November

It's finally cooler and the tiny Japanese maple leaves are turning. Most of the trees are evergreen, so the deciduous reds and oranges are at infrequent intervals. Within this context, I keep marveling at the roses, yes, roses, blooming beautifully. That's a sight I've never seen in November.

The 15th marked a celebration called Shichigosan, translated as 7-5-3. Children ages 3, 5 and 7 years old are brought to the temples and shrines to give thanks for their growth and wishes for their well-being. The kids are dressed in fancy hakama or kimono and pray before the alters while holding long, thin red and white candy, which brings good luck.

Shichigosan is a custom that began in farming villages where children often died young.

The 23rd is a national holiday, Kinro kansha no hi, or Labour Thanksgiving Day. I've read that it's a holiday for honoring labour, yet one of the Sony guys invited us to a harvest festival, which feels more like a true Thanksgiving. His family's farm and neighboring farms are hosting an entire day of fun and food. I'm sorry we didn't plan our Thailand trip differently so we could go!