Nagoya Castle

Jay and I in front of the Nagoya Castle

As the shogun and shogun's wife

Riding the golden dolphin...apparently the symbol of Nagoya.

One last shot of the castle


Teahouse window

Obon Festival

Parade dancers in Sakae...hot outfits, huh?


Lady dancer-style

Lanterns at a shrine


A little fesival-goer, in his little kimono.


Jay enjoying some warm rice-goo balls covered in some sort of sauce. A lady just walked up and gave them to us. So of course, we had to eat them, and smile while we did it.

Obon Festival, Ball-style

Me in my kimono, and Jay in his yukata celebrating the Obon Festival. They had fireworks and festivities all week long. Jay adn I celebrated by shooting off little street fireworks in front of our apartment.

Sparkler and camera- shutter- speed- experimenting fun.


And one more.

Meito Ward, Nagoya Stake

Me in front of our church building in Nagoya- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I only know what the middle line says in Japanese-- "iesu kirisuto"- Jesus Christ. Jay and I are in the Meito Ward in east Nagoya.

Jay and I at Hard Rock Cafe where we met our friends from the ward for Leslie's farewell dinner.


The foreign crew from the Meito Ward eating at Hard Rock Cafe- Linda, Sister Marlowe, Elder Marlowe, Leslie, me, and Jay


Fun at Family Home Evening with the missionaries and young adults. L to R- Sister Baxter, Elder Yamashita, Elder Furukawa.

How we're living...

The Ball Mansion in Nagoya, Japan.


The newest addition to the Ball family. Jay and I are the proud parents of a new baby Honda 250 cc. Isn't he cute??


A painting by Hokusai, one of the most recognized painters in Japan...made into "noren." Noren are curtains hung over an entrance to an establishment, showing they are open. In this case, they're hanging over the entrance to our bathing room.

Yakitori...mmmm....

Jay and I eating yakitori and kushyakatori in Kyoto. Yakitori is meat and vegetables on a stick cooked over a fire, and kushyakatori ( I forget what its really called) is anything skewered. Jay and I found the best yakitori restaurant in Kyoto and had to go eat there a couple times before leaving Kyoto.


Our favorite chef in our favorite restaurant, Kushya, in Kyoto.

Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto's Imperial Palace


The stunning scenery in Kyoto


The Zen garden of the Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto


The five-story pagoda in Nara.


The view from our hotel in Kyoto


Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto (the famous orange torii tunnels)


Deciding which tunnel to go through...


Sweet shoes


Jay and I in front of the Kinkakuji Temple (Silver Pavillion) in Kyoto |