Today we visited an enormous martial arts gym, a decent bus drive away. I wasn’t expecting something so big when I heard we were going there, so I was shocked to see a three story complex the size of my high school! We took off our shoes just like in any Japanese building and put on small red slippers (not big enough for Western feet). The place looked like a high school on the inside as well, due to its size, architecture, floor and ceilings.

Our first visit in the school was to the archery field. Japanese archery (kyuudo) is different from Western archery mainly in the fact that you are deemed successful or not based not on where you hit the target, but your form. We watched for a little while, and the few students we saw doing it were very good and it was quite impressive.

After kyuudo, we went to the second floor and watched the judo practice. Judo is basically Japanese wrestling. The group we watched were young, perhaps elementary school, and they were already at such a young age very skilled. The warm-ups they did were almost exactly the same type of warm-ups I did when I studied Tang Soo Do, which I found rather interesting.

Finally, we went to the third floor and watched kendo, Japanese sword fighting. Kendo is very complicated; the combatants wear all sorts of body armor and look more like beekeepers than martial artists. The sword is a set of wooden rods that make a loud crack whenever a proper strike is made. After watching, we got to have a kendo lesson. We suited up in traditional blue clothing sans armor (mine was way too large so I looked rather goofy), were handed swords, and went out into the gym. At first we were shown basic stances and the main head attack (to attack the head, you have to shout, “MAN!” or else the strike is not counted), and then we did some drills. Afterwards, we were told to line up in front of the students, all young kids again. We all became a bit nervous, and then were told to strike the kids… we all hesitated, but the instructor insisted… And so, for about 15 straight minutes, a dozen nervous gaijin beat on the heads of young Japanese children with sword, while the gym echoed with our shouts of “MAN!”

I was complimented on my stance by the instructor, which impressed Yasuko… I explained that I had taken martial arts in the states and thats why I was able to do the stances well… but then again I was speaking English and the instructor only spoke Japanese… so I don’t know if I got through.

Kendo was fun… if I get a chance to study martial arts again, that would be one worth taking.

It was a rainy day and we got back to Eurocentres a bit late after our visit to the budokan, so we all went our separate ways for dinner with our host families.

My host parents took me out on the third weekend. We took a very long drive through beautiful hills and countryside (listening to a CD of American pop songs played on panflute on the way… very bizarre). We stopped for lunch at a roadside ramen shop, where we were given *enormous* portions… and I wasn’t even that hungry to begin with… but I ate until I was bursting at the sides. Then we left for an old temple called Nata-dera.

Nata-dera was a very large temple with beautiful, old architecture. It was a huge complex that consisted of many buildings, all linked together along a wide stone walkway. Unfortunately it was pouring rain the whole time, but it was a lot of fun anyway.

The temple had many different shrines and covered the area of a large park. One of them was a large rock (I’d call it a tiny mountain) with little shrines carved into it, overlooking a beautiful pond. We visited well as a number of large wooden buildings built into the rock, and my parents made offerings. There were freestanding wooden buildings in other parts of the complex, and since this temple was in the mountains, the buildings up on hills gave incredibly beautiful views of the whole area. There was also a very large, brand new temple with a gigantic many-armed buddha inside (I wasn’t allowed to take photos in there). Finally, we visited the gift shop/museum area that was once a functioning part of the temple as well. Aside from various souveniers, this building had an old Japanese taxi (a tiny little box with handles… it’s amazing anyone could have fit inside of it) and a wall-sized cloth map of ancient Japan.

The rain actually added to the beauty of the temple, as there were frogs jumping around, and everything was shinier and more vivid.

The Yamamiyas pose in front of the door	My turn	This large rock had many caves with shrines inside
We head up a mountain into a shrine	Shinto shrines are marked by torii	One of the ponds near the shrine
One of the shrine guardians	Just a nature shot	My host parents underneath a 300-year old building
This is a long, bending red bridge, or can’t you tell?	Another view of the shrines	The long highway from the gate to the shrines
This is a brand new Buddhist temple at the site

After the temple, we went to a glassworks shop. I think my parents told me it was the largest (if not, one of the largest) glass centers in Japan. It was made out to look like a little German village, and even had German writing above the buildings… sort of a Bavarian feel to it. There were a few buildings, and I’d say there was as much floor space here as in a Wal-Mart… all selling glass items, expensive vases, gems… it would have made a king drool.

