Konnichiwa
Well it was a beautiful Golden Week and the sun shone brightly all but the last day day of it. Too bad too, as it put a damper on Boys Day Festivities for many I am sure. It has been raining non stop since mid day on Tuesday. WOW!! My cupboards are getting very bare, but I don't even want to venture out in the driving rain to walk to the market to replenish the food supply. Guess I will scrounge around for some instant Ramen soup and salad for supper and hope that will satisfy my man?
CJ and I had a FUN and VERY BUSY week. We did go to Enoshima Island on Friday and had a nice day hanging out on the coastline and watching the waves crash, tickled the sea anemones in the tide pools and then watched a beautiful sunset to close the day over Mt Fuji-san. It felt like we were back in California again and it brought back lots of good memories for us of times with our kids. We too rang the LOVE bell in honor of our 30 years together come May 26th. There is a monument area on the island where lovers come and lock a padlock to the fence and then ring the bell. We did not have a lock, but we did ring the bell and it echoed very loudly. CJ told me I was to do it gently, but you know me. Everything I seem to do is hard and fast no gentle or delicate for this gal I guess. Oops!
Saturday May 2nd
We slept in till 7 and then made our way down to Nihon-odori street to watch the flower carpets being made. There were a TON of people participating and yet, like all events here in Japan...it ran like clock work. The littlest of kids are so respectful, well behaved and capable of things you might not see kids twice their age do in other countries. It was amazing. The carpets were made kind of like we do the sawdust alfombras at Easter for Semana Santa week in Honduras. I of course, had all I could do not to jump in and help.
They had a central area that passed out the needed supplies of glue brushes, glue bottles, buckets full of colored blue, green and black sand. They too had sprayers with glue to seal or dampen the flowers and sand so to hold them in place from the wind that was blowing around all day. They had big sheets of white paper taped to the street with the designs drawn on with black marker. Each area within the black lines was marked with a color name and flower. They first had a group huddle and my guess is that they explained the procedure to the group gathered which almost covered the entire working surface...and I then wondered how they were going to work with so many people? So once they parted, the first kid painted on some glue with a brush and then the next kid or adult poured from a cup the black sand to make the borders and blue sand for the sky in their drawings and green sand for the leaves and grass. All the rest was done with red, yellow, orange, purple, pink...tulip and rose petals. Young and old worked hard, fast and with much precision. Most everyone had a hat on, to protect themselves from the hot sun. As I walked past one carpet a little girl was squatting on the ground behind a big box and trying to clean up her own pool of vomit. I bent down to help her and to try to get someones attention to see if they even knew she was ill and the minute I started to talk to her, some Japanese lady came by and then she ran away and minutes later there was a nurse with a first aid kit at her side helping her. WOW...that was very surprising and fast. I thought it was so interesting how she must not have told anyone and it seemed as if she was trying to deal with the whole situation on her own..so as not to disturb anyone? She must have been 10 yrs old if that.
There was also some exhibit tents set up on either side of the carpet area and a few garden companies were allowing folks to make up their own floral centerpieces. I had fun watching two little preschool age girls working alongside with their mom and grandma I assumed, to make a pretty pink flower centerpiece. Wow.. they start teaching them at a very young age to do many things and the thing is, the kids seem so very capable to actually do the stuff with ease?
So CJ and I walked around the 29 carpets for an hour or so and watched the progress. Then we took a break and went to Yodobashi Camera. CJ had to return a couple things and he wanted to buy me some computer pads so I hopefully can avoid carpel tunnel. Who knows I may have already done the damage. My hand was actually purple the other night after I was done typing. I seem to rest my wrists very heavily on the keyboard and have actually formed quite a callus on both wrist bones. Not good I suspect:-(My shoulders seem to be in knots allot too, so when he was wandering in electronics heaven I went up to the 5Th floor for another massage chair massage. I saw the same guy we met when Donna, Michelle and I enjoyed a 20 minute chair massage and I had another nice body massage and visit with him again this time. I told him perhaps I can talk CJ into buying one of those chairs instead of the $1,000.00 rice cooker he keeps talking about. I really would like one, but the best one that does 737 movements is $5,000.00 and that is a little more than I want to spend. Also if it has troubles back in states...how will I get it fixed ? He did agree that might be a major problem. So I was safe and didn't have to buy one, after that question. :-)
So after my massage and CJ's bag full of toys we made our way past Cozy Corner Bakery for our favorite Jumbo Cho and then back on the train to see the progress made and opening ceremony of the carpets. Everything was cleaned up, guard ropes were up, lights were hooked up to illuminate them at dusk and the ceremony was under way. As we strolled up, they were giving out certificates to the artists who drew each of the carpet designs. They were all women and one young girl who was a junior high or late elementary student. Cool!
