Fox Wedding Festival: Hanaoka, Kudamatsu.

This is probably the biggest festival in Kudamatsu; "The event of the year!" exclaims Karyo High School's Brett Plotz. The myth behind the Fox Festival is that one night, a monk at the local shrine in Hanaoka was visited in a dream (or was it???) by the spirit of a fox who begged the monk to find his body and bury it, for until his body was buried, the fox could not go to heaven. So the next morning, the monk set out for the hills and combed the forest for the fox's body, eventually finding it and burying it. In gratitude, the fox blessed the monk and the town of Hanaoka and promised them prosperity.

I'm unclear where the wedding part comes in; according to one of the old men in my English conversation class, that part was "man-made", added on later, but I'm pretty sure there's a story behind the wedding as well.


There was a long parade with many floats and drunken men carrying big litters. The tiny streets of Hanaoka were lined on both sides with many street vendors selling delicious foods like roasted chicken, pork, beef, cakes, crepes; also, they were selling some gross things like roasted octopus.


Those poor kids. These men, all wasted before-hand as is custom, would deliberately sway and stagger their way down the street, occasionally spinning the litter in a circle and then throwing it up in the air and catching it. I would've totally blown chunks if I were one of those kids in there.

Some of my students who took part in the parade by dancing and looking awesome.


The fox army, or something.


Remember Chika? She used to be in taiko (she was also in the taiko video "Miyake" which I posted sometime ago - she rules!) with me but since she moved to Yamaguchi city for boarding highschool, I don't see much of her. But this day she was face-painting ... and face-painting... and face-painting... from 9am til 4:30pm she later told me.


Some of my 7th grade girls behind me.


The wedding. The groom is in white and the bride is in green in the middle. Their identities are top secret; even they don't know who the other is. I don't know how you get chosen but it must be kind of a mixed honour; you're the centrepiece of the whole festival, but nobody knows it's you.


Awesome play. This is the scene where an evil dragon is attacking an innocent young woman.

Attacking.....aaaand....

Swallowed up. The "special effects" were amazing - the woman really looked like she was gobbled up by the dragon, which, in case you were wondering, is being manipulated by a very skilled small person inside the dragon costume.

Taiko practice...

Shout out to Jonny D who came to taiko practice with me and took a bunch of pics and video. This was when we were rehearsing for the big Ondekoza gig (see post below).

JOSH PYKE: Lines On Palms

Awesome.

How Ken's Heart Melted Like Butter In A Hot Saucepan.

Every fall, in every school in Japan, students put on a Cultural Festival at their school whereby all the various clubs, teams, and classes put on a show or display or presentation to show what they're all about. This can take the form of plays, videos, live perfomances (i.e. brass band, choirs, dance troupes) and speeches. It's really really fun times (at least at my schools) and the vast majority of the kids really get into it.

I had the good luck of being assigned to Suetake jr. high on the last day before their festival began so there were no lessons -- everyone was busy all day with rehearsing, putting up posters, crafts, artwork, sound-check, and the like.




So with nothing much to do, I did what any irresponsible person who wanted to amuse himself and his students would do: I climbed upon my faithful steed, strapped on my guitar, and went door-to-door rocking.

Generally, I don't think teachers are supposed to act so silly, but since I'm not a "real" teacher, I can get away with it. I went down the 7th graders hallway and was met with wild cheers and eager smiles; as a reward for their adorable cuteness and general good humour, I rocked out a dramatic rendition of "Lines on Palms" by Josh Pyke (see video above). Since I had just recently been introduced to that song (from Hana), I didn't know the words yet so I just scooby-doo-ed my way through the song.

I gradually made my way to the second floor where the 8th graders were ready and waiting to have their minds blown by my rock. I jumped into Billy Joel's "Longest Time" and the kids started clapping on the OFF beats (which never happens in Canada) and dancing around me! I couldn't believe this was Japan; it felt like a Ugandan classroom all over again! These kids were FEELING it! Some of their teachers were even poking their heads around the corner and smiling and bopping their heads a bit -- I bet they were wishing they weren't real teachers so they could let loose.

