Well, it sure has been a while. How are you? Keeping well? Busy? Chipper? Thank you for keeping in touch via blog!
For my next installment, I bring you to Daizaifu, again! This trip was a visit to the local sumo practice stable and then the Tenman-gū Shrine.
*You are warned, bazillion pictures ahead.*
Immediately stepping off the bus we walked along this gorgeous sidewalk. Already, I knew I was going to enjoy this trip. Beautiful.
We walked down what appeared to be a touristy street on the way to the shrine and sumo stable. We arrived early in the morning and the shops were not quite open, nor were there many visitors filling the streets yet.
This little fellow was happy to see us though…
Upon entering the area where the shrine and temple were.
Our path to the sumo stable was a splendid walk… definitely a breath of fresh air after being in the city.
After about a 15 minute walk we reached our first destination. We were very fortunate to be allowed inside the sumo stable while many of the wrestlers practiced. There was a bit of discussion and for a brief time it sounded as though it may not be possible for us to go inside, but luckily things were settled and we were able to keep close to the walls and watch for almost an hour!
The practice was quite fascinating. There was a very prominent hierarchy visible upon watching the practice. The darker belted wresters were the low men on the totem pole. They had first practice and boy did they go hard. The wrestler crouching with his back to the camera was being “picked on” for some reason and I was sure he was going to vomit by the end of his training, he was breathing so heavily and falling on the ground. Thankfully, he didn’t. He did get kicked around (literally) by the lovely gentleman standing facing them in the white.
We were informed that this gentleman below was the stable owner. For all but 5 minutes of the time we spent in the sumo stable, he disinterestedly sat reading various print…the newspaper or random magazines brought to him by some outside errand boy. I would like to note that his cell phone had a ridiculous number of dangly charms on it, and his track suit says HELLO KITTY in block letters up the leg. Fashionista, let me tell you. Although, he seemed like someone you wouldn’t want to mess with, so probably best to keep the ribbing to a dull roar.
This gentleman was the Sumo Master. He was a former wrestler who now trains the up and coming. I also got the impression he was someone not to be toyed with… mainly due to the fact that we were asked not to look him in the eye and to bow while walking in front of him. Done and done.
After the lower rank wrestlers were finished their training, they re-sanded and swept up.
The serious business was next. I decided to stop taking gazillion photos, but I’m sure you have a pretty good idea of what went down after this…
After sumo time, we wandered over to the area where the shrine was. Another gorgeous walk. Luckily the weather cooperated and, unlike at the Balloon-less Fiesta, was not scorching hot, but sunny and beautiful.
Some funky looking flowers that I don’t know the name of.
Before entering the main area it is customary to rinse your hands here.
The main entrance gate to Tenman-gū Shrine…
Inside of the above…
This was the Shinto priest that assisted us in getting around to the areas we visited, and also told us a brief history of the area and the shrine.
We happened to be here on the day of the Shichi-Go-San Festival. This festival is when parents bring their children age 3, 5, and 7 to a local shrine to pray for their healthy futures. (More info click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shichi-Go-San ) What this meant for me is that I got to stalk adorable children wearing kimono, all day. I almost died. Eventually parents started having their children pose for me. So, so, so cute. Wow.
You could pay 500yen ($5.00) to write your name plus whatever wish you have and hang it here. I was too cheap to do so, surprise, surprise. But here`s a photo!
I am unsure if Charlie Sheen stole this from Japan, or Japan from Sheen. It was entertaining nonetheless.
On a serious note, there were many amulets and various good luck charms to be purchased. This shrine is over the burial ground of Sugawara no Michizane, who was most renowned for separating Chinese and Japanese literature and education, and assisting Japan in becoming more autonomous by developing a Japanese style of poetry and education. Most families and children come to this shrine to pray for good luck with their studies.
On a not so serious note, this is my new Japanese family. They were irresistible, and I had to steal a photo as someone was taking one of them. Loooove.
And here is proof that I actually am in Japan, and not just ripping off all these photos from the Internet and adding my ‘oh so witty’ commentary.
And back to the adorable children! Oh my gosh!”//$%?
With a fish-feeding man stuck in there, just for fun.
And then we stumbled upon this creepiness…a monkey show! o_O
Have to give monkey some credit though, he could walk on stilts… yeesh.
I am still unsure, however, what monkey shows and Japanese leprechauns have to do with each other.
This one I had to take a couple photos of because the back of her kimono was so intricate and , well, she was just gorgeous!
It took every ounce of my being to not pick up this cute young man and bring him home with me.
And now to keep the balance in nature, I give you my other secret obsession in this country. Dapper old Japanese men. Yeah.
I have selected just a couple of my favourites of the day, as not to bore you….or creep you the heck out, either one.
And now for the tackiest store you will ever see. Hello Kitty-rama. I actually don’t know what the name of this monstrosity was as I couldn’t focus my eyes in the direction of the store for long, due to the disgusting amount of pink glaring back to me.
After all this excited we were starving and ventured to this yummy ramen shop. For those who aren’t familiar, quite often in Japan you order your meal from a ticket machine and then take it in with you and give it to the servers.
Not a huge place, as you can see.
I unfortunately scarffed down my ramen so quickly I forgot to take a photo. So here is one of the ramen next to me. Goodness, just posting this is making me hungry. It was really good!
And my favourite part of the restaurant, the funny bathroom poster. You had the pleasure of staring at this while in the stall. How glorious…
HELLO.
Who’s your favourite? I can’t decide between angry glasses screamer near the top right, or chubby angry eyebrow guy second row near the left. Hahahahaha, so good.
Next, tummies full, we ventured to the Buddhist temple where the 700 year old garden was located.
The entrance to the building was lined with beautiful rock gardens.
These really put my tiny desk-sized zen garden to shame. I’m sorry, Japan.
Luckily, this little fellow hung around long enough for me to get a nice photo of him. Thank you!
This was the inside on our way to the back to see the garden.
And here it is. Really stunning. It is one of the most famous gardens in all of Japan. And if it weren’t for the group of old Japanese ladies to my right yammering away constantly, it would have been the most peaceful garden I have ever visited! Oh well, it was still remarkable. Look!
This gives you a taste of what it could look like when the leaves start to change colour, oh my.
And as usual, something silly at the end. Well, this isn’t THAT silly…mostly cute, I suppose.
But can you get enough of these great hats? I can’t! The store keeper was so kind as to offer to take a picture of us. Only in Japan. So nice.
Just in case you were worried, no I did not buy that hat. Although it was pretty hard to resist.
There you have it!
I don’t have anything too exciting after this to post as my life has become somewhat boring. And by boring I mean busy. I decided that filling all my spare time with tutoring English would be a fun way to keep myself from having any fun. But, I’m sure I will get around to something interesting eventually, and when I do, I will do my best to post it within 6 months of doing whatever it is… hah.
Hope all is well, wherever you are!
So long, folks!
xoxoxo
