Art & Mary Bryant

apan was a wonderful and exhilarating experience full of unexpected delights! We entered a city of 2.6 million (Osaka) and settled in one of 18,000 (Taketa City) and later a city of 480,000 (Matsuyama).

Osaka introduced us to a country of friendly and helpful people, warm smiles and gracious bows. No workshop could have prepared us for this world of new adventures. Each day brought us new and different wonders. We began in Osaka observing through huge glass windows a world of office workers busy at 7:00 P.M.; mainly young men in white shirts, dark ties and suits that we could see from our bus window on highways far above street level..

Our hotel room contained 2 neatly pressed yukatas (cotton kimonos), slippers and a toilet with numerous buttons; so different than a piece of candy on the pillow! We were awakened at 10:00 P.M. by a voice in our room that wished us a good night's sleep; we figured we had left a radio on but no it was coming from a speaker in the ceiling. Next day 17 of us tried our skills at finding our way through the elaborate subway system and underground railway stations. Of course, all signs were in Japanese and workers were busy scurrying to their jobs. We went up and down many, many sets of stairs trying to get our bearings. Crossing streets was either up and over or down and under! Our first memorable experience and we even made it to Osaka Castle and back to our hotel - wonder of wonders!

We chuckled when we read a list of our hotel's rules of conduct. It included the statement that the "hotel reserves the right to discontinue the occupancy of any guest who violates the house regulations." Notably were no use of heating stoves, cooking ranges and laundry presses; no behavior such as singing and talking loudly which may bother other guests. You could not bring into the hotel: material in dirty conditions or with strong offensive odors, no material of great bulk (what about all of our suitcases?) No guns and swords of which possession is not legally authorized. No gambling or other immoral behavior in the hallway or rooms. You could not hang any object in the window that may spoil the exterior look of the hotel. You could not throw out any object through the window nor could you appear in public areas in an undressed condition. I guess we all behaved OK since no one was asked to leave the hotel.

We were met at the Kumamoto Airport by three Friendship Force members, including our hostess, holding a welcome banner. A wonderful, busy week followed in Taketa City with many vivid memories:

Introductions to family and friends including an evening spent with our hosts' son, Takeshi, and his new bride, Mika, where we had the opportunity to view the first showing of the couple's wedding pictures (two traditional kimonos, a Western-type wedding gown and finally a traditional Western style ball gown).

Removal of shoes & the wearing of slippers (separate ones for the room with the toilet).

New foods and ways to prepare them and using chopsticks. We enjoyed the sweetest strawberries we've ever tasted. Each day our hostess, Yukiko, prepared new and interesting traditional Japanese dishes that she explained to us with the help of her "best friend" a really neat hand-held translator computer that supplied the English word as well as a thorough definition. She had many books written in both English and Japanese on Japanese culture that we enjoyed perusing. Our hostess had taught English in Junior High so we were indeed fortunate; our host, Kenshi, was a Junior High principal whose hobby is raising bonsai, one of these dwarf trees is 60 years old! Each breakfast and dinner we enjoyed a different homemade soup and always lots of refreshing, delicate green tea.

Sleeping on low beds warmed by lots of blankets; firm pillows filled with a pebble-like substance. A thoughtfully provided space heater turned on to raise the 49 degree temperature in our room before getting out of bed.

Mary dined from a Western height chair at a traditional low Japanese table the frame of which is covered by a number of heavy decorative covers and overlaid with a wooden top. Under the table is a "Hot Carpet" the size of the table or larger that warms your feet under the covers that keep the heat confined (our hosts' three cats (Pee-suki, Gomi & Chiko) liked to sleep there so Art often made contact with them as he adjusted his legs for breakfast.)

Cherry blossoms were at the height of their beauty during our week in Taketa City

A Shinto Shrine where we received a very good fortune - one with two golden buddhas. Our hostess, Yukiko, received a bad one so she tied it to a post so the wind would blow it away. On our walk through Taketa we vividly remember our impromptu rickshaw photos (Art rode and Mary pulled since her knees prevented her from climbing into the cart); walking through Melody Tunnel that planned music as you entered; an extra prayer at the temple that was specifically dedicated to prayers for minimum suffering before death; the precise procedure for the Japanese Tea Ceremony which some of us reenacted as best we could. The sight of huge light cloth carp fish replicas with streamers hanging at homes that express the sentiment that the boys of the family have the courage of the carp to overcome life's obstacle just as the carp has the strength to swim upstream. A day filled with five flower activities - a friend's camellia that he has been growing for 50 years, some as large as saucers; a greenhouse with 300 varieties of exotic begonias; Fuju Park with formal plantings of spring flowers; the site of a Rape Blossom (cultivated since ancient times for edible oil and cattle food) Festival where they were moving plants from other fields since the weather had not cooperated & finally a vividly colorful Tulip Festival. Two hot spring baths where we joined others (ala naturale) for a relaxing time; of course, men and women were in separate areas. One was outdoors and provided a lovely view of Mt. Aso; the other allowed the hot water to pound on sore parts of the body; ah so good! Yukiko even smuggled a camera into each of the baths for a "surprise picture." A special lunch in a traditional restaurant near Mt. Aso where we dined around an open charcoal fire surrounded by sand into which were stuck bamboo sticks of various foods including whole, live trout. There was no doubt that this fish was fresh! Mary being dressed in a special kimono made by our hostess' mother following a dinner for 16 at our hosts' home. Arranging pressed flowers on cards from masses of tissue wrapped blossoms at a friend of Yukiko's; even Art got into the act. Yasuyo presented our art work to us as souvenirs of our three hour effort followed by luscious chocolate coated cream puffs and green tea. Opening formal ceremonies for the first day of the school year at a Junior High; all students in uniforms; very serious ceremony with principal in morning suit - very impressive with lovely music, complete silence with parents and honored community dignitaries attending. Tea and a box lunch (lovely lacquered compartment tray with 16 varieties of Japanese delicacies) shared with our hostess and her friend, Eiko, who made exquisite replicas of samurai costumes. The American idea of a box lunch sure is lacking in comparison! A truly special antique covered bowl plus 3 albums of photos taken during our week in Taketa were presented to us by Yukiko before we departed. She helped all of us get our luggage up stairs & down gangways aboard ship. It was difficult to say goodbye.

