Scopul principal al deplasării delegației Fundației Române de Aikido Aikikai a fost participarea la ceremoniile comemorative de la Hombu Dojo și de la Iwama, prilejuite de cei 40 de ani de la dispariția fondatorului, Ueshiba Morihei. Al doilea obiectiv a fost participarea la practicile zilnice de la Hombu – în număr de 5 – conduse de membrii direcției didactice.
Pentru programul exact vizitați: http://www.aikikai.or.jp/
Unii dintre noi au fost mai dedicati si au participat la 4-5 din aceste practici zilnice, altii au fost mai lenesi si nu au mers decat la cate 2 zilnic (si in aceasta ultima categorie trebuie sa recunosc ca ma incadrez eu ). In ceea ce ma priveste am ales practicile care se desfasoara de la 08,00 - 09,00 si de la 19,00 - 20,00 mergand insa si la Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru (care are practica zilnica la o ora care mie mi se pare in continuare foarte matinala :))) , adica de la 06,30 a.m.), pentru ca in acest fel mi-am creeat o fereastra de timp in care am putut colinda prin Tokyo.
Maestrii pe care i-am vazut au fost enumerati in postarea anterioara asa ca acum nu am sa mai spun decat ca este o mare sansa sa poti vedea modul in care Aikido se exprima prin atatea personalitati diferite. Este o experienta unica, cel putin din punctul meu de vedere si o recomand tuturor celor ce au posibilitatea de a vizita Japonia si Hombu dojo.
***
Ceremoniile au fost doua, prima dintre ele desfasurandu-se sambata 25.04.2009 la Hombu Dojo, intre orele 19,00 - 21,30. Daca va surprinde faptul ca durata este exacta, ar trebui sa stiti ca in Japonia petrecerile au o durata determinata dinainte (in general). In prima parte au fost cateva discursuri din care cel mai important a fost cel al lui Doshu, dupa care am asistat la cateva filme vechi, in care apareau O Sensei si cel de-al doilea Doshu, Ueshiba Kissomaru sensei. Dupa filme, cu rapiditate si precizie, s-au intins mese lungi cu picioare mici, la care toti cei prezenti s-au asezat (in seiza) dupa care au urmat alte discursuri. Ultima faza a ceremoniei a fost cea cu mancare si bautura - alune si "coarne" din orez (picante) udate cu sake. La plecare, fiecare participant a primit cate doua placintele din orez, ce aveau fiecare, inscriptia "Aikido".
Urmatoarea ceremonie s-a desfasurat miercuri 29.04.2009 (zi de sarbatoare in Japonia - Green Day) la Iwama. Aceasta localitate in care O Sensei si-a desfasurat cea mai mare parte a vietii sale dupa anul 1942, este situata la aproximativ 120 de km de Tokyo si am avut nevoie de circa doua ore sa ajungem acolo. In afara de dojo-ul care este situat la circa 1 km de gara, exista si un altar al Aikido - Aiki jinja. In acest altar s-a desfasurat o ceremonie shinto, de pomenire a lui O Sensei si a Doshu Ueshiba Kisshimaru, care a durat circa 50 de minute. Au participat membrii familiei Ueshiba, maestrii de la Hombu Dojo in frunte cu Tada Hiroshi sensei, liderul cultului O Moto Kyo (caruia ii apartinea O Sensei) si oficialitati din Iwama si Kii Tanabe. Publicul a fost numeros, fiind prezente in jur de 600 - 700 de persoane. Dupa ceremonia religioasa, Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru a efectuat o demonstratie de Aikido (unul dintre cei 3 uke a fost Waka sensei, Ueshiba Mitsuteru) si apoi am mers la un picknic care s-a desfasurat in curtea dojo-ului. A fost o zi memorabila, mai ales pentru cei care nu vazusera aceasta ceremonie pana atunci, deci si pentru mine.
