Happy New Year!

My wife Shino and I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year filled with good health, happiness and abundance.

​This selfie was taken a bit after midnight on New Year's Day at Shimogamo Shrine here in Kyoto. New Year's is by far the biggest holiday in Japan. It is the time of year when families get together.

​We traditionally go to a neighborhood temple to ring the bell at midnight, and then go to this important shrine, where we ran into a bunch our good friends. We at some great Turkish kebabs and prayed of a good New Year. 

Here are some other shots from that evening.