navigating Okinawa's gluten free options

Moving to a new country can be daunting for even the most adventurous of spirits, but when you have food allergies or sensitivities, it can cause the feeling of excitement to turn to dread. While celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are more related to auto-immune disorders than to true food allergies, the strict avoidance of allergens is the only way to stay healthy! I'll admit that when we found out we were moving to Okinawa, I had no idea what to expect as far as handling my food allergy issues. I am sensitive enough that I even react to most of the "gluten free" items sold at the base commissaries and other grocery stores. I've been pleasantly surprised, though, by the number of farmers markets and fresh-produce restaurants around the island!

If you or someone you know has celiac disease or gluten intolerance, here are a few shops and restaurants that have been friendly and accommodating when it comes to these "food allergy" issues!

But first, a few notes:

**Please keep in mind that gluten and the sensitivity to it are virtually unknown throughout most of Asia, and that most restaurant employees will not know which items do or don't have gluten in them. In fact, the word "gluten" does not exist in the Japanese language. You and you alone will need to be the judge of whether a food product is safe for your consumption.

**There are a few restaurants (and packaged products) that will call themselves "gluten free," but since the handling of gluten is so unknown here, many of these proprietors do not understand the concept of cross contamination! Please use this solely as a guide to start your own research into places that may be safe for you!

**Also, remember that Okinawans tend to be very patient and gracious with us as we try to navigate our way through finding safe foods. Extra smiles and "thank you's" will go a long way in helping restaurant employees to want to continue helping us along the way!


Re:FOOD

This market opened recently in Araha, and it's full of celiac safe goodies! The shop sells gluten free items from the United States as well as from various parts of Europe and even Australia! They also have shop-made ice creams, juices, and other locally made fresh options.

While the items here will be a bit more pricey than shopping from Vitacost, there's something almost magical about being able to drive to a store to pick up an item you need instead of having to wait two weeks for your groceries to arrive.

Green Leaf

Not too far from Re:FOOD is Green Leaf, a small shop boasting a large array of organic food options. While not every item will be safe for someone with celiac, they do carry several difficult-to-find gluten free items! Green Leaf also has a small cafe, where you can get a delicious smoothie or coffee beverage.

If you find you want to shop there frequently, make sure you pick up a point card. The more purchases you make, the closer you will be to earning a "percent off" reward.

Yakiniku King

I've written about Yakiniku King before, and we've never been disappointed in our visits there! If you're new to Japanese cuisine, yakiniku is translated as "grilled meat" and refers to a broad variety of bite-sized meats cooked on a grill.

Yakiniku King can be great for those with specific food allergies, because they have an expansive kitchen with different areas for different types of food. While you will do the most of your ordering using the tablet at your table, it's best to talk with the server ahead of time to let them know about your allergies. I keep a translation on my phone at all times so that I can easily hand it to the server who comes by the table to ask which set you prefer. Some of them are more well-informed than others, but the servers who don't understand will typically go get a manager. Usually, that manager will bring an allergy card to let you know which items have which common allergens.

When you go, it's best to stick to plain meats and vegetables. Ask for your food to come "shiodake" (salt only), as most of the sauces will not be safe. Even the butters can have added "aminos" that contain gluten in some form, so plan to bring your own soy sauce if you want to dip! The tablet ordering system will often ask if you want sauce or salt only, but it's best to speak with the server ahead of time as well.

When cooking, remember that you are sharing a grill with the people at your table. If you are very sensitive, you may want to consider cooking all of your food first, and then letting the others at your table have free reign of the grill. If you aren't as sensitive, it may be okay for you to have one section of the grill to yourself, as long as you ensure nothing with sauce touches your designated area!

*Note: There are some occasions where something with sauce has made its way to our table, so do make sure that you double-check the meats that come your way. If this occurs, the servers have always been gracious and have swapped it out with a salt-only item. I am extremely sensitive to cross contamination, and I have never been contaminated here!

