My greatest challenge in Japan: getting from Kyoto to Mt. Fuji to Tokyo. From 9:30am to 3:30pm, I rode on 6 different trains and subways to get to Fuji-san. I took a Rope Car up a neighboring mountain, and ran around to the north end of a lake to get a view over the lake. After a quick sightsee, I hop 3 more trains and get to Tokyo by 9pm. Whoo!! Check it out!!

 

The Tokyo Subway – a post for my cuz Kaitlyn!!

Attendants in navy blue shirts and white gloves stand beside each of the doors of the subway. I look into the subway – people shoulder to shoulder front to back, inhaling another’s exhale. No room! But the stream of business(wo)men in the terminal with me kept moving towards the doors! So I get right in there, along with my 50 lb. bag (not joking!), slowly sidestepping towards the subway doors, which, mind you, are still a good 8 feet away. Then I feel two hands on my back, and I look behind to see a white-gloved blue coat bracing himself, his legs at a 60 degree angle to the ground like a football lineman – and pushes. Gently, firmly, then with all his blue coatted weight – and my body squishes into the black overcoat in front of me, and my feet struggle to not trip over my giant bag. The funny thing is that you can’t really fall when people are squishing inwards from all sides – I mean, where would you fall? Squish squish squish squish! Finally, I feel the man with the COOLEST job in the world take his white gloves off me and the subway doors nip the back of my jacket and off we go!

Us sardines rock forwards and back along with the train currents. The train slows and comes to a stop. The calm before the storm. Then the doors skireeek open spraying people like a shaken can of coke, me right in the thick of it. My friend Ryosuke and I tumble to the side as the masses stampede out. Whhaaa!! Oh man. This isn’t even our stop. We get in line to get back through the doors we just rejected out of. Holyyyyy Molyyyy. If there was ever a Discovery Channel show about the spectaculars of human behavior, this would be in it.

Oh, btw, I’m home! Thanks for the prayers and support. Its been so much fun, but I’m glad to be home!

Today Craig and I visited the Inari Shrine, and hiked the 4 km of trail and observed the THOUSANDS of torii gates (Shinto shines).  We then went to one of Craig’s friend’s apartments and had a “Nabe Party”, which is like a hot pot.  Sorry, for the lack of posts, we’ve been very busy!  But I made sure to comment and tag my latest photos, which are now up on my flickr.  Thanks for reading!

Jamie

On 12/15, on the way to Miyajima, the island shrine in Hiroshima, I met some new friends on the bus – a class of eight year olds!  They wore matching red caps and brown backpacks.  The teacher, obviously overwhelmed by the chaos, couldn’t even think above his own voice saying, “Shizuka nishite kudasai!!”  (please be quiet), which basically gave the kids free reign of terror on the bus.  I jumped at the opportunity.  Standing in the back, I was swamped with red caps with voices, and asked them, “Ogenki desu ka?” (how are you?) and “Nan sai desu ka?”  (how old are you?).  and received a flood of squeals and smiles.  No matter where you go, Hiroshima, Japan or Mafubira, Uganda, a kid is a kid.  I tell the kids, “Shyashin!!” and they make peace signs and I snap a shot, sweeping my arm around their heads to show them the digital photo.  Kids jump, giggle and squeal.

Then one boy grabs my arm and quizzically presses his face against it – “Sento?”  I make a confused face.  “Sento.”  He rubs his wrists together.  “America sento?”  I laugh, hold my arm out so the other kids can take a whiff, and I realize that I need to do some laundry.

Today I went SKIING!!  I wanted to ski Nagano, the home of the winter olympics a while back, but there wasn’t enough snow.  So a friend reccommended Karuizawa, which was reasonably close to Tokyo, and off I went!!  For $71, I got skis, poles, boots, and a lift ticket.  Niiiiiiice.  I was a smaller mountain, maybe about the same size as Snoqualmie.  All the snow that I skiied on was man-made!  Unbelievable.

Also, anyone who has ever seen Japanese nationals on the ski slope, you’ll know what I’m going to comment on – bright, multi-colored ski suits!  Some tough looking snowboarders wore festive snowpants that made them look like come country’s flag whenever they stood together.

