How's everyone?
I spent busy days and I'm moving to Hiroshima again on 22nd by the way of Kyoto.
I'll be an interpreter for a spiritual teacher at healing workshop from 23 to 26.
After a 4-day workshop, I'll take a short trip around Hiroshima with my sister and friends.
I'm going back to Miyajima Island.
I'm so excited!!
I feel something magical will be happening!!
When I'm back, December will start.
Another one more month in 2012.
Please enjoy all the moments never to regret!
Have fun!!
I didn't include the first day from the airport to hotel.
The last day numbered 11 tells you how long we drove from Hiroshima to Kansai International Airport in Osaka.
We drove totally about 1730km, 1081miles.
Considering the length of Japan is about 3000km, 1875miles, we drove more than half distance of Japan's length!!
Farewell dinner at Hiroshima city after coming back from Miyajima.
Nice meal and smile!!
Most of them were born in Japan and moved to USA.
They have their own unique stories.
I always love to hear them whenever they come back!
Ikuko-san and Harold-san
I was touched by their love story!
Harold came to Japan to study at university and met Ikuko at Ping-Pong court.
(By the way, our emperor today met his future wife at tennis court.)
But he went back to USA and contacted with her only by writing for 2 years!!
No telephone since it was very expensive at that time and no meeting.
Only letters!!
He was on the fishing boat and her letters always found him.
2 years later, he came back to Japan and Ikuko went to USA with him.
They have been married about 50 years!
They said they never doubted each other and believed they were meant to be from the beginning.
WOW!!
I know it was hard but beautiful!
Harold, am I right about your episode?
If not, please let me know.
Besides their love story, all of them have their special stories.
Compared with this time when everything becomes very convenient,
they must have had a hard time especially after the war.
I respect their courage and strong will all the time.
Thank you so much!
I had a great and memorable time with all of you.
I will never forget!
See you again in Japan or US!!
Love
Chiaki
It was after the first high tide of the day when we visited.
There are 2 high tide everyday. On that day, 11:30 and 23:00.
And low tide was 17:30.
Views with and without water are very different!
When we visited, the wedding ceremony was started.
Usually the wedding ceremony is held on weekends but it was Thursday.
We were very lucky!
Actually my first time to see the ceremony here although I visited this shrine many times.
They are Shinto dancer and musicians.
Can you see the red gate behind them?
The couple dedicated the dance to Shinto Goddesses who are enshrined here.
This dance is called "Ran Ryo Oh".
It was Chinese legend which was introduced to Japan.
The prince in this legend was a very strong worrier but very beautiful.
In order to scare the enemy, he had a scary mask at battle field.
Again, this was my first time to see this dance.
I took a short video of this.
I hope you have a glimpse of Japanese sacred ceremony.
Rain stopped and we enjoyed the quiet Japanese garden although it was early for autumn leaves.
It was the last night at Ryokan, traditional Japanese inn.
At 7 out of 11 nights, we stayed at Ryokan with hot spring and Kaiseki meal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiseki
Gorgeous tour!!
I ate too much!!
Our Ryokan was located in Yamaguchi prefecture which is famous for Fugu, blowfish.
The amount of Fugu caught in Yamaguch ranks No. 1 in Japan.
We ate a variety of Fugu, sashimi, boiled, marinated, fried....
Fugu steak!
It was my first time to eat Fugu steak.
But it was delicious!!
It's getting colder in Japan and the weather forecast says it will be a cold winter this year.
Before winter comes, I like to enjoy autumn leaves!
My schedule in Nov. is already booked petty much.
Some of my foreign friends are visiting Japan.
One of them is from Taiwan and I like to ask about the relationships between Japan and China.
When I said so, friends of mine stopped me but I'll ask because I like to listen to the real voice!
I'll post photos of the Tottori Sand Dunes.
Before the sand dunes, I'll post unique seafood.
spiral shells, fish, octopus.....They were sold at a shop where we had a comfort stop.
We love a variety of seafood!
At Uradome Coast where we got on a pleasure boat, they dried squid and fish.
This equipments moved automatically.
It was the first time for me to see this funny scene.
This photo was taken at another shop.
Those squid were just being dried.
For those who don't eat seafood very often, these photo are very bizarre, I think.
Our lunch!
Snow crab is in season now.
During the last tour, we ate a lot.
We were never hungry.
Finally, the way down to the Tottori Sand Dunes!
There are another sites you can go straight to the dunes without the lift.
