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June 11 - Arashiyama
Today was the last excursion of our trip here to Japan, and this is my last blog, weâll maybe. Iâll be spending another week or so here and may continue to the blog to some extent at least, we will see. Nonetheless, todayâs last excursion was a cool one. We went to the famous bamboo forest. I love the aesthetic of bamboo, we have some outside of our house in Florida, I think it looks great. We then hiked up the mountain to a monkey sanctuary, which was about as cool as I would have hoped. On the way up a monkey peed on us from a tree! While the monkeys are supposedly really aggressive, I found them to be somewhat friendly for the most part. We got to feed them monkey! The view from the top was also pretty incredible, I would honestly say it was the best view of either city weâve gotten. Todayâs excursion was definitely a good way to end the trip. As I reflect, itâs been a really great trip over here. From the first morning in Asakusa to the last day in Arashiyama, I feel like every day we did something pretty incredible. I still have a week here by myself, and Iâm extremely excited for it, but I also look back on the last 4 weeks with everyone and can say I really had a great time, learnt a lot, and would recommend this trip to anyone.
Academic Reflection -
The readings for today firstly discussed the bamboo forest we went to see today. After reading about past difficulties with the forest I was eager to see if it would live up to the hype or not. Professor Smith explained that the forest is a huge tourist spot, and the readings also explained that modern policy focuses on preservation of the forest, so I wasnât exactly sure what to expect. The bamboo was definitely beautiful, and the whole area was really pretty, but I would say that the actually bamboo section of the forest was rather small. Still great for photos etc., but not as extensive as at the word forest might suggest.
We also read the story of Genji. The story is essentially that of a man who goes around and spends time with many women, and has some troubles along the way. While somewhat out of context, a location in the story is Nonomiya shrine, which we saw today. While the shrine itself doesnât necessarily strongly relate to the reading, itâs still cool to just be at a place that represents a piece of history.
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June 10 - Nara Day Trip
Today we took a trip to Nara, once the capital of Japan. Though it was once the capital, that was in ancient times and it certainly didnât feel like a major city at all. About an hour and a half from Kyoto, when we arrived it admittedly didnât feel particularly special. Though after just a short walk that quickly changed. As we approached the first traditional piece of architecture, a 5 tiered pagoda, deer began to appear. Deer everywhere, simply just walking around the town, and now with incredible architecture surrounding us, my interest in Nara quickly spiked and I then totally understood why we had made the trip.
We then walked to the Buddhist temple, Todaiji. The temple was absolutely massive, and for good reason as itâs interior was home to some pretty special pieces. Most notable, an absolutely massive Buddhist statue, built of copper. I struggle to comprehend how a statue of that size was even begun. Building it even with modern equipment would be a pretty huge task. We then walked to a nearby shrine, famous for its hundreds of lanterns, making for some great pictures.
I decided to return home a little early to work on my final project. I booked my hostel in Osaka for next week today and was thinking I should get the ball rolling on my video in an effort to lift some of the burden. After a couple hours in Starbucks, I then went for another dinner at the all you can eat Korean barbecue place. We were eager to try Shabu-Shabu, the Japanese equivalent, but the wait was too long, Iâll have to go another time. In the group of 5, we incredible beat lasts weeks total of 54 by eating 66 dishes this time! Thatâs a stat we shouldnât be proud of.
Academic Reflection -
Todayâs article was about Shingon Buddhism, a large sect in Japan. The large statue seen today was of Dainichi, know as âthe Buddhaâ. Obviously the sheer size of the incredible statue was one of the most notable parts of the day, but as was said in this morningâs discussion, it was nice to have a little background of the dynamic, as to prevent our only opinions from being just about the size.
The reading also discusses the process of Buddhism joining Shintoism in Japan. Todayâs trip to the Todaiji Buddhist Temple was followed by then walking over to the Kasuga Shinto Shrine. It sort of represented the combination of the two in Japan that was mentioned in the reading which was a cool experience.
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June 9 - Osaka Day Trip
On todayâs free day we went on a day trip to Osaka. When the UF program here is over, Iâm thinking I might go to Osaka for a little bit, so I was eager to check it out. I was surprised by how close it was, the train from Kyoto station to Osaka station was only about half an hour.
