Japan

Red gates indicate the enterance to a Shrine. The gates symbolically and spiritually keep out evil spirits and marks the transition between the profane and the sacred. 

For as long as I can remember, Japan has been not only a passion for me, but almost like a second lifestyle. I would endlessly read Japanese articles and find little facts about the culture, until one day I could answer any question presented to me regarding Japan. I could tell you that its bad luck to clip your toenails at night or that everyone in the family soaks in the same bath water.

Everyone asks me, “When did you first know you were into Japan?” Well, it’s hard to just give a finite answer, but I feel like I literary woke up one day and realized that it is a passion of mine.  I could relate it to a bucket, filling up one drop at a time with Japanese tendencies, until one day I realized my bucket was full and that’s when it hit me like a Japanese bullet train!

At 16 I started teaching myself Japanese by reading online articles and through an iPod app I purchased called “Human Japanese”. It was a great app, I learned so much from it. Eventually I started seeking out actual Japanese people. I went to a Buddhist monastery to attend a Japanese Tea Ceremony where Japanese people performed. This was another concept that attracted me to the culture: Zen.

Well-known buddha statue at Kamakura.

So desperately seeking my Japanese language counterpart, I stumbled upon a language exchange website. I found someone seeking to better their English, his name was Ichiro. Ichiro is a freelance photographer with a slight American disposition, which was nice because I have a slight Japanese deposition. Ichiro and I Skyped often in hopes to better my Japanese. Eventually I expressed my profound interest and goal to visit Japan. He offered his place, what an awesome opportunity. I can stay with a real Japanese person, speak Japanese every day, and tour TOKYO!!!  The rest is yet to come.

In April 2011, I attended the Omega Institute for Holistic health. (http://theherbalguy.blogspot.com/p/omega.html).  Omega was a life changing experience. Where Buddhism was strongly integrated in every ideal at Omega, I felt right at home. I was in my glory: I worked with a Japanese person! Her name was Sayaka. Sayaka and I conversed for the 7 months I was at Omega, teaching me a little more Japanese every day.

Omega was hosting a workshop taught by Bryon Weise who specializes in Past-Life Regression. Unknowingly, this particular workshop draws large crowds of Japanese people. I did know, however, that the Japanese are very interested in their past lives, which may offer clues to your present life, influenced by the belief of Buddhism. I met Yukiko who was attending the workshop; she only lives 5 minutes away from Ichiro, how lucky!




It's time.

The day has come. After a restful night at my dearest friend’s house, I arrive at the airport. JFK is ginormous!  I look like a lost puppy; I helplessly ask all the airport staff where everything is.  I finally find the terminal where my flight is taking off and I sit, waiting to fly to Beijing. Yes, I did say Beijing. One of the strings attached that came with my ticket being so cheap (Round trip ticket from JFK: $900) was a 15 hour layover in Beijing China. So now I wait in Air China’s terminal letter G for more waiting.

I board the plane, not knowing what to expect. The only other time I have been on a plane was a 2 hour flight to Disney World. Multiply that by 7 hours and 200 passengers, and you get the international flight I’m on now. As the plane ascended, the houses turned into dots and the cars mere dust particles. This is kind of nice: flying 32,000 feet above ground, with 3 Chinese babies screaming their lungs out, the unusual foreign smells suffocating me, and not to mention the lack of English speakers.

Flying over the North Pole.

Thirteen long hours go by; I thought I would never be off that flight! We did, however, fly over the North Pole, which was a sight to see! I watched the sky turn from light to dark to light and finally to dark once more. I didn’t sleep more than 10 minutes at any one time. The rice they served was delicious, to my American standard, but the potato salad (or at least I thought it was) tasted like uncooked pancake batter, also to my American standard. As we descended into China, vibrant lights surrounded the plane, Beijing; a more lit up New York City, but the colors were peculiar, they looked like pools of magma.

Inside Beijing Airport.

I thought JFK was ginormous, and apparently I didn’t know what I was thinking. Beijing recognized by its second best international airport rating and its clean-cut sleek appearance, with floors that actually move to increase the walking speed of rushing business men, felt like stepping into the future. With signs laced with thick Chinese characters and a hue of English, the singsong language of Mandarin clings to the air. I take a deep breath; Ah Asia!

Just when I thought I’ve had enough waiting, it was time now to sit for another 15 hours. Sitting was what I hardly did. With my natural Gemini physique, and a finger in every pie, I could barely resist. I went from one end to the other, examining the floor molding to the 50 feet high rafters. I ran into this one woman at the watering fountain trying to get some cold water, when I realized that “cold” to the Chinese is 34 degrees C°! (For the Americans, that’s roughly 90 or so degrees F°!) I said, “Why isn’t it coming out cold?” to which she replied, “This is cold, I don’t understand your [American] habits, always cold; eating ice cream in cold winter, hmph!” Okay... So the Chinese don’t like cold stuff in the winter, check!

I tried to sleep on the hard chairs to no avail. I’ve been up for over 30 hours now, it’s dark and I’m the only one roaming the airport. And I still don’t have Internet! So now I’m sitting here, 4:20am, typing up the blog that I will post as soon as I get Internet. My flight leaves to Tokyo in 4 hours; I guess I’ll keep sitting here in this dark, cold, lonely airport terminal letter E02 until its time.




I've Arrived!

I arrive in Tokyo and miraculously find my way to the train station I’m meeting my friend at. I had to ask everyone at the ticket counters and how it works is so confusing, but I made it! I’ve been here for several days now and am just absorbing it all. The city life is different than life at Omega was.

A beautiful scene at one of many inter-city parks.

For one everything is soooo expensive, in Japanese we call it, “cho takai!” But it’s different from New York City in that here, nature is very ingrained in everyday life. For instance, the trashcans are separated very extensively, yet organized into combustible and incombustible.  Life in Tokyo is exciting and different, but something is missing, something I used to have: community. People in Tokyo don’t really notice you for you; you’re just another person in line. Omega was the exact opposite, you were someone, and you always have been.  Besides people jumping in front of bullet trains, life is very sacred here, and the past celebrated. Tokyo has a shrine and temple around every corner. You can go there to pray, or water your family’s graves Yes I said WATER THEM!

Buckets to "water" the graves.

 The Japanese believe that even after death they still may be thirsty. You usually bring the person’s favorite drink, beer for many. There are many festivals throughout the year, I was lucky enough to run into one: the 3-5-7 festival. It’s a festival for celebrating the growth of children at the ages 3, 5, and 7. There will be a lot more too, and nowadays Japanese even celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Girls participating in the 3-5-7 festival.

Along with the temples are an equal number of game bars and electronic stores.  People here are so plugged in, if they’re not on their cellphone, they’re on the iPod; another side-effect from lack of community. But don’t be fooled! Behind the video gaming, electronic obsessed, manga reading, modern day Tokyo, is a very deep-rooted sacred culture. And that culture is exactly what I am here to find.

One of Japan's many Shinto Shrines.

Bunkyoku

Omega was a great chapter, and now it’s time to turn the page. After leaving Omega and starting my new adventure in Japan, I feel like anything is possible; like I can accomplish it all. I now live in one of Tokyo’s 23 wards called Bunkyo. Bunkyo is very interesting in that the modern meets the traditional. You can walk in any alleyway and find traditional bath houses and herbal medicine shops, but then you walk out onto the main street and there is well-known Tokyo University Hospital and big department stores. Every nook and cranny is filled too, not wasted space.

 I feel good here, I like the city life, but it’s very easy to sink behind the scenes into one of the hundreds of shrines scattered throughout Tokyo. My adventure is just beginning and Tokyo is a great start. Whatever you are looking for you can find it, but the most important thing is to just be yourself, that is when the magic starts to unfold.

How's it going?

I’ve been in Tokyo for maybe about two weeks now and I feel like I am starting to assimilate.  I was sick for the first week; I suspect just simply being in a new environment.  

Facemasks are worn to reduce spreading airborn illness.

I’m not so sure, I still am pretty congested, but I blame that on the air pollution. It’s so heavy, the air pollution in Tokyo. But, you know, that comes with every city. I feel good, like I am accomplishing a lot. I travel with Ichiro every day to a new part of town; it’s so exciting. There is a lot to do in Tokyo, between visiting the shrines and temples, to the plethora of shopping complexes, to the Pachinko bars.

Pachinko Bar

But everything costs MONEY, which I don’t have a whole lot of. My entire trip was funded on $50 a week for 28 weeks at the Omega Institute. My dad so graciously paid for my plane ticket over, thanks dad. So you do the math, it’s not a whole lot. But I’m managing great.

Fruit stand at Supermarket.

We buy most of the food at discounted grocery stores and buy simple ingredients to cook at home. That’s a really cheap way to eat, buy the ingredients and cook it for yourself; you get more out of it and it’s usually healthier. I study Japanese everyday on my own and with Ichiro, so I will be a pro in no time! Keep your head up high! J



Homesick!

I am starting to feel homesick; I really want to go home. This is a great experience, and I’m having a lot of fun, but I don’t know anyone and I can’t connect well enough because I don’t speak Japanese. I cried myself to sleep for two nights in a row because I miss my friends and family. I am constantly thinking about my future and how uncertain and cloudy it is. I’m afraid but I am hopeful. I know everything will work out for the best and the universe is on my side. I just feel lonely; the worst state for me. I just want a friend to talk to, all my friends are too busy to talk or it’s the opposite time. I am running out of money and everything is so toxic here. I miss Omega! This is the start of growing up; leaving your family to start on your own. I know I will be sad and that this is natural, but I just want someone to help me go through it. I love everyone out there, I have compassion for all, but I need some connection! *sigh* I know it will be good for me, to be here and experience life on my own. I just need to stick through it.


It's just a hairflip!

I’m feeling a lot better. I partied for the whole weekend! I got a haircut which changed my whole day around. Someone once told me that old energy is stored at the tips of your hair, as your hair grows the old hair is at the very bottom; makes sense.  I went the meet up with Ichiro’s friend from L.A. He was very nice, abnormally tall for a Japanese man, and spoke very good English.

We ate at Mos Burger, which is unheard of on the East Coast. I had a great time. We then went to Ichiro’s friend’s birthday party. The birthday guy was a gay man of maybe his late 40’s and was such a character. He had penis statues all around his house, it was awesome! Ha! After his party, we went to a club to party some more! We went to Roppongi, infamous for attracting swarming crowds of foreigners. I dropped it on the floor so hard, everyone loved my dancing. I got some Japanese girls to open up and really shake their stuff.

It was a great night. The next day I met Yukiko in Nezu. I met Yukiko at Omega during the Bryon Weiss workshop “Past-life regression”. She showed me around the ancient looking town of Nezu and we ate at a traditional style Japanese restaurant. It was such a great experience, she’s an awesome friend! She walked me to Nezu station where I boarded another train heading to a concert! The concert was being performed by my friend’s friend (from Omega) Yuji. He was great; it felt like I was back at Omega! After the concert we all ate curry that he made, very delicious, the Japanese sure do love some good curry. I was guided back to the station by one of his assistance, headed for home. <3