Shimogo JHS Sports Day 2006

As usual, the Shimogo JHS sports day was organised with military precision. The students (and teachers) have been preparing for about 1 week and everything ran like clockwork.

The weather was a worry, and although it was chilly, the rain never really arrived. After a short opening ceremony, the school and Japanese national flag were raised. Following this, every student took part in a warm up before the start of competition.

Sports events included the 1500m, hurdles, tug of war, 4 x 100m relay, shot, long jump, high jump, and a group skipping competition. It was a fantastic day but I am tired and cannot type any more.
It's Golden Week next week. We will go to Tokyo for 10 days and on Monday 1st May, we will go to Disney Sea. I also plan to meet a couple of friends during Golden Week and am also thinking about buying a new digital camera. I'll update my blog on the 7th of May. Happy Golden Week!!!!!

Golf - Shiobara Country Club

At 6.30am on Sunday morning, I set off with a few others to Shiobara Country Club. This golf course is about 1 hour drive from my home in Shimogo. After breakfast at the club, we had a short practice and then teed off at 8.59am.

I am a very BAD golfer and therefore I was worried I would make myself look stupid. I finished the day with a score of 147 - 75 over par. I consider this score to be a success and I was happy with my play. During the day, I did not lose any golf balls and I even made par on the 12th hole!!! Today was the best round of golf I have ever played.

The golf was the end of a busy and physically tiring weekend. I'm tired but very happy that I've exercised so much over the last few days.

I have a normal week ahead at work and have nothing special planned. I'll post another blog entry when I've got anything else to share. Bye for now.

Takakura Mountain

On Saturday morning, Fuminori, Shoichi, Kazuhiro, and I went hiking up Takakura Mountain. The mountain is only a little over 1,300m in height, but the hike was very difficult because there was still lots of snow to walk or wade through. It took us about 3 hours to reach the summit.

The hike up the mountain was difficult for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was the snow. Secondly, our rucksacks were heavy with equipment and with food. Thirdly, the mountain slopes were covered in loose stones and trees (some with sharp needles). However, when we reached the top, our efforts were rewarded with fantastic views of Shimogo and the surrounding area.
This photo is a view towards the central area of Shimogo. I think that the smoke in the picture is from people burning rice stubble in preparation for planting new rice plants.

Although the weather was sunny, it was very cold at the top of the mountain due to a strong wind.

We stopped for about one hour to have lunch. Shoichi made kimchi nabe (spicy Korean hot pot) and this was washed down with a can of beer.

After lunch, we tidied up and took a few pictures of the area before our journey down the mountain. This was a very good day and I hope to do some more hiking during the spring and summer months. After I returned home, I went for a short ride on my mountain bike and then relaxed at home in the evening.

Kannonnuma (Kannon Marsh)

Kannonnuma is a very pretty part of Shimogo and a favourite place for me to cycle. To cycle from my apartment to the lake and return takes me about 1 hour 30 minutes. The cycle is about 30km in total.

The first picture shows the road going towards Kannonnuma. The road is usually very quiet and is safe to cycle on. The winter has been long and hard this year, as evidenced by the snow which still spots the landscape. A nice view!

The next picture shows Silver Birch trees on the road up towards Kannonnuma lake. I've always liked the Silver Birch. Some Japanese people believe that the Silver Birch is a symbol of purity, patience, and perseverance. I am wondering if there is a religious connection with the temple / shrine at Kannonnuma lake, but I'm not sure.

At Kannonnuma, there is what I thought was a Buddhist temple. I have since been told that it is officially classed as a Shinto shrine. I think it is a mixture of both religions. Japanese people are well known for having different religions and they even mix them together.

Since my last visit, the lake ice has melted a little and there were lots of ducks walking on the ice or swimming in the water. Soon the ducks will be replaced by tourists.

Before my cycle, I was warned that at Kannonnuma lake, it is possible to meet bears. Therefore, on the walk towards the temple/ shrine, I was on high alert and ready to run at any moment.

On the side of the temple / shrine, I found this picture. I am guessing that this is a picture of the Buddhist deity called Kannon. Kannon is the Buddhist deity of compassion.

The following pictures show a stone lantern, a torii gate at the temple entrance, and the temple itself. If you look closely, you can see family name plates have been attached to the facade. I'm not sure why.

Road to Kannonnuma (Kannon Marsh)

On Friday afternoon I decided to cycle 15km to Kannonnuma in Shimogo. I think that KANNON is a Buddhist deity and numa means MARSH. I thought that my trip to Kannonnuma would be a good opportunity to take some pictures which could be posted on this blog.

On my trip to Kannonnuma I took a lot of photos. Many of the photos show very nice Japanese scenery while others photos show mans detrimental impact on the local environment. I'll start with the bad images and then show the good images in my next blog.

The first ugly thing I noticed on my cycle were piles of old car tyres beside the road. I passed many tyres at different places and I thought that they looked very ugly. I think that some farmers use the tyres as an aid in the growing of persimmons. Unfortunately, I cycled past hundreds of tyres, most of which I think will never be used. I don't think anyone will ever clear these tyres up and they will remain beside the road looking extremely ugly.

The other things I did not like on my cycle were empty coffee cans and cigarette boxes. I think I must have cycled past over 200 empty coffee cans along the side of the road. Most of the cans were for Georgia Emerald Mountain and most of the cigarettes boxes were Mild Seven 6mg. I think that these cans and boxes are thrown regularly by the same person. Who would throw cans and cigarette boxes onto the road?? I think that a truck driver is to blame. I'll be happy to report him to the police when I eventually catch him throwing rubbish from his truck. I just can't understand people who throw rubbish away onto the street or into rice fields - it makes me angry.

Mother and Father in Japan

My parents arrived in Japan on the 5th of April. They'll stay in Japan for 1 week and then go to Hong Kong to see my brother.

They were in Tokyo on the 5th and 6th of April and arrived in Shimogo on Friday the 7th April. We checked them into their hotel (Suzukiya which is near to our apartment) and then went to a local restaurant called Wakakski. We all had a good time and enjoyed the food and drink.

On Saturday we all drove to a city called Aizu Wakamatsu. My parents bought Clara a new pink bicycle and red cycling helmet. Lucky girl!!! We went to an Italian restaurant called Angelo for lunch and my parents were very impressed with the quality of food and the quality of service. Eating out in Japan is much cheaper than eating out in Scotland.

After lunch, we went to the supermarket called York Benimaru. I met so many people in the supermarket and it felt like I was shopping in Shimogo. It's a small world. I went cycling in the afternoon but it was VERY COLD and even started to snow when I was half way up the mountain.

On Sunday morning my parents met a family from the nearby town of Tajima (Minami Aizu Machi). The daughter (called Shiori) stayed at my parents house for 2 weeks in December 2004 and it was good for my parents to see her again. In the afternoon, we went shopping again and then I cycled to the lake called Kannonuma (about 30km) to get some fresh air. It was cold, but not as cold as the day before.

Tomorrow (Monday 10th April) will be my parents last day in Shimogo and then I'll take them to Tokyo on Tuesday morning. They'll be VERY sad to say "Goodbye" to Clara but we plan to go to Scotland this Christmas. Tomorrow night we plan to eat at a local restaurant called Minami.

I'll update my blog after my parents have left Japan. Sayonara.

2 Weeks

I have not updated my blog for 2 weeks so I thought it would be a good idea to briefly tell you what I've been doing.

SUNDAY 20th MARCH
Surprise birthday party for Molly Elgin in Hadakaya (a restaurant / karaoke box) in the next town called Tajima.

Tajima no longer exists due to a nuclear exchange with Shimogo Town. I'm joking of course. Tajima does not exist any longer because it has merged with several other towns in the area. I think these mergers are a common feature of recent Japanese rural life and are a reaction to declining population. Perhaps these towns are no longer looked upon as sustainable and have been grouped together to make them more viable.

MONDAY 21st MARCH
Japanese national holiday (Vernal Equinox) - hangover.

WEDNESDAY 22nd MARCH
Work day at Shimogo JHS. I only had two classes (2-1 & 2-2) and the school was very quiet because the 3rd grade students have graduated. Sob sob.

THURSDAY 23rd MARCH
Last day of term at Shimogo JHS.