Kasthamandap - Nepal Spice Kitchen

Spice Kitchen is a great choice if you like curry, because they have a separate little area for making the naan! There are several curries you can safely order on the menu, and if you let the server know you have an allergy to wheat (they do not know what gluten is, but they know what wheat flour is), they will let you know which items to avoid. All the curries have an option to come with plain rice, so you'll have something on your plate to soak in that delicious, spiced goodness!

*The person making the naan does not touch the curry and does not serve customers. I always ask for our server to wash his/her hands though, just in case. They've never questioned me about this, and I've never gotten sick here!

Ajitoya

I've saved my favorite for last, because anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with this restaurant. The reggae music and Araha waterfront view (especially at sunset) make for a fun and relaxing ambiance. The food, though, is truly delightful! The soup curry is loaded with healthy vegetables and a warm broth that reminds me of Grandma's home-cooked soup.

Ajitoya has two different sections on their menu. One is soup curry and one is keema. The keema curry has soy sauce and other gluten-containing ingredients, so you'll want to stay on the "soup curry" side of the menu. I've tried almost every item on the soup curry menu, and I've never had a reaction. Even the sausage, which can often contain gluteny fillers, caused no noticeable reaction!

Ordering here is easy, and I never even need to mention my gluten-related issues in order to get a safe meal. All you need to do is choose your soup curry, add your spice level, and voila!

There are three locations on the island, all of them as delicious and warm and friendly as the next.

I hope that this article will help you to find some new ways to explore the wonderful food options that Okinawa has to share, while also keeping you safe and healthy! If you have experienced some great gluten-free meals on the island, feel free to let me know in the comments!

navigating Okinawa's gluten free options

Moving to a new country can be daunting for even the most adventurous of spirits, but when you have food allergies or sensitivities, it can cause the feeling of excitement to turn to dread. While celiac disease and gluten sensitivity are more related to auto-immune disorders than to true food allergies, the strict avoidance of allergens is the only way to stay healthy! I'll admit that when we found out we were moving to Okinawa, I had no idea what to expect as far as handling my food allergy issues. I am sensitive enough that I even react to most of the "gluten free" items sold at the base commissaries and other grocery stores. I've been pleasantly surprised, though, by the number of farmers markets and fresh-produce restaurants around the island!

If you or someone you know has celiac disease or gluten intolerance, here are a few shops and restaurants that have been friendly and accommodating when it comes to these "food allergy" issues!

But first, a few notes:

**Please keep in mind that gluten and the sensitivity to it are virtually unknown throughout most of Asia, and that most restaurant employees will not know which items do or don't have gluten in them. In fact, the word "gluten" does not exist in the Japanese language. You and you alone will need to be the judge of whether a food product is safe for your consumption.

**There are a few restaurants (and packaged products) that will call themselves "gluten free," but since the handling of gluten is so unknown here, many of these proprietors do not understand the concept of cross contamination! Please use this solely as a guide to start your own research into places that may be safe for you!

**Also, remember that Okinawans tend to be very patient and gracious with us as we try to navigate our way through finding safe foods. Extra smiles and "thank you's" will go a long way in helping restaurant employees to want to continue helping us along the way!


Re:FOOD

This market opened recently in Araha, and it's full of celiac safe goodies! The shop sells gluten free items from the United States as well as from various parts of Europe and even Australia! They also have shop-made ice creams, juices, and other locally made fresh options.

While the items here will be a bit more pricey than shopping from Vitacost, there's something almost magical about being able to drive to a store to pick up an item you need instead of having to wait two weeks for your groceries to arrive.

Green Leaf

Not too far from Re:FOOD is Green Leaf, a small shop boasting a large array of organic food options. While not every item will be safe for someone with celiac, they do carry several difficult-to-find gluten free items! Green Leaf also has a small cafe, where you can get a delicious smoothie or coffee beverage.

If you find you want to shop there frequently, make sure you pick up a point card. The more purchases you make, the closer you will be to earning a "percent off" reward.

