Atago Shrine

     I had a job interview yesterday in Tokyo, which went very well.  I will find out in March if I have the job or not, Japan does not make decisions quickly.  Maybe we could learn something from that in the States.  I know that it is tough when you need work, to have to wait so long.  I only know about finding a job in education, so if you are a carpenter, maybe things are a little faster. . .
     When I finished the interview I had an hour or so to myself in the heart of Tokyo.  I had to do a little sightseeing, and since there was a shrine next door, I decided to investigate.  I approached Atago shrine from the back and walked around the areas that seemed the least traveled.  I like to get a sense of a place from different perspectives, and I was not disappointed this time.  The site was beautifully landscaped throughout.  At the front of the shrine I found some interesting signs in English, which tells me they are for Gaijin (foreigners like me).  I took some photos for you to see, they are definitely quite blunt and did not leave any doubt in my mind.

Computer Issues and Advice Needed!

     Well, the old computer finally broke down yesterday.  It had been making lots of random noises for some time, I suspect something was bouncing around in the drive.  I was lucky that I was able to back up all the important files before hand, so not to worry.  I am now using Ryoko's old lap top, which every once in a while decides that I am typing in Japanese.  It gets kind of confusing when that happens. . .
     I am now looking for a replacement computer and have given thought to buying an Ipad.  We use them at Berlitz and I have been really impressed with their functionality.  I do not know if I can do all that I did with my PC with an Ipad, and was hoping someone out there who has already made the switch can let me know.  I am a little intimidated by the cost and was also hoping for advice on whether other manufacturers are worth the attention.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Shrine in Nagareyama

     Last month I was jogging through a new (I thought) part of town when I found a shinto shrine.  I like to go through new shrines whenever I see them so I took a detour and ran around the site.  As soon as I was fifty feet in I recognized where I was.  This was the shrine where Ryoko and I got married a decade ago.  It is a really large, and beautiful, plot of land for a shrine in Japan, so I was able to jog around and remember when I was there last.  During New Years Eve, Ryoko, Yuta, and I went to the same shrine to pray at midnight according to Japanese tradition, and if possible, it was even more stunning after dark.
     Today I jogged back to the shrine and took pictures that are attached to this post.  I will be starting at the entrance gate and going in to the building where we were married.  I hope you enjoy the views.

Cheese Lies. (this ones for you Dan!)

     Cheese lies to you.  I have on a few occasions discovered worms long forgotten in my fishing tackle that smell more appealing than some cheeses.  I have never felt the need to taste these discoveries.  I am curious who the person was that forgot the milk somewhere making Limburger cheese, who then thought to themselves "It smells ten times worse than my dirtiest socks, I wonder what it tastes like?".  This awful smell can disguise a very delicious product.  Because of this, cheese is definitely not for the faint hearted uninitiate.  Cheese is also something the Japanese have gotten very wrong, which is surprising considering the majority of Japanese foods seem to be based on a dare ("Who wants to eat this extremely poisonous fish with me? Anyone? Lets eat it RAW!").  The cheeses that I find in Mami mart are about as savory as paper, they are very over processed and quite dead.  Cheese needs to be alive!  I have tried the American cheese (in the plastic sleeves just like home), blue cheese, and romano here and they all are bland to the point of "why bother". Its like eating plastic.

DONT BUY THIS CHEESE!!

     I have found some cheeses worthy of the name in Kashiwa, they are all imported and very expensive.  A chunk of Cheddar smaller than a pack of cigarettes goes for about $15.  I have hope that when more Japanese experience the joy of true cheese, they will take the time to learn how to do it right.  For now I have to work around the fact that good cheese is now a rare luxury in my life. . .

Bus Trip to Kashiwa

     Now that I am regularly commuting to Kashiwa in order to work, I have had the opportunity to experience public transportation here in detail.  The trains are absolutely on time, and the busses somewhat less so.  On one occasion, the bus I was waiting for did not show up and it was good that I was trying to be early to work.  Instead of a nice early arrival with a carefree careful preparation, I was just in time and running to get ready.  I still feel that the lessons that day were well delivered, I had taught them to others before so it was easy to step into them.  On my way home on the bus the other day I took a photo of my knees so that I could show you how small the seats are here.  These are definitely built for smaller legs than mine. . .

Daffodils in January

     I was jogging along the river today when I spotted these daffodils blooming on the banks.  I had thought that it was too cold for these early spring flowers, but these did not seem to care what I thought.  They were a great lift for my spirits, one of the many things I have encountered on my trips to brighten my day.  I continued jogging until I had gone farther than ever before and turned back home.  It was a great restart to my morning run, I had taken a week off with Yuta on vacation from school.  Now that he is back in Yagi Minami Shogakko, I can resume my habit of running after walking Yuta to campus.  Here is a crummy picture of the daffodils.

     I thought those of you in slightly colder climes would appreciate that I am in a warmer place.  I hope you don't think I am rubbing it in, but could you please pass the salt?

New Years Preparations

     A few days before New Years Eve, Ryoko asked me to help make special ornaments for the house.  The leaders of Nagareyama have asked that people not purchase ornaments because they become too much waste afterwards.  We do not feel bound by this because we made them from material handy on the farm and the little plastic used will be recycled or reused when we finish with them.  The ornaments are called Kadomatsu and there are traditionally two, one placed on either side of the main entry to the house.  My job consisted of cutting 6 pieces of fresh bamboo at an angle so that the cuts are elliptical in shape.  Yuta was a very good helper for this step.  I wanted to cut through one of the nodes so that the solid part would transect the ellipse, but I was overruled on this.  My cuts are all in the internodes.  The pieces are staggered and tied together as you can see in the photo.  We also used a bit of rice hay, nawa (that I made earlier in the year), evergreen brances, and paper from the local shrine.  I am pleased with the way they look, and I know that next time I will be able to cut through the nodes because when we went to the shrine last night (the same shrine we were married in), their kadomatsu had been cut that way. . .