Strawberry fields forever

Today, while chopping up some not so fresh produce for dinner, I started reminiscing about our lovely, seemingly, endless fields of freshness in our little Japanese town. Onions, strawberries, daikon, mysterious veggies of Japan, flowers, and rice all at our fingertips and often generously given to us. So, I wrote a little haiku in honor of our happy days there, walking and riding our bikes all around town.

the smell of candy
biking through lingering winds
strawberries smile

The day I became the Karate Kid

I'm baaack! I've been away from blogging since returning to the Americas and I'm not even sure if anyone is reading anymore, but I will continue to share thoughts and things I find amusing and exciting at any rate.

This past weekend, I had an amazing experience. I'm actually still reeling from the excitement of it all and replaying everything in my mind and going... "uuh!" As most of you know, I practice Shorinji Kempo and I returned to my home NYC dojo just in time to represent at the First North American Taikai (Tournament) held in San Jose, CA (more pics). It was the first Taikai held in the US so it was exciting for all of us. Just before leaving Japan, I was fortunate enough to be a part of my first Taikai representing Shimabara dojo in Nagasaki, and did a pair embu (choreographed fight) with a lovely high school student named Yoko. This was also a wonderful experience, to see the spirit and skills of Shorinji Kempo dojos in Nagasaki prefecture. Just about everyone from our dojo performed an embu and the elementary school kids were excellent. In class they're usually running around like madmen, but they turn into real kenshi when they do embu! I don't think I ever blogged about that experience, but let me just say it was a long bus ride with 30 kids hopped up on candy and soda. On the way back, the bus driver was bright enough to turn on videos of DragonBallZ and whoa, the kids became zombies. Amazing.


So back to the US Taikai... we had been training very hard on our embus, including a group embu which was a rather new concept for us. We had an amazing coach in Kumiko-san, who is a 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) and a former Taikai champion. We certainly didn't want to let her down, not to mention Ohashi Sensei (our Branch Master). This being the first North American Taikai, the President of the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO) and daughter of the Founder of Shorinji Kempo was also in attendance, and other dignitaries. No pressure!




The day was action-packed and our nerves were shot from the excitement and nervousness. I had more excited nervousness just to be able to have the opportunity to finally show our NYC spirit and also see how we measure up with other dojos in our homeland. I'd also been told just days before that I had been chosen to make a speech. Speech?!? Some background, all participants were asked to submit an essay about how Shorinji Kempo has changed their lives. This was a very important part of the event because Shorinji Kempo is not just a physical martial art, we emphasize a balance of mind, spirit, and body training, if not more emphasis on mind and spirit, ultimately aiming to become a better, stronger person who can be relied upon to lead and help others. Since we would have a variety of spectators, the organizers wanted to be sure we include a speech to show this side of Shorinji Kempo. So... on top of trying to remember my pair embu, group embu, demonstration self-defense embu (thankfully I didn't sign up to spar), I also had to prepare myself mentally for a speech in front of hundreds of spectators! I was actually more nervous about speaking in front of the President. It could've been a room of 5 people and the President and I would've been just as nervous.

Since my experience in Japan, I have been on the receiving end of many a Japanese speech. They usually stick to what's on the paper and are a bit robotic in delivery. It's a very specific, respectable style, but I wanted the President to see that we express ourselves differently on the West, but hopefully just as respectably. This was such an unbelievable honor to be chosen to speak and represent the US and Canadian dojos. Usually, all the speeches are by dignitaries and WKSO representatives. I'm sorry I keep repeating myself, but this really was an honor, I still can't believe it happened!

So, I started my speech by thanking everyone for organizing such a great event and for the WSKO President and representatives for coming all the way from Japan to be here. Meanwhile, my voice was all shaky and I totally had dry throat, I had to ask for water just before because I started coughing and my throat closed up. Oh man, I felt like Sarah Palin preparing for a Katie Couric interview! I felt myself starting to calm down a bit as I read the title of my essay to everyone. The title of my essay is "Friendship, Confidence, and The Karate Kid". Luckily this seemed to get the audience and myself in a relaxed mode. (I actually heard these guys referencing the crane kick from the Karate Kid earlier in the day so I knew I had my audience).



