The Mysterious Drumming Noise

Anyone who has Skyped with me knows that right behind where I live is a densely wooded area through which the trains run. This makes for lovely and safe scenery for the train, and lots of bird calls, songs, and noises for me. Now that the warmer weather is coming, I've been leaving on of the smaller windows open so that my room gets fresh air, but not so many train sounds (especially when I'm sleeping). 

However, there has been a new auditory treat recently. For a few days straight, during the late afternoon while I was making dinner or checking emails, I heard a drumming song. They were simple rhythyms played over and over again. Not annoying, all very happy, to be sure, but they were very consistant. Sometimes there were low "booms" and other times it was only high "tap tap tappitty taps". The first two days, I was far too tired from bad sleep at night to go venture out, but my mind wandered. It could be a group of taiko and kodaiko (traditional Japanese drums and little drums) practicing for the Ise Shrimp festival in two weeks. Maybe they are a local group who does performances and would let me join. They (whoever they were) sounded very close and could be practicing on a regular schedule. I decided that the next day, if I still heard them, I would find out who was playing the music.

Sure enough, on the third day I heard the "tappitty tap boom tap tap". I facebooked: This marks the third day of the mysterious taiko music. I shall now go on a quest for the source. This was more to keep a definite time marker than a status update. I had guessed that they were practicing in the park, but that could have been completely wrong. Anyone exposed to any drum knows that they are loud and can be heard several blocks away. For all I knew, they were practicing inside a building and the sound was just escaping through the windows. In case my first guess was wrong, I was curious how long my quest would last. 

Luckily, not that long.

The source was a Japanese construction worker in the park playing his djembe! The instrument can make three distinct sounds, which is why I thought it was a group of kodaiko before. When I walked under the shrubbery tunnel, I could see him practicing at the picnic table. He and I had a lovely chat about his interest in music, how long he's been playing, and how similar his djembe is to my father's derbake. He doesn't have a group, he doesn't have concerts; he just plays for the love of music. I'd like to bring my friends around sometime to meet him, too. Bridgette especially would like his playing, I think. But for now, I can just enjoy listening to drum music from my apartment while the weather is nice.

Spain Village from Afar

I have mentioned this to a few people, so I may as well bring everyone up to speed.

My area isn't known for very much. Sure Mie prefecture may have some special spots, importnat people, and interesting culture, but little Shima is a bit more humble. We have aosa (see Shima Mascots post), ama (ocean women - a topic for another time), lots of beaches, lovely scenery, and we are also at the end of the train line. So what is our major claim to fame? What put us on the map???

~Spain Village~

That is right, Spain Village! Where you can find all the magic of Spain without leaving Japan. Where Don Quixote (now transformed into an animal mascot along with other characters from Miguel de Cervantes' novel) takes you on a tour of flamenco dancers and roller coasters. People from nearby prefectures only know and come to Shima in order to visit Spain Village. There are special buses from our main station just for Spain Village visitors. People can enjoy the theme park, restaurants  the spa, and the main hotel.

Why Spain? Well, I'm not entirely sure myself. Maybe because Spain is so foreign and interesting to the Japanese. Maybe because Japan did so much trading with the Spanish, Dutch, and Portugese in its history. Maybe because Spain is so colorful and cultural. Or Maybe because one of Shima's sister cities is Valencia, Spain. Maybe they caught a deal. Who knows? It is here now, though, and open (what seems to be) all year round.

I plan on going there myself, and giving a fuller report, but I was advised to wait until a little later in the summer when ticket prices go down. Until then, I am content in just seeing all of the advertisements around town and periodically running into and or being mistaken for the Spanish performers who live and work there. Lovely people, and they are all in great shape, but I haven't quite plucked up the courage to go talk with them yet. I don't want to just walk up to them in the freezer section like a creeper, "Excuse me, are you Spanish? You look Spanish. Want to be friends? Heheheheh." So, for now, I'll wait.

Don Quixote (dog character head on left) and Dores (cat character head on right)
greet arrivals Shima's Ugata train station with the words
"Welcome to Shima Spain Village!"

They actually have a very good English website, which you can easily find here. The Japanese version, for those bold enough to try it, can be found here.

音巴: The ICU Wadaiko Spring/Graduation Concert of 2013

I really need to write this all down now before I forget!

