Posted January 1, 2014 by Jonelle Patrick4 Comments Traditional Stuff I Love

At New Year’s In Japan, Bigger Is Better

NYGiantMochi — Try eating THIS monster lobster ‘n rice cake!

It’s that time of year when too much is just enough.

Jumbo wrestlers with jumbo mallets pound jumbo amounts of rice.

NYTrash — This special gigantic trash bin isn’t even big enough for the sacred garbage brought to the Yasukuni Shrine at New Year’s.

And biggest of all, my thanks to all you wonderful readers and commenters (and especially those of you who read and enjoyed my books!) for another great year of laughing and crying and saying hunh? with me as we wander through the ever-amazing world of Japan together.

NYDecorations — Happy Year Of The Horse, from me to you!

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Read a novel set in Tokyo

In the wake of a deadly earthquake, fans erupt in a frenzy of mourning when it’s discovered that their favorite pop star is among the dead. But when Detective Kenji Nakamura is sent to investigate a death at a local shrine, he finds evidence that suggests the impossible: How could the head priest have been murdered by…*read more*

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!

4 thoughts on “At New Year’s In Japan, Bigger Is Better” ›

Sacred garbage? Love it. Happy new year!

Jonelle Patrick says:

January 1, 2014 at 3:19 pm

Yeah, I love the idea of sacred garbage! I made it to the needle funeral last year, but I’ve yet to see a doll cremation. Gotta have something to look forward to in the new year, you know? Happy new year, and I hope I get to meet you one of these days! ^_^

Reply
- Eda says:
  
  January 1, 2014 at 3:30 pm
  
  We paid our respects (5yen) at Shoin Jinja this year and made a point of checking out the sacred garbage. My husband loved the expression. But I don’t think I’d be up for a doll cremation…
  
  Yes, it would be lovely to meet someday.