Fushimi Inari shrine and Tofukuji Temple

I went to Kyoto by myself yesterday (Saturday). I left the Institute at 7:40am and biked to the Rinku Town train station. I arrived at the Fushimi Inari Shrine before 10am. I slowly walked toward the shrine and took many pictures. I had no idea how big the shrine was until I finished the walk. The shrine is famous for its multiple tori (gate) and the two foxes/dogs that guard the tori. The tori guides one where to go, like a road marker. I just had to follow where I see tori. The stores at various spots in the mountain are rest areas. They are also almost always near some group of smaller shrines (and possibly people's graves, I could not tell, although they all seem to say "dai kami"- "great god/spirit"). When I thought I had reached the top, more tori appeared and led me up higher and higher. I am pretty sure that for one to walk around all of the shrine is a special task, like a coming-of-the-age type of task. You become an adult once you walked around the whole shrine.

I finally began to go down the hill. I took a path where not many people appeared and ended up on the residential side next to the shrine. Yes, I was lost for a bit but it was fine because I found my way and asked someone for direction. The unfortunate thing was I did not return to the main shrine building to buy some shrine charms for souvenir. I also hesitated on buying more souvenir. I only bought a bamboo bookmark for myself while I was walking down the hill and saw a store within the hill/mountain. I took the train to Tofukuji Temple after 1pm.

I was confused at first because I only saw smaller buildings inside the Tofukuji compound. I spent a long time at this rock garden for my money's worth and to stay out of the rain. It was raining hard right after I arrived at the Tofukuji station. I also thought that there was no major building for this temple, and thus I could kill my time slowly at this garden. Little did I know, as I walked further out, I found the major buildings. The major site has three special showings. I did not want to spend more money, so I did not go into any. I wished I could go into this one, where you go up to the second/third floor of the building, you can see the god statues and the outside scenery. I left there after 2:30pm and headed toward the station to go to Osaka for the day 2 event of the Tenjin Matsuri Festival.

My legs and shoulders are sore today.

Hentai (means pervert)

My Tenjin Matsuri experience was perfect except for one thing. I was touched by a "chikan," the infamous Japanese term for those who touch other people's body parts without permission. I had thought my camera bag was pushing against my crouch as the crowd pushed on and I was being squeezed. Then I looked and it was the fist of the man next to me, and immediately put my camera bag in that spot.

I had no idea how long it had been going on. I also thought it was an accident until I thought about it more. Other Japanese I had been around had tried to keep distance from each other, and not touch each other in any way. While I was not paying attention (I was focusing on taking pictures), this man came and pushed me more and more to the side to the point where he was between me and the other guy who had been standing next to me the whole time before. At one point, I saw that there was a good amount of space between that chikan and the man originally standing next to me. But why was it that the chikan kept on pushing toward my side? He was so close that our arms stuck together a couple of times- the sweat glued our arms together. I tried to get away and finally was only able to do so by standing slightly behind him, but then that was when the fist on my crouch thing happened. It did not help that crowd behind me was pushing me forward.

Since I was on the wrong bridge and could not see the boats well, and could only hear but not see the fireworks, I left after I thought out the chikan thing. I figured out that he was a chikan and I left. I did not know what the appropriate Japanese reaction was. Could I yell at him? What should I say then? I have never been good with reacting cleverly to situations.

Tenjin Matsuri (Festival)

I went to the Tenjin Matsuri on Friday and Saturday. After the Bunraku event on Friday, Anya and I went to the Tenjin Matsuri. We walked along the street vendor path but could not find the shrine at first. We finally found it and took many pictures. Drum playing with women dancing, taiko practice, and mini-dragon dance were noteworthy. You can see them on my picasa.

The main event was on Saturday. I was by myself because I could not find someone who would go with me to Kyoto in the morning and early afternoon and come back for the festival. The parade began at 4pm from the shrine. I spent some time on finding the shrine. People dressed up in various types of older Japanese clothes from various eras (I could not tell which). People dressed up in royal or government official clothes rode on horses. They performed traditional Japanese wind and percussion instruments, danced, and chanted some traditional phrase. Perhaps the most labor-intensive performance was the lifting of the god (kami-sama)'s altar/"house." Performers ranged from infants to people who looked like they were in their 70s and maybe 80s.

After the parade on the street, performers and specialists in transportation/boat transported god stuff and themselves onto the boat for the parade on water. Unfortunately I stood at the wrong bridge where the loading dock was located, but not where the boats gathered. Therefore I could not see much, and also missed the firework.

