Club time!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the students' afternoons are spent at club. Clubs are like elective classes which students are required to attend. But it is more like a club than a class. Students seemed to really enjoy this part of the day. Some clubs include traditional Japanese arts such as Tea ceremony, origami, and the martial arts. Other clubs include art and music. But the most popular clubs are sports: volleyball, soccer, softball and baseball, basketball and table tennis. I've posted a few photos of some of the different martial arts classes, but I can only publish photographs that obscure the identity of students because of strict Japanese law.

P.S. In the traditional Japanese archery class, you don't actually get to shoot an arrow until the second year. Also, the bamboo "sword" art is called Kendo (and some of the athletes hidden beneath the masks are girls).

Some fun student art

These are examples of an art project that the students had just completed at one of the schools which I visited. The requirement was to write their name in an illustrative style trying to use elements that described their personality. Some students wrote their name using the alphabet we're familiar with and others used the typical Japanese characters called Kanji.

Learning some new skills

While visiting different schools I had opportunities to try a few traditional skills: paper making, tea ceremony (which involves a complicated ritual lasting several hours), caligraphy, Japanese flute and even traditional Japanese archery. It was fun but I think I'll stick to drawing.

P.S. Do you have any ideas what word I wrote in caligraphy?

Madi Rose 9 was correct when she said the kangi symbols represented "Japan" or "the land of the rising sun." I wonder how she knew that?

Lunch and clean up

I've spent most of this last week visiting schools for students of all ages, from elementary to college. The schools are not so much different than ours... except for lunch and clean up.

At lunch time everyone stays in the classroom. Six students, wearing surgical gowns and masks, run to the cafeteria and bring lunch back to everyone in class. Everyone-- the students, the teacher and guests like me, eats the same thing. On this day we ate rice, dried anchovies with pickled vegetables, and a broth with tofu pieces. No choice, no complaining, and everything on your plate must be eaten! (On the next day one of the American teachers played sick in order to skip the lunch.)

After lunch is clean up time. Everyone has a job. The schools employ no custodians or janitors. Students do it all. The desks are moved every day and the floor mopped by the students. Don't forget the bathrooms! The principal at the school said clean up was the most important aspect of school because it taught diligence and community cooperation.

One other thing that was different is that on every campus we visited I did not see a piece of paper or litter or any sort on the ground. If they can do it, why can't we?

An Answer for Akash and the Fugates

Akash,
I can't give you any information yet in reply to your request for information about the family I'm living with . I am only staying with the family for one night (Saturday). Currently I'm living in a very small hotel room. There are sixteen crazy Americans living here (in the hotel, not in the room). I will update you about the family once I return to Tokyo on Monday. I don't think I'll have access to the Internet from the family home, plus it would be rude to spend my time typing away when I can be spending it with them. Akash, I try to post everyday but sometimes that's not possible.

The Fugates,
Yes, it's quite hot and muggy, and people usually wear long pants instead of shorts. When it rains the weather cools down a bit. Yes, I have done my laundry a couple of times, and have had no new accidental spills!

Thanks for for your interest. Enjoy the summer.

A few people of Japan

I thought I'd post a few photos of people I've come across in Japan. Hope you like them. Vote for your favorite

Matsuyama Castle

After landing on the island of Shikoku, we spent the afternoon at Matsuyama castle. It is one of the oldest castles remaining in Japan and very impressive. To reach the castle visitors can walk, take a chairlift or a cable car. Since it was raining, the walk and chairlift were not an option. High on a hill overlooking the plains of Matsuyama and the Inland Sea, this castle seems impossible to conquer. Built in 1627, it is both beautiful and insurmountable. The defenses were clever and many.

Look carefully at the photos and list as many different defenses that you can deduce.

(You can click on a photo to enlarge it.)

The Shrine Festival Revisited

On Saturday, I returned to the shrine to check out the festival. The mood had changed completely. Instead of the stately parade I had witnessed the day before, things were definately more exciting. Each portable shrine is brought just outside the compound. When it is their turn to enter the shrine, the portable shrine is hoisted on the shoulders of its keepers with cheers and shouts. It reminded me of a pep rally!