Meet and Greet



free prize: cherry blossom bath herbs and a change purse

When we arrived our company representative told us that when you move into a new neighborhood it is traditional to go around and bribe meet all your neighbors. You are supposed to take a small present and introduce yourself. When I asked for gift suggestions, she said small, decorative soaps were a good idea. So while we were in Tokyo, we went to this awesome chain store called Tokyu Hands and bought soaps. Tokyu Hands is kind of like a combo Target and Hobby Lobby but bigger and way better. They even gave me a free prize because I bought so much dang soap (we have fourteen neighbors).   My Internet research says this is an old custom that a lot of young Japanese people do not do anymore. 

 

The next weekend our next door neighbor was kind enough to go around with us and introduce us to all the other neighbors. Everyone was very nice and welcoming and we met lots of dogs and cats. Everything from a tiny pink-bowed Poodle to a fat Shiba Inu (the most popular dog here by far) that rolled over on our feet.

not so nice: our next door neighbor's dog (also a Shiba Inu)
- he hates us and we're told he DOES bite

this is Goro....he thinks our yard is his too