Category: in a Japanese Pond

It has to do with the fact that gaijin are still a novelty in Japan. It’s normal for kids on the street to start calling out when they see a Caucasian. “gaijin da. haroo. haroo. zisu izu a pen.” It’s a gaijin. Hello. Hello. This is a pen. The last is the first full sentence… Continue reading Novelty

Once inside the temple, we followed the line of people around to cleanse ourselves at a carved stone trough. I watched my host family carefully then copied them, picking up a long handled ladle and filling it from the stream flowing into the trough. After pouring a little over each hand, I took a sip… Continue reading New Year

“A kilogram of beef in one piece? I’m very sorry. I don’t know where you’d find that. Let me check with the other staff.” She exchanged giggles, hidden politely behind hands, with the other staff and returned. “I’m sorry. You might try the shoutengai.” These shopping streets traditionally have a roof spanning between the buildings… Continue reading Food

I could read books meant for a twelve-year-old, but had only minor success with newspapers and textbooks. Mind you, I wasn’t particularly interested any more. I began to realise that the Proficiency Test wasn’t important to me. I had nothing to prove. I knew my Japanese was good. I knew because I did all my… Continue reading Language

Snowmen fit the reality of Christmas in Australia about as well as a water fight does in Europe. Seasons and the seasons affect culture – even reflect it. In Japan, the weather follows the rules. When the proverbial butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, causing a typhoon in China and its neighbouring countries, the Japanese… Continue reading Seasons

Our ryokan, Japanese inn, was near the centre of town and looked like any hotel from the outside, but inside it was essentially a Japanese house. I made sure my parents took off their shoes before stepping up into the lobby. One of the staff shuffled over to greet us and offer slippers. She looked… Continue reading Journey

“It’s not so particular to Nagasaki, but it finishes with lanterns to guide the spirits back to the underworld. Many people buy a lantern from one of the festival stalls and we put them in the river to float out to sea. The water was really calm, so they floated for miles and the ocean… Continue reading Return of the Dead

Their packs were small. I wondered how they would fit tents and sleeping bags in them and started to panic, thinking Honda-san had stuffed up again. He was the experienced one among the Japanese, hiking up to five times each year, but he’d failed miserably when he went to Australia. Before he left, he asked… Continue reading Trek

I felt very out of place for half an hour, sitting at the back of the hall with a bunch of kids, but when the band came on, I forgot about that. They started with ‘sayonara no hi,’ goodbye day, a song bouncing with percussion that brought the audience to their feet – figuratively. There… Continue reading Music

“Captain on the bridge.” The words weren’t actually said, but I could hear echoes of them whenever I approached. Every technician would stop what he was doing and stand ready, as if waiting for new orders. “Don’t let me interrupt. Continue what you were doing.” No movement. “Kasamatsu-san, I just wanted to see how things… Continue reading Customer Service