Home Again

It was a long trip home but I am finally back. Although I am not feeling well, due to the bad cold, headache and jet lag, I am very happy about the experience I was able to have. Japan is a fantastic country. Not only is it beautiful, clean and inviting, the people are so friendly and hospitable I felt like a honored guest my entire stay. I learned so much; it will be hard to summarize everything when asked about my trip. I look forward to working on my follow-on plan and sharing the information I learned with my friends, family, school and community. Thank you JFMF and the Japanese government for the fantastic opportunity and adventure I will never forget!

Final Presentations

Today it was our turn to perform. Each small group was required to make a presentation about their host city visit. We were second to get on stage. It was both fun and interesting to hear about how each group spent their time. We were able to see thing that were common to all groups and things that differed depending on where in the country they were located. We had a lot of laughs and enjoyed the creativity of the presentations.


The evening ended with a Sayonara dinner and we reflected on the events of the trip and said our good byes. We also had a special martial arts performance. Being Halloween, many headed out for the last night in Tokyo. I had come down with a bad cold this morning so I decided to head to my room to pack, have a cup of hot green tea and take a hot bath. Tomorrow would be a very, very long travel day. (24 hours of travel time!)

Kindergarten Visit

Today we got to attend our second special seminar. I had chosen to see a kindergarten so I boarded the bus again and headed out early. The school was a Protestant school located in a church. The children were so sweet and had made us all kinds of origami gifts. We spoke with the director of the school and learned of its history. The classes were very small and we enjoyed watching the students learn. I was surprised how even the little ones were so tidy and responsible. When they changed into their PE uniforms, they carefully placed their blazers and uniforms on the floor and folded them. The small pile of clothes was folded into a perfect neat bundle.

The afternoon gave us a chance to participate in a Q&A on Japanese Education and Society. It was good to be able to ask some of the questions that we didn’t have answers to and share comments.

Once the meeting was over we headed out for the last time on the town. Off to Asakusa, (the place we went the first day) for some last minute shopping and then off to check out an area covered with bookstores that we had heard about.

Hiking and then back on the Road

The sound of the river is roaring as I write today and the scenery is priceless. Most of the night I laid awake listening to the sound of the water rushing and anxiously awaiting to go and explore. It was so worth it! The hike was gorgeous. We wandered down along the river and up the mountain, only to come back down and go up the other side. There we followed a number of steep stairs, which let to an old shrine. On the way back we stopped to talk to an elderly gentleman who was in his yard and took a picture. Within a few minutes, he went in his home and came out with a beautiful bag of tangerines for us as a gift. The hospitality here is unbelievable! Everyone is so kind, polite and generous.


By 10:30 we were boarding the bus and headed back to Tokyo. We took a short detour to have lunch on the Tokyo Bay and enjoyed walking on the beach. Once back at the hotel, we saw all the other groups that were arriving back and enjoyed hearing how their week went. We unpacked and headed out to explore the city again. This time we went to “Electric City”, the area where all the newest “high tech” gadgets are found. We ended up eating ice cream at “@homecafe”. The waitresses were dressed as a popular animated character and we were told that the job was one desired by “all” young girls. Many envied them and it was hard to understand why. The space was so tiny and we sat at a counter facing the window. The menu consists of small deserts that looked like a brownie baked in an easy bake oven surrounded by some whip cream. When the desert was served you were asked to make the shape of a heart with your hands, repeat some Japanese words after the waitress and then she gave you the “magical super powers”. We couldn’t understand anything but instead just laughed along. I thought the place was a dive and couldn’t understand why it was so cool. Then we got the bill for our tiny deserts and it came out to about 65 dollars! It turns out we ended up paying about $10 for a cover charge!!! Unbelievable! We were given a silver members card as we left and found out we are now official members and can enter free next time! ☺

Yuzunosato Shosenkaku: Ryokan

After finishing our home stay we boarded the bus for a 2-hour bus ride to our ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). Driving through many narrow, winding streets and cutting through the mountains by tunnels we arrived. It was amazing; little stone paths led to each person’s room and were surrounded by gardens and ponds. Our room was set overlooking the river and as we opened all the screens you could see nothing but stars and hear the river roaring by. I couldn’t wait until morning to see the landscape. We met for dinner in a tatami room and had a wonderful meal. It was the first time we hung out as a whole group for the evening and we had a lot of laughs and sake. Soon people started to leave for their hot baths and head to bed. The ryokan is known for the yuzu (a delicious smelling citrus fruit) that was used in the bath, to make juice, wine, spices, marmalades and many other products. Trees bearing yuki and persimmons covered the grounds. A small group of us arranged to meet at 6:30 the next morning to hike the mountains before breakfast.

