First Experiences and Impressions

The past week has been incredible. Here are some highlights:

I attended a festival called Obon, where the Japanese people honour their dead ancestors by lighting lanterns and setting them out to sea. We watched as the local monks chanted and burned tokens in a large bon fire and it was absolutely beautiful. I was also able to witness a genuine fan dance by a woman dressed in a kimono, which was equally as stunning. Did I mention it was pouring rain? As you’ll see, this becomes a theme.

Beautiful fan dance.

The pathway to a shrine. Each one of the 1000's of lanterns was hand drawn by a local elementary school student.

I climbed a mountain! The mountain is called Izumigatake and it nearly killed me. It began easy, if not physically demanding, but then progressed to the point that it was more bouldering than hiking. We had to use our hands to help us climb over the large rocks which someone had seen fit to call a trail. During the whole process it was also pouring rain. Pouring pouring rain. I'’ve never been so drenched in my life. I’m also not sure if I'’ve ever had so much fun outdoors. While we were soaked through, and everything in our backpacks was ruined, there was nothing you could do but laugh. Everyone fell multiple times and we hiked all the way to the top of the mountain for a view of absolutely nothing thanks to the heavy heavy rain. But the people I was with were all fantastic and we had a spectacular time helping each other out the whole way. Sometimes we were up to our shins in muddy water, and more than one pair of shoes was destroyed, but we all went home with huge smiles on our faces. And I went home having been successful at one of the hardest things I’ve ever put my body through. Its been two days since I climbed, but my legs are still almost too sore to walk. And that’s an oddly satisfying feeling.

We had just been told that we weren't even half way. Needless to say, this was upsetting.

Laughing at the rain. At this point we were on our way down and were so thoroughly drenched that we couldn't possibly be any wetter. All you can do is laugh.

One of the many beautiful views while we climbed the mountain.

Having hiked a mountain, I decided that wasn’t quite enough for one day and donned my yukata (Traditional Japanese festival attire meant to be worn in the summer. It looks quite similar to a kimono) and attended a local fireworks festival held at the park next to my apartment. The fireworks were out of this world, and the food was too. I ate some miso fried chicken on a stick and tried to hide and drink a beer without any of my students seeing.

Happily eating fried chicken. I will upload an entire post devoted to my new yukata.

My impression of Japan so far can really just be summed up in one word; efficiency. Everything in japan is made to be as convenient as possible. The convenience stores aren’t just for snacks and forgotten toiletries, they also act as a post office and bank. All modes of transportation in the city use the same pass card so that with just the one card, you can travel anywhere. When you buy pancake mix, upon opening the bag you’ll notice that inside are portioned out bags of mix so that you don’t have to measure it yourself. And the Japanese recycling system in legendary, so you don’t even have to feel bad about the extra plastic. Take-away bento boxes are equipped with magic pull strings that use the power of the sun god to heat your food when you’re ready to eat it (seriously its some chemical wizardry that blew my mind). All deliveries are made right to your door, and if you’re not there to receive it, they leave you a notice and you can either call them or go online to schedule a time when you will be in for them to drop it off.
That’s only the tip of the iceberg though. It seems to be ingrained in to Japanese culture that as a customer you are to be treated as royalty. At a restaurant they will call you “-sama”, equivalent to “Master” in English. When you purchase something, they will hold the bag with both hands in such a way that the handle is facing you and easy to grab. And the bows. Lordy loo the bows. They will literally do a 90-degree-bend-from-the-waist bow if you even talk to an employee of a shop. It feels incredibly awkward at first, but you quickly get used to it and start to bob your head like a chicken at them as you compete for most bows. I’m going to return home with a superiority complex.
Even outside of the customer relationship, people seem to just genuinely need to make sure they are doing everything they can to both help and respect others. If someone approaches your desk, you stand, because heaven forbid they feel alone in standing. When you leave the office, you MUST say “osaki ni shitsureshimasu” which means “please excuse me for leaving before you”, and they MUST respond with, “thank-you for all your hard work”. Everything is a ritual.

I have much more to say about Japan, including my very first couple of experiences with earthquakes, but I will have to save that for another time! I’m off to eat sushi with friends! Never mind that there’s a typhoon. Food is calling.