They were very nice, colorful and it was fun to view them being made as you could hear the roar of the crowd from the baseball game in the stadium at the end of the street. It was a perfect summer day outing.
Sunday May 3rd was Yokohama's 150Th Harbor Festival kickoff Parade. It was another lovely spring day and actually the sun got a bit warm and left me with a little sunburn after standing for 3 looooong hours in the same spot. I had a great view though as it was right where the parade started and the grand Marshall ceremony took place. Minne and Mickey Mouse from Tokyo Disney were there as was Donald ,Daisy , Pluto and Goofy and you can't imagine how excited young and old alike got when they saw them high above the crowd in a fancy Disney Float.The Japanese really get into mascots and characters. It was a colorful and lively event with many precision marching bands, baton twirlers, Boy Scouts, dance troupes of all sorts, elementary school bands playing portable keyboards and piano like recorders. Some of the kids looked like they were in kindergarten and perhaps they were or else it is just the small stature of the Japanese that makes them look even younger than they really are...kind of like my Honduran pals. There were lots of different folks dressed in historical costumes of the past years and many different countries were shown in clothing as well as it was the opening of the harbor to the western world.
After the parade we made our way up to another Int'l school food fair. We caught the last hour or so of this one and enjoyed some Korean Beef, Chicken Yakatori, French crepes, Norske organic sandwich and of course a few beers for CJ and an Indian Margarita for me? They had already sold all their samosas:-(We too enjoyed some salsa dancing, Indian dancers and a young school band called Make Me a Sandwich. They were quite good and a crowd favorite. This group had a bit more of a party atmosphere here than the Catholic School last week.
We then made our way home and sat out on the back porch and enjoyed the beautiful night air as we ate some chips and salsa. I dropped a chip and then we noticed a bunch of ants carrying it to their ant hill. It was so fun and I of course sat there and watched it much longer than CJ could. I kept thinking they were getting ready for Cinco de Mayo on the 5Th and they were all celebrating with their big taco chip. So of course I dropped another chip scrap and we then timed how long it took them to carry it from about 18 inches away. It took only 10 minutes and what team work we saw. I told CJ it was like us carrying our house across the state of MN..so crazy. The best part was when they got it to the step wall and had to turn it on end vertically to slide it down along the wall and into the front door of their house. Oh what I would give to have been able to see down in there and to see the celebration I pictured was taking place. I wonder what they were thinking. I wanted to drop a hunk of green pepper from the salsa bowl too, but CJ told me to quit messing with their universe. So...you see, we do take out time to smell the roses and watch the ants once in awhile. I know your probably thinking what was in that Indian margarita she drank...and I am too it was very good actually. :-) Ha-ha
Monday May 4Th Garden Day
This is a day where you get into the Tokyo Gardens for free. I have been to 2 different ones, but many I have not seen so when CJ flew off to China for 3 days, I made my way on the train north to check out some new ones. It was a very relaxing and tranquil day. I saw roses of all colors and varieties. Some very BIG. It is Iris season now as well and so many of those in purple, lavender, yellow, peach were blooming. All the cherry blossoms are gone as are the wisteria. One garden had a big patch of poppies and daisies and many of the azaleas were already gone or just starting. I could not tell for sure? I really think though, that some of what I have been told are azaleas are really actually rhododendrons. Anyhow it was beautiful and of course I enjoyed taking way too many fotos at different angles. I love the reflection in the water fotos of trees and flowers and each park had many a stone pagoda that make it so Japanese. Their were many older folks about and enjoying another nice day and all were donning their little white or blue boat hats. I love that whole look. I might even buy myself one, if I did not look so silly in hats.
