However living in Japan means that we follow a japanese holiday calendar that's very different from the west.

How do we still celebrate the holidays that are important to us and even give them their own japanese twist.

We will see in this holiday edition of Life in Japan and go yes oh look at this tree is going on, you're opening, you're opening it up.

Nice.

Hello because yourself yes again that that is what we're looking at every day on every year we get ready for the holidays by putting up our christmas tree, there's all kinds of ornaments and decorations that holds special meaning and sentimental value.

It helps us create a special atmosphere of christmas.

What's the story behind the angel that angel, my grandma took me to go christmas shopping I think I was probably 12 or 13 and I bought that angel for my parents christmas tree.

They have since downsized their house.

So they asked if I wanted the angel for my treat and I do and here we are but before we can celebrate christmas there's another important holiday that comes first, are you guys ready?

It's a big american holiday and turkey is the centerpiece.

Do you know what it is?

Well we're getting ready to celebrate it with friends.

What are we getting today?

We are getting keeper plate, keep it the food, silverware and toilet paper, lots of paper.

The holiday we're getting ready for is thanksgiving and almost every year we have a big meal together with friends and family to celebrate.

We've already bought most of the food.

We just need some more supplies.

What are we gonna get?

Oh actually, but the cups and the plates now.

Some silverware back at home.

It was finally time to cook the turkeys.

That's right.

This year we bought two in preparation for the big event because Japanese ovens are small.

We have to be careful not to buy a turkey too big for our oven.

seven kg.

3 25.

How many turkeys have you prepared?

So I can't tell.

Yeah, that's a heavy bird.

seven kg bird.

Who?

Whoa, 89 minutes does it?

Oh no, Four hours later.

But my oven, I could only figure out how to tie it for 90 minutes.

Several hours later it was time for the Turkey carving.

It's the moment chop and begin.

Oh man, that smells good.

Yeah.

In years past we've done this at the thanksgiving meal itself.

But this year we're doing it before because it just takes a while like a big old turkey.

Like there is an art to this, but I'm not sure if I perfected it.

The turkey police are out.

I guess the moment finally came to gather all the food and people together at pas coffee shop.

It was so much fun sharing this special meal together with friends.

Everyone really enjoyed themselves and just look at that plate of food.

But thanksgiving in America just isn't about a big meal.

It's the time when most americans travel back to their hometowns to be with family again, much like New Year's is in Japan since that's not an option for us.

This year, we'd like to take a couple of days off to be together with family here in Japan.

Yeah, we've come out to lake Kawaguchi to see the fall colors before enjoying a few days of vacation at Yamanaka ko it was chilly but clear, perfect fall weather.

What's going on here guys?

We're gonna see some cool leaves even though most of the leaves have fallen up here.

We've come to see a highlight that so many people have suggested to us the maple Corridor.

Here we go.

It's late in the season, but there is still more meaty corridor.

How's it looking there?

I thought you drove through.

That's a pretty over there.

A video of a video, video.

All right, Moving on.

Uh, okay hoo boy, this is gorgeous.

Here.

It turned out to be the perfect place to get some fun family photos, the kind that you hold on to forever.

This is a perfect spot for photos here.

It's not all the photos always turn out as you think they will.

That's all right.

You just try again until you get it right.

But as usually happens without exploring, the conversation eventually turns to food.

That sounds pretty good right now actually.

Yeah, so a sissy 1, 2, 3, smile at us.

Oh, lovely to look at me.

Don't look at that.

Okay we are going to a park bit.

We hope it's awesome.

Not like bad matt matt matt us really fast.

Yes a second.

My I guess pretty views don't always thrill the kids.

That's alright though.

There's gonna be a lot of fun where we're going here come some ladies were really hungry.

Really hungry.

Well let's figure out lunch.

Are you guys hungry?

Hungry?

I'm bored.

I'll see what you putting hungry.

Oh my Oh my I went to my scream ice cream way to the cabins.

The girls thoroughly documented the trip out the back window.

Or at least until daddy noticed way.

Yeah.

Whoa.

We made it, we made it.

Oh yeah is it good?

Look at the girls have one of their personal face mama with her fresh flowers for our time here when it's time to relax and celebrate a holiday together.

There's nothing quite like our favorite cabin getaways to us.

Nothing says vacation quite like Yamanaka ko what this vacation look like for me.

A puzzle, a book, a cup of coffee.

Hi.

Hi I'm kids kids interrupting he.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Mhm.

Yeah.

Get the border up there.

That's nice.

Yeah.

Okay, grab with the one hand, put your foot over and the other foot over and stuff and then put your hand on the rope and go.

Yes awesome dude, awesome.

Dude you did it.

Yeah.

The first time.

Buy yourself some ping pong is going down at the ping pong.

What?

This is, how they here.

Mhm Oh whoa, good job.

Rebecca.

It was close.

That's good.

6 5 things that the kids love about coming out here is when GM baba Bruce and uncle are out here.

Oh my goodness, they just have a blast in there kevin, how's it going?

Oh what you got there?

What songs are you working on?

There's always something going on and sometimes you can even hear one of G special stories Storytime with G.

O.

How special.

But the longer we're in Japan, the more we incorporate some of their traditional meals into our holidays as well.

What do I see here?

Oh hello my helpers.

Oh boy, Big sister with a big knife like in japan.

Yeah, you're scaring us.

Yeah, you should be responsible.

Everybody is so dangerous.

Oh man, you guys remember now day.

Oh cool.

Yes, wow, look at this.

Whoa, that's well that's a pretty good deal.

One day you're coming together looking really messed up.

Oh wow.

Look at this puzzle is almost completed.

What are we working on here?

I'm gonna fight, kicks you gonna let you make a pie at last thanksgiving day arrived.

Look at that turkey though, Sylvia, that looks awesome.

Take the leg off.

Who was the drumstick?

That's right.

Huh?

Look at that big old turkey leg.

Hey.

Oh that first piece.

Look at that.

All right, here we go, promising side.

There we go.

What exactly, That's the turkey.

Do it jerky.

It comes shipped like a bird.

Yeah, right uncle Jeff carving the turkey right now, wow.

Oh boy corn.

Alright, given thanksgiving, we take time to celebrate the good things that God gives us life, love family and friends.

Remember that we need each other and that isn't a bad thing.

Way to go where the turkey cooker.

Huh?

Some asserts we have peacock pie, a pumpkin bars from the potatoes have come a working on getting the rest of it off Turkey.

We even green bean casserole.

No thanksgiving is complete without green bean casserole.

That's true for official thanksgiving meal.

The kids treated us to a dramatic presentation of the first thanksgiving.

Thank you.

Watch mm hmm.

The indians that is that how you okay?

Let's do it again together.

Okay, be right.

Yeah, like that.

Now, trying to see the second win for all right, Thanks wayne.

Thank you for waiting.

Alright.

Time to dig in.

And so we gave thanks and enjoyed our own thanksgiving meal, thankful for family, friends and each one of you.

I wish you could all taste the meal to sarah's almost done already way the baby's coming, Baby's coming look out.

The baby is coming way we just had such a wonderful time celebrating the holidays with our family and you know what, you can join us on two different occasions.

The first is on december 19th we have candlelight services at our church at four PM and at 5 30 they will be livestreamed, but it'll be way more fun if you could come in person.

And on december 24th christmas eve will be our family christmas celebration so you can join us at seven PM Tokyo Standard time.

So make sure you look at the links in the description for all the information you want and make sure you subscribe.

So you know the moment we're premiering our life in Japan video.

All right, we'll see you next time.

My life in Japan by by.

Mhm mm.

Yeah.

Mhm.