Shizuoka Salesio Exchange 2019

The last week at Shizuoka Salesio was up there as one of the busiest. ‘FABLES’, the Grade 6 play was performed on Monday at the English Speaking camp at Mt Fuji. 60 students, many performing for the first time, and in English. Pleased to report it went very well.

Remainder of the week was spent with final Drama lessons and delivering the 4 lesson sequence for Grade 7 Social studies on Australia I have been working on with Mr Nishinaga for some weeks. I was to take on the White Australia Policy, Multiculturalism and Australia today. The lessons would be bilingual. Began with a roleplay where students sat the notorious ‘Dictation Test’, designed to exclude non-Europeans from Australia and led up to an exploration of ‘We are one, but we are many’, using the Seekers song as a hook to show how far we have come.

The final assembly I presented a gift sent from Dominic College to Mr Sueyoshi.

To my surprise, I was asked to stay onstage after this and the students Grade 5 to 8 sang a song they had been secretly learning in their Music classes. ‘Promise of the Sunflower’ was sung in English and Japanese. In true Shizuoka style it was sung beautifully. Needless to say I was unable to hold back a few tears.

Friday night I taken to a Yakatori restuarant by my colleagues. Great food, great company and a convivial celebration. Next morning as I was leaving for the short walk to the station, Mr Sueyoshi and the teachers I had worked closely with, appeared, took my luggage and walked me to the station. A lovely gesture. I left feeling elated, and also sad. Am grateful for a few days more in Japan before reacquainting myself with Qantas.

After the wonders of Kenrokuen Garden, I had another day in Kanazawa. The station has a new railway station with a grand design. The wooden structure is a gigantic replica of a music instrument used in Noh Theatre, a tsuzumi. Amongst all that steel it`s impressive

Kanazawa Castle is undergoing a massive restoration.

Long top floor is all wood connecting the two towers.

A visit to the Omi-Cho Market topped off a terrific stay in Kanazawa.

My last sojourn before my time comes to an end at Shizuoka came unexpectedly when I discovered I had a 3 day break I didn’t know about. This allowed me the time to travel north to Kanazawa, a city on the coast of the Sea of Japan.

Spent most of today at the Kenrokuen Garden, which dates back to 1546 and was begun at the same time as Kanazawa Castle. The name, Kenrokeun, is drawn from the three sets of contrasting elements the garden is designed around- spaciousness contrasts with seclusion – artiface with antiquity – watercourses with panoromas.

Last Sunday, I ventured back towards Tokyo, to Yokohama. (It`s only 20 minutes by train from Tokyo.) Went on the `worlds-biggest-ferris-wheel-with-a-digital-clock-inside`. (Didn`t know there was such a category.) Usually a bit squeamish with heights, but this was slow and comfortable. And great views.

And then to the gem of the afternoon. The guidebook said it was good, so I thought I`d give it a go

Momofuku Ando was the bloke who worked out how to turn ramen noodles into instant noodles, and then put them into a cup. Genius! Had a history of failed inventions, but he refused to give up. He achieved his great success, (the Cup Noodle) when he was 66. I draw great inspiration from that.

The Museum is a triumph of design for purpose. You can design, prepare and press the button to seal your own cupnoodles to take home with you!

Yokohama has the largest Chinatown in Japan. Treated myself to a great lunch there.

Ventured up the Landmark Building, which was the tallest building in Japan, until it was overtaken quite recently.

And, finally, here`s the view back to Tokyo. Looks a bit like the Manhatten skyline.

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Saturday 8th June, travelled to Osaka by the Shinkansen.

Was lucky enough to have a weekend free. I loved every minute in Osaka. It`s as busy as Tokyo, but people seemed less in a hurry and more likely to offer assistance if they noticed me looking perplexed, or just happy to smile at a visitor.

These Ladies were guiding us on the way to Osaka Castle.

The Palace is the largest I`ve seen. It dominates for miles around with sheer size and beauty. If you wanted to lay siege, there were 2 moats to get past. The gold has been recently re-gilted.

Spent some time in the Keitakuen Garden.

On Saturday night I was wandering around near Dotombori, with it’s street food and night markets, and came upon some entertainment. The sign said ’50 MICHEAL JACKSONS IN A LINE’, and yes, it was. . .