The perfect ending to the day (and possibly my life, if I had died that night) came when, on my way back to the staffroom, a group of my favourite 7th grade girls intercepted me. The great thing about junior high kids (esp. 7th graders) is that they are essentially still kids. They're not too cool laugh at my lame jokes and are genuinely happy when I take the time to talk to them.
Anyways, I was chatting with them and one of the girls ran back into the classroom and rushed back a minute later holding something in her hand. It was a tiny Momotaro (google him) figurine, scratched and dented and obviously had spent most of his life attached to someone's pencil case. "It's from all of us!" she said with a big smile and pressed it into my hand.



[See the little Momotaro the girl on the far left is holding. Ami, the girl in the middle, was the one who presented me with the gift]

As the old saying goes, "Little gifts from little people make a big difference."*


*I totally made that up on the spot right now.

Visitors Part II: My Family!
[Subplot: How I Rocked The House (with 30 others) With A Professional Taiko Group]

My beloved family came to visit me this past week -- Mom and Dad from Canada and little sis Hana from Australia. I saw my parents this summer but I hadn't seen the Hanster since I left for Japan over a year ago, so it was great to see her again. Below you will see a live-action photo capturing the moment of our reunion. Tall hugs and smiles all 'round. Plus, I think this was historic because as far as I know, this was the first time our entire family has been together in Japan!

The reason for their coming at this time was the mysterious alignment of the cosmos that made Za Ondekoza stop in Kudamatsu on their 2007/2008 tour. Ondekoza is one of the oldest professional taiko groups (japanese ensemble drumming) in Japan and was one of the original pioneers of Japanese-style ensemble drumming as it exists today. Ondekoza is also the group that made me fall in love with taiko when I was just a wee lad of 13 -- they played at the Centre in The Square in Kitchener and totally blew my mind.

When I heard that I might have a chance to play WITH Ondekoza at their concert, along with select members of two other local taiko groups, I couldn't quite believe it. I thought I had heard wrong, or that it was a different taiko group, or that I wouldn't be able to play since I was still new..... but no. My fears were allayed and when I came back to Japan after summer vacation, our practice started in earnest.

We practiced twice a week for 2 months (near the end, I was helping to teach a kids taiko group on Fridays too!) ... all for 2 minutes of glory onstage with the legendary Ondekoza.

Anyways, to make a long story a little less long, we rocked. I made some mistakes, mostly due to the fact that the Ondekoza version was approximately twice as fast as we'd ever done it in practice, but I kept up for the most part. It was really awesome. I don't actually remember much of it, but our group manager told me later that my cheering section (my family, Brett, Ashley!) gave us a standing ovation at the end. One dream come true.

Anyways, back to my family. In between day trips to various parts of Yamaguchi and Northern Kyushu, we chilled at my apartment: listened to music, cooked and ate delicious food and read good books. Just like home! Also, while Hana and I slept in the mornings, my dear parents cleaned my apartment ("Sinks are my specialty." - Dad).



Some pictures taken during our time together:



Reunion of the Ken and the Hana.


Me Da at Miyajima.



Brett joined us for dinner one night. He impressed us all with his wit and manners. He managed to not swear for almost 3 hours.


Me and Hoder in Akiyoshidai, the biggest limestone cave in Japan. Certainly the biggest limestone cave I've ever been in.

Kokura Castle - A beautiful castle in Kokura city, Northern Kyushu. This is significant because it was at one time ruled by the Ogasawara clan! What! Mind you, my Ogasawara-ness is geographical rather than geneological, but still cool. The 3 diamonds stacked on top of each other is the Ogasawara family crest and the first three characters beside it read "O-gasa-wara". The rest I can't read.

Kokura Castle, at a unique photographic angle that is pleasing to the eye.

My Dad.

Visitors: Part I: Jonny D.