Home Stay

Home stay
Once again we packed our suitcases so that everything except our weekend bag could be sent back to Tokyo. Today was the day that many of us felt both anxious and excited about. We were off to meet our host family and spent the night with them. As we arrived in the meeting room, all of the families were seated on one side of the room and check us out as we walked in. They must have had photos of us because as we walked in, they seemed to recognize us. After a formal introduction each of us was matched with our family. I was staying with the Kondo family, a 35 year old couple and a 6-year-old son. We both were excited to finally meet and head out. The father spoke some English so we were able to communicate somewhat with the help of our dictionaries. The weather forecast today warned us of a typhoon in the evening and we were already witnessing the heavy rains.

I headed back to their apartment. I soon realized that all of the rules I had read about and all the worries I had about messing up were uncalled for. Other than taking off their shoes (which is what I do anyway) they didn’t use slippers or special “toilet” slippers in their home. We headed off to the grocery store to get things for dinner. The place was very crowed and I was surprised at how the little boy would wander away with the cart and the parents didn’t seem to worry. I on the other hand, was constantly worrying that he would get lost and tried to follow him without losing site of the parents (I didn’t want to get lost myself!) Once we got what we needed we headed back and I had my first Japanese cooking lesson. Because of the heavy rains I spent the rest of the day indoors trying to communicate with the parents and playing with their son who was really interested in trains, cars and maps. They opened the gifts I had brought and were excited about the books on Philadelphia. I also showed them photos, which I tried to explain in very simple English.

The time I had been dreading finally came in the evening when the father asked me if I wanted to take a bath. I had worried about this for weeks now and pondered over the procedure and how it would all work out. I knew that usually the guest bathed first and then the father and the rest of the family, all using the same bath water. I was thrilled when the father then said that I could go anytime and take a bath or a shower, which ever I preferred. I immediately answered that I would take a shower and would go last. This was going much easier that I had expected.


The next morning the father left for work at 4 am and we woke up at around 7am. The mother had prepared a beautiful breakfast of rice, salmon, miso soup, salad and eggs. The rain had cleared and it was another gorgeous day. There was a big festival going on in Inagi, so we got ready to go to town. A friend and her two sons came over to go with us to town. The festival was made up with numerous musical performances, food booths and a huge flea market. It was a lot of fun walking around and checking out the different things. I saw many of my friends who were there with their families and exchanged a quick hi and “how are you making out?” A lot of people were in the same situation trying to communicate while others had families who were English teachers and quite fluent. The time passed by quickly and we soon headed back home to get ready to drop me off at the community center. We took a few more pictures and headed back. As we said goodbye the mother had tears in her eyes and I thanked her for everything and promised to write. As we boarded the bus we waved back to the families that sent us of. (Waving is a big deal here; every time you leave a place your host walks you outside and waves until you are out of site)

Komazawa Gakuen Girls’ Senior High School

As we pulled up to the front of the school we were amazed by the size of the campus. It not only housed a high school but a middle school, university and grad school. Komazawa Gakuen Girls’ Senior High School is a private Buddist school and the day began with Principal Makoto Suzuki chanting onver the loudspeaker. We were greeted by two English teachers, Jackie from Ireland and Travis from New Zealand. They gave us an introduction to the school and then took us on a tour. The building was both huge and beautiful, The main entrance into the auditorium was so grand it looked like the poshest of hotels. The class rooms were numerous and very simple. Going along with the simplicity of Buddism both the classrooms and halls were very empty looking, a sharp contrast to the elementary school yesterday. We had time to visit classes on our own and observe the girls. In the gym we were able to see about 100 girls during meditaion. It was absolutely silent and every single person was perfectly still. The jikido paced back and forth between the rows carrying his kyosaku (stick) to be used if someone loses their form. (If you start falling asleep or slouching the stick is used to strike your shoulder (it doesn’t hurt, I tried it later) and remind you to stay focused.)


