Japan-wide, today is a special day, where the Japanese people go to graveyards and temples to honour their ancestors. As Akiko put it, there are people hanging on her shoulders. I think it’s a feeling of guilt if you don’t go.
Akiko, Moe, and I biked maybe 3 minutes to the nearby temple to attend the morning service there. We signed in at the front gate (where Moe received a bag of sweets) and then we entered the main temple building, taking our shoes off first at the foot of the steps. We were a bit late, so we had to sit on the side rather than on the actual tatami mats. Akiko gave me a set of prayer beads and a prayer book, and I held the beads and followed along with the monks’ chanting. It’s actually really difficult to follow!
At one point, we got up from our seats and went down the main aisle. We approached the three gently steaming bowls at the front of the room. I had to sit in seiza, hold my prayer beads in my left hand, and throw a pinch of scented wood chips or something into the large metal pot with the other hand. Next, I put my hands together and prayed. Everyone who came to the service had to do this.
After, there was more chanting. Then the head priest did a sort of sermon and then the monks played some music and sang a song.
At one point, one of the helpers was taking photos, and she definitely took photos of me! I suppose it’s unique for them to have a gaijin at their temple! It was just a small little place. Anyway, the priests were adorable and thanked me for coming when I left.
This evening I went to dinner with Obaachan, Ojiichan, Akiko, and Moe. We biked maybe 5 minutes to this cute little restaurant. Japanese restaurants are so different. Instead of getting just a one-plate meal, instead we had gyoza, fried cheese, fried chicken, chicken legs, pork, onigiri, squid fries, etc. etc. After dinner, we biked to a bakery and ate dessert. I had some fruity parfait thing. It was pretty delicious.
