Sayonara Japan

Today was all about hurrying up to wait and wait and wait.
This morning I ate breakfast with a few people from my group. Then, I went up to the top of the Tokyo Tower. The Tokyo Tower was located right by our hotel. It looks very similar to the Eiffel Tower, but it is just a little bit taller! The view was amazing! Tokyo is densely packed with skyscrapers and buildings. It was just a little too cloudy to see Mt. Fuji.

I left the hotel at 1:30 and the waiting began. I waited on the bus, at Narita airport, on the plane, in Seattle, on the plane again, in Denver, on the plane again, and then from Pasco to my house. It was a great feeling to finally come home, but I will miss all of the friends I made on my trip and all of the wonderful people in Japan.

Last Full Day in Japan

Today was our last full day in Japan. Each city group gave a presentation on their experience. It was wonderful to share stories, pictures, and artifacts with each other. Most people, myself included, were brought to tears during the presentations. We have all had such an amazing experience words cannot even come close to describing the Japanese people’s kindness, generosity, and respect toward life, and love of nature. I have grown as a person and learned so much!

This evening we had a sayonara buffet.
Mr. Ota (Akishima Board of Education), Keiko (our guide), and Mrs. Itoh (wife of former Akishima City mayor) all attended the sayonara buffet.

I can’t believe I am leaving tomorrow. From the time I wake up until I reach my home it will take 33 hours! I have so much to share when I return home. See you all soon!

Traveling Back to Tokyo

This morning we ate a traditional Japanese breakfast. Today was the first day I really started missing American food.

We took a bus from the ryokan back to Tokyo. We arrived around noon. I walked with another girl from my group all the way to the Imperial Palace. It took us over an hour to get there. The palace is surrounded with a moat and guards. The section open to the public is the east garden.
When I arrived back at the hotel I received an email message from Akiko. It was great! I was able to see her one last time. Since tonight was my last dinner out on the town, I thought we should definitely have Japanese food. Akiko suggested a barbeque place where we ordered Japanese hamburger, onions, tongue, heart, and pig guts. For dessert I went to the Hard Rock Café with some friends. I can’t believe that tomorrow is my last full day in Japan!

What's That I Smell?

Today was another amazing day! We were invited to an incense ceremony and lunch at the former Akishima city mayor’s house. This kind of experience is very rare. In fact, many Japanese people have never even participated in an incense ceremony!
The incense ceremony was a fun game. The former mayor’s wife and daughter taught us how to play. Five pieces of incense are passed around the circle. You make special marks to show which pieces smell the same. There are about 60 different combinations. Only one person answered correctly! It was very difficult, but very enjoyable.

For lunch, the former mayor brought in sushi chefs. The food was incredible! We sat at a very low table. Underneath the table, the floor is cut out and you put your legs inside. It is even heated! There was also a heated blanket under the table. It was very cozy and comfortable.

As we left, we were told that we could take home the dishes as a gift! We couldn’t believe it.

Next, we visited a wooden top maker. The trade of making wooden tops from the Edo time period died out and this man was asked to restore the tradition. He has been making wooden tops for 35 years but does not have an apprentice. He is the only wooden Edo top maker left! He showed us how he makes the tops and he demonstrated different games and balancing tricks. It was a lot of fun.
When we left city hall, all of the employees went out to see us off.
From there, we left to go to a ryokan – a traditional Japanese style inn. It was about a one hour bus ride. Our ryokan was in a more rural village by the mountains. The village is known for their yuzu (a lemon-like fruit).
Dinner was a 15 course Japanese meal. The most interesting part of the meal was the fish – fully cooked, but whole - head, eyes, skin, tail and everything! It was delicious.

We all wore yukatas (similar to a robe). Several of the women tried on kimonos. We danced to Japanese music.

I slept in a room with three other women from my group. We slept on tatami mats and futons. Our room had a great view of the river.

Making Mochi

This morning I went on a walk with my host family and their dog, Momo (peach), to the bread shop. Every Sunday they go buy sweet bread as a special breakfast treat. The bread shop was similar to an American bakery, except the food is much healthier. On our way back we stopped to see a temple and a shrine. We ate the bread with soup and cabbage/seaweed salad.

Next, we went to another elementary school in the town. It is 115 years old! They were having an annual rice pounding festival. It was very fun! There were many portable kilns that children kept burning by chopping kindling. The rice is boiled for one hour and then moved to a large container where two people mash it. The final step is to move the rice to another large container and pound it with a large mallet. It is very hard work! When you are finished, you have made a rice paste that you can use in many different recipes - it's called mochi.

Another member of my group was at the rice festival with his host family. Both of us met the principal and vice principal of the school. They gave us a tour. It was wonderful!
After our time at the elementary school, I went shopping with Yuko. I found a few things I had been looking for and enjoyed seeing the shops decorated for the holidays. We had sushi for lunch at a place where the sushi circles the restaurant on a conveyor belt. If you see something you like, you take it. They charge you based on the number of plates you eat.
When my host family took me back to the hotel we decided to have tea and ice cream at the Japanese restaurant. It was hard to say goodbye to them. They were very kind to me. I hope we will be able to stay in touch.