The practice of Zazen was explained to us and we went up to the mediation room to experience it for ourselves. I was very conscious of every step I took and move I made trying to do everything perfectly. Once seated on my zafu (pillow) I kept my eyes at a 45-degree angle and let my mind settle into complete tranquility. I definitely felt a sense of relaxation but it was hard not to let my mind wander and start thinking about different things.


After lunch in the cafeteria, where we were joined both high school and university students we were off to a calligraphy class. We were given the chance to try our skills with the brush and ink. After practicing some words, we were able to choose our best work and put it on a fan. It was a lot of fun trying calligraphy and showing off our work to each other.



At the end of the day we had the chance to meet with the principal and staff for a question and answer session. We learned that the school had a partnership with a school in Australia and the girls would be heading off for their annual trip in November. They were really excited about the opportunity.
http://www.komazawagakuen-h.ed.jp

Inagi City Nagamine Elementary School

We we greeted by the principal of Inagi City Nagamine Elementaty School and sipped green tea while listening to a brief welcome. We then headed outside for the morning announcements. The school yard was a sea of red and white. All of the students wore reversable hats that can be used to identify teams when playing games. Our student’s hats were red and white. The school was divided into teams that included students from each grade. The yard was divided into different games and the students stayed in their area and enjoyed playing. When the whistle blew, everyone stopped, cleaned up the materials and headed to their spot in line (shortest to tallest). They were greeted by their principal who introduced us and gave a short assembly. Then, as the students began to walk into the school, loud march music played over the speaker. Students entered the building and went off to class on their own.


Inside the school, the walls showed off the student’s beautiful art work. We began with a visit to a calligraphy class and then off to visit everyone else. I was amazed at all of the fine arts that the school had to offer. Sewing, music, cooking, art and PE (including swimming) were just some of the activities that went on during the day. Students were having fun in all of the classes and once again the independence was evident. In one class, I saw the students harvesting the rice that they had grown. It was part of a science class about where food came from. Students walked the halls without a teacher or a hall pass and it wasn’t unusual to see students alone somewhere like the library reading or checking out books. At lunchtime, we joined the students in their classrooms to eat. Students brought the hot foods to the classroom and set up and served everyone, once again with out supervision. Once they were finished other students cleaned up and the students went to recess on their own!


After class we were able to sit down with the teachers and discuss our similarities and differences. Both sides learned a lot from the experience and many set up pen pals for their classrooms.

Inagi City Daissan Junior High School

Finally, we were off to our first school visit. It began with a welcome speech from the principal. During the speech, we learned that three years ago when she arrived, the school had a problem of violence. Through starting a 10 minute SSR (sustained silent reading) at the beginning of each a day and including community volunteers to come to greet the students and help out, the problem has now improved. She also told us that the building itself had also been improved through painting it and planting flowers.

My image of Japanese schools changed once I began to walk around the building and observe the students. I had imagined schools where students were silent only spoke when spoken to and never made a sound or got out of line. This was not exactly the case. Although students were well behaved during lessons they were very noisy, running around and playing rough, etc during their breaks (10 min. btw classes). Unlike American schools, students were unsupervised between classes and often very loud and rowdy. I went to observe a music class and the door was locked. A minute later a student arrived with the key and let the students in. The boys went running in and immediately began to bang on the piano, give each other piggyback rides and wrestle on the floor. Even though I was in the room they paid me no mind as I took some photos. About 10 minutes later the teacher arrived and entered into the chaos. She didn’t say a word; give a “look” or anything other than go by the piano and stand. With in a minute the students all got up and walked over to their spots and stood silently. The student leader then led them in the greeting, bowed to the teacher and they then sat down and were ready to begin. The singing was gorgeous and I was really impressed with how they got it together so quickly without anyone speaking to them.
The students are more independent in Japan and are expected to do what needs to be done without being asked. I constantly noticed students beginning their chores without anyone asking them. At the end of class, those in charge of cleaning, serving lunch, etc. were on task immediately.