Yakiniku King

I've written about Yakiniku King before, and we've never been disappointed in our visits there! If you're new to Japanese cuisine, yakiniku is translated as "grilled meat" and refers to a broad variety of bite-sized meats cooked on a grill.

Yakiniku King can be great for those with specific food allergies, because they have an expansive kitchen with different areas for different types of food. While you will do the most of your ordering using the tablet at your table, it's best to talk with the server ahead of time to let them know about your allergies. I keep a translation on my phone at all times so that I can easily hand it to the server who comes by the table to ask which set you prefer. Some of them are more well-informed than others, but the servers who don't understand will typically go get a manager. Usually, that manager will bring an allergy card to let you know which items have which common allergens.

When you go, it's best to stick to plain meats and vegetables. Ask for your food to come "shiodake" (salt only), as most of the sauces will not be safe. Even the butters can have added "aminos" that contain gluten in some form, so plan to bring your own soy sauce if you want to dip! The tablet ordering system will often ask if you want sauce or salt only, but it's best to speak with the server ahead of time as well.

When cooking, remember that you are sharing a grill with the people at your table. If you are very sensitive, you may want to consider cooking all of your food first, and then letting the others at your table have free reign of the grill. If you aren't as sensitive, it may be okay for you to have one section of the grill to yourself, as long as you ensure nothing with sauce touches your designated area!

*Note: There are some occasions where something with sauce has made its way to our table, so do make sure that you double-check the meats that come your way. If this occurs, the servers have always been gracious and have swapped it out with a salt-only item. I am extremely sensitive to cross contamination, and I have never been contaminated here!

Kasthamandap - Nepal Spice Kitchen

Spice Kitchen is a great choice if you like curry, because they have a separate little area for making the naan! There are several curries you can safely order on the menu, and if you let the server know you have an allergy to wheat (they do not know what gluten is, but they know what wheat flour is), they will let you know which items to avoid. All the curries have an option to come with plain rice, so you'll have something on your plate to soak in that delicious, spiced goodness!

*The person making the naan does not touch the curry and does not serve customers. I always ask for our server to wash his/her hands though, just in case. They've never questioned me about this, and I've never gotten sick here!

Ajitoya

I've saved my favorite for last, because anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with this restaurant. The reggae music and Araha waterfront view (especially at sunset) make for a fun and relaxing ambiance. The food, though, is truly delightful! The soup curry is loaded with healthy vegetables and a warm broth that reminds me of Grandma's home-cooked soup.

Ajitoya has two different sections on their menu. One is soup curry and one is keema. The keema curry has soy sauce and other gluten-containing ingredients, so you'll want to stay on the "soup curry" side of the menu. I've tried almost every item on the soup curry menu, and I've never had a reaction. Even the sausage, which can often contain gluteny fillers, caused no noticeable reaction!

Ordering here is easy, and I never even need to mention my gluten-related issues in order to get a safe meal. All you need to do is choose your soup curry, add your spice level, and voila!

I hope that this article will help you to find some new ways to explore the wonderful food options that Okinawa has to share, while also keeping you safe and healthy! If you have experienced some great gluten-free meals on the island, feel free to let me know in the comments!

muffin-pan-chicken-cups: a recipe

We're always messing around and creating/tweaking new recipes, and this one was too delicious not to share! I'm not really sure what to call them, so if you've got a good name, let me know!

For now, let's call them muffin-pan-chicken-cups (quite a mouthful, both the name and the actual food!)

Ingredients:

• 1.5 pounds ground chicken
• 1 egg
• 1 cup chopped veggies**
• 6 oz mozzarella cheese, chopped into small cubes
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder 
• 1.5 tsp dried basil
• A dash of salt and pepper

**This time, I chopped two bell peppers and 1/4 of a Japanese kabocha (pumpkin-like squash) into thumb-nail sized pieces. You could really use any veggies you like, though!

