Thursday, July 31

Food Glorious Food



Whenever I go traveling I’m always in search of a great dining experience and end up disappointed. I really wanted to taste some great sushi on this trip. I mentioned this to Louis Sloss who raised his eyebrows in alarm. It can be costly he warned and I had a limited budget. Nothing too pricey I amended.

Except for two occasion when I was left to my own judgement I have to say the food on this trip was excellent. The sushi we had for lunch at the Ki -Aikido headquarters cafeteria was was one of the best meals I ever had. Even the bento box lunches we had on the trains were filling and delicious.

As I mentioned I am a fussy eater but I ate everything that was put in front of me. Half the time I had no idea what it was but dug in. I never had to spit anything out, an occasion Sloss Sensei was grateful not to witness. I was surprised at how I took to the Japanese diet and avoided American food whenever possible. At one restuarant we sat down at a table with a grill set in the middle. Can you imagine an American restuarant that would trust the customers to sit in front of a hot grill without having to sign a waiver first? I’m still not sure of all the contents of that meal but I left full.

I had the best breakfast in Osaka. Sitting with the senior instructors was a trifle intimidating but they were pleasant company. Tabata Sensei informed me, if you want to eat good food, Osaka was the place. I believe him.

The last night in Tokyo the whole group went out for shabu-shabu. This is a meal where the diners place pieces of raw meat and vegtables into a large pot of boiling water where it is quickly cooked. Fabulous.

Of all the memories I have of Japan it was the food I will cherish the most. Bon appetit.

Sunday, July 27

The Teahouse from Hell



"Dreams are not cheap."

Three years ago I decided to build a Japanese style teahouse in my back yard. A place where I could meditate, do some writing, sleep in when it’s too hot in the summer. Lovely idea. So I merrily drew plans, made a scale model in paper and spent a lot of time doing creative visualizing of how I wanted it to look. It didn’t get anywhere because as usual, I didn’t have the wood or the proper tools. I certainly didn’t have the money to buy tatamis (straw floor mats) and had no clue how to build shoji ( paper and wood screens) but hey why let practical matters interfere with a dream. Right?

This year I came upon a good chunk of free wood that was just the right so I thought what the hell, maybe it’s time. I recycled an old wood platform I used for a hot tub and got it up on cement blocks. A friend with a chop saw came and helped me get the upright posts and sub flooring put in. The project was going along, slowly but surely.

Then it promptly came to an abrupt stop. Despite my 20 years of carpentry experience I discovered I didn’t know what I was doing. I knew nothing about Japanese architecture. Whenever I tried to work on it, the project fought me the whole time. It was very frustrating. Screw it, I sighed in exasperation. I’ll deal with after I go to Japan. I’ll take lots of pictures and get a better idea of what to do.

Of course now the whole thing has to be redesigned. First, shit for brains (points to self) didn’t determine the size of a standard tatami first so the floor area is too small. After some meditating on that matter I think I found a solution. Ok never mind the walls for now, let’s work on the roof- did I mention I’ve never built a roof before? It seems to be a straight forward thing but after the earlier frustration I’m hesitant to continue without a lot of forethought. I find myself staring at the sturdy framing and wondering if I’ll ever finish this.

All I wanted was a simple place to get away from the world how did it become so complex?

Friday, July 25

Narita /Tochigi


The BIG Dojo

Meeting Tohei Sensei

"Are we there yet?"


Japan. It’s 5000 miles and ten long hours of flight, but worth it. The first thing everyone notices as we step off the plane is the heat and humidity. I’m talking deep south humidity. We were warned about it but oh boy I’m not used to this. The bus ride to our final destination takes 3 hours with a toilet break at a truck stop. I make my first purchase with the Japanese yen. A badly needed coke. I figure I’ve been awake for over 21 hours.

We arrive at the Ki society headquarters- Ki no Sato around 9 pm. The complex is located out in the country on several acres of land but I can’t see much of it in the dark. After getting luggage and dorm room assignments figured out, we are treated to a light dinner in the cafeteria. A bowl of cold soup with cucumbers, seaweed and a side dish of rice with tomato sauce and salmon. Now I’m normally a fussy eater and not adventurous with food but we were told to clean our plates- it’s polite - so I dig in. I am treated to the first of many delicious meals and finish it all.

The next morning I get to see the facility in full overcast light. The main hall, cafeteria and dorm rooms are very bland in design. It looks a lot like a community college campus. Not what I expected but I’m not sure what I expected. Everyone must wear slippers inside the buildings, except in the bathrooms where you put on another pair especially for the toilet area and ONLY THERE. The toilets are western style but some have a spigot on the top of the tank and a hole where the water drains into the tank. Weird. The toilet and bathing rooms ( which are completely separate) are done in a pepto-bismol pink. Bleech. I wonder if the men's rooms are in blue.

Although the main rooms are unassuming, the dojo and meditation hall are gorgeous. The main dojo in Portland is about a 105 mats (each tatami mat is roughly 3 by 5 feet). The headquarters one is 502 mats. It’s HUGE.

