Happy New Year from Japan. It's the year of the boar (whatever that means)! Juan and I decided to celebrate the coming New Year Japanese Style. We headed into Chikusei to ring in the new year with Tressa and the rest of the usual suspects.
After several cocktails we were ready to brave the near freezing temperatures and take a 20 minute walk to the nearest shrine. Monks chanting, bells gonging, drums 
beating and a small group of foreigners were drunk off their asses.
Some locals were there to hammer us out some fresh mochi (a type of sticky rice ball) and just after midnight the monks gave out sweetened mochi to all who were there.
At midnight everyone started throwing dollar coins at the shrine in attempts to have them land in the box for good luck in the new year. Since there was so many people in attendance at the shrine people in the back were chucking their coins. I was glad not be standing near the front. People were being pelted in the head left and right with coins.
Before we knew it... Juan and I were being shoved under a movable shrine by drunken women in traditional festival jackets.
Apparently there are certian steps you are supposed to do, but Juan and I just jiggled the shrine around until it was time to rest and drink a little more.
Happy New Year to Everyone out there. May you have a happy and prosperous one. Smooches!! Jody
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