今年の結婚記念日は…• Our Anniversary

Chino and Friends

６月６日（日）はセントラルパークで Japan Day なる催しが（万延元年遣米使節団のニューヨーク訪問150周年記念１８６０年６月１６日）が領事館主催で開催されたようでしたが、私達ローカル在住 にはメール連絡もないので行きませんでした。

昔は同胞意識のない冷たい対応の領事館で、変わったように聞いていましたが、やっぱりまだお 役所さんの自己満足的な催しなのでしょうね、日本レストランとかにポスターを張るとか大々的にしないとローカル日本人には知られていないのではと思っています。

The Main Stage

この日は私達の２８回目の結婚記念 日でしたので、ブランチを食べてから近所のマジソンスクエアパーク前２３〜２６stで移住フィリピン人の母国の独立記念日を祝う催しが大々的に開催されて いて、官民一体と成った民族の熱さを感じてきました。

映像の中で鉄人（男性裸体鉄像）は前にも少し紹介したと思うけど（アーチスト本人を 写体）マジソンスクエアパークのアート展の一環で公園を中心に近くの路上やビルディングの屋上やら３１体を展示しています。EVENT HORIZON - Anthony Gormley

夕食はイーストビレッジ アベニューAと１０〜１１stの間にある日本レストラン『カムイ伝』へ行って来ました。お店は小さく落ち着いた雰囲気のビレッジでは指折りの美味しい処で す。映像の中の彼は店主のジンさん、９０年に初めてのストリートでの『日本の祭りインビレッジ』の実行委員の仲間です。

エンパイアステー トビルディングの照明が、緑に黄色で何となく私達夫婦の為に点灯されているようでした。（笑）

* * * * * * *

June 6th was our Wedding Anniversary, but we didn't make any special plans or reservations and got started a little late, so we had brunch at The Bluebell Cafe, a new place on 3rd Avenue. A pretty place; I had their French Toast, which was about 2 inches thick, and really good!

There was a Japan Day thingie happening uptown in Central Park, but it looked like it might rain, and (fussy us) we weren't very impressed by the listed activities.  Oh yuck, Hello Kitty even had her own tent - I hope it had a sequined litter-box! And, puleeeze, guys - since when is chow mein considered traditional Japanese food? It's not even traditional Chinese food!

To us, it all looked a bit Micky Mouse, more like a promotional expo than an ethnic celebration; many years ago, when we lived in the East Village we had a matsuri, mikoshi and all, happening for a few years that I think was really much better - maybe Aki will write more about it here someday...

IMHO, the Obon Matsuri in July (Bryant Park) run by the New York Buddhist Church, is the most authentic Japanese celebration we have in the city now. (We were married by Reverend Kan of that church, who has since passed on, many years ago.) No cosplay, no chow mein, no hello Kitty, just old-fashioned Japanese Ondo, with a few special extras. If you'd like to see it or even participate, please check out the details on our Manhattan Fun Page (see link in right column)  We'll both try to participate this year, so if you see us, say hi!

Rain on the Fair

We finally decided to check out the Philippine Independence Celebration right here in Madison Square instead. Because of our late start, we missed the parade, but watching the people and performers at the festival was fun. Even though it rained a little, it didn't stop the celebration. Philippine flags were everywhere, lots of spirit, lots of entertainment and everybody was having a great time. BTW, does anybody know Chino in the group photo at top left? He wants a copy of the photo file and told us to look up "Chino" in facebook, but there are 500 Chinos on there! Help!

Kamui Den in the East Village

We got back home around 6pm and decided to go downtown to Kamui Den, a place in the East Village, for our Anniversary Dinner. It's a quiet out-of-the-way little restaurant with truly excellent and authentic Japanese dishes. Jin-san is a seriously great chef!

We hung out there and chatted for a while, and I had some excellent plum-flavored sake along with other dishes (see slide show below); then we headed home. We said good night to the Empire State Building, resplendent in green and gold, on the way.

After all, we made it for another year!

日本語/明　English: Liz

Here's our slide show with a few more photos: