Tea Ceremony 茶会 A.k.a. Foreigners in Kimono

Probably one of the coolest experiences being in Japan so far, the three of us went to a traditional Japanese hotel, Ryokan, where we participated in the Local International Women's club's annual tea gathering. Not to mention we all three got dressed up in kimono, and took a lot of fabulous photos with James' new camera.

Here we are with from left to right, the Chinese Ambassadors wife, the Korean Consul's Wife, the American Consuls Wife, and the wife of the Governor of Aichi Prefecture. 

Before anything we all had to get set up in Kimono. The lovely ladies who lent us the kimono and helped us look so dapper are 75 and 90 respectively. Still incredibly swift on their feet!

It took them no time at all to get us three in Kimono. I can't imagine doing this by oneself, and even though at one time, Japanese men could probably do this on their own, the average Japanese would find it very to put on a kimono.

Here I am stepping into my Hakata, The skirt-Pant things that Samurai would have fought in. 

Sitting in Kimono in the proper japanese style of sei^% is an interesting experience. To do it properly, you have to rest your thighs on the back of your heels, while  your feet are splayed out behind you. It's quite stressful on the front tendons of your legs.

Here I am in the front garden of the Ryokan, ready to go.

We sure what to expect coming to the Ryokan that day, we thought we would just be invited to a ceremony where we would be the guests. In fact we were the ones serving hot bowls of matcha; frothy mixture of powdered green tea and hot water. Here I am stressing about which table to go to. The only instructions we were given about how to do it properly were in a jumble of Japanese and English. None of us really got the hang of it until near the end. 

Here are the ladies behind the scene serving up the dozens of cups of Matcha, which has to be freshly and carefully prepared just before serving. 

Sharing lots of Jokes with Julia, The wife of the American consulate.

After serving our last bemused guests their last bowls of Matcha, we had some time to stroll around the garden.

I'm actually looking at a construction crane next door; Loudest Ryokan Garden ever. 

The Consuls Wives. The American Consul's Wife as colorful in Black in white as was is normally.

I've seen alot of interesting clothes in Japan but, There's nothing that compares the the beauty of a bright kimono in the Spring sun. 

All together a unique and incredible experience, and one not easily forgotten by us our our Japanese guests. How many Japanese can say they've been served by Westerners in Kimono. How many Westerners can say they've served Matcha stumbling around in Kimono. Thanks to our lovely hosts and the consuls wives for making us feel welcome!

Nagoya-Jo and more Sakura

Although we didn't have too many opportunities to go out and take pictures of the sakura during good weather, I lucked out and got a sunny Wednesday off. This first one was taken on a rainy monday, but regardless of the light the contrast of the sakura against the tori (shinto gates) is quite striking. 

The morning I spent biking down to the yamazaki river, a small rive to the south of our part of Nagoya. The morning was rainy, but after I got the the river the sun came out and I had the chance for some really great pictures. There were plenty of couples walking about, and chilren playing. Everyone's enjoying the last few days of the sakura season. 

I met a few students and their teacher from a local highschool photography club. They managed to communicate that they wanted to take some pictures of me, and I ended spending a good five minutes modeling for them.

It took me a while to capture a photo of the falling sakura petals. But I was rewarded with a few good shots. It was a little windy, and with large gusts the sakura would tumble from the trees like snow, or blow up from the ground and swirl about magically.

Wherever you go where there is alot of sakura, there are also alot of couples strolling along, enjoying the spring together. This part of the river had banks that were covered in sakura, like light snow, but even prettier in the warm april sun.

Even the ducks are out enjoying the weather, splashing around the river like kids.

I was first greeted at the gates of Nagoya castle by the construction workers, working on the restoration of some part of the castle grounds. But even the most mundane sights are pleasing  with sakura in the background. Not to mention the Japanese Construction workers, who like every other public institution in Japan, look incredibly clean.

The inside of the castle isn't as pretty as the exterior, much of it has been renovated, but as a gallery space it is rather quaint. This room held a collection of Japanese traditional landscapes.

The view from Nagoya castle is pretty good, and by this point in the day the weather was perfect. Since Japanese castles are made primarily out of wood, they could be built quite high. I don't know where they get the timbre for all the meter wide pillars in the centre though. And they rebuild these things every couple of decades!

I kept passing this group of ladies in kimono, here for what looked like a wedding ( I saw the groom and bride walking out earlier in their distinctive black and red kimono) I finally managed to snap one good shot of them without being too conspicuous. 

Nights out, and Fancy Birthday dinners.

YES finally 19 and I can drink legally in Canada! Ironically the drinking age in Japan is 20, but fortunately because we look like 29 year olds in Japan, we can drink anyways!

My birthday happened to be the same day that Dr. Ishikawa, the director of the hospital treated us all to a multi course dinner with a view of Nagoya Castle. It was some of the best food I've ever had, there were even a couple of birthday cakes. (I later learned this was the work of Hobara-san  our volunteer coordinator and one of the Doctors from my ward)

The guys in the lobby of the castle hotel. Fake sakura all the way,

Our view of Nagoya Castle.

Not the most flattering picture, but we're all drinking huge bottles of ASAHI.

Switch now to a rainy day in Sakae, busy downtown district of Nagoya. I split up with James and Simeon, and went to meet Takseshi at a Nagoya-jin recommended izakaya.

I should have taken more pictures of the food, not to mention the cooking method, but at least here you can see whats on display. Order anything and right in front of you it's grilled to perfection over charcoal fire.

The Japanese use very little spices, just salt and pepper, but the charcoal brings to life the flavour of the meat, and the taste is anything but drab. I can't think of any time that I've enjoyed  better tasting chicken, than  basic salt and pepper yakitori. 

Umai!

Hanami In Osaka

So last weekend at the height of cherry blossom season, we decided to go out to Osaka for a Hanami Party organized by wonderful and heroic Chairman Takeshi. Not only did Takeshi plan the whole thing, bring all the chairs and tables, and the food, he also drove us all the way to Osaka abd back again. How can we ever repay him? Probably in Heineken on his birthday.  

The sun was beginning to wane when we got to Osaka but this meant some really pretty photos of Osaka, and the sakura still looked lovely.

For those who don't know, in Japan the sakura blossoms are a BIG deal. There are reports on Sakura blooming like reports on weather. Day by day on the news a pink tide creeps northward over a map of japan.

People like to come out on weekends and sit under the trees, drinking copious amounts of alcohol, barbecued food and generally having a good time. This groupe went all out, with a barbeque and everything.

We didn't bring any barbecue, but almost as soon as we sat down, our little tables were covered in beer cans.

We were lucky enough to be seranaded along with the rest of the park by a highschool band. They played and danced such classics as the Doraemon them song, and AKB 48 number whose number I forget, and some jazz!

The sun has set, but the river looks beautiful in the dusk.

Sakura at night in the light of the street lamps.  there's nothing quite like them.
Hanami at night is a very different experience than at day. The flowers float in the darkness like some sort of  terrestrial coral. The harsh glow of the lamps brings out the whiteness of the petals and the green of the leaves like bright sunlight, but the background of darkness provides much greater impact than in the day.
The japanese naturally have a word for it　夜桜 (yozakura),  literally night sakura. 

We clean up after Takeshi flew through the air on the wings of Simeons arms, landing safely in the middle of the yellow table.

Heading back towards the car, Simeon no doubt reflects on a night well spent. It seems a shame that in Canada, we don't have the right to sit under Cherry blossoms and drink together with friends. Its certainly a fun experience a great way to meet new people and appreciate the ephemeral joys of springtime in Japan, while savouring tasty Japanese beer.