The Kyushu Sumo Basho (Practice)

Date: November 13 (Sun) - November 27 (Sun) (15 days)

When flags line the entry to the Fukuoka Convention Center in November, you know it’s time to welcome the November Grand Sumo Tournament to town! This year all eyes are on yokozuna Hakuho, who recently achieved his 20th tournament victory, becoming one of only six wrestlers in history to do so. We’ll also be watching Kotoshogiku of Yanagawa City, who has defeated Hakuho in the past, and who will be formally promoted to ozeki rank for the tournament. Competitors come from a wide range of international backgrounds- Mongolia, Bulgaria, Russia, Czech Republic and Japan are just some of the nations represented in the tournament. Witness the dynamic, traditional sport of sumo with your own eyes!

UN DAY (United Nations)

One day that you should not miss at school is UN Day (United Nations.)  This all day event joins all of our nationalities in our school as one.  I guess I don't realize how many diversities we have until I see all of them in their cultural outfits.  This day we get to dress up and represent our Nations. Don't get me wrong, there's a whole lot of Asians, but different kinds of Asians.  Ahh.... ^^

Halloween in Fukuoka

The little one always asked the question, "Do the Japanese celebrate Halloween in Japan?"  It also made me wonder.  Well, before we moved here Kevin spent his first Halloween here in Japan without us.  He told us that there were some that do celebrate Halloween.  Of course, the little one was excited to know that.

However, their choices of Halloween costumes were very limited.  You can always go to Donqui, which sells all kinds of random things, but we are looking at the "sexy" costumes.  This is a no-go for us since we are looking for children's costumes.  Every year I would either buy a costume of KK's choice or make one.  It was quite difficult for me to make one since I have yet to find a really good craft store.  A couple of weeks before the big day, I go off wandering when I don't have work to search for fabrics and crafts.  What to do?  It was a bit frustrating.  This year, KK decides that she wants to be something scary for Halloween.  Hmm.. scary?  What is scary to KK?  A SPIDER.  Yes.  A spider.  But everywhere we went were selling "witch" costumes!