Right before the Californian's semester aborad was over,
We all gathered fora group picture and presents. The
OYR rangers received color specific watches and towels.
Go, Wadaiko, Go!

Two years ago, when I was here for study abroad, I joined the most intense club in my life: the ICU Wadaiko Club. They held practice all year, 18 hours a week usually, with two major concerts a year, and summer camp. I feel like I wrote a lot about them in my last blog, so feel free to check that out for some background information. At the end of my study abroad time (which wasn't supposed to be the end in reality, but that is how life worked out), our major spring concert was cancelled! There is a whole sob story there, but for the next two years I felt cheated because I never got to perform that final concert and show the seniors that everything they had taught us and worked for could be so wonderful in the end. While I was still in Wyoming, I met up with Shunyo, the club president during my Tokyo time to catch up and apologize and watch the concert dvd from last year (when he was a senior). He says that his arms are a bit smaller now that he doesn't play taiko as much as he used to, but he's still the loud, joyful, courteous Shunyo I knew from before! Seeing him made me really miss the camaraderie that I felt with the Wadaiko group back then.

The poster for the show this year.
The title 音巴 (Otonoha) is an artistic
reference to the sound of the drums.
"Oto" is sound or music and "noha" or
"tomoe" is the large comma pater popular
in Japanese traditional symbols and flags.

After I was hired with interac, they said that they wanted us to come early to train before going out to our assignments. Luckily, all my paperwork filled nicely and my passport arrived about a week before a week BEFORE training, so I was able to arrive extra early to Tokyo and lurk around my old stomping grounds. Those of you who know about Japan from my blogs may remember that universities tend to have all of March off as Spring Break. If the school was out of session and the students mostly gone on holiday, then my trip might seem worthless. Why arrive so early to Tokyo? To see the Wadaiko kids perform their spring concert of course!! Everyone else may be on break, but not my club members! The students I met as sophomores were seniors now, so this would be their swan song as Wadaiko members! One of the seniors from my time was also playing in the concert because she was unable to do so during her year. I wanted to cheer them on, but ended up crying during the first song....and the second and third song....and the encoure. They were so good! I just wanted to bust seeing how much they had all developed since I was gone. They were leading the pack now.

Surprisingly enough  though, none of them knew I was coming, which helped lend some excitement to my arrival, but I guess because I didn't reserve a ticket ahead of time, they thought I was just liking the event, not committing to it.

Ma-kun, San-chan, Miki, Mao, Myself, and Kai after the
noon concert in Asakusa! Mao still has her bachi sticks
in her apron pocket.

Afterward the concert, I got some surprises, too. I saw big and burly Kai (a student from Wittenberg who told me to come to ICU) out in the lobby, but when I went over to talk to him who else was standing to his left than SATOSHI!! My Spring Concert Leader! My hero and the one who introduced me to Thai fisherman's pants!! The super stoic and ever cool Satoshi! And Kai, too. It might not have been 100% kosher, but I gave Satoshi a massive hug - I owed this guy so much of my Wadaiko training. He was very much the Yoda/Mr. Miyagi of our club at the time, or at least in my mind, and when he was angry or upset with us, I woud silently cry over my car tire during practice. He was that powerful. 

Ma-kun leading the converstion and making jokes?!
He has totally grown up since I saw him last. Besides that,
he will be studying chemical engineering of pastics in university soon!

San-chan (who is in his 30's, but who I will always speak informally with and see as Winnie the Pooh from the club's night out one Halloween) was also tucked away in the crowd, and some of the other OB and OG (Old Boys and Old Girls - former club members)! Miki's mother, aunt, and cousin were there too!! At first, I couldn't exactly remember why, but I pointed out Miki's mom to Rei and said, "Isn't she really familiar? She doesn't belong to ICU, but I swear that I know her from my time here." When we walked back to the front row, I realized it was her; mommas always cheer their kids on from the front! She recognized me right away and we chatted in Japanese, talking about Miki, my job, her visiting from Kamakura just to see the shows (I think she stayed for both performances), and it felt so good to see her there! *Side Note* The night that I left Tokyo, Miki called her mother and told her I was going, and Momma-san told me to be careful and to remember that I could always come visit them. AAAWWWW!!! *End Side Note* Finally, the performers were all out and about, but needed to be rushed off and set up for the next show. As they all scurried away to prepare, Kai and I wondered around the streets of Asakusa, but that can have its own story later.

