Honesty or Humility?

Don't you wonder why they aren't?

Hachiko and Me

When I was a young student (I don't remember how old), I first sobbed through the true story of Hachiko ~ a loyal dog who waited for his master, Professor Ueno, everyday at the Shibuya station in Tokyo. One day, the professor suffered from an stroke at school and died never to return home to his faithful friend. However until his death ten years later, Hachiko loyally returned to the train station waiting for his master. Even when others attempted to adopt him, he would escape and stand vigil waiting for his master. It wasn't until I came to Japan, that I actually remembered the story and realized that it had taken place here in Japan. So, a couple of weeks ago, while visiting Tokyo, I decided to visit Hachiko as well!

笑美理: A Reason to Smile

It has been my observation that in Japanese society, only the very drunk or the very young will naturally smile. As children get older their expressions decrease until finally they develop what one of my English teachers has dubbed "a wooden face." As one who has always been very emotional, living in a society without personal expression can be very wearing. In fact, when I first entered my school, I felt as if I had to smile for all 470 students. Daily attempting to provide cheerfulness to a classroom of 39 students can be physically, mentally, and emotionally tiring. This time last year, I found myself completely exhausted and instead of maintaining a positive outlook on life I was succumbing to the Japanese unemotional behavior. My smile was slipping away. Last December, during my first visit to the Kimura's house and church in Tokyo, I had the opportunity to talk to Daisuke and Yukiko about the Japanese nature. Daisuke explained that in an attempt to "keep the peace of the community," Japanese people are encouraged to not express their true feelings. Thus, they often hide both their joy and sorrow behind still masks. Daisuke encouraged me not to "lose my smile" in the Japanese society but instead to maintain my show of joy, for in, fact I have true joy. Now that I have overcome most of my mono, I feel as if my energy has returned and that I can once again truly enjoy what I have been called to do. The desire to once again smile was reiterated recently, after a friend suggested I look up the meaning of my name in Japanese. To my pleasant surprise "emi" means "smile" while "ri/li" means "a reason to." Isn't God creative? Here I am in Japan, trying to live my life differently so that I can be a witness to the Japanese people, and my name unknowingly describes my calling as a covenant daughter of the Kingdom!

Yes, Family, there are masks in Japan!

I'm sure that if you have been following the news you have heard about the "great influenza scare!" Maybe you have even seen pictures of Japanese people wearing masks attempting to combat infection. The pictures are accurate, masks are an accessory these days here in Japan, literally! In fact, you can purchase them in different colors, sizes, and emblazoned with your favorite cartoon characters. The flu keeps on spreading at my school and, in fact, an entire class was put under quarantine and sent home for a week since over 10% of the students were ill. That afternoon, our school nurse went out and purchased bottle after large bottle of hand sanitizer and from what I have heard recently, parts of Japan have actually run out of both masks and sanitizer since they have become so high in demand (no surprise as no matter where you turn, there are bottles and dentist-look-alikes). However, according to most Japanese doctors, the best way to combat the flu is to gargle with plain water (salt is not needed). How this is scientifically accurate, I have no clue, so I will not further comment... (but I do religiously gargle every night and morning!) I, for one, have successfully avoided the masks for most of my time here in the "Land of the Rising Sun." The two times I have come to school sick with a cold (and thus felt the obligation of wearing a mask, I was promptly sent home by my school nurse). However, today was a different story. When I turned in my paperwork to receive a flu shot in November, my school nurse asked me if I had a mask. I replied, "No" because I can say that (versus "No, because I would feel like a doctor ready to perform surgery") in Japanese. My school nurse is very efficient, very kind, and very prepared! Just a few moments later, I found myself with a mask in hand and instructions on how to wear it. After looping it around my ears and covering my mouth and nose, I found out that it required some fancy placement -- too high up my nose, and it fogged up my glasses, too low and it slipped off! When I finally found a "just right" it lasted for only a few minutes until it tickled the bridge of my nose which was promptly followed by a readjustment and return of mask-maneuvering. One of the English teachers found my whole escapade quite humorous and told me that it was a lesson in Japanese culture, and that I needed to send a picture of myself wearing a mask home. He also informed me (while permanently removing his own mask) that I actually didn't have to wear it -- it was his opinion that they couldn't do much good anyway. Well, I lasted exactly for a class period and a half (a total of about 90 minutes). Then I stripped off the mask and entered my next class full of eager faces each carefully covered in....drumroll please....a mask!

Tokyo -- Shinjuku

A couple of weekends ago I went to Tokyo to visit my friends Daisuke, Yukiko, and Kenshin (age 4). I first met them 11 years ago during my initial trip to Japan. Below are some of the highlights: Yes!!! Krispy Kreme in Japan!! I indulged in not one, not two, but three yummy doughnuts. FYI, they are the same size, shape and exact same taste. You get one free hot one while standing in line to order and can also watch them being made. As for flavors, there are some variations like cheesecake, mixed berry, and orange creme filled chocolate! おいしいですよ！
(They are delicious I tell you!)

We also visited Ueno Park where we had a lovely picnic (Yukiko taught me how to make a Japanese picnic) and enjoyed a swan boat paddle boat rides. FYI, Japanese paddle boats are not made with the westerner's long legs in mind, and life jackets are not required (even for the littlest riders).

While the three of us paddled Daisuke snapped pictures with my camera and found some excitingly huge and hungry fishies! Although they are cute, they definitely weren't as much fun as the conveyor belt sushi restaurant that we visited (and I failed to photograph!) There are few things as creative as seeing your food being served on a conveyor belt.

When Daisuke asked if I liked ice cream, I informed him that it literally pumps through my veins. So instead of stopping at the Red Cross we visited Baskin Robbins instead. Ahh, the joys of frozen cream with friends!!!

I'm not even creative enough to make this one up!

An actual collection of texts from me to Helen-Marie and Sarah:

• Should I be worried? My bus driver just stopped the bus and got out!
• Uh-oh! He is now doing knee bends in the middle of the road!
• Now he's petting random dogs on their morning walk.
• Update. Driver is back in the bus and driving.
• I love the randomness of Japan :-)