The new year eve's variety show on NHK, 紅白歌合戦 (red-white singing contest)was rather entertaining. Fabulous avant garde performance, colorful and artistic costumes, make-up and state-of-the-art stage technology were all so reflective of a very industrialized country. But the Japanese mood must be rather bleak still, as can be felt from the songs featured. I particularly enjoyed Sada Masashi's 'Birthday' (picture below) and Ishikawa Sayuri's 'Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyugeishiki 津軽海峡冬景色'.
How time flies! See how time disfigures us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2n2pzDPwJQ (襟裳岬★1987 森進一、さだまさし -many thanks to nh019223!). Should one be resigned to the aging of man? To digress a bit - I enjoy this video clip. Look at the joy on the singers' faces (although Mori Shinichi's stage performance and style remain consistent). It's a contrast from the contemplative content of the song - yet, it's excellent performance despite the rudimentary stage. (Pause imeem track for this blog by clicking on the mid-right hand button to enjoy this clip).
This year's hosts for the Red-White Singing Contest were excellent, being more spontaneous and livelier than that couple last year. Hosting just wasn't the forte of last year's lady host at all.
A. was very appreciative of the dinner I prepared. It was very simple, with mainly dishes for the vegan, except for the sushi. It was the first time we sat on the cushion on the floor to enjoy so many hours of TV together. The ambience was good: Lights were shimmering directly across at some residents' verandas, and the cool breeze was blowing through our big glass window-doors.
Very soon, after the first half of the show, we were at the end of our feast. This year I served Hatano's nimame which were boiled beans mixed with peanuts dipped in honey, Tanba's kuromame (black beans), Isei no date maki, kurikinton (sweet chestnuts), sushi (scallops, ikura etc.), ohagi (botamochi = rice dumplings) topped with kinako (soy powder) and anko (red bean paste), kinpira goobo (burdock root with organic carrots),Koyazan no goma doofu (black sesame seed tofu), tomato and wakame seaweed salad, fresh handmade tofu, etc.We were too filled up after the meal to even have oshiruko (red bean soup with chestnut/rice cake). We kept it to be enjoyed as dessert for dinner the night after.
I pray for a year filled with blessings.
