The Backpack Adventures

Week 114: January 1 – 5, 2024 Day 791: January 1, 2024 Monday – Happy New Year! x Rumoi Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu Happy New Year, or as we say it here in Japan, " Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu " ( あけましておめでとうございます。 ). It's the start of another year, 2024, or Reiwa 6 here in Japan . Today unfolded in a way we didn't anticipate, making it a memorable beginning to the year. It's -14 degrees today At least the snow outside isn't that high The day began with a sense of renewal as we opted to stay at home and indulge in a thorough cleaning session. There's something gratifying about starting the year in a clean and tidy environment. However, the tranquility of the day took an unexpected turn in the afternoon. There was a powerful earthquake today, and everyone was on edge Our peaceful siesta was abruptly interrupted by the persistent ringing of our phones. Mr. Toshi was desperately trying to reach us, sounding distressed as he conveyed news of a powerful 7.6 ...

Weekend 113: December 30 - 31, 2023 Day 789: December 30, 2023 Saturday - Rumoi Good morning! Today was a day filled with unexpected twists and turns. Our initial plan to start the day early and head to COOP for the New Year's feast ingredients took a detour, thanks to our late-night movie marathon that had us sleeping in until 10 AM. Despite the delayed start, my wife managed to whip up a simple yet delicious breakfast that set a positive tone for the rest of the day. It's a cold, snowy morning. We headed to COOP to buy some ingredients There were plenty of delicious bento dishes, but we are here to buy ingredients More of those mouth-watering bento meals Looking for some high-quality meat Look who's enjoying his trip to the grocery store Once we fueled up, we finally made our way to COOP . The bustling aisles were alive with dozens of people, all on a mission to gather their groceries. It was a unique experience, witnessing the lively atmosphere of a grocery store in fu...