***
Ferestrele de timp le-am umplut cu somn (stiu ca nu suna prea spectaculos dar chiar a fost necesar) si cu plimbari prin zone diferite din oras : Akikabara - zona dedicata electronicelor, Asakusa - o zona traditionala in care este faimosul templu Senso-ji dedicat zeitei Kannon, Ueno - unde este un mare parc care gazduieste si Muzeul National Tokyo, Shinjuku - una din zonele cele mai moderne, unde intalnesti atat cladirile guvernamentale (din care unele sunt absolut extraordinare din punct de vedere arhitectural) cat si parcuri (Shinjuku-koen) si zone rezidentiale incredibil de linistite, Ikebukuro - unde dupa al doilea razboi mondial era zona cea mai activa a pietei negre (dar unde eu am mers sa vad un mare magazin cu produse traditionale japoneze : Japan National Handycraft Center).
Am hoinarit pe strazi si fara un obiectiv precis, bucurandu-mi ochii cu spectacolul strazii, admirand frumusetea unor cladiri sau modul in care au imbinat traditia cu modernitatea si nu in ultimul rand solutiile practice pentru problemele existente in orice oras mare : parcari, transport in comun, colectare deseuri si recuperare, ordine publica. Sunt absolut convins ca am avea mult de castigat daca ne-am opri din inventarea rotii pentru a prelua deja solutii verificate de timp, pe care aceasta natiune harnica si inventiva, le-a creeat deja. Asta este insa politica deja si nu este locul aici pentru asa ceva astfel incat nu am sa mai dezvolt acest subiect.
Un alt aspect pe care cei ce viziteaza Japonia il remarca fara indoiala, este numarul extrem de mare de restaurante, de o diversitate imensa. De altfel Tokyo este orasul lumii cu cele mai multe restaurante cu 3 stele Michelin (daca informatia mea mai este de actualitate). Gasesti o multime de restaurante cu specific japonez, unde poti manca o mare gama de taitei (din orez sau faina de grau), supe si alte preparate japoneze (din care unele sunt faimoase - tempura, shabu shabu), dar exista si foarte multe restaurante indiene, chinezesti, italienesti, frantuzesti. Este pana si un restaurant romanesc in Ginza : "Darie". Ceea ce este insa deosebit fata de alte tari ale lumii unde gasesti, la fel ca si in Japonia, meniul care este afisat la intrarea in restaurant (si daca nu stii ceva japoneza poti sa te uiti mult si bine la un astfel de meniu) este faptul ca exista si mulaje ale felurilor de mancare pe care le ofera respectivul restaurant. Fabricarea acestor mulaje este o mare industrie in Japonia iar calitatea lor este remarcabila.
Nu pot sa nu mentionez si repeterea unei experiente, si anume vizita unui onsen, adica a unei bai traditionale japoneze. Baile astea sunt de doua feluri : cele cu ape geotermale (onsen) si cele cu apa incalzita (sentoo). Am revenit la O Edo Onsen, care este situat in Odaiba - este o poveste interesanta si cu aceasta Odaiba, care in fapt este o insula construita de oameni in golful Tokyo, si care adaposteste magazine, show-room-uri, docuri, etc - si la fel ca si anul trecut,a fost absolut nemaipomenit. Intri, iti lasi pantofii la intrare intr-o cutiuta speciala, iei cheia cu tine. Platesti apoi, iti alegi yukata si obi-ul care iti plac, mergi la vestiar si te schimbi, lasi cheia de la pantofi si iei cu tine noua cheie de la vestiar (care este si ea inteligent incorporata intr-o bratara, astfel incat nu te incomodeaza). Odata ce te-ai imbracat in stil traditional japonez, intri in ceea ce este reproducerea unui satuc japonez, cu magazine si restaurante, unde toti cei prezenti sunt imbracati la fel ca si tine in yukata. Poti cumpara diferite produse doar pe baza codului de identificare al bratarii (achitand la iesire insa :). De aici se intra in baile propriu-zise (separate pentru barbati si pentru femei, desi traditional nu exista aceasta separare) unde gasesti dusuri si sampoane si alte asemenea cosmetice (in Japonia dusul se face stand pe un mic scaunel din plastic) si eticheta cere sa te speli de minimum doua ori, dupa care poti merge in diferitele bazine cu apa mai mult sau mai putin fierbinte, in interior sau in exterior, la jacuzzi sau la sauna. Poti experimente absolut orice combinatie intre cele mentionate anterior, si cand ai obosit de plimbarile intre bazine si saune, poti merge in "sat" sa te racoresti (ceea ce am si facut cu ajutorul unor beri reci si foarte bune :). De incercat neaparat.