I road on a local town shuttle bus from one park to another instead of going to the train station or taking a city bus and I felt like I got many a look as to what are you doing in here? Three little ladies that I waited in line next to were literally up to my bust level...they were probably scared by the mere SIZE of me :-)
The last park I could not find as I went to the end of the name with the star on the map instead of the dot end and so I was about 3 blocks away and it was getting near closing time, and so I by passed the last one and went and walked around the Tokyo University campus instead. I had fun taking pics of the old stone arch buildings and big old nearly trees. I then found a big pond and of course found some more shots of yellow iris's reflecting in the water. I too met a little Japanese lady that was relaxing under an arbor and she said something to me and I asked her if she spoke English and she said no only Japanese and Spanish.:-) Well that was an open door if ya know what I mean. So I sat down and we talked in Spanish/Spanglish for about 1/2 hour. She had lived in Buenos Aries for the past 30 years and I think if I understood her correctly she was back here visiting family. We exchanged address cards and hopefully she will write me as well. Her daughter is a lawyer in Argentina and and so I will write her Email there or send common mail to her other address. Well I am sure you can imagine that was very fun for me. I even remembered more than I thought I would. Speaking of Spanish.When I called the lady from the orphanage here today I totally started rambling in Spanglish to her and I said about 2 sentences before I even realized I was talking in a a language she has no idea what I am saying. :-) YEAH..I was afraid I was going to lose it as I learn more Japanese.It should be very interesting to see just what comes out of my mouth when I am in Honduras next month or better yet what comes out of my mouth when I get back here to Japan after a month speaking Spanish?
I amn already confused just thinking about it.
So we bid farewell and as I was walking back to the gate I ran into a young alumni student who was busy pr acting his archery and so I asked him a bit about it and if it was a sport or mediation and he said he does it as a sport.It was very interesting to see him in his fancy pants and shooting into straw bales. On the way home I grabbed a curry filled bun and some Boy day treats at the bakery and enjoyed that and some carrots and apples back at home.
Tuesday May 5, 2009 Boys Day
Well it was the last day of Golden Week and I woke to very cloudy and dark skies. I was glad the event I chose to attend today was an indoor exhibition, but for many I am sure, they were sad it was not a sunny day. Usually many folks go to parks and fly kites and have fun playing outdoors with their boys. They hang carp like wind sock pinwheels in front of their homes if they have a son. Yes I have one here for you Grambo and I even bought some of the special rice balls filled with sweet red beans wrapped in maple leaf last night to eat today in your honor. Some folks also have a samurai figure and the special warrior hat they put on display as well. This is a day to honor male children and to wish them strength, happiness and good health.
So I woke up and after chatting with some family members on Skype I made my way back up to Tokyo BIG Sight for Dream Party 2009 and Cos-Day. This was a day for dress up and many were doing just that. It was a people watching day masterpiece and photo opportunity of the best kind. You had to pay $5.00 to take pics and you know I was in for that. So I paid my fee to get in and then my photo fee and I was happy to freely roam and snap away, or so I thought. I did just that most all afternoon downstairs, which was the Cos Day area and where 1000's of Manga Fan wannabee artists , cartoonists and writers were all selling their homemade books, pins, posters,figurines...at least that is what I think the girl struggled hard to tell me in her English.
I had just talked to AJ my niece before I left and she is into Mange and so I asked her some names of characters and what they looked like so I could try and get some photos she might like when I am there. Also, I wanted to know a little something of this whole new world before I entered unknown territory. I did not want to totally look out of place, yet my guess is that I still did. I mean I was the only 50 + white women in the whole area I think. I did see some younger European looking girls and boys. There were older Japanese men taking pics of the scantily cals girls of course, but I did not see too many women over 30 yrs if that.
I bought a few books that looked interesting by their covers and if the kid behind the table was willing to talk and try to communicate with me, I figured that was worth a $2-$4 dollar book at least for their effort.
So i walked around the huge hall and looked at the different tables where many were busy with their sketch pads and drawing more manga characters as they sat and waited for folks to buy their goods. Boy was I surprised when one book with a bright pink cover and 4 cute characters grabbed my attention. As I sat paging through the book I suddenly realized I was looking at a manga porn cartoon book. I could feel the young girl and boy who was sitting next to her get a bit uncomfortable and when I said I would buy it and wanted her to sign her name and then take a photo her with it she got a bit embarrassed. I explained how in American if you buy a book from the live author they always sign their name and the date to it. So she did and she did end up letting me take a very shy looking photo of her. When I got home and showed CJ what it was and as we looked closer we realized at the end of the book, it was actually two boys dressed like girls who were having sex. Odd and very interesting at the same time. I really would love to know what it says in Japanese, except I am not sure who is the right person for me to ask to help translate it? ha-ha Perhaps I had wait till I get to know some of my Japanese friends a bit better.
