Kiyosumi Gardens

On July 15, we had our final dinner at the beautiful Meiji-period Kiyosumi Gardens.

Kiyosumi Gardens

The participants surprised staff with gifts at the final dinner.

Sumo in Nagoya

On July 13, we attended a sumo tournament in Nagoya. Sumo wrestling is centuries old and is rooted in the Shinto religion. Over 10,000 spectators attend the formal 15-day tournaments that are held six times a year. Some of us were suprised to find that individual matches usually lasted less than a minute each and the many the rituals that exist behind every movement before and during each bout.

Pokemon and Baseball

Today we visited the Tokyo Pokemon Center and went to the Yomiuri Giants vs. Yokohama BayStars baseball game. The Giants won, 5-4.

Pics by Jen Spolnik & Kim Meller.

Women's and Men's Night Out

Our group divided up and went out with locals on July 12 for dinner.

Pic courtesy of Kim Meller.

Studio Ghibli

On July 11, we visited the Studio Ghibli, a museum of anime, founded by director Hayao Miyazaki and his colleague and mentor Isao Takahata.

Tsukiji Fish Market

On July 11, Some of us got up at the wee hour of the morning to check out the Tsukiji fish market where the freshest fish was sold and auctioned.

Kabuki Theater

On July 10, we had the rare opportunity to to experience kabuki theater. The evening featured two plays, Yasha Ga Ike (Demon Pond) and Koya Hijiri (The Buddhist Priest of Mt. Koya) by writer Izumi Kyoka.

Pics by Jen Spolnik & Kim Meller

School Visit

Today we visited Kawasaki City Commercial High School. We had a Q&A session with the principal Mr. Kosakai and coordinator Mr. Togash. Then we had a small tour in which we saw the teachers' offices, the tea ceremony room, a martial arts gym and demonstration, and a classroom where Bookkeeping was being taught. We also enjoyed a meal of Nikujaga prepared by the students and their parents.

School Visit

Tokyo

Our first dose of Tokyo nightlife was Shibuya.

Yamadera

Hiking up 1,012 steps of Yamadera, literally "Mountain Temple."

Pic by Kim Meller

Matt presents a gift to our guide at Yamadera.

Homestays in Yamagata

Jenny at her homestay with 3-year-old Rick.

Becky with Satoko, a friend of her host family.

Kim teaching Masheuka's student how to shake hands and say 'good bye.'

Chris with her home stay family members, Fumi and Akiko.

Dave with Kumi and the cherry orchard owners where he picked cherries during his homestay.

Hiroshima

Maggie, Becky, Meredith, and Abbie W. enjoy okonomiyaki, a layered specialty in Hiroshima. It included chopped cabbage, pork, red ginger, yakisoba noodles, tenkasu (tempura crumbs), green onion, shrimp, dried bonito flakes, and bean sprouts folded in a thin pancake.

Hiroshima

Mr. Matsushima and Meredith.












Today our group visited the Hiroshima Peace Museum. Mr. Matsushima, an atomic bomb survivor, talked to us about his experience when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 63 years ago when he was 16 years old.

Himeji Castle

Kathy and Steve at Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle's stone walls and the white plastered walls have been well-maintained in their original forms. The castle had never been destroyed in war. The main tower has been registered as a national treasure. Parts of the moat remain as they were in the feudal times.











Pics by Chris Joslin.

Zen Buddhist Temple, Kyoto

Tom, a Buddhist monk, took us on a tour of the temple and garden. He also led us in meditations to experience Zen Buddhism.

Zen Buddhist Temple, Kyoto

Kim and Sue get ready to enjoy dinner at a Zen Buddhist temple.

Pic by Kim Meller.

More Kyoto

Melanie and Yoshie at the Kiyomizudera Shrine.

Pic by Kim Meller.

Impressions of Kyoto

"Kyoto has impressed me by giving me the ability to see the mixture of tradition with modern structures by being able to walk down the street and see a modern building next to a shrine or temple." ~ Lisa Westerfield

"I've been impressed with the knowledge of our group of teachers and the comments and questions asked at each site to help me understand what I am seeing. In the Teramachi mall, the teenage mall experience mixed with the shrine from the 1500s surprised me because the two meshed and after awhile it seemed natural that shoppers go into the shrines along their way." ~ Maggie Engman

"There is a shrine on every corner. We are seeing a true mix of Shinto and Buddhism and it is hard to sort out where one starts and another begins. In the department stores, restaurants, the inn, everywhere, we were treated like queens. The teenage fashion is cutting-edge." ~ Becky Smith

Byodo-in Temple at Uji

Today we visited the Byodo-in Temple. Included in the temple is the Phoenix Hall, named because its exterior looks like a bird's outstretched wings, not to mention the two phoenixes perched on its roof. The statue inside, Amitabha, Buddha of infinite light, was made by Jocho, a man revered as the greatest Buddhist carver in the Heian Era.

Kyoto/Nara Adventures

Kathy and Kim wash their hands before entering a temple in Nara.

Kyoto/Nara Adventures

A temple at Nara.

Kyoto/Nara Adventures

Abbie W. on the subway.

Japanese Tea Ceremony

Today we participated in a Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Darcy bows to accept her tea.

Pic by Kim Meller.

Kyoto

Yesterday our group arrived in Kyoto, a city with a population of 1.5 million and full of character . This morning we had our orientation as people expressed their first impressions of the country and Kyoto. Several people commented on their surprise of its cleanliness and organization for a city of such size. Lots of young people were out roaming the streets this evening, a Friday night. It was a big change from early this morning when even donut shops weren't open by 7am. We visited the Fushimi Inari Shrine and walked the steps to the top where we could look down over the city. Tomorrow we are off to Nara!

Japan--HERE WE COME!

On June 25, 2008 The University of Colorado at Boulder will take a group of 16 U.S. teachers to Japan for three weeks. We will first arrive in Osaka Kansai on Wednesday, June 25 to begin exploring our over-arching theme, "Visualizing Japan: History, Contemporary Culture, and the Arts." This blog will report on the group's progress and adventures along the way.