This was made by Kaoru for the graduating 2013 students in the club.
The top reads "Wadaiko Squadron Otonoha 13!!!"
From left to right: Ocho, Anna, Rieko, Takami, Miki, Eri, Koji, Rei-chan, Hasshi, Ma-kun

Reunited Roommates!

Anna is trying to guess the new boyfriend of
one of the younger girl. She just found out that they were
even dating that night! 

I thought that show would be the end of my time with the Taiko-ers, but as I was sitting at a hanami (familiar word, right?) with Rei, Miki showed up on her bike with Mao (my drumming partner for hanamori two years prior) and invite me to the Wadaiko party that night. How great is that?! Phenomenal! Except, I forgot what time we were supposed to meet. And where. And I didn't have their phone numbers. Or a Japanese phone. So I dashed off to Kichijoji and waited in a Starbucks (free wifi!) and facebooked them until I finally got the info. The food and drink was great, as expected, but the best part was sitting with all of the members again, being filled in on the news ("So and so has a boyfriend?! Rei-chan is going to be a policeman?! You got into grad school?!"), seeing how much they had grown up (especially Ma-kun!!). Looking at their photos was nice, but I felt like a ghost who could see, but never be with, the group. That night I was there! Fully aware of what was going on, as if that was the review party for my concert. The seniors were given photos, notebooks filled with messages, and another present, too, I think. They all gave 10-15 minute speeches during which, (can you guess?) I cried. 三橋先生 laughed at some of the comments; she has watched us all and the club grow over the past 20 years. She makes me think that just like Budo, this could be something that doesn't really end for me. I can come back to it ask long as I keep that same drive to create a powerful, beautiful, meaningful sound.

Sensei with some of the newer girls.

My evening with the Wadaiko Club was cut short, but maybe I wasn't supposed to stay the whole way through. It wasn't my party, it was their's. All the effort that they put forth for this performance, they deserved the time with each other. I'm thankful that they welcomed me back in so quickly and warmly, but after next year, none of them will really know who I am. It won't be my group anymore.

If anyone is interested, here is their Facebook site for the concert this year.

Sakura and Hanami: The Basics

Sakura leading into ICU. The former landing
strip that extends all the way up to campus was
lined with sakura blossoms and is a fantastic
place to hold hanami with your friends.

So many sakura!

Hopefully you aren't shocked to hear that sakura (cherry blossoms) are important to the Japanese. Not only are they one of the nation's most frequently used flowers, "Sakura" is a popular name for girls (I met one this morning actually) and they are highly symbolic in especially prose and pop-culture, cherry trees are also used as signs of good will, referenced in martial arts. Since the petals are so delicate that they only last for a week or so, their main meaning is to appreciate beauty in this instant because no things are permanent or perfect. The fall of these petals is seen as the death of the blossom, but even their graceful flutter downward is an artistic motif see in many aspects of Japanese culture.  Am I being a bit too vague? How about I put these into specific examples.

A musical group and singer set up near the
hanami in a park in Asakusa. I was attracted
by the sound of the accordion!

Nationalism: The Japanese people have rallied behind the sakura blossom so strongly that they would plant cherry trees on newly conquered territory to show it had been assimilated into the empire. Even now, sakura trees are sent abroad as gifts of goodwill (a distinctly Japanese item living and thriving under the protection of the ally country).

Sakura trees (left) and sakura decorations (right) on the
way to the main temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Samurai and kamikaze pilots: Romantically likened to the sakura flowers, these warriors lived short but beautiful lives dedicated to the practice and perfection in the case of the samurai, and culminating in a single moment of glory/tragic fall. Curious for a visual aide in this? Why not look at the Hollywood hit Last Samurai where the lead samurai is searching for the ultimate sakura tree. *Spoiler alert* He eventually finds this tree on the battle field as he lay dying with his fellow samurai and declares that the flowers on the tree he see are "perfect, they are all perfect."

Groups of people and their blankets in hanami.

Many blossoms this year were white and the
petals had already started to fall by the
time I arrived to Tokyo.

