13 November 2010

Emily attended Shichi-go-san (7-5-3), which Julia had arranged for her and Charlize. This annual event in November is when children who turn three, five or seven that year (odd numbers are lucky in Japan) dress up in kimono or hakama and visit a shrine to give thanks for their good health and to drive out evil spirits. I really should have gone too and deeply regretted my absence later, but had thought I had better not skip class. I'm sure my teacher would have approved of the reason for me missing the lesson though. Nick went with Julia and family to a kimono rental shop, where it took an hour to get them ready. I was amazed that Emily put up with that, especially all the fussing with her hair. They had a photo shoot in the studio there (definitely a lost opportunity for Robinson family portraits)

and then went to a shrine in Akasaka.



Looking through Nick's photos later, I saw that his attention was briefly (excuse pun) diverted on the way through seedy Roppongi!

By the time my class finished they were on their way back to Julia's so I met them there. At least I got to see Emily looking so cute in her kimono before it had to come off for eating the messy pasta lunch prepared by Cliff.

Emily was very weary so I was worried that she would drop off on the way back to ours, but thankfully she remained awake. We had a quick change and dumped the buggy, then Nick stayed home to study while I took her on the bus to Ebisu. By coincidence she was to go before the camera again, this time for an audition for a catalogue. I wished I had taken the stroller after all as I ended up carrying her all the way up the hill from the bus stop. The audition only took a couple of minutes (she managed to raise a couple of coy half smiles but was too tired and fed up with being photographed to do enough to get the job, I think) and then we were free to go for a wander around Ebisu Garden Place. They had a fabulous Christmas tree set up, and most trees and bushes were strung with pretty lights too. As it was a gloomy afternoon they were turned on at 4pm so we got to see them before we went home, after pottering around collecting yet more leaves. The autumn colours are superb now and the cherry leaves in particular are gorgeous shades of yellow, orange and red.

The reason I had been concerned about Emily napping was because Erna was booked to babysit, and indeed I was still in Emily's room getting her off to sleep when Erna arrived. Nick and I decided to return to the Peruvian restaurant in Yotsuya that we'd tried a couple of months ago, and again we really enjoyed both the food and the Pisco Sour drinks. We were pleased when the server said 'nice to see you again' too.