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 400° F.
• Grease a muffin tin (we used coconut oil on a paper towel).
• Chop the veggies and the mozzarella into small chunks. Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl until everything is combined.
• Using spoonfuls (or handfuls) to scoop mixture into the muffin tin. Press down a bit to fill the cups. (I was able to get 10 muffin cups filled to the top with this mixture.)
• Bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes.
• Let them cool, and then enjoy!

 

recreating the wonder beverage

I don't have much to say (or the energy to say it), as I've been through the ringer this week! A nasty virus is going around the island, and it's caused me to be without a voice for more than a week. Then came the fever, the chills, the muscle aches, the coughing, sneezing, and aching head!

I finally went to the hospital yesterday and they said I have a sinus infection and an ear infection. Because they could only prescribe medications that I'm allergic to, I've been using every home remedy I can get my hands on to get rid of this nastiness!

Some actually did some good (sea salt gargle, rice bag on the ear, essential oils around the outside of the ear, apple cider vinegar steam inhalation) and others didn't (you probably don't even want to know what some of them were!)

Then I remembered that when we lived in Reno and felt an illness coming on, we'd always run to Pneumatic to pick up a Wonder Beverage. I haven't had one in years, so I'm sure it's not exact, but this is the closest I've come to recreating it here at home. Since Pneumatic has closed its doors, we may never get to have a "real" one again! Regardless, both the original and this variation will provide a kick to the sinuses as well as a honey-laden soothing to the throat.

**Note: You may want to use different amounts of the ingredients to taste!


Ingredients:

• Glassful of water
• Fresh ginger, rinsed (powdered will do, but fresh is better if you've got it!)
• 1/2 Lemon, juiced
• 1-2 teaspoons raw honey (or manuka honey!)
• Dash of cayenne pepper 

Directions:

• Boil the water. While it heats up, peel and cut the ginger. I recommend cutting four-to-five small pieces (about the size of your thumbnail -- just big enough to keep them from floating). Drop the ginger pieces into the bottom of your glass or mug.
• Once the water is almost at the boiling point, pour it over the ginger pieces. Let it sit for several minutes, just as you would when steeping loose leaf tea.
• Once the liquid has taken on the color of the ginger, add the juice of half a lemon and a dash of cayenne pepper. (Don't go overboard, as a little cayenne goes a long way!)
• Remove the ginger pieces (unless you prefer the ginger taste to continually get stronger), add honey to taste, stir it up, sip, and feel better!

Hospital Safety

Hospital Safety Information: Allergies to Gluten and Corn


General Information:

• NO hand sanitizer - hands should be washed with soap and water

• Gloves must be powder-free nitrile variety

• Cloth gowns and bedding instead of paper covers. I have an emergency gown and my emergency contacts can provide clean linens.

• NO powdered rubber instruments - metal or glass only

• Any tools disinfected with alcohol should be rinsed prior to use

• NO dissolvable sutures - only use non-dissolvable nylon or polypropylene sutures that have been rinsed to dispose of corn starch.

• Saline IV only! No dextrose!

• For ANY medication given, check the inactive ingredients against the list below!!

Ingredients to Avoid:

• wheat, barley, rye (anything with gluten)
• corn (anything with the word corn, like corn starch, corn syrup, etc)
• maltodextrin
• dextrose
• citric acid
• sorbitol
• glucose
• aspartame
• fluoride
• glucose
• sucrose
• fructose
• non-specified starches
• modified starch
• glycerin
• natural flavors

**See the corn allergen list for more ingredients/derivatives to avoid.**

Anesthesia Information

For local anesthetics, use only carbocaine or preservative-free lidocaine. No inactive ingredients other than water and/or sodium chloride!

Safe General Anesthetics:

• Versed (Hospira)

Avoid General Anesthetics:

• Propofol

Antibiotics Information

Safe:

• Keflex (Cephalexin) - red capsule. (potato starch)
• Rocephin (Ceftriaxone) - injection. (Check that it isn't treated in ethanol. It should be mixed with sterile water or saline only. Also check that the lidocaine is corn free.)
• Zithromax (only brand-name. The generics usually have corn starch.)