We traveled by ferry boat for three hours to reach our second week destination, Matsuyama, where our hosts met us with signs bearing our names. More lasting memories were added:

Our lovely and gracious hostess, Yoshiko, our host's warm and welcoming parents, Hideo and Mitsuko, our hard-working host, Toshinobu, and finally, their dog, Beth.

Fancy toilets with heated seats, water that sprayed whichever part you desired; of course, you could adjust the temperature and pressure of the flow; and finally, a fan with heated air to dry you!

New sandwiches - potato salad on very fresh bread followed by whipped cream, strawberries and banana slices between white bread - different but delicious.

Trying our hand at making a piece of pottery with our names inscribed in clay of another color at the home of an award-winning potter friend of our hostess who will mail them to us after they have been properly fired. Keizaburo delighted in showing us some magic, in addition to his pottery, which we think we can perform with a little bit of concentration. His wife, Kazuko, performed a traditional tea ceremony for us.

A delicious Italian/Japanese lunch prepared by our hostess' mother, Takiko; she has visited Italy 20 times during the 13 years another daughter has lived there.

Fading cherry blossoms replaced by azaleas and pansies everywhere in containers and along the streets and roadways.

Using small typed cards to help us with the most essential Japanese phrases; our hosts were always pleasantly amused by our attempts.

The thoughtfulness of small gifts that represented the local communities - Hime Daruma (Princess Doll) from Taketa City government and Hime Temari (Thread or Good Fortune

Ball) made entirely by hand using different colors of silk thread wound around a ball to make various designs from The Friendship Force of Ehime.

More new taste delights shared with new friends.

Times shared with sisters Sachiko and Setsuko who, along with Yoshiko, accompanied us shopping for yukatas, display backings for our pressed flower arrangements and, of course, Japanese Pokemon cards for Mary's 6 and 4 year old grandchildren. The Japanese sisters had started calling Art "Arthur" and he said that only someone who calls on the phone to sell him something calls him "Arthur"; then they began calling him "Honey" Art. We were deeply touched by the many kindnesses we received from these warm-hearted women.

The great fun we shared with the four sales staff of the elegant Kimono shop where we removed our shoes before stepping up to the main showroom area. After making our selection of yukatas, we were offered coffee and Art presented cards and Nebraska pins to the four sales people. They gave us mementos in return. We were the only customers so we took photos of all of us in front of an elaborate kimono ($5,000). What a day!

Party at the home of Mrs. Matsuura where we enjoyed a great variety of traditional foods and played bells to Japanese and American tunes - such fun, laughter and lively conversation with 30 of us enjoying the evening. If only you could have seen the entry way with all those shoes! By the way, we removed our shoes each time we entered a home.

The thoughtfulness of The Friendship Force of Ehime to give each of us copies of group photos taken on the day trip and at the Welcoming Party (what a grand array of delectable foods!).

The overwhelming kindness of one woman shopkeeper outside temple 51. Art wanted to purchase a train made of bamboo. Before we knew what was happening the kind shopkeeper had given a train to Art; he presented her with our card and a Nebraska pin. Mary asked to buy some dolls of the area that were in a display case; she was given them as a gift in spite of much protest on our part. This happened with several packages of Japanese cookies, a small drum, the original train Art tried to buy, key chains, tiny dolls, lots of good luck charms and 2 oranges! She ignored all of her other customers; Sachiko said that the shopkeeper thought Art was "so tall and beautiful". Sachiko stated that she had never known a small shopkeeper to be so generous. We were afraid if we stayed any long she would give us the shop!! By the way, we learned at the temple a few minutes earlier that this was to be or lucky year ? Art was born in the year of the horse and Mary the year of the tiger.

Afternoon tea party shared with host's parents and our hostess' best friends, Takako and Mitsue; exchanged lots of thoughts and ideas about our two countries. Received lovely, handmade jewelry pouches for all of our female family members from Takako.

Tea made from lemon grass out of the yard with our hostess and her husband's parents in the tea house on the lawn of both families' homes. The beginning of a lasting friendship!

The thoughtfulness of our hostess to locate a source of available Japanese Pokemon cards and to obtain numerous small gifts for Mary's grandchildren plus not one, but four, types of rope/twine for securing an additional packing box.

Poignant goodbyes at breakfast our last morning with hostess, husband and his parents. While we moved our suitcases to the car, parents returned to their home to gather several personal items that they pressed into our hands. As we drove away there were lumps in our throats and tears in our hearts and eyes. How do you leave people who have become so close and dear in only one week???

Most, if not all, of the above memorable happenings would never have occurred had we been in Japan as mere tourists. Yes, we did enjoy visiting the sites of each area, though they are not mentioned here, but because of The Friendship Force we truly experienced the Japanese people and their culture and they in turn shared in ours. We didn't say Sayonara but only a temporary so-long until we return.