What was interesting, however, was how transparent the process was. The doctor was very careful to point out that our vaccinations and anti-malarial pills were not manufactured in Japan and could, therefore, not be guaranteed by the clinic. They provided us with very detailed information about who the manufacturer was and asked us to sign a release form absolving them of any responsibility if there were any adverse reactions to the vaccinations. All very fascinating--I guess the Japanese legal system does not provide any protection for people who utilize imported medications.
So, we're all set. We've received our shots and have our anti-malarials ready. I wish I had taken pictures of this clinic--it was gorgeous inside.....coved ceiling above a 'grove' of bamboo plants. The back wall was covered in a slate gray, textured wall paper. The lamp shades were paper or fabric and had been shaped like conch shells. There was bench seating and large square 'stools'. There were also individual seats that you squeezed into and then felt very secure because the armrests curved inward.....The doors to the examination rooms were hydraulically controlled, so they closed silently. And, of course, they had several Noguchi coffee tables.
Suntory Museum of Art: One the main reasons that I loved my job here was meeting my students and hearing their recommendations for what to do, both in Tokyo and around Japan. With one of my students, we somehow got onto the topic of art, and he became very animated. He firmly recommended that I see the Picasso show at the Suntory Museum (rather than the exhibit at the National Art Center, Tokyo) and also provided me with the name of a modern Japanese artist that he thought I might like (Taro Okamoto--more on him later).
So, as soon as an opportunity arose to check out one of the Picasso shows, we made our way to Picasso: Portrait of Soul at the Suntory Museum. We were there on a Friday afternoon, and boy, was it busy. We were able to enjoy the atmosphere and revel in being with some of his original works.....thinking back on it, however, it did feel a bit rushed. I particularly enjoyed one of his paintings of a man's head done in his cubism era, his paintings depicting an internal struggle where he is a minotaur, and his pencil drawings. I was definitely more interested in him as a person after seeing this exhibit, and learning of his torrid love life....I'm not quite sure how he had the energy to create his art and manage his personal life (and it sounded like he needed exquisitely nuanced management skills)....I also became far more interested in the women in his life--perhaps one day I can learn more about their perspective on what happened.
One woman stood out from the rest.....because she held the status of being the only one to leave Picasso. In all, the exhibit highlighted five women who played pivotal roles in Picasso's life, and I want to know more about 'em!
Meiji Jingu:
On a true Saturday (since we're not working anymore), we planned to go to Yoyogi Park and hopefully catch some of the people who dress up as greasers and dance to old tunes.....we got a little lost and ended up at Meiji Jingu, a shrine dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. The forest covers a space of 700,000 square meters and the main torii is immense. As we walked through one of the entrances to the forest, I realized that I had been here as a teenager, during my first visit to Japan. It was a wonderful feeling to recognize the familiarity of the place and soak in the peacefulness of it.We witnessed a wedding procession into one of the main halls, were absolutely awed by the food offerings made to the Emperor and Empress, and were all smiles at seeing so many boys and girls in traditional outfits (there must have been some kind of festival for kids happening that day?)....Here's one picture of proud parents with their daughter.
Yoyogi Park:
We did, eventually, find our way to Yoyogi Park....after asking a security guard at one of the entrances to Meiji Jingu, on our way out.....He wearily pointed us to the opposite side of the shrine--which was where we just came from.....Oh well, it was a beautiful day to walk in the woods of this shrine. We made our way to Yoyogi Park and it was overflowing with people engaged in all sorts of activities. We saw two people playing the guitar and singing together, a guy practicing the sax in a valley below our trail, people playing badminton, frisbee, skip rope (adults :) and leap frog (also adults :)....Lots of people had their dogs out, oh, and some people were practicing dance moves (solo, facing a statue), sword play, and martial arts. We weren't able to find any greasers, though, so I think we went on the wrong day.....next time!
Akihabara:
A 'must' on our list of places to see before we leave was Akihabara--the electronics/geek district of the city. This is where you can see cosplay people (men and women, more so, dressed up as game/anime characters), buy cosplay outfits, and purchase electronic gadgets.....not entirely our scene. And, unfortunately, we went too late in the day to see anyone in their outfits. We did, however, spot this shop that has several cosplay outfits on display....so, you can use your imagination and picture all sorts of kawaii Japanese girls dressed up in these 'dresses.'Ginza:
Well, I have since learned that Ginza is the oldest shopping district in Tokyo, and that is why it holds a special position here....(it is also an elite, high-end boutique area as I described it previously). The building with the clock tower is very old and very glamorous. It somehow survived World War II, as it was definitely around in the late 20's/early 30's.....
The other photo is of Kabuki-za....a theatre for kabuki performances (the art of singing and dancing) that was built in 1889. It was destroyed in a fire in 1921, then again during World War II air raids....It is slated for demolition in 2010, to once again be rebuilt--this time with improved earthquake readiness and greater accessibility for audience members. I guess a lot of tourists will only purchase tickets for one act, which sounds like a good idea, because the performance is typically 3 to 4 hours long. That is a long show to watch without understanding the language. Although, some of my students commented on how an older form of Japanese is used in the performances, so even they are unable to understand what is being sung.
Ginza has their Christmas lights up already--it's an interesting phenomenon here. Christmas isn't really celebrated in Japanese culture, however the 'business' side of things is in full swing....It does lead to some very beautiful displays, like the one on the left. Rose petals were used to create a yin/yang shape in the circle, out of which emerged globes of roses of varying heights. It easily could have been something gaudy--it was, undoubtedly, tastefully done to an artful end. Even I, who cringe at ultra-feminine things, was won over by this one.....Shabu Shabu in Shibuya: To top off this evening, we met up with friends for a delightful meal. Definitely try shabu shabu if you have the chance. It is delectable--it is another interactive form of eating (just like okonomiyaki), so it is quite fun. Essentially, there are pots of broth in front of you. You add vegetables and/or thinly sliced pork or beef and allow it to cook through. Mmmgh. It soaks up the flavour of the broth and then you dip it in a sauce--it's fantastic and super easy to over-eat, so be warned :)
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