My 24th Birthday

I had a good birthday this year. I did not necessarily expect to have a good birthday. But, all-in-all, I relaxed, felt the sun, and was congratulated by friends, family, and others. Thank you for caring. thankyouthankyouthankyou

After a simple lunch at Yoshinoya (a diner-style cheap Japanese restaurant, the likes of which I went to so often in the past, that I miss them not being in Hongu, where I live now) of meat over rice, miso, and pickled things, I was kindly driven to Shirahama beach. A discussion with a friend made me realize that I like the hotels and commerce packed into the view behind us, approaching the shoreline, rather than the secluded-island style beach, because of all the fond times I’ve had at Florida’s beaches, which resemble Shirahama.

The crowd was enormous for a small beach (because it was a Saturday and a festival day), so different genres of music blended together from all directions coming from under others’ umbrellas; wayward frisbees and beach balls encroached on groups of tourists (mostly national) who weren’t playing; and a grocer peddled imported fruits for a “good price.”

These lanterns were spread out over Shirahama beach in honor of deceased ancestors. My birthday weekend coincided with Obon, the festival in Japan for spirits, during which time they return home (I think).

A pizza restaurant near the beach which had the best pizza I’ve ever had in this country.

The one picture I have of our hours in the karaoke box.

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The night ended, and I returned home (by bus) the next evening to a surprise: the torii–a Shinto gate–was lighted. I didn’t learn until later that this, too, was to celebrate Obon. I’m pretty sure that Hongu has one of the world’s largest torii. That’s the one they lighted.

This is the view from my yard. The torii would have been hardly visible if not for the spotlights.

And a magnified view:

Thank you again!

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