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Jerry
ne
morning our Ozu hosts, Yoshi and Feru Takase must have decided they would
make us homesick for Nebraska. They thrilled us swiftly down narrow, winding
roads that mercifully grew a little wider. After 45 minutes, we rounded
a curve and in front of us was a majestic stone rehabilitation center, an
unlikely location for the sculpture we were about to see. Not Nebraska windmills,
but stone windmills! That really worked. Heavy rock that turned in the wind!
Moving sculpture, The
sculpture proved to be a physical prelude to the people experiences following
our chop stick lunch. Off
to school and Megu Nishiyama's 5th grade class. Megu is the 11-year-old
daughter of Soneko Nishiyama, who hosted Phillip and Mary Ann Bede. On arriving
we were greeted by the sight of navy blue clad students cleaning the entrances
and hallways! First stop was the official visit to the principal complete
with sincere and respectful bowing and exchanging cards. Next stop was class
where we did the calligraphy lesson in 5th grade desks near the teacher.
Yes, much help needed! Megu's teacher was sweet and so patient. Efficiently
and gracefully, she demonstrated the sweeping motions required applying
ink to paper. After practice, we were trusted with fine paper and board
for the finished product. From class we slipped our way (in traditional
Japanese slippers) down two flights of stairs to a convocation hall. Here
the students entertained us with singing and historic Japanese games. They
honored us with interview questions about the U.S. A., the size of our homes,
what Japanese food we like and what surprised us most about their country.
In conclusion, the students crowded around us, gave us our class drawings,
showered us with gifts of their own origami decorations before calling lyrically,
"Konnichiwa" as we left their school and this most memorable experience!
Claire
ome
of the many highlights on our trip were announced during breakfast communication
times with our delightful, non-English-speaking hosts, Teiko and Michiyasu
Hatano in Ogata. One morning the note read: 9 A.M. Culture; 10:45 Tulips.
What a special adventure followed! Thanks
to the ideas of an aggressive young mayor of eight years, the community
is beneficiary of a spectacular, new, state-of-the art community center
in which historical Japanese arts and crafts are taught and preserved. The
facilities include wonderful lighting, stainless steel sinks, wood-working
area, pottery-making department, etc.,etc. Young and old take classes there.
Across
a courtyard is a fabulous cultural museum made from an old sake distillery.
An 84-year-old lady has spent hundreds of hours hand-making replica figures
to create mini-scenes of life in the1940's and 50's: weddings, farm activities,
washing clothes, sewing, kimono festivals on and on! (I wanted to buy one
of the figures but when visiting with the artist she said she wanted to
keep the for all to enjoy.) In addition, there was a life-size antique shoulder-mounted
carriage, fire-fighting equipment, and a multitude of beautifully restored
items used in that period. One
of the special treats was seeing and having the privilege of trying on the
colorful dancer costumes. Imagine my surprise to discover that all the Japanese
people wearing these costumes of the Good Devil and the Princess are men.
Yes, even the Princess is a man! The heads of the costumes are well constructed
but very heavy. The
tulip gardens in full bloom rival many in Holland. In fact, the mayor had
gone to Holland on an idea trip.
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