Heyyyy – sorry for the lack of posts!  And today has to be short too – I’ve been a lot of time with friends, so I haven’t had much time to spend on the computer.  Well, just a QUICK update, then I’m off:

Day 15: Hiroshima and Nagoya

In the morning, I visited many historic Hiroshima sites: the A-Bomb Dome, an eerie reminder of the destruction from the atomic bomb, the atomic bomb memorial mound, and the Hiroshima Memorial Museum.  The history was horrifying, and honestly, I am really struggling to put it to words.  If you would like, please see some of the pictures I posted on my flickr account, and maybe I will try to post more about Hiroshima a bit later.

In the afternoon, I arrived in Nagoya and met with one of my best friends and old roommates, Craig Kovatch.  We will travel together for the next week.  We also met up with two really good friends, Naoko and Ryosuke!  They were exchange students at UW a few years back, and became really good friends!  Later, Craig and I left for Tokyo, and spent the night at Craig’s girlfriend’s apartment.

Day 16 – Tokyo

Today I went around the “Time Square” of Japan – Shibuya in Tokyo!  I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people on the streets before.  In the evening, I went to a party with Craig and his girlfriend and their friends, and went to my first Karaoke Store (um, I think you would call it a store???).  It was fun – I sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”, “Under the Sea”, “Yellow Sub”, and tons of others

Tomorrow I’m gonna go skiing at Karuizawa – a resort right by Nagano, which is where the winter Olympics were held a while back.  Unfortunately, Nagano doesn’t have very much snow, so this is the next best…

Tomorrow I will post pictures of Tokyo and my favorite place – Miyajima Water Shrine!!  See ya,

Jamie

I’m here! Hiroshima was the home of my grandpa’s parents and is also one of the most infamous sites of world history. I spent some time exploring Kagoshima earlier today, so I haven’t seen much of the Hiroshima yet, but I have much planned for tomorrow! Check out the photo on my flickr about the shopping mall that was demolished during the war…

Some Japanese cultural-isms that make me smile:
1. The way train attendants will politely turn, bow, and acknowledge their passengers every time the leave a cabin.
2. The way a 35 year old man reads his comic books. Common in Japan!!
3. The man digging up his nose with his finger with the same tenacity as if he were digging for gold.
4. An older man’s “bawwaaaaamp!!” while we waiting at a crosswalk, his obtrusive gas reminding me that, yes, this is DEFINITELY the city where my family is from. It was like he was proud of it or something…

Being in “the homeland”, I’ve been thinking a lot about my culture. As a Japanese American, I am neither fully Japanese nor fully American. One may argue that the definition of being American is a melting pot of cultures; however, one cannot deny the fact that a Japanese American sometimes feels a bit out of place in Issaquah, Mercer Island, Olympia.

Cultures are different from each other, and I am influenced in different ways by each culture. To point out common character traits of each, among many traits, Japanese nationals are humble, polite, careful. Americans are outgoing, authentic, expressive. Of course, both cultures share all of these traits, however these particular traits seem to be more prominent in one culture than another.

Different is difficult. Familiar is comfortable. We all faces struggles with not ‘fitting the status quo’, and this happens to be one of mine: who am I? Am I a chameleon, changing skins to match whoever I’m around? Who am I when no one is around?

As with all of us, we must choose who we want to be. As for me and the rest of my life, I choose Christ. He is humble and outgoing, polite and authentic, careful and expressive. He is a passionate lover of all cultures – in fact, He IS all cultures. And as I explore who Jesus is, I find that I, likewise, find who I am.

Jamie

Okay – I must confess, I got lost today!  I blame the trains – my train was 3 minutes late, and I got off at Kagoshima Station instead of Kagoshima Chuo.  I thought the ‘Chuo’ meant ‘Station’!  And, believe it or not, 3 minutes late is LATE.  Japan trains arrive and depart on the dot!  Amazing.  Anyways, I got off and had no idea where to go, and all the attendants that I talked to didn’t speak english.  However, I prayed and God helped to calm me down, and I found a railcar that took me right to my hotel.  Whew!