After that we drove home, and stopped at a wal-mart type store on the way home… you know; the kind of store that sells a little bit of everything so it’s hard to classify. We got some batteries and toilet paper, and then went back home for dinner (and more ridiculous Japanese tv ).

We had walked past Kenroku-en so many times on our cultural excursions and had heard so much about it being one of the top 3 most beautiful parks in Japan that it would have been a shame not to go.

Frances and I went out after a fun time bar-hopping the previous night. Unfortunately it was raining, so it was difficult to take pictures or stay out for too long… but we walked around for a few hours. Located right between the castle and Lord Maeda’s teahouse (which we had visted earlier), the park was spectacular… and enormous. There were footpaths to travel everywhere, and it was located on a hill so there were many levels. We saw another privated teahouse in the center of the park, but due to the weather we decided not to explore too much more. So we headed back into town and walked around, passing by some of the buildings we had come to recognize downtown; Kohrinbo 109, a huge department store, a 3-story Mister Donut, and the only McDonalds we had seen in Kanazawa. And Biz Cafe, of course.

Here’s the fourth email I sent from Japan:

Konnichiwa minnasan!

Sorry to keep you all waiting for the next email, but I've had very little free time. Anyway, just so you know, Leo is a guy who works in the Maxis division at EA games. He actually recruits at Ringling. So I've become pretty good friends with him. He took a bunch of photos and has put them online here.

I can't remember what's happened since last time I wrote, so I'll do a fast email (I don't have much time)... did I write about the Okaeri festival? That was so much more lively than the Otabi festival... The first thing that happened when I got there was I was handed a headband and a beer. The rest of the night was eating in strangers' houses, drinking lots, wandering the streets, screaming WASHO WASHO WASHO over and over. It was really awesome.

We went bowling as well, to make up for the fact that we didn't get to do rice planting. Japanese bowling is funny -- nobody knows the rules, so they go sliding haflway down the lane when they throw the ball. We played Taiko Taiko Revolution, which is DDR but with Taiko drums.

Classes are really really fun. We all get along great and our class is particularly crazy. I don't know how many photos Leo took of Frances and me, but I know the other cameras all have some good weird shots, so when everyone else posts photos you'll see.

The teachers all come to karaoke with us and get drunk. Those nights are pretty nuts too. We went to the ninja temple, but I think I already wrote about that.

Today we had kimono-wearing day. That was really fun. Guy kimonos are nice and cool while the girls had to wear really heavy silk ones. It's really hot here so I don't envy them.

We also went to a tea ceremony and a many-centuries old private garden use by Lord Maeda. There is so much history in Kanazawa.

Oh yea, and we went on an excursion to the Noto peninsula last Sunday. That was really amazing. We saw a really old Shinto shrine, a Buddhist temple, some really amazing rock formations, and we even went to a ryokan (tradition Japanese hotel) and an onsen (hot spring baths). I don't have time to elaborate, but it was such a great trip.

Yesterday we went to an elementary school and spent the day in a 2nd grade class. Nothing is so quite a downer as having 2nd graders correct your grammar, and you still can't understand a word they say. But they were so much fun, so bright and cheerful and insane. I can't imagine how they get anything done because the classes are so large, but the kids are absolutely great. They even clean their own school by running on the floor with towels. It's a really hard way to clean, but it's learned early so the kids do it well.

This weekend I am viewing some temples with my host family and going to Kenrokuen, one of the most famous parks in Japan, with a friend.

Sorry for the really short email, but I really have to get off this computer. If you want to see more photos of Japan, go to www.Engrish.com

Ja matta!

