AnthoNihon

As I mentioned in my first blog post I started this blog because it was required for my Visual Anthropology class.  I started this blog and the class thinking it was going to be easy and quick.  To tell you the truth it has been the opposite.  It was very hard to capture the right picture and working up the courage to ask people of it is okay to take their photos.  The time it took for me to come up with what I want to take pictures of and going places was time consuming.  However it was one of the best experience I’ve ever had.  When I came to Japan I already had the plan to travel and see what I could see, but this class gave me the motivation to do so.  I’ve gotten into so many adventures (troubles) and met so many interesting people because of this class.  I’ve got to see things I probably wouldn’t have seen.  America is a country where there are so many mixes of people that you can’t tell who is American and who is not.  America has so many characters but living here for almost four months I see that Japan is pretty much in par or has more character than America.  I’ve always thought Japanese people were quiet and shy compare to the other Asians.  They stand out so much that it will flip your image of them upside down.  There are people who wear things that will question their taste; frail looking grandmas carrying loads of grocery bags on their bicycles weaving through human traffics like it is nothing; drunk salary-man passed out outside of the train station because he drank too much and missed the last train.

One of the students with a green grass top on the top of his head….

Scary things they do to make themselves pretty… I got attacked getting this photo.

Art?

I’ve met the most interesting people in my life here and I’ve also made so many good friends.  Japan is a country with colorful characters and it is not as quaint and quiet as many people think.

Some of the members of Tennis Circle

Shihoko and Eriko.  The comedians of the school.

This is how the Grudge and the Ring come to be….

Who said Japanese people don’t steal!?

Who’s a good sport!

Mmmmm Matcha Churo!

As you probably know Tokyo is the capital of Japan.  Let me start off by saying that Tokyo is the bomb!  Tokyo has everything you would ever want.  Whatever you want or desire Tokyo has it.  I went to Tokyo with a group of friends that I made at Kansai Gaidai University.  Going to Tokyo with these people was an adventure.  I would not have done or seen half the things I did in Tokyo if they weren’t there.  So thanks buds!

We took the 8hr night bus to go to Tokyo and it was one of the worst bus ride I’ve ever taken.  It was small, hot, and we weren’t allowed to talk, because it was sleep time, but when we got to Tokyo it was all better.  We got there at about 7 a.m. and it was freezing.  After we dropped off our luggage we went to the Tsukiji Fish Market, it was HUGE!  They had all kinds of fish and creatures, from your usual tuna to this leech looking creature.

The leech looking creature….

The tuna we saw was really big.  I wasn’t able to take the picture of the biggest tuna that I saw there but I was able to take a picture of how they cut it.  They use a saw to cut the huge fish.

My friends and I were hoping to find some dolphin so we could see it with our own eyes.  My friends wanted to see if it was really true about fishermen in Japan hunting dolphins and selling them as whale meat.  We weren’t able to see it but we somehow ended up in the back of the warehouse where we were not allowed to go in.  There was a lot of gaijin smash that went on in Tokyo and this was one of them.  I understand Japanese so I understood what the fisherman was saying but my friends didn’t so they just kept on walking.  I acted like I didn’t understand and followed in.  There wasn’t much to see back there but fish guts and a bunch of fishermen.

After the market we really wanted to eat some fresh fish so we ended up in this delicious sushi place.  I ended up eating a fish bowl instead of sushi but it was the best fish bowl I’ve ever had.

The best tuna and salmon fish bowl you would ever eat in Tokyo.  (In my opinion)

I also learned the secret of staying young.

After the market we went exploring and we saw a lot of hentai (perverted) things.  There were warning signs by the escalator telling you not to take pictures of girls’ panties who are wearing skirts.  There were also different versions of warning posters that tells you to be careful of chikans (molesters).

This one tells you that showing courage will make the chikans go away.

We also found the infamous pantie dispenser.  Except that it was not used and it wasn’t really a vending machine.  It was in a gachapon (a toy dispenser).

If anyone is in a emergency and need 2 pairs of panties for 500 yen this is the way to go!

We also went to go see the rainbow bridge at night.  it is one of the prettiest views in Tokyo.

Monorail ride to the Rainbow Bridge.

View of Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower on the right.

The colorful Christmas Tree by the Rainbow Bridge that changes colors and pictures.

紅葉　(Kouyou: Japanese word for Autumn but it also means Autumn color and it describes the changing of tree colors during the Fall Season)

Uji is located in Kyoto and it is one of the place Green Tea lovers should visit.  It is beautiful during the Fall season because the tree colors change to yellow, orange and red.  Unfortunately this year the colors of the tree barely changed.  Some did and some just lost their leaves due to rain.

Uji’s specialty lies with Green Tea.  They have anything Green Tea from Green Tea Ice Cream to Green Tea Soba (which I was not able to try).  Most of the stores there closes around 8 PM so if you are planning to buy some gifts don’t dilly dally.

My friend Sarah, she came here to eat.  That was her main and only goal of coming to Uji.