Upon getting here we went up the the Umeda Sky Building for the views. The architecture of the building was extremely unique, and of course the views of Osaka where pretty incredible.
We then took the subway to Dotonbori, a very festive neighborhood a little bit south of central Osaka. While I was under the impression that there would be plenty of street food to try, it was nothing compared to Tsukiji market in Tokyo. It had a few options, of which I tried some, but it was far more of a shopping district. Nonetheless, waking around was really fun, the markets were packed, the scenery was audacious, and some stores where really cool. I ended up eating a really good bowl of Kobe beef ramen also, overall it was a good afternoon.
We then went to the Osaka aquarium. While certainly not the most traditional Japanese experience, we had heard great things and wanted to give it a go. It ended up being pretty incredible, featuring a couple whale sharks and a touch tank. Now when I touch the fish itâs actually allowed!
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June 8 - Kyoto National Museum
Today we went to the Kyoto national museum. It featured some really great exhibits, Iâm extremely disappointed that photography wasnât allowed. The about half of the exhibit was made up of artistic works on scrolls. They were as ancient as they looked, and were pretty incredible to see. I particularly enjoyed the bottom floor, which featured all sorts of incredible statues. Two huge ânioâ, the guardians of the gates at temples, where featured. I really think itâs cool how most of the states featured some sort of glass for the eyes, making them feel that much more alive.
Trying to get the most out of Japan, I came across an article called something along the lines of â15 things you must eat in Japanâ. I noticed I had tried everything on the list except âOkonomiyakiâ. So I seemed out a restaurant and some of us went to try it. Without really knowing what it was, our table was brought basically noodle pancakes, with pork, onions, and a variety of other toppings. I wasnât a huge fan to be honest, but it was definitely worth trying.
Academic Reflection -
After todayâs reading about Ippen, we saw that a good portion of the museum we visited was dedicated to him. After reading his story, it was cool to get a similar visual experience. With scrolls featuring artwork and representations of different points of his life, it was interesting too old frictions of things and places I know of. Ultimately the reading covered a lot, but the artistic elements of the museum added onto that.
In the museum I found three related pieces to be very interesting. On the bottom floor in a back room where hyper realistic statues, three of which were of Shinkyo, the 2nd patriarch of the Ji Shu sect. The 3 statues portrayed him at different times of his life, one during his middle age time, one as an elder, and one just before he died. It seems sad, so see his physical demise, as he went from a healthy man to a deteriorated, unhealthy one, who apparently suffered from a stroke. Though after looking at the statues for a little bit, my opinion changed. They look extremely realistic, and looking at their faces and into their eyes, I saw something much different. The youngest one looked very stoic and firm, the middle looked a little calm, and the oldest, despite clear bad health, almost showed a tiny grin. Instead of declining health, I feel the statues more importantly showed a man who was happy with his life, one who achieved what he wanted to, and I really liked that message.
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June 7 - Kyoto National Manga Museum
Today we went to Kyotoâs manga museum. While I didnât know all that much about manga, I thought it was a very cool museum. Located in an old elementary school, the museum was very interactive. Almost acting as a library, the walls were lined with manga free for anyone to read. One room was filled with bean bags and such, allowing people to just sit and read. While not speaking Japanese made the experience somewhat limiting, I still really enjoyed the place. Some of the graphics were really cool and I liked looking at the different styles of art.
After leaving the museum we went for a very traditional Japanese lunch at a local restaurant ant called shake shack. Seriously though, Iâve really loved the food since being here, I wouldnât say Iâve gotten sick of Japanese food at all, but a burger and fries for just one lunch really hit the spot.
I then decided to walk home instead of taking the train just for the sake of seeing the area. I ended up walking through a really cool shopping district. I went into a very trendy stationery and clothing store, and a few clothing stores, among others. I ended up walking through a really cool market with some random stalls and some pretty crazy street food, I definitely want to go back on an empty stomach to try some things. After just hanging out for a while we ended up going to get ramen for dinner here. Suggested by a friend, it was good, but still not my favorite spot in town.
Academic Reflection -
Today we went to Kyotoâs manga museum. Before doing the reading and going to the museum Iâve had some preexisting notions regarding manga. Similar to what I thought I knew about anime, I was under the impression that manga were basically simply comic books commonly about some sort of fighting or action. Though the reading explained it is much more and going to the museum helped me understand that.
