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Published: March 25th 2006
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Sumo Rink
Two Rishiki preparing to fight... you can see the strong Shinto influences... the referee is dressed in Shinto inspired clothing and the rink itself has lots of Shinto symbolism. Hello! It has been over two weeks since I've last updated - sorry! My exams last week went well enough... On Friday after my Japanese Reading & Writing written exam, I went with Dawn (Hawaii - UOP - Kwansei Gakuin), Michael (Kentucky - UofK), Ian (UK), Ian's friend (UK - Nagoya), and Julie (Kenya) to watch some real live sumo.
Sumo It was overall, really interesting. Sumo came to Osaka as they do on their yearly tour. There are 6 grand tournaments per year - 3 in Tokyo, 1 each in Osaka, Nagoya and Kyushu. Each tourney lasts for about two weeks and each sumo wrestler (rikishi) fights once everyday against a different opponent. Did you know that the position of yokozuna (what Akebono and Musashimaru from Hawaii are) have only been given to 68 rikishi in the past 300 years? I found that to be amazing. We got to Osaka around 2 and watched sumo until the final match at 6. Many Japanese have actually never been to see sumo - even though it's the national sport, because they believe it to be boring or too time consuming. I would highly recommend anyone to go and watch at least
Preparations
Ceremonial preparations prior to the day's matches for the jyoozu na rishiki (good sumo). once because it is actually really entertaining.
Hiroshima Dawn and I decided three days before we left, to head to Hiroshima at the beginning of my spring break. Talk about being spontaneous. It was just enough time for me to book our hotel room. I also discovered this great ticket that allows you to use any Japan Rail line for up to five days (does not have to be consecutive). It was only $23/day, but the catch is that you can't ride any of the shinkansen (bullet trains) or limited express trains. So it took us about 5.5 hours from Osaka to Hiroshima. I think it was more adventurous for us to do that rather than spend about $100 one way to Hiroshima by taking the shinkansen. We had about 2 or 3 transfers and we really got to experience learning how to read difficult time tables at stations in the middle of nowhere.
The afternoon we got there we didn't do much... just relax and rest from our long journey and explored the "nightlife and shopping" district. Dawn found a good kaiten-zushi place (conveyor belt sushi) and we had dinner there - not bad quality for the
prices. The next morning we woke up bright and early so that we could get the most out of Hiroshima in a day. First we headed to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and on the way bumped into the Gates of Peace - they were glass arches that have the word "peace" inscribed in 49 different languages. Then we went walked on to the Peace Museum. It was an extremely sombering and educational experience. I recall learning a lot about Hiroshima throughout my elementary, middle and high school years - but to actually be where it happened... there are no words. At the moment I want to say something insipiring or meaningful, but just as a felt while I walked through the memorial, silence seems to justify my feelings and emotions.
After the Peace Memorial we walked through the Peace Memorial Park. I do not know how many of you know the story of Sadako Sasaki and the 1000 origami cranes, but please look it up if you have time. Inspired by her strength and spirit, young people all over Japan started collecting money to set up a children's memorial and monument. People from all over the world send
Chug a Chug a Choo Choo!
On the train between Okayama and Hiroshima... thousands of cranes for wishes of peace to this memorial. We then went to see the only structure to remain standing in the area where the atomic bomb exploded. The Genbaku Dome or A-Bomb Dome seemed almost artificial because of the damage that it underwent. It is preserved as a reminder of the destruction and damage that nuclear weapons can create. After seeing the Genbaku dome we went to Hiroshima Castle but on our way stopped to have some Hiroshimayaki. Okonomiyaki - Hiroshima style. Okonomiyaki is a Japanese pancake looking thing. (It doesn't taste like a pancake, simply looks like it.) Hiroshimayaki is actually okonomiyaki made with soba or udon noodles and wow... it was yummy yummy (I ate an oyster Hiroshimayaki and Dawn had a pork and egg one)!! Okay, back to our sightseeing... the castle was actually destroyed in the bombing of Hiroshima, but was reconstructed in the late 1950's and currently exhibits artifacts from Japan's history.
Dawn and I realized that we still had time (and energy) to head to one more place - so we decided on going to Miyajima Island and caught the ferry there. After doing some research, I learned that Miyajima is
Cenotaph
One of the many many cenotaphs in Hiroshima... this one is rather ironic... look at the inscription in black on the statue. actually called Itsukushima. The island is most famous for its large torii (torii are gates that are usually seen at the entrance of Shinto shrines). **Random Fact: up until 1878 there were no deaths or births on the island due to its religious purity... but currently, only burials are not permitted on the island.** The island has tame deer roaming around freely (the deer apparently loved Dawn - see pictures). But I'm really glad that we got the chance to do all that we did in that one day. It was tiring, but well worth it. The next day, we checked out, then headed home - it took about 7 hours for me to get home.
Hope everyone enjoys the pictures. I'll probably write again in a day or so just to show everyone the pretty pictures from Kyoto (cherry blossoms are finally coming out)!!
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amazing
i LOVED miyajima when i went on the summer trip!!! I'm so glad that you got to check it out because it really is a beautiful place. how's school life going for you lex, good i hope. I hope that you've made lots of japanese friends and are learning to become fluent. can you feel yourself getting better yet? oh, i'm am so excited to come (it's amost time >_<) and i can't wait to meet up with you and have you tell me EVERYTHING that's happened so far. anyways girl, keep having fun and enjoying your precious time there. see you in a few days Lexi!!!