FRIDAY 24th MARCH
Half day in the BoE (Board of Education) followed by a visit to Daikurayama for some skiing. I did not stay long at the ski area because the snow was wet and very sticky. Not a good day for skiing.

SATURDAY 25th and SUNDAY 26th MARCH
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MONDAY 27th MARCH
Sitting in the BoE being bored of education. I wrote the next article for the town magazine called COHO. My next article is about the pleasures of reading.


TUESDAY 28th MARCH
BoE.

WEDNESDAY 29th MARCH
Spent the day with the other Minami Aizu ALTs making videos which we can show to the students in our classes. We acted out the situations in the school textbooks (New Horizon 1,2, and 3) and we hope these will freshen up our classes.

THURSDAY 30th MARCH
My Mum's birthday. I called my mother in the evening to wish her a happy birthday. Clara sang 'Happy Birthday' to her. During the day, I sat in the BoE and also washed a couple of cars which will be used to transport 2 retirees home on Friday from the BoE.

FRIDAY 31st MARCH
Friday was the last day of the Japanese business year. Next week many people will be transferred between schools and offices. April is a time of great change in Japan and I don't like it. I like the idea of office workers being given fresh jobs, but I don't like teachers constantly having to move between schools. This constant change prevents teachers from knowing the students and their families, allows bad teachers to hide, weakens the local community, creates a lot of extra work, and I feel is hard on family life for the teachers. Some teachers have to stay in rented accommodation during the week and only travel home on weekends. I don't like this process at all!!!!!

I went to Daikurayana for a spot of skiing but I did not stay long. The conditions were not great and visibility was poor due to the strong wind. I had a fall and twisted my knee. Ouch!! I decided to leave the mountain and drive to Shimogo for a much needed haircut.

SATURDAY 1st APRIL
I went skiing with a couple of people from the Shimogo Town Office. We went to a ski area called Hatoriko. The 2 people I went with are both members of the Shimogo Ski Club and were very willing ( perhaps too willing) to point out the deficiencies in my skiing technique. I learnt a lot and hopefully I'll make some more improvements during the next skiing season. In the evening, I went to Wakatski restaurant for some beers. Good fun.

SUNDAY 2nd APRIL
Today. I had a long sleep and then went cycling to a lake called Kannonnuma (about 30km in total). The cycling today was very nice and I made good time. In the afternoon, we tidied up the house and threw away a lot of Clara's old toys. It feels good to have some extra space in the house again.

THE WEEK AHEAD
I will be in the BoE on Monday and Tuesday. On Tuesday evening, Clara and I are going to Tokyo on the train. My parents will arrive in Tokyo on Wednesday for a holiday and I will meet them at Narita Airport. Thursday will be spent sightseeing in Tokyo. Friday to Shimogo.

Retirement Party

Unfortunately I have had a pretty bad week for a number of reasons. I will not go into any detail but I hope to forget the previous week as quickly as possible, after I attend to some unfinished business.............

Friday night was the perfect chance to unwind after several frustrating incidents during the week. On Friday, there was a retirement party for 2 long serving members of the local Board of Education. Both retirees had worked in the local town office for 40 years each.

The BoE members all stayed at a very nice hotel called Marumine in a hot spring area called Ashinomaki. The picture shows the Director of the BoE flanked by the two retirees. This picture shows the typical style of a Japanese work celebration. The food is very traditional with lots of fish and other oddities. On the table are several flasks of sake (Japanese rice wine) and the men are sitting on legless seats called zaiisu. By the end of the night, it was not only the chairs that were legless.

After the food (most of which I didn't eat), most members did their best to finish the supply of alcohol which the hotel had supplied for the party. I was then encouraged /coerced into singing a few songs in front of my colleagues. For the record, I sang 'Country Roads' by John Denver and 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles.

After the first party, it was time for the second party. I remember getting some ramen with the other members and then everyone going to the room I was staying in and basically chatting and drinking as much as possible. I am unsure what time I went to sleep.

Today I went for another long cycle up a nearby mountain road. Despite wearing my ski jacket and ski gloves, I felt I was about to pass out with the cold and my bike became caked with snow. Maybe I should wait for better weather. Next week should be fairly quiet. Shimogo JHS is winding down in preparation for the Spring Holidays and there is also a national holiday on Tuesday. I guess I'll either ski or cycle on Tuesday - I've been quite diligent recently in improving my diet and I'm trying to exercise more.