The street vendors not only sold foods (yaki meat, cold drinks, ice cream or shaved ice, yakisoba, okonomiyaki, cotton candy, and sugar-coated strawberry and apple) but also provided games for mainly kids to play- like catching fish, turtle, and toys from the water. I also saw marble, shooting and dart games. I felt as if I was a child again in Taiwan.

Bunraku Theatre

Anya and I went to a Bunraku theatre performance at the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka today, July 24. Bunraku is the Japanese puppet show that began in the 17th century. The puppets weigh 15 kg each and are 2/3 my height (about 100cm). Each puppet is handled by three puppet masters: the main one handles the head, body and right hand, the second master handles the left hand, and the third master handles the feet. The feet is considered the easiest part, and it takes 10 years to master. It takes another 10 years to master the left hand, another 10 years for the main master. It means the main master has at least 30 years of training. You can find out more by googling.

The performance was four-hour long, only 1/3 the length of the original play. The part we saw was the love story of a samurai and a samurai-class woman in love, who got separated. The woman went search for him and became a blind begger. At the end of the play, her lover's awesome medicine cured her blindness, but they were still parted.

The puppetry is accompanied by a narrator who chants like he sings, and shamisen (an musical instrument) player. There were many narrators and shamisen players who alternated throughout the play. They were really amazing also! For this play, we also head a goto (Chinese "piano") performance because the woman character performed a piece on her goto. Because we sat on the second row in the center of the theatre, we actually saw how each tiny finger moved on the instrument. It was totally amazing! The body movement of each character was also amazing. Sometimes the movements are exaggeration, as in if real humans acted them out, they were look awkward. Other movements were superior to if real humans performed them because I could not see how real humans could perform bodily movements that convey the emotions that the puppets were able to convey.

I rented an English guide that translated the main plots and provided basic information on the music and puppet movements as well as historical facts when relevant. My headphone's volume was accidentally turned off during the first 30 minutes (when the two lovers met), so I had no idea what they were saying. Luckily I checked with Anya and found out that there was supposed to be some translations as I watched the show. The performance became more fun once I can understand the basic story plot.

I finally got used to not looking at the puppet masters and began to focus mostly on the puppets in the final hour of the performance. I wish I could watch another performance because I think I can appreciate the puppets much more now. Too bad i will not because I do not think I can afford it. This performance will be reimbursed by the Institute as part of the cultural program they fund. Yes, I know I am so lucky here! My ticket and train ride will be reimbursed.

Sending Mail in Japan

I sent a mail for the first time in Japan yesterday, Thursday, July 23. Yes, I mean an actual letter, the old fashion way. Because Japanese are strict with their information, no professor's phone number or email are provided on the university website. The Japanese language instructor who studies Native Taiwanese literature (Uozumi) found this Taiwanese scholar in Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo whose research interest is similar to my or the Taiwan part of my research (at this point, probably the main part).

Because I do not have her email address, my advisor here (Yazawa) suggested that I write a letter. Although Yazawa-sensei suggests that a letter in English will probably be fine, I thought I should write it in Chinese. I had not written any letter in Chinese since early high school, and have never written a professional or academic letter before. I spend a total of two hours on writing the letter.I asked another participant from China to proofread for me, and I also asked my godfather/uncle/daddy (all the same person) to proofread for me. I was short on time, and was unable to incorporate both comments. I ended up printing out my daddy's version. It sounded very sophisticated.

Anyhow, I then asked my speech teacher here (Nohata) on how to write information on a Japanese mail envelope. After learning how, I went to the Institute's store, bought an envelope and stamp. I wrote the cover and asked the store person to check to see if everything looked fine. I had one mistake- the "zip-code" was in the wrong place.

It was a good experience. Now I know how to mail a letter in Japan. The price differs depending on where you send it, the size of the envelope, and of course the weight.

Flowing Somen Noodle

On Wednesday, July 22, the Men's Cooking Club from the Tajiri International Exchange Circle prepared the flowing somen noodle event for us the participants at the Kansai Institute. You can see pictures on my picasa.

One gets a bowl with soy sauce, green onion, wasabi, and ginger. Then one goes to the noodle flowing site. The noodles are pre-cooked. Someone then put some noodle flowing down the half-chopped bamboo tree. Water are running down the bamboo. At the end, there are colandar and pot that catch noodles that did not get caught by people down the bamboo tree. What you are supposed to do is to put your chopsticks perpendicular to the bamboo tree and wait for the noodle to flow past your chopsticks. You then pick up the noodles, dip them in the sauce and eat them.

