Communication

Today, I managed to quickly get my new cell phone with the help of makoto before going to Tomoko-obachan's tsuya (buddhist wake). My dream finally came true and I bought a docomo phone .. though the one I wanted was sold out, I still managed to get one that has far too many features. Luckily, I'm under the age of 29, because that age has been arbitrarily chosen as the cutoff point for the Docomo youth promotion. Meaning I got a 5,000 yen discount on my phone. So I bought it for 2,000 yen. How much did the phone cost 3 months ago you ask? 27,000 yen. muahahaha.

Tomoko's otsuya ceremony was sad, but an interesting experience. Though the only funeral I had been to before was my grandpa's funeral when I was a kid, which was also buddhist, this was my first experience of a real Japanese service. I had to wear a suit in the heat, which wasn't as rough as I thought it would be. Near the temple, the crows and cicadas were loud in the trees. I gave Tomoko's husband the omiyage my mom had packed for Tomoko before I left home and told him my family in America had express mailed a koden for her. He would later tell me that she had looked forward to me coming to Japan, and had hoped to see my mom and her other American cousins soon. It broke my heart to hear that because they had planned to visit next year.

After the family members greeted each other, we sat inside the temple. A priest entered and began reciting a sutra while visitors approached to bow, pray, and offer incense. Once each visitor had done so, everyone moved upstairs to eat dinner together. The mood was unexpectedly light. Tomoko's daughter, though was still overwhelmed with grief - she stayed downstairs alone, crying near the casket. I feel terrible for her and the rest of their family. This all happened so suddenly.

Tomorrow, the funeral begins at 10 AM.