The Takamatsu Tango

This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to an away game on one of Japan's four major islands, Shikoku, to see Ray play the Takamatsu Five Arrows.  The first night I stayed with some friends, and the next two nights I was able to stay with Ray- the first time we have had the opportunity to share one of his away trips.  Takamatsu was truly wonderful- a sleepy and quiet port area.  I enjoyed the trip very much.

I climbed to the top of a hill overlooking Takamatsu.  The view was unbelievable!

Sepia Coffee

This little coffee shop knocked my socks off.  It was exactly what I'd dreamed of wanting to see while I was here in Japan, and for some reason it put a smile on my face for the rest of the day.  When I entered this cozy little place, I was received with wide smiles by the older couple who owned the place.  They had nearly 20 different roasts of beans that they roast on the premises, and serve their drinks in beautiful china tea cups.  I spent the majority of my morning here on Saturday, nursing a delicious cappucino and enjoying a wonderful book.

Matt, Lanej and Josiah

Matt Garrison plays for Takamatsu, and has played overseas for nearly 15 years!  I regret having not taken a picture of his wife, Lanej, but they are expecting their second son any day now!!  They hosted me for a night before Ray got in to town, and it was SO wonderful to spend 24 hours with loving believers, and chat about playing ball overseas and having a family.  Josiah, their first son, was a hoot!!

Ritsurin Park

The largest garden designated as a special National Senic Area, took me an entire afternoon to browse.  It was originally carved out in the 1570's by a local ruling family and later became a park of the area in 1875.  It was comprised of six huge ponds, elaborate "Edo Era" style gardens, and season significant landscaping.  The weather was gorgeous on the day I went, so browsing and picnicking was most delightful. 

Last days of teaching "Engrish"...

Well, last week I taught my last two elementary lessons (I will continue to teach private lessons to adults until we leave).  As you can see, the children are deliciously adorable.  This has truly been an excellent way to spend some extra time this year.  It's taught me new ways to communicate and introduced me to the culture from a unique view as well...

The woman on the far right (below) studied at Oregon State for several years.  It was exciting to have another person to chat about Oregon with!!

The American 70's infiltration is thick here in Japan...

Spring has Sprung!

Won't you come on a bike ride with me?

Thanks for coming along!!

Double WIN Weekend!

That's right!  The Lake Stars pulled out two wins this weekend vs. the Toyama Grouses!

Ray played excellent, scoring 20 in the first game (earning him MVP of the game) and a double-double in the second (16 and 12)!  They played great as a team... certainly every one of the players deserve recognition!

Blurry pic... but I wanted to get a photo of these guys who always have new signs at each game.  This says something to the extent of, "Ray is our team MVP.  Enjoy your beef!"  (He won beef as his MVP honor!)

These are two of my lovely friends who came to the game with me.  They live far on the other side of the lake, so it was nice to make our ends meet.

I'm not going to post a whole lot of videos- you get the idea.  Ray, and the team as a whole, is improving with each game and playing with loads of passion.  There are only 10 games left of the regular season.  Wish 'em luck!!

The defender didn't know what he had coming!!

Hanatouro Lantern Festival

Last week we went out to Kyoto with the teammates and some friends to enjoy the Hanatouro Lantern Festival.  Ray and I dressed up in kimonos, but as you can see, Ray's is a little small for him.  Needless to say, we both received a few stares and laughs!

This is us with Yoko.  She wore a kimono as well.  Isn't she beautiful?

Ray wore his team sweats under his kimono- a big no-no culturally.  Passerby's definitely got a kick outta that one!

The festival is for a week period, and covers several different areas of Kyoto.  We went to the "Gion" district, or the area of the Geisha.  There were lanterns lighting every path.

These are bamboo lanterns, each holding a tea light candle that is floating in water.  It was strikingly beautiful and serene.  Japanese style.

This was our crew- the four American players, Yoko, and a couple of Brayden's friends from the States.

This was a little snack Ray picked up from a vendor: take rice crackers, a fried egg and sausage, add some bbq sauce, and wa-la!

OH sweet season of change!

Here is another handful of photos from around our area.  

Spring is upon us, and we are delighted, not only by the cherry and plum blossoms poking their noses into the air, but by the renewal of life that we see at every glance.  Folks are making their way back into gardens and have begun propagating with vigor.  Just the other day we passed a charming elderly couple bent downwards into the rich soil of their garden.  The beautiful woman saw Ray and I fondly looking over her garden, and not moments later she handed us two, large daikon radishes.  Ray bit into one immediately and devoured the entire thing as the two delightful gift-givers chuckled in delight.

This looks familiar!

We saw this fellow sun bathing as we passed the lake on our bikes.  I had to snap a photo as proof that just perhaps our little tortoise babies may do okay when we release them into the wild in May!

My dear, and long time friend, Judy tracked us down on skype today. It was a pure gift to start the day in conversation with her and her husband Kim.  She directed me to a blog she has been keeping, and in reading it today I have been touched with inspiration and motivated in love.  The following is a quote by Diane Ackerman that she posted in a previous entry, that I too would like to pass on and strive to live by:

"I swear I will not dishonor my soul with hatred, but offer myself humbly as a guardian of nature, a healer of misery, as a messenger of wonder, as an architect of peace."