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Shuri Castle
In front of Shuri CastleOn our last day in Okinawa, we decided to go visit the Budokan, or martial arts center, in Naha since Lani is really interested in martial arts. Okinawa is actually where many forms of martial arts originated, so I was also excited to check out the Budokan! And it was conveniently located a couple of blocks from our hotel. So we set out in the morning around 10 AM and walked down to the park that led to the Budokan.
We weren't exactly sure where we were going, but eventually we started to hear people yelling and it sounded like they were doing karate, so we just followed the sound. My first glimpse of the Budokan was somewhat disappointing...the building looked kind of old and it wasn't very impressive at all. But as we got closer I realized it was only the back of the Budokan. Once we had walked around to the front of the building, passing a pretty little garden along the way, I was much more satisfied. So we walked in and asked the guy at the reception if it was ok to look around. And I was so proud of myself because I got to use
Asahibashi
Asahibashi area of Naha where our hotel was located Japanese...twice! I had to go back later and ask if we were allowed to take pictures, and he actually understood me. It always makes me happy when people actually understand my Japanese lol.
So we looked into the first dojo room and there awee a bunch of students practicing what Lani said was Kendo. It's a type of martial arts where you use a big long sword! The students were sort of in pairs and were charging at each other, yelling, and swinging their swords. It was very interesting to watch! After watching them for awhile we decided to check out the second floor of the building. So we went upstairs and came to another dojo room. But in this room there were only 2 people sitting across from each other in the center of the floor. We soon realized that this must be a private kendo lesson, and so we started snapping photos. Then this guy wearing really tight jeans comes around the corner. I have never seen jeans so tight...I don't know how he can put them on! They were skin tight! Anyway, enough about the jeans...He tells us that we can enter the room if we
Toyoko Inn
Our hotel in Asahibashi would like, so we step into the dojo and take some more pictures. Well then the kendo sensei (teacher) noticed us and called us even closer. He started talking to us, even though he could barely speak English, but his student could speak a little better and helped translate for him. He asked where we were from and told us he taught a lot of foreign students in kendo. Then he showed us all his swords, and pulled out one that he said was
625 years old! Then he just handed the sword to me...and I struggled not to drop it because I didn't expect it to be so heavy! After we had both held the sword, he said he must continue his lesson. So not knowing what else to do and not wanting to leave immediately and seem rude, we awkwardly walk over to the bleachers on the side where Tight-Pants-Guy was sitting and watched the lesson. The lesson went on for at least an hour, and while we really didn't want to stay and watch the entire thing, we couldn't just get up and leave!
But eventually the lesson did finish. As me and Lani were discussing
Bridge View
View from a bridge we crossed on the way to the Budokan the best possible way to make our exit, the kendo sensei came up to us and asked, in his very limited English, what we were planning to do for the rest of the day. We said we didn't know because we honestly didn't. Then he asked us if we had eaten lunch yet and we said no. So then he said, "I take you in my car, we go eat." And we agreed because even though we were a bit creeped out by his offer, we didn't want to be rude after he had been so nice to let us take all those photos! Plus we already said we had no plans, so what other choice did we have? He said he had to change first and then we would go. So we just sit there and wait, deciding whether we should stay or just slip out and run away while he is gone. We were also hoping that his student would also come, since it would be a lot less awkward if she did. Or at least someone else...
Finally after the sensei had changed we all went to leave the Budokan. At this point, his student and
Tight-Pants-Guy were still with us so we were hopeful that they would be coming to lunch too. But after we reached the parking lot we realized that wasn't going to happen...it was just us and the kendo sensei! And Lani claimed the back seat in the car first, so I was forced to sit in the front with him. We drove right down the street to this Japanese restaurant that was really nice. The kendo sensei then ordered something for us that he said was really good, and he even paid for our meals! So we sat there at the table in almost complete silence. It was the most awkward situation I have ever been in! Sometimes he would try to tell us something, but it was too difficult to understand. Luckily though, about 10 minutes later Tight-Pants-Guy also showed up at the restaurant and sat with us. He spoke English a little bit better, but still not good at all, so we were able to have a little more conversation. But it was still a really funny situation...it actually looked like me and Lani were on a double date with these guys! She had Tight-Pants-Guy and of course I
Strange Tree
I fit inside the tree! got the old kendo sensei! lol. After we had finished our meals, the kendo sensei asked us if we had visited Shuri Castle. We told him we had not, and so he says, "I take you in car to Shuri." We figure we might as well, so we agree to go with him to the castle...
We got back in his car (I got stuck in the front seat AGAIN...thanks Lani) and he drove us all the way to Shuri Castle, which is pretty far away. Once again, there was very little conversation during the ride. With our limited Japanese and his limited English, we could only talk about how much we like the snacks and sake in Okinawa...okashii wa totemo oishii desu, sake ga daisuki! lol. When we arrived at the castle he parked in the parking garage and led us to the entrance of the castle. From the entrance we could see the whole city of Naha and it was really beautiful! And kendo sensei kept encouraging us to take photos. Then the kendo sensei paid for both of our admissions into the castle, which wasn't that cheap, and he accompanied us through the whole thing. Inside
Palm Trees
I love palm trees! the castle was a museum showing the history of the Ryukyu Islands, and he did his best to explain the exhibits to us, which was very kind of him. Of course me and Lani we pretty bored the whole time. We had already seen so many museums inside castles, and they usually aren't that great, but we pretended to be really interested since he had paid for us!
After we had gone through the castle we sat down to watch a performance of the traditional Okinawan dances. It was really interesting to see all the beautiful costumes, and the dances themselves were very unique. It was odd how the dancers would appear to be staring out into space the entire time. They made no eye contact with the audience and just stared at one spot continuously throughout the dance. But the costumes were absolutely gorgeous! And the dances were also very beautiful, so I am glad that I got to experience that part of Okinawan culture.
After about an hour of watching the dances, the performance ended and we walked back to his car (and this time I made Lani sit in the front). We told him where
Budokan
First sight of the Budokan...not very impressed. our hotel was and he drove us there. As we were getting out of the car we said thank you many times, but we still felt greatly indebted to the kendo sensei. He had been so nice to us, basically given us a free day in Okinawa, and all we could do was say thank you. So he dropped us off and then left, and that was it. We still couldn't believe how our day had turned out...hanging out with a kendo master was definitely not in our plans. But I guess we should have known something unexpected would happen...it always does! I think that kendo sensei was probably the nicest person I've met during my time here in Japan. It just shows how kind the Okinawan people are. Japanese people on the mainland are very nice too, especially in the Kansai area, but the kindness of the people in Okinawa is even greater. Just one more reason why I love Okinawa so much!
Obviously I was extremely sad when we had to leave Okinawa the next day. It had been such an amazing vacation, so relaxing and so much fun! I wasn't ready for it to end. I
Garden
Little garden next to the Budokan didn't want to go back to Osaka and back to school. But I am so happy that I did get to spend some time there because it is truly a unique and beautiful place, and I definitely want to go back to Okinawa someday...maybe check out some more islands next time!
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peetah
non-member comment
hi
i thoroughly enjoyed your blog and pics from okinawa as i am going there soon too! i'll go to the island you went to perhaps... and hopefully run into jeans-too-tight guy *crosses my fingers* btw, i guess you're not at gaidai no more are you? i teach gaidai students now at a gakkusei mansion. small world o.O