When I was a child living in Kyoto, Japan, I had a pleasure of being surrounded by my parents creative whimsy. The day after Luner New Year celebration in February 3rd, (In Japan the ceremonial date is fixed.) I would find a new addition of fired clay figurines or masks in the garden or attached to exterior of the house, or sometimes inside the home. This year, I was finally able to aim our bi-annual trip to Japan and participate in the big midnight bonfire which is the highlight of the ceremony. Here, people toss old wishes or protective charms of the year past, any old memories you want to forget into the fire, to purify and have its spirit renewed. Just before dawn, I woke up and walked back to the fire, and with several others picked through the calmed fire and ashes to see my luck would produce those figurines and masks from my happy childhood. The pictures above, are some of the treasures we found and carried back to New Jersey.
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