Not only did we get the play the role of the noodle eater, we also got to be the "noodle-dropper." It was so much fun! The noodles tasted refreshing, the perfect food for the summer.

Umi no Hi (Day of the Sea)

Today (Monday, July 20, 2009) is Umi no Hi (Day of the Sea). Japanese are all supposed to go to the sea and do something there. I signed up for a beach cleaning followed by a yacht sailing event. Because of the rain, the beach cleaning was canceled. I found out when I went to the meeting place at 6:40am. I could not go back to sleep, so I stayed up until after 8am when I was able to eat breakfast.

We met at 8:45am for the sailing event and then walked to the harbor. Michael and his wife Neda also came! I was so surprised but very happy to see them. We were not on the same yacht though. Each yacht had 6 to 7 passengers plus two drivers/sailors. I was in the boat with Julio Cesar and Miyuki from my six month program, two Japanese elementary students, one Japanese older woman (her husband was one of the drivers) and a middle-age man. I sailed the boat at some point, even though I still do not know for sure how to drive it. We sailed for over one hour.

I asked the Japanese passengers when and why the Day of the Sea began, but I did not understand the reason (or that no one knew the reason) but I learned that it began 13 years ago. I mostly asked the elementary students about their school life. I could not find questions for the adults at this point. But it was my first time talking extensively with Japanese people.

After the yacht ride, we gathered to have free cold drinks for cheers (kambai) and photography. The exchange circle also gave each participant a set of lucky stones according to one's Chinese animal astrology sign. I made more conversation- I talked to the woman with a newborn whom I saw last month at my very first exchange event. I exchanged contact info with her. I also took picture with her and her newborn in my arms. You can see it on my picasa. I had so much fun!

Spanish food and Karaoke Birthday Party

Julio Cesar from Spain was born 34 years ago today. He and Anna (also from Spain) made Spanish salad (potato, pepper, tomato, etc.) and pan fried chicken drumsticks for everyone. We congregated before 8:30pm, and then moved to the karaoke room about 20 minutes later. Yazawa-sensei and Nohata-sensei came with a box of snacks as a gift for Julio Cesar, but in reality for everyone to eat. Noborizato-sensei came later (probably around 9:10 or 9:15pm), after the other two teachers had left (at 9pm), because she went to have Korean food with four Korean from our six-month program. It means all three teachers from our six-month program came! I think it was amazing for these teachers to stay so late to come to a participant's birthday party. It definitely shows Julio Cesar's charm. He is popular with everyone with his boyish, boshy yet very "gentleman" manners.

We karaoked like crazy and group-sang two or three songs. The funnies one was Celine Dion's "My Heart will go on" because most of us who sang along also acted out each word. Two other songs were "Can't take my eyes off of you" and "Dancing Queen." I had originally reserved the karaoke room to sing by myself from 7pm to 9pm, without knowing the birthday party. After I found out today, I still began to sing at 7pm and invited some others.

The Real Research Begins

I met with Uozumi-sensei today to discuss my research. She is a Japanese language teacher at the Institute who researches on Taiwanese aborigines during the Japanese colonial period. Yazawa-sensei, my official advisor at the Institute, suggests that I speak to Uozumi-sensei about my research. Uozumi-sensei spent one hour and 40 minutes with me, starting with a short self-introduction and a discussion of my research background. She then spent a lot of time on the internet, showing me various sites I can use to look up articles and researcher names. She says I should have about three or four days of research work now. I really need to start to research, be active. I am worried about my master's paper, but am limited by either my Japanese proficiency or the location of my sources (Taiwan). I will have to take one step at a time and see what happens. But I need to start to work and focus on Taiwan, for now.

Badminton

I played badminton with Carla, Anya, Julio Cesar, and Toki today. Toki came later, after Julio Cesar had left for a while. Carla left early. I played for about one hour. I think I got better as time went on. It was fun! I had not really played since I left Taiwan more than 16 years ago.

Colorful sugar candies

I saw a lot of colorful sugar candies in the supermarket on Sunday, July 12. Carla says they are for a certain holiday in Japan. This picture shows my favorite one.