Buddhism: Stressing the transient and impermanence of all things, Buddhism is known for using the changing nature of everything as a tool to understand our own fragility. However, that does not mean we should not care for the world because it will all end, but rather appreciate what is within the now but remember that it will not last forever. Wikipedia actually had an excellent description of this theme. "Mono no aware (もののあわれ), literally "the pathos of things," and also translated as "an empathy toward things," or "a sensitivity to ephemera," is a Japanese term for the awareness of impermanence, or transience of things, and a gentle sadness (or wistfulness) at their passing." That being said, we can apply the same reverence we hold toward the sakura to other forms of beauty, art, people, or events.

This tree has different shades of pink and
white blossoms (found near Musashi-sakae).

Spring: Not all of the sakura symbolism is bittersweet. Since they bloom just at the beginning of spring (the start of the Japanese school year) they also carry with them a sense of starting fresh. The life of the flowers brings the idea of new chances and growth, and when they fall, the trees are ready for the rest of spring and summer, just like the people who stand beneath them.

All these things aside, they are just flat out lovely. The end.

Sakura come in several varieties and shades (those of white or pink, but some can even be yellow) and usually start to bloom in April just in time for the school year to begin. That is why when I left in March last year, one thing I lamented was not being able to see the sakura bloom along the famous former runway of my university. I some of the inverted varieties near the library, but that was all. However, Japan like many other places in the world has been experiencing some unusual weather. There was a strangely warm period followed by a suddenly colder period, which kind of confused the flowers and caused them to come out over two weeks early. Many of the trees will probably loose all of their petals before school starts. And one of the most beloved group activities had to be moved early, too: Hanami.

Sakura in the main circle of ICU.

These silly sakura are growing from an
exposed tree root on the other side
of the walkway from the tree. The tree had
white blossoms, but these were pink!

Hanami is literally "flower viewing" and is what happens when friends and coworker gather beneath a sakura tree in full bloom to enjoy not only the flowers but also each other's company. Usually the food and drink are so good that people forget to gaze at the sakura up above. But during sakura season pretty much all of Japan goes on a picnic with the parks and sakura spots filling up after work and school lets out. With the early bloom of sakura, some groups are rescheduling their hanami (which they had originally planned for April) and Rei was kind enough to invite me to one for a bit. When we were walking in Asakusa, Kai and I came across quite a few hanami in one of the parks. I plan on being here next year, so maybe I'll organize one of my own to view the sakura and the ocean. I'll let you know how that turns out!

Sakura decorations in the local supermarket in
Musashi-sakae near ICU.

*Side note*: public drinking is totally fine in Japan, so these picnics under the trees can become more rambunctious rather than the natural art gallery viewing. If you can, I honestly suggest attending a hanami, but remember to bring a blanket as the Japanese feel sitting on the ground or grass is too dirty. HOWEVER, don't walk on the blanket. Take your shoes off before putting your feet on it.

Problems the First Week: Cash Cards and Addresses

Exiting Shibuya Station, you are met with a jungle of
businesses, shopping, cafes, and clubs.

Instead of going down to Nagoya for training, I decided to spend the first week back in Japan up in Tokyo to see my friends, catch the Wadaiko concert and enjoy being in my old haunts.

"And while I'm in the big city with all of this free time," I thought to myself, "I may as well get a few things done."

"Excellent plan, self," I told me. "Let's go to Shibuya and take care of banking and cell phone plans."

A statue of a loyal dog named Hachiko.
According to a famous story, the dog waited for his master
every day in front of Shibuya Station,
even in the years after his master had passed away.

So me, myself, and I went to Shibuya (usually pronounced Shi-BU-YA! by the American visitors, and makes me remember Ron Stoppable) to visit the AU cellphone store and one of the branches of Mitsubishi Bank. First stop is the bank, but instead of going into the actually banky-bank building, I end up at a ATM only building. I tried to withdraw some money using my bank booklet, but while they would tell me how much was in my account, I couldn't access any of it. Oops! Reroute and start again. At the real Mitsubishi, I was directed upstairs by a doorperson (Japan has people who just stand at doors to greet you, but I use them as receptionists, too) and then upstairs again by a security guard (who was so bored that he was acting like a doorperson, so I treated him as a receptionist, too) and then was sent away ever so kindly and apologetically by the doorlady on the 3rd floor. While she was nice enough to point out that I had the right form for a new cash card (the thing keeping me from withdrawing money), I still didn't have my new apartment address from Interac. Without that, I could not proceed with the application. Bummed out, I descended the stairs and passed all of my doorpeople once more.