Greetings to all.

Right off the bat: In my first year in Japan, I had exactly zero people visit me (from outside Japan). Wait, unless there was somebody. Dang. If you did visit me last year, I apologize, it seems I have forgotten. Anyways, nobody that I remember came to visit me last year so my hosting muscles were not taxed in any way.

However, this year, most especially this fall/winter season, I will have/am having/had a number of guests beginning with Jon Dunford of New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada.

Jonny D taught in China for a year, realized that teaching was "not his calling", decided to get the hell out and on the way out, visit his friend Ken in Japan. This was Jon's first visit to Japan and really, his first experience with anything Japanese (let's be honest, Jon)(also, watching Karate Kid does not count, Brett).

Anyways, here are some photos featuring Jonny D and some pictures not featuring Jonny D but were taken during our time together.




Hanaoka Shrine, in my city.

Hisyaku, ceremonial dippers at Hanaoka Shrine.

Jonny D REALLY concentrating on his Gusto Burger.

MIYAJIMA Part II (Part I was exactly one year ago).

Two Things That Made Me Smile This Week.

Now that I'm getting down to writing about these two little things, I'm experiencing some slight discomfort because the stories, on the surface, show me as the hero. My humble Mennonite (moreover Japanese-Mennonite) upbringing has instilled in me an allergic reaction to making myself look awesome, awesome though I may be.

Despite these slight twinges of faux-humility, I will tell you about the two things just because I have time.

1. At lunch-hour yesterday, I walked into the gym for the first time, where a bunch of kids were shooting hoops. Everybody was like "whooaa! Ken!" and two of my favourite 8th graders, two girls named Kanako and Nagano passed me a ball and told me to shoot from the free-throw line. Everyone in the gym was watching. You can guess what happened. I lined up and with perfect form and luck, swished the ball in. A collective "whooaaaa!!!" from all my students and I walked out in triumph, my hand still raised in the cookie-jar, forever a great basketball player in the minds of all who were present. Kanako and Nagano followed me out, barely able to contain themselves, they were so impressed: "Ken!! Great! Great!"; Nagano upped the ante by using correct grammar: "Ken IS great! Ken is great!".

2. I was teaching 9th graders, typically the most detached and unlively bunch of kids. But today's class (section 3-4) was, as my teaching partner Mr. Ishida said, "the best 9th graders in the school". The target sentence was, "It is important for me to...." and the interrogative version, "Is it important for you to...?". Mr. Ishida put me on the spot and asked for an example, which I had not prepared. Finally, after much thinking, I said:

"It's important for me to respect my students." Everyone's eyes got all big and they were so impressed that the class burst into spontaneous applause! I was very happy. Some boys were then inspired to make up their own equally noble and impressive sentences. When I looked at their papers a few minutes later, one boy had proudly written, "It is important for me to sleep". He gave me a big thumbs up and a smile: "Very important!".

Another noteworthy note from that same lesson was when we were reviewing "It is easy/difficult for me to...", one boy asked how to say ______ in English. I didn't know, so I asked Mr. Ishida for the translation: "It is difficult for me to control my feelings". !! Holy crap! What an awesome answer, especially from a 14-year-old boy.

Well, then. There you have it. A few snapshots out of my teaching experience which is often boring, but often very meaningful and rewarding, too.
Also, I hope we can all see that such great reactions to my trivial actions reveals the real heroes to be the students, not me.

So as not to end this post on a cheesily serious note, I will write this last sentence.

The Adventures That Happen In Any Given Day Of Ken's Life In Kudamatsu, Japan.

As the crucial moment crept closer and closer still, I prepared myself for the encounter. Finally, after much creeping, I was face to face with my adversary. I steeled myself, and her, with a steely look. She couldn't meet my eyes. I knew it was only a matter of time before this fierce battle of wills would be outcomed.