Well, that's all my recent news. Hopefully I'll have something else to say soon. Bye for now.

2006 3rd Grade Graduation

The most important day of the school year in Japan is graduation day. Today the 3rd grade students said their goodbyes to each other and to their teachers.

I felt sad to see the students leave for the last time as I've taught them for the whole of my time at Shimogo JHS and today was definitely the day for me to use the traditional 'British stiff upper lip'. The students will all go to different schools in different places and it will be difficult for them to meet up with each other again. The life of a Japanese student is certainly much harder that the life of a Scottish student. I'll miss them all.

The top picture shows the Shimogo JHS Principal addressing the students at the start of the graduation ceremony. He can just be seen behind the bonsai tree which is brought out for special occasions. I am told that this bonsai tree is very old and also very valuable. Behind the Principal is the flag of Shimogo Town and the Japanese national flag (called the Hino Maru). The Japanese national anthem is sung at the start of the ceremony with people facing the flag. Some teachers in Japan choose not to sing the anthem. On the podium, the school logo can also be seen (3 fountain pen nibs).

The bottom picture shows the 3rd grade students leaving and saying their farewells in cold and wintry weather. My message to the students was DO YOUR BEST and GOOD LUCK.

Cycling in Shimogo

Recently, I have started cycling again as the snow has now mostly melted from the country roads around Shimogo. It's great to get some more fresh air into my lungs and look at the countryside whiz by. Although it's still fairly dark in the evenings, Clara and I have been doing a 10 minute cycle when we get home each day. When the evenings get brighter (and warmer), I'll try and cycle my favourite 15km route each night. Until then, Clara and I will cycle close to home.

I'm planning a few day long cycle trips on the weekends and public holidays. I'll post some photos of these trips as soon as I can.

The students of Shimogo JHS had their high school entrance examinations today - I hope they all did well. On Friday there will be a party for the parents of the 3rd grade students and hopefully it will be as good as the party we had in March 2005. On Monday the students will graduate from Shimogo JHS. It will be sad to see them leave school for the last time. I'll post some pictures of the graduation ceremony early next week. Bye for now.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

I had a very busy evening schedule last week. On Thursday there was a small party to celebrate one of the Japanese teacher's engagement. The highlight of the evening was the fact that the restaurant that we went to served Yebisu beer - my favourite Japanese beer.

Friday night saw a visit to the local ramen (noodle) bar with an elementary school teacher called Kobayashi. The top photo shows Kobayashi sensei with Ma-chan, the owner of the ramen bar. I had a rather delicious bowl of kara miso ramen (noodles in a rather spicy soup) and a few beers. At about 8pm we headed to a local karaoke bar where I was about to spend the next 4 hours of my life singing songs, drinking beer and wine, and eating lots of Japanese edamame (lightly salted beans). A good night!!

Saturday evening was spent in a nearby city called Aizu-Wakamatsu where I had the chance to meet and chat with about 50 other JETS who live in Fukushima Prefecture. I have only now recovered from this busy social schedule and look forward to a quieter period ahead.

Japanese Onsen

I thought it was about time for me to introduce you to Japanese onsen. As mentioned previously, an onsen is a Japanese style communal public bath (not swimming pool) and is usually heated by geothermal energy. Shimogo is famous for its onsens and people come from far and wide to soak in them.

Today I went to the public onsen in Shimogo in order to try and lessen the discomfort in my neck caused by my skiing accident on Friday. Although the water was not at its usual boiling temperature, my neck and the rest of my body seem to feel a bit better. The Shimogo public bath is quite small and the men's area was full when I arrived (7 people). I seem to have scared away the other customers, however, as 15 minutes after I immersed myself in the water, all other customers had done a runner. Perhaps the sight of a pale and skinny white gaijin body was too much for them.

I have added some pictures (not my own) which show the typical set up of a Japanese onsen. If you ever visit Japan, taking an onsen is a highly recommended experience.

