Visiting Koutengu shrine was a great experience. Witnessing another culture’s religion is always great to see. The shrine’s garden area was great to see and going through the different procedures to enter the shrine was fun to do.
Shorinji Kenpo was also extremely fun. We learned the different pressure points to use to gain an advantage on an opponent point them into submission. I was even able to throw a few teachers around. All the students were much younger than us which made it even more fun when they taught us.
We had lunch at the dojo and were able to have conversations with each of them. All of them were kind and fun to interact with. I think that in the future I would love to maybe continue Shorinji Kenpo. I definitely wouldn’t mind trying another lesson or two. I hope we have a lot more fun with something like this again soon.
On Friday we met with the Mayor of Omura. He was a man in his mid thirties, really young – as everyone who lives here kept telling me – with a personable smile. Despite the heat he was dressed in a three piece suit, just a sign of what he’s willing to go through for his job. I was practically boiling in nothing more than a button down shirt. The Mayor, Mr. Sonoda, was surprisingly kind, especially for a leader of a city. He even brought a small gift for each of us. On any other day of this program the meeting would have been the highpoint without a doubt.
But on Friday, we also heard a speech from a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bomb, and went to the Nagasaki peace museum. It’s the third time I’ve been to the museum, so I was a bit prepared, but even still it was hard for me to reconcile the cheerful atmosphere of the morning with an in depth explanation of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. It was like something from a different world.
Perhaps it’s just that I’m an American, but Mr. Kiyono’s, the atomic bomb survivor’s, speech was shocking. He told us how Nagasaki was reduced to rubble by the bomb, and ravaged by fires that lasted through the night, leaving only corpses in its wake. He also told us about his sister, who died of acute radiation poisoning. On her deathbed she wrote pages about how terrible America was in her diary. It’s just… hard to grasp.
If one thing, the museum only reinforced how terrible the bomb was. The exhibit called Nagasaki the “Atomic Wasteland ” with rooms full of debris, melted glass and twisted metal. I remember most clearly the walls of buildings that were scorched black by the heat of the explosion, save for where something else took the brunt of the blast. The silhouettes are still visible, and clearly retained the shape of a wooden ladder, a washing pole, a man. It was chilling.
Today I look around Nagasaki, and I see no hint of that “Atomic Wasteland”. The city is bustling, filled with beautiful buildings and kind people. There is no stigma associated with being American, despite what my country did to this city.
How, I wonder, is this the Nagasaki that was reduced to ash? Perhaps Fumi, Mr. Kiyono’s sister has the answer. Earlier I wrote that she filled her journal with anger, but leaving it at that would be doing Fumi a disservice. Later on, in the final pages she had the strength to pen, she left that hate behind. Instead, she wrote about her dreams for the future. How she hoped to recover, so she could marry a childhood sweetheart and raise a family.
Maybe, just like Fumi, the people here have decided to look towards the future, instead of staying mired in the past. Whatever the reason, I can only be thankful for people like Fumi, or Mr. Sonoda, or my host family, the Ogawas. People who are willing to forgive, instead of holding onto a grudge. Truly, the world is a better place for the people of Nagasaki.
If you come to Japan, I recommend a visit to Nagasaki, and the Peace Museum. Though I’ve been there before, I always feel like I learned something new, like, I have grown as a person. Oh, it’s sad, it’s sad. To quote a memetic American expression: “I cry every time.”
Shorinji Kempo is a Japanese martial art. It started after the second world war as a reaction to the war. It is the youngest of Japan’s martial arts. This time Krysta talks about here experience with the Shorinji Kempo dojo in Omura.
World Campus – Japan visit many different places every year, some change and some stay the same, but one of the things we always come back to is Kyudo(弓道 kyūdō ). Today Juuso and Cameron talks about their experience with Kyudo.
Today was a day well spent. I’ve done archery before, but never like this. I’ve never been more determined to hit a tree or a balloon than today. The feeling of accomplishment when I finally did was spectacular. I’ll explain why:
Kyudo has a rich history behind it and the Japanese people have made sure that it has stayed that way. The idea that every bow has a soul was also beautiful. Watching the dojo master’s demonstration was breathtaking to say the least. Then having a chance to do it myself was a whole different feeling. It didn’t matter if I won a prize or not, I just wanted to stay there and shoot as many arrows as my weak muscles would allow me to.
When one of the archers spoke about why they chose Kyudo, everything that they said I completely agreed with. That feeling of wanting to do better each time, the urge to continue even when you fail, not allowing failure to stop you but rather push you to do better tomorrow. Getting the chance to step in their shoes and really take on Kyudo was truly a luxury.
It’s hard to decide on part that was the most fun because everything about today was amazing. Those of us in World Campus Japan are truly lucky, having the chance that no other program gets to have. It’s an experience I will never forget. Maybe I’ll even continue with it.
Aimee Morales (USA)
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