Last days of November

Hi everyone,

November is drawing to a close and I am sitting at home all day studying. The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) will be next week and I don't feel ready. The weather has really been great recently and so I really wanted to go and do something other than studying for a change.

So on Friday I met my German friend to go see a temple and afterwards go shopping and have dinner together. I only bought DVDs, in Japanese, so I could watch them and learn something while doing so.

The temple we went to is called Tofukuji (東福寺) and is a very famous temple in Kyoto, especially because of its Japanese Maple trees that turn so beautifully red in autumn. It was founded around 750 years ago as a buddhist zen temple (as so many others in Kyoto). Really beautiful is the view from but also of the Tsutenkyo (Bridge). There where still a lot of tourists, even though the season is almost over, and a lot of the trees didn't have all their leaves anymore. But if I imagine how full it must have been one week ago I am really happy that I went on Friday.

Our shopping we did at Kyoto Station, there are a lot of shops below ground. The christmas tree in the big entrance hall is also really beautiful, and in the background you can see the stairs with their light show (it changes all the time with a lot of christmas related pictures).

Lastly I would like to show you what a really beautiful Japanese tea house is like. You might be thinking tea ceremony now, but that is not what I am talking about. It's more like a café where you go, sit down, drink some tea and eat some sweets and just enjoy the view of the garden. I went with a Japanese friend, who really loves visiting nice tea houses in Kyoto and two American friends of hers.

Arashiyama in Fall

Hello everyone,

it's finally fall in Japan, one of the most beautiful and also nicest seasons, on the other hand Japan is a country were all seasons are really nice for one or the other reason.
In Japan fall is the season of book reading and tasty food. Two of my most favorite past times. Unfortunately it also gets very cold especially in the night and inside the houses, for they are very poorly isolated. But fall is specially nice because of the color changing leaves of the trees, here the most famous and beloved are Momiji (red Japanese maple), but I also really like Ginkgo trees which turn bright yellow.

To enjoy this season the best I can, I went to Arashiyama, one of the nicest areas of Kyoto. I have been there a couple of times before but it is a very beautiful area, no matter what season. I went there right after school and since I didn't have too much time (almost all temple and shrine close around 4 or 5) I looked up which temple I wanted to go to and went there first.

My way led me to Rakushisha (落柿舎), not a temple but a cottage of a famous poet named Mukai Kyorai. The name Rakushisha means the cottage of the fallen persimmons and has a very nice story.
"Kyorai had about forty persimmon trees in the garden of his hut. One automn when they were heavy with fruit, he had arranged to sell the persimmons. But the night before they were to be picked a great storm arose. The next morning not a single persimmon was left on the trees. Kyorai was enlightened by this experience, and from then on called the hut Rakushisha."
The small cottage is really beautiful to look at and the small garden surrounding it has the atmosphere as if a poet could be inspired there.

Next I made my way to Jojakkoji (常寂光寺) which was founded only in 1596 and is located at the side of a mountain. The garden is really beautiful with a lot of moss and maple trees. There are small ways surrounding the buildings that lead through a nice garden. The atmosphere is really great, but unfortunately there were a lot of people because of the nice weather and colored leaves.

I crossed the famous bamboo forest and came to a very small shrine that I always visit when going to Arashiyama. It is called Nonomiya (野宮神社) and has a small moss garden. Here it was also really crowded but I guess you just have to live with that in a tourist spot like Kyoto.

Last I made my way to the most famous Temple in Arashiyama called Tenryuji (天龍寺), a world heritage site. The name means "Temple of the heavenly dragon" and is a head temple of a part of Zen Buddhism called Rinzai Zen Buddhism. It was established in 1339 on the site of the first Zen Temple ever established in Japan. Like many other temples in Japan it had to be rebuilt very often due to fires. The buildings that can be seen now were mostly built in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The most fascinating feature of Tenryuji is its landscape garden, one of the oldest in Japan, created in the 14th century.

After satisfying my thirst for colored leaves I walked through the tourist shops, ate some Japanese food and just enjoyed everything. Here are a couple more pictures I took on the way.

Traditional Japanese Poetry

Hello everyone,

this sunday I went to a 20th Anniversary meeting of a traditional poetry society in Kyoto. There were mostly old people and I have to honestly say it was interesting, but way too long. I don't know why but I seems Japanese tend to do everything too long.

I was there from 10:30 till 4 p.m.

For the last 5 weeks I have been in Japan I could hear my host mother practice every day, so it seems to have been very important to her.

It was actually some kind of story that I got to look at, but unfortunately I didn't understand any of it. 

We had a traditional Japanese lunchbox. 

But the most exciting thing were the Kimono all women were wearing. I really love to look at them. 

Everything you always wanted to know about Kimono

Hi everyone,

my hostmother had a fitting with a Kimono teacher last week and I got a lot of explanation about everything surrounding this very traditional clothing. Now I would like to give you the opportunity to learn something more.

