This Tuesday’s presentation will provide some insight into the life of a Westerner (me) who has been working at Kyoto University in Japan for several months.
Culture Day – Kyoto Botanical Garden – November 3, 2023
Friday, November 3rd is Japan’s Culture Day, a public holiday and a day for various events that showcase Japan’s cultural diversity.
As the suburbs began to thin out, we rode our bikes north to have a picnic at the Botanical Gardens on the banks of the Kamogawa River.
The last time we were there it was very quiet so we thought it would be a very peaceful picnic.
Incorrect.
It is a cultural day festival and the gardens are filled with dancing, music and displays, including beautiful floral displays.
The Osaka Ninja Theater put on a really great pantomime for the kids (and me) that included acrobatics and the eternal battle between good and evil.
There were various fan dances and a very strange mass ceremony where groups of people held this platform with a bell tower on their shoulders and various singers sang some kind of hymn.
It was so warm that some of the bearers looked like they were going to have a heart attack.
The chanting and taiko drumming accompanying this feat lasted approximately 45 minutes.
So while it wasn’t a quiet picnic, it was a very fun one.
Just a few weeks ago we showed in Australia how much we value culture – the referendum to give our Aboriginal people a formal say and recognition in the constitution failed miserably – it showed how seriously we value our traditions and cultural heritage. How disrespectful.
A far cry from Japan Culture Day’s respect and amplification of past traditions.
Kyoto University Museum
Late one afternoon, I was riding my bike near the university and decided to stop and visit the Kyoto University Museum, which showcases the research work of Kyoto University researchers over 135 years or more (since its founding).
I love learning about what other researchers do—looking at their field notebooks and sketches, reading about their lives.
It turned out to be a great stroll through the two main rooms, each with two levels.
After looking at all the natural history material (lots of insects and bugs etc) I went to the social history section and found some very interesting stuff.
I learned that those beautiful round tile ends that adorn many modern and ancient Japanese homes and buildings were first fired in kilns in 761.
The rather ancient idea has survived into modern times.
I discovered this coinage machine, which originated in the Song Dynasty of China (960-1297 AD) and was used to mint round coins (pictured below).
Then I saw this document and the English description was self-explanatory.
They use special paper from the shrine to take the oath.
We need some of this to allow all Australian companies to completely evade tax.
Parkrun – Japanese style
Last Saturday, I got on my bicycle early, rode to Higashiyama Subway Station, and took a train over the mountains to Lake Biwa.
Change trains at Biwakohama-Otsu, and a few stops later I get off at Nishiki Station, a small suburban station near Sunny Beach that’s rather inappropriately named—at least not given the weather that day.
45 minutes train journey.
This is a very interesting train ride, and shortly after leaving central Kyoto the train begins climbing up the Higashiyama Mountains, albeit via some sort of mountain pass (see map).
Then, just after chasing points, the train began the long descent to Otsu. These houses are only a few meters away from each station.
After a 10-minute walk, I arrived at the lake, which is also the starting point of the Parkrun closest to Kyoto.
It’s windy, cold, the land is barren, and there aren’t many runners.
But it’s nice to be able to breathe harder and enjoy running with others.
The guy who organizes this event every Saturday at 8:00 is very committed to building the Parkrun movement in Japan and he seems to do most of the work, while in Australia there are several volunteers helping out every weekend.
Anyway, I ended up with him – so grateful for his efforts.
Next weekend, I plan to do some Tokyo parkruns, although they, like the Sunny Beach runs, are quite far from where I live.
peace sign
On Sunday I hiked up the slopes of Mount Daimonji again – this time we took a more traditional route to the top which, while still exhausting, was much easier than the steeper route we had taken a few weekends ago.
Before reaching the summit, hikers reach a landing point – an observation deck – which offers stunning views over Kyoto and south to Osaka.
Unfortunately, the weather was very overcast and started to rain, so the view down the valley was rather bleak.
But it’s beautiful if it’s closer to Kyoto.
On the way down from the top, another 20 or 30 minutes of steep climbing after the viewpoint, we stopped again on the deck for some water and a Danish pastry from our favorite baker – absolutely out of this world The best pastries I can tell you!
I saw the signs and thought about the IDF’s crimes in Gaza and how the richest and most powerful nation aided and abetted Israel’s murder of thousands of innocent Palestinian children.
No nuance, no excuses, nothing – it’s pure carnage.
That doesn’t excuse Hamas’ actions, so don’t email me and tell me I’m a Jew-hater.
It would be nice if this logo had weight.
In 2023, my working time in Kyoto is coming to an end.
There is never enough time to fit it all in, and as I learn more, my list of cycling adventures grows.
So a lot of things will have to wait until we come back next year.
That’s enough for today!
(c) Copyright 2023 William Mitchell. all rights reserved.