Before I knew it I was talking with my hands, addressing the audience, smiling a lot, and hardly looking down at my papers, ad libbing a ton, so much that I started to get a little concerned about staying on point, but somehow I managed to include everything I wanted to. I totally poked fun at my first Sensei in San Diego who I said was scary at first and made me think to myself, "Who is this man!" and kept looking over at him and saying his name. I also mentioned how awkward and frustrating it was in the beginning, but that every little accomplishment I made was what kept me going and made it all worthwhile. Then I went on to say how I began to realize how special Shorinji Kempo is because it gives everyone the opportunity to develop themselves and create relationships and think about the world more openly. I also majorly ad libbed and made a PSA for people to vote in this very important election in November. I really took the opportunity to add it all in!


I concluded saying that Shorinji Kempo sometimes makes me feel like the Karate Kid, especially at the end of the movie when he wins and is lifted up in the air by everyone, and that I feel lifted up by all the wonderful kenshi I've been lucky to be around.

Man, I couldn't believe it was over and I'd done it. I heard that the President, who probably didn't understand my babbling English, was smiling the whole time so that made me really happy. I also did Gassho Rei (our greeting) to her right on my way up to the speech and she smiled and said "Gambate ne!", which was so sweet and casual in such a lovely way. I felt really good about her getting to see an "American" speech and I hope I represented well.

My parents and sister were also able to attend so that made everything even more special. In the end, the NYC dojo won medals for our pair embus and demonstration embu. While we sat at the ceremony, I was just so happy about how well I felt we all did. Sure I was bummed when I didn't hear our names at the beginning thinking we didn't win, but I was telling myself, that's ok, we did our best and people will remember the NYC dojo as a good dojo. Then they called our names back to back for medals and certificates! Whoo! Of course I took one opportunity to receive mine from the President and she kind of gave me a little wink.



The night before at the dinner, Kumiko-san encouraged us to speak to the President because it was such a rare opportunity. We nervously spoke to her, expressing our thoughts and asking her questions (I had to do it in Japanese! ack!) and I got so excited that I ended up telling her I had hopes to open my own dojo someday. What the **** Jessica! She got all excited telling me outside of Japan, there is only one woman who is a Branch Master and that I would be number 2! And she made the number 2 with her fingers and was thrusting them towards my face with glee when she said it. Oh man, I really have to do it now! But I really meant it and I will strive towards it. You can call me on it.

Note: I wanted to add that when I got home from my trip, I saw lying on the bookshelf, a brand new DVD copy of The Karate Kid courtesy of my beloved Scott. How sweet is he?! I watched it from beginning to end immediately and the special features (Ralph hasn't aged so well, but still seemed sweet. Pat Morita's comments made me teary) and damnit, it's still got it!

Goodbye... again

So I've just finished up my last classes and my last day of work. I can't believe it's all over. The last few weeks really flew by. I was dreading going through my last visits to each school knowing I'd have to bring a gift and make goodbye speeches, but it all went smoothly and I got a lot of unexpected gifts and treats from the kids and school staff.





Lots of kids asked me for last minute autographs and photo ops. They also wrote me letters and made origami for me. The farewell ceremonies were all so different, yet all very sweet. At one of my schools, I got to do my farewell speech over the school broadcast at lunch time. The teachers said the kids all quieted down when they heard my voice and listened intently to my speech that I prepared in what I hope was comprehensible Japanese.

At another school, all the kids gathered in the gym and sang the school song for me which I wish I could've recorded. It was so sweet! Then some of the students presented me with speeches about how they enjoyed my classes and had fun with me and would miss me. Some of them even said them in English! Yeah, maybe they did learn something.




One school sang me a song in Japanese about friendship. I gotta admit that one got me a little teary. Another school switched stuff up and at the end of the ceremony, I got to walk through the archway of all my students. Aww!

I gave all my schools cool books from home (thanks to my lovely girls Lisa and Rosemary who lugged them all the way from America to Japan) and cakes for the teachers. It all went over quite well though I don't know if they'll be able to read all the books. At least they can look at the cool drawings and read some words and get a feel for it.


At my junior high school, the last of the goodbyes, I decided to finally put use to my guitar and all the music lessons my parents paid for. After my usual speech I sang two songs on my guitar for the entire school! 300 plus, standing room only, my biggest audience to date. I sang a song I wrote about a kid who hates school called "School" which everyone clapped along with and thankfully the principal didn't catch what I was saying though one of my English teachers got it and thought it was hilarious. Then I sang the first song I ever played on the guitar, this mellow song about breakups by Mazzy Star. I think some people got teary on that one and I almost did too.


