Hatsumoude at Haishiwa 初詣＠配志和

Happy New Year 2006 (Western Calendar), Heisei 18 (Japanese Standard), 2666 (Japanese Imperial, defunct)!
２００６年（西暦）、平成１８年（日本基準）、皇紀２６６６年（日本帝国、廃止）の新年明けましておめでとうございます！

I went to Haishiwa, a rather large shrine about 10 minutes away by bike (downhill) for my hatsumoude, First Prayer of the New Year. Compared to my first time going to a shrine at New Year's in Shizuoka, the streets were empty. So was the shrine. This picture is of the lantern at the entrance to the stairs leading up.
初詣する為に自転車で十分ぐらい距離（坂下がり）の配志和神社に行った。静岡で初めて日本で初詣する時と比べると一関の道は誰も居なかった。神社も・・・この写真は階段の前で掛かってある灯。

I reached the top of the hill at around 11:45 and there were only maybe 20 people there. After standing around for a bit like an idiot, I struck up a converstation with an old man to pass the time. I find that the really old ones often have their own personality and are not afraid to express what they think. We talked about the giant trees at the shrine, how not many people come anymore, whether or not the table holding the New Year's arrows was going to tip over, the Japanese custom of everyone following two religions at once, and what religion is like in Other Countries.
１１時４５分ぐらい坂の頂に着いたが２０人ぐらいしか居なかった。時間を過ごす為にお爺 さんと話し始めた。なんか年上の日本人は個人的な性格あるし自分の 考えは遠慮なくて言うと思う。神社の巨杉とか少ない人数とか福屋が置いてある台が落ちるかどうかについて話した。そして、日本人が二つの宗教（神仏）を従 う習慣の事と他国の宗教についても話した。

Two girls had also climbed all the way up the stairs. I attempted conversation with them like with the old guys but all I got was nervous giggles.
二人の女性も階段を上った。お爺さん達のように話してみたが、ただ恥ずかしい笑いで反応してくれた・・・

Buying some talismans, I used The Cheesiest Line in the Book - "Oh, excuse me, I'd like to prove to my friends that I met a real miko - may I take your picture?" to get this. Cute, isn't she!
お守りを買う時に「日本書紀でも記録している台詞」を使ってこのお巫女さんの写真を撮った。「大変すいませんですが、友達に本物のお巫女さんに会えたと言える為に写真は撮ってよろしいですか？」可愛いね！

Nobody I knew was there, so I went back down the stairs. I noticed that a LOT of women were wearing short skirts and boots. Hello?!?! It's frikkin' middle of winter midnight freezing! Fashion slaves. The signs may say 'Welcome Spring', but ever since the Meiji Government changed the calendar the new year no longer occurs when it is warm.
神社で知り合いは居なかった のでまた階段を下げた。でも、なんかブーツと短いスカートを履いている女性達を一杯見た！もしもし？？冬の真ん中の夜半の凛々 しさ感じない？？流行奴隷。「迎春」が書いてあるかもしれないけど、明治政府が暦を変えて新年はもう暖かい季節に起こらないよ。

There was a Nichiren Buddhist temple a few minutes away so I went to check it out. Not too many people there either. Still, it was cool to hear the chant of the sutras being read.
近くに日蓮仏教のお寺が在ったので見に行った。人数も少なかった・・・しかし、読経を聴くのは素晴らしかった。

The stores are all set for the New Year's Day sales ...
年始の発売の準備が出来た・・・

This morning I got a nengajo from the Suzuki family. Sweet! I feel horrible because I didn't get my in-Japan ones sent out on time ... I will mail them today.
今朝は愛知県の鈴木家族から年賀状をもらった！やった！でも朕の国内年賀状を送るのは間に合わなかった・・・今日は郵便局に行って送る。

Oh and my ISP is an idiot. To use your 10MB (only!!) of free webspace you have to register and then they process your application, which takes days. What the hell!!!!
あ、そして朕のＩＳＰは馬鹿だ。口座の無料の１０ＭＢ（だけ！！）を使う為に登録して何日間待たなくちゃ・・・なにこれ！！！

And here's my banner for the New Year.
そしてお正月の新しい横看板。