Bon festival

I went to go see granny today.

She passed away long ago but all I remember is that she was such a sweet angel.

It's Obon week in Japan.

=================================== "Obon

( お盆,) or just Bon ( 盆,) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars.Also called the , it has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori." -wikipedia

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My mom and I took the train to her home in Ibaraki.

It felt real nice to go back there.

Now I'm kinda drained from cleaning granny's grave under the heat and traveling, and then on live radio now, but it was definitely worth it.

My uncle made me a fab lunch box:

My mom's sister owns a butcher shop in Inashiki-gun called Fujiya which has been handed down from generation to generation.

They mainly do bentou lunch boxes now, and tonkatsu is their specialty!!!

Whenever I visit them, my uncle prepares me the "Mai special" box  with all the yummies in one box! Today he added tenpura too;)  

FYI- I will be MCing for the Bon-odori in Roppongi Hills from the 22nd to 24th of this month.

Please stop by if you are in Tokyo;)  

http://www.roppongihills.com/en/monthlyevent/200808.html#10