New Year Tradition

At the Kobe International New Year party we celebrated with taiko drummers and fine food. 

The main event was the kagami biraki, which is the Japanese traditional ceremony of 'breaking' or opening a cask of sake. The great and the good of Kobe, wearing traditional happi coats,  got to do the honours whilst the rest of us watched and applauded.  Then we enjoyed a sake toast... Kampai Blippers! 

A civilization stands or falls by the degree to which drink has entered the lives of its people, and from that point of view Japan must rank very high among the civilizations of the world. 
Kenichi Yoshida