Sleeping Jellyfish

As Mr. O has bridged his first 100 days in office, I have entered into my last 100 days in Japan through my exchange program with Akita International University. Starting the second week of May, I also plan to leave Japan the second week of August, shortly after the Kanto-matsuri in Akita on August 3rd, one of Japan’s most famous festivals. We have a local Kanto team here at AIU, as well as other teams from the surrounding towns that I believe to be participating in this years festival.

With less than a hundred days to go I am a mess of emotions. Trying to prepare myself for leaving, while at the same time trying to enjoy the rest of my time here. Longing for home, while knowing that as soon as I leave, I’ll be missing Japan and my friends here. Thus, the grass truly is always greener on the other side of the ocean.

For myself here, it is Sunday, a bit after 7pm, so rightfully Mother’s Day in America as far as I’m concerned. To my own, and all other お母さん’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day! Here is my collective present to you, thanks to my friend Ashley for the photo:

Sakura in Hirosaki

The sakura started blooming around here several weeks ago and have continued even until this week, but the peak hit in this region over the weekend of Golden Week. Golden Week is a special vacation time for the Japanese that surrounds several national holidays, including the now taboo birthday of the wartime Emporeror Showa. His personal name is Hirohito but was renamed after his death in 1989 for the era of his reign, the Showa period. Also within Golden Week is Constitution Memorial Day and my favorite, Children’s Day.

Because of the rain near campus during the prime blooming period, I was not able to take in as much as i wanted the rows of sakura trees that surround the school. Also regrettably, I did not make it down to Akita City’s Senshu Park for a proper ohanami (a picnic under a sakura tree just to take in their beauty). Also, while a large group of us went camping, two couples left a day early to stop at Kakunodate on their way back to check out the sakura, and even though they were there only 24 hours before us, they were able to catch Kakunodate in full bloom. It just wasn’t my luck this year, and though I feel great about all of the sakura I was able to see, as my friend Taro constantly complained, “It’s not enough!”

Since my camera was lost/stolen in Korea, I am at the mercy of others when it comes to pictures, but as I am collecting them I will be sure to add some wonderful sakura pictures on. Some people (gaijin) wonder what the big deal is about the sakura, and why the Japanese go crazy over it. I don’t have a terrible amount of insight into the Japanese psyche, and I don’t particularly like generalizations, so I will start with that, from what I can gather, a single tree usually only blooms for about 5 – 15 days depending on the weather. Cold and rain all effect the longevity of how long the flowers stay on the trees before falling and being replaced by crisp green leaves. This short life span gets the entire island riled up into a sakura induced fervor, sending people to the parks and river ways on weekends, and on long distance trips to famous sites, such as Himeji Castle, Kyoto, and the Tokyo Imperial Palace during Golden Week, depending on what areas are in full bloom. Even though I feel slighted in not getting a proper ohanami, everything that I’ve seen on walks, train rides, and hikes is enough to convince me that Japan has every right to go insane over a flower every Spring.

Our camping expedition was quite nice. The key marks are swimming in Lake Tazawako, going to an outdoor onsen, a great public bath house, and constantly eating whatever Taro was kind enough to cook up. Japan has some great tools for camp survival, including these ammunition box looking things that are actually rice cookers, and work great. Also taking pasta to a new level, when we weren’t eating spaghetti, we had plenty of ramen to go around.

At Tazawako Station

Train to Tazawako, me and Michal, hiding behind our books and poetry.

Yong Hyun is showing us how to set up the tent Korean Military Style

There's a dragon who lives at the bottom of the lake, so I went to go find it.

First night's BBQ, with plenty of veggies for me and Carly.

Morning nature hike

End of the trail.

Making rice over the campfire.

Lurking around at Tazawako Station before the bus ride to the campsite.

I hope everyone has had a splendid Mother’s Day weekend, and is taking care of their own Mums and Grandmums. Group study session tonight at 9:30 where I explain Samuel P. Huntington’s groundbreaking Foreign Affairs article “Clash of Civilizations?” to a group of Japanese students. Also, Manchester United game, kick off at 9:30. Let’s hope my Liberal Arts education has bestowed me with the critical thinking skills to make the appropriate decision. I hope nothing happens in the first half.