After hours, we had an enkai where all the teachers got wasted and it was the most fun, laidback enkai I'd been to. It was great. They even gave me and Scott yukatas (summer kimonos) as a gift. So sweet to get one for both of us. And by the time I had to make my speech everyone was surly and didn't care that I decided to do it in English. In fact, when I slipped in some Japanese, the principal yelled out, "hey, that's Japanese!"

This one super sweet teacher told me I was very unique and a treasure to the school. Wow! She said they could relate to me because I'm Japanese and yet the way I carry myself is more free and American which she said was very attractive. And I found out that she loves musicals and can't wait to come to "New York, New York" when she retires! A lot of teachers came out and talked to me, some even in English. In a way, I'm sad I won't get to know them better, but on the other hand, they probably wouldn't have felt so free to talk to me if I wasn't leaving.


My most rewarding experience happened this morning when I said my final final goodbye to my junior high school's staff. I went into the principal's office to say thank you and goodbye and he, who has never in this whole entire year spoken English to me said with a smile, "See you again!" Folks, my work here is done.

Back to my rice roots

Sorry for the delay again and thanks for all the birthday wishes! We are bogged down with packing and goodbye parties so I'll probably post more fun stuff when I get back even though it will be after the fact a bit. I took literally a thousand pictures in the last month from all my schools and fun events. I swear I'll get them up eventually. I'll have plenty of time when I'm unemployed!


In the meantime, I feel I must write about one thing I was looking forward to attempting while in rural Japan... rice planting! It was a close call though. I happened to be at one of my elementary schools the day that they were turning over the fields with local farmers so I dug in and hoed away with my students. The teachers were all impressed with my farming action and asked if I'd done it before. I told them it must be my genes. My grandmother and great grandparents were farmers so I guess some of it is in me somewhere.



They invited me to actually plant the rice stalks later on in the month, but they had to reschedule due to rain and forgot that I was coming so I missed out. I was so bummed. I had my farming clothes and hat all ready. Luckily another school found out that I'd missed out and invited me to their farming day. Yeh!

So I joined my students for a couple hours of rice planting. The soil is super soft and muddy. It kind of feels like a mud bath and I swear my skin felt a little softer afterwards. Some parts of the soil felt warm and others cold. Go figure. I went in barefoot, but I noticed some of the kids kept their socks on. I didn't ask why, but maybe some of them were saying how it felt icky on their feet so maybe that's why. I found it a little bizarre.


The farmers were all very sweet and encouraging even though they must be a little annoyed with the kids throwing mud and not aligning the plants properly. I suppose they're used to it, as its an annual event. Maybe they go over the whole field again with machines once the kids are gone! We did a pretty good job though, I'd say. They gave us a handful of plants and then pulled a line across the field with tiny red dots on it. So it was pretty easy to just stick the plant in where the dots were. But the real technique was keeping the little stalks as a unit and decided how deep was good for growing. Naturally I got the technique after a few stalks, ahem, nothing to it.


Afterwards we washed our feet in the running river water along the banks that fill up the fields. It was cool to be a part of nature and a very cultural experience. The school said they would look after my patch for me and when the crops are ready, they'll make rice cakes (mochi) and all will come full circle.

America, **** yeah!

Happy 4th of July my fellow Americans! I hope you're all enjoying the holiday weekend with BBQs and fireworks. We may try to light some off tonight just to be in the spirit. I can't take credit for this really cool pic of a sparkler we lit at a party. I let a 10 year old take control of my camera and somehow he got this amazing shot. I don't know how he did it! That's kids for ya.



It's definitely summer here and I think we've survived most of the rainy season. There are so many crazy bugs roaming and flying around during the rainy season. They're everywhere! We've also had a couple of really humid, sticky days so I guess this is just the beginning of the summer weather. This crazy American flag portrait Scott found in a stairway in Shimabara. There were a bunch of crazy drawings, I'll have to put them up on my flickr soon. Wild stuff.



We'll be home in about a month, being all American again. Can't wait to see everyone! If we have strange accents and can't speak English very well, please have patience with us. Help us through our reverse culture shock that will undoubtedly happen. Can't wait to have a hot slice of pizza though!

