Well, I'm finally ready to report back on my Karate ventures in Japan.
At present, I'm attending two separate dojos; the one at my University, and an independent dojo.
The University club is not Goju, but Toshin-kai (東真会) style. I'm attending this dojo because it's convenient and a good way to make friends. The style isn't that different, and it's interesting to notice the differences. I like the opportunity to do a bit of extra exercise.
The second dojo that I'm attending is one that I sought on the internet. This dojo is part of the Nagoya Goju-kan. So, basically, it's the same style. However, this dojo comes under a different organisation than the I.G.K. It is affiliated with the Japan Karatedo Goju-kai Association (JKGA) and the International Karatedo Goju-kai Association (IKGA). As the picture below shows, it is much the same:
The practice that I attend is held in a sports centre, so the space is often shared. Also, from what I've seen so far, it is a reasonably small dojo in terms of students. I am enjoying training with the students there (most of those I've met so far are younger than me).
But, if there's one thing I've learnt so far about Karate in Japan, it's that you can rely on training times to be unreliable and unpredictable. Therefore, the times that the dojo I'm currently attending may not be suitable all throughout my time here.
This fact also helps explain my attendance at the Toshin-kai dojo (if you thought I was just particularly enthusiastic, continue, by all means!). Despite attending both, so far I haven't had more than 2 lessons a week. Although it may settle down in May, it's useful to have a couple of options for training just in case.
Well, that's about it. I've only been attending both for under a month, so things may change as I go along...if so, I'll be sure to give an update.
Thanks!
Here are some pictures from another nice place, located not too far from Atsuda Jingu (it's tucked out of the way a bit). Shirotori is no Ritsurin, but it's a very nice Japanese garden, complete with Koi!
A-h, yes, I do love Koi!
Atsuda Jingu is a temple complex in Nagoya. Compared to Kyoto, it's average, but it's a nice place to go walking around - there are some nice things to look at and plenty of trees.
I took a tonne of photos, so enjoy!
浮世絵 (Ukiyoe) is a type of Japanese art, which translates as something like 'woodblock prints.' Luckily for me, it just so happens that an amazing exhibition of ukiyoe is showing at Nagoya City Museum currently (until the 6th of May 2014).
But, unfortunately, every silver lining has a cloud, and this cloud was that you aren't allowed to take photos in Japanese museums...
Still, you can get a bit of an idea from the below advertisements that I photographed.
And here's a photo of us at the exhibition (with our Japanese sensei):
If you're interested, I urge you to explore Ukiyoe more...I enjoyed the exhibition greatly!
You can view quite a wide range of images at:
http://ukiyo-e.org/
I wish I could come up with a better post title, but these really are just random things that I hope you might find interesting.
First, a photo of the now gone Sakuras, for all those nostalgic people...
Another photo courtesy of Okubo san. The University really did look amazing when the Chery Blossoms were all out.
Next, something that has no photos :(
This is just a segment on some language things that I've noticed here in Nagoya. In all likelihood, I could be wrong...but here goes anyway.
The first thing I've noticed is that the word 小さい (chiisai - small) is not used very much. Instead, the word ちっちゃい meaning tiny is used. I find the nuance interesting - having studied Japanese for several years, I had not come across the latter, which from my recent experience seems more used...
The other thing that I wanted to comment on is a word that is in popular usage amongst female Japanese University students. The word that I've interpreted as めちゃ (mecha) is apparently slang for すごい (sugoi), which basically means amazing or amazingly.
I find it very interesting that I haven't heard the word before, as it probably isn't specific to Nagoya, and the people I've been around in past visits to Japan have been young females too...maybe the usage of the term has grown in the past few years (it's been a few since I was last in Japan), or maybe I didn't listen very well then...either way, it's definitely a very popular word now!
And finally...I've been indoctrinated into the league of Karaoke-goers...
I know that if any of the guys from the I.G.K Tas read this, they'll probably be shocked, and think that if I can sing Karaoke without being embarrassed, well I can do a better Ki-ai* without being embarrassed.
You are probably right...but I can tell you now, I was shocked too. I might never know how one day I woke up and thought, Karaoke, I can do that...(just for context, I have actually been forced to go to a Karaoke session on a previous visit to Japan, and at that time, I utterly refused to sing - my lips were sealed the whole time.)
Anyway, enough philosophising...here are some photos (of everyone else - it's a bit much to ask that I let them take photos of me singing):
* Translates as something like 'spirit shout,' and is the sound made when training with intensity, at certain places in Kata's (patterns of movement), etc.
Hi,
There's not really much point to this post...other than to show off my snazzy suit (which I wasn't wearing by choice).
The Welcome Party was a good opportunity to meet some of the Japanese students at the University - though I did have to give a speech...
Anyway, here are the photos (Courtesy of Okubo san):
First of all, meet the Chinese Exchange Students!
These three are pretty much my constant companions, so you'll probably be seeing more of them.
From left, you have Tan, You and Hon. Well, at least that's what I call them. Every time someone asks, they say something different... What's more random than that?
Secondly, this picture sums up my overall impression of Nagoya so far:
The Sakura's (Cherry Blossoms) will soon be outdated (but seriously, they're everywhere).
Also, nothing negative intended by the crow, but they too, are everywhere.
Next (it's kind of pathetic really), meet my number one lunch!
Yes, everywhere I have turned, there have been hamburgers (just the patty, not on a bun). This one, admittedly, is a bit more interesting (or outrageous?) due to the fact that hidden under it is what's called om-rice (オムライス
omuraisu). If you haven't guessed, that's an omelette on rice...
And finally, what everyone wants to see (maybe) - a temple!
I know, I've been pretty slack not giving you a picture of anything temple-like so far, so here's two!
This is Osu Kannon Temple. Really, we spent more time in the shopping arcade to the right than in the temple (as do most of the hip young people who frequent the area), but I know I enjoyed the temple (apart from the incense smoke I inhaled...)
What might seem random (but in Japan, it's not really), is the proximity of an ugly apartment building to the temple.
The pigeons were also random...so many pigeons (there's just something about birds and Nagoya...)
Well, there are castles all over the place in Japan, but, culturally, they are very interesting.
Once you pay the 500yen to get into the Nagoya Castle complex, that actually allows you to go into the castle itself. Inside, there are exhibitions and displays of old objects and features (see below).
At Nagoya Castle, there's also another building, where you can see tatami rooms with wall paintings like the one below.
And then, of course, there's the castle itself!
The Sakura's (Cherry Blossoms) are very impressive here as well in Spring.
Hope you enjoy the photos!
.JPG)
.JPG)
