Ohayo from Japan!

I just said, "Hi" to you in Japanese. The word sounds like the English word, "Ohio" which is the name of a state in our country.

I have been here for one week now, and I have been learning a lot. I am staying in Tokyo, which is the biggest city in Japan. Much bigger than New York City even! It is very busy. The people are very nice, though. They are so polite. They bow from the waist when they meet. Girls and ladies bow with their hands clasped in front of them. Boys and men bow with their hands straight down at their sides. Would you like to try that?

We have been tasting many different foods. Japan is an island nation, so most people live close to the sea, and they catch and eat a lot of fish. Rice is another favorite food. Rice and fish are part of almost every meal - even breakfast!

This is a picture of a restaurant window. 

 

Lots of visitors to Japan aren't familiar with the foods, so they put plastic models in the window for people to look at to help them choose what they would like to eat.

 

This man is selling food in the street. He is cooking squid muffins. They are steaming hot when you buy them. They're round spheres, crispy on the outside, with pieces of squid in the middle. We liked them a lot!

 

 

 

Not all food is different, though. If you want American food, you can go to Subway, or McDonalds.

The signs look different, but the food is just the same.

 

 

 

Because I am in a city, the animals that I have seen are birds and squirrels. These small animals can live alongside people in crowded conditions. They can find enough food, and places to live. People here like to feed the birds. This man was scattering pieces of bread, and soon a whole flock of pigeons came to eat.

 

 

 

Another animal to see in the city is fish. These are called koi. They look like goldfish, only bigger. These fish are not for eating. They are for decoration. Many families have a pond in their yard full of these pretty fish.

 

I bet you know where I am in this picture!

 

 

That's right - the fire station. The big front doors were open, and the fire fighters let us come in to take a picture. Except for the writing on the side, the truck looks like one in the USA.

 

That's all for today. I will write more another time.  For now, I will say goodbye.  "Sayonara!"

 

Your friend,

Flat Stanley.