"That wasn't as productive as I would have hoped," myself signed disappointedly.

"Perhaps not, but it wasn't my fault," I told me. "Let's try our luck at the cell phone store."

Looking back toward the station, underneath the sakura.

Now, before I go further, let me say something my friend Gina would tell me all the time: Japanese people aren't necessarily scared of you or even of English. They are terrified of conjugating English verbs! What does that mean exactly? When out and about in Tokyo town, should I waltz over to a shopkeeper, pedestrian, or shopper, they will probably give the involuntary response of wide-eyed fear.  Have I done anything frightening? Well, perhaps besides waltzing in the city streets, no. But they know that I am not Japanese and, in my case, probably speak that horrible language that their country forces them all to undertake starting in middle school. They hated repetition practice in school, barely did well enough to pass their class before forgetting nearly all of it in college. Save for the wonderful phrases "This is a pen" and "My name is" most Japanese people only use English on their clothing or in some song lyrics. All of the sudden a real Westerner stands before them and "This is a pen" isn't going to be of much help. Luckily, I speak some Japanese (just a skosh), so this moment of fear is brief for my prey. Also, luckily enough, police officers, taxi cab drivers, and cell phone salespeople are so used to being confronted with foreigners that they no longer have the deer in the headlights reaction to us.

CJ and some new friends in front of te 109 Men's
Store with DBZ characters.

The AU store was adjacent to the first ATM Mitsubishi room that I had entered before, so I just went back to that place. Inside, I took a number and waited to be called up. I had a very nice cell phone employee who, even through his face mask (pollen and allergy season are upon us in Japan) spoke very clearly and nicely to me. We chatted for a while about what I was looking for in a phone, about the different data plans they offered, what I liked about my old Softbank phone (another Japanese company; I was sort of switching from AT&T to Verizon, if you'd like to think of it that way), which color case I preferred, some of their special offers, and how I intended on paying for it all. Everything was going smoothly, so I decided to warn him that I had left my cash card in America (maybe?). This was fine, and we were about to start the paperwork until he saw that my alien registration card had a blank space where the address needed to be. Once again, we could not move forward because my company had not told me of my new apartment. I must have made a face because he immediately offered to write out our entire decision process so that when I did get my address, I could just walk into the Shima branch of AU and display this cheat sheet instead of spending another hour talking with their representative. Thank you AU!!

Some cool boys being interviewed. When news and magazine
groups want to have opinions from fashionable teens, Shibuya
is one of the places they go!

Feeling more deflated, I traveled down the street to the next nearest Starbucks (the nearest one is the famous one across from the station and is always crazy full) where I found that they don't take gift cards from America. And that to access their free wifi, you first need to get online and establish a user id. Ugh!! Instead, I had a mango tea smoothie, sat in a comfy chair in the sunlight, and just enjoyed looking outside.

Magic!!

"I haven't lost anything but time," I tried to reassure myself. "And since I started so early, it is only about 2 pm."

"I agree," myself chirped. "Spending the rest of the afternoon wandering around Shibuya would be fine by me."

So me, myself, and I went off in search of more, lighthearted adventures, leaving bank problems and cash card crisises for another day.

Kichijoji: My Favorite City Then and Now

Of all the Tokyo area cities, I have to say that Kichijoji is my favorite. It is so close to ICU that I could easily bike between the cities in half and hour. It was off of the Yamanote Line by a few stops, so you didn't have to worry about all of that congestion (however, it was still really crowded). It had tons of side streets for exploring and lots of little odd shops to look in. It was also the first place Miki showed me how to get to on the trains in Japan. When I tried to go there by myself, she made me promise to call to make sure I got there alright. Many of my fondest and strongest memories were made in Kichijoji.

To save too much time about the past, you can read about them for yourself. For everything about my adventures in Kichijoji before, check this out!

So on my last full day in Tokyo, I knew where I wanted to go. At first I was just going to wander around by myself, seeing if I still know my way about. But then my friend Mika got ahold of me and we made plans to meet up there in the evening. Early afternoon rolls around and I find myself at a hanami (more on that later) with Rei's friends from one of the dorms, when I hear a familiar voice.

