A hot summer morning
A falling-down shrine on the side of a mountain.
Dear friend Inoue-san tied our lives together
Kaori and Rie danced the special dance.
Sacred leaves, rice, sake, fruits from the sea and land were offered up to the gods
Vows were made, families were joined and sake cups passed to and fro.
Cicadas buzzed, birds sang and the wind was in the trees.
A new course was set.
During the ceremony a huge march-fly flew into the shrine and had a nibble at a couple of the guests. There is something strange about murdering one of God's creatures in a holy place. But when Sunami-san swatted that fella down and dispatched him with her folded fan there was an audible sigh of relief.
A splendid lunch in Chikutei Hotel for the families
And then a party: children and music and laughter and friends and family and food and drink.
Thank you to all those who came and helped.
To absent friends and family - we missed you and thought of you.