Avoid:

• Cipro
• Levaquin
• Bactrim (and the Qualitest generic version as well)

Blood Products/Transfusions

Check the inactive ingredients and anticoagulants, as many are corn-derived. Please discuss information with patient or emergency contact before using blood products. If a transfusion is absolutely necessary, please take necessary precautions to prepare for possible allergic reactions.

Inhaled Medications

Safe:

• Xopenex
• Albuterol-only nebulizers

Avoid:

• Ethanol propellants
• Anything with added ingredients included on the above-mentioned list

Injected Medications

Safe:

• Saline IV
• Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride injection (check inactive ingredients)
• Ranitidine Hydrochloride injection (check inactive ingredients)
• Rocephin injection (without dextrose!!)

Avoid:

• Lactated Ringers
• Dextrose in IV

Wound Treatment and Disinfectants

Safe:

• Saline
• Betadine solution (if it contains only water, povidone iodine, and sodium hydroxide)
• Purdue brand Betadine is safe
• Isopropyl alcohol (only if necessary)
• Non-dissolvable nylon or polypropylene sutures (rinse to remove corn starch)
• Carbocaine or preservative lidocaine for local anesthetics (the only inactive ingredients should be water and/or sodium chloride)
• Cotton gauze
• Kerlix or Coban Tape

Avoid:

• Citric Acid
• Glycerin
• Pareth alcohol
• Ethanol
• Dissolvable sutures
• Local anesthetics with inactive ingredients other than water/sodium chloride
• Most adhesive bandages
• Steri-strips

antibiotics and anti-inflammatories: a story and a "pudding" recipe

Some of you may know that I have been battling an awful kidney infection since early December. I was lucky that the doctors diagnosed it so quickly when I finally broke down and went to the emergency room!

What followed, though, is what I find to be the biggest difficulty of living with non-top-8 food allergies, especially while being overseas. I needed an antibiotic  in order to heal, but everything the doctor tried to prescribe to me was full of either corn or gluten. Most of the time, the labels did not say "corn," so alerting the pharmacist and medical team that I had to avoid corn made no difference. The doctor gave up pretty quickly, so Ben and I had to spend hours after my appointment on a late Sunday night, researching the medications they had in stock at the pharmacy. Luckily, the pharmacist was patient and did not seem to mind taking out all the pill-based antibiotics there so we could examine the ingredient lists, check websites, and compare them to the very small database of possible "corn-safe" and "gluten-safe" medications others with my allergies have been able to tolerate. The few we did find were cross-reactive to penicillin, and I have a penicillin allergy in my file. (Later on, we did a lab test, since I had a bad allergic reaction last time I had penicillin. The penicillin  test came back negative a few weeks later, so I finally have confirmation that the previous reaction was due to the corn in the meds and not the penicillin itself!) We finally found one, and the pharmacist convinced the doctor to write out another prescription.

Because of the severity of my allergies, she suggested that I take the meds under a doctor's care, so I had to make a follow-up appointment with a family practice doctor before I could start my course of antibiotics. This appointment also took hours, but this time the doctor and pharmacists worked with me to try and find something that was effective and also safe! The issue is that we didn't yet have the penicillin results back, so I was limited by the food-allergies in addition to a possible penicillin allergy. I did have some minor allergic reactions, but after several hospital visits and hours of research, we finally found an antibiotic that was safe for me to take! Unfortunately, though, it was not the best antibiotic for getting rid of a kidney infection. We finally agreed that I would take the full course and then make a follow-up appointment in January if it didn't work.

Fast-forward two weeks, and the kidney infection that had started to go away was now back in full force. Luckily, I received the penicillin labs the same day as my doctor appointment (negative, yay!) and I was able to get a large (4 shot) injection of a strong antibiotic that I was assured should do the trick. The medical staff also recommended taking anti-inflammatory medication (which, of course, I can't take because of the allergies) and to use any home remedies for inflammation that I could find to help the antibiotics do their job.

