Awa Odori 2010: The Dance Dance Revolution

Visit the prefecture of Tokushima between August 12th and 15th and you will see something you had no idea could happen in such an usually empty place, and that is hordes of people dancing and partying as they take part in one of Japan's biggest festivals known as "Awa Odori"

Having lived in Tokushima for six months I was well aware of its country feel and fairly quiet life style. I was also told many times that in the summer there would be a huge festival in which people from all over Japan would come and the city of Tokushima would become as lively as a Friday night in Shibuya. We'll I moved from Tokushima but told myself I would return to see the cities claim to fame, and so I did, and it was GREAT!

Awa: The old name for Tokushima
Odori: Dance

Celebrated during the Obon holiday in Japan Awa Odori is a huge festival centered around dancing in the streets. Many dance troupes put on dancing displays as well as the average joe doing his or her thing, and all are invited to join in. As any festival in Japan there are also tons of small tent shops selling food, snacks, and featuring games to be played such as catching goldfish or small baby turtles. My favorite of these treats would be kakigori. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakig%C5%8Dri) I've never seen so many people enjoy each other than my time with Awa Odori. It's like during those four days everyone participating are family gathering for a long overdue reunion.(Look my drunk uncle is dancing again.) I attended with two friends which was nice cause I always enjoy a festival much more attending with people I know.


Even if you aren't part of a dance troupe it is highly likely you will end up dancing with a group of strangers at some point. My friends and I were even coerced into joining the dancing the evening I arrived my suitcases still in hand as we danced down a long street being watched by people on both sides like a parade. All in all it was a pretty good time and nice to see some excitement in Tokushima being a former resident. I'd recommend anyone who has a chance to attend the Awa Odori if possible. I'd say the only downside is for those are not fans of crowds because it is CROWDED and quite a pain to navigate when trying to get back home on a bicycle. Regardless the music is loud and lively and the costumes are bright and interesting. Oh and the ladies are pretty and plentiful, haha

(I do what I can.)

Land of the cute <(o_o)>

かわいい (Kawaii)
-adjective
1. meaning cute


The Japanese are really big on things that are cute. It seems they will try and make everything cute in some way. I'm not so sure anymore they didn't invent the word itself.

I don't know about the general preconception of old Japan from other foreigners but images of strong Samurai and hard work come to my mind. History seems to be filled with wars and random occupations. I'm thinking Ninjas, geisha and daily toil. All these images just make me even more confused as to how and at what point did Japan become SO CUTE?

Japan has taken the idea of cute and totally went bat-crazy with it.


Everything has been cuted (totally made up adjective)The cartoons are filled with huge doe eyed girls, the commercials complete with random talking animals,the women appearing pretty much like they jumped out of the cartoon. Even an advertisement for a political candidate features a tiny animated likeness of him/her. Japan loves cute and thus everything seems to be tailored to that love. Besides the physical cuteness of everything, you will probably never find another country that uses the word "cute" more during your entire stay on this planet. I am almost convinced you could have an entire conversation with a group of high school girls using only "cute" and they would totally understand everything that was on your mind.

This brings me back to my original question. How and when did Japan become so "cute"?
I asked a few Japanese friends and no one seems to be able to quite place the change but have told me a lot of it most likely stems back to those hardened warrior days. Even in the era's such as the Edo period the Japanese were really into creating small things and quite fond of little creations perhaps because generally they were small in stature themselves and Geisha's were sporting cute outfits before Harajuku was conceived. At some point cute just became so lucrative that it completely took over Japan. If you are looking to blame someone for that the Sanrio Corporation (creator of Hello Kitty) would probably be a good place to start.

Personally I like cute and I certainly don't mind cute women, I just think its interesting just how cute Japan has become. In order to truly understand I urge you to visit pretty much any shopping district in Tokyo and or turn on your TV while visiting.

For a more educated look at cute in Japan check out this article.
http://uniorb.com/ATREND/Japanwatch/cute.htm

They've even manage to turn poop cute...go figure.

The Goonies

"The Goonies" is my all time favorite movie and thus I feel like I must post something on this blog about the 25th anniversary. My childhood is forever indebted to you.

