The gifts of kakizome

"This year I wish for good fortune, great beauty, and good wisdom."

I'm back to work in the classroom with little hands and creative minds.  Today I shared the practice of kakizome, the 'first writing' of the year practiced in Japan, with the children, and asked them to share their wishes and hopes for the upcoming year.  This little girl connected her thoughts to the kanji I presented and selected fortunate to represent her ideas.  It was a wonderful gift to read through their visions and hopes, as well as sit with them while they were so engaged.  Fortunate, indeed.

It's all I can give you...

Taken in Space Mountain, Tokyo, while waiting in line with my daughter and niece.  This blue gets me every time, and I liked the mystery it created for my +Alien Abduction Friday friends in Google Plus.

Kitchen laughter and shyness

Kitchen laughter and shyness
Shinjuku izakaya
November 8, 2012

Last night I spent a few hours with a girlfriend in an 'izakaya' enjoying beer and sushi.  When we walked in around 7 PM the place was completely filled with men geared up in their work suits.  We were the only 2 women besides one other, and slowly through the night the male crowd thinned out and more women arrived.  We sat at a counter facing the kitchen, and here the workers don't know exactly to do with themselves with me looking in with my camera.  They laughed, and it was a good chuckle for all of us.

By the way, this was my first outing on my own since being in Japan.  Loved it!  Now I want more time to go out on adventures.  Next week's departure is too soon!

Last night I spent a few hours with a girlfriend in an 'izakaya' enjoying beer and sushi.  When we walked in around 7 PM the place was completely filled with men geared up in their work suits.  We were the only 2 women besides one other, and slowly through the night the male crowd thinned out and more women arrived.  We sat at a counter facing the kitchen, and here the workers don't know exactly to do with themselves with me looking in with my camera.  They laughed, and it was a good chuckle for all of us.

By the way, this was my first outing on my own since being in Japan.  Loved it!  Now I want more time to go out on adventures.  Next week's departure is too soon!

Find yourself in the temple

My husband helped organize a bus tour of Tokyo with good friends from his high school days, and one of our stops was to the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo.  It is the oldest Buddhist Temple in Tokyo, and is visited by millions of people every year.  While we were there walking through the gates with thousands of others, I felt like I could either get swept away by the crowds or totally immerse myself and enjoy.  The second happened as a matter of fact once I got caught up in photographing and appreciating the people and place.  I actually wished to be left there for day or so because it felt so good in the moment.

Hozomon Gate Lantern
Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo
November 4, 2012

Millions pass under this lantern every year to visit and pray at Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo.  I was one of the many on Sunday, and really appreciated the immersion into the endless stream of people.  There's an exciting and moving energy shared when in such a space.

http://www.senso-ji.jp/

 In prayer and wonder

Main Hall
Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo
November 4, 2012

After moving with thousands of people through two large gates and past an osenka (incense) burner for healing, I climbed the steps of the Main Hall.  My girls had been with other family members, so it was a nice surprise to find my youngest daughter looking up at the woman in prayer.

http://www.senso-ji.jp/about/index_e.html

Contact

 “You're an interesting species. An interesting mix. You're capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so lost, so cut off, so alone, only you're not. See, in all our searching, the only thing we've found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other.”
― Carl Sagan, Contact

I had stopped in the flow of the crowd right past the huge lantern at the entrance gate.  I wasn't just ready to jump into the sea of bodies moving towards the temple site.  The feel of the movement and the hundreds of faces around me captivated me and got my adrenaline going.  My husband had gone ahead with his friends and our daughters, and I had 30 minutes to soak it all in and immerse myself.  From where I stood, on the edge of a small elevated step, I could see over everyone's heads, well nearly, on my tippy toes.  I knew that I wanted to show the depth of the crowd in my shots, so I stretched high with my camera and looked in.  Honestly, I can't recall if I consciously saw this man looking straight ahead in my direction, but how peculiar and cool that he stands out amongst the others.  I think that he's striking, and at that moment takes on a significance.

He really makes me wonder about all of our encounters with the countless people that we pass during our daily travels.  Do we see them?  Do they see us?  Do we even make a conscious effort to see and engage, or are we each in our own zone?  Are there others trying to reach out to us somehow?   How awesome that in a split moment of time we are capable of stepping out of ourselves to make contact and connect, then move on our way.  I find a reassurance in that, and it feeds my spirit in just the right way.

Waiting on a friend

 

Waiting on a friend
University of Tokyo
October 23, 2012

This lovely, old Oak invited us to sit underneath and have our lunch yesterday.  Heavy rains came as soon as we set up, and we dashed to a covered entrance way for shelter.  This kind, elderly man shared the space with us as we looked out toward the tree together.  I felt as if he had a lot in common with this wonderful tree.  Both gentle and wise, strong and knowing.

Chofu arrival

Chofu arrival

It took us a little over 24 hours to arrive in my husband's hometown of Chofu, a Tokyo prefecture.  After all of that travel, it felt so good to be greeted by family at the local bus stop and with them again.  :)

Japan Favorites

I traveled to Japan in 2004 with my husband and 2 year old daughter to visit family.  Because I held my little one in a carrier on my left, I lost use of one hand most of the time.  I adapted by holding my camera away from my face and shooting off my hip, arm stretched high, behind the back, etc. with my Canon Digital and point and shoot.  It became habit forming and expanded my photographic style. So, which of these are one-handed or two?

Rainbow Pebbles

 

Taken in our friend's apartment in Hiroshima, Japan.

Hiroshima Peace Park