Inagi Fire Station, Library & Hospital

After a very typical Japanese breakfast, (fish, fermented soybeans, rice, raw egg, miso soup, pickled vegetables and green tea) we were off to see Inagi and learn about its community.

Our first stop was Tokyo’s only city-owned fire station, where the fire chief took us on a tour of the station and explained the 119 system (known to us as the 911 system). We asked a lot of questions and one person asked to try on the uniform.


We then hiked up to see the Anazawa Tenjinja (Shinto Shrine): Edo no Satokagura which was designated by the National Government as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The chief took us on a tour including everything behind the scenes. After having already visited many shrines and temples it was very useful to understand what everything was used for and why. The shrine is 2400 years old and before the building was built, the whole mountain was considered the shrine. Every morning the chief purifies himself and puts on his white kimono before offering rice, Sake and water to the Shinto gods. He even took us down into the cellar to show us how the pure rice is made, which included a special process of rubbing sticks to start the fire. We were then honored to meet his wife and daughter and see his collection of masks and costumes that had been passed down through his family. They were used in the very special Kaguda type of theater. His wife dressed as the goddess of the sun and did a short performance for us. We were able to try on the costumes and masks and have a little fun of our own.


The next stop was the library. Here we saw a brand new, state of the art facility. It was beautiful and included an art gallery from a local origami artist. After telling the Superintendent how much we loved the origami she made a phone call and arranged for us to meet with the artist at school the next day. The library also had a very unique feature called the “Book robot”. In the basement of the library (a very huge basement) they stored the books that were not very popular. If someone requested one of these books the information would be put into the computer and in a matter of minutes the book would be found among the thousands of books in the basement and the robot would deliver it up to the circulation desk. It was mind blowing to understand how a single book could be found among thousands that were stacked in boxes to the ceiling. The library also included flat screen TV cubicles where you could watch TV, computer areas, a self-checkout and so much more. They even had recording areas for making audio books incase someone requested one.


We were met next by a neurologist who took us on a tour of the city’s hospital. Once again we were impressed. The three main things that stuck out were:
1. The silence of the hospital (no loud speakers were used, only pagers)
2. Every single bed had it’s own window (the shape of the building was like that of a butterfly)
3. The building was built with shock absorbers to withstand an earthquake.


After a meeting with some of the doctors and nurses we headed back to our hotel and off to find a restaurant for dinner.

Welcome to Inagi

This morning we boarded the bus for our trip to Inagi with a stop at the prestigious University of Tokyo. Once on the beautiful campus, we were greeted by the Dean of Students. He gave us a lecture on the university and education in Japan. It covered the following main topics:
1. The Educational System
2. Schools and Society
3. Educational Crisis
4. Struggles for Reform

Next, was a very interesting lecture on The Japanese Model of Schooling Compared to the United States. It was both extremely informative and educational. It prepared me for what I was going to see in the Japanese schools that we would visit.

We then boarded the bus again and continued to Inagi. Here we met with the Superintendent of the Inagi schools and some of the parents. We finally were able to learn about Inagi and what it had to offer. Pears and “green areas” were two of the things that the city was very proud of. Orchards were seen around every corner and after tasting one of the giant pears I saw why they were proud of them. They were delicious! Inagi is surrounded by hills and on a clear day you can even see Mount Fuji if you look carefully.

Since Inagi is pretty small, we headed off to Chofu to stay at our hotel. Here we saw that once again there would be plenty to do at night. Numerous restaurants, shops and malls, some of which were open to 1am, surrounded the hotel. After checking in, we headed of to a quaint Japanese restaurant to get some dinner. “Fatty tuna cutlet” was my choice and although the name wasn’t the best it tasted great!