Happy 25th anniversary "The Goonies"
My childhood is forever indebted to you.


"Up there it's their time, it's their time up there. Down here it's our time, it's our time down here." -Mikey Walsh

First day of school! (Elementary)

Wow! I am so mentally exhausted and intrigued by today that "wow" is pretty much the best word to describe my thoughts.

Today was my first day working the new job in the Japanese public school system and my first time teaching in the Japanese public school system. Ive taught before in a private language school but the public system a totally different experience.

I am working as an assistant language teacher but am under a special type of contract called the "Haken" which means unlike a lot of ALTS who deal with their dispatch company directly and not the school, I on the other hand am considered a staff member of the school by everyone there. This can be both good and bad, and which it will be the most of has yet to be decided. Regardless it is the job I have.

So the first thing that I notice is that the kids are like super curious about me, and I mean SUPER curious. It was so funny to be walking through the halls and have so many kids staring at me and expressing shy giggles, while others would yell out "Hello". The most often comment I could hear from them was regarding how tall I am. They absolutely loved that, haha. I literally had huge crowds of kids following me through the halls. It was a bit overwhelming.

Classes went pretty well today. Introduction and alphabet stuff. 45 minute classes zoomed by. After each introduction I gave the students a chance to ask any questions they may have. Here are 3 questions that were asked without fail

Questions
1. How tall are you?
2. Are you married/Do you have a girlfriend?
3. What Japanese food do you like?

Answers
1. 192 cm (followed by gasps of awe)
2. No/No
3. Sushi,gyuudon,Okonomiyaki,takoyaki,ect..

For some reason after each class the students would come up to me and ask me to sign their books or random blank sheets of paper. At least 30 students each class. I felt like I was famous. My claim to fame being foreign. They were so excited to get the signature. Some of the girls were even jumping up and down in anticipation, hahaha. I got a back massage from two of the boys. It was all quite surreal.

There were two activities outside of teaching that I found the most enjoyable/interesting.

1. Lunch time: Who doesn't like food right? During lunch time I get to eat with the kids in the class room. They don't have cafeterias. Instead they reorganize all the desk and eat lunch in their respective class rooms at the time. There are a few students who are in charge of getting the food and bringing it to the class room where they dispense the food out to all the others in the class including me. During lunch we eat together and talk. It was a great way to feel like part of the class and get to know the students better as they do the same with me.

2.Cleaning time:There are no janitors in Japanese public schools. Instead there is a designated time where all the students ban together to help keep the school clean. During this time you often see tons of students sweeping classrooms or running through the halls with wash rags pressed against the floor. I also take part in this experience by working with them. The amount of discipline these students have is astounding. I couldn't even imagine something like this going at all well in the States. Another time for student/teacher bonding.

Other things that surprised me were the students helpfulness. Many times a few of them would gleefully lead me to the next class or back to the teachers lounge carrying my teaching materials with them.
All in all it was a good first day and I pray my experiences will remain that way. It being the first day I haven't been hit with all the cultural differences working that will no doubt eventually show up causing me a few headaches, but for now it's cake and sugar.

You're not in Kansas any more Christian.
I'm certainly not. =)

Okayama (Here I is!)

So I've settled into my new home in Okayama. The first thing I notice immediately is that Okayama City is quite bigger than Tokushima City. Given that I am a fan of city life, this is a big plus for me. In fact its much bigger than I expected and I like the layout. Ive heard Japanese from other parts of Japan aren't so familiar with it, but its already caught my attention and I've frequented Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Its by no means as any of those places, but it has a nice downtown area.

There are a few things Okayama is famous for, one of its biggest being the great Momotarou the peach boy with an interesting story.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Momotar%C5%8D
Along with peach boy comes delicious peaches. The city is known for them though I haven't tried any myself yet.

Okayama is also the site for Kōraku-en which is one of the 3 most famous gardens in Japan. They are considered to be quite beautiful, but you will have to wait until I get a chance to visit to see pictures....or you can google them.

Now that I am here the starting over process begins again. I have done this quite a few times so I know the drill. Hopefully soon I will begin to make some good friends.
Keep ya posted!