Marc’s Japan Adventure

So I survived the earthquake, and my folks are back in PA, safe and sound after their whirlwind tour of the Land of the Rising Sun. Here are a few pix that they took:

It’s been an exhausting two days. The results? Judge for yourself. We got to see a really cool kimono fashion show in Kyoto and a tomato vending machine too.

Today Kyoto. Tomorrow…the world! Or at least Nara…

TONIGHT! Wish us luck!

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend the premiere baseball game in Japan: Hanshin Tigers vs. Hiroshima Carp. Of course, just from the dispiriting name “Carp”, the Tigers were destined to beat them. What was special about this game was that this victory for the Tigers clinched the #1 title in their division for the first time in EIGHTEEN YEARS. So needless to say people were mostly drunk and rowdy, but about 10 times more polite than people in, say NYC, when the Yankees win. Pix:

Ping Pong Matrix style: http://www.ntv.co.jp/channel/asx/hkzkt10.asx. The quality is a little low, but worth watching.

I was thinking today about what being a “gaijin” really means. To me, the word “gaijin” can have negative connotations depending on the context, but all it really means is “outsider.” In fact, there are many “gaijin” in Japan today who were “gaijin” in their own countries as well. In fact, when I look around at the other Westerners here, which I rarely do, there is a peculiar reticence to acknowledge other Western people, be it eye contact or actually walking up and talking to someone. It’s really an interesting dynamic. Of course, I’m part of the problem, too. I don’t want to have the same conversation with yet another person, the “why did you come, how long you been here…” conversation. It’s eerily reminiscent of what I imagine prison conversation to be like, except with cooler cell phones.

Anyway, I’m still enjoying myself. Those of you I haven’t emailed in a while, I’m sorry, I’ve been totally swamped. You should all have emails now. Thanks, Pizza Hut! Oh, they have Pizza Hut in Japan. It’s good. Perfect duplication, but with more corn and salmon toppings.

Been busy with work. I will update y’all this weekend.

An island of art. Mike’s visit. 5 hours from Osaka, by boat, train, and bus. Website: Naoshima Cultural Village Pix:

…is coming on Saturday night! My friend Mike Kralovich will be rolling into Osaka Station Saturday night around 7:30 or so. I have no meaningful updates right now, but I will this weekend! Stay tuned for more updates!

I’ve just gotten back from Hiroshima and Miyajima. Itsukushima-jinja is a beautiful temple located in the water (!) off the coast of Miyajima. The tide was out when I went, but that was okay, because it made the huge torii (red gate) look even more impressive seeing it actual size. I had some anago, which is a kind of eel, and it was delicious, and didn’t taste fishy at all. After that, I went to Hiroshima.

I have to admit I felt some trepidation about going there, being American, and I did take off my NY Mets hat. As it turns out, I really didn’t have anything to worry about, as there were many foreigners, Americans included, who were there for the same reason I was; to see firsthand why war is a Bad Thing.

The day was beautiful and sunny, with birds chirping, a light breeze to cool off with, and children laughing and playing. Yet, here was this place which had been utterly destroyed by the first atomic bomb known to mankind exactly 58 years ago. It was impossible to reconcile the horrific images shown in (a bit too) gruesome detail in the museum with the city I was standing in the middle of. Yet, like a beacon to remind us all of the horror of war and nuclear weapons, the Dome of the Hiroshima Prefectural Building stood, twisted and scarred.

I left Hiroshima with many conflicting feelings. I was horrified and sickened by the aftermath of war, and at the same time amazed at the complete recovery, and the city’s strong wish for peace and abolition of nuclear weapons throughout the world. I recommend everyone who has the chance to visit me go there and see what human beings can accomplish, both negative and positive.