FAMILY DAY FOR THE EDAMATSU’S

04.01.2025

When I am in Australia, I often wish that I can just call up my mum and go out for lunch. So today, I decided to do just that. I went out for lunch with just mum. We chose our favourite Yakiniku restaurant.
In Japan, there are various types of “cook-your-own-meal” restaurants where diners can enjoy a hands-on dining experience, often involving grilling, boiling, or frying their own food at the table. Some may have tried Korean BBQ or Teppanyaki. Unlike those in Australia, Japanese “cook-your-own-meal” restaurants are often more affordable. I highly recommend that you try one of these restaurants when you are in Japan.
For example, The Yakiniku restaurant we went to cost us just $30 for two of us. The meal came with different cuts of pork, chicken and beef as well as rice, soup, kimchi and salad. This was lunch special, and you will find such deals all over Japan. Popular “cook-your-own-meal” types are Yakiniku, Sukiyaki, ShabuShabu and Okonomiyaki.
Thoroughly enjoyed time with mum, chatting about anything and everything. Those ordinary days that I miss most when I am in Australia.

While we were at the Yakiniku Restaurant, we got a call from my dad saying his brother and his wife were coming to visit us this afternoon. So mum and I decided to buy some cakes to have with them.

When we got home, we found them playing Qwirkle. If you’re not familiar with the game, we highly recommend checking it out and giving it a try. It’s a fantastic game! Every time my dad plays a new game in Australia, he brings one home and teaches it to his brother and his family. Apparently, all of the games are big hits, and they’re spreading the love for games. Dad’s brother and his wife have played Dominoes and Qwirkle but are pretty much newcomers to Qwirkle. Nevertheless they did well. They finished the game just before we arrived back from lunch.

I then wanted to play a game with my parents, uncle and aunt. I chose a new game called Hues and Cues. It involves knowing an incredible amount of shades of different colours. Rob dislikes playing this game as Japanese people have different ideas on colour. For example, what Australians call a green light at an intersection, Japanese call it Ao, which is blue!! It is very difficult for Rob. When I picked a shade of brown and gave the clue as salmon, Rob was not happy. Not a game Rob wants to play with a field stacked with Japanese players.

So he let us play without him, but I just think he wanted to keep his eyes glued to what was happening at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He is a big fan of Scott Boland and was rapt that he took four wickets. It will be a very interesting finish, he thinks.

It has been 12 days since we got back to Shunan. It has been relaxing but days have been merged, and the blog has been not so eventful. I feel though it is time for us to take off and explore Japan again.