Two things I love- Obama and Japan

A video made by citizens in the Japanese city of Obama. Very reminiscent of Japanese television. Hilarious.

Kamakura 鎌倉

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On Monday of our trip up to Yokohama we took a side trip to Kamakura, which was the base city for the shogunate during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Although the city has many temples and shrines and could be a weekend destination in itself, we had only a few hours so the goal was to see two well known temples, Kotokuin and Hasedera. Above is a guardian figure at the gate of Kotokuin.
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After stashing our bags at the station we took the bus to Kotokuin, which is famous for the 13 meter high bronze Daibutsu constructed in 1252. As you can see in this photo, we were not the only ones who thought to go to Kamakura on a beautiful early fall day. It seemed that half of Japan was at Kotokuin.
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Leaning in for a *kiss*
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The bronze weighs about 121 tons. Originally it was housed inside of a wooden temple building, but tsunami washed away the structure in 1495 and the Daibutsu has been ouside ever since.



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The windows on his back.
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For less than a dollar you can enter the Daibutsu, so we did. It was pretty cramped and dark, but very neat to see how the bronze was constructed.
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Our next stop was Hasedera, a 5 minute walk from Kotokuin. According to legend this temple was founded in the 8th century. The grounds were beautiful in the afternoon light.
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After climbing up the small hill that the temple sits atop, we viewed the 9 meter tall 11-headed Kannon sculpture. Photos are not allowed inside, but here's Joe on the steps of the Kannon hall.

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The view from the temple overlook.

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After walking down a flight of stairs we arrived at an area for the Bodhisattva Jizo. Jizo is believed to care for children (and the unborn), ease pains in childbirth, relieve suffering, and even venture into hell to save you! This makes him quite a popular figure.

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Me and many Jizo.

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At the bottom of the hill, a butterfly outisde of the sutra hall.

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At the bottom of the hill is a cave with sculptures carved for Benzaiten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

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Inside the cave.

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Yeah, be cautious above your head. This passage was about 3 feet high, which wouldn't have been so bad if Joe hadn't pointed out a huge cave spider to me only moments before. Eesh.

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Leaving Hasedera, the beautiful grounds.

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We headed back home via Shinkansen, subway, and train l stopping for a quick dinner at ShinKobe station. Our trip was a great way to start of the cool early fall season, and a great weekend of viewing art.

Yokohama 横浜

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The weekend of October 11-13 we had a day off for Health and Sports Day so we took the opportunity to head up to Yokohama and see some art. Yay!
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We went via Shinkansen, about the best way to travel anywhere in my opinion!
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On Saturday we arrived around lunchtime. We checked into our hotel near Chinatown and headed out for some food. While walking we came across this square, which according to the plaque was where the Japan-America Treaty of Amity and Friendship was signed, back in 1854. This is the treaty forced by the American Commodore Perry which opened Japan after nearly two centuries of seculsion. I geeked out when I saw this.
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After lunch at a Danish Restaurant (of all things, but it was delicious! I guess that's my ancestral blood coming through) we passed by the Customs Building, a beautiful structure.
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Joe and the Cutsoms Dog.
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Yokohama skyline.
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Our main destination for the weekend was the Yokohama Triennale, Time Crevasse. We started at the Red Brick Warehouse No. 1, where I really enjoyed "The Hallway" by Miranda July and "In Times We Live" by Shilpa Gupta.
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After a few hours of art, we were pleasantly surprised to come across Octoberfest.
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Prost!
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The German band.
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While the pretzels were delicious and the imported beer tasty, this special German-Japanese concoction did not appeal to me. Onigiri and bratwurst?
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When the band toasted the crowd, things got crazy.
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The Yokohama skyline at sunset.
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Prost! The wind started to kick up and a cold front came in, so we decided to explore the indoor shopping areas around Minato Mirai.
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An art installation we passed by.
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We happened upon some jazz, as there was a festival going on over the weekend.
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On Sunday we headed out after breakfast at the hotel to see more of the Triennale, first passing this interesting building.
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The NYK Waterfront Warehouse was my favorite venue of the Triennale, and included Christian Holstad's work (pictured above), as well as great pieces by Kosugi Takehisa and Claude Wampler.
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The Shinko Pier Exhibition Hall was our afternoon destination, and overall my least favorite of the three major triennale venues. Too many of the works exhibited at the Pier were remnants of performance pieces, many of which were rather dull, especially when so many of them were viewed together. I did have a few favorites at this venue though, with the most stand out work being Pedro Reyes' "Baby Marx". This installation included a group of puppets based on major Communist and Capitalist figures and a video shot as a preview to a t.v. show. The video was modeled after a mock 1960s variety show about Baby Marx, bouncy soundtrack included. Very whimsical.



