The canal has frozen!

Hello☆

Otaru is below the freezing point everyday.

I took this photo a few days ago.

Please look at it carefully.

The Otaru canal has frozen.

We can see frozen canal only in really cold day.

We call this condition of canal "Hasu-ha-gori". (Ice of lotus's leaves.)

It means "Pancake ice","plate ice".

This shape of ice looks like lotus's leaf, doesn't is??

New costume!

Hello☆

Finally, "Bun-ko" got new costume!

He looks cool isn't he??

Please come to see me!!

Wanted: Cool Costume!

Hi!!

Do you remember about him?

He is "Bun-ko".(A dog who was in full activity in fore fighting. You can meet his statue in front of Canal plaza.)

During the term of "Otaru Long Christmas", "Bun-ko" had been wearing Santa's costume (made by Ms.Yoshida) but now, he doesn't have cool clothes.

Ms.Yoshida is thinking about his new costume because it's really cold in Otaru. (The highest temperature was 5 degrees below zero today!!)

He is wearing only scarf around his neck now.

Poor...Bun-ko...

If you have a nice idea of his costume, please post it to me:)

Give me your idea for my costume!!

Our new staff of Tourist information!!

Hello, how are ya?

I'll introduce our new staff to you.

She is going to work only in winter.

She is really cute but cold...

She is already popular for tourists that's why she is always busy to take photos with tourists.

I'll show you her face...↓↓

Smile:)

Cute!! Isn't she???

Her parents are Information staffs and photo studio's staffs.

These photos are processes of her birth.

Ms.Yoshida(Tourist information staff. Main mom.) starts to make a body.

On the other hand, Mr.Nakagawa makes a head.

Mr.Nakagawa(Photo studio's staff. Main dad.)

This head grew up bigger gradually.

And then they brought the head to the body together.

Ummm...still her shape is strange...

Mr.Nakagawa tried to make her more beautiful. (He continued to caress her head:))

Finally, our new lovely staff was born!!!

She became popular.

In the night time, she becomes sexy surrounded by romantic snow lights.

If you have a good idea about her name, please post your comment on my page.

I'm looking forward to your idea!!!

The Japanese New Year!

A happy new year!!

How are you doing?? :)

I got new year's holiday 3 days, so I really enjoyed spending time with my family.

I'll show you some scenery of Japanese new year.

This is "Kagami-mochi".(Rice cake and mandarin orange)

Japanese people lay this "Kagami-mochi" on many places(house, workplace, garage and so on.)

This rice cake is sacrament for Japanese people.

I took this photo at the Otaru station.

If you come to Otaru in New Year's Holidays, you will see many kinds of "Kagami-mochi" at lots of places.

This decoration is also sacred and special thing of Japanese New Year.

We can see this decoration in front of the Otaru station.

Our necessity in winter

Hi☆ Do you know what this machine is? This is our necessity...it's snowplow! Let's start up the engine!　He is Mr.Ishida. (He pulled up the weeds in summer:))

WOW! Lot of snows are flying!!:-O

He continued walking...

So beautiful:)

The snows were taken away!

Talking of Japanese winter...

Hello!

I don't know why, Japanese people eat mandarin orange in winter. I got mandarin orange from Ms.Saimu:) (tourist information staff)

Talking of Japanese winter, Japanese people like to eat mandarin with family at ※Kotatsu.

※Kotatsu...Table with an electric heater attached to the underside. This table has Futon (Japanese blanket) so, when you come in the Kotatsu, you will feel warm and comfortable.

Kotatsu↓↓