Nagoya Castle with the sakura in bloom
Japan loves the cherry blossom, and for good reason. The trees are everywhere, and are beautiful right now. People have been gathering for various hanami (flower viewing) across the country, where sakura trees are particularly concentrated.
Late-night hanami at Tsurumai Park, complete with jugglers, musicians, and vastly overpriced food.
I've only seen the trees at night so far, but no matter the hour, the more central hanami locations are always absolutely packed. After a tip-off from one of my students, I was able to take a less-travelled route home from work one night, and found a river that was covered on both banks by the sakura trees. The scene was pretty amazing, and it was an experience hampered only by the fact that I think I was the only person strolling by the river without a date! It was by a university and it's spring break at the moment... Need I say more?
Meanwhile...
Getting used to my new apartment has been... interesting. (Since my last post, I have learned that my particular apartment has been known as 'The Cave' by a number of training groups who have worked for my company. They put their new recruits in touch with an independent housing agent, who has a number of apartments in the area. The name is quite apt, as there is virtually no natural sunlight. Being on one of the lower floors of a multi-storey building, the window faces a narrow and secluded courtyard/car park with a good six storeys on top of me.) As I type this, a plumber, Plumber-san, is grunting and groaning his way through fixing my bathroom. I'm not even sure what the problem is! I know I had a dripping tap, but apparently Plumber-san found something else wrong while fixing it and has had to come back to fix that. On that note, charades is quickly becoming my first language in daily life, although I think I'll start taking Japanese lessons next week.
I live in an area called Fushimi, famous for, um, being fairly central, perhaps? It's certainly quite a convenient location, [oh dear, Plumber-san is making confused sounds], and has a very expensive traditional Japanese theatre, which the great and the good of Nagoya seem to enjoy visiting in their kimonos. It always amuses me when I walk past and the man who flyers for them, (dressed as an ancient Japanese monk, of course, complete with hand bell to ring at people), pauses in his flyering just long enough for me to get past unharassed before ringing his bell and carrying on.
The Science Museum! Home of all things sciencey. Closed on Mondays.
Also in Fushimi is the Science Museum. Our one attempt to get there after an abandoned trip to Nagoya Castle because of rain was also cancelled as it was closed, because it was a Monday. It transpires that Monday is broadly equivalent to what Sunday used to be in Britain - everything's closed. Even the supermarket next to my house is closed on Mondays!
Interesting food item of the week: takoyaki, or octopus balls. Verdict: surprisingly tasty. I think it's a special Japanese dish. However, I thought that about gyoza, but it transpires that that's Chinese. For my Australian friends, eating octopus tentacles is nothing special, but for me, it was pretty eye-opening that something I would once never have dreamt eating could actually be pretty good. The actual 'restaurant' was quite an experience as well. It seemed to just be a couple of tables with bar stools round in the middle of a corridor underground somewhere. Fairly unusual. But the man was so grateful for our custom that he ran our food to us, and gave us a complimentary dessert!
Takoyaki, half-eaten because I was enjoying it so much I almost forgot to take a picture!
[Plumber-san has just left and given me a shiny new tap, shower and piping system. I believe this place was built in the '70s, and given the state of the pipes, I'm not convinced they had been replaced since...]
Surprising event of not-quite-the-last week: St. Patrick's Day being observed, and Easter being ignored. So, St. Patrick's day got quite a celebration on the day and night of 16th March, 17th being a Sunday, with bands in Irish/British-style pubs and a big party in a nearby district. Easter, however, was all but forgotten. The one sign I saw of some possible recognition was one of my students eating some mini chocolate eggs. The exchange of traditions between East and West is a curious phemonenon when considering which traditions get across, and which do not.
St. Patrick's Day: big in Japan
So, the new academic year starts for me on the 13th, but I'll try to keep up to date with the blog nonetheless. Let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to hear about! I'm always open to suggestions.
Finally, remember that when you're on the train, various people should have priority. Especially the following people: the elderly, those with child, those with young children, the infirm, and the, um, lovesick...?
Image:
Nagoya Castle image taken from http://www.yokoso-japan.jp