When I got closer, I realised I’d misread the sign. It was ’50 MICHAEL JACKSONS, ALIVE! Dead or alive, there were fifty, all lip sincing, (or whatever the term is for imitating his dance moves. Would that be `limb-sincing’?)

This sculpture is by Fabrice Hyber, who apparently is renowned for the teddy bear motif in his sculptures. If you look closely, you can see ‘Teddy’, spurting water from his mouth. It’s just outside the station and is called ‘Kool`. I thought it was cool.

On Sunday, I sort out the Shitenno Temple. Foundered in 593. Current buildings are replicas completed in 1924.

These residents of the temple were enjoying the sun.

And, finally, the guardians of the temple.

7.55-8.05 am   Arrival -Students arrive in formal uniform and change into their sports uniform for the school day. They wear sports uniform every day.

8.05-8.15am    Reading – Silent reading.  The Bell: Chimes indicate end of sessions across the day. (It’s the first few bars of Ave Maria)

8.15-8.25am    Study: Silent preparation for the school day.

8.25–8.40am   Information. Notices/Prayers (Announcements messages and for the day are given live over the PA system followed by Prayer, led by a different staff member each day ending with a hymn, sung by everyone. All students keep a collection of hymns with music, in their desks. Mobile phones are collected – to be returned at the end of the day.)

8.40–9.30am   Lesson 1 PE in the Gym. Students remain in their classroom for all classes accept specialist lessons. 

9.30-9.40am    10 minute break. After each lesson throughout the day there is a 10 minute break. Students stay in the class or the adjacent corridor

9.40-10.30am  Lesson 2 Maths: Return of exams sat last week.

10.40-11.30am      Lesson 3 English Speaking. Taken by Flora, (from San Francisco) Desks are easily moved and this lesson’s activity is in groups of 4. A fun language activity having to make impromptu English sentences, with a prize and penalties.

11.40-12.30pm      Lesson 4 Social Studies: Return of exams sat last week

12.30-13.00pm      Lunch Students eat at their desks, or go to the canteen which has a selection of boxed lunches.

13.00-13.15pm      Cleaning All students across the school spend this time cleaning classrooms and corridors: sweeping, mopping, cleaning windows and clearing recycling. All students have jobs allocated to them.

13.15-13.35     Break Today Grade 8 gathered on the athletic track to rehearse for Friday’s all day sports event. The exam period in each term, ends with a sports day.

13.35-14.25     Lesson 5: Japanese: Return of exam

14.35-15.25     Lesson 6: Science: The Human Body

15.35-16.00       Class Meeting. Students change from sports to formal uniform. Homework set for tonight has been noted on the blackboard through the day. Classroom teacher runs students though what is required by tomorrow. Notes given out. Mobile phones returned.

16.00-16.50     Clubs 1 Year 8C students went to different activities, including team sports, art, dance, drama, music, yoga, weightlifting or homework sessions in a classroom. These are just some of the options. 

17.00 17.50     Clubs 2 Some activities go over both sessions. Some  students will attend two different sessions

18.00               Going home

A funny this happened the other day . . . It was time for a quick haircut. I had a free period and thought I could duck out to an establishment I had earmarked for the job a few minutes from Shizuoka Salesio at Kusanagi Station.

As I have spent the past few weeks teaching Grade 5 to Grade 8 how to communicate using body language and mime, I felt confident, I may even say smug, that I could accomplish this relatively simple task.

All went well.

I walked into the shop and a friendly lady ushered me to a chair and called the barber over. I outlined clearly what I wanted . . . ‘A number 3 on the sides’ . . . placing 3 fingers just behind my ears . . . ‘and number 5 on the top’ . . . yes, I placed my open palm on my scalp with fingers fanned, , , ‘and a number 2 on the beard’. . . with 2 fingers aimed sqaurely at my cheeks. They both listened attentively and nodded and ‘ahhhhhed!’, effusively at each stage of my explanation. I ended by saying that ‘I didn’t want much off, as I didn’t have a lot of hair left’. We all laughed. In fact the lady thought my attempt at humour was so hilarious that she was still guffawing and laughing as she walked off. I momentarily contemplate a career in stand up.

After more nodding and chuckling, I was prepped: a cold press to sooth my brow, a neck-towel tucked tightly, a voluminous cover secured, and we were ready.