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Another favorite at the Pier was "A=P=P=A=R=I=T=I=O=N," Cerith Wyn Evans and Throbbing Gristle. This huge mobile included sounds that eminated from the hanging mirrors and changed as the sculpture moved, bouncing sound off of the various surfaces of the room.
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Finally, Kuswidanato, a.k.a. Jompet, "Java Machine: PHANTASMAGORIA" was another favorite at the Pier.
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In the late afternoon we took a coffee and cake break before doing a little shopping.
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We ran into more jazz as well.
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In the evening we walked over to Chinatown to find some dinner and see the sights.
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Chinatown was bustling with people and full of interesting shops, vendors, and restaurants.
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Yummy!
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My daily commute 私の毎日通勤

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Three days a week I commute to Miki High School, which is my base school. I really enjoy the work environment there; the school focuses on English instruction, and there are special tracks for students to focus their language study. Many of the students are highly motivated and have a good command of English. I work with another ALT, which is nice as well. The other two days I go to Ono Technical High School, which focuses on trade training (electronics, metals, machinery, etc.). During school breaks I go to Miki every day. When I first began the trek to Miki it took about 50 minutes. Since then I have inherited a bicycle that I keep at the station in Miki, shortening my commute to about 40 minutes. I start of the day by walking about 7 minutes from our house to the station in Ono. I pass by this contemporary Buddhist temple after walking by the flowers pictured above.
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I walk around Ono High School, which is Joe's base school. This is the front of the school.
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Next, I walk past some houses and this tiny park.
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I round the corner by the bicycle parking and pass through a small commercial district with a bento shop, camera shop, cram school, pediatricians office, cosmetics shop, and fugu restaurant.
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I arrive at the station, which has a small snack and drink shop on the first floor.
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On the third floor is the ticket machine.
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I then pass through the ticket gate and board the train.
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This is actually my ticket home, but you get the idea, ipod and ticket in hand.
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I ride the train for about 12 minutes past rice fields, homes, and hilly forests of oak and bamboo. Very beautiful and idyllic.
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I then arrive in Miki at this small station, which is where I now ride my bike from. If it is raining I still walk, it's a about a mile from the station to school. The trick for riding my (one-speed) bike is that it is an uphill climb to get to work (but nice to get home!). I take a different route when riding my bike so I can get up the steepest part of the hill first. These photos are of the walking route.
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I pass by a small hospital and then walk through a residential area. Most people have many beautiful potted plants outside their homes.
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I then pass by an elementary school and over this cemented-in creek.
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All told, I pass by 12 vending machines each way.
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I then pass this small factory which seems to make metal grating.
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I love the bonsai at this house! (left side of photo)
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Flower garden.
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I took these photos in late August and early September when the rice was starting to go to seed. Currently many fields are being harvested.
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A garden shed.
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This is the Shinto shrine that I pass, you can see the shrine building in the upper right corner.
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Uphill past more houses, gardens, and rice fields. Right after this area is a garden where I often see two orange tabby cats chasing bugs or sunning themselves.
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Mountains in the distance.
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After going by an apartment building I pass between this cemetary and a large retention pond that has many water lillies in it.
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At last, arrival at Miki High School!
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In retrospect, as I review these photos I realize that I took them in the late afternoon during a school break. As a result there are very few people in any of them. In reality I share my commute with many people, and most days have a difficult time getting a seat on the train (for example). It's a rare day to see the streets so empty! Sorry for being misleading...
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