Once Upon A Bridge

Closing Remarks

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

This is a super tiny Shinto shrine dedicated to the goddess Amaterasu that was right in front of our hotel in Tokyo, in a parking lot.

Knowing I was going to Japan always felt surreal, but being in Japan… I think I never felt more present in my life. Speaking with some people as we departed Japan, I know some of us found their home there and I am certain all of us wish to return to this amazing country someday.

There’s something about Japan that just makes you feel like everything makes sense, like everything has its place, like everything is there in all the right amounts and although that thought has been challenged in recent times, I have no doubt Japan and its people will pass through whatever challenge life throws at them. Being there, in that country, the resilience, discipline and organization of the Japanese people hits you right away, alongside their kindness, gentleness and beauty.

Now that I am back in Canada, I’m my trip to Japan feels like a distant dream. I remember each moment vividly, but it feels as if it happened long ago, almost in a different life. Throughout my few years on this planet, I learned that is usually what happens when your brain deems something too good to have been true and that sums my experience in pretty good way.

My trip feels like it was simply something too good to be true, but I am glad to be able to say that every inch of it was real. I may look back on my trip with a hint of bittersweetness, but this same feeling fuels my wish to go back, hopefully for a longer period of time.

Finally, I’d like to offer my thanks to JICE, Asia Pacific Foundation and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for letting us all have this wonderful opportunity and making unforgettable memories in one of the most beautiful countries in the world, Japan.

11 - February 23

Last Day in Japan

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

February 23rd. Last day in Japan.

Our flight back to Canada was set late in the afternoon, so before we made our way to the airport, we visited the Edo Tokyo Museum and the Asakasa Palace (also known as Japan’s national state guest house).

The museum was very impressive, with reproductions of olden buildings at the true, life-like, scale and reproductions of the town of Edo (old name of Tokyo) on the miniature scale, of course alongside multiple artefacts.

Life-like scale building in the Edo Tokyo Museum

As for the Asakasa Palace, we were lucky to be handed virtual guides! We got to hear about the details that went into the palace constructions which was truly magnificent, bringing both western European and Japanese elements together in one building.

Pictures were not allowed inside the palace, but there is garden at the back where visitors can take pictures and enjoy the sun.

After that, we headed to the airport by bus, some of us in tears, said our goodbyes to our wonderful JICE coordinators and boarded our plane.

Closing remarks coming soon!

10 - February 22

Urbanscapes in Shibuya

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

After our day full of visits on February 22nd, no one could still get enough of Japan and when our evening free time came, we all left our hotel to explore more of Tokyo.

The group I left the hotel with headed to Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s major commercial and business districts. Yes, it’s that place with the famed 5-way intersection; which by the way is right by Shibuya’s subway station!

Of course, it was late so most of the shops were closed, but it did not harm the experience. I have more pictures of Shibuya than I can count, yet none do justice to the feel of the place, the buzzing energy, the play of lights and the amount of people! I had so much fun just walking around. The buildings didn’t seem to end, every corner I turned brought a new set of pretty lights and ads playing on one of Shibuya’s massive screens were always there to surprise me.

Shibuya is a must-revisit next time I go to Japan. I’m curious to see how it looks at different times of the day!

10 - February 22

Meiji Jingu Shrine

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

Aside of the homestay, visiting the Meiji Jingu shrine must have been my favourite part of the trip. Maybe that’s because I’m fascinated by Shinto mythology. Who knows? But it was great.

The spirits enshrined there are the spirits of Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. There were a lot of people visiting at the time our group went but I am told it is usually even busier.

The shrine grounds are enormous and although the architecture is grandiose and can make you feel very humble at times, it is not imposing in an uncomfortable way. There is something very comforting and refreshing about walking through big torii gates.

By walking around the shrine grounds, I got to do a lot of things like see lots of people in beautiful kimono, draw a prophetic poem written by Empress Shoken, buy talisman… A couple was even getting married so our group saw them as they walked by during their wedding procession. I didn’t pray at the shrine (because I didn’t have much what to pray for), but I did write a wish down.

Overall, the shrine was bustling with activity but the atmosphere was so grandiose and solemn at times… I loved it. My only regret is in not being there longer.

10 - February 22

Japan’s Olympic Museum

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

After visiting Hamarikyu Gardens, we headed towards the Olympic Museum.

We were free to explore the museum at our leisure. The visit was both informative and really fun! Small physical activities, like trying to jump as high as you can, were scattered in the museum. Your score would then be compared to those of olympic athletes!

