It’s now 2003 in Japan! Came back not too long ago from Gokokuji, a pretty big and famous buddhist temple not too far from where I live. It was a nice walk. The temple itself was built by one of the Tokugawa shoguns in honor of his mother. There was a huge lineup of people, most of them being people in their twenties. I guess that’s what you have to expect at around 1:30 am.
Going to the temple after midnight to pray for a good year is something I’ve done every year I’ve been in Japan. I also had some soba before midnight, which is also traditional. Watched a good part of the big Kohaku show on NHK, which is something like 40 years old I think, and includes all the top performers of the year for a battle of the sexes. Also watched my favorite comedians, 99, ring in the New Year with one of them, Takashi Okamura, jumping in a huge tower of fire. It was nuts.
Here’s hoping for a great year!