Senichi Tohei -son of Koichi Tohei ( the founder of this branch of aikido) teaches the first class. He is a tall slender young man with a melodious voice and good command of English.

“Control yourself before you try to control others.” He tells us as he guides us through exercises to help us get our one point and therefore get that control. When meeting someone, he tells us, have mind and body coordinated, not separated. Focus on the person without distraction, being abrupt or negative. As with all things, focus 100%.

Though it’s quite warm even this early in the day, the class goes by swiftly. The afternoon class is a little more trying as Yutaka Otuka Sensei, a very nice man who smiles constantly does not speak English and his interpreters don’t keep up with him so I just follow the best I can.

At the evening welcoming party Tohei Sensei- now confined to a wheelchair after strokes and heart attacks, comes to visit. We all get a change to greet him shake hands. He is sharper than he appears, even drinking some wine.

The next day before an afternoon class we get to tour the ancestral home of Tohei’s family. A 350 year old traditional Japanese house. I think I have died and gone to heaven. I am a major architect freak.Everyone takes lots of pictures and we are entertained by Tabata Sensei ( Our senior instructor) with his experience living in the house as a kid. That’s right, Tohei Sensei and family lived in the house until about 20 years ago. It is a museum piece and I love it.

There are several metal poles about a hundred feet tall scattered around the complex. They aren’t cell towers because there’s no antenna on top so I’m puzzled by their use until one of the nice staff tells me these are lightening rods. They get a lot of electrical storms in the area and these “call the thunder” as he put it. I like a good thunderstorm but I’m not sure I want to be near one of these big suckers when it’s struck. They are too close for comfort

More classes and another party with much beer drinking ends our stay at headquarters. Tomorrow we leave for a week of touring. Next stop Osaka.

Thursday, July 24

What I Want in a Man

A friend asked what’s next now that I got two life time goals this year: my black belt and going to Japan.

“Uh, a job or an adoring boyfriend who supports me while I write?” not terribly original but it got me to thinking. Just what do I want in a man?

So I sat down and made a list. Let’s start with the physical. I never date anyone who weighs less than I do so he gonna have to be a full size guy. Not too fat, not too skinny, a nice big teddy bear. He doesn’t fuss with his hair and his face has character. He has a smile that says “I get it”. He has to make a good living because I sure as hell can’t. His criticism is good because he went to college and knows how to debate fairly.

After looking at my list I realized the ideal man was a combination of my friends. He gives good neck rubs like best friend Martha, can cook like Carl and is witty like gay buddy David. He certainly does not resemble my father. I’m not going down that Freudian path.

He has to be neat, punctual and remembers to lift up the toilet seat and put it down again. Ok at least be neat, I’m used to lateness and unless his mama taught to sit down when peeing-forget it. Oh sure he’s not perfect- nobody is- but his annoying flaws are tolerable, almost endearing. He puts up with mine as well as I do his because we can’t people , we have to accept them the way they are, that is what real love is about.

I’m not being picky or presumptuous about what I want in a man, one should be specific. I don’t go to a restaurant or a clothing store and take whatever comes along, No I look at the menu, I choose what fits me. Shouldn’t I do the same with a companion? After all this is someone I wish to share my life with and I want it to be right for both of us. Being specific helps to attract that energy to me, instead of a vague notion with nothing to grab onto. He will come along when it’s time-which is none too soon for me.

Maybe I'll look into a job first.

Monday, July 21

the turtle returns

Well I made it to Japan and back. My impressions are, in no particular order, it was very muggy and hot, It has a lot of temples and shrines and the food was excellent. I’m still in the process of resetting my internal clock so I get sleepy at odd times. Jet lag is a bitch. There will be lots of pictures and entries in the next few days as I sort through my notes so stay tuned folks.

Overall I had a great time except for two glaring occasions which I’ll comment on later and my biggest regret is not getting a sword which was on of the primary reasons for my trip. I did fulfill a life long dream and saw the giant Buddha at Kamarura and met Tohei Sensei once more .

I’d like to thank the Oregon Ki Society for making this trip possible, especially Calvin Tabata and Louis Sloss Sensei. It was fun training at the big dojo with Otsuka and Senichi Tohei Sensei. Big thanks to the folks in Japan who managed to corral 60 people and their luggage from one city to another- Thanks to guides Michi and Akiko on bus no. 2- you were great. To all my fellow travelers, you were great company, it was a blast.

Saturday, July 5

Yokoso Nippon

I'm packed , I'm ready, got everything done. The fridge is empty and the cat is with a sitter. Tomorrow is the big day. Well the next to the big day as I have to get up to Portland first by train. On monday I'm off to Japan. "Are you excited?" people ask. I'm beyond that- I'm nervous and stressed. 

Will I make to the airport on time? Will I get my dollars exchanged for yen? How will I survive a ten hour plane flight when I don't even like flying?

Stay tuned.