Speaking of not speaking english, hardly anyone that I’ve met speaks english!  I’ve met very few people that can speak as well as the some of the 10 year olds that I met in Uganda!  But, I’ve been getting along okay, since I can read and speak a little.  But I’ve found that I don’t have to be good at Japanese, I just have to be good at charades!  Yep.  Exaggerated motions, a goofy sense of humor, and sweet sound effects usually get the job done pretty good.  Also, throw in a couple of u’s and o’s and english basically turns into Japanese.  “My bagu is hebi!”  I slouch, wipe the imaginary sweat off my forehead, pant a little.  Communication successful.

Today I am in Kagoshima, the home of my Grandma Ishii’s parents.  Its the largest southernmost city, and is a pleasant 65 degrees.  This place is buzzing with colors, towers, sounds, and rushing mass transit.  People swim through crowded sidewalks with bicycles and old grandmas.  No matter where you turn, there is a soba shop or sushi bar.

I decided to rent a bike and circumvent Sakurajima mountain, which is on a island next to Kagoshima.  After 1.5 hours of asking around for a bike rental shop, I finally get my bike – a “mama chari” granny bike, complete with the basket, springy cushioned seat, and guess what – an electric motor!!!  I felt so embarrassed to ride the thing, I rudely told the attendant that I have “genki ashi” (strong legs” and I want a “genki raku chyari” (strong bike).  Ashamed, he said this was the only one.  So, red-faced I saddle up the 40+ lb. bike, toss my map and water bottle into the granny basket in front, and scooch away.  How the heck am I gonna ride this thing around a mountain?!

I hop a ferry and an old grandma is smiling at me in her car, rolls the window down and asks me where I’m from.  She just kept on smiling – my mama chari and huge backpack had “stupid tourist” written all over it!  I began my 20 mile trek around the mountain, and quickly die going up the hills.  Swallowing my pride and any shred of bicycle dignity that I’ve ever had, I turn on the electric motor, which barely did ANYTHING except squeak a mechanical bloody murder.  …sigh.  I finally circumvent the island after 2 hrs 30 min, shirt soaked from sweat and rain.  Whew!  Who’s idea was this anyways?!?  …I’m gonna kill him, I swear.

My highlight for the day was being able to talk to my girlfriend Danielle for the first time since I arrived in Japan.  I miss her so much!  Here’s my FAVORITE picture of us, even though it’s really blurry.  We like each other lots lots!!!

Thanks for reading and all your support!

Jamie

After 8 hours on a train, I arrive to Miyazaki city at 6am – dark, rainy, all the shops closed, my clothes putrid from being worn for too long… Not the entrance of a king, I suppose. But as the sun rose, so did my spirits! The day became a sunny mid-60s, and I explored my kingdom – my name is written all over it!

I visited Miyazaki Shrine by hopping a bus for 20 min, and Aoshima Shrine for 45 min. I straight up went sight-seeing until 4pm, carrying around my 40 lb. backpack wherever I went! I probably walked around 5 miles today, no joke. Those clothes from putrid to… putrid-er. Yuck.

Okay, after a long shower and laundry at the Toyoko Inn, I think I’m gonna hit the sack! I’m pooped! Mo’ pix on  the flix!  Thanks for reading,

Jamie

I’m on the Yamaguchi commuter train, bound for the main part of town. School must have just got out, cause high school students flock in, clad in uniform uniforms – navy slacks and jacket for the guys, pleated skirt and jacket for the girls. But at second glance, each one is busting out from uptight, formal uniformity – one girl with scabbed knees, another with raggy pigtails, a guy guffawing at manga, another with slacks that seem to be slacking off a little too much, if you know what I mean. Like their lemming uniforms can’t contain their desire for expression, creativity, to just be a kid.