Matto-san

Our cultural excursion today was to visit the international exchange center for a chance to try on traditional Japanese kimonos. It was a nice day so we walked (even though it was quite a hike). The walk was an event in itself, as we got to walk along an absolutely beautiful park. I also discovered that the Japanese treat their old trees differently than we do in the U.S. — when a tree becomes old and is in danger of cracking under its own weight, we cut it down. In Japan, they cut other trees down to build supports to prop the tree up. So because of this, we got to see a tree that grew up next to a path, turned over the path like a roof, and then dipped back down to the ground on the other side of the path. Amazing!

It was a really hot, humid day and the walk didn’t cool us down at all, so we were all a bit warm by the time we reached the international center. We went upstairs and were given an introduction to Japanese clothing, as well as shone some incredibly beautiful kimonos hanging up on stands all stretched out to show all the detail work at once.

Finally we were separated into boys and girls and were given kimonos to put on. It was so complicated that we just stood there while the women there put the kimonos on us. The guys had much more cool and comfortable kimonos than the girls, who all wore heavy, many-layered silk kimonos. The final result was amazing though, and we all looked quite sharp in our kimonos.

We pressured Jose to wear his kimono (since he owned his own) for the whole walk home. Yasuko was slightly embarassed and told him people would make fun of him, but we won him over and he did. It was definitely a funny sight to see, as every Japanese person walking by gave a strange look to the Panamanian in traditional kimono.

This was one of the most insane and interesting events, and unfortunately I did not bring a camera! Joy’s photo page, luckily, has photos from Minami Kodatsuno elementary school (Minako, for short).

We were divided into small groups and assigned to classes full of 2nd graders. My group consisted of myself, Sandra, and Pierre. The kids were noisy, hyperactive, and life-threateningly cute! There were also extremely obedient and hurried to do everything the teacher said. I was told the hyperactivity was a result partially of them still being young, and partially because they were having strangers from other countries visit. (Apparantly as children get older in Asian school systems, their will is crushed and they become slaves to their schoolwork… scary!)

We talked to the kids about our hobbies, our countries, and whatever else we could manage in Japanese. Even though they were only second graders (they talked slowly and simply), we still had trouble communicating. But the kids were very patient and so cute… they didn’t mind having trouble. I talked to a few kids about Miyazaki animations, and just about every kid insisted on being picked up into the air. At lunch time the children serve their own lunch (it was very orderly; I was impressed). After lunch we played outside for a little while. Some of us played dodgeball (the kids love dodgeball), while other kids played on gymnastic poles, or rode unicycles, or threw balls. After recess the kids cleaned the school. Literally… they got down on their hands and knees, and ran wet towels all over the floor, washed the windows… basically cleaned everything.

It was sad to leave the kids, but they certainly wore us out. It was such a fun day!

On Wednesday we went back to the entertainment area where we bowled the week before. We rode bikes through a busy area of town that we were completely unfamiliar (Dave and Chris lead, Frances, Jose, and I followed). We had dinner at a McDonald’s at the train station before the movie… Japanese McDonald’s is really amazing; the burgers are made so carefully and beautifully, and they look exactly like on the picture menu.

I had already seen Dawn of the Dead, but the others had not, and I didn’t mind seeing it again. If you think movies are expensive in the US, you should stop complaining, cause tickets in Japan were about $18 each. Being a Wednesday, it was “Ladies’ Night” so girls got in for half price (a bargain at 900 yen).

Japanese theaters give you assigned seatings, so the guys fought over who got to sit next to Frances, but in the end it didn’t even matter since there were only two other people in the whole theater. They also serve beer in the theaters which was a new experience (and an interesting fact — being white in Japan automatically makes you ‘of age’ to drink).

Other than that, it was a pretty ordinary trip to a theater. We rode bikes back in the dark… it was still dangerous, but Japan is so beautiful at night. The lights of the city every are really fantastic.

I waited in the subway with Frances until her train came, and I checked my train schedule and saw that my last train was 15 minutes after hers, giving me plenty of time. (Plus, I wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.) Unfortunately, I read the morning schedule, not the night one… stupid me… and my last train was actually 15 minutes *before* hers! So I went to take a taxi… but realized I was out of money! :-S So I had to, very embarrassed, call up my host family and explain that I read the wrong schedule, and had to borrow money from them to pay for the taxi. They were very nice about it, but I felt horribly foolish anyway. ^_^”