Yes, the first few trees are changing colors -- the green of the ginko is becoming yellow-green, and the green of the momiji (Japanese maple) is becoming bronze on the first few trees.
But indoors the changes are more apparent. The stores are now selling gloves, vests, blankets, jackets, long underwear, warm socks, and so forth. Even though it will get up to 90 today, I am remembering how cold it was inside in Japan. Heat is expensive, energy is short, and outside is cold, and sometimes damp.
Another sign of fall is the appearance of the 2013 Winter Gift Catalogs. The window for ordering these gifts is Oct. 10 to Dec. 27. The Japanese apartment is very small, and there is not a lot of room for storage, so the gifts are mostly food. For example, fancy meringue cookies are 16 for $35. Or two small hams of 350 grams each for $45. For $35 you can get delivered to your friend or colleagues' home 6 creme caramels. For $35 you can get 4 little (5cm X 8cm) one layer (4cm tall) bear shaped cakes. Cute, yes.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Kyu-do (Japanese Archery)
Will was very interested in exploring Japanese archery while he was here in Japan.
The guidebook from the international center indicated that there was a Japanese martial arts center not too far from our apartment -- with Japanese archery. So one day we stopped by to observe. We were asked to observe from outside, which was towards the target from where they were standing to shoot. This made us very nervous, so we stayed well back.
After a while, the fellow who had directed us to this spot came around to check on why we were so far back. He indicated that we would in no way be in danger from these arrows. So we moved closer.
A few days later we returned with more intent on signing Will up for Japanese archery. We were told that this would be difficult. We were told that the class was already underway. We were told that it was difficult because will did not speak Japanese. This time we were giving sitting positions indoors to watch the archery for a while.
There is a very stylized form of foot, hand and body movements that go with Kyu-do. After we observed for a while, it was suggested that we might return at 10 o'clock on Saturday. Will was a little discouraged that he was not signed up for class, but I saw this as being like the Little Prince and the Fox. The Little Prince came to see the Fox everyday at the same time so that they could gradually build the relationship.
When we returned, in fact, we found the beginner's class. I was asked to go back to the office and sign up for an hour's lesson, at ¥250, or $2.50 (though I did not quite understand the specifics). Will had brought along a T-shirt, and he was shown the locker room for changing. He was given a rope with knots at the appropriate positions and taught the steps. I actually had bought a ticket for 2 hours, so both Will and the teacher got more than they expected. I stayed nearby to do a bit of translating but my Japanese is pretty limited to. At one point, they asked him if he was OK. Instead of translating, I said he was fine -- they found that very amusing.
Will returned the next week, and after more work with the rope, was given a bow. And by the 3rd lesson, his teacher was bragging on him to another one of the teachers! Although they looked down on western style archery as something entirely different, they did concede that his skills there might be helping him. What was particularly heartwarming was the lack of their insistence that he do things exactly as the Japanese. For example it's pretty hard for Will to get to the floor in the seiza position for the formal bowing. And some arthritis in his neck makes full turning difficult. They were OK with this.
By the 4th class Will was on his own without me there to translate, and he was even given an arrow. Another 20 years, and he too will be an expert!
The place where these lessons are taking place has space for the other martial arts -- sumo, kendo, and others. The big hall was built more than a 100 years ago. I love that it is low cost, accessible, and draws a range of people.
The guidebook from the international center indicated that there was a Japanese martial arts center not too far from our apartment -- with Japanese archery. So one day we stopped by to observe. We were asked to observe from outside, which was towards the target from where they were standing to shoot. This made us very nervous, so we stayed well back.
After a while, the fellow who had directed us to this spot came around to check on why we were so far back. He indicated that we would in no way be in danger from these arrows. So we moved closer.
A few days later we returned with more intent on signing Will up for Japanese archery. We were told that this would be difficult. We were told that the class was already underway. We were told that it was difficult because will did not speak Japanese. This time we were giving sitting positions indoors to watch the archery for a while.
