Experience Japanese Culture Day

27/10/07 - sat (Doyoubi)

There’s this Experience Japanese Culture Day in JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency. Again, we cycle there after studying the map. It’s actually the place Prof Okuda brought us to have buffet there.

It’s about half an hour cycling from our apartment, passing by Prof’s apartment. Strictly speaking it’s not really far. But I had a hard time going there. The way to JICA is very hilly, (or I should say everywhere is) especially when we are almost there… You can see my gloomy face pushing the bike. It’s so steep that we are not allow to cycle up there --- I wonder who can do that!

Though we were just about half an hour late, there were not so much of choices at the flea market already. Anyway we still manage to get a cap for myself (I can’t stand the sun shine every time I go out la), and a warm clothing for each of us at only 100 yen each. Of course, these are the 2nd hand stuff, otherwise it would not be so cheap.

We met Otake-san who is helping out there; she said we were late, so the good stuffs were sold out already. What to do… Pigs overslept. ;p There are stations for us to explore, all are introducing the Japanese culture, mostly their traditional games. I’m not familiar with those though, but some are quite similar with chinese tradition.

There’s this pressed flower art – Oshibana, where you can see people pasting the leaves and flowers on the cards according to their own creativity. They are really nice~ Then there are stations for origami (paper folding), Furoshiki games, bunbun games, Ken-dama (cup & ball), Koma (like the gasing we play).

Folklore game, where the blindfolded players have an outline of a face with no features on the floor in front of them. The object of the game is to place paper cutouts in the shape of the eyes, nose, and mouth on the face. Hanetsuki (shuttlecock & paddle), I like this paddle, very unique and special!

They also have station teaching you how to wrap the bento (the box lunch) with cloth, use chopsticks to pick up the beans, and some I forgot the names… didn’t jot down or take photo of all.

Suddenly there’s a performance in the centre which attracts everyone’s attention. It's Zenidaiko - Japanese Percussion Instrument. Even Otake-san also said it’s her first time to watch it. Basically it’s how they throw the sticks according to the song. And the amazing part is that all the performers are not young people but the elders. I believe the younger generation would not appreciate this traditional culture already. It's a pity that there's no kimono station here. I would love to take part in that. ;p

I wasn’t feeling well so we went back early and our plan to cycle to downtown also cancel. But I believe there will other chances to experience these cultures. Next weekend there’s another similar event coming up at the stadium in down town. But I think we are going to miss that as there’s this annual celebration in the university itself, celebrating the 56th year of the university. Funato-san told us there will be a lot of stalls with special food from each countries, and performances. We will go for it. :)