I'll post another blog entry later in the week. Tomorrow I have a busy day at Narahara Elementary School (5 classes) and then a normal few days in Shimogo JHS. On Thursday night there will be a small wedding party for one of the teachers at Shimogo JHS. On Friday I am going to karaoke with one of the teachers from elementary school. Saturday night will see another night out in a city called Aizu-Wakamatsu. Wish me luck!!

Ouch!!!!

Not much to report this week really. Had a great day skiing on Friday but towards the end of the day, I had my first big fall of the season (and hopefully my last). I think I was getting a bit overconfident and with conditions deteriorating, it was a recipe for disaster. I came off my skis at a moderate pace and managed to land on the side of my head. Fortunately, I was wearing a ski helmet which took most of the impact. I still have a slight headache, but without the helmet it would surely feel much worse. My neck is badly bruised but I hope it will be fine by next weekend. I don't plan to ski on Sunday because rain is forecast and I think I should let my neck regain its strength.

Wear a ski helmet. Not only do they protect against head injuries, they also prevent people from recognising you when you're lying prostrate on the ski slope. A valuable piece of kit.

Skiing and Beer

This weekend has been very enjoyable. On Friday I decided to visit the local ramen (noodle) shop which is called Kunyan. In Kunyan I had some very nice fried Chinese dumplings called gyoza. The dumplings were washed down with several glasses of Sapporo beer and by the end of the evening, I was well fortified for the 15 minute walk home.

Saturday saw me get up at about 9am, wax my skis, and then jump in the car for the 30 minute drive to Daikurayama. I guess I was on the slopes by around 11.30am and spent the next 5 hours trying not to ski into a tree. Feeling good about the world, I returned to Shimogo with my lungs full of fresh mountain air. After dinner, I received a call inviting me to a nearby restaurant called Wakatsuki. Wakatsuki is only 5 minutes walk from the house and is an excellent place to sit and chat to the customers who come and go. All in all, an excellent nights entertainment.

Sunday saw another trip to Daikurayama. I really enjoyed today (just like every other day). The snow was hard and icy in places but I coped fairly well. Feeling a bit reckless, I upped the speed level slightly and this proved to be an enjoyable break from the overly cautious approach I often take. The extra speed almost resulted in a few collisions with other skiers. I very nearly came off at speed today but somehow I managed to keep my balance and avoid a trip to the local hospital.

What do I have planned for the week ahead?? I'm fairly busy this week and will visit Elementary school on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday will see me return to Shimogo JHS and Friday will be another chance to renew my love affair with the slopes of Daikurayama. Bye for now.

Yokohama JET Meeting

That's me back in Shimogo after a busy few days in Yokohama. The purpose of the meeting was to help and inspire JETS in their search for future employment when their contracts end this July. I feel suitably inspired and confident that my next perfect job is just around the corner. Whether this optimism will bear fruit is another matter altogether - fingers crossed.

Obviously there was also time for a bit of entertainment whilst in Tokyo. I managed to meet up with a few other teachers for some beers in Shinjuku on Monday night. However, it's nice to be back in Shimogo and hopefully I'll get a bit more skiing done before the snow finally retreats.

I'm looking forward to school tomorrow and then I'm away again on Friday for a meeting in Fukushima City. I don't really want to go to this meeting but it's not often that I show my face in Fukushima Prefecture so I decided that Friday is the day for me to make a small effort.

As usual, my weekend will consist mostly of skiiing and perhaps an onsen on Sunday. I'm also mulling the idea of having a few beers on Friday or Saturday night. We shall see.

Shimogo JHS Ski Day

Yesterday (Feb 8th) was when Shimogo JHS made their annual pilgrimage to the slopes of Daikurayama. Only 1st and 2nd grade students attended while 3rd grade continued to study hard for their high school entrance examinations in March.

We started skiing from about 10.30 and it seemed obvious that most of the students were much better than I. Some of the students started skiing when they were 3 or 4 years old and were able zip down the slopes effortlessly. However, I persevered and feel that I have learnt some good lessons which should help my skiing develop further.

Lunch consisted of a very nice plate of Japanese curry accompanied by miso soup. There was a brief photo-call outside the restaurant before the afternoon skiing lessons began. It dawned on me that I find skiing at high speed easier than low speed skiing - strange!