The Osaka Sea

I finally walked to the sea/beach along the Institute with two colleagues on Monday, July 13. The weather after 7pm was fairly cool, but slight sweating was still unavoidable. I enjoyed the view, but my pictures came out much darker than what I saw.

Mongolian Music Concert and Tanabata Kazari Making

This is my tree.

The Kumatori International Friendship Club sponsored a small concert of Mongolian music and a session of Tanabata kazari making yesterday, Saturday, July 11, 2009. The event took place in this old Japanese house. I got to sit on tatami.

The concert was amazing with the Mongolian musician who not only played the traditional Mongolian instrument (it can play music like a violin and viola), but he sang amazingly. He made sounds that did not sound like a human voice, but a music instrument.

We then made Tanabata kazari- decorations for the tree during the Tanabata celebration/festival. One ties his/her wish to the tree. We had home-made cakes that tasted like store-bought!

This was an intimate setting, mainly because ten people from the Instituted signed up but did not show up. The Kumatori club members who sad. I felt very bad because it was rude.

So far the events I have been to have not been the same. I enjoyed each one of them very much. I need to start to think about questions that I would like to ask ordinary Japanese. Maybe not so ordinary because they willingly joined the international exchange club to interact with foreigners. But these are as close to "ordinary Japanese" as I can get.

I just love my program. Everything is set up, and all these events are free with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. I am so happy that I am in the Japan Foundation Kansai program!

Kyoto the Former Japanese Capital

The picture is I and the bowl thing at the Kiyomizu Temple.

The two-month program participants left for Tokyo on Wednesday morning, and will not be back until Saturday or Sunday. We the six-month program participants spent all day on Wednesday (July 8) to prepare for our trip to Kyoto yesterday (July 9). Our teachers divided 15 of us into 5 groups of two to four people. Most groups have one place in Kyoto they must go to. My group members were Rimi and Julio Cesar. The teachers assigned my group to go to the famous Kiyomizu Temple. Each of us chose a place we wanted to go.

We caught the shuttle to the train station at 7:31am. We changed train twice, and unfortunately caught second to the slowest train on our last transfer. Instead of 10am, we arrived at 10:30am. On the brighter side, an origami old lady gave Julio Cesar an origami bird, and soon proceeded to teach us how to make it on the train.

We went to Sanjusangendo where 1000 buddhisattvas were housed, 500 on each side of this gigantic buddhisattva in the long wooden structure. The presence of all 1000 together took my breath away.

I will not want to walk more than 15 minutes to get to a different location in the summer heat and humidity in Japan. We walked for about 30 minutes without any good scenery to get to the Kiyomizu Temple from before noon to after. Kiyomizu has many old buildings, including a three-story pagoda. I also enjoyed this big bowl thing that makes great ringing sound after you hit it. One can see the city of Kyoto from Kiyomizu, which is on the top of the mountain. We can also see Kyoto Tower.

I paid 100 yen each time to get my fortune told on a piece of paper at Sanjusangendo and Kiyomizudera. I got "luck" in the former and "small luck" in the latter place. At Sanjusangendo, I put money in this place and drew a piece of paper on the tray. At Kiyomizudera, I shook this wooden cylindrical container and make one wooden stick to come out of the container. I then got the paper fortune that corresponded to the number on the wooden stick.

We had very bad udon (Japanese noodle) for lunch, except for Rimi who had yummy soba noodle.

We walked for about 40 minutes to get to the Kyoto National Modern Art Museum. We saw the special late-19th century-early-20th century special Japanese exhibit, and then the usual gallery which has some Japanese and Western art. The museum also hosted a Soviet Union silent movie posters from the 1920s and 1930s. Overall, the museum was very small, especially in comparison to any museum I had been to in the U.S.

We did not make it to Nanzenji Temple, and just walked around near the famous Gion area (where many maiko resided, maiko in the old days were called geisha). I bought a lot of souvenirs for people at the temples and around Kyoto.

We had 15 minute to finish our dinner in order to catch the train to get back to the train station near the Institute, in order to catch the last shuttle back to the Institute. I did not know I could not pack leftovers at this place, and thus left the egg-over-rice dish almost untouched at the restaurant. I was mad that I was forced to waste food! We caught all the trains fine except the last transfer, when we missed the train by 1 or 2 minutes (we did not pay attention to the time). We had to wait for about 25 or 30 minutes for the next one.

We arrived at the station at 9:30pm, and walked back to the Institute on the strong windy dark road.