In reality Iâve found that manga is merely a general term for a certain type of literature, and within manga are countless genres. From manga made for men or women, to political to funny, I didnât realize manga was so broad. One part of the museum that really helped me understand the vast array of genres was the room in which different manga artists were recognized with a mold of their hand and a small drawing of theirs. The styles of the drawings were all so extremely different and all represented different types of manga.
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June 6 - Fushimi Inari Shrine
Today started a little bit later. We voted for a 9:30 meetup and accepted the barge crowds that came with that. My sleep felt like an eternity last night. After our morning meeting, we took the subway to Fushimi Inari shrine. Known as a place of worship for those seeking success in business, itâs an extremely photogenic sight. Companies can sponsor orange torii arches for good luck in business, and this the whole area is littered with them. They spanned from the bottom of the mountain to the top, creating great photo ops. The aesthetic value of the location as well as the business links of it made it my favorite shrine weâve been to. If I lived here permanently I could see myself going back.
After hiking to the innermost shrine at the top of the mountain, we came back down for lunch. I had yet another bowl of spicy ramen. Having only ever had terrible instant ramen once before, I had no idea Iâd become mildly addicted to the ramen here. Iâll have to find a place to get some at home. After just walking around this afternoon, for dinner I went to a converter belt sushi place. Cool for both the novelty of the experience and the extremely cheap sushi, I had a good experience there. Iâm trying to try new places and not go anywhere more than once, but some places are certainly tempting me to go back.
Academic Reflection-
Inari places of worship are signified by the hope that they can bring success in business. Initially, Inari stood as the kami of rice. Rice traditionally was as much of a commodity of money, and was traded as such. Thus Inari shrines have been worshipped by those seeking business success. While the readings explained this denotation, I was surprised by the amount of references to business throughout the shrines grounds.
Upon arriving at the shrine there was a type of performance going on towards the entrance. Some kind of dancing was going on with musical help from some traditional instruments. It seems as if men in suits up on the side of the stage had presumably paid for the performance with the spiritual hope of success for their business. Additionally, while it had been explained that the torii were all sponsored in the names of different companies, I was shocked by the sheer amount of them. From the bottom of the mountain to the summit, to the smaller ones hanging around, there were huge amounts of them.
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June 5 - Kyoto Imperial Palace
Today we went to Kyotoâs imperial palace. Of course the modern capital of Japan is Tokyo, but for a long while it was Kyoto. I learnt the kanji âkyoâ means capital, hence the similarity between the names Tokyo and Kyoto. We visited Tokyoâs imperial palace about a week ago, the current home of the emperor. It was on a massive grounds and was pretty incredible in terms of both size and architecture. With a surrounding moat, bridges around, and huge walls enclosing it, itâs felt worthy of the royal bloodline. On the other hand, to be honest, I felt Kyotoâs imperial palace was far less significant. While still extremely pretty and massive relative to pretty much anywhere else, it was a little more normal than I would have expected. It wasnât as audacious or flashy as other places we have been, and actual felt somewhat modest considering it was once home to the emperor.
After a tour we went for an American lunch at a nearby cafe. I just had a lemon tart, a close reminder of my faithful Publix key lime pie. We then rented city bikes and went for a nice ride down the river. After an exhausting ride and some quick shopping, I hung out for a while before dinner. I miraculously ate 3, 6 piece sushi rolls for a mere 9 dollars. Then to karaoke, where I was able to proudly humiliate myself as I screamed the words to Mr. Brightside in some unknown key that was certainly not correct. Definitely trying to take in as much of Japan as I can at this point, Iâm finally starting to realize we arenât going to be here forever.
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June 4 - Kiyomizudera & Gion
Today we went to a Buddhist temple. There really are a lot of them in Kyoto. The historical significance of this city is very clear, and it really feels much different to Tokyo in that sense. The temple is Kiyomizudera. A busy uphill road, lined with market like stores on the side, led is up to the temple. I really enjoy the aesthetic value of the orange temples and shrines we have seen so far. This, however, was particularly special, as the orange structures where detailed with colorful art around the trim. The countless stairs ascended and we made our way through the grounds. At the top was a shrine. I liked the finish of the wood flooring. While it was sanded to be smooth, it wasnât planed to be flat, so it still had some bumpy imperfections on it. While probably not practical for a house, I really liked the idea. Among the most notable parts of the area was the opportunity to drink from one of three streams for good fortune in a given area, I opted for longevity.
