-Kaze no Uta o Kike, Murakami Haruki.
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I've spent the last couple of weeks feeling like I really didn't have enough to write about to compile an entry into this blog, but now I find myself with too much to write about. I've done alot since my last entry. So much, in fact, that the though to writing it all out is rather ominous, and for that reason I feel it would be best to give you all a rundown of the highlights. I will strive to keep them all in chronological order, but when so much happens in so little time, its hard to keep track of the timeline.
First of all let me get one thing out of the way. While sifting through the photos I wanted to add to this entry, I ran across some that I realized I never posted, nor addressed. There are times when it feels like I'm not in Japan at all; In Akita, there is so much countryside that the images of the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, with it's glittering skyscrapers and clean subways seem a world away. If I were to label the "hot spot" of what most people are looking for when they come to Japan, in Akita, it would be Manga Sokko.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Located about 30 minutes from the AIU campus by bus and train, Manga Sokko is like a little Akihabara for the people of Akita. Bursting at the seems with Manga, Anime, Electronics, Music, Clothing, Gadgets, Action Figures, and Porn. It's similar to the Smithsonian in that you would never be able to see everything contained within in a single day.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Let's move on. In my last entry I mentioned that I was in a rush because Golden Week was about to begin. For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, it is a week in April where there are no classes in school, and many businesses shut down for the entirety of the week. It is almost like the entire country takes it's vacation at the same time, and this isn't quite as preposterous as it sounds, considering the "We" mentality of the Japanese. Without fully understanding why, I was simply happy to have a week off free at the same time as Sakie. Together we packed our bags, hopped in the car, and drove 5 hours to Yamagata to be with her family during the holiday.
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| From Japan Pictures |
With the freeway in Akita being not so free, Sakie made the call to take the highway to Yamagata. It would add another 2 hours to our drive, but it was cheaper, and had rest-stops along the way, which to anybody who's ever been on a long distance trip knows, are indispensable. And so we made our way South, stopping only once along the way to look at the ocean.
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| From Japan Pictures |
I've read alot about travel in my life, and I've always dreamed of stumbling upon a treasure like the explores in the books. I honestly thought I'd never experience such a feeling, but after coming across this statue on a jetty between Akita and Yamagata, I believe I had such a feeling. While the statue itself is not particularly noteworthy, the plaque at it's side is.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Written on this plaque is the story of when the poet Basho (a very famous haiku poet) came to this jetty and wrote a haiku about a beautiful woman he saw there. As you may have guessed, the beautiful woman is the one depicted in the statue. Reading about Basho in my Japanese Literature class, I never could have imagined I'd encounter such a thing while I was here.
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| From Japan Pictures |
After we arrived in Yamagata our vacation actually began. It was the first time since I arrived that I felt truly relaxed, knowing that, for a week at least, I had zero obligations beyond spending time with Sakie. We all shared in the Sake I had bought, and although I thought I hated the taste of Sake, this bottle turned out very nice. Of course Sakie and I didn't spend our entire vacation lounging around, but unfortunately I didn't remember to take my camera with every time we left the house.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Mt. Gassan is a very popular ski resort not far from the families home. Sakie and I had planned to do a little hiking while we were there, but unfortunately the snow was a consistent 3 meters deep on most of the mountain.
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
On our way down the mountain, we also stopped by the side of the road to see the tallest man-made gyser in the world. We've visited it before, but we figured, as long as it was on our way back, why not stop and get some icecream.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Not all of the great things I got to see while I was in Yamagata had been planned. Little did I know that during my stay there would be a childrens festival at the shrine near the families neighborhood. It would prove nearly impossible to explain the whole thing in words, so hopefully these pictures will help.
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| From Japan Pictures |
Unfortunatly, the parade to start the children's festival started early in the morning, so in my scatterbrained state, I missed alot of good photo oppurtunities, including getting a photo of this Tengu leading the parade, for more information on the Tengu, go here.
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| From Japan Pictures |
In addition to the fireworks going off to let us know the festival had started, they played this large drum to let each household know that the parade was approaching.
As the children got organized to move down the street, Sakie and I took the oppurtunity to slip away and enjoy a little morning sunlight while enjoying the view from the back garden.
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
Unlike the U.S. it is somewhat rare to see the Japanese flag being flown from any private estate. Generally only government buildings and schools fly it, but for festivals, it's %100 percent turnout of the colors. Even the elderly, who cannot put the flag out themselves, have helpers come and fly the colors for them, especially in Sakie's hometown were a majority of the residents are elderly, it is refreshing to see the young helping the old, an aspect of respect that I fear we are losing in the U.S.
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
A parade of children in their festival get-ups prepares to move down the street.
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| From Japan Pictures |
The children carry, what I can only think to call a float, on their shoulders and sing as they walk down the street, stopping in front of each block of houses to get candy and other treats from each house, while the adults get to drink Sake in lieu of candy. When they stopped in front of the families house, Maru (the dog) and I were hot attractions. The children all called me Micheal and fought to be the first to introduce themselves to me, it was very funny to watch. When I asked Sakie later on why they all called me Micheal, she told me about the JET program's English language teacher in Yamagata, who's name is Micheal, and is possibly the only other American they've ever seen in person.
With the festivities at an end, Sakie and I found ourselves still in high spirits and high energy, so we decided to take Maru for a long walk. Living at the base of a mountain leads to some great scenery for taking walks.
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| From Japan Pictures |
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| From Japan Pictures |
And what would a festival holiday be without a night out with the family!
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| From Japan Pictures |
After Sakie's uncle arrived we all headed out to a nearby sushi restaurant. The beer loving man in blue is Sakie's father, and the plaid-clad man to his right is his brother.
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| From Japan Pictures |
They not only look similar, but they breeze through plate after plate of sushi at similar speeds, too.
During our week there we were graced with the company of many of the families friends. If there is one thing I love more then anything else about Japan it's the people and their attitudes. I often find myself upset by the unconfidence the students at AIU show, but once you get them feeling comfortable (which is not hard in Yamagata) then the show all the aspects we treasure in friendship: Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, Integrety, and Courtesy. I love spending time with the people here more then anything else...even if they do have poor taste in ice-cream flavors:
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| From Japan Pictures |
Green tea and cherry, no thank you.
We spent the last days of our Golden Week in Yamagata with Sakie's sister Shoko. My experience with them is what you would expect for a boyfriend tagging along with his girlfriend and girlfriend's sister, I was the butt of every joke, and I loved every minute of it. Sakie has a wonderful family, and a kind of relationship with her sisters that reminds me of my mother and aunts.
Whenever I am starting to feel down, I'll think of this Golden Week to brighten my spirits.
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| From Japan Pictures |
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