7.14 end of the excursion

This week we did an excursion to Nagoya, Hiroshima and Kyoto. This is the first time I took Shinkansen, and the excursion gave me a chance to go to some places I may otherwise never go.

The fist day tour to Nagoya to watch sumo tournament is very interesting. Sumo is a sport I often see on Internet or during history lecture. I never thought it could be such an international sports. The stadium is a very modern on, with a traditional Dohyo in the center. Viewers come from different countries, some are tourist, and some are very enthusiastic fans. I can hear them shouting out names of participates they really like, and cheers for their victory. There are some goods sold in the corridor. Some are really cute, while some are in very typical Japanese style. I think that is an important way to get people interested in something. The sports itself, the rules, the rituals and the whole process, still strictly follow very traditional way, but the place of demonstration is very modern and international. That reveals the identity of Japan as following the trend of modernization and globalization, while managing to remain its essence. The way it tries to appeal outside with their culture is also very inspiring.

The trip to Hiroshima is a very heavy day. After seeing the dome, I realize that all the streets we walked on, all the trees planted and all the buildings along the street, were once burned and destroyed. But now they are restored and rebuilt, just by looking at it, there is nothing different. Despite Hiroshima is a quite and less developed city, I really like the slower life style there, and some nostalgic feeling. Tracks on street, conductor on the bus, and the conductor saying Thanks to every passenger. That is something I was familiar with when I was little, but now there is no more such scene in the place I live in China. The whole city is like a setting in typical Japanese movie. But the scene was bombarded and burnt, and individuals, who were no different from us, was suffering. I saw the clothes once worn, and the items once used by victims. I couldn’t stop thinking what if the atomic bomb was never dropped, what a beautiful life they should have. There is a lot of discussion on whether the bomb should be dropped, whether that is something Japan deserved because it was the country who initiated the war. But to me, the theme here is no longer about war and justice, it is only about peace and people suffering. The whole city nowadays display paper crane in every corner, but it is more important for the world to memorize the tragedy, and to celebrate and preserve peace we now have.

I want to generalize Miyajima and excursion to Kyoto together, because both of these two cities demonstrate Japan’ s perception of its religion and tradition. It is really surprising to learn how temples and shrines were closely related to politics and ruling power back to Shogunate era, and it is also surprising to learn about sexual relationships existing between the elder monk and Chigo. While nowadays, Buddhism and Shintoism to Japan is much simpler than that, while still interesting. A Shrine can be built up for anything, for animals, for historical figures, and even as I learned, for cooking. Although modern Japanese are not really that religious, and many people don’t really believe in supernatural,but every time I saw they prey in front of the shrine, and when they ask the priest for Gosyuin, they really take that serious, and show full respect. I don’t know how many people do believe in realization of their wishes, and I can’t tell if I believe or not. But that is really a part of their life, a way to show their hope, and to respect the world and spirits ass themselves. Just after we left Kyoto, there will be a Gion festival. That is how religious practice demonstrates cultural. I hope I could participate, but what a pity there is no time.

During the free excursion time, I went to the place where my favorite historical figure once lived and fought. It is interesting to stand in the place where he stood before, walk along the streets he walked on, try to feel the feelings of him at that time, and feels like you can touch the time. Kyoto is that kind of city. It is developed, yet there is still space where you feel you can feel the history. I visited Yasaka shrine with my friend wearing Kimono on the second day. Simply wearing that clothes is very complicated and tiring. But the clothes itself vividly shows me how society and how manner worked. I simply couldn’t walk fast or sit comfortably wearing that, so I can see the rules for female to follow, and the definition of beauty in ancient Japan. But the process is still interesting, really a better way to feel the culture, and to experience tradition. Just before I leave, I visited Nishiki market and wondering around on the street. I wanted to but something but I couldn’t transport those back to China, or I just have no space. I feel it is easier to experience life of an ordinary life of a Kyoto residents than in Tokyo. It feels to me, Kyoto is a place of a more traditional and a more authentic city than Tokyo. Not to make a judgement, but the excursion gives me an excellent chance to see Japan from a different aspects.