So, here is the reason for this post! I did some research on several anti-inflammatory foods to help kidney functions, and then put a bunch of them together to create some new recipes. Below is my favorite - even once the infection is gone for good, I'll definitely be using this one. It makes a great, healthy breakfast or snack!

Anti-Inflammatory, Paleo-Friendly Pudding (it's not actually pudding...it's more the consistency of fro-yo or ice cream. I have no idea of what to call it! If any of you dear readers end up making it and can come up with a stellar name for it, let me know!)

Ingredients:

- 1 cup thick coconut milk (I use this one!)
- 1 frozen banana
- 10 frozen cherries
- 1/3 cup fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

**Optional:
- 1 tbsp flax meal (great anti-oxidant with lots of Omega-3's, and excellent for inflammation)
- 1/2 tsp D-Mannose (excellent for treating a UTI in case you ever have one)


Directions:

Simply place all of your ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth! If you want a thicker, fro-yo sort of texture, put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes before eating.

**Optional: Since I've been making this concoction every day for the last week or so, I've been experimenting with some ways to change it up a bit.

- Exchange 1/3 of the coconut milk for 1/3 cup of Greek yogurt, especially if you're taking antibiotics! That "good" bacteria is important!
- After blending, add some mix-ins! I like to add some crunch to mine, so I've added different combinations of the following: cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, granola, or even a few chocolate chips to satisfy a sweet tooth!

yummy yakiniku

If you've been in Japan for very long, you will probably have heard about yakiniku. If you're new to Japanese cuisine, yakiniku is translated as "grilled meat" and refers to a broad variety of bite-sized meats cooked on a grill. It's very easy to make yakiniku at home, and you'll often see locals cooking in this style with portable grills during festivals.

Yakiniku with veggies, rice, and lettuce

This style of cooking is also popular in restaurants, and as many have discovered, not all yakiniku restaurants are considered equal. Many of these establishments include all-you-can eat buffets or sets, where diners can choose their style of raw meats and veggies to cook on their own table-top grills. While it may be tempting to choose an inexpensive ¥1000, all-you-can eat yakiniku restaurant, the variety and quality of ingredients typically won't be very high. This is where Yakiniku King comes in!

Located on Highway 58 between Camp Foster and Kadena Air Base, Yakiniku King offers better quality meats, including several types of beef, chicken, pork, and seafood that are available in differently priced sets. The sets, which start at about ¥2600 per person for dinner, include a variety of different ingredients and meals to choose from. The mid-range set (referred to as the "Standard Course," which costs ¥2900) contains more than 100 different food options, to include rice and lettuce, meat and seafood, noodle dishes, Korean bibimbap, hot pots, various side dishes, and even dessert options!

Once diners have chosen their set, ordering is a breeze! All you have to do is choose the dishes you want to try, using a handy handheld digital tablet. There is even an English option for those customers who aren't able to read Japanese! Once the order is placed electronically, a server will bring your food and beverages right to the table. Orders are unlimited, as long as you place and eat them within the allotted 90 minute time frame.

While ordering on the tablet is entertaining, the real pleasure comes cooking and eating the actual meal. Once your raw food arrives, you can season and cook it to your liking with your table's built-in grill and the provided selection of sauces. Some meats come with sauce already and others come with only salt, so you can use soy, ponzu, lemon, or yakiniku sauce(s) to glaze your meat or use for dipping later on.

Customer service at Yakiniku King is wonderful! The servers can be called to refill drinks or provide a new grill net at the push of a button. The food is of nice quality and the vast variety of foods on the menu provides options for meat-lovers, for vegetarians, and for those who may have food allergies. It's no wonder this place has become one of our family's favorite places for a dinner with friends!

sunrises and fukubukuro

A few year's back, I wrote about some of the Christmas customs in Japan. This year, I thought I'd touch on some of the many traditions surrounding the coming of the new year, also known as Shogatsu!