***
Nu am avut telefon la mine si asta a fost o treaba extraordinara, desi este frustrant. Mi-am adus aminte de modul in care decurgeau lucrurile inainte de telefonia mobila si, ei bine, nu a fost rau deloc. Noroc insa cu internetul, pentru ca am putut astfel "fi prezent" virtual printre cei de acasa.
Daca imi mai amintesc cate ceva, am sa mai scriu, insa in mare cam asta a fost. Timpul trece repede cand te simti bine si cand faci ceea ce iti place.
Japan 2009 (2)
The main purpose of the Romanian Aikido Aikikai Foundation’s delegation displacement was the participation at the memorial ceremonies in Hombu Dojo and Iwama, occasioned by the forty years passed since the founder Morihei Ueshiba had passed away. The second objective was the participation at the daily practices in Hombu – five – led by members of the didactic line.
For the exact schedule, visit: http://www.aikikai.or.jp/.
Some of us were more dedicated and participated in 4 – 5 of this daily practices, others were lazier and went to only two daily (and, in this last category, I must admit that I am also situated). As for me, I chose the practices which take place between 08.00 – 09.00 and 19.00 – 20.00 but I also went to Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru (which has daily practice at one time that still seems to me early in the morning , at 06.30), because, in this way, I have created a time frame in which I was able to wonder around through Tokyo.
The Masters which I saw, where enumerated in the previous post so, now I will only say that it is a great chance to be able to see the way in which Aikido expressed itself through so many different personalities. It is a unique experience, at least from my point of view, and I recommend it to all who have the possibility to visit Japan and Hombu Dojo.
***
There were two ceremonies, first held Saturday, 25.04.2009, in Hombu Dojo, between 19.00 – 21.30. If you are surprised by the fact that the duration is exact, you should know that, in Japan, the parties have a duration determined usually before (in general). In the first part there were some speeches from which the most important was the one of Doshu, after watching some old movies, in which O-sensei and the second Doshu, Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei, appeared. After the movies, fast and precisely, long tables with short legs were laid, at which all the present ones sat (in seiza) and after other speeches followed. The last faze of the ceremony was the one with food and drinks – nuts and “horns” from rice (spicy) wet with sake. On departure, each participant received two rice pies, each having the “Aikido” inscription.
Next ceremony took place Wednesday, 29.04.2009 (public holiday in Japan – Green Day) in Iwama. This town where O-sensei lived the most part of his life after 1942, is situated at approximately 120 kilometers from Tokyo and we needed almost two hours to reach there. Besides the dojo which is situated at almost one kilometer from the train station, there is also an Aikido shrine – Aiki-jinja. In this shrine a Shinto ceremony took place, for remembrance of O-sensei and Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru, which took approximately fifty minutes. Members of the Ueshiba family, Masters from Hombu Dojo led by Tada Hiroshi Sensei, the leader of the O-Moto Kyo cult (to which O-sensei belonged) and officials from Iwama and Kii Tanabe participated. The public was numerous, being present approximately 600 – 700 persons. After the religious ceremony, Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru made an Aikido demonstration (one of the three uke was Waka Sensei, Ueshiba Mitsuteru) and after we went to a picnic which took place in the dojo’s court. It was a memorable day, especially for those who have not seen this ceremony until then so, for me also.
***
I filled the time windows with sleep (I know it does not sound too spectacular but it was really necessary) and with walks trough different areas of the city: Akikabara – the area dedicated for electronics, Asakusa – a traditional area where there is the famous temple Senso-ji, dedicated to the Goddess Kannon, Ueno – where there is a big park which also hosts the National Tokyo Museum, Shinjuku – one of the most modern areas, where you can find governmental buildings (from which some are really extraordinary from the architectural point of view) but also parks (Shinjuku-koen) and incredibly quiet residential areas, Ikebukuro – where, after the Second World War, it was the most active area of the black market (but were I went to see a big store with traditional Japanese products: Japan National Handicraft Center).