Art Highlights, Panda Pictures, Sumo Search and Shopping

Since my group was not traveling today, I was able to spend another free day in Tokyo with some friends. I decided to go in search of spotting a Sumo wrestler and see some of the sights that I still hadn’t seen. We began by taking the train to Ueno Park, the site of some historical temples, a number of art galleries, a beautify lotus pond and the Ueno Zoo. We began with a stroll through the National Tokyo Museum that included a visit to the second floor that featured Highlights of Japanese Art. It included artwork in chronological order beginning with clay figures from the Jomon period (ca. 10000 – 5thc. B.C.) to the famous ukiyo-e prints of the Edo period (1603-1868). It gave me a great opportunity to see the highlights of Japanese art and culture.


Enjoying another day of absolutely gorgeous weather, we took a walk through the park to Ueno Zoo. A friend of mine had promised her daughter photos of animals and we figured this was the only way we were going to find anything other than perhaps a squirrel (and we had only seen one of those ☺). The place was filled with so many families spending time together, looking at the animals and having a picnic. Everywhere you looked you saw children eating out of their bento boxes and enjoying themselves. We found the Panda relaxing in his spot and took our picture before heading out.


As we passed through the park again, we were in awe of some of the entertainers that we passed. There was one acrobat that decided he would stack chairs up and stand on top of them. At first it entertaining and then it became crazy! He continued to stack chairs until he was so high off of the round that you could see him from far away. To make matters worse, he then performed some acrobatic moves on top of it all, with nothing but cement under him!


I figured I needed to be daring as well and decided to try out the octopus from the local vender. It was made out of a batter that is cooked in the shape of a ball and filled with seafood (including the octopus) and then sprinkled with ginger and fish flakes. Although the octopus was kind of chewy it didn’t really have much flavor by itself. We each tried one and headed off to find something sweet… blue bananas anyone? The next vendor was selling bananas on a stick covered in blue, pink or chocolate yogurt with sprinkles. Although everyone else decided to get one, I waited knowing I wanted to try the ice-cream crepes that I had seen the day before.


Searching for Sumo wrestlers was the next thing on our agenda. According to our guidebook we took the train to Ryogoku. Although the sumo stables (places where they practice) were closed, we hoped to maybe see someone on the street. After finding the National Sumo Stadium we soon realized this was like going to a football stadium in the States and hoping to see an NFL player just walking around! Oh well, we got some shots of the area and visited one of the well-known restaurant gift shops.


Having walked for about 9 hours at this point I was beginning to feel tired but decided to stick it out for one more stop…Harajuku!! We boarded the train again and this time decided to get off at a different stop that looked like it was near Harajuka. Not so… we ended up walking an extra 40 minutes but got there before the shops closed. Not only does Harajuku have great shopping, it is known for its “Harajuka Girls”. In this youthful fashion district, teenagers dress in the latest trends and parade the streets showing off their wild outfits and posing for pictures. We visited some of the shops and went to get one of the long awaited ice-cream crepes. It was worth the wait…a hot crepe rolled with banana chocolate-chip ice cream, banana slices, whip cream and chocolate sauce! Now I was ready to head “home” for the night. Tomorrow will be leaving for Inagi, our "home" for the next week.

Kamakura

Today was my day off and I decided to visit Kamakura with a friend for the day.


Wedged between the wooded hills and the sea I took the train to Kamakura for a day's excursion. Kamakura is filled with history and more than a hundred well preserved temples and shrines. The town served as the shogun’s capital between 1192 and 1333. After an hour train ride, I arrived in what I would describe as one of the most peaceful and beautiful places. I felt a sense of calmness and relaxation as I made my way through the town visiting many of the ancient Zen temples and shrines. Each turn on the road seemed to have a better photographic moment than the next. The air was pure and fresh with a mixture of cedar and flower scents. I was surrounded by green, lush landscapes made up of mountains, streams and giant gingko trees. I walked from Kita-Kamakura were I got off the train to Kamakura stopping to take in the sites on the way.