Did you know that Kimono (着物) just means thing to wear ("kiru" 着る meaning to wear and "mono" 物 just means thing) but in reality it is much more than that. People who are interested in Japan often know that there are different kinds of Kimono, for example the so called "summer Kimono" the Yukata. But Yukata is actually no Kimono in that sense, but was traditionally worn as easier everyday wear. Now you can find Yukata either in traditional Japanese guest houses (Ryokan) to wear after taking a bath or more beautiful ones to wear when going to a summer festival like "Hanami" Fireworks.
I was explained, that there are different kinds of Kimono worn on different occasions and by different people:
The most formal Kimono is the Tomesode, there exists one version in color the Irotomesode and one black one (Kurotomesode). They have beautiful hand drawn patterns or pictures only under the waistline. If they have five family crests they are most formal. The colorful one might have only three or one crest and trough that it becomes less formal. Most often the Tomesode are worn to wedding ceremonies by the family of the bride and groom. While Irotomesode can be worn by married and unmarried women the Kurotomesode is usually only worn by married women.
The Furisode is the most formal Kimono for unmarried women, mostly worn nowadays to the coming of age ceremony (when Japanese turn 20). They have beautiful colorful patterns and very long sleeves.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to wear two different Kimono. The first one is similar to the Kimono a bride wears or a Maiko (Geisha in training). It took a very long time to put it on, and there were a lot of towels, straps, cushions and other things involved in making everything look so nice. Wearing a Kimono is actually not very comfortable, it's hard to breath and the Kimono is actually very heavy. I don't envy those girls who have to wear a Kimono every day.
The second Kimono was a Hakama, traditionally worn only to graduation ceremony and sports like Kyudo, Aikido and Kendo. It was much easier to put an and was more comfortable to wear. You might have seen some Shinto Shrine Maidens (Miko) wear red Hakama over white Kimono, their traditional clothing.

How to eat Sushi

And hello again everyone,

I have so much to tell you and so will write a second post today. Its about Sushi. If you think you know everything there is to know about it, think again. I went to a real sushi place in Osaka yesterday. It was actually my first time, before I have always been to running sushi places (compared to German Sushi they are great, but compared to what I had yesterday they are lame).

So we entered a small Sushi shop in Osaka called Kame Sushi (亀寿司) Turtle Sushi, but don't worry, they don't serve turtles. While sitting at the counter it is really great to watch the Sushi masters do their job. If you ever tried to make sushi you know how hard it is to form those Maki and Nigiri so they look nice. Those guys don't even need 2 seconds to create really tasty looking Sushi.
Before eating Sushi I was told it is normal to have some Sashimi (just raw fish with soy sauce and Wasabi). It is actually OK to mix the Wasabi with the soy sauce. Because Sushi and Sashimi are cold it is customary to drink something warm with it, like green tea or warm Sake. I don't know if it was the atmosphere in the shop or the Sashimi but the warm Sake tasted really good.
After the Sashimi you start ordering Sushi, whatever you like. We started with Prawn, because it's my favorite.

Here are some important points for eating Sushi:
Don't use the soy sauce and Wasabi mix that you used for the Sashimi, you get a new one (don't put Wasabi in it). if you don't like Wasabi tell the Sushi master, then he won't use it, but normally there is always Wasabi already on the Sushi.
Use your hands for eating Sushi, you don't need chopsticks. Its actually way easier to eat Sushi with your hands.
Dip the Sushi into the soy sauce, but only a little bit, and only the side with the fish.
Next: Eat the Sushi in one bite and just enjoy the incredible taste!
Order new Sushi and repeat!!!

 Kame Sushi in Osaka

 Sashimi

 Unfortunately you can't see how big they were, but trust me they were gigantic

 This was actually very interesting, living Prawn. They just took off the head before it was served, the tail still moved a little bit.

 This is the menu, I didn't know half of the fish and other things they served but it was all delicious.

 This is spring onion buds Sushi

Unfortunately it is also hard to see how big these nigiri are, but they are much bigger than in Germany and there is plenty of fish inside

I didn't take a picture of everything I ate, but I think you can get a good idea of what it looks like. And it was just the best Sushi i have ever had in my life.

Back to the year 2012

Hi everyone,

I have had an incredibly great weekend and very quickly will tell you about it. Me and some friends from my time as an exchange student had a sort of reunion in Osaka.

On Friday a Mexican friend came to visit and in going to our favorite Izakaya (Japanese Bar) "Torikizoku" and afterwards to Karaoke, we revived our old tradition. The next day we went to our old University where they held this years big school festival. Afterwards we met another friend (from Spain) and we went to Starbucks and afterwards to an Izakaya. Btw. in Starbucks in Japan it's officially christmas as soon as Halloween is over. I am not sure how that is in other countries but it shocked me a little bit hearing christmas music on the first of November.
Sunday was the best day I have had in a while! A German girl, a Mexican guy, a Spanish guy and an American went to Osaka... (no this is not the beginning of a lame joke) and ate Kushikatsu 串カツ (I forgot to take a picture... sorry) its deep-fried food on sticks. Afterwards we aimlessly ran around Osaka following a Spanish guy with no sense of direction (right Uri...).
We also got to see NMB48 (if you know AKB48: it's the same just for Osaka). For everyone who doesn't know: It's an Idol group, a lot of cute young girls singing and dancing. It's actually a lot of fun, but their fans consist of 50 year old creepy Japanese guys who are totally in love with those 15-20 year old idols. I don't know whats wrong with Japanese society that that is actually OK...
At night we went again to an Izakaya and to Karaoke (it's all there is to do at night, but it's also the greatest thing every if you are with the people that you love). And with that my super reunion weekend ended! We need to do it again.