I wondered around in the streets without any specific objective, making my eyes happy with the spectacle of the street, admiring the beauty of some buildings or the way in which they interweaved the tradition with the modernity and, not the last, the practical solutions for the big problems present in all the big cities: car parks, public transportation, garbage collection and recovery, public order. I am absolutely convinced that we would have a lot to learn if we would stop from inventing the wheel to take over solutions already verified in time, which this laborious and inventive nation already created. But this is already politics and it is not the place here for something like this so that I will not develop anymore this subject.
Another aspect remarked by those who visit Japan is, without doubt, the extremely big number of restaurants, of an immense diversity. Besides, Tokyo is the city of the world with the most 3 stars Michelin restaurants (if my information is still present). You can find a lot of restaurants with Japanese specific, where you can eat a big gamut of homemade noodles (from rice or wheat flour), soups and other Japanese dishes (from which some are famous – tempura, shabu shabu), but there are also a lot of Indian, Chinese, Italian, French restaurants.
There is even a Romanian restaurant in Ginza: “Darie”. But, what is especial besides other countries where you can find, same like in Japan, the menu posted at the entrance in the restaurant (and if you do not know some Japanese you can watch forever such a menu) is the fact that there are moulds of the many dishes offered by the respective restaurant. Making these moulds represents a big industry in Japan and their quality is remarkable.
I have also to mention repeating one experience, the visit at a onsen, meaning a traditional Japanese bath. These baths may be two types: those with geothermal waters (onsen) and those with heated water (sentoo). I went back to O-Edo Onsen, which is situated in Odaiba – there is an interesting story with this Odaiba, which is in fact an island built by people in the Tokyo gulf and which shelters stores, show-rooms, docks and others – and, same as last year, was absolutely amazing. You enter, leave your shoes at the entrance in a special box and take the key with you. After that you pay, choose what yukata and obi you like, go to the locker room, leave the key from the place you left your shoes and take with you a new key from the locker room (which is also intelligently incorporated into a bracelet, so that it does not inconvenience you). Once you dressed in a traditional Japanese manner, enter inside what it is the reproduction of a little Japanese village, with stores and restaurants, where everybody present are also dressed like you, in yukata. You can buy different product only based on the identification code of the bracelet (but paying when you exit). From here you can enter in the actual baths (separated for men and women, although, traditionally, this separation does not exist) where you can find showers and shampoos and other cosmetics like this (in Japan you take shower sitting on a little plastic chair) and the etiquette requires to wash yourself minimum two times, after being able to go into different pools with more or less hot water, inside or outside, jacuzzi or sauna. You can experience absolutely any combination between all previously mentioned and, when you are tired of walking between pools and saunas, you can go in “the village” to refresh (what I did with the help of some very cold and tasty beers ). To be tried by all means.
***
I did not have any mobile with me and this was something extraordinary, although it is frustrating. I remembered the way things happened before the mobile telecommunications and, well, it was not bad at all. But, thanks to the internet, I was able to be virtually “present” between those at home.
If I will remember something else I will write again, but, in large, this was it.
Time passes quickly when you feel good and you do what you like.
1 comment:
Carmen - 14th of August 2009, 08:23 AM
Hello,
Maybe it is a professional defect to know more things about Japan as a holiday destination:
1. How will a Romanian manage it when he has in front of him only vending machines whose instructions are written in Japanese?
2. How much it cost the refreshments? What about the water?
3. What are the free of charge attractions of the city?
4. Which is the most tasty dish?
Maybe you will make a little time and write about all this things on the blog, for US to find out – TRAVEL HOUSE team. In order that the tourism agents will know always as many things as possible about the cities of the world.
Until we will hear each other again, I wish you all the best and thank you for nominating us as a partner for your blog.