Suddenly, without any warning, she asked me, "Would you like a bag with that?". I testily told her that no, I did not need a bag, I could put the case of Cup Noodles in my backpack, thank you. To which she retorted, "That will be 670 yen, please". I reached slowly and deliberately for my wallet, all the time with my eyes trained on my foe. The man in line behind me told me to hurry the hell up, he was in a hurry. I paid my due and was walking away with dignity when, suddenly, without any warning, again, she called me back. I had forgotten my point card.

The sky outside was clear and sunny, with clouds spread liberally throughout. I smelled trouble in the air - and I was soon proved right. No sooner had I mounted my bicycle when two of my male students materialized in front of me. I eyed them carelessly at first, but then more carefully. I noticed they both were wearing their school uniforms and were smiling. All of this takes time to write down but in reality took half a minute to observe. They burst out, in unison, "oh! Ken! How are you?". I started, then stopped. Why would they want to know how I am? What business is it of theirs? Should I be anything other than fine? Why were they pressing the issue? But then I recalled that they were junior high first graders and as such, this greeting was nearly the extent of their English conversation skills. I relaxed the corners of my eyes a bit.

"I'm fine," I said, "how are you?"
"I'm fine, and you?", they replied cheerfully.

My sixth sense was reactivated immediately -- how very curious that they would ask me how I was when I had just told them I was fine! As I was thinking this aloud, they reached for me, ostensibly to shake my hand, but I saw the danger in their eyes. I moved like lightning - first chopping the first boy on the thumb to stun him, and then judo-flipping him through the window. The second boy proved tougher but I overcame him using my superior height, reach, weight, strength, age, and taser.

Safely back in my apartment with a half-empty bottle of Medium-Amber Canadian 100% Pure Maple Syrup, I reflected on the morning and thanked my lucky stars that I had watched all those Steven Seagal movies. As I took off my Chinese-style tunic and undid my ponytail, I realized that I was winded. Better start running again, I thought. Tomorrow, though. Today is for me.

Mysterious Mini-Matsuri.

A few weeks ago, there was a little neighbourhood festival in Kudamatsu near Junko's (Brett's girlfriend) house. It was mysterious because nobody knew what it was called, or what it celebrated, or how it came about. But it was great! Lots of people dressed up in either a) traditional yukata kimonos, or b) as various superheroes and villians from Japanese cartoons. I couldn't figure it out, but it was a good time.


Brett, Junko, and Junko's friend.

The festival was dominated by this raised platform on which drummers took turns thumping out a beat to which an old man sitting at a table would sing, non-stop, for what seemed like hours. It was quite awesome. Around this platform people danced or paraded about in time the music.

I have no idea.

"That's a lawsuit waiting to happen!"

This is a phrase I taught my eikaiwa (English conversation class) peeps. An eikaiwa is a small group of unusual people who are dedicated (to varying degrees) to being conversant in the English language. My group, which has about 7 or 8 regular members, is actually really really awesome both in terms of English proficiency and just being friendly and amicable with each other and with me. We meet every Wednesday evenings for two hours and just talk about anything. Periodically I'll write a phrase or word on the board that is useful or somehow relevant to the conversation.

"That's a lawsuit waiting to happen!" was introduced when we were talking about teaching; the teacher's role, the teacher's relationship and conduct with the students, etc. In Canada or the U.S., for a teacher to lay a finger on a student in ANY way is pretty much your job, or a lawsuit, right? In Japan, not so.

One of the men in the group is a retired math and chemistry teacher who now teaches "juku" (after hours cram school - where jr./sr. high schoolers go to relearn what they should've absorbed in regular school except that they were sleeping at the time) from his living room a few nights a week. Anyways, he was saying how if a kid gets out of line and just won't behave, he gives the student a "horse bite". A horse bite is simply grabbing a handful of someone's thigh and PINCHing with your whole hand. ["That's a lawsuit waiting to happen", I wrote on the board].

We got into a discussion then about how teachers no longer have any power to discipline students. "It's because parents are getting stupid. Before, teachers had respect, had authority. Their job was to teach not only lessons, but discipline and good conduct as well. Society ASKED teachers to teach their children. These days, parents ALLOW teachers to teach their children."