I don’t think the day could have been any better. Not only was the weather absolutely perfect, it turns out that they were celebrating Children’s Day (3-5-7) at some of the temples and I was able to see so many small children dressed in their finest kimonos as they came for the celebration. Proud parents walked their young ones up the stairs to the temples, stopping to take family photos. Just when I thought I couldn’t get any luckier, I got to see a wedding ceremony take place at the next shrine. It was absolutely magnificent. The soothing sounds of the instruments drew you in and made you just want to stay and watch forever.



As we continued on our way we walked through the town stopping to check out the shops and taste the various foods. We then boarded the Enoden Line to go to Hase, the place of the Great Bronze Buddha. As we entered the Kotoku-in Gate and turned the corner, I was in awe. I expected it to be huge but this was much more than that. Towering 13.35 meters into the air this bronze statue of Amita Buddha sat in front of me weighing 121 tons. It was incredible to think about how it was constructed and how it had lasted so many years. In 1498, there was a tidal wave that hit and swept away the temple that housed the statue leaving exposed the elements of nature.




Upon leaving the temple grounds we made our way through the town stopping to try some refreshing green tea and chestnut ice cream. After strolling through many little streets we found ourselves on the beach looking out on the Pacific. Windsurfers filled the waters trying to catch the waves. We decide we would explore some more and wandered our way along the coast finding more temples and shrines.


After a very long day made up of 12 hours of walking, we decided to head back to Tokyo. As we waited in the train station I saw for the first time a double-decker train. We decided to try it out and boarded on the bottom. What a wonderful surprise…we found plush rows of reclining seats, with AC and all the extras, a big difference from the subway type of train that we had come in on. I don’t think the day could have ended any better. We sat back and settled in comfortably for the hour ride back. About 30 min. into the ride we were greeted by the conductor who asked to see our tickets. We happily showed her only to be told “This is a first-class car, you must follow me to the back” Trying hard not to laugh, we followed her to a car which was just like the one we came in on…but without any empty seats. We thought about all the empty seats going to waste in the First Class section…oh well, we couldn’t have asked for a better day!

Special Seminars/ Kabuki

Today we had the opportunity to sign up for a workshop of our choice. I decided to attended the “Women’s Status in Japan” seminar. It was extremely interesting to see the similarities and differences between the US and Japan. Kyoto Jones covered a variety of topics including the history of women in Japan, the education system, the workforce, marriages and divorce.

After lunch, we had the privilege to hear Mark Oshima speak on Traditional Japanese Theater. He gave us a wonderful presentation on how Japanese theater began and took us thought each period ending in modern times. He specializes in Kabuki theater so we not only learned about it but we were able to see a Kabuki dance performed.

We ended the day with small group meetings about our host cities and we were given our final directions for packing, etc. Since my small group is in Inagi I will be fortunate to have an extra day on Sunday for “free time” when all the other groups will be having a travel day. ☺

In the evening we headed out for Harajyuku to do some shopping. The area is packed with all kinds of shops and restaurants but we were in search of the Oriental Bazaar, which has the best Japanese gifts and antiques.

P.S. We were told today that the elevators would be out of use this morning because there were special visitors in the building. As it turns out, the Prime Minister, Crowned Prince and Princess were in the lobby when I was at breakfast. I didn't get to see them but I did see Poison (the band) at the hotel! :)

Ginza

After dinner I headed out to explore Ginza , Tokyo’s premier shopping district, with a group of friends. We visited a traditional paper shop and purchased some beautiful Japanese handmade stationary. Admiring all the glitz and glamour of the latest fashions of Tokyo, we made our way to visit a used kimono shop. We were like kids in a candy shop, as we shifted through piles of obis (the sash worn around a kimono, often the most expensive part) and checked out vintage kimonos including some exquisite wedding ones. We left each carrying our favorite obis and thinking about how we would use them in our interior design.

Education, Economics and Government

We were honored today to have a number of extremely important Japanese government officials taking time out of their schedules to speak with us. It began with Tsutomu Kimura, President of the National Institution for Academic Degrees. His keynote speech was on Education Reform in Japan. He spoke on the characteristics of the educational system in Japan, the performance of Japanese children and the proposals of the Central Council for Education It was very educational, learning about the Japanese school system, the National curriculum and the problem that they are facing. It was interesting to hear how many of the same issues we have in the US are things that they deal with here in Japan.

