...thinking about Japan

Sometimes life throws some pretty interesting curves at you. In the last few years I learned the value of real friendship. I learned valuable lessons about people and character. I saw my son become a Marine, deploy to Afghanistan, and return. I have seen my family and two friends make great sacrifice for their country for a return that may not make up for the losses. I have been to Georgia, Oklahoma, Washington DC, North Carolina and Hawaii. I have been to Jordan, Israel, Germany, England, Turkey and now Japan. I have been stranded by blizzards and volcanoes. I can say “Hello” and “Where is the bathroom?” in 6 languages. I am not sure why I write this except that it dawns on me from time to time how small we are and how little we know. I can recall some of those breath-taking moments over the last few years and although people ask me where is your favorite place of all you have visited; I have to say I don’t know. How do you compare the Kamakura Daibutsu (pictured here) with Julius Caesar at Stratford-Upon-Avon? Or Petra with Masada? Or Canterbury Cathedral with St Peter’s Church in Antioch? I don’t think you can. So here I find myself reflecting on my day at Kamakura with a glass of Suntory in hand (yes it’s real- not just made for the movies). I had lunch at a tiny self-hibachi style restaurant. They brought the veggies and noodles and I cooked ‘em on the table where I was sitting. That and a bottle of Kamakura Beer…mm-mmm! I went wandering through the former capital of Japan finding the oldest (800 year old) Zen Temple in Japan and assorted Shinto Shrines. I even said to Doreen, my traveling partner for the day, “We are in JAPAN!” She didn’t seem to appreciate the hard slap on the back when I said it but I think she echoed the sentiment. Even the words Toilet or Smoking Area seem pretty cool when I see them written in Japanese. Anyway here are a few pix for your entertainment. From the top: a couple posing for formal pictures at Meijijingu Shrine; Kencho-ji the oldest Zen Temple; Hachi-mangu Shinto shrine in Kamakura; Kamakura Giant Buddha (second largest in Japan and hollow inside. I went in); these ladies were stopping in front of and praying for every business in Kamakura. The video should speak for itself.

私は日本にいる

That means “I am in Japan.” A week now and I have almost mastered my key words and phrases including Nihongo Wa Dekimasen (I don’t speak Japanese) and Gomenasai (I’m sorry). All is well. Yesterday I took the train into Tokyo, wandered around the Shinjuku area and then met friends for dinner and adult liquid refreshment. Food has been really good, even though I generally point and hope for the best. Karaoke is big here with places designed for groups of friends to get together in a private Karaoke Party Room. One such establishment had a wonderful sign on the door: COME AND SING. SINGING IS PLEASANT. EVERYBODY IS HAPPY. I went to a bar last night called Bar Plastic Model that had Anime MTV projected on the wall. Yes Anime! There was room in the bar for about 8 small people and we were packed like sardines...all 5 of us. I dont want to talk about Bar Albatross. And I checked out a “traditional English pub” where I ordered a pint of ale and then watched with glee as local patrons ate fish and chips with chopsticks. Everything in Tokyo is in order. There are no public garbage cans on the streets yet the streets have no trash. Everybody waits patiently in line even at crosswalks when no cars are coming. That’s like a million people all waiting on every corner for the little man to turn green. Smoking is allowed in restaurants, but prohibited on the street. I can’t imagine Americans even trying to pull off Tokyo haute couture, ie: Little Bo Peep and Dragon Ball Z. It’s not my first time in the big city but I found myself staring. AND it’s a good thing I practice with chopsticks…otherwise I would be starving because there is eating protocol and etiquette that makes it practically impossible to cheat, and requesting a fork might be an impossibility. I did manage to navigate the trains and get home safely at 1 a.m. though and I am satisfied that my time here will be rewarding. Here are a few pix of Tokyo from yesterday. The park is the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, the city view is from the top of Tokyo Metro Govt Office and the street scene is Kabuki-Cho. Next week I may go into town and spend the night Saturday before meeting up with some folks I haven’t seen since 1970.