Carmen Visalon
Pentru programul exact vizitați: http://www.aikikai.or.jp/
Unii dintre noi au fost mai dedicati si au participat la 4-5 din aceste practici zilnice, altii au fost mai lenesi si nu au mers decat la cate 2 zilnic (si in aceasta ultima categorie trebuie sa recunosc ca ma incadrez eu ). In ceea ce ma priveste am ales practicile care se desfasoara de la 08,00 - 09,00 si de la 19,00 - 20,00 mergand insa si la Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru (care are practica zilnica la o ora care mie mi se pare in continuare foarte matinala :))) , adica de la 06,30 a.m.), pentru ca in acest fel mi-am creeat o fereastra de timp in care am putut colinda prin Tokyo.
Maestrii pe care i-am vazut au fost enumerati in postarea anterioara asa ca acum nu am sa mai spun decat ca este o mare sansa sa poti vedea modul in care Aikido se exprima prin atatea personalitati diferite. Este o experienta unica, cel putin din punctul meu de vedere si o recomand tuturor celor ce au posibilitatea de a vizita Japonia si Hombu dojo.
***
Ceremoniile au fost doua, prima dintre ele desfasurandu-se sambata 25.04.2009 la Hombu Dojo, intre orele 19,00 - 21,30. Daca va surprinde faptul ca durata este exacta, ar trebui sa stiti ca in Japonia petrecerile au o durata determinata dinainte (in general). In prima parte au fost cateva discursuri din care cel mai important a fost cel al lui Doshu, dupa care am asistat la cateva filme vechi, in care apareau O Sensei si cel de-al doilea Doshu, Ueshiba Kissomaru sensei. Dupa filme, cu rapiditate si precizie, s-au intins mese lungi cu picioare mici, la care toti cei prezenti s-au asezat (in seiza) dupa care au urmat alte discursuri. Ultima faza a ceremoniei a fost cea cu mancare si bautura - alune si "coarne" din orez (picante) udate cu sake. La plecare, fiecare participant a primit cate doua placintele din orez, ce aveau fiecare, inscriptia "Aikido".
Urmatoarea ceremonie s-a desfasurat miercuri 29.04.2009 (zi de sarbatoare in Japonia - Green Day) la Iwama. Aceasta localitate in care O Sensei si-a desfasurat cea mai mare parte a vietii sale dupa anul 1942, este situata la aproximativ 120 de km de Tokyo si am avut nevoie de circa doua ore sa ajungem acolo. In afara de dojo-ul care este situat la circa 1 km de gara, exista si un altar al Aikido - Aiki jinja. In acest altar s-a desfasurat o ceremonie shinto, de pomenire a lui O Sensei si a Doshu Ueshiba Kisshimaru, care a durat circa 50 de minute. Au participat membrii familiei Ueshiba, maestrii de la Hombu Dojo in frunte cu Tada Hiroshi sensei, liderul cultului O Moto Kyo (caruia ii apartinea O Sensei) si oficialitati din Iwama si Kii Tanabe. Publicul a fost numeros, fiind prezente in jur de 600 - 700 de persoane. Dupa ceremonia religioasa, Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru a efectuat o demonstratie de Aikido (unul dintre cei 3 uke a fost Waka sensei, Ueshiba Mitsuteru) si apoi am mers la un picknic care s-a desfasurat in curtea dojo-ului. A fost o zi memorabila, mai ales pentru cei care nu vazusera aceasta ceremonie pana atunci, deci si pentru mine.
***
Ferestrele de timp le-am umplut cu somn (stiu ca nu suna prea spectaculos dar chiar a fost necesar) si cu plimbari prin zone diferite din oras : Akikabara - zona dedicata electronicelor, Asakusa - o zona traditionala in care este faimosul templu Senso-ji dedicat zeitei Kannon, Ueno - unde este un mare parc care gazduieste si Muzeul National Tokyo, Shinjuku - una din zonele cele mai moderne, unde intalnesti atat cladirile guvernamentale (din care unele sunt absolut extraordinare din punct de vedere arhitectural) cat si parcuri (Shinjuku-koen) si zone rezidentiale incredibil de linistite, Ikebukuro - unde dupa al doilea razboi mondial era zona cea mai activa a pietei negre (dar unde eu am mers sa vad un mare magazin cu produse traditionale japoneze : Japan National Handycraft Center).