As the barber moved towards me with the clippers ablaze, I looked around for the coloured nozzles that indicate the various lengths of cut which I’m used to seeing in Australian hairdressers.

Couldn’t locate them.

As I glanced back in the mirror, the barber was placing the clippers in the middle of my scalp and in one quick move has shorn straight down the middle to the back of my head. No number 6, or number 5, nor even a number 4, or 3 or 2 or even a number 1. No nozzle at all. I guess that must be a number 0.

I have a reverse Mohawk in the middle of myscalp. It looks like a cricket pitch before a ball is bowled on the opening day of a test match, or the new runway at Istanbul airport before the white lines have been painted in.

There is nothing I can do. I can hardly say I want it back. Within what felt like seconds all my hair is gone. I glance down at my locks littering the floor. I am quickly out in the street and see my reflection in the window. A bald gentleman is peering back at me. I start to laugh.

As I walk back into the staffroom everyone looks up and . . . no one says a word. The Japanese are too well-mannered and polite to say what they must be thinking, that ‘he looks like Friar Tuck’.

Here is a photographic record taken that night, when I was still laughing.

I have wanted to go to Hamamatsu as it is known as the `city of music`, with a prestigious piano competition. It is also has a Musical Instruments Museum. Colleagues at school say it`s also famous for eel. Not sure if I`m courageous enough to go that far.

I went on the local train. 90 minutes, stopping all stations. (compared with 20 minutes on the Shinkansen) Even so, the local train feels faster than Melbourne suburban trains I`m used to. I really enjoyed the local train. It feels like watching the vista frame by frame, whereas the bullet train is like super-fast forward.

Once again, I limited the options to two, The Museum of Musical Instruments, and Hamamatsu Castle. The Music Museum was great. 2 hours looking at and listening to  instruments from various cultures -an interactive room where you could play (I enjoyed watching others do this) .

I managed to navigate my way, via google maps, and walk to Hamamatsu Castle, when the guides all said take the bus! Was glad I did as I came upon a Festival in a park with people dressed as manga characters, performances of Taiko drumming and lots of food. I may have even had eel, I`m not sure.

The castle was once home to the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, who lived there for 17 years. It was rebuilt in 1958, but the stone base dates from the 1580s. Picture postcard Japan, but great to see nevertheless.

Home via the glorious people`s train, the JR.

A splendid day

 

  

Japanese sports day.

Today, Saturday June 1, was the Grade I to 6 annual sports day. Kids have been preparing for weeks. It is a big event in the school calendar. It was similar to what we have in Australia, but with differences.

Being Saturday, there were extended families present, complete with picnic lunches. As I returned from my early morning walk, families were arriving at 6.30am. Felt a bit like finals morning at the MCG!

Races were exciting, especially with the taiko style drumming that underpins every event. Students are well drilled and trained and there was precision in the way that everything occurs efficiently and as scheduled. PE staff, and all the teachers in fact, are quite amazing in how they work together. It was rare to see any of them standing still.

The day had students from Grade 1 to 6 competing in all events. There was a Red Team, a Blue Team and a White team, corresponding to the A, B and C classes for each year. The interaction between the Grade 5 and 6 kids and the younger kids was beaut to watch. The final event was a relay run by students starting with Grade 1. The baton was passed to competitors from each year in succession up to Grade 6. Tension built as the lead kept changing. It is was very exciting.

Highlights for me were the uniquely Japanese touches- Kibasen, which means Horse for the Battle, based on Samurai traditions, involving a team of 4 students, 3 supporting the feet and body of the ‘rider’, who attempts to steal a hat from the rider of another team -a chaotic free for all with teachers hovering closely to prevent falls. An OH&S nightmare, but the kids and parents love it.

Another highlight was ‘Ouen Gassen’, (the battle cry), complex choreographed chanting and movement routines, once again, with students from 1-6 all working together.

The day was a great mix of sport and entertainment with a strong sense of community. Grade 1 to 6 have Monday off to recover.

Nagoya was the target for a day trip on Saturday May 25. The Shinkansen fast train made short work of the distance. (55 minutes) Nagoya is the 4th largest city in Japan. The station was as bustling as Tokyo, and you could not stop to check a sign without being in danger of being bowled over by sheer numbers and pace. I had made a decision to focus on a small number of attractions so I resisted the urge to just stay wander in central Nagoya.

