The Wedding from Okinawa

Hello from Okinawa

Sarah and Hideki were married on the 28th of Dec in traditional Japanese attire. In case you do not recognise the parents, I am in the Samurai kimono and Piki, with her hair swept up, is looking resplendent   in her kimono. Sarah is wearing a distinctly Japanese bridal outfit.

For those of you interested in such details, it was a perfect day with few clouds in the sky. The venue was on a small bit of land made famous by the G8 summit in 2000. Yes Clinton, Chelsea and Cretien were there. The pacific ocean on both sides of the wedding hall created a scene never to be forgotten. The food was distinctly Japanese and the music was very much Rock and Roll followed by more current stuff. Below are the first photos.

Stay tuned for more.

Marcel & Piki

Garden visit and Street Market

As our visit to Tokyo is coming to an end want to make sure that I again visit one of my favourite gardens: Rikugien,


Just to remind us that a wedding is taking place very soon, a beautiful couple is strolling in traditional wedding clothes.


Here is some important info: "The name Rikugien refers to a system of dividing Chinese poetry into six categories" Six: Roku in Japanese. "Riku" is the Japanese pronunciation of the word. China's cultural influence on japanese culture is everywhere: In writing, art, tea ceremony. Yet it is Japan which made it all quite distinctly their own.

From Rikugien we walked to Sugamo dori, and visited quite extensive street market that seems to be mostly visited by older people, just like us.

Our Israeli niece is arriving any minute from New Zealand, more nieces and a nephew are arriving from Israel tomorrow. We are looking forward to show them the wonders of Tokyo.


Our next story may take place in Okinawa...


Piki

Adventures in the Snow

Well, we had this brilliant idea, and was agreed to by our friends, Makko and Akiyo. Let us go up to Sendai and explore this beautiful area north of Tokyo, along the water and into the mountains. We were also encouraged by an accompanying delegation from the Ship for World Youth. Then our friends, Amatzia and Shoshi added in for a Kokeshi doll hunt.


Our clothing strategy was simple, layers, layers and more. Well, as you can tell by the photo, it was not enough. The wind blew, the snow fell and the sun shone. Just like back home. In fact, many of you would think that this was from back home in Montreal, if the population was fundamentally of Japanese origins. Even on days like this, there was a determined trek up to the shrine at the top of the hill. Yes, we were slipping and sliding and slightly cold, even freezing. However, as you have come to expect from our trip there is an adventure around the corner, up the hill.

There was this group heading up to the shrine, all dressed in their winter finest. To my surprise, we were invited in to join a most wonderful ceremony which dates by 800 years. There I was, next to the priest, on my knees, as he chanted on the occasion of the rice harvest. How I managed to keep that position with little pain and much enthusiasm is a testament to the ceremony. This village was part of the area which was affected by the tzunami. The event was moving for both of us and  we were part of it. Wow.


Yes, the snow here is just as cold as back home.


Marcel

Like Marcel, I was moved by the rice harvesting ceremony at the temple, a ceremony which has been conducted annually for 800 years!


In spite of my "temporary retirement" I still think like a therapist. I was touched by the head monk's words about the importance of the ceremony in this year, following the devastation by the Tsunami. I was reflecting on how important rituals are in times of pain and loss. The Rice gathering ceremony reaffirms the power of life. In spite of the devastation, life goes on, rice is being gathered and being thanked for in the temple.


Another special experience for us was a Sushi lunch in a restaurant on the coast, which reopened after the Tsunami. The location, Matsushima, was not as badly affected as other areas (The small Islands in Matsushima bay provided some protection from the Tsunami). The chef (in the photo) thanked us for being the first gaijin (foreigners) to come to his restaurant since the Tsunami hit. I choose to believe that our visit gave some hope and encouragement: The tourists will be back!  (I highly recommend it, Matsushima is beautiful!


Oyasoo minesai


Piki

Observations from Tokyo

My observations have little to do with this character on the left. On Saturday afternoon, the Ginza is closed to cars and the serious walkers and shoppers come out. Although the season has no religious or cultural connotation in this country, it appears that Tokyo has embraced the festival of lights and holiday concept with a strong passion. Every major centre in this city has a display which attracts shoppers and gawkers from all over. At one place, Tokyo Midtown, there are tour buses which arrive for the dancing lights show. There stand the tourists, their telephone at the ready (few cameras). It is a bit like Rockefeller Centre in New York. However, much more dramatic and spectacular. 


About the guy in the winter suit. They love their dogs and hate the cold. In fact some dogs have a special carriage. Talk about pampered.


We love our random adventures. The other day, we spotted a poster for an exhibition of Toulouse Lautrec art. We found it thanks to my iPad. But the new museum (opened 2010) was impressive on two aspects. Piki will explain the art. I have to describe the organization. 
There is an entrance on a side street which has no access. Rather than place an impersonal sign, there is a poor freezing attendant advising everyone that the entrance is around the corner. Once you enter the building, there is an impeccably dressed guide every 4 metres simply to show you the way to the ticker booth. From the ticket booth to the exhibition (10 metres) there were at least 4 guides to direct you to the elevators. When asked what do I miss most when I return. Here, we are spoiled with the level of service. Yes, there is a high degree of over employment but it appears to be put to good use.


Last thought. the food halls in the basement of the department stores. Our research on this topic is lacking but who cares. Piki and I have taken to wandering through this wonderland of food. Of course, there is a enormous number of serving staff. But the presentation and variety of foods are a treat to all the senses. It is easy to buy a multi-course  meal including dessert and to do this every day because the choices appear endless. Somehow it heals the knees and back as we head back on the metro to our Tokyo home.


Marcel

Fall in Tokyo or Have you seen Elvis dance

When we arrived in Tokyo we were greeted by some wonderful weather. I mention this because the true pleasure of our adventures around this city is to be able to walk around, randomly go down streets, lanes and the occasional cemetery. 


The down side of this is the effect on the parks in this city. Just like back home, the cold nights and warm days brings out nature's painter's pallet. This year I have to admit that the normally dramatic scenes in the parks have been rendered somewhat boring. Those of you who have followed me thus far may wonder when do I connect the fall to Elvis. 


Well this is Tokyo and one of the most magnificent parks is Yoyogi. All of the parks so far have been beautifully sculpted masterpieces of nature. So despite the lack f colour, we continue to explore. After all, a previous park let us to a king. This time, we have Elvis, rather many of them. It appears that this park encourages self expression. At some point, we come upon some very loud rock music, guys dancing and, wow, there is this group of guys and some girls in leather, grease back ducktails with some really cool moves. This is definitely the peoples park. Further on there is the frisbee guys, badminton afficinatos, drummers, random guitar players, and, yes, boot dancers. As you can see, culture in Tokyo is not limited to the few and select, it is for every one.


One last weather comment, there is no snow but today the cold winds hit with a vengeance. I guess the message is there, go inside and shop. Issey Miyake, here we come.


Good night and stay warm


Marcel

Multivehicles Adventure

On Monday morning we left for a day tour to Hakone, the most popular destination for "us', residents of Tokyo.Beautiful Hakone has so much to offer: Hot spring resorts, mountains, lakes, and breathtaking views of Mount Fiji. But as far as i am concerned, Hakone Open Air Museum is Hakone's number one attraction (ichiban).

But , before we reached the museum, we had to travel for 1.5 hour from Tokyo to Hakone on a train, appropriately named:Odayku Romance Car.

From Hakone Yumoto we transferred into a delightful, mountain climbing,two car electric tram that winds its way through forests and over streams and ravines. The red maple trees added enormously to the beauty of the ride. The trip took lasted about 45 minutes, and we disembarked in the small station of Chokoku-no-Mori, where the famous Hakone Open Air Museum is located.The museum's showcase presents primarily 20th century sculptures, in a spectacular setting of glens, gardens, ponds, meadows and mountains.There are 400 sculptures on display, among them 25 pieces by Henry Moore. It would have been so nice to spend the whole day in this spectacular setting,  but there is so much more to explore. (my advice:  Spend at least 2 days in Hakone, or if you have only 1 day, spend it in the Open Air museum!)

Back on the choochoo train from Chokuko-no-Mori to Gora. In Gora we hopped on a 9 minutes cable car ride, to be followed by a 30 minutes ropeway gondola's ride, to be followed by about 30 minutes boat ride on lake Ashi, searching for the best view of Mount Fuji. Alas, by this time Mount Fuji disappeared into darkness.

This is not the end yet. There was still a bus ride, back to Hakone Yumoto, followed by 1.5 hour train ride to Tokyo.

The moral of the story: sometimes my energetic personality works against me. But the memory of the beautiful museum is etched in my brain

Oyasuminesai

Piki

Wedding and Tea Ceremony

The background to our current Japanese adventure is the anticipation of the upcoming wedding of Sarah Pinchevsky and Hideki Aniya. With wedding thoughts in our heads, we seem to often spot young couples who take their wedding photos in beautiful surroundings, wearing traditional Japanese clothes. It represents to us how the Japanese society, with all its modernization, still maintains its strong sense of culture and tradition.
This sense of maintaining tradition and culture in a modern society is best represented in the practice of the Tea Ceremony. On this visit we felt very privileged  and honoured when we observed and participated in two Tea Ceremonies.


The following quote resonates with how I felt when entering the Tea Ceremony Room:
"If you experience a small intimate tea gathering as a guest, the cares of the world will start to lift as soon as you walk on the moist stepping stones of a garden, sit at a covered waiting bench and rinse your hands and mouth at a water basin"
Both of our wonderful hostesses live in modern apartments, therefore the above mentioned activities took place indoors. But I definitely felt lifting of worries, sense of calm and peace, as soon as I entered the Tea Ceremony Room and sat on the tatami mat.


I realize now that participating in a traditional tea ceremony in a modern apartment is a microcosm of modern Japan where modern life and old time traditions peacefully coexist.


The 2 photos introduce you to the clothing, setting and utensils of the tea ceremony.


The elegant lady who is conducting the tea ceremony solo is Marie Takahashi, our friend Nahoko's mother. Takahashi-san introduced me to the Tea Ceremony on our previous visit to Japan, and this time I was re-invited with Marcel. Her elegance and generosity are treasured by us, 


Many thanks to Takahashi san and the other wonderful sensei (teachers), for sharing your Tea Room with us


Arigatoo Gusaimasu


Piki