Takahiro Miyao a professor at the International University of Japan then spoke on Japan’s Economy. He focused on two key questions:
1. Which is the second largest economy in the world, Japan or China?
2. What are the current economic issues in Japan?
http://www.glocom.org
http://glocom.blog59.fc2.com
The Honorable Yuji Tushima and Dr. Kuniko Inoguchi, both Diet Members (House of Representatives) of the Liberal Democratic Party, took turns speaking while moderated by Hiroya Ichikawa, Professor at Sophia University. They shared their views on the Japanese government the work that they have been doing.

We ended the day with a presentation from Sunmark Publishing, which presented us with books from Kenji Miyazawa’s books. Miyazawa was one of Japan’s most famous authors.

Catch of the Day

No sooner have I fallen asleep and the alarm goes off. It is 4 am and I am meeting a few friends in the lobby to head out for Tokyo’s Fish Market. We get in a taxi and take off. As we arrive, we are shocked at how huge the place is. It seems like as far as you can see in all directions there are piles of fish, styrofoam boxes, and people everywhere. The place is amazingly quiet for the amount of activity that is going on. Forklifts are zooming around the like crazy mixed in with men pulling carts piled high with fish. As we wander through, we feel like we are risking our lives, as we are careful not to get hit. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode when they are trying to get the arcade game across the street without getting hit.


The variety of fish and seafood are too many to count. There are small fish not larger than a pin and gigantic tuna. Octopus, eel, crabs, lobster and things coming out of shells that we have no idea what they are. Everyone seems to know exactly what to do and they are extremely focused on their work. The air is amazingly fresh and we enjoy the adventure. By 6 am we begin to head back to the hotel to prepare for our busy day of meetings.

Kyogen theater

We had a good laugh this afternoon while watching Kyogen. It is a form of theater, similar to a play, that began about 600 years ago. The two characters (men) use only their voice and body to perform. While keeping a very straight face, they speak to each other stressing each syllable of a word very slowly and precise. The topics are very simple but it is hilarious. It almost sounds like a beat or song as they speak. Although our performers did not use masks, they told us that there are five types of masks that are commonly used: devil, ugly young women, ugly middle-aged women, animal and the happy god.

The evening ended with our welcome reception dinner. We heard a number of different speakers including the Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs from the American Embassy.

Asakusa …Holy Smoke!!!

Lunch at Sansada was our next stop and we were in for a treat. We were having Tempura, which is made by deep-frying various vegetables and seafood. As we entered the tatami room we took off our shoes and sat down on the floor to eat. It was a truly Japanese experience, which was enjoyed by all. Once we finished our green tea we headed out for an hour of free time in Asakusa.


Beginning at the Kaminari-mon Gate we walked down Nakamise Dori and looked at the hundreds of little shops selling absolutely everything! Passing the Five storied Pagoda we stopped at the Hozomon Gate and breathed in some “holy smoke”. The smoke is used to heal ailments when you put it on a certain part of your body or students often put it on their heads before an exam to make them smarter. I figured I could always use some more wisdom and touched my head.


The Senso-ji Temple was our final stop. Here you could buy a fortune. You pay 100 Yen (about a dollar) and pick a stick from a container. Each stick has a character that you then match to a drawer. Inside the drawer are fortunes. If you get a good fortune you keep it but if it is a bad fortune, you fold it up and tie it to a hanger in the temple. The bad fortune then does not go with you! ☺

The National Diet of Japan

Breakfast began this morning with miso soup, eggs, yogurt with fresh fruit, croissants, French fries, vegetables and much more! We had a selection of western and traditional Japanese foods to choose from and everything was delicious. Then following a brief orientation we went to find out about the National Diet of Japan and took a driving tour through the city.

“ The Constitution of Japan provides for the principal of the separation of powers. Three independent organs –The Diet, the Cabinet and the Judiciary – are established, and each limits the power of the others through a system of checks and balances. This prevents the abuse of power and guarantees the rights and freedoms of the people.” “The Diet consist of two Houses – the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors – and each House is composed of elected Members, who represent all the people. Each House has plenary sittings and committees.”

