You Have Mud WHERE!?

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This weekend I participated in one of the funnest things I have done since coming to Japan. Yeah its not cultural and yeah there are a lot of gaijin-still it was soooo much fun! It was the 10th Annual Rice Patty Mud Volleyball Tournament held up in the countryside of Hiroshima-Ken. For more info see the website www.mudvollyeballjapan.com.

There were numerous teams composed of foreigners, Japanese kids, families...anyone who wanted to play and brave the mud. Clearly the point of the event was not to necessarily play volleyball, but to throw each other in the mud AFTER the game. I ended up playing on 2 different teams- neither advancing to any of the final rounds. I felt like I was famous while playing. There was a whole 'papparazi' section. There must have been 20 or so Japanese photographers with their HUGE cameras and HUGE lenses, snapping photos every second. I had more photos of me taken looking disgusting than I ever have looking pretty! The trick now, is to somehow find those photographers and get those photos!

After rolling in the mud we cleaned off in the river next to the fields. They even had a 'hot tub' for us to jump into post river rinsing. More than once I thought I was completely clean of any mud clumps and was always sent back- a hidden patch behind or in my ear.

After a long day after many vicious battles on the vollyeball court, the "Rusty Trombones" were victorious for the second straight year. The prize...a 50 lb bag of rice. Now, most probably thing "Rice, why would you want rice?" Believe it or nor rice is EXPENSIVE in Japan, so that bag of rice cost a lot and is indeed a prized possession. Next year (if they are able to have it again!) I am determined to make the rice mine!


When I got home I took a real shower, and realized I had mud in places I never thought I could get mud. My body hurt, I was sunburned, and my futon never looked so good. Despite my state after the games I am so glad I did it. Who would pass up a chance to roll around in the mud! It was so much fun I hope that it was not the last time and they have the 11th annual rice patty mud volleyball tourney.

Yet, a week later, I was still cleaning the mud out of my ears and other places I never thought possible..... Another great time in Japan!

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