First on the list was the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. I expected the motor vehicle side of things, but had no idea about the textile origins of the company. The Textile Pavillion includes working looms, ranging from single person operation to huge industrial machines. From the 1920s to the 50s, that was the major activity of the company.

The Motor Pavillion with vintage models, technological displays (robots assembling cars) and the chance to make your own plastic models, was very well put together.

Next up was the Noritake Garden – a beautiful Japanese Garden, with the Noritake Craft Centre attached. The collection of patterns from across the last century was worth the visit alone. The Centre also includes many working artists, creating casts and handpainting the designs.

And then the guilty pleasure – the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park Museum. The Museum is a trainspotters dream. Being a railway child, (Dad worked for the railways, so we always lived by the railway line) means I am hard wired to like trains. The focus is on generations of Shinkhansen trains (The bullet trains) The pictures say all.

Nagoya is certainly worth a visit. There much more to see than I was able to take in a day. Arrived back in Shizouka, exhausted, blistered, but content.

Overwhelming in sheer size, but also in the generosity, friendliness and demeanour of the people. It’s also been a place of contrasts, A pictorial representation of these contrasts follows –

Friday May 3 – Discovered that the new season at Kabukiza, Toyoko’s Kabuki Company was opening today. It’s sold out months in advance, but there are seats and standing room in the gods held for sale if you queue before the performance. I’m here, I can’t miss the opportunity.

Found a new train line, Asakusa, the red train, to get there. The matinee performance is at 11am and goes for several hours. Arrived at 9.30am. Queue is about 100. Looks like it’s standing room. There are 3 plays in this session, with 1/2 hour breaks in between each, but you can’t leave, or you lose your spot.

First 2 plays were quite traditional. Costuming and sets were stunning, vivid colours, striking make up, highly stylised movement and vocals. It’s more chanted rather than sung, with instrumental accompaniment on the three-stringed Sanxian, with Taiko drums. Whole effect is wonderful. Photography was not allowed. I’ll include some photos from the Edo-Tokoyo Museum I visited yesterday. Final play, interestingly has contemporary content, and staging, but still used the stylised movement, chanting and traditional costuming. Audience often shouted encouragement at particular moments and to barrack for favoured actors. None of the plays ended with a curtain call.

Kabuki and Shakespeare were both performed in the early 16 hundreds and they both share similar theatrical elements – a chorus, men playing women’s roles, purpose built building to house the performance, food breaks, and audience arranged by social divisions.

The performance ended at 3.30 pm. I was quite tired, bearing in mind the day involved standing for 5 hours, (I managed a seat for the last play!) In spite of all that, and the words being in formal Japanese, it was totally engaging. Theatre is intrinsic to Japanese cultural tradition. It was exciting to be part of the audience.

Arrival in Tokyo

Wednesday May 1 – Managed to negotiate Narita airport and the intricate train system, but didn’t anticipate getting from Gotanda Station in Tokyo to my hotel with a back pack, one hand pushing two suitcases and the other juggling google maps and the umbrella in constant rain. Streets are the most crowded a Tasmanian could imagine. Felt a bit like the cityscape in the opening scene of Bladerunner.

In a short time, checked in and was sitting in a local food haunt enjoying ramen noodles with pork, cabbage and sesame chilli drenched in a beautiful broth. Had an Asahi beer – tasted beer-like, but flat and served with ice. Will reserve my judgement.

Thursday May 2- Decided to try the Yamanote line and went to the Meiji Jingu, a large Shinto shrine built in 1920. Was fortunate to witness one of the ceremonies marking the beginning of the reign of the new emperor. The shrine is set in stunning gardens, which, in the continual rain, was quite beautiful.

Ventured onto the yellow train line and spent the rest of the day in the Edo-Tokyo Museum. Edo was the original name of the settlement that became Tokyo. Usually, after 45 minutes, ‘museum back’ kicks in with me, but not in this case. Life size reconstructions of wooden homes, a to-scale model of a Kabuki theatre from 1603, with costumes and the main hall dominated with a replica of the bridge that was the original entrance to the city, were a few of the exhibits that kept me there for 4 hours. One of the first Subaru ‘people’s car’ was featured.

On the return journey, passed the Sumo Museum, closed for the holiday. Also came across the Japanese solution to having no room for Hill’s Hoists.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton