Sashimi, Bunka, and Typhoons

I love the culture classes we've had so far. It's a great break from all the grammar and vocabulary I havent been able to memorize >.< and I love that we're learning about the things that make Japan what it is. But by far my favorite class, if you can even call it that, was our culture class. On the first of the month, we got ourselves to the train station (Ojii-chan very kindly took Lindesy, Tiffany, and myself us there so we wouldn't have to pay for the bus), took a train out to Araimatchi, where I officially fell in love with the blend of modern building styles with the traditional, ancient ways of making Japanese homes. Araimatchi is famous for it's ancient check point, which stood between travelers and Edo long, long ago.

The lovely ladies - I'd say we turned out quite beautiful in our yukata! 

The boys looked quite dashing too - and far more comfortable - in their loose man yukata :p

So we learned quite a lot about the checkpoint - they took it seriously enough to employ female security personnel who would assist any female travelers in the removal of their clothes as well as checking their elaborate hair dos for hidden messages or weapons. I was really impressed by that. My initial thought was that they'd only check the men and ignore the women (which I thought was a brilliant way of bringing down whatever Shogunate was not in favor and also really stupid all at the same time because of the bajillion places anything could be hidden in a kimono).

Which one is real????:P

It was short, but veeeery interesting. And because it was short, it left a LOT of time for lunch, good thing too! 

Suuuuuch good sushi....

Did you know that native to the island of Okinawa lives a creature called the "Kadekawa-sensei" that bears remarkable resemblance to the North American chipmunk during its meals? .... also....it has a stomach which opens unto the void itself. Seriously have never seen anyone eat that much ever. ever. 

Checking out the evacuation hill should a tsunami strike!

A geisha's make up and hair styling dresser

Portraits of the geisha who lived and worked at this former geisha house

Also samurai armor

This is a small replica - for a shrine - of a samurai's actual armor. I'm always amazed at how ornate and detailed each samurai's armor was. It was very individualized and distinguished the warrior underneath. 

First time ever seeing the Pacific Ocean - Taiheiyou in Japanese - I fell in love. 

Di-chan is always adorable

That's soy sauce not coke! Ice cold Somen noodles with cherrys, green onion, and soy sauce is one of the best dinners in the summer time ever.

Add Tofu-pocket-sushi and I'm in heaven

Somen done right.

Grammar done wrong.

After lunch, we were given the opportunity to explore Araimachi with our incredible hosts. They took us to the top of the evacuation point for tsunamis (this was the most awesome climb ever - half ropes course half hand made wooden "steps"), the former geisha house (absolutely gorgeous interior - all wood. Everything. And so tiny! It was Emily-sized!!), a public bath house, and finally, the Pacific Ocean, where we got to see wild waters that surround Japan and watch as an octopus was caught for someone's sushi dinner. It made me sad to watch though because it was so smart, kept heading right back for the water every time it was placed on the dock :[ Sadly it was not let go and instead suffocated in a plastic bag.After meeting the wild and beautiful Taiheiyou, we headed back to Araimachi to see Suzuki-sensei's jazz band play. 

Let's just say that I now understand why Suzuki-sensei is called 'The Typhoon". Wow. Like wow. Have you ever been to a concert where one of the musicians just kind of goes off into his own little musical world? No? Or didn't notice? Unfortuantely I wasn't sitting close enough to get a good video of his performance but it was so cool to watch that. When a musician goes off like that their head tilts differently, their body moves differently, you can see them listening differently. Suzuki-sensei's eyes were closed, head held just so, whole body moving with the beat he was making - he's the drummer - and at first you could see his fellow band members trying to keep pace with him, then they were just trying to keep up some kind of steady version of the song they were playing, and then they finally just looked at each other, stopped playing, and watched him. Because he was off in this musical sphere that was somewhere on another plane than theirs. He eventually came back down to their plane, but not until he was ready, and then he just kind of nodded as if to say, "Sorry[notsorry], kind of went off on my own there, didn't I?" I love watching a good musician play like that. They're both aware and completely on their own plane of music, especially when they're playing with four or five other good musicians.