I had another really great day today! Again, we received loads of presents – they seem to be getting more and more every day. We visited the Yosano town hall to meet with the mayor of Yosano – Ms Atsumi Ota, who was really nice although quite shy. It’s amazing how many things they have scattered about Yosano which are from Wales, from paintings to silver plates; it genuinely feels like there’s a piece of our country over here. Before meeting the mayor we all individually gave a speech to the people working at the town hall, with Teiji translating. The mayor gave us lots of presents including a map of the area and a small silk pocket-like thing which is used to hold packets of tissue. We also had a cup of green tea (the first of what I’m considering to be technically five different portions of tea today) and took some group photos with the mayor. I find myself compelled to also mention that we are now famous in the town of Yosano! It’s official! That’s right, we all got a spot in the town’s newspaper, there was a picture of us all walking down the street in our kimonos holding our umbrellas, I was pretty happy about that!
Hanging out with the Mayor because we're royalty in Japan
The next step of the trip was Migochi Elementary School where we bore witness to some of the smallest human beings I have ever seen. But that wasn’t until after spending some time in the head’s office receiving another gift (this time a post card and a small jingly trinket type thing) as well as drinking another cup of green tea (that’s two of five). The first event of our visit to the school was to have a go at some calligraphy, writing the number one in Kanji. I’ll admit it wasn’t massively exciting but it was fun nonetheless and it was pretty fun watching Jamie struggle at even the most basic brush technique. In the next class we visited we got to learn about making some simple Japanese games, one being a paper sumo game and the other being a bun bun goma, which is hard to explain – it’s basically a spinning cardboard circle on a piece of string that you have to pull. Two of the kids on my table were really confident and energetic and it was really funny trying to speak English with them. Next we went into another classroom to have some dinner and we were met by one of the cutest/funniest things I have ever seen. Half of the class were in little costumes, with masks aprons and hats and were dishing out food from a mini canteen like thing at the front of the room. Needless to say I was in tears, it was amazing! The food was better than it was in the last school, however maybe we had just adapted more to Japanese food by then? I dunno, but after finishing we had to wave goodbye to the children and head off to our next destination – Kayadani High School (which I’d already visited twice with Emi earlier in the week).
Ahahahahahaha!
Our first lesson was PE, and we basically just played badminton for about 15 minutes. Harri and I decided to teach the two guys we were playing against the running game and by the end I can safely say I was completely out of breath (I really need to get some exercise). Next we went to an English class where there were various different activities to do on each table. The first table I visited had a Japanese chess set sitting on it and I tried my hardest to something worthwhile but unsurprisingly I sucked and ended up getting destroyed. The next table was entirely girls surrounded by loads of colourful pieces of origami paper. They taught me how to make a boat which could magically change its shape without having to unfold the whole thing and refold as well as a paper balloon which you literally blow up with your mouth. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to visit every table and as we were leaving the girls decided to dump most of their excess origami structures in my arms, so my bag is literally swamped with them at the moment. Next we returned to the Head’s office for another mini tea ceremony (three of five) in which I got perhaps a bit too angry at Coral for not finishing her little cake thing because apparently it’s very disrespectful to do so.
The last event of the day was visiting the different after-school clubs available to the pupils. The first stop was the gym where we got to witness the third strongest weight-lifter in Japan lift 150kg before Jamie gave lifting 50kg a shot. He managed it but was swiftly beaten by a nearby girl who was also apparently a medal-winner. Club two of three was advanced calligraphy – and it was definitely advanced in comparison to the lesson earlier. I chose to do the ‘thank you’ sign with the intention of giving it to my host family that night for their generosity and I think I did pretty well, despite the fact that I took much longer than anyone else and by the end they were all just sitting there watching me in silence which was pretty unpleasant. The last club we visited was the school chorus, which again was one of the best in Japan. And they definitely deserved it, it was absolutely astounding! The teacher said that they were still practising so it wouldn’t be that great and I’m pretty sure all of our minds were blown, it was that good.
LAD!
After school I went back to Ayako’s for dinner which I think Jamie was pleased about. The starter for the night was raw crab, which we got to pull apart ourselves to get out all the meat. I also took the opportunity to try out crab brains which, despite Ayako’s protests, I found tastier than the crab meat itself. Jamie even had the guts to eat some of the crab’s lung but I wasn’t quite sure so I left it. The night was great fun although I felt a bit antisocial seeing as me and Jamie spent most of the night talking to each other instead of trying to make conversation with the hosts. Emi and her mother arrived shortly after her after-school club ended and we had the main course which was fried veg and meat and a final course where the remains were stirred into some of the most delicious soup I have ever tasted. Ayako’s brother Genta showed us his clapping which he is attempting to break the world record of. It was pretty crazy how fast he could clap but he showed us a video of the worlds fastest which was pretty discouraging but hilarious at the same time. He also showed us his juggling which I couldn’t resist joining in and I tried to encourage Jamie and Ayako to have a go too but Jamie wouldn’t even try and Ayako ended up throwing them all over the place which was fun. Unfortunately it all eventually came to an end and we returned home which is where I am right now. I need some rest now because I’m getting progressively more and more tired.
Oyasumi!
Ayako and her pet crab..... Which we ate
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