One hell of a part time job..

---

I don't really know how often I should update this thing, because I'm sure how much people want their inboxes filled with my trivial findings and what not. But after a couple of days at my internship, I figured I should write something.

Through a series of unfortunate events (ha) I ended up interning at Akasaka Hikawa Jinja in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Jinja is Japanese for Temple, so I go to work and put on Shinto robes and sit in a temple. It's weird to get off the train in a huge party district of Tokyo, pass "Gentelmen's Clubs" and cheap bars on the street, but then turn left and walk up a hill to a quiet, somewhat secluded temple.

I'm still not exactly sure what my job title is, but I pretty much help out with whatever i can, and can understand. Last week I got to see 2 Shinto weddings, which I guess is a pretty big deal, since only like 10 people can be in the temple to witness them. When I'm not in the actual altar, I sit in the Shamusho (preist's office) greeting parishoners and answering simple questions. It's really interesting how I get treated by people who come to the Shrine. They know I work there just by what I wear, so in the somewhat malleable Japanese hierarchy, I'm a "superior." Basically I get the deep bows when greeted. Well, I guess it's more than that. After the first wedding ceremony, the bride's mother and I happened to see eachother outside of the altar---at which point she smiled and said, "Thank you for always looking after my family," a common Japanese expression, but I was floored.

So yeah, Wednesdays are really interesting. After work at Akasaka Hikawa, I hop a train to the Higashi-Ojima station for my weekly Taiko (Japanese drums) drum lessons. There's going to be a Matsuri (relegious celebration) next month, and I think I'll get to dress up and play in the ceremony. The other thing I really like about Taiko practice is the fact that I go out and get hammered with my Senseis afterward. I'm pretty sure my favorite moment in Japan thus far, has been watching them drunkenly sing "Born in the USA."

That's been the big goings on lately. I'm pumped to see Paul van Dyk next Thursday at club ageHa. Biggest club in Tokyo, I'm told!! Hit up www.ageha.com --skip the 4 flash intros and look at pics of the place. It's jaw-dropping.

Lunch time. Bye.

As always: http://jetsetseattle.zoto.com/galleries

---

Photos

View from my window at work
purdy.

I had to drunkenly decipher that last night
Frikkin hieroglyphics, man

Comments

[deleted_16075]

Oh man
Hell yeah! I get more and more jealous by the day, I gotta tell ya. Always good talking to you too, even if you do forget and navigate away from gmail, you goon. Gonna start looking into the programs and resources available to me to get to Japan for my junior year. Hopefully everything will work out.

[ROSU]

I can't take it any more!
I have decided to come to Japan. I can no longer sit in my house in Tacoma reading blogs about Japan from 5! of my friends. I am getting a short summer job at REI in Tacoma to save up and I hope to get out there in like early July. Will you still be over there?