Host Family

Today my host mother met me at the hotel. We went with her best friend to the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum. The museum is a place that they take historical buildings to preserve them and keep them from being harmed.
We saw many neat buildings. My favorite was the public bath house. A long time ago, many people did not have baths in their homes, so they went to public baths. Men and women use different sides.

We had a picnic of rice balls – seaweed, rice, and salmon in the park. In Japan it is very crowed so many people come to the park to relax, play with their children, or walk their dogs.

I had dinner at my host family’s home. We had a traditional-style Japanese meal where you dip your meat and vegetables into raw egg.
After dinner, a friend of my host mother came to visit me and to show me how to do origami.

My host family has a son who is 23 that lives at home. I visited with their son and his friend about their perception of Japanese schools. It was very interesting.

Keimei Gakuen High School

Today we visited a private high school in Japan called Keimei. Keimei is a school that has an international focus. They have sister cities around the world.

We observed classes and met with teachers. Several of the parents had tea and snack for us. We were able to ask the parents many questions.

For lunch, we had a discussion with several of the international students. It was interesting to hear how the international students compared Japanese schools to other schools around the world.

At the end of the day, some of the mothers put on a tea ceremony for us in their traditional Japanese-style building that is over 100 years old. All of the women wore kimonos. It took them about four hours to prepare for the ceremony.

When I got back to the hotel, I had dinner with Ichitaka, the program coordinator for International Internship Programs – the organization through which Akiko is coming to the U.S. He is a great person and is very knowledgeable about U.S. schools because he went through International Internship Programs himself. We had a good discussion and a wonderful meal. I tried squid – both the tentacles and the body as well as shark fin!!

Kyosei Elementary School

Today we went to Kyosei Elementary School. The principal is a wonderful lady whose passion for children, especially students with disabilities, is clear.
We were able to see the students as they arrived for school. First graders wear a yellow hat so that pedestrians can spot them more easily.

The principal wanted to meet with me to discuss administration. We had a good conversation.

We observed the morning teacher’s meeting and student meeting. Then, we spent most of the day in classrooms. Kyosei has 301 students from first through sixth grade.
I had the opportunity to try calligraphy with the students in sixth grade. It is very difficult! The kanji I wrote means “hope.” I think that both Japanese and American teachers all have the same kind of hope for their students.
We ate lunch with the students in the lunch room. After lunch students clean the school. They did a great job! What do you think about starting this tradition in the U.S.?!

In the afternoon, students had an assembly for us. The students did an amazing job. Fourth and Sixth grade students performed songs using many instruments – including recorders! It was wonderful!

At the end of the school day, we met with the teachers and asked them questions. They said their biggest challenge is differentiating instruction to best meet the needs of students.
Finally, a very nice woman taught us how to do ikebana (Japanese style flower arrangement). It was a lot of fun. The instruction had more than 50 years of experience! We were very lucky to have this opportunity.

Zuiun Junior High School

Today we visited Zuiun Junior High School. The school has 471 students. We were warmly welcomed by the Principal, Vice Principal, and PTA. The principal wore his kimono because today was such a special day!
We observed classes for most of the day. In Japan, the maximum class size is 40 students. Most of the classes I visited had between 35 and 40 students. The primary teaching method is direct instruction. However, students work in groups in some subjects like science. All students wear uniforms.

Junior high schools in Japan are for students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grade. Ninth grade is a critical year because in January students take a test that will determine which high school they can go to.

I was surprised to see how similar Japanese students are to American students – some are serious, silly, popular, loners, engaged, daydreaming, energetic, and sleepy. We are much more alike than different!
I had lunch with a seventh grade class. Did you know that Japanese students serve each other lunch?
In the afternoon, the students had a welcome ceremony for us. They sang their school song and the chorus “Daichisansyou”. It was wonderful! Two of the teachers gave a kendo demonstration.

At the end of the day we had a discussion with teachers. We were able to ask the teachers questions and they asked us questions as well. Teachers describe their students as good natured and self-motivated, however sometimes lacking in assertiveness. The two challenges the school faces are increasing scholastic achievement and developing healthy minds (moral enhancement). The principal said, “Although we are facing many challenges, I hope the world will become one and raise our children.”
This evening we had a welcome reception at the city hall. There were about 120 people – city officials, distinguished guests, principals and vice principals from the schools we will visit, and our host families.

My host mother’s name is Yuko. She works arranging flowers from her home. Her husband is a printer and is very busy at this time of year. He usually gets home at 11pm. Yuko has three children, but only one of them is still living at home. He is 23.

At the welcome reception we had two special performances. First, we heard music using the Japanese harp (koto) and Japanese bamboo flute (shakuhachi). Next, we heard Japanese drum (taiko). The Japanese drums are very loud.

The city presented us each with gifts – two books and two figurines. Everyone has been especially kind and generous to us!