So with books in my bag, I went outside on the plaza to take and watch the kids take pics of each other in their costumes. I think if I understand the girl correctly they were to dress in costumes of characters from these 4 manga stories. Debone. Gintama. Paytareea and Pop'n. I am sure that is not the correct spelling, but that is what it sounded like to me if I spelt it with our alpahabet. It will be very interesting one day if I learn more about this,and what exactly she did say and who some of the characters are that I took pics of. Then the rain started to fall and all moved inside. I was hot in my sweater and skirt so I can imagine how hot they must of been with their big wigs on, tall platform shoes, layers of costumes, fake fur...I actually did not feel so tall with many of them wearing 4 inch clunky shoes. and even looked a few of them eye to eye. It was very hard to tell who was actually a girl dressed like a boy or vice verse. I know when I first looked at couples I assumed right away it was male and female, but then upon closer inspection as I got more comfortable as the day went on I noticed some were actually girls that I thought were boys. I am sure there were some boys dressed as girls as well, but I don't know that for fact. The bottom floor sales and photos party ended at 3 and so then I went upstairs and there was a whole other party going on there.
This was now more anime video sales and an introduction of new games and video cartoons. It too, was more of an adult playground if you will type of an atmosphere and there were a few rather scantly clad girls posing in their costumes or lack there of. They had to check my ID to enter this adult world and I also had to buy yet another $5.00 pass. Here many men I noticed were all standing in line waiting patiently to get their turn at making the lady pout, twist and turn in all the ways he so desired her to. Some guys even laid on the floor to get angled shots from below. It felt pretty hard core, and I thought these guys are very serious about this and it too was sort of weird in a way. I only wanted one straight on shot of some and some of the pics I snapped were actually more fun when I got the photographer in as well and how he was so into it. I did that for about 1/2 hour walking through the room snapping shots over people's shoulders and above their heads, cause I still had a pretty good view and not many obstructions. I kept my flash off, so not to distract the ones that were taking their all important up close and personal shots, but then late in the day, a young girl came over and stopped me and said I could not take pictures. Well of course I pointed to my $5.00 badge I had bought and said I was under the impression I can take all the pics I want as I purchased a pass. But then she tried to tell me more and what I finally understood after 3 different people tried to find some kind of English and to explain to me the Japan way of going about this. What I learned is, that I had to wait in line and get permission first, and then she would pose for me and only me. I told them I did not want to take 20 shots I only wanted one, but they said I could not take more without waiting in line and getting their permission first.
So feeling a bit frustrated and wishing I knew Jaanese and could of communicated better or at least a little.. I saw there were a few more girls I wanted pics of that I did not get earlier in the day and so I went and stood in line. I literally waited for 3 guys to take their turns in front of me. Each guy I would say took between 20 and 40 shots of the black dominatrix looking girl. I actually felt a bit foolish and told her so when I finally got up to her that I was sorry I only wanted 1straight on photo of her and not 45 like the others took. She smiled and then posed for me and only me. So off I went to the next line and got a pic of two girls with flowers in their hair and then I decided I had had enough. I was exhausted after trying to understand what it was they were saying to me,felt bad that I was going against the rule so to speak and not knwing that I was, did not understand who or what it was I was looking at, and it then all felt a bit awkward when I had to ask for a photo and I was not as into it as all the men around me were.
It had peeked my curiosty though in learning a bit about the story lines of some of the stories. Sadly all the stories that AJ knows about and likes such as Inuasha, Fruit Basket, Narootoe, Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note and Bleach were not ones that they were dressing like today and so I saw nothing that her and I talked about.:-( Needless to say I entered a whole new and very different world and one that leaves me questioning many things I saw and wanting to know more. This was another perfect example of organization. All the kids went to a certain room to get their costumes on and off and then brought their little pull along suitcase to a coat check like area where they left their bags in neatly stacked rows and rows of luggage, only to be returned to the rightful owner when they showed a pass. I too was surprised how so many kids had really nice digital Nikon and or Canon cameras while many others just use their digital phones.
It makes me wonder what kind of allowance these kids get to buy all these elaborate costumes, cameras and many do not have jobs or if they do they only work 1-2 weeks a year on spring break and over the New Year holiday. Most kids I am told don't work while going to school as they have school and then cram school and after that some even go to 2 cram schools. I wonder when they have a life?
So back home I went that night and have been in the house ever since as the rain has not stopped since 1:30 pm on Tuesday.
I am getting caught up on computer and photos, but do need to get out tomorrow to buy some food. Well that is about it for now..if the weather ever clears up, there is a ONE LOVE Jamaican party at Yoyoji park this weekend, so that is where you might find me on Mothers Day?
Konbanwa
Karla
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