There is a very stylized form of foot, hand and body movements that go with Kyu-do. After we observed for a while, it was suggested that we might return at 10 o'clock on Saturday. Will was a little discouraged that he was not signed up for class, but I saw this as being like the Little Prince and the Fox. The Little Prince came to see the Fox everyday at the same time so that they could gradually build the relationship.
When we returned, in fact, we found the beginner's class. I was asked to go back to the office and sign up for an hour's lesson, at ¥250, or $2.50 (though I did not quite understand the specifics). Will had brought along a T-shirt, and he was shown the locker room for changing. He was given a rope with knots at the appropriate positions and taught the steps. I actually had bought a ticket for 2 hours, so both Will and the teacher got more than they expected. I stayed nearby to do a bit of translating but my Japanese is pretty limited to. At one point, they asked him if he was OK. Instead of translating, I said he was fine -- they found that very amusing.
Will returned the next week, and after more work with the rope, was given a bow. And by the 3rd lesson, his teacher was bragging on him to another one of the teachers! Although they looked down on western style archery as something entirely different, they did concede that his skills there might be helping him. What was particularly heartwarming was the lack of their insistence that he do things exactly as the Japanese. For example it's pretty hard for Will to get to the floor in the seiza position for the formal bowing. And some arthritis in his neck makes full turning difficult. They were OK with this.
By the 4th class Will was on his own without me there to translate, and he was even given an arrow. Another 20 years, and he too will be an expert!
The place where these lessons are taking place has space for the other martial arts -- sumo, kendo, and others. The big hall was built more than a 100 years ago. I love that it is low cost, accessible, and draws a range of people.
Observing disability
A gentleman in a wheelchair sometimes gets on the bus at my bus stop. The driver is able to lower the left side of the bus a little closer to the curb. Then he hops out, runs to the rear entrance door, and puts a short ramp from the sidewalk into the bus. A couple of passengers are asked to change their seats, and their seats are folded away to make a spot for the wheelchair. Then the fellow drives his motorized wheelchair up the ramp, and, with a couple of back-and-forth movements, parks the wheelchair in the designated spot. The whole process takes a couple of minutes.
This morning a group of 6 students with disabilities got on the bus for some kind of field trip. They were wearing the regular middle-school uniforms of the school near our apartment. A teacher and 2 aides got on with the children, and although all children walked onto the bus, 2 wheelchairs were also brought on board.
While we were writing, the aides were communicating amiably with the students. It seemed to be a group of children with significant developmental delays, and perhaps the stereotypic motions indicated some level of autism. One of the students, who seem to be nonverbal, clapped her hands very loudly and then immediately put her finger to her mouth to say shhhhh. The teacher calmly came over to her and showed her a little picture the green face with the finger indicating shhhhh. On the other side of this sign was a red image with an X through it, as a way of communicating stop.
Overall, my impression was of the normality of it all. The students were scattered in different spots in the bus, and their teachers were very calm and upbeat. I got off before they did so I don't know the destination for today's outing.
This morning a group of 6 students with disabilities got on the bus for some kind of field trip. They were wearing the regular middle-school uniforms of the school near our apartment. A teacher and 2 aides got on with the children, and although all children walked onto the bus, 2 wheelchairs were also brought on board.
While we were writing, the aides were communicating amiably with the students. It seemed to be a group of children with significant developmental delays, and perhaps the stereotypic motions indicated some level of autism. One of the students, who seem to be nonverbal, clapped her hands very loudly and then immediately put her finger to her mouth to say shhhhh. The teacher calmly came over to her and showed her a little picture the green face with the finger indicating shhhhh. On the other side of this sign was a red image with an X through it, as a way of communicating stop.
Overall, my impression was of the normality of it all. The students were scattered in different spots in the bus, and their teachers were very calm and upbeat. I got off before they did so I don't know the destination for today's outing.
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