So since it's already Friday and I haven't posted about last weekend yet, I figured I better get on that. Last Friday I went to the first Ikebana club meeting. Ikebana is the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. The sensei explained that in the traditional Japanese way of thinking, people lived with nature, and every part of nature had a spirit. This comes from Shintoism, the native religion. Ikebana is a type of flower arrangement that is supposed to be representative of nature in an organic sense, but was traditionally brought into homes to serve as an antenna to the gods. At the Ikebana club, students study and practice this art form in a room with a traditional tatami (straw) floor. Although typically ikebana arrangements are not done in pairs, because the club had such a strong initial interest and because it was the first meeting, my friend Ashley and I were allowed to create ours together. After the lesson, we went outside and encountered the school's kanto team practicing. The team practices balancing very large heavy poles to which many lanterns are attached, on different parts of their body. For example, their heads, shoulders, and backs. AIU has a very talented team that performs in festivals and parades. |
Last Saturday I went on a bus trip with four buses full of international and Japanese students to the Yamagata prefecture, about 3 hours away. AIU took us to see a showcase performance of various traditional dances and musical performances. It was really spectacular. Afterwards, we went to Yamadera, a beautiful holy site founded in 860 A.D. To get to the main temple, we trekked up over 1000 steps, and then were able to see flames that have been continuously burning since they they were carried to the site more than 1100 years ago. It was very hot so after walking back down those stairs, Ashley (from Delaware) and I got some celebratory kaki gouri (shaved ice). |
On Sunday I went with my roommate Miki, and five other students to tour a factory that produces miso, shoyu (soy sauce), and sake (Japanese rice wine). Afterwards we got to taste test a few different sakes, as well as some delicious miso soup.