We also came across a statue of a woman.  It was a statue of a woman named Murasaki Shibiku.  She was a famous novelist in Japan.  She was most famous for The Tale of Genji which she wrote between 1000 to 1012.  What was weird to me was that the dates that involved her was unclear.  The description written next to her tells you when she was born but no one was sure of when she passed or when the book was written exactly.  The statues of her are located by the rivers and the reason for that is because it shows the different parts of the tale within her book.

This is a statue of Murasaki Shikibu (Lady Murasaki).  My friend Sarah looks like her so we decided to name Lady Murasaki as her mother.

It was also very cold so Sarah shared her scarf with her mother (Lady Murasaki).

This is the river that runs in the middle of Uji and the river that Lady Murasaki writes about in The Tale of Genji.

If you want to know more about Lady Murasaki you can go here:  http://www.womeninworldhistory.com/heroine9.html

If you want to know more about Uji you can go here:  http://www.city.uji.kyoto.jp/en/

Usually when people from America think Kobe, they think of Kobe Beef.  Kobe is known for their beef but there is so much more.  They have many things to do and many places too see.  They are also known for their desserts and it is one of the ideal places for couples to go.  There is a mountain called 六甲山 (Rokkousan) where many people go to see the night view of Kobe.

六甲山

There are many tourist spots in Kobe and 三ノ宮（Sannomiya) is very popular.  Sannomiya has many shopping areas and restaurants.  As I mentioned earlier Kobe is known for their desserts, anything from traditional Japanese desserts like daifuku to western style strawberry shortcake.  Many things in Japan that have been brought in from other countries have changed in some ways to fit the Japanese culture.  Japanese people have been innovating things for a long time and desserts are no different.  The flavor of desserts in Japan has changed to fit the taste of the people here.  The cakes here are not as sweet as the caked you would find in United States.  The ice cream here are different too.  The ice cream I had in 三ノ宮 was the best ice cream I’ve ever had in my whole life (well for me).  It was sold in a Japanese sushi restaurant called Uji of all places.  The sushi there was also amazing but the ice cream left me the impression.

Sushi at the sushi restaurant Uji.

The ice cream at Uji.

The other thing about Kobe is that it has different themes within the city.   Kobe has a place called European town and they also have China town and ポートランド (Portland).  If you are planning to shop in Kobe make sure you have a lot of money.  Most of their stores are brand names.  Portland is very beautiful at night.  The place has a harbor with a shopping plaza called Mosaic and Kobe Tower.  The Kobe Tower isn’t very big but when it’s lit up at night it is very pretty.

Shopping mall called Daimaru.

Portland

Here is some links about Kobe just in case you want to know more about Kobe:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298562-Kobe_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki-Vacations.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2159.html

Yodo Station is located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan.   The first thing you may notice about this station is that it is new.

You will also notice that the JRA Kyoto Racecourse (Kyoto-Keibajou) is very near the station.  The racecourse is for horse racing and it is very popular among Japanese people.  Kyoto Racecourse was made in December 1, 1925.  When the racecourse was made the condition of the track was very bad, so they added concrete in 1936.  In 1943 all the metals were taken from the building (such as the roof) to be made into weapons for World War II.  In 2009, Yodo Station was elevated and became the station that is now.  The train runs on top of the station instead of running along side it.

Front of Kyoto Racecourse

One of the reasons why Yodo Station underwent reconstruction is because the eastbound platform was raised. It was raised so that it would be easier for people who are going to the racetrack.  The station gets so busy when the horses are racing so the station was made bigger so it could hold more people coming and going.

Other than the Kyoto Racecourse, the area around Yodo Station has its own history.  A daimyou (feudal lord) named Matsudaira Sadatsuna made a castle called Yodojou (Yodo Castale) about 500 meters southwest from Yodo Station.  The castle was destroyed in 1868 when the Battle of Toba-fushimi broke out.

(Remnants of the Yodo Castle)

(Photo taken from http://4travel.jp/traveler/sasuraiojisan/album/10159803/)

I have decided to take a picture of my speaking partner Sayaka Takeshita.  Part of the reason why I chose her is because she is one of the coolest person I’ve met since our school started.

The other part is because she is my speaking partner….   She loves to eat sweets and she loves cooking.  The first time I met her she asked me if I liked cheesecake, when I told her yes she made them for me the next time we met.  It may be stereotypical but back at home where I come from everyone thinks Japanese people are nice, generous, and smart.  I know that not all Japanese people fit the stereotypes but Sayaka is that and more.  She laughs at American jokes (which are super dirty at times…) and jokes back, she speaks English well so it is easy to have a conversation with her.

When I need to ask a question about Japan or Japanese homework she is one of the first people I would ask.  Her personality is bright and friendly so she makes friends right away.  Her personality causes people to try to steal her away from me as my speaking partner.  Most of my friends have asked me if they could trade their speaking partner with mine.  Of course my answer is no, but that does not stop them from trying anyways.

I am very lucky to have her as my speaking partner and as a friend.  She makes my time at Kansai Gaidai interesting and fun.  I am selfish at times so I end up making my friends do things they do not want to at times but I hope the time she spends with me is as enjoyable.  She is scared of scary things so my goal is to make her watch a horror movie with me before I go back to the states.  It has only been about two months since we’ve met so there are more things to discover about Sayaka.  I am excited to find out more about her.

