The Weekend Review - Nice and Easy

This weekend was relaxing, which is exactly what I needed. I am feeling much better now (the drugs are working!?) and I guess I was sort of yearning for a movie night or two. On Friday, I stayed home all day and went to the doctor late in the afternoon (see previous posts). I ended up renting The Queen and just taking it easy.

the martial arts festival
On Saturday, I got up early and headed to Himeji with Lena and Kelly for a Budo Matsuri (martial arts festival). I know Himeji is a huge tourist spot, but the place was absolutely crawling with tourists, especially your stereotypical tour-package Americans. I don't know why that sight still shocks me, but it does. Maybe I am just so immersed in the ins-and-outs of my everyday life, that I forget that there is a Japanese world outside of our community.... but then again... no, I've seen a lot of what's outside our area. I think I might actually just be a little territorial, to be honest. It's interesting to see tourists in a place I have apparently truly begun to consider my temporary home, especially when they are from my country.
Anyways, we made our way through the crowds, got direction from tourist info and were off to the Prefectural Budo Center. We hadn't pre-registered for the event (lessons in the morning, demonstrations in the afternoon), but arrived just in time and were each able to get into the martial arts lesson that we wanted. We also got an awesome towel for participating. I attended an aikido class, which is a defensive art, all morning while Kelly did nakanigi and Lena did taekwando (although she ended up just watching in hers). I have heard a lot of stories about the foreigners that lived in our area before us, one of which was an aikido master from New Zealand. I chose aikido because I wanted to find out more about what it really entails.
The lessons themselves were fabulous. Definitely a good workout (I was sweating, but managed to keep from coughing). We did various warm-ups across the floor of the large, matted gym area for the first 20 minutes or so, including backwards summer salts, half-cartwheels were you drop on your arms and scooting along on your knees. Then we teamed up with a partner and learned about 10-15 moves for the next hour or so. There were about 150 people of all ages at the lesson (most in uniform; white karate-like suit with a dark blue hakama), so we all started doing the same moves together, but then formed a separate demonstration group for the beginners after a little while. I was paired with a different aikido masters for each new move (literally pinning them to the floor and pushing into their pressure points for some). It was a great time.
So in hindsight, there were two things that were kind of... funny. First of all, they told me to take of my watch pretty early on so I set it to the side, right? Only in Japan would I leave something like a watch laying around and expect to come back to find it there (and not only that - other people jewelry and cash where I laid it down). Then again, I guess if you're going to steal, it might not be smart to do it in a room (or building) full of martial arts masters. I was also a little annoyed that one of my sensei kept poking me in inappropriate places when telling me to keep my back straight. I don't think that was a mistake, either, but I just let it go... this time. Despite the potential sexual harassment, though.... I do think that aikido is truly a great sport for women. It's purely defensive, using pressure points and strategic movements to disable your opponent. The concept of this exercise is not using physical strength, per say, but beating your oponent with energy from your "ki" (or chi/spirit/soul), which is located in your stomach. Therefore, a small woman could technically take down a large bandit trying to rob her.
I'd like to say the chi was with me and I had it down, but my friend that did a different lesson had me demonstrate my new knowledge after the class, he lifted me off the ground when i tried to apply a move... definately need some more practice... but I wouldn't mind that, either!
onaka iseki matsuri
After the lesson and once we had all changed back into normal clothes, Kelly, Lena and I met up to say hi to some other friends from the various classes, before running down the road to grab lunch. We were temped to walk around the beautiful parks (fall colors haven't hit yet, but it was a particularly nice area), but we instead decided watch the afternoon demonstrations (archery was my favorite - such a maticulous art!).
After a few hours at the arena, we headed over to our local Matsuri at the ancient village in Harimacho, The Onaka Iseki Matsuri. Kelly and my goal was to make it before Tam's taiko group performed, but it took us about 30 minutes longer than expected to get back. Luckily, Tam went on late, so we were able to rest a bit, talk with some friends and hang out while we waited for her to go on. Most of the stands were closing down and the food was gone, but we did get to taste some matcha (green tea) ice cream.
It was my first time at one of Tam's taiko performances, and I was impressed by both her group and the others that played. It reminded me a lot of the Chiba-ken JETs and their taiko events (one friend sends me invites and pics on Facebook so I hear a lot about them), although I like how so many more of the people in their community are involved in it together... Tam is really the only one of us that does it around here. Then again, I guess it is still good that someone is getting into it and she seems to have a knack.
The festival itself was held at the Onaka Iseki Park, which is basically a site where they discovered ancient villages and have re-created such a community with huts (basically an open-air museum with cavemen), paths and a small lake. Half the park has been under construction over the last year as they built the beautiful, new Prefectural History Museum, so while I have been through the park a lot in the past (it's about 10 min from my house and along my river running path), this was also my first time to see the place. It opened two weeks ago and was free for the day, so Kelly and I decided to check it out after Tam finished, about an hour before it closed.
First and foremost, let me say that I will definitely be going back to this museum. I cannot tell you how beautiful the architecture is! I like history and have always been a bit of a museum geek (probably thanks to my upbringing), but this place was really interesting and hands-on. It's the perfect place for me to give guests an intro to Japan: both the history and culture. It's also extremely close to my house, which is convenient. Kel and I played around for a while and checked out some of the events (including being dressed up as a shogun warrior and ancient priestess by the staff, see pics) before leaving at the cue of dimming lights.