I felt great to return to Kyoto after my trip last year. Although the places I visited yesterday were new to me, I still have so many places I want to visit in Kyoto. I plan to visit one every time I go to Kyoto for research (at least 5 times before this program ends). I just love Kyoto.

Kansai Institute's Library

I got my first four books ordered from ILL (Interlibrary Loan) on Wednesday, July 8. The librarian allowed me to check out two books, but I had to read the other two inside the library. One document was from the 1930s, and the other one was from the early 1950s.

Today I returned to the library and checked out another book. I had to browse through five or six other books/sources inside the library. Following Yu and Carla's idea, I photographed pages that I think I need. With my Japanese level right now, I cannot read through them quick or without a dictionary. Also I did not, and will not have enough time to read carefully in the library.

My problem now is to learn how to convert JPEG files into DOC. or PDF.

Everyone feels the same, that we are exhausted from the all-day language courses that we do not have the energy, even when we have time, to do research. I am going to try to see what I can do. I actually did more source searching on Wednesday night, the night before our Kyoto trip yesterday (Thursday).

Karaoke Party

The two-month program sponsored a karaoke party on Tuesday, July 7 (Tanabata Day) where the six-month participants were invited also (actually the six-month program teacher-advisors were present and assisted with the set-up and clean-up). The party actually turned into a cultural show. We saw two guitar playing with singing performances, one Bali dance, piano-playing with singing, two former Soviet Union countries' dances, and a singing (opera-voice) performance by another former Soviet Union country participant. We the students then made all the teachers karaoke. The four (two-month program) teachers sang one song, and the two six-month program teachers sang together (the third one was not feeling well). Saigoto sang Enrique Iglesia's "Bailamos" and "Hero," which got the professional dancers dancing while he sang. During "Bailamos," about one-half to two-third of everyone made a dancing train(?). You can see pictures on my picasa.

Three more of us karaoked. I sang a Taiwanese song after more than half of people already left, because it was past time. I think I did fine then. I was not bad like when I tried an anime song at the beginning of the karaoke party (it was before everyone was there and before anyone began to perform).

Tanabata Festival

In this picture, you see Carla and I by the wishing tree.

The Tanabata Festival (with a Chinese myth that was originally celebrated on July 7 of the lunar calendar, but the Japanese changed it to Western Calendar on July 7 with their version of the story), Sunday, July 5, 2009

This festival took place in the Institute's auditorium. The Hannan City International Exchange Circle sponsored this event. They set up the place. Unlike the Summer Festival that was more of a one-group event from the day before, this festival was more like how I imagined Japanese festival to be based on Japanese anime stories. Various booths were set up for participants to visit. Balloon-animal making booth, Japanese traditional toy playing booth, Japanese fan making booth, wish making booth with two trees available for hanging the wishes, and a children story-telling booth. The event sponsor also gave each participant ten or so tickets to get various Japanese snacks at the snack area. One can do a drawing game to get the big prize or the small prize/candy at two places in the snack area. I made a balloon puppy, played two Japanese toys, and made a Japanese fan. I pretty much preferred this type of festival, but I also enjoyed the Summer Festival very much, especially since the sponsor provided door-to-door service.

With Carla's gracious help, I wore yukata to the Tanabata festival. It means many of my colleagues took pictures with me.

Summer Festival

In this picture, Lindsey Sasaki and I at the Summer Festival.

Summer Festival on Saturday, July 4, 2009

Note: I have been either too lazy or busy to update my blog.

The Misaki Town International Exchange Circle people picked up us after 4pm on Fourth of July to attend an indoor summer festival. I could not believe how most foods were home-made, at least they appeared to be (I did not ask). A school teacher began to talk to me right after I got some food, and thus I did not eat until most people finished their foods, and the introduction/game began. I was slightly sad because I was not full but did not get to have more foods.

Besides our program, four or so other international student/researcher groups were present. The sponsor asked each member from each group to introduce themselves. Lindsey Sasaki and I were the only Americans, and were put on the spot to listen to people humming half of "Star-Spangled Banner" before we had to express our "feelings" about our Independence Day. Neither of us knew what to say, and since my Japanese is better than Lindsey's, I held the microphone. But I have never been good with impromptu questions without at least five calm minutes to think about. Lindsey and my combined answer was beyond bad, but the crowd cheered anyways. I should say at least half of the crowd had attention elsewhere.

The sponsor requested those ladies who wished to wear yukata (literally "bath robe," but it is what most Japanese wear nowadays instead of the heavier and more complicated kimono) to do paper-scissors-rock to decide the two lucky ladies. Unfortunately I was the runner-up, third place.

Unexpectedly, we played many Japanese children's games for at least one hour, it might have been 1.5 hours.

Many children from all ages were present. From a few months old to middle schoolers. I saw who in my program love children. Of course there were old people also. I had lots of fun.

We returned to the Institute at 8:30pm.

I wore a red shirt with blue jeans, and tied my hair with blue and red hairbands for our Fourth of July. I have to thank Lindsey for wearing hers, and thus reminded me that I could do the same!

Unexpected Karaoke

The singing bug in me desired to karaoke yesterday (July 2). Since I thought most people would be at Lindsey's birthday dinner, I reserved the space thinking that I would karaoke by myself. During dinner time, I saw Su and invited her. Then Miyuki and Anna sat down and had dinner with us, so I invited them also. In the end, we all went into the karaoke room. Rony came in within 30 minutes after we started.

Anna said it was her first time in a karaoke "box" and did not sing at all. Miyuki sang three or four songs and only left 30 minutes before we finished. Su and I basically took turn singing. We sang roughly from 7pm to 9pm. This was the most I had ever sang in one setting, and I felt my throat was getting hurt. I wonder how professional singers (actual ones, not fake ones) perform at their concerts.

Su is a very quiet person, but I am most happy that she did not hesitate to sing as often as I did. I want to be better friends with her. I get a good vibe from her. She is in my grammar and Kanji classes. I sometimes ask her for help.

I was excited to find Sailor Moon songs! I just typed in three titles of the songs and they appeared! They were easiest to sing compare to the Japanese, English, Taiwanese, and Chinese Mandarin songs I did. I had so much fun!

Note: Su and Miyuki are Korean women; Anna is a Romanian woman; and Rony is a Bangladesh man.

Midnight surprise birthday cake

After getting soaked to get cake ingredients for Lindsey Sasaki, Shin and Mutia and I met in Mira's room to put fruits and ice cream with the plain sponge cake. I think Mira refrigerated the ice cream in stead of freezing it after returning from the store, because the ice cream had become milk shake.

Lindsey was surprised but very excited. We knocked on her door at midnight (0:00 hour) on July 2, 2009. Because of this surprise, I did not sleep until 1:30am. I woke up feeling disoriented rather than sleepy. I decided not to go to the group dinner for Lindsey's birthday. I was still exhausted, even after taking a bath.

Bath

After jogging/fast-walking for over 30 minutes and then showered yesterday (Thursday, July 2), I decided to take a bath, as in hot spring like. The tub is very deep. I stayed in the hot water for 15 minutes, maybe 20, before going to dinner. I felt good and warm after coming out. I cannot take too hot of a bath, but hotter than usual is good.

At one point, I wanted to blow dry my hair while sitting in the water, just to save some time. But after creating the image in my mind, I realized that I would probably kill myself that way. I did not want to do that, and so I did not dry my hair in the bathtub. I felt it was a good idea for a few seconds though.

Osaka Rain

I went to Rinku Town's shopping area today with Mira, Mutia, and Shin to buy a cake for Lindsey. We were surprised by the pouring rain when we were ready to return. I have not seen such rain since a young child in Taiwan. The ground began to be flooded. We bought umbrellas at the hyakuyen shop, but we still got soaked waist-down and all of my back while walking from the shopping center to the bus stop. I was so cold because of the wetness and the windiness. The strong wind helped the pouring rain with wetting us. Luckily we did not bike to the shopping center. I heard many people who biked to places at the same time also got rained on.

I took a shower after coming back. If I can help it, I will not go out in that kind of rain in the future. I hope that no rain comes when I have to go to the university libraries.

Treadmill

I exercised for the first time since arriving in Japan. I used the treadmill in the Institute's small gym. Since I have not had much experience with treadmills, I did not know how to operate it properly until five minutes after I begun. I only jogged/ran for 20 minutes, but at around the 10 or 15 minute mark, I felt my heart (straining) a bit. That is how I know my body was actually exercising. I plan to do it for 30 minutes tomorrow, but go faster each day (not indefinitely of course) until I feel like adding the time by another 10-minute increment. Perhaps eventually I would jog outside the Institute, by the ocean where it is beautiful.

I decided to begin exercising because my body has began to feel bad, especially my lower back. I hope exercises will help. Also, while still in the U.S., I had told myself to exercise in Japan.