck/Bad Luck fortune: Most shrines sell fortunes called Omikuji. If you draw a good fortune, keep it, take it home with you. But if it's bad, leave it at the shrine. These are bad fortunes tied to a rope at the shrine, people would also leave them on trees, fences, etc. The concept is leave the bad luck at the shrine, were the divine spirit can get rid it. We finally bought a Christmas tree.... MERRY CHRISTMAS! (or HAPPY CHRISTMAS as they say here.) ¥ 1,960 spent well (about $24.31) for a 120 cm Christmas tree all ready with decorations. Here Christmas trees come in a little kit with lights, decorations and tree skirt. We have little ornaments that look like Christmas present, apples and regular plastic balls. We also bought stockings... or FELT SOCK BAGS as they are called here. As well as candy canes to make it more homey. Gotta love the international area at our local grocery store! Okay, here is the REAL size of our tree! Tiny tiny, but it does definitely bring the Christmas feel to our Sendai apartment. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Dan made a comment in our previous post about people thinking he was Godzilla or just the really tall white American player. Well during one of their open practices a fan gave him a gift, it was a Pez dispenser of the Green Lantern!
I think this little girl thought he looked like the super hero! Definitely take that over Godzilla! |