One day we were asked to go to lunch with a couple in our church, Mr. and Mrs. Shimoda. They are the first couple we met here from our church and we stayed with them our first night in Shimonoseki. The Shimoda's were saved through the English teaching ministries of the Shimonoseki Christ Bible Church. The Shimoda's are stilling taking English conversational classes and David is their teacher.
They picked us up and we went to the Castle Town of Chofu. They brought along a translator Eri, she helped us get some of our paperwork together before we arrived in Japan.
When we arrived in Chofu, an area in Shimonoseki, we thought we were just going to lunch, they told us we were going to see Samurai.
The first photos are of the walk to and around the Samurai residence. We walked through the Samurai residence to get to the Chofu Mouri Residence where we thought we were going to see authentic Samurai in costume and practicing.
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| Us and the Shimoda's |
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| Koi fish |
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| A map of the Chofu Mouri Residence |
Chofu Mori Tei (the residence of Chofu-Mori), was built by the 14th feudal Lord of the Chofu Mori family. After returning from Tokyo, he choose this area to build his place of residence.
The construction of this home began in 1898 and was completed in June of 1903.
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| This is looking out of the front door |
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| This is in the front room |
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| The ceilings looked very sturdy |
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| They had a persimmon fruit tree in the house |
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| The Japanese call these London bus :) |
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| Map of Chofu and our walk to the Chofu Mori residence |
When arrived to walk through the residence we were made aware that we could dress up if we wanted to.
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| Men's dressing area containing the kimono's and Samurai clothes |
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| David getting dressed as a Samurai |
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| The beautiful ladies kimono's |
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| The ladies dressing me in a kimono |
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| When we finished taking photos and they were helping me undress they kept patting my stomach saying baby, baby :) It was fun. They like to rub the pregnant ladies stomach's here, it's just what they do. I don't mind :) |
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| Serious photo |
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| Smile photo |
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| Mr. Shimoda and David pretending to fight with their cool Samurai swords!! |
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| (left to right) David, Mrs. Shimoda, me, Mr. Shimoda, and Eri |
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| David changed and they began putting him in a Japanese kimono, wig and all :) |
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| He had a gun too |
The next set of photos are the surrounding area where we took photos dressed up in the back of the house and the traditional Japanese garden surrounding the house.
Then we went to lunch. The Shimoda's took us to a resturant where we sat on cushions on the floor and had okonomiyaki, a traditional Japanese meal.
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| When they brought the food, we mixed it together and turned on the stove tops and put the food on the stove to cook. |
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| We had to flatten the mixture like a pancake, so that all of the ingredients would cook. |
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| Then David flipped them to cook on the other side. |
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| Mine had pork and shrimp and David's had meat and some other types of fish. |
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| Watching Mrs. Shimoda to show us how it's done :) |
okonomiyaki
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| It was really good!! |
When the Shimoda's took us home, we showed them our apartment and took them up to the roof. We live in a 13 story building and you can see very far in all directions.
The Shimoda's helped to secure our apartment and did some pre-set up things for us before we came.
The end of great day here in Shimonoseki. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Shimoda and Eri :)
Very jealous. Maybe we will come down to Shimonoseki next year.
ReplyDeleteThat would be great, maybe when the Cherry Blossoms are blooming? We were told that the Samurai Residence and the walk around the area is beautiful when the trees bloom!!
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