After leaving the temple we went for a brief walk around Gion, an area known for its geisha background. While geisha entertainment is more secretive and lowkey than ever, the area was very nice to walk around. It was full of very traditional architecture, somewhat resembling the houses we are staying in.
Academic Reflection -
Kiyomizudera is related to todayâs readings in that it is an important location in the story of Shintokumaru. The reading discusses the roller coaster of events that transcended as a couple sought help in getting a child. This temple is where they actually pray to Kannon asking for the kid. While it may be a coincidence, I interesting noticed that today was the only temple or shrine we have been to that sells an omamori, or charm, specifically for children.
One notable aspect of that reading was the fact that it included a female protagonist. Going off of that, the other reading discussed geishaâs in society. I was surprised to hear that geisha were actually highly educated in the arts, and were sometime considered even more educated than some in the samurai class. Particularly due to historical trends with womenâs right, and largely due to the fact that prostitution has a clear negative stigma towards it, I certainly didnât think of geisha as educated until doing the reading and finding out what exactly their roles in society and entertainment were.
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June 3 - Kinkakuji & Daitokuji
Todayâs somewhat early morning got started quick. After a little bit of a sleep in I panicked to get up and ready. Though after doing so quickly and taking the quiz, the day was underway. We first went to Kinkakuji, the golden pavilion. Despite attempting to beat the large crowds, the place was still absolutely packed at about 8:30 in the morning. Filled to the brim with tourists and school kids, it felt like walking through Magic Kingdom; it was probably the busiest experience weâve had in Japan. Though the spectacle of the area made it very much worth it. While Japanese culture is typically rather calm, the gold pavilion suggested the total opposite. Both incredibly flashy and uniquely pretty, it was a really cool sight to see.
After walking around the grounds, a little, we went to the much more subtle Daitokuji temple complex. Having gone into three separate temples, it was a very different experience. With few tourists, quiet grounds, and delicate gardens, it too was very pretty, though in a much more serene manner. While the golden pavilion was unique, I preferred this experience truthfully. The concentration of beautiful temples was incredible, and the calming nature of each of their grounds was something I havenât quite felt before.
Having had an assortment of dumplings for lunch, I continued my tour of Asia for Indian food for dinner. Having eaten it often when living in London, I frequent Indian food far less frequently now. Though today's was really great. Butter chicken with a large naan bread it about as good as it gets for me. Iâll be tempted to go back for sure.
Academic Reflection â
Today we read about Zen gardens, among other things. Controversy surrounds the gardens. They are widely associated with Zen Buddhism, but in reality, this style of gardening actually predates Zen Buddhism. While reading, I honestly wasnât sure exactly how a style of gardening could be so recognizable that this controversy could arise. However, walking around the temples today and seeing such gardens, I totally understand it now. I have never really seen any gardening style similar to it. It can be easy to overlook foliage in general as we see it every day, everywhere, but the gardens today were certainly special. I really felt there was a calming nature to them.
Aside from seeing the controversial gardening style, seeing the Zen temples themselves was also a really interesting experience. Pretty much every temple and shrine we have seen so far has been fairly massive, often filled with tourists, and had clearly been a spot more for the aesthetic than actual religious practice. So therefore going to a much calmer environment today, where monks are in practice and tourists are scarce was a very cool, different experience.
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June 2 - Himeji Castle
Today we went to Himeji castle, in the town of Homeji. Having passed through Osaka amount bumerousnither towns, the train ride was actually really long. Though that being said, it was really worth it. Walking out of the train station we saw the castle at the end of a long road, with modern buildings on either side of the road. We broke up for lunch where I then found a grocery store to eat at. Similar to Whole Foods in the sense that it also acts as a lunch spot, the grocery store was actually a really a great find. I got a sandwich, a pastry, and some vegetable tempura all for under 4 bucks, it was a steal.