Am hoinarit pe strazi si fara un obiectiv precis, bucurandu-mi ochii cu spectacolul strazii, admirand frumusetea unor cladiri sau modul in care au imbinat traditia cu modernitatea si nu in ultimul rand solutiile practice pentru problemele existente in orice oras mare : parcari, transport in comun, colectare deseuri si recuperare, ordine publica. Sunt absolut convins ca am avea mult de castigat daca ne-am opri din inventarea rotii pentru a prelua deja solutii verificate de timp, pe care aceasta natiune harnica si inventiva, le-a creeat deja. Asta este insa politica deja si nu este locul aici pentru asa ceva astfel incat nu am sa mai dezvolt acest subiect.
Un alt aspect pe care cei ce viziteaza Japonia il remarca fara indoiala, este numarul extrem de mare de restaurante, de o diversitate imensa. De altfel Tokyo este orasul lumii cu cele mai multe restaurante cu 3 stele Michelin (daca informatia mea mai este de actualitate). Gasesti o multime de restaurante cu specific japonez, unde poti manca o mare gama de taitei (din orez sau faina de grau), supe si alte preparate japoneze (din care unele sunt faimoase - tempura, shabu shabu), dar exista si foarte multe restaurante indiene, chinezesti, italienesti, frantuzesti. Este pana si un restaurant romanesc in Ginza : "Darie". Ceea ce este insa deosebit fata de alte tari ale lumii unde gasesti, la fel ca si in Japonia, meniul care este afisat la intrarea in restaurant (si daca nu stii ceva japoneza poti sa te uiti mult si bine la un astfel de meniu) este faptul ca exista si mulaje ale felurilor de mancare pe care le ofera respectivul restaurant. Fabricarea acestor mulaje este o mare industrie in Japonia iar calitatea lor este remarcabila.
Nu pot sa nu mentionez si repeterea unei experiente, si anume vizita unui onsen, adica a unei bai traditionale japoneze. Baile astea sunt de doua feluri : cele cu ape geotermale (onsen) si cele cu apa incalzita (sentoo). Am revenit la O Edo Onsen, care este situat in Odaiba - este o poveste interesanta si cu aceasta Odaiba, care in fapt este o insula construita de oameni in golful Tokyo, si care adaposteste magazine, show-room-uri, docuri, etc - si la fel ca si anul trecut,a fost absolut nemaipomenit. Intri, iti lasi pantofii la intrare intr-o cutiuta speciala, iei cheia cu tine. Platesti apoi, iti alegi yukata si obi-ul care iti plac, mergi la vestiar si te schimbi, lasi cheia de la pantofi si iei cu tine noua cheie de la vestiar (care este si ea inteligent incorporata intr-o bratara, astfel incat nu te incomodeaza). Odata ce te-ai imbracat in stil traditional japonez, intri in ceea ce este reproducerea unui satuc japonez, cu magazine si restaurante, unde toti cei prezenti sunt imbracati la fel ca si tine in yukata. Poti cumpara diferite produse doar pe baza codului de identificare al bratarii (achitand la iesire insa :). De aici se intra in baile propriu-zise (separate pentru barbati si pentru femei, desi traditional nu exista aceasta separare) unde gasesti dusuri si sampoane si alte asemenea cosmetice (in Japonia dusul se face stand pe un mic scaunel din plastic) si eticheta cere sa te speli de minimum doua ori, dupa care poti merge in diferitele bazine cu apa mai mult sau mai putin fierbinte, in interior sau in exterior, la jacuzzi sau la sauna. Poti experimente absolut orice combinatie intre cele mentionate anterior, si cand ai obosit de plimbarile intre bazine si saune, poti merge in "sat" sa te racoresti (ceea ce am si facut cu ajutorul unor beri reci si foarte bune :). De incercat neaparat.
***
Nu am avut telefon la mine si asta a fost o treaba extraordinara, desi este frustrant. Mi-am adus aminte de modul in care decurgeau lucrurile inainte de telefonia mobila si, ei bine, nu a fost rau deloc. Noroc insa cu internetul, pentru ca am putut astfel "fi prezent" virtual printre cei de acasa.
