Our spread at he cookout at Hiroko's house. Yum, yum! Can't wait to dig in. 

More meat cooking. 

A little out of sequence, but one of the cooks is hard at work. At a Japanese meal, everybody gets involved. 

This is Hiroko's new house. It is just as beautiful outside as inside. 

Admiring the intricate wood decoration above the doorways. 

This is not 4X8 paneling. These are separate pieces of wood inlaid into the ceiling. Wood is very much revered in Japan. 

From the living room looking into the tatami room or extra room. 

This is part of the living room. Notice the things on the wall. That is all that hangs on the wall in the whole house. That chair and table were carved from one piece of wood. 

This is in the tatami room looking into the living room. 

This is the foyer where we take off our shoes. You can get a glimpse of the dining room too. 

This is the inside of Hiroko's new house. You are looking into the living room. 

This little guy was very helpful. He ran his legs off taking all the food out to the patio. 

This is the inside cooking staff. Everything was scrumptious. 

This is the domburri pot. Domburri is a kind of stew. Thsi one had wild boar meat, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and a few other things I can not pronounce. It was delicious. 

Sunday Cookout

The last few pictures are about a cookout we recently attended. Some of our Japanese friends invited us to come to their house for a cookout. Although you can't tell it from the pictures, there was a roof of clear corrugated panels over the patio. We enjoyed wild boar roasted on an open fire, domburri, bamboo shoots, chinese cabbage slaw, rice, and of course pickles. We ate until we popped.

"Jimmy" is tending the cook fire. 

This is a small part of the meal. 

Our host and hostess. You will come to know them well. They put on a really big spread of food. 

Our host and hostess up front with some of their grandstanding friends . 

This is "Jimmy" who is a retired game warden. He and his son provided the wild boar for this cookout. 

Our host and hostess in the center. Their daughter on the left. 

New house roofline 

Normally this flight line is filled with planes. These cars started arriving at 5:30am for Friendship Day. 

The crowds filled the street for Friendship Day. 

Hiroshi's family arrives for Friendship Day. 

From left to right - Ayumi in Granpa Hiroshi's lap, Hiroshi-san, Kisaki held by her mom Hiromi, Nodoka, Stan-san, and Naomi.