We walked around the area for a little bit after; it was home to some cool stores and a small number of antique market stalls. I later on went back to a jewelry store I saw in the market to get some gifts for my sisters, by unfortunately it was closed.
We eventually managed to walk into the castle grounds. It was some beautiful architecture. With many stairs and all sorts of elevating surfaces, going to the top was actually somewhat difficult. It was definitely a really cool place to visit though. All of the grounds where very aesthetically pleasing and the castle itself was extremely photogenic. It was cool to compare the vastly different architecture of castles Iâve seen in England and Scotland to it.
Academic Reflection -
It was interesting to actually go and see a castle town today after completing yesterdayâs reading. While the readings discussed the idea of whole castle towns, modern town are obviously different. Within the castle, a small replica showed what the whole castle town would have looked liked. However it was interesting nonetheless to see the current state of the castle and its boundaries.
The readings importantly discussed some of the militaristic defense mechanism in place at the castle that allowed the DaimyĹ to effectively defend it. It was cool to see some of these things. For instance, the large walls bound a long path, with would have been extremely difficult to scale for a whole army. Additionally, we saw the holes in the walls for soldiers to shoot through, which obviously would have made attacking the building even more difficult. It felt as we kept going through the grounds and towards and up the castle, more and more defense precautions were in place, for instance the closets allowing soldiers to hide in for surprise attack if necessary. Ultimately going to the castle, seeing it, and walking from the main gate and all the way up really made me appreciate how difficult it would have been to successfully attack it.
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June 1 - Fushimi Sake District
Our first night in Kyoto was interesting. So far I really like it a lot, it certainly has a very different vibe than Tokyo. If Tokyo is to NYC, I would say Kyoto is to Philadelphia, as itâs smaller, more historic, and a bit calmer. Adjusting to the new housing scenario has been really interesting. The house feels very small, especially considering the relatively low ceilings and lack of storage areas. The bathroom is also rather interesting, with a somewhat less practical tiny sink, and the squatting toilet, which I had never used prior to here. Ultimately though I really canât think of many places iâd rather be. With my two other roommates, itâs a really homey, fun environment. And in comparison to the apartments in Tokyo, I really feeling like Iâm getting a feel for what life is like for some in Japan. When I look at the study abroad programs my friends are on in europe, I really doubt they are having as traditional experiences as we are, and for that I am grateful, it's been really cool so far.
For todayâs free day I spent the morning just relaxing in the sun at our house here. Its been a hectic couple weeks here, doing stuff all day every day, the little break was nice. Though i then went down to Kyotoâs sake district. I walked around for a while and went into a couple of museums. While neither was particularly easy for non-japanese speakers, I was able to learn about the sake brewing process. I ended up having a good time, the centuries old breweries were architecturally incredible, and I was able to buy a sake tasting kit for my dad. Then for dinner I feasted at an all you can eat, cook it yourself, barbecue place. We were pretty proud of the groups incredible endeavour, eating 54 plates between the 5 of us.
Independent Academic Reflection -
To go along with my trip to the Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum in Kyotoâs sake district, I read an article discussing the cultural aspects of sake companies surviving in the long run (see below link). Gekkeikan, which was founded in 1637 is one of the oldest companies in the world. Along with a handful of other japanese sake breweries mentioned in, Gekkeikan has withstood the tests of time. The article discusses some of the cultural and historic events that put other companies out of business while companies such as Gekkeikan continued to grow. ONe important aspect that was mentioned was the geographic location of these firms in Kyoto, and particular in Fushimi in southern Kyoto. With its clean & rich water, its strategic shipping location, and the support of the town, being founded in Fushimi proved to be a huge benefit for breweries. With the surrounding areas being known for high alcohol consumption and constant support from the town, these original companies had the foundation for long term success. Additionally, some of these companies where simply lucky in their histories, having avoided damage or destruction. Other companies werenât as fortunate, with many falling due to fires or war, such as the Toba-Fushimi war and WW2. Ultimately the narrative is that the handful of companies studied, which have been around for centuries, simply where on the right side of certain historical events and were in cultural circumstances to succeed.