Drinky drinks

I just came from the convenience store (aka "conbeeni") and saw a new drink called "Plussy". I seriously had to do a double take. It's one of those vitamin plus drinks they're coming up with out here, which I guess makes sense. I would've gotten one just to see what made it so "plussy" but it was kind of pricey. Instead, I got Scott's favorite drink "Bikkle", a yogurt-type drink and I tried a new one called "Fruity Paradise". I couldn't resist. Ah, so many crazy drinks to try, so little time.

Part II: Inaka roots

*Just added a bunch more pics of this trip on my Flickr page.

I didn't realize how much happened while my mom was here until I started writing it down! So... my mom went ahead to visit some friends and had a reunion with her elementary schoolmates (how cute!). We met up again on the weekend to visit her hometown. We stayed a night in Osaka, a city known as an eater's heaven (is that proper English?? I don't know anymore!). We went to an okonameyaki place which was pretty tasty. Okonameyaki is kind of like a cross between a pancake and a pizza, it's a batter mixed with seafood, meat, and vegetables topped with mayo and sauce and fish flakes that melt and squirm around which makes the meal even more delightful and entertaining. Ah, Japanese delicacies, it's all about presentation and tastiness! We were a little nervous about cooking it ourselves, so the waiter helped us out. Yum!


We also found a little bar in town called Jazz Bar or something or other. Scott was so so happy that they had Guinness and Jameson. It was quite a treat. The bar was pretty mellow so we had a good time just chilling. The bartender was really nice and we watched the one woman in the bar get verbally harassed by men and then their disappointed faces as she left the bar alone.




The next morning we were off to Wakayama. We took a train into Kushimoto, the closest train station to my mom's quaint, little town. My mom's cousins still live in town so we were lucky to have them show us some sites and spoil us with food and drink.

One of my mom's cousins, Shingo is a third generation postmaster in the town. In small towns, people also do their banking at the post office so he's pretty famous in town. It's also very probable that I'm related to most of the townspeople in some way. That's how small a town it is. In fact, we were walking around and bumped into this lovely older lady and my mom started talking to her. By the end of the conversation, they figured out that they were second cousins!


Shingo took us to a few famous sites around town which were beautiful. We went to the largest waterfall in Japan (Nachi Taisha) which was surrounded by a 500 year old shrine. They say the monks hiked all the way from Kyoto to this waterfall. There's a hiking trail up to the mountains you can take up just like the monks... we took a car up. But, we still had to walk up the steps to the shrine, so that still counts! You feel really bad when you're tired and then see all the older folks with their walking sticks doing the same climb.

We drove through the town of Taiji, famous for its whaling. I think there's been recent controversy with Green Peace trying to stop some of the boats. We decided to stay away from controversy and eat some whale pizza at a local shop. Mmm... whale.


We also went to a lighthouse (Shionomi saki no todai) at the most Southern tip of Japan's mainland. Beautiful views from above. Then we went to these famous rocks in Kushimoto (Hashi Gui Iwa). There's an old story behind them, how they line up like a bridge and were supposed to connect the two islands. Scott couldn't resist climbing to the top of one. We were lucky to get that close since it's not often that the tide is low enough.



After sightseeing, we stayed with my mom's cousin Toyosato and his wife Hideko. He had just been fishing and caught some fresh fish and squid. He cut the fish up for sashimi, the freshest, softest sashimi we've ever had. And we made fried squid outside and had a BBQ with fresh oysters and abalone. My mom said the abalone usually costs hundreds but we got hooked up since Toyosato caught some. We partook in the frying of the squid. We had to put on safety glasses because the squid was still so fresh and watery from the sea. Can't be too safe with hot oil.


Toyosato is a real Renaissance man. He showed us a bunch of cool stuff. He catches bees and collects delicious honey from them, he has 4 dogs he uses to hunt and shoot boar (which we also got to taste), he also gets water from an unused hot spring and takes it home for his own bathtub (which was lovely). Did I mention he also plays the Japanese flute and has a lovely singing voice? We all went out to karaoke and he and my mom did some duets together. Scott even got into it and sang a solo! I wish I could show you the proof, but he won't let me. Actually, I think I was supposed to delete it so shhh!



Needless to say, we had an awesome weekend there. It was great to see my family and have Scott meet them. They loved him of course because he was funny and ate and drank everything. We got to see the actual house my mom grew up in which she still owns though it's empty now. It's cool to see things almost unchanged there. The mountains surrounding the houses are still untouched. No cables or cell phone towers stuck onto them. Who knows, maybe we'll retire there!