Daca imi mai amintesc cate ceva, am sa mai scriu, insa in mare cam asta a fost. Timpul trece repede cand te simti bine si cand faci ceea ce iti place.
Japan 2009 (2)
The main purpose of the Romanian Aikido Aikikai Foundation’s delegation displacement was the participation at the memorial ceremonies in Hombu Dojo and Iwama, occasioned by the forty years passed since the founder Morihei Ueshiba had passed away. The second objective was the participation at the daily practices in Hombu – five – led by members of the didactic line.
For the exact schedule, visit: http://www.aikikai.or.jp/.
Some of us were more dedicated and participated in 4 – 5 of this daily practices, others were lazier and went to only two daily (and, in this last category, I must admit that I am also situated). As for me, I chose the practices which take place between 08.00 – 09.00 and 19.00 – 20.00 but I also went to Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru (which has daily practice at one time that still seems to me early in the morning , at 06.30), because, in this way, I have created a time frame in which I was able to wonder around through Tokyo.
The Masters which I saw, where enumerated in the previous post so, now I will only say that it is a great chance to be able to see the way in which Aikido expressed itself through so many different personalities. It is a unique experience, at least from my point of view, and I recommend it to all who have the possibility to visit Japan and Hombu Dojo.
***
There were two ceremonies, first held Saturday, 25.04.2009, in Hombu Dojo, between 19.00 – 21.30. If you are surprised by the fact that the duration is exact, you should know that, in Japan, the parties have a duration determined usually before (in general). In the first part there were some speeches from which the most important was the one of Doshu, after watching some old movies, in which O-sensei and the second Doshu, Ueshiba Kisshomaru Sensei, appeared. After the movies, fast and precisely, long tables with short legs were laid, at which all the present ones sat (in seiza) and after other speeches followed. The last faze of the ceremony was the one with food and drinks – nuts and “horns” from rice (spicy) wet with sake. On departure, each participant received two rice pies, each having the “Aikido” inscription.
Next ceremony took place Wednesday, 29.04.2009 (public holiday in Japan – Green Day) in Iwama. This town where O-sensei lived the most part of his life after 1942, is situated at approximately 120 kilometers from Tokyo and we needed almost two hours to reach there. Besides the dojo which is situated at almost one kilometer from the train station, there is also an Aikido shrine – Aiki-jinja. In this shrine a Shinto ceremony took place, for remembrance of O-sensei and Doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru, which took approximately fifty minutes. Members of the Ueshiba family, Masters from Hombu Dojo led by Tada Hiroshi Sensei, the leader of the O-Moto Kyo cult (to which O-sensei belonged) and officials from Iwama and Kii Tanabe participated. The public was numerous, being present approximately 600 – 700 persons. After the religious ceremony, Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru made an Aikido demonstration (one of the three uke was Waka Sensei, Ueshiba Mitsuteru) and after we went to a picnic which took place in the dojo’s court. It was a memorable day, especially for those who have not seen this ceremony until then so, for me also.
***
I filled the time windows with sleep (I know it does not sound too spectacular but it was really necessary) and with walks trough different areas of the city: Akikabara – the area dedicated for electronics, Asakusa – a traditional area where there is the famous temple Senso-ji, dedicated to the Goddess Kannon, Ueno – where there is a big park which also hosts the National Tokyo Museum, Shinjuku – one of the most modern areas, where you can find governmental buildings (from which some are really extraordinary from the architectural point of view) but also parks (Shinjuku-koen) and incredibly quiet residential areas, Ikebukuro – where, after the Second World War, it was the most active area of the black market (but were I went to see a big store with traditional Japanese products: Japan National Handicraft Center).
I wondered around in the streets without any specific objective, making my eyes happy with the spectacle of the street, admiring the beauty of some buildings or the way in which they interweaved the tradition with the modernity and, not the last, the practical solutions for the big problems present in all the big cities: car parks, public transportation, garbage collection and recovery, public order. I am absolutely convinced that we would have a lot to learn if we would stop from inventing the wheel to take over solutions already verified in time, which this laborious and inventive nation already created. But this is already politics and it is not the place here for something like this so that I will not develop anymore this subject.