Sake really is an integral part of japanese culture. Much like wine is to the italians, champaign is to the french, and beer to the americans, sake is prevalent throughout japanese history. From being given to soldiers during wars, to being drank in izakayas today, I was excited for the opportunity to learn more about the brewing process. The museum provided life size scenes of every step in the process, from the rice being cleaned and steamed to the eventual sake being squeezed out of bags. While I found it interesting to see the technicalities of the process, I was most surprised by the cultural aspects of brewing sake. From the very traditional tools used, to the chants sung as the rice is mixed, to the sake makers standing in the rice, I didnât realize the significant traditions that go with brewing.
http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.lp.hscl.ufl.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=e598133d-5431-46cd-8be4-74f639c53cff%40sessionmgr4007
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May 31 - Toyosu Fish Market & Shinkansen to Kyoto
Today, being the day we left Tokyo, I wanted to make the most of the morning. Having gone to Tsukiji a few days ago, the former home of Tokyoâs fish market, I wanted to go to Toyosu this morning, the current home of the market. The 5 billion dollar facility, finished just last year, is now the location of the worldâs largest fish market. We arrived at around 5:45 in the morning to get a glimpse of the tuna auction. Astounded by the size of some of the fish, we interestingly learnt that earlier in the year a record had been broken, as a tuna was purchased for over 3 million USD.
Having seen a little bit of the tuna auction, we ventured to a separate part of the property, where the rest of the seafood is sold. While going in I was most excited for the tuna auction, the separate market was the highlight. Featuring just about every fish I can think of, walking around it was a spectacle. From tuna being sawed up, to lives eels being carried around, to countless types fish being sold, it was rather incredible. I feel like every stall featured something I had never seen before. Then before coming back to the apartment to meet up, we ate some great fresh fish rice bowls just upstairs. It was well worth the early wake up.
We then traveled to Kyoto via the Shinkansen, Japanâs bullet train. While our housing situation here matches the description, itâs been crazy to actual see the places. With tatami flooring, tight quarters, cushions on the floor for sleeping, and a squatting style toilet, the adjustment requires has already been noticed. It should be an interesting few weeks here, Iâm excited for the experience.
Academic Reflection -
After todayâs reading, it was interesting to actually experience the Shinkansen. Having read about some of the external implications of the original project, I enjoyed the opportunity to at least gauge how it was as a means of transportation. While at over a hundred dollars for the journey, itâs somewhat expensive, I definitely found the experience to be really great.
With obviously less security than an airport, the boarding process is easy. With very high speeds, the travel time is great. And with plenty of keg room and large reclining chairs, the journey was very comfortable. Price aside, it certainly blows other options, such as busses, normal trains, and cars, out of the water.
Reading about the controversy of the track placement for the Shinkansen reminded me of a similar issue that constantly faces the host cities for the Olympics and World Cups every other year. In particular, in preparation for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 olympics, Rio also faced scrutiny for not handling the purchasing of land properly. On the other hand, I remember London was praises for running a very successful Olympics in 2012. Itâs interesting to see how different countries face such issues, and the reading today helped me understand a little bit about Japan in the 60s.
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May 30 - Mount Takao
Today we went to Mt Takao, a mountain about an hour west of downtown Tokyo. Through a few different train and subway rides, we got to the base of the mountain in about an hour and a half. Known as a popular hiking spot, there were certainly a lot of people in gear around the station and up to the base of the mountain. Even the shop in the train station sold an array of hiking products, I should have known the journey up was going to be fairly difficult. With a few different options for going up the mountain, we decided to just hike, as opposed to the cable car or ski lift. Though we were in for a fairly rude awakening, and the trail we ascended quickly became really quite steep. After a short while, with my calves hurting, I began to question everything. I felt like I was on Everestâs peak despite only being about 10 minutes in Mt. Takao.
Though eventually things got easier, largely helped by the views, scenery, and numerous shrines. Motivated by the countless elderly people and group of schools kids trucking along, we made sure to get to the top. Throughout the journey, there were some incredible views. Some of the green mountains in one direction, some of the Tokyo skyline and city as a whole in the other direction. The way up also featured numerous shrines. Seeing the first, I was a little surprised. We then saw another. And another. It felt like as we progressed to higher and higher levels, we were welcomed by more and more shrines, each just as aesthetically pleasing as the last.
