Or is it a mindset?...

I read my last entry and now I wonder...is it a simple mindset?
I mean the same is applicable back home right? The same advice I give to first timers in Japan is applicable to anyone living anywhere in world.

I think the main difference as a person who tries to evoluate is that you do not have (or should not have) the pressure to fit in since a foreigner is by default an outcast in Japan. And since noboby expects nothing from you, it is okay for you to really try anything you want. That we admit it or not there is a certain mold we all have to fit in in our respective countries.

Someone told me once: I hope you find what you are looking for in Japan...
I have found a lot...And i am now sure that by the time I leave my town, i will definetely find what I am looking for.

Whatever you are looking for in Japan, you will find...

I came to Japan not really knowing what I was getting into. I am totally being honnest here. But being the person that i am, I truly wanted to tak full advantage of the situation although it was not the greatest most of the time at the beginning. After a year being here I realized one thing that turned out to be quite important for my overall experience here. I even said it to many first timers in Nippon. ''Whatever you are looking for in Japan, you will find...guarantee!'' The only BUT is that it takes time....and lots of it. so patience is key. This is why I believe so.

Yes, Japan is extremely rigid in its structures and hierarchy. It is also quite conservative when it comes to interpersonal relations. Yet, one can easily find these pockets of people that are interested- I would even add obsess most of the time- about a particular thing or hobby. Japanese are extremely dedicated to anything they do even if it is a simple hobby. For us, westerns a hobby is not an obligation: we do a bit of it and if we have an heavy schedule or that our interest changes, we simply dont do it. But for Japanese there is no such thing. There schedule is made to suit their hobby...and usually they all have this ONE thing they excel at. Ask a japanese: ''what is your hobby?'' I know for us it is such a weird question...it takes reflection time to figure out what we do out of work, school and chilling with friends. But all japanese have a hobby and a hidden passion...and they all excel at it. Really! You just have to found out who and what.

I spent a couple of months last year trying to find places to dance. And I found exactely what I was looking for. In Takayama, about an hour north of where I live, there is ballroom and hiphop. In nagoya and gifu, about 2 hours south, there is pretty much anything you could look for. But who would have believed that there is dance in MY town as well since it is so small. I found a samba community, a hip hop intructor, and a hawaian dance instructor. Thats just an example... And this is how I have been dancing salsa here and building on the basic I knew from home. Yes !!!! Japanese CAN dance. If you teach a japanese anything they will learn it. and very well!

Now...I was looking for scuba dive, they have it. Sky dive: they have it. Motorbike communities: they have it. Reggae parties: they have it...tons of it. Horse back riding: they have it. I even found a cowboy community..really! They dress like cowboys straight out of a western movie and are very serious about ''looking and acting right''.

To extrapolate, I was also looking for peace of mind...And as much as Japan can give its share of headaches to a foreigner trying to fit in, it can also provide moments where an individual feels this deep sentiment of oneness. I must admit that my surroundings leads to this feeling since i live surrounded by mountains. When I climbed mount Fuji last year, I never felt such a powerful feeling in my life...after one taste of it, now im addicted.

So...you are coming to Japan? 1.Keep your mind right open. 2. Be extremely patient 3. You need a copious amount of humor ....and from there I can promise you: ''whatever you are looking for in Japan you will find".

Here we are in autumn and how we change without noticing...

It has been already 5 months since my latest update. So now it has been more than a year that I moved to this other planet called Japan. Am I settled? I can say say. Do I understand everything? Oooooh no! lol I understand a lot more than before but I found myself being baffled by my surroundings.

Summer went by so fast...I did not even see it coming and leaving. And as usual, fall came sneaking behind the doors and all of a sudden I just remember trading my shorts and thang tops for sweaters and hoodies.

The same way the seasons slowly changes in Japan without one's notice, the same way I found Japan's culture sloooooooooooowly integrated my mind and subconscious. It is not like a parasite that lives off another being. No....it is more like an alien organism that gets into your system without you even feeling one single difference. But than one day you wake up to realize that you have morphed into something else...or could it be evolution? Is it still me with a zest or someone else? Am I losing myself or gaining myself? Or am I just a cameleon adapting in any environments I found myself in and consequently adopting the mannerism of a world I did not even know a year ago. Here is what happened to trigger all these thoughts.

Last week end, I met with a local lady at an event in my town. We have had the chance to talk to each other several times in the past. When she saw me, she walked straight up to me, looked at me straight in the eyes and started talking. 2 things happened immediatly. First I must explain that we are all familiar with the concept of the bubble which is a bit less than an arm lenght in western societies. In Japan, this bubble is about one full arm and a half. Really! This woman was about the same as what would consider appropriate back home. I IMMEDIATELY backed off. And she stepped closer to me again making me feel...weird. Second, when she looked at me in the eyes, which is one of the ruddest things to do in Japan, I looked down. That woman grabbed my face and forced me to look at her. I was in shock! First I realized that I have been losing the ways of ''home'' and second this woman was NOT acting japanese at all. After asking her, she told me she was brazilian but has lived in Japan for many years...

And this is how this Brazilian woman gave me a wake up call about what was happening to me in Japan...which also triggered all the thoughts and questions I was asking earlier.

Gero under refreshed eyes...

Sometimes, it takes someone from the outside to make you realize what treasure you truly possess. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to host two of my American friends from Minnesota, Angela and Shanda, in our small town of Gero. They really helped me see the Hida region with brand new eyes.

First, thank you to a Japanese friend, the three of us were able to get professionally dressed in yukatas. Needless to say how excited and happy they were to have this chance. Since the big attractions of Gero-shi reside in the foot baths and onsens (hot springs), we all went to the downtown area, got our foot in the public baths and ate on-tama- soft: a delicacy of my town. On-tama-soft stands for onsen tamago (egg cooked in the hot springs) and soft ice cream. Yes, all mixed together! OISHIII! (delicious!).

Since my friends wanted to see the countryside of Japan, they really enjoyed the experience: they loved the mountains, soaked in the onsen, enjoyed kaiten sushi for the first time and of course disliked natto. I must also admit that although it has already been 10 months that I have been part of this community, it was my first time experiencing the tourist side of Gero…and I loved it. Angela and Shanda enabled me to see Gero with the dazzled eyes.

I am enjoying that 27 degrees...

Today is a beautiful day in Gero onsen. Summer is definitely around the corner: everybody is really genki -alive, happy, joyful, energetic ...just take your pick lol- and in an excellent mood (including me). I went to my junior high school and the students were having their sports test. I even try to run against one of them and I suddenly remember why I hated phy ed so much when I was in high school lol.

I am really enjoying that 27 degrees today...I will even go for a bike ride after work :o)

Wakaranai! (I don't understand)

Japan is a land of paradox; this is no longer a secret. Most of their buildings are not isolated against cold weather in the winter and again, those same buildings surprisingly will possess some hi-tech toilet seat straight from star trek that will make sure you do not have a bad experience going to the washroom. Some even have leads that lift up and down automatically. Japanese do not display public affection nor talk about sex, yet they are one of the biggest consumers of pornography in the world. Another example can be found in the super hectic city frenzy where people literally constantly bump into each other; look between two shops and you will found the quietest open air shrