My Trip to Japan

So, I've been training in the Martial Arts since 1972, Can-Ryu Jiu-Jitsu mostly. I guess this is why I felt the need to visit Japan for a couple of weeks when the opportunity came up. Come Sept/06 off I went with some family members also in the Martial Arts and set out to expand our knowledge.

Now, I've been to several other locations around the globe and met some interesting people and customs but I believe I was quite taken with my short experiences with Japanese people, customs and country as a whole. We landed at Osaka airport and boarded the train system to the city. Riding the transit system is usually quick, effecient, cheap, and clean, and on time, clockwork. We stayed one night at a local hotel and did the tourist thing, lots of cool shops, bright lights and fashionable outfits. Communication was a bit of a challenge as we hadn't linked with our last team member yet but through creative pantimiming and gestures we managed to get along. Course I can't leave it here, as the following morning we were up before the roosters and went looking for a coffee shop. Ahh the jet thing and time differences. On our quest we came upon a lady dressed in Japanese attire who was standing at the curb in prayer posture facing a dead pigeon in the middle of the street. We quietly passed by and looked back to see her finish then go and pick up the bird for disposal. Odd thing, we thought but we knew we were out of our element here in understanding so chocked it up to a custom thing. Later that day we boarded the bullet train and headed out to Kyoto (where we were going to meet our team member).

We were able to navigate the trains and subways without too much trouble, although we did get lost once, and ended up way out in the country on the outskirts of Osaka. Don`t think they get too many Westerners there, so we were quite the spectacle. But we survived, and made it to Kyoto only an hour late.

We stayed at The Westin, ya I know, life is tough, which spoiled the heck out of us. There we were treated to a local bird sanctuary on the hotel grounds, 500 species at the top of the hill. As we trekked up the small mountain to see these birds we came upon a sizable shinto shrine where we could partake in the local custom if we wished. Didn`t really see that many birds, but the the view of Kyoto was pretty cool. Later that day we all rented bicycles and cruised Kyoto hard, very hard. Let me tell you, 5 Westerners riding bright yellow bikes through the streets of downtown Kyoto...we received our fair share of looks and picture snapping of the spectacle. Basically we were stared at everywhere we went. Kinda feel like a celebrity. We cycled to a really cheesy (but fun) movie land amusement park. This is the same film company that makes Power Rangers and had a section on Samurai and Ninja.. We went through the haunted house and a couple of our party were screaming like little school girls. Like I said it was kinda cheesy, but alot of fun. We then pedaled our collective (and sore) butts to `The Golden Temple`, which was spectacular. It was built over 500 years ago for a very important Shogun (who`s name escapes me). It is called the Gold Temple because the entire thing is covered in real gold. It also has an amazing Zen garden, where 39 rocks are placed, and no matter where you stand, there is one rock that is not visible. I guess the students that were trained there throughout the ages revelled in trying to be the first one to find the spot where you could see all of the rocks. In our cycling adventures back to the hotel, we passed by many temples, shrines etc. All spectacular. We stopped for some beery goodness at a really cool pub. Winding our way between people on the sidewalk, this is a custom, during rush hour was actually quite fun, no choice as the roads were suicidal. Late night snack included some parts of a chicken that I never knew existed. Everybody we stopped and asked directions or something they bent over backwards to assist us, amazing. Kyoto was better laid out with bigger older buildings and lots of temples and shrines. Near our hotel is a sector dedicated to the arts, museums, etc. also the Budo martial arts center where I spent some time observing the practices of Kendo and Kyodo, (archery), it was all quite respectful and deeply detailed and at-one with themselves. Next day we were off to Koya-san (the holiest mountain in Japan) to stay in a monastery with Buddhist monks. Not sure if `Jack` (old guy that runs the coffee shop next to the hotel) was kidding, but he told us that if we move during the prayer ceremonies, we get whacked on the back with a cane. hmm, I wonder if they would get riled up if I did a wrist-lock takedown and arm-bar on the monk.

Our trip to Koya-san was an adventure in itself. Started off leaving the hotel via a shuttle bus (which was really crowded) to the main Kyoto station, then we took a local light rail train to Osaka station, then a subway to another station, then an express train to the base of Koya-san, then a cable car up the mountain, then a bus to a monastery. But it was worth it. Koya-san is considered to be the holiest mountain in Japan. There are over 200 temples, and 400 shrines at the top of the mountain (which is about 1000 metres high). Koya-san is a world heritage site, and in a word...spectacular. The meji monastery we stayed at was cool. Buddhist Monks and apprentices all over the place. The grand master lead us through a meditation session our first night there. With my cycle butt being the way it was, it was tough to sit cross legged for the 45 minute session. But it was pretty cool. The room that we meditated in was the most peaceful and serene place I have ever been in. It was all dark hardwood walls (cherry wood I think) with red carpeting. The room was dimly lit with 10 or 12 huge hanging lanterns with brass disks hanging off them, almost like wind chimes. A few candles added to the atmosphere as well. After the meditation session, we sat down in the community eating area for a very simple but tasty vegetarian meal (plenty of sea-weed and tofu...mmmmm...tofu). We were all pretty bagged from the days travels so we crashed pretty early. Woke up the next morning at 5:30 for morning prayer and chant session which was also memorable. We were in the same room as the meditation thing so we were quickly steeped in the feelings and all of the monks gathered there as well. They rang a bell, and then started chanting. It was really amazing to see them all chant in unison. From time to time one of the monks would stop to catch his breath, and then join in the chanting again with barely a difference in the complete sound. It was really fascinating to witness this. Then another vegetarian breakfast, and off to tour the mountain. Saw alot of cool temples and shrines, but the best was Kobodaishis mausoleum, which contains the hall of 10,000 lanterns. It was spectacular. Apparently two of the lanterns have been burning since around the year 850. It also has the worlds largest cemetery with over 500,000 people buried there. Walking through the cemetery gave me a feeling of the deep spiritual feelings of the people. The reason there are so many people there is that they want to be near Kobadaishi who founded the first temple there.

Then it was off to Nagoya. Took another 50 or 60 trains to get there. When we got there we met up with some others and was treated to a great time. Lots of sushi, meat sticks and noodles that was really good. We had tickets to a Nagoya Dragons baseball game that night. Japanese baseball fans are alot different that their North American counterparts. They all cheer in unison, and sing alot of songs and stuff the entire time.

Off to Tokyo the next day. Yep, more trains and the bullet train also. Something like 235 miles and hour, man did we fly. Tokyo consists of many "Districts" of distinct differences all accessible by, yep, trains and subways. We visited a few but no way saw a fraction as there is so many buildings and so many people that every glance saw huge amounts to explore. We got around the country side by this phenomenal transit system that was so effecient, cheap and clean we couldn't help but be amazed. Did I mention the fact there wasn't any garbage on the streets and sidewalks? Everybody did their part in maintaining the city. hmm I wonder what their taxes are like. When we arrived at about 10:00pm we were having a difficult time finding the hostel we were booked at so as we were winding our way up and down these dark little streets and an old lady came upon us and after asking her directions she immediately took upon herself to bring us to our destination several blocks away. Did I mention, "little old lady and dark street leading us around"? When or where do you think this would ever, ever, happen in this crime ridden era in this part of the world we live in do you think this would happen? I'll tell you when, when monkeys can fly, would you see this. Not only that but we did not have to fear for one second that our carry bags would be stolen, just wouldn't happen. I did not see one drunken rowdy, or drug zombied creature walking or slithering around. Ok, I saw one zombie in Tokyo. Perhaps there is something to say for the ways of life that breed the individual as opposed to fruitlessly pay tons of money to correct the wrongness that ways of life breed an individual. Anyway , enough of that. We met up with some Judo masters later on and had a great time exploring each others martial art and cultural differences and similarities. Their open and friendly overtures where soon infectious and we found the night totally gone. They revealed to us that they had talked to themselves about us and came to the conclusion that we were quite polite and therefore ok, which is very important in Japan.

After a few days there we boarded the, yep, bullet train, and more trains, and headed back to the airport in Osaka and home. It was gratifying to feel as I do about the Japanese martial arts after that trip as its exposure to the culture and people by getting around as we did gave us a better picture and feel of that country than if we had sat in tour buses and glass cages. Instead we "went native" and truly enjoyed ourselves. Their quiet deep spiritual beliefs are evident everywhere and in many things. I can see how the martial arts there was alive for so long as its more than a way of life but part of life itself. I now know why that lady in Osaka was standing at the curb praying in the direction of that dead pigeon.