Another aspect remarked by those who visit Japan is, without doubt, the extremely big number of restaurants, of an immense diversity. Besides, Tokyo is the city of the world with the most 3 stars Michelin restaurants (if my information is still present). You can find a lot of restaurants with Japanese specific, where you can eat a big gamut of homemade noodles (from rice or wheat flour), soups and other Japanese dishes (from which some are famous – tempura, shabu shabu), but there are also a lot of Indian, Chinese, Italian, French restaurants.
There is even a Romanian restaurant in Ginza: “Darie”. But, what is especial besides other countries where you can find, same like in Japan, the menu posted at the entrance in the restaurant (and if you do not know some Japanese you can watch forever such a menu) is the fact that there are moulds of the many dishes offered by the respective restaurant. Making these moulds represents a big industry in Japan and their quality is remarkable.
I have also to mention repeating one experience, the visit at a onsen, meaning a traditional Japanese bath. These baths may be two types: those with geothermal waters (onsen) and those with heated water (sentoo). I went back to O-Edo Onsen, which is situated in Odaiba – there is an interesting story with this Odaiba, which is in fact an island built by people in the Tokyo gulf and which shelters stores, show-rooms, docks and others – and, same as last year, was absolutely amazing. You enter, leave your shoes at the entrance in a special box and take the key with you. After that you pay, choose what yukata and obi you like, go to the locker room, leave the key from the place you left your shoes and take with you a new key from the locker room (which is also intelligently incorporated into a bracelet, so that it does not inconvenience you). Once you dressed in a traditional Japanese manner, enter inside what it is the reproduction of a little Japanese village, with stores and restaurants, where everybody present are also dressed like you, in yukata. You can buy different product only based on the identification code of the bracelet (but paying when you exit). From here you can enter in the actual baths (separated for men and women, although, traditionally, this separation does not exist) where you can find showers and shampoos and other cosmetics like this (in Japan you take shower sitting on a little plastic chair) and the etiquette requires to wash yourself minimum two times, after being able to go into different pools with more or less hot water, inside or outside, jacuzzi or sauna. You can experience absolutely any combination between all previously mentioned and, when you are tired of walking between pools and saunas, you can go in “the village” to refresh (what I did with the help of some very cold and tasty beers ). To be tried by all means.
***
I did not have any mobile with me and this was something extraordinary, although it is frustrating. I remembered the way things happened before the mobile telecommunications and, well, it was not bad at all. But, thanks to the internet, I was able to be virtually “present” between those at home.
If I will remember something else I will write again, but, in large, this was it.
Time passes quickly when you feel good and you do what you like.
1 comment:
Carmen - 14th of August 2009, 08:23 AM
Hello,
Maybe it is a professional defect to know more things about Japan as a holiday destination:
1. How will a Romanian manage it when he has in front of him only vending machines whose instructions are written in Japanese?
2. How much it cost the refreshments? What about the water?
3. What are the free of charge attractions of the city?
4. Which is the most tasty dish?
Maybe you will make a little time and write about all this things on the blog, for US to find out – TRAVEL HOUSE team. In order that the tourism agents will know always as many things as possible about the cities of the world.
Until we will hear each other again, I wish you all the best and thank you for nominating us as a partner for your blog.
Carmen Visalon
Postări
Buna ziua,
RăspundețiȘtergerePoate este deformatie profesionala sa-mi doresc sa aflu mai multe lucruri despre Japonia ca destinatie de vacanta:
1. cum se descurca un roman cand are in fata doar automate ale caror instructiuni sunt scrise in lb. japoneza?
2. cat costa bauturile racoritoare? dar apa?
3. care sunt atractiile free of charge ale orasului?
4. care este cea mai gustoasa mancare?
Poate o sa va faceti un pic de timp si veti scrie despre toate aceste lucruri pe blog, pentru a le afla si NOI- echipa TRAVEL HOUSE. pentru ca agentii de turism trebuie sa stie intotdeauna cat mai multe lucruri despre orasele lumii.
Pana ne vom auzi din nou, va urez toate cele bune si va multumesc pentru ca ne-ati nominalizat ca partener al blogului.
Carmen Visalon