Her iPhone 4 which she can’t live without.

Hard thinking….?

The neighborhood I live in is a lot quieter compared to where I come from. Before coming to Japan, I lived in Tampa, Florida. Tampa isn’t the biggest city in Florida but it is also a college town, which means there’s a party 24 hours of the day. Hirakata is the city I live in now, and this city is also where my school is. To start off, it is nothing like Tampa. The people here are quiet, clean, caring. They care about what goes on in their neighborhood. Most Japanese houses also have thin walls sound travels throughout the house.

There is a park near where I live called “Beer Park”, I’m not sure if that is the real name for it, but that is what everyone at Kansai Gaidai is calling it. Foreign Exchange students use to drink there, get drunk, and talk very loudly. The neighborhood filed a complaint multiple times and now it is prohibited to drink there. That does not mean that people stopped drinking there. People who decides to drink at Beer Park just whisper when they drink. Which doesn’t work all the time.

There is also an epic hill on the way to school from my Seminar House. We take it everyday which is very tiring, but I think of it as morning exercise. School is fun but, to be honest, I get sleepy when the classes start. Now I would like to use this time to apologize to my teachers. I am very sorry to if I have fallen a sleep in your class. I do not mean to do it. It just happens.

The rules here in Japan are also different. The trash system is a lot different than Tampa. The trash here has to be separated properly before thrown into the dumpster. The foreign exchange students are still new to the system, but we all do our best to separate the trash. From time to time, I see an occasional aluminum can mixed in with the pet bottles (which is what the Japanese people call plastic bottles). In my dorm, our Otousan and Okaasan (our guardians and landlords) does the final check of the trash. If something is out of place, they are the ones who have to separate them. So, as to not cause them any trouble, we try to make sure it is properly separated.

I would also like to talk about the hill that takes us to Hirakata Station. I love the hill when I go down but coming up is a pain in the butt. I could swear my heart stopped pumping a few times when I was riding up the hill. There is a back way, which takes you half way up the hill, but the road is so narrow that you cannot ride your bike. The back way is okay until you get near the main road. When you get there it turns into a steep climb. I love Japan but I have to say that there are too many hills here.

It may sound like all I am doing is complaining on this post but it is the opposite. All the things I have talked about are just some of the adventures I have been through so far. The people here are kind and helpful and, since I am Asian-American, I blend in with the locals. The food here is amazing, and I would live in this beef bowl restaurant called Sukiya if I could because the food is delicious and it is cheap! Of course, there are some things I have to get used to but that just means there are adventures waiting. I would never give up the experience I am having here in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. My new home!

This is a photo of Shaylynn in the school cafeteria behind the library.

This is in the cafeteria by McDonalds.

This photo was taken in the CIE lounge. 

(This is where most of the Foreign Exchange Students spends their time at school.)

This is the epic hill on the way to school from our seminar house.

This is the beer park where “no one” should be drinking.

This is how the trash is separated in Japan.

On the left is Sonya and on the right is Shoko. 

They are my friends from my seminar house and the picture was taken at Cafe Istanbul.

Cafe Istanbul: Left -  Carolina, Right – Sara

This is the back way to avoid the big hill on the way back from Hirakata Station.

It isn’t all that better….

Here are some of the things I’ve seen since I arrived in Japan. Japan has changed a little from when I used to live here. Sure there were bright lights and tall buildings but somehow everything seems different. There are more stores with bigger and brighter lights, newer buildings that has variety of shops, and restaurants so popular that it creates a huge line of people waiting to be seated. Maybe what has changed isn’t the environment. Maybe it is the people who live in Japan that has changed.
My family moved to Japan when I was 3 years old and we stayed in Kobe until the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. After the earthquake my family moved to Kakogawa and when I was in the 4th grade we moved back to the states. Compare to before, there are more foreigners here in Japan today. Many things have westernized and there are as many English words as there are Japanese words. Many English words have entered the Japanese dictionary also. Japan is changing and I can’t say that it’s good thing or that it’s a bad thing. No matter what people thinks or what they want Japan to become won’t change the fact that Japan is changing. Japan is constantly trying to change. Innovation is their thing.

This is a photo of Shinsaibashi at night.

This is a photo of my speaking partner Sayaka in the middle of busy crowd. I am lucky to have her as my speaking partner. She bakes and she’s really good at being a tour guide. She is also one of the first person I’ve talked to. She sent me information about my seminar house and information about Kansai Gaidai. Without her I’m sure I would have gotten lost and end up starving somewhere in the alley.

Big Buildings, Big Lights.

International students waiting for the night to take them.

One of the many weird things you will see in Japan. Poop hat….

Who said Japan’s serving size was tiny!?….

These people are one of the greatest groups of people you will ever meet. They are the first people that greeted us when we entered the Seminar House and they are the most interesting people I have met in Japan so far (along with other international students). They sure keep my life in Sem House 4 exciting.