"Oooh, Zaiton!" - it was Miki!!

One of the kouhai serving out food at the Wadaiko party.

She and Mao were on their way to the Wadaiko Club Room when they saw me. She asked if I was going to the party that night. Uhhhh, what party? The Review Party from the Sotspuro Concert the day before (I swear, more on that later). Overjoyed to hear that I could go out and see the Wadaiko kids and this time really get to talk to them, I agreed to come with them, but forgot to write down the information. Oh, no! I was supposed to meet Miki and Mao in front of the Club Room in 15 minutes, but my watch stopped and I was late. Or was I? Was it in 15 minutes or 15 minutes after the hour? Were we meeting at the station because I didn't have a bicycle anyway? Oh, dear. Keep in mind that I still don't have a Japanese cell phone and my smartphone is still on airplane mode so that I don't get crazy amounts of charges. Of course, I only realize this as I'm standing in front of the gym. AAAGGGHHH! What to do?

Salmon Sliders?? Great idea!!

I know!

I'll head to Kichijoji and wait at our usual spot. It was almost 4 and they said that they would all be meeting up there at 4:45. Or was it 5:45? Better to be early than miss the group, I suppose. With this thought, I dash off to the next bus, leap aboard, and charge my way onwards to Kichijoji! Well, that was how it was in my mind. In reality, I calmly and quietly used the public transportation to the train station and patiently waited on the platform for the Chuo Line to come. Right. And THEN, I dashed around all over Kichijoji station which, surprise surprise, Alexandra, has changed!! It is so much bigger now and they have blocked off older areas to refurbish them. So the spot where we all used to meet is now gone and I don't know where they decided to meet today, and it is getting closer to 4:45, which is when they could have been meeting, so what do I do? Starbucks wifi.

Makkun talking up a corner of girls. He had all of their
attention with his stories and jokes!

On the second story of the train station was a Starbucks, where I immediately went, sat and began to Facebook and email spam as many people as I could. "MAAAAOOOOO!!! MIIIKIIIIIII!! KOOOOJJJIIIII!! Someone please help me :("During this time, I got my wits together, realized that they weren't meeting up for another hour, and took the time to relax after my mad dash from ICU. My dojo boys had landed at the Narita airport (about an hour and a half and $40ish for a one way trip from where I was siting), so I caught up with them on my lovely wifi service. When the Wadaiko kids finally came, we all met up in from of 31 (Baskin Robins, yey!) and went off to the nomihodai (all you can drink party) for discussion, survey reading, fun, present giving, and thank you speeches. I was able to be with Miki most of the time, see Anna, catch up with Chiyuki, and even talk to Makkun! He talked to me! For reals! Two years ago that kid was so shy and quiet and he wouldn't even look you in the eye. But that night he was leading discussions and making jokes. What a transformation!

I had to leave the party early, but not before tearing up when the 13 started to cry in their thank you speeches. It was a blast and a half! The rest of the night was spent catching up with Mika (an old dorm friend) and when I went back to Rei's apartment, he had invited a friend to spend the night since they had missed the last train. We all ended up staying up to talk. A great and fun filled day!

Sensei (who hasn't changed a bit) laughs with some of the
younger girls during the speeches.

I'm Going On An Adventure!

When at the Airport:

This past Wednesday, I took a trip to the future by going to the past. First stop was Denver, then LA (which is always perfect when I go; how is that possible?), and then Tokyo!! The flights were rather uneventful...well, save for the end when two boys sitting next to me started asking for Japanese pickup lines and helpful phrases to use in restaurants and when selling merchandise for their clothing company. After arriving, I hauled all of my luggage on a smaller bullet train to meet my friend Rei, who was kind enough to let me stay at his apartment and pester him for a few days. We spent a lot of time talking, I watched him practice yoyo tricks, and we even went to the ICU Wadaiko performance (more, more, more on that later!!!!), but mostly we have been catching up from the two years since I left. He drew me a map of the area so that I could get to the station and start exploring or visit my old hangout spots. I went to Shibuya, ICU, talked to my old Dorm Dad, and even toured around Asakusa with my old Witt friend Kai! I've been having lots of good food and seeing so many beautiful flowers, but this next week will be all about work and catching up with my blog before I fall really, REALLY far behind.