We eventually took a white scenic chair lift down to the mountains base. I feel I got quite a traditional experience during lunch as I ate on tatami matted restaurant. Not quite the most comfortable, but certainly quite cool. And p.s., pro tip of the day: donât eat sea grapes.
Academic Reflection -
Todayâs readings mentioned how reliant Japan is on trees. Explaining that the topography of Japan, with many mountains, represents a possibly dangerous situation. Combined with rain, these mountains could be the location of mudslides, a very dangerous natural disaster. Though, by planting trees, mudslides are largely prevented due to the roots of the trees acting as a binding mechanism. The roots essentially hold everything together.
Last semester I took a class relating to vegetation. It was explained that one of the many benefits of grass is similar to the one explained in this article. Grass can sort of bind together and almost act like a net that contains mud on mountainous regions. I found it interesting to read about an actual application of this knowledge, and didnât realize how important this concept was to Japan as a whole.
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May 29 - Tsukiji Fish Market
Today I went to the Tsukiji Fish Market, a popular seafood street food destination. While it is no longer the home to the actual wholesale fish market, the area does house all sorts of great food stalls. Having seen YouTube videos of street food markets before coming to japan, I was really excited to give it a try. From massive oysters, to scallop and octopus skewers, to fried squid legs, it was a very unique culinary experience, unlike anything I know of in the US or Europe.
Having eaten about a weeks worth of food, I decided to make the long walk home. It was about two hours and it was really cool to just see arbitrary locations in Tokyo. One thing Iâve found really interesting is the hidden nature of some extremely beautiful location. At two points on my walk home today I all of a sudden sort of just passed two shrines. Both rather hidden in their urban environments, I canât think of any similar examples in the US. Perhaps living here would result in them losing their novelty, but thus far Iâve been shocked by how obscure some beautiful places have been.
Media Reflection â
Before going to the market day, I watched a YouTube blog video that was essentially a food tour of Tsukiji (linked below). The video simply is of two guys and their day eating through Tsukiji, giving their comments and critiques on a variety of food items from the market stalls. The video really touches on and represents two major points of Japanese food culture, the first being the abundance of seafood. While western cultures are familiar with seafood, both the video I watched and my actual experience today have furthered my understanding on the reliance of seafood in Japanese cuisine. The second key point that the video portrays is the street food scene here in japan. From around the Asakusa shrine to the Tsukiji Fish Market today, Japan really has far more of a street food culture than western countries. While places such as Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia or Grand Central Market in L.A. are examples of something similar in the US, Japan simply takes it to a different level. Ultimately the YouTube video and my actual experience helped me further my understanding of the different types of Japanese cuisine.
My experience at the market today was in many ways was similar to that of the men in the YouTube video, but was certainly different in some ways also. One key difference, explained to me by one of the vendors with rather good English, is that Tsukiji isnât actually a fish market anymore. About a year ago, the early morning fish auctions and sales were moved to a new location called Toyosu Market, and some of the street food vendors thus relocated. Thus, walking around today I noticed that some of the food items from the YouTube video werenât actually available, perhaps for that reason.
On the other hand, I did find and eat some of the other items in the video. The oyster is among one of the food items that both myself and the men in the video really enjoyed. Probably about twice as big as any oyster Iâve ever had in the US, I was expecting that the flavor may have been compromised, but that was certainly not the case and with a little topping of soy sauce, it was delicious. The video also included the scallop and eel skewers, two things I tried. While I loved the scallop, my first time trying eel didnât go as well as I would have hoped: I certainly am not a huge fan of the sort of mushy texture. And finally, I also tried the strawberry mochi, which was as delicious as it looked. The video really was a good guide for what foods to look out for.
However, I also ate some other items. First off was a skewer of small octopuses, something that I had seen at Asakusa and was excited to try, but ultimately, I was a little disappointed. I loved the seasoning, but would have preferred if it were grilled to give it a little char. I also had âfried shrimp legsâ, which was essentially just calamari, but it was certainly a great iteration of it. Ultimately it was a really great day of eating and Iâm glad I found the video that inspired the trip.
https://youtu.be/OmIwoFTNZBg
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May 28 - Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, and Akihabara
Today started with a walk through Akihabara and to Ueno Park. We saw the Benten-do shrine in the park. Perhaps A little spoilt at this point, it felt just a little less impressive than the other shrine we have seen, though nonetheless it was still stunning. I find it interesting that what is almost a minor sight here, would be an absolutely incredible one if it were in the US. Despite being smaller in size than other shrines weâve seen, the architectural aspect of it still greatly impressed me, I particularly liked the gold accenting. We then walked to the to and through the Tokyo National Museum. Home to countless different artifacts, we saw all sorts of things. Some items I found particularly cool were the large metal horse stirrups, the long scroll paintings, and the incredible chiseled wooden horse sculpture.