We took a tour of the Imperial Palace including the Emperor’s Room, which is used by His Majesty the Emperor when he visits the Diet. The room was beautiful and majestic and made entirely with Japanese cypress and finished with a fine lacquer.

Moving into the future

It is 4:20 in the morning on Wed and I don't know where to begin. I thought I would work on my blog since I woke up but I have one problem... the website for some reason is in Japanese and I am having a really hard time trying to figure out how to create my post and which button to click! Well, here it goes...

I will try and get you caught up briefly since it is already Wednesday and I haven't been able to write since Sunday.
I arrived in SFO without any problems and got to meet the rest of the group. Everyone is great and the orientation at the Sheraton went well. Although most of us were ready to go to bed, we boarded the bus and went to our welcome reception at the official residence of Japanese Consul General Yasumasa Nagamine. His house was gorgeous, high on the hills of San Francisco and overlooked the Golden Gate. The food was fantastic and we felt extremely privileged to be invited to his home.




The next morning we woke up early (I was up at 2:44am, but enjoyed the plush bed until 6) and got ready for the airport. I was on the first flight (UA837 to Narika/Tokyo) that left at 11:28 am (Monday). The flight was long, extremely long but everything went smoothly. I sat next to a gentleman who was from China, but living in San Francisco. He travels to Japan every month on business. He gave me alot of advice about things to do and see while I was there. I read a lot from my travel books and wished I could fall asleep. We finally arrived on Tuesday at 2:10 pm! After clearing customs and getting all of our luggage we headed for the bus to Tokyo. It took us about an hour, passing rice patties and Disney World on our way. We arrived at Tokyo Prince Hotel and checked it. It was amazing! The hotel is located right next to the Tokyo Tower and surrounded by some beautiful temples. I found my room and quickly began checking out everything. I took photos of every corner of the room including the toilet which has heated seats and much more! :) Everything was laid out so perfectly.
I then met up with a friend from my group and we went out to explore a bit of the area. We stopped by a noodle shop to get some delicious soba noodles (made from buckwheat)which totally hit the spot. We then returned to the hotel and hit the bed by 9pm.

So it is now 4:53 am and I set up a wake-up call for 6:00. We have a really busy day planned so I will try and lay down for an hour before I have to get up. I have photos that I will try and post as soon as I figure out the Japanese or how to change my site into English!

PHL to SFO

After a long day of packing and running around and trying to finalize all the last minute business for when I am gone I finally headed upstairs at 12:30 and set the alarm to wake me up at 4:00 am. Finally I thought I could get a good 3 1/2 hours of sleep before heading to the airport. As I lay down I realized that I was only kidding myself. Although my eyes were closed, I was wide awake and thoughts were running through my mind like a hurdler, jumping from one thought to another. Next thing I knew the alarm radio was blaring and it was time to get up.
I arrived at the airport and was spotted by another JFMFer because of my red tags. It was good to meet some of the people in the group and exchange information and discuss ideas. After settling in for an almost 6 hour flight, I felt a sigh of relief. Everything was prepared and I was off to San Francisco, now I could get some shut-eye....yeh right! : Can someone say “Coffee please!” :)

One week to go! :)

Well...a year ago I began the application process to attend a study tour to Japan through the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund. After a lot of planning, writing papers, getting reference letters, etc. I sent it off in December and waited....and waited...and hoped...and prayed...and waited. Months later, I came home to find an acceptance letter in my mailbox... I was GOING TO JAPAN!!! :) As more time went by I imagined what the trip would be like. I read lots of books and articles on Japan and their educational system, planned what to bring, tried to learn some Japanese (not very successful) and worked on revising my "follow-on plan" (this is the plan of what I will do with the information I learn when I return). Today is Sunday and next week this time I will be on a plane to San Francisco to meet the all the other participants from across the country at a brief orientation and then off to Tokyo. I just measured my suitcase and was happy to see that the "linear dimensions" fit the guidelines but now I have to make sure that what I pack doesn't exceed 50 pounds (not an easy task)! I am off to get everything finished before next Sunday. Later! :)