Before the New Year

While most of the celebrations and traditions take place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, some of them begin much earlier and continue well into the new year. For example, it's customary to decorate a few days before the new year begins using kadomatsu (ornamental decorations to place outside the home or business) and shimekazari (wreaths that are hung above door posts) made of pine, rice straw, and/or bamboo. These also typically contain items that are considered to be auspicious, such as oranges (to symbolize multiple generations and a long family line), or plum blossoms (symbolic of the spring to come and new life).

                       Shimekazari hanging near a doorway                                           Kadomatsu outside a home

           

Another tradition that begins a bit before the actual new year is known as o-souji, which literally means "big cleaning." Similar to the American "spring cleaning," this is a time to purify one's house and/or workspace to make them ready and fresh for the new year.

Before the new year arrives, it's customary to send out nengajyo, or New Year's cards. The post offices are often very busy during this time of year because of this, though apps and e-cards to make your own nengajyo are becoming more and more popular. The cards often have the zodiac animal for the new year in addition to wishes for prosperity and health. This is a wonderful way to let friends and family know that you're thinking of them as the new year arrives, just as westerners often do during the Christmas/holiday season.

New Year's card for 2016, the year of the monkey 

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is a time for family and friends! Many travel to their hometowns to be with family during this time, and others host parties and celebrations with food and games. There are a few popular television programs that air annually on New Year's Eve as well! Some of these include Kohaku (a New Year's Eve music show that divides popular musical artists into competing teams) and Gaki no Tsukai  (a variety and comedy show that includes a segment where the participants are put into silly situations and must try not to laugh - if they laugh, they are hit on the behind with a bat, which often makes the rest of the participants laugh).

At midnight, it's customary to visit a local shrine or temple to literally ring in the new year, in addition to giving thanks for the protection of the previous year and to pray for a prosperous year to come. The Buddhist temples ring the bells 108 times at the stroke of midnight to welcome the new year.

Small Shinto shrine near our house at midnight on New Year's Eve

New Year's Day 

Hatsuhinode is the first sunrise of the year, and it's customary to wake up early in order to watch the sun come up for the first time in the new year. Often, mountaintops and beaches are packed with people, as these locations offer beautiful views of the sunrise. We are lucky to live where we do right now, because a beautiful view of the sun rising over the water is just feet away!

Hatsuhinode view from our balcony - Jan. 1, 2016

It's a good thing there are several Starbucks shops nearby for an early morning energy boost, because New Year's Day is a huge day for shopping! Likened to Black Friday, January 1 is a good day to find deals at your favorite shops. While many shops offer store-wide discounts from January 1-5, one of the main draws during this time is known as fukubukuro. Fukubukuro are known as lucky bags - they are basically surprise bags with goods inside. Usually the bags are sealed to keep the contents a secret, though basic descriptions are provided so you at least know the general type of product you're purchasing. Sometimes, sample bags are even displayed so the purchaser has an idea of what to expect!

We've seen fukubukuro at grocery stores, bakeries, mall shops, and even designer suit stores! The bags range in price, depending on the shop and the contents. The price is set for each type of bag, but you won't know what exactly you purchased until you unpack the contents after returning home. Typically, the bags have multiple items inside and the price you pay is a fraction of what you would have paid for the items separately.

Some of the fukubukuro we saw at the mall today

We really lucked out this year with what we bought! It's exciting to have a mall nearby, and we found fukubukuro at many of our favorite shops. After purchasing a few lucky bags, we returned home to unwrap our surprises. We tallied up the total cost of what we spent versus the total worth of the items, and found that we only spent about 1/3 of the total worth! What a deal!

 

Fukubukuro goodies: great deals on some things we've been wanting for a while!

These are just a few of the many New Year's traditions we've encountered so far in Japan, though I know there are several others! We wish you a happy new year, regardless of where you are, and hope that you enjoy your annual customs and traditions!