Why we don't call more often

This is a good indicator why we have not called back to the states a lot yet. The finger cramps took over about day two. We really can't wait to get our Vonage box arrives so we can call more often.

Ryan Sighting

This is a new section, that you can participate in. Michael Bell, our Music Minister and friend from Charleston, gets the honor of the first post. If you have a "Ryan Sighting" at a restaurant, movie theater, or anywhere else and can get a picture send it to us and you can help everyone get a good laugh.

Michael's "Ryan Sighting" was on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 at 6:32 PM at La Careta in of all places.....Charleston, SC.

Taiko Drum Ensemble

We were treated to a truly once in a lifetime opportunity when a Japanese Taiko Drum master and his team visited our base and performed. In Japan the word Taiko means drum. But outside of Japan taiko is known for its powerful performance and the tremendous energy it exudes. Taiko is more than just playing a large powerful drum. It is a group of organized movements that tell stores of ancient Japanese legends. It is such a moving experience because that drum beat is mesmerizing. It touches your soul and pulls you into the performance. Even if you don’t understand the legend.

So why was it such a big deal to have a Japanese Master visit and work with our small taiko troop of Americans on the base? Well like many things in the Japanese culture it has guarded secrets that should only be passed onto those Japanese who are worthy and have trained in the art since birth. So when this master came onto the base and worked with our troop he was taking a huge risk of rejection from his fellow masters. His reason for sharing his art form with us was to help the history and purpose of taiko to spread around the world. He was so happy to work with a group of enthuastic Americans who were eager to learn. We were honored to be witness the performance.

A little Taiko history…In feudal Japan, taiko were often used to motivate troops, to help set a marching pace, and to call out orders or announcements.

I added some Taiko Drum links for "You Tube." They are on the right side of the page. This is not the performance we saw but some that I found on “You Tube”. I wanted to include this clip so that you can see how cool Taiko is. At our performance they wore costumes and sang as well.

Release The Salmon

Each year during spawning season local fish hatcheries go down to the local rivers in Misawa and catch the fish as they swim up stream. This event is also treated as a big festival. I am looking forward to trying to grab one of those slippery suckers. Once the fish are caught the hatcheries remove and incubate the eggs. Apparently salmon eggs are at quite a risk in the wild and to keep up with demand the hatcheries are needed. So those salmon eggs spend the cold winter growing into cute little baby fish in the comfort of a monitored environment. In the spring it is time to release them into the rivers.

Our family was handed a bucket that had probably 2,000 of the squirmy little suckers. As we made our way to the river’s edge with that “black gold” we were very cautious not to drop any. The kids had great fun poring the fish into the river. Afterward they joined the Japanese school children and slid down the big salmon mural made of rock. Then we went to a local community center and they played Japanese games in the gym with the other children. They had such a great time. The Japanese ladies had prepared a traditional meal for the American families but unfortunately the room was too small to hold all of those in attendance. We decided to leave and make room for other families, but vowed to get to the dining room earlier next year to participate in the meal.

The Easter Bunny Is Able To Hop To Japan!

With Easter fast approaching Marshall was concerned that the Bunny may not be able to hop across the ocean. Would he be able to find us on a little island or in a hotel for that matter? My kids adapt well but when they are confronted with a crisis such as this the questions can drive one a little bonkers. Thank goodness our squadron and church had such fantastic Easter parties for the kids. Somewhere between the crafts, candy, and egg hunts Marshall’s fears were subsided and he decided that bunny must have some pretty powerful legs. On Easter morning the kids were delighted that the bunny had found new colorful waste basket to use as traditional baskets. As ours were still on a ship in the middle of the ocean. That is one cleaver bunny I tell you. He was even able to visit the local 100 yen store to include some fantastic Japanese goodies. What fun! My favorite part of the day was the Easter Dinner that they had at church. I can handle a lot but the thought of going back to our hotel room for a meal that should be grand and shared with extended family made me blue. It was great that all the families at church got together to celebrate.

Trains and Shopping

Our next stop on the tour was to the bullet train station. Our tour guides showed us how to read the maps and recognize some of the symbols for cities we may want to visit. All of the maps are in Kanji which is Japanese symbols. The whole process was very overwhelming and I will defiantly need a seasoned pro to accompany me when I want to purchase tickets. I did learn that Misawa (whose Kanji characters translate as "3 springs") got its name because of its three rivers. Then we went downstairs in the train station and got to sit on an actual parade float. It was very large and impressive. I can't wait to see one like it in action.

The final stop was to a mall. It was a bit different from American malls. First, the stores don't have any walls to divide them. You have to pay attention to the pattern one the floor and the items sold in the store as an indication that you are entering another store. One has to be cautious not to remove items from a store without paying for them. We have also noticed that all malls have grocery stores in them. So you can purchase produce right next to the shoe store. Let's not forget the arcades. They are crazy. Ryan and Maddison had a great time playing the taiko drum game.

Hachinohe City Tour: Shinto Shrine 101

Then we went to a Shinto shrine. Shinto does not have a founder nor does it have sacred scriptures like the bible. Shinto is deeply rooted in the Japanese people and traditions. "Shinto gods" are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami. A person that was thought of as extraordinary can have a shrine built to honor his kami once he is dead. The shrine we visited was built to honor the kami of a Japanese nobleman. Shinto is an optimistic faith, as humans are thought to be fundamentally good, and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. The purpose of most Shinto rituals is to keep away evil spirits by purification, prayers and offerings to the kami. There is no absolute right and wrong, and nobody is perfect.

Now that you have had your religion lesson for the day I want to tell you about some of the parts of the shrine. It is easy to tell a Shinto shrine from a Buddhist temple because the Shinto shrine has a Torii Gate. That is the red post and lentil system in the photo. One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Hanging from the gate you will see a straw rope with white zigzag paper strips (gohei). It is called a shimenawa. It marks the boundary to something sacred. A rope similar to the shimenawa is also worn by yokozuna, the highest ranked sumo wrestlers.

I also included a photo of the Purification Trough. This is found near the entrance, the water of these fountains is used for purification. You are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. Our Japanese guide walked me through the steps of purification. The symbolism of washing away sin and cleansing my mouth of unrighteousness was as powerful as that water was COLD!

The Ema is the structure that has all the wooden signs hanging from it. Shrine visitors write their wishes on these wooden plates and then leave them at the shrine in the hope that their wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams to high schoolor college, love or wealth. In Japan it is harder for students to get into high school than it is for us to get into college. It takes many years of extra preparation. Students go to school all day, attend driver training in the afternoon (if they want to be able to drive legally) and then go to preparation school in the afternoon and into the night. We see them walking home at 8 or 9 pm some days. Those who do not make it into high school go on to trade school.

Omikuji are fortune telling paper slips that one would buy at the shrine. They contain predictions ranging from daikichi ("great good luck") to daikyo("great bad luck"). By tying the piece of paper around a tree's branch, good fortune will come true or bad fortune can be averted. Wow, that was a bunch of information. The art historian and lover of architecture in me was fascinated by all the parts of the shrine. I got abunch of my information from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2059.html