This Tuesday’s report will offer Westerners some insight into life in Kyoto in the age of Covid. Astronomical events interrupt temples, tourists, grammar and more temples. One week in Kyoto.
Last week has been work, work, work and nothing else.
lunar eclipse
However, in the sky east of Kyoto, a total lunar eclipse occurred above the mountains that flank the city.
It was a very clear night, so we were able to see the whole thing in the early evening.
It was quite spectacular, especially when I learned that a total lunar eclipse was accompanied by a “lunar occultation of Uranus” and was last visible in Japan 442 years ago (resource).
People in 1580 certainly didn’t have iPhones to film the event.
I did it.
Here’s what I saw about 10 minutes before the full story.
NOTE: As you can tell I am not a photographer. Pointing and pressing the iPhone is my method.
Several people in our Kyoto community were outside to watch it, and the occasion sparked conversation, which allowed me to practice my Japanese, as it is now.
It’s a great way to spend an hour after get off work.
Visitors from afar
That same week, Warren Mosler and his partner came to visit us in Kyoto, where we met for the first time since the pandemic—besides a Zoom call.
Normally (whatever the situation is right now) we usually catch up in Australia at least once a year.
So for several days last week, my lunchtimes were spent cycling from my workplace to their hotel in Teramachi Dori (near the Royal Gardens and Palace), where we shared sandwiches on the outdoor rooftop terrace – A very Covid-safe environment.
We met a couple of students (one from Tokyo, the other a local), discussed MMT with them and generally had a good time.
Then I cycle back to work for the afternoon.
This was their last lunch before departing for the United States. Those beautiful hills in eastern Kyoto are my favorite places to ride bikes, walk, run, and do other things.
Warren seems to think he can wear a T-shirt to a work lunch! American!
This photo was taken minutes before we called the President of the United States to ask him to fire Jerome Powell for irresponsible Fed management.
Only our phone didn’t connect.
We want (-:
Here’s an essential selfie from our last meeting with students.
temples everywhere
Kyoto has more than 2000 temples and shrines (Shinto and Buddhist).
Some have beautiful gardens, like my favorite Enkoji Temple in northeast Kyoto.
This time of year, the trees take on a ton of different colors as fall progresses, and the palette changes every time you go from there.
I hope to cycle there again this coming weekend to see how the garden’s tone has changed.
Other temples and shrines have other features – like this one – Xiangguo Temple – Just north of the Forbidden City and Gardens.
The complex “is the second of Kyoto’s Five Mountains, five major Rinzai temples in medieval Kyoto.”
The temple “was built under the auspices of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408), and the Buddhist hall (Buddhist hall) was completed in 1394”.
too old.
It was badly damaged by fire at various times.
Here I am wondering if I should give up the guitar and pursue a musical career as a percussionist.
I’m trying to figure out the logistics of shipping this bell to the show!
Personal Pronouns in Japanese
For me, some interesting things about Japanese usage.
I attended a very interesting seminar this week at Kyoto University in which the role of language in strengthening Japanese culture was discussed, in particular the influence of collectivism on individualism.
This – Japanese pronouns – are very different from English personal pronouns.
In English there are “I” and “you,” which are considered independent of context—that is, where you are, who you’re talking to, and other features of context.
In Japanese, your sense of “self” is relative and situational, so they use different words for personal pronouns depending on the context.
It becomes more difficult to learn and avoid faux pas when the hierarchy or level of intimacy that determines relativity is not clear enough.
Thankfully, the Japanese are very welcoming and they are very accommodating and helpful to foreigners like me who take the time to try and learn their language.
Over time, people begin to feel comfortable deploying the correct personal pronouns in every situation they encounter.
As I struggle with this problem, my number of Chinese characters is slowly increasing, and I’m learning more radicals.
The unfathomable first blush slowly began to make sense.
Soon though I have to go back to Australia and not until 2023 to Japan.
Enough for today!
(c) Copyright 2022 William Mitchell. all rights reserved.
