Tag Archives: Christmas

Labor Thanksgiving Day in 2012 in Hatsushima island

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Muravej

Today is Labor Thanksgiving Day, a holiday. From Shimosuwa, without Maya-san who stayed with my parents, we drove to Atami. It has become the first long trip for Mariya. It rained on and off on the way. From Atami port, we took a boat, Isle de Vacance III. We sat in the special area in the very front of the boat.    The boat arrived at 4:30 PM to the island. It was already getting darker. A shuttle bus took us to a hotel, Grand XIV Hatsushima Club. The room was assigned on the sixth floor. From 6:30 PM, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant, Porto. Mariya was with us, … Continue reading →

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Russian Christmas

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Muravej

Today is Russian Christmas. Since Katya was busy working, we did not have a big dinner. Salads, cheese, duck, baguette, and a glass of wine. We watched Brisbane  tennis games. Unfortunately, two players Katya was for had lost the games.

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Chanmery Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Muravej

We had a light Christmas dinner with a German cake, Stollen and a bottle of Rose Chanmery. I bought a small glass vase.  

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Plans on Christmas and New Year’s Days

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Muravej

Katya and I are talking about holiday plans. On December 23, we will play tennis. On (Catholic) Christmas Eve, we will go to Sakuraza for a concert (tickets already reserved). On (Catholic) Christmas, we will stay calm. On New Year’s Eve, we will go to Karuizawa and stay at Mampei Hotel. We welcomed New Year in the bar last year, and this year, we will stay in the hotel. On New Year’s Day, we will stay in XIV Karuizawa as we did this year. We will exchange presents as Russians do. Then we will celebrate New Year at my parents’. Hopefully, we will be able to sky at Hakuba area. I will … Continue reading →

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I found Chanmery – Sweet and Sparkling

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Muravej

I went into a Seven-Eleven near my apartment to fetch some sweets. Then I found it: Chanmery. I have not thought of it for a long while. I was surprised to know that it is still produced. When we were kids, we called it “Champagne”, which we had on festivals, especially on Christmas. It was a very special drink. It is a drink with a long history. Right after WWII, a drink provider in Tokyo created “Soft Champagne” inspired by Champagne American soldiers were drinking. In 1966, French Embassy asked Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan not to use the term Champagne. In 1973, “Japan Soft Champagne Association” changed the … Continue reading →

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Denmark Cacti

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Muravej

It snowed in the morning. It was the first snow this season in Kofu. A contrast between the snow and the colored leaves was beautiful. I should have taken the picture. In the afternoon, we had a lecture by a researcher from the US. We had some time for discussion, too. I was invited to a dinner with him, but I did not take the chance thinking that restaurant dinners three times in a role would be too much. It is cold outside. After the dinner at home, Katya took Denmark cacti inside.    I like the pale one on the left. Denmark cactus is also called Christmas cactus. Yes, … Continue reading →

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Katya’s Christmas Party

Posted on January 8, 2011 by Muravej

Today is Saturday, January 8, one day after the Orthodox Christmas day.  Katya went out for a late Christmas party. She first went to Minami Alps city to pick up her Russian friend and her son.  They headed for Shimosuwa, not to my parents’ but to their friend’s house.  She is an Ukrainian living with her Japanese husband and their two boys.  Another Ukrainian came with her daughter.  So there were four ladies, three boys, and one daughter. The Japanese husband was helping the party, cutting woods for the fireplace, bringing wines, etc, according to Katya. When she came home, after leaving her Russian friend back in Minami Alps, Katya … Continue reading →

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Our Russian Christmas Day

Posted on January 7, 2011 by Muravej

Today is Russian Orthodox Christmas.  We woke up and exchanged presents. I gave Katya an Adidas digital watch. Katya likes watches and Adidas, but she never had an Adidas watch.  Plus, this is her first digital watch.  I think I made a right choice. Katya gave me a pair of casual winter pants. They are light and warm.  I needed ones! I happily left home for work. I came back home for lunch.  After lunch, Katya and Maya-san said see you later from the legless chair, both taking a rest. In the evening, Katya went out for her English teaching.  Maya-san was left alone on the day of Russian Christmas, … Continue reading →

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Christmas in Tateshina

Posted on December 25, 2010 by Muravej

After leaving Maya-san at my parents’ in Shimosuwa, Katya and I headed for Tateshina.  It was snowing, and on the way to the hotel, I had to put chains on the front tires. We arrived at XIV Tateshina, our favorite hotel, at 4 PM. Room was large enough for two of us. It was snowing quietly. In the room, we had a bottle of French cidre. I then took a natural spa, while Katya was taking a rest. In the evening, we went out for a Chinese restaurant in the hotel, Suiyo,  around 8 PM (Katya took the photo). It was a fancy Chinese menu. Katya did not take the … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve – Sort of

Posted on December 24, 2010 by Muravej

Katya is Orthodox, whose Christmas is January 7th, and I am not Christian.  Besides, today is not a holiday in Japan. It was (officially) the last day before the holidays in our institute, so all the members, professors, researchers, students, and office workers, cleaned rooms, buildings, yards, parking lots, and so on.  This is the common way of ending a year in offices in Japan after the Year-End party. For dinner, Katya made Borscht. She used Sauerkraut for the first time in Japan. Katya did not care about Borscht, but she said she felt like making it on a winter day like today. My colleague brought us a typical Hawaiian … Continue reading →

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