All in all, the Shimogo JHS day at Daikura was an enjoyable break from the classroom. On return to Shimogo, I met up with the ski instructors for a small party and managed to consume rather a lot of Asahi Lager. The weekend is now coming up and I will firmly grasp the opportunity for more skiing on the fresh snow that has just fallen. Three days skiing should prepare me for a busy week ahead which will see me going to a 3 day conference in Yokohama.

Natto

Everyone that knows me probably realises that I'm extremely fussy and cautious when it comes to food. One of the most infamous Japanese dishes is called natto - fermented / rotten soya beans. Japanese people have eaten natto for over 1,000 years. Natto has a very strong smell which many people (especially foreigners in Japan) don't like. Perhaps the most unusual thing about natto is its stringy texture.

I have avoided natto ever since I arrived in Japan, mainly because of the smell. This week however, I decided to take the plunge and try natto for the first time. How was it? I can say that it was surprisingly nice and now I feel able to add natto to the short list of Japanese foods which I can eat. This may not seem very impressive to most of you, but I can say that eating natto is perhaps one of the biggest challenges that a foreigner can face in Japan. There is no comparable culinary experience in Great Britain.

I am told that natto is one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Apparently it helps to prevent heart attacks, strokes, cancer, intestinal diseases, and obesity i.e. perfect medicine for the average Scot.

Skiing

The Fukushima area of Japan gets a lot of snow during the winter months and as a result, there are a lot of ski resorts close to Shimogo Town. I've purchased a season pass for a ski area called Daikura and have been making an effort to go skiing at least once a week. The season pass only costs 20,000 yen (about 100 pounds) and is well worth the money.

This week I've been 3 times and my legs are now aching. Drinking a couple of beers midway through the day also doesn't help!!! I think I'll drink AFTER skiing next time. I'll go skiing again on Wednesday with Shimogo JHS by which time I hope my legs have regained their strength.

I've had a really good week on the slopes. After a long time with no visible sign of improvement, I decided to change my skiing style on Friday. The minor changes that I made have paid off. I feel that my skiing has reached the next level (although I'm still no Franz Klammer / Pierman Zubriggen). I didn't ski well today but I think that was because my legs were too tired.

I'll miss the skiing when we move to Tokyo. When the snow melts I'll pack my skis away and get the mountain bike onto the road again. I'm trying to get as much exercise and fresh air as possible before we move to Tokyo in July. I'm sure I'll be busy in Tokyo and will not have as much time to exercise.

Well, that's what I've been doing for the past few days. Tomorrow I'm working at an elementary school in the morning and then I'll go to the Board of Education in the afternoon. I'll try and post another blog during the week.

Sunday in Shimogo

Today has been a pretty lazy day although we have managed to do a few things in and out of the house. I woke up fairly late today (as usual) and then we drove to an onsen (a Japanese hot spring) for a bath in a town called Tadami. I took the digital camera with me in the hope that I might be able to transfer a picture onto this blog. It seems that I have been successful!!!!

Clara spent the afternoon on the computer looking at the CBBC website. She learns so much English from these kinds of websites and manages to have fun at the same time.

Another technology boundary that we have broken through is video telephone calls to Scotland. We're registered with AIM Messenger and this lets us see and talk to my parents in Scotland - for NO COST whatsoever. Isn't technology a wonderful thing!!!!!

Shimogo

Now I know how to work this blog (sort of) I think it's time to give you some information on where we're living at the moment. We live in a town called Shimogo which is in Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. Shimogo is about 4 hours from Tokyo on the train and has an official population of 8,000 (although it feels much less). The symbol above is the town emblem of Shimogo - every town seems to have one and you can see it at various locations around the town.

We'll all (Yuki, Clara and I) move down to Tokyo in July which means I need to find a new job. I don't plan to do anymore teaching and will hopefully find some kind of banking job. Yuki is currently working in a cartography office at the moment and Clara is going to the local nursery school.

We've now been in Shimogo for two and a half years and we'll be ready for a new challenge in July 2006.

If you have any questions about what we're up to in Japan, please ask me through the comments tab or e-mail me by clicking on the envelope icon.