We then got lunch and walked through Ameya - Yokocho market. Without really having any expectations of it, my short walk through it during our lunch hour was actually really the highlights of my trip so far. Filled with an array of food and clothing stores, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had just looking at everything. There where all sorts of cool clothing stores, in some parts it honestly almost felt like a mall. In other parts though, it certainly didnât, with numerous pretty impressive fish vendors. Having eaten some meat sticks and marveled at the incredible fish stalls, it was really an awesome experience. We finished off the day with a shirt walk through Akihabara, the neighborhood we live in. It definitely has a somewhat weird vibe sometimes, but Iâve liked the location. My day ended with a sushi dinner. Pro tip: donât sleep on the tamago, the Japanese omelette is somehow just far better than its American brother, and really is delicious.
Academic Reflection -
In relation to the reading, we saw Japanâs anime culture in full swing in Akihabara. The reading discussed a sort of negative social stigma that some have around certain types of anime. Particularly, some anime can be sort of kinky and sexy; this was especially prevalent in Akihabara. I found that after the reading, I see Akihabara in a totally different way now. While I have noticed the bright lighted anime vibe of Akihabara since we have lived here, I admittedly havenât really noticed the sex themed side of it.
Though walking through today, I noticed this kinky stuff much more. I was honestly taken back by both the abundance, and weird nature, of the stores. I truthfully probably have a slightly negative perception of the sexier side of anime. From the provocative pictures that felt to be all around, and the vibe I felt while outside the porn shop, I certainly felt minorly weird about it.
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May 27th - Kabuki Performace
After a much needed sleep following yesterdayâs long trip to Hakone, we had somewhat of a sleep in for a meeting time of 9:30. We then travelled by metro to Ginza, a well off neighborhood that was home to the kabuki theatre. Perhaps for a reason, it seemed as if the Monday performance was taken in by many retired persons. We took our seats, and then the show began. The first show was about two brothers, seeking vengeance for their father's death. While the drama built up throughout the performance, the way it ended was very weird to me. It consistently built up, and then the show ended before a climax, our translating machines simply stated the ending, which felt strange. The second show, considered one of the best I Japan, was the story Benkei, a superior fighter who ultimately beat his master to prove his worth. And thirdly, the final play was the story of a grudge, in which a family was on the brink of collapse because the father seemed apparently unwilling to fight an adversary. Ultimately, despite not even being a fan of most western plays, I appreciate the experience of witnessing a very different style.
Then for lunch we went to a hidden ramen place. I really appreciate the convenience of the ramen restaurantsâ vending machine preserving processes. I had a great spicy ramen, despite still being rather terrible with chopsticks. Since arriving in Japan I have thoroughly enjoyed the expected food experiences.
Academic Reflection -
The kabuki performance provided some things that I expected and some things that I didnât. The reading explained the visual aspect of it, and seeing the exaggerated makeup and extremely unique costumes were among the things that I expected going in. Going off that though, the costumes were perhaps a little more noticeable than I anticipated. From the DaimyĹ with their oversized pant legs to the child and his particularly formal outfit, it was interesting to see exactly how people were dressed.
Additionally, while I knew that kabuki performances consisted of many shows and traditionally were daylong outings, I was admittedly surprised by the extensiveness of the show. If Iâm being honest I felt it was dragged out at certain portions. While I loved the perhaps over exaggerated fight scene, I felt the slow motion portion was a little unnecessary.
On the other hand, I didnât expect the comedic value of the shows. While they certainly werenât comedies, there were definitely lines which were there for comic relief. I particularly enjoyed the performer of Mata, the only child in the whole performance. He had both an infectious voice and numerous funny lines. He was great.
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