This is the home of Baachan, my only great-grandparent that I’ve ever met (she lived to be 92…ish?), and I’m absolutely THRILLED to be here! I wish I could go back in time to see her. For some reason, I keep looking at every face I come across, as if I could find her somewhere, and wondering if I would have looked that that guy sitting next to me if she had stayed in Yamaguchi. I look at the people and think – “he fell asleep sitting on the train! I do that too!” or, “They have darker Japanese skin and thick poofy hair! I do too!!” “haha… maybe this guy next to me is my 3rd-cousin 2nd removed dad’s great-grandma’s nephew. I should ask.”

What better a way to tour a city than to grab two wheels and thrash the town on a mustache barred, laaaaaaid back cruiser with a spring-loaded extra-wide seat?! I never thought I’d see the day when I’d ride a bicycle with a basket hanging off the handlebars! But hey, I must admit, I make that bike look gooooood.

On my sweet single speed, I hit up a couple of shrines, the ruins of Lord Ouchi’s castle, Sesshutei Garden, and the incredible Five-Storied Pagoda. Then off to a random restaurant, which turned out to be a sushi / sake bar with a few friendly classy businessmen and a goofy chef and two super-shy waitresses. I make friends with the businessmen, and they give me some of their sake, a pin that says “Mini-Volunteer”, and a pen with a Shinkansen train lassoed off the end. I have no idea what I’m ordering, so the chef holds up some raw fish by the tail and I’m like, “uummmm… OKAY!” I end up eating some sashimi so thinly sliced that I can see through it, and then…. A FREAKIN’ DRIED FLOUNDER!! They chef recommended it, saying, “Dried flash fish!”. I think, “…hmmmm… electric eel? That sounds good!” You know, flash fish, flat fish, same thing. You know, we use those things for crab bait! Yum. More pictur outr on the flickr!!

God bless!

Jamie

I’M IN JAPAN!!!  WHOOOHOOO!!!  I almost cried when I saw the motherland   I’ve wanted to come here for so long, but I never thought I would get the opportunity.  For some reason, I’ve always had this outrageous, outlandish fantasy that when I finally got off the plane in Japan, that I would be greeted with, “Ahhhhhh!  Miyazaki-kun!  Welcome, welcome!” and then whisked off to the areas where my great-grandparents lived.  Buuuuuut… That didn’t happen.  Instead, I was greeted by polite, shy smiles, avoided eye contact, and a bunch of signs that I felt guilty that I couldn’t read.

Man, people know how to WAIT here in Japan!  Seriously, they can just stand in line, not figit, not look around, not fiddle with a cell phone – they can just STAND.  Also, they have probably the most non-hectic, polite airport attendants that I’ve ever met!  An older man in a navy blue uniform, sharp dinner-plate hat, and starchy white gloves calmly gestures to travelers their assigned customs desk.  “Arigato gozaiimasuuuuuuuuu…” he says as he kindly bows.  What kind of airport-heaven have I landed in??  Good-bye Heathrow, hello Narita!!

The Hikari Shinkansen Suupa Express (Hikari Super-express Bullet Train): Yeeeeeeaaaaahhh baby!!  That’s what I’m tawkin’ abouts!!  The epitome of Japanese technology, the Shinkansen is a streak of streamlined white, making you say, “HOOOOOOLY SHIZZLE!!!” whenever it zipppss by.  Once on the train, it is so smooth that you can hardly feel it accelerate.  There is nary a bump nor a jostle.  The train is silent – dead silent – all due to the uncanny politeness of Japanese passengers and the ninja stealth of this purely electric train.  The silence is only interrupted by a periodic electric ZZZZING!! that I’ve only heard in Star Wars movies.  I assume that they are laser bolts shot by Imperial walkers or air-speeder, but they’re probably just telephone poles.  …and then… WAAAGABOOOSHHH!!  A second Shinkansen, traveling at a speed equivalent to our 150+ mph headed in the opposite direction, passes within 5 feet of our train!  I silently swear as the erupted sonic boom rocks the train and my surprised nerves.  But within a split second, the opposing train is gone, leaving only behind a ghostly silence of, “What the HECK just happened?!?”  Man… the only thing cooler than that maniac train was getting off that maniac train…  I’m sooooooo gonna ride that thing again!!

Thanks for reading, and check out more photos on my flickr,

Jamie