1985/7 Japan

Japan
21 January 1986
Received 27.01.86

Hi there

The time is just hurtling by. I never seem to have any for the ordinary things of life any more. Like letter writing and laundry washing. Took an hour off work last week to get my clothes done!! Otherwise it’s just work, work, work and play every other night. I am infused with energy and thoroughly enjoying all the activity. I have managed to clip between 5 and 10 minutes off my bike journey to and from the bakery. And can almost make it all the way up the hill to Kato-san’s. Partly because I’m a little fitter, but mainly because I have discovered the easiest route and I am more confident about weaving in and out of pedestrians and playing chicken with approaching cyclists.

The 15th was Adults’ Day in Japan. During which 20 year old girls dress up in their best kimonos and attend a shrine service – preferably on the arm of a young man. The kimono and the shoes that are worn with it restrict leg movement to a minimum. So with their hair done up and their tiny handbags, the girls are the ultimate in femininity. Or some people’s image of femininity anyway. On that night I was sitting in Pub Africa when two girls came in thus attired and started to play that football game you find in pubs. You know the one where the players are little plastic men attached to poles and you have to jostle the levers furiously to move the ball down the board. Quite a bizarre sight. I wish I’d had my camera with me.

Have progressed to a new arrangement in Ikebana. More complex and bigger. Used deep pink carnations, snow willow and two delicious monster leaves last week. I took the previous week’s flowers into the bakery and the boys spent five minutes rushing around trying to find a suitable vase. When I got in the next morning one of them had added some orchids to my arrangement! They are still very good to me and allow me to do things a Japanese trainee wouldn’t get to do for two years. I wanted to buy them something and I thought perhaps a book with South African scenes. Could you look for something for me? Not too big, but with lots of pictures (with subtitles), but little or no writing. No rush, OK. Thanx.

Last week I was taken upstairs to peep into the banquet room to see a wedding in progress. A reception actually. I couldn’t see the happy couple anywhere and kept asking Mori where the bride was to which he replied ‘Yes’!! Anyway, they eventually lowered the lights and as the bride and groom entered they were spotlighted with a light bright enough to light a runway. The bride was dressed in white unfortunately and not the traditional wedding kimono. The groom carried a long taper and the two went to each table of guests, bowed, and lit the central candle. Except for the spotlight and the man in the background reading from the Bible in the strangest English, it was really rather beautiful. They have a weird gift system here. Whereby the guests give CASH gifts and the couple buy gifts in return – usually to half the value of the original cash gift!!

The custom of bowing really cracks me up. Especially in the bakery where everyone wears stiffly-starched chef’s hats. They bow when they greet you. When they apologize for not speaking better English or for not understanding yours. When they thank you for saying that their cakes are good or that Japanese women are beautiful. It amazes me that their hats stay on their heads.

That’s it for this week. Any news of Garth?

Take care
Lotsaluv
Gail