The museum also has a section on Paralympics and speaks at multiple occasions of women’s efforts to join the Olympics as well. It thus includes all olympic athletes in the picture the museum strives to draw.

10 - February 22

Hamarikyu Gardens

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

Our outing on February 22 began with the Hamarikyu Gardens, where even the skyscrapers around it are part of the garden’s design.

I could write an entire book of poetry on the beauty of those gardens and on flowers in bloom dancing in the wind, but I’ll refrain. Simply put, I could not get enough of it. It was breathtaking.

9 - February 21

Reporting Session! (And getting lost in Tokyo)

Posted on May 11, 2020May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

On Feberuary 21st, travelling back to Tokyo took most of the day, but we still managed to squeeze in a visit at the Canadian embassy before our reporting session in the afternoon that took place at our hotel.

Another person from the University of Ottawa and I presented our action plan which we titled いっしょうに, les amis (Together, friends) to JICE and Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives. We managed to make some people laugh, so we called it a success!

After dinner, our group had some free time and we scattered in Tokyo to see some sights. The small group I went out with got lost. We walked left and right in the hope of seeing a subway station or anything that might resemble a landmark we remembered, but we didn’t see anything that looked familiar, although this did give us the chance to pay attention to our surroundings and see some impressive things. Thankfully, we stumbled upon a kōban (police box) before panic had time to settle in and the policemen there were kind to point us in the right direction!

While we were walking to the train, we came across multiple streets like this, where clear signs tell you which side of the sidewalk you should use whether you are biking or walking. Talk about organization!

We took the train back to our hotel… only the train had no driver! It was fully automated. This left the seats at the ends of the train with a full 180° view and because the train ran on elevated rails, we had quite the beautiful view of the city to enjoy.

8 - February 20

Visiting the Zuiganji Buddhist Temple

Posted on May 11, 2020 by discrete.elements

On February 20th, we had a farewell party for our host families. There was a lot of crying and we were sad to part. I will never forget my experience with my host family and hope to meet them again someday.

After the farewell party we headed to Matsushima and we visited the Zuiganji buddhist temple. Pictures inside the temple were not allowed, but I guarantee it is well worth the visit, especially with a guide! They will make you notice details you didn’t even know were there and make you marvel even more at the inspiring piece of architecture and art that is the temple.

At the end of the day, we travelled to Sendai by bus and had our workshop session. The workshop session was the time for all of us to devise our action plan for the next few months on how we will be promoting Japan in Canada.

7 - February 19

Second day of homestay

Posted on February 20, 2020 by discrete.elements

On February 19th, we had a full day with our host family. We did a lot of things!

In the morning, we made origami for about an hour, before we headed out to Minami-sanriku, a town that was completely destroyed by the tsunami in 2011. We got to witness the resilience of the Japanese people first hand, seeing the town being completely rebuilt.

In Minami-sanriku, we first saw the sea side from the artificial beach, then walked a bridge to the torii (gate) of Arahato shrine. We couldn’t go into the shrine because it is only open at specific times during the year, however seeing the gate was already something. Near the new gate, it is possible to see the pillars of the old torii that got destroyed by the tsunami.

Then, we went to visit a shopping street made after the tsunami, by Kengo Kuma, the same man that made the Tokyo Stadium.

After going to the market (and trying a lot of seafood samples), we drove away from the town, heading somewhere else to visit an elementary school and a samurai house made in the Meiji era.

Eventually, we went back home and made norimaki as well as inari, two types of sushi. We ate them as we drank sake and laughed a lot.

The evening ended with learning how to make furoshiki and wearing yukata, my favorite activities during the homestay.

Furoshiki are very convenient if you know how to make them and I’m currently trying to find some to buy, so I can use them back home in Canada. As for wearing yukata, it feels oddly comfortable, regulating your breathing and naturally strengthening your posture, because of the obi (thick belt of the yukata). A lot of rules imbued of culture surround the furoshiki and yukata, so perhaps that is why I enjoyed it so much.

Either way, after such a full day, sleeping in the comfy futon felt like a taste of paradise.

6 - February 18

First day of homestay

Posted on February 20, 2020 by discrete.elements

After visiting Tohoku University, we headed to Tome city to meet our host families for the homestay.

Ouf first homestay evening, we were warmly greeted by our host with sakura tea, before we ate a delicious dinner under the kotatsu.

We were then introduced to some Japanese customs and exchanged on various topics such as our families and Japanese language. We had a lot of fun and I am looking forward to tomorrow!