Where Globe-Trotting meets Beach-Combing
A-Yattosaaaaaaaa! Yatto yattoooooo! That’s how we start each new section of our formation dances. And this afternoon was this year’s debut performance in front of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force Headquarters on NAF Atsugi! Today we had an 8-10:15am practice, took a quick shower break, then met back up at 11am for a quick…
Riding the train along the Sotetsu Line toward Ebina from Yamato I sometimes look down as we’re crossing over a pretty little park along a river. The lush greenery always looks so serene, so tranquil, but I could never figure out quite how to get there. Well now, it turns out this park is just…
Starfish, Enoshima, JapanI must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the skyAnd all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,Starfish, Jacksonville, FloridaAnd the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey…
Apologies to my Japanese friends—this weekend I continue to abuse beautiful kimono. Please forgive me for generally being a barbarian. Ok, so after I removed the sleeves from my cute dress yesterday I had…two sleeves. Mouse seemed very interested in them, so I tucked one over his head as a little kitten kimono. Kawaii! Two…
The third Saturday of the month is my favorite thanks to the Yamato Promenade Antique Market! I’ve always heard it called the Yamato Shrine Sale or Open Market, but the other day I stumbled on the official website. Turns out it has a real name. Anyway, this is my and Chris’ favorite place to browse…
We dance through the routine, pause for constructive criticism, then dance the whole thing again. This has been the most fun part of Awa Odori practice so far as we fine-tune and develop the artistic flourishes. Hold the fan just so. Stretch your finders and arm into this elegant pose. Please sweep your arms straight…
I like symmetry—who doesn’t? On our way to the taiko performance Chrissy and I were sitting next to each other on the bus exactly like we were a year and a day previously as we rode the Narita Express home after flying from Perth to Tokyo. Right side of the vehicle, Mari on the right,…