Since parents rule the teachers, and students rule the parents, teachers are often left feeling underappreciated, overworked, and without authority in their own classroom.

What a can of worms!

Discuss.

Kennel.

My friend Jonathan Kennel, who has checked the blog daily for the past year in the hopes of seeing himself featured. Today, Kennel, your dream has come true



Isn't he a cutie?? He's single, ladies!

Free Trip To Bangkok, Thailand.

My flight to Uganda gave me around 18 hours between flights with which to explore Bangkok (eight hours on the way there, nine on the way back). Awesome. I didn't really plan this trip - no Lonely Planet or anything - so I just sort of wandered about, occasionally peering at a very confusing tourist map provided at the airport.




The Emerald Buddha. The thing was so huge I couldn't fine my way in. At one point I found a gate that was open but when I inquired as to whether I could get in, the armed guards just kept repeating "No", so I left.


The Democracy Monument. I think.


The view from the back seat of a "tuk tuk". I think that's what it's called...those little three-wheeled go-carts with roofs that were made famous in the stellar Thai martial arts blockbuster, ONG BAK.






I sneaked through a random gate into a compound which turned out to be a monestary for monks in training. Bright orange-robes and shaved heads everywhere. Also, they were all walking on air, and bending spoons with their minds.


This is Azusa The Awesome. She sat beside me on the bus ride into downtown Bangkok (this is on the way back to Japan). We got to talking and it turns out she studied at a little college in BARRIE, Ontario for a year a few years ago!! Holy crap! That's (relatively) close to my hometown, BADEN. She asked me where I was from:

"Toronto.... well, outside Toronto. Do you know Kitchener-Waterloo? You DO?!! Just outside there." If she would've known Baden I would've probably had a heart attack.

Turns out that a) she speaks excellent English, b) is really cool, and c) also killing time before her flight back to Tokyo at midnight. So we decided to hang out and take the town by storm.

"Taking the town by storm" meant eating a lot of excellent food. One of these foods was this awesome juice stall which featured giant aloe vera and dragon fruit (below).



Also, street vendor-style pad-thai. So delish.
The last thing we did just before we cabbed back to the airport was get a Thai massage.

There are lots of Thai massage places in Khao San district (which is tourist central) but we decided on one that had the best pictures posted out front. We had to go up 3 flights of stairs and I was kind of wary about what kind of establishment we were getting into but we were in for a pleasant surprise. A big air-conditioned room with beautiful dark wood floor and about 8 crisp white mats on the floor with a perfect pillow on each. We ordered half an hour of foot massage and half an hour of Thai massage. Total bill: like $8 per person. It was absolute bliss. The PERFECT thing after (for me) 20 hours of travel which started on a dusty bus in Uganda. Thai massages are insanely awesome - especially if you get them in Thailand where they're dirt cheap.


Azusa at the new Bangkok airport - maaasssive and sparkly clean.

Pretty much the best urinal signage I have ever seen.

So there you have it. Awesome free side trip.

The Place Where To Find The Worstest English In The World: You Tube.

Probably the worst English I have ever seen on-screen is the comments section on You Tube [second place goes to Facebook wall posts]. The comments section seems to bring out the most malicious, fickle, childish, and stupid impulses from humans. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the bickering is not about the video itself but about someone else's comments. Seriously, everyone seems to take random strangers' comments personally. It's hilarious.

Aaaanyways, every once in a while, someone is malicious in a funny way and I have posted it below. It was when I was watching some clips of Conan O'Brien and Jennifer Garner was on the show....


TheGermanJuggernau (2 days ago) Show Hide Marked as spam

I love Jennifer Gardner's figure. It's muscular yet feminine. I wish I could meet a girl with a body like that

KoroOutbreak (2 days ago) Show Hide Marked as spam

who cares about your stupid, boring fantasies.