So today I finally saw The Force Awakens! 千尋and I headed to the cinema to see it in IMAX, which I highly recommend. Cinemas in Japan are slightly different to those in Australia, for one, each seat has an allocated cup holder {with the number of the seat on it} so there is no confusion between two different parties. Prior to the movie, we went down to 7/11 to grab some warm drinks. These ‘warm drinks’ are amazing, and can be bought from most service stations or vending machines. They don’t require any hot water or anything, you buy them hot, in a bottle. I have no idea how they work but I am currently in love with them, especially hot milk tea.

The movie was amazing, and I won’t spoil it, but I am now wishing that the new Star Wars movie release date was sooner. 千尋 and I were very surprised at some of the events, and I am devastated about one part, but overall we agreed that the movie had a good ending. Like other Star Wars movies, the story line was fast paced and included the classic ‘Death Star’ object with only one weak spot.

Afterwards we headed home for some dinner. The topic of English vs Japanese phrasing came up in conversation. At the moment, 義人 is writing his final “scholar” {as he calls it – I’m not sure if that is the correct English term} for his PhD. Yesterday one of the English lecturers noted that Japanese and English people will phrase things in a slightly different way. For example, Japanese people will say: “he is running away from the shark”, whereas English people will say: “he is being chased by the shark / the shark is chasing him”. This slightly fractured perspective makes up some of the differences in casual and formal speech.

Tomorrow is a special day for 千尋, as she will be partaking in a special ceremony. She is 20 now and this ceremony is a part of becoming an adult. Tomorrow she will don traditional kimono and go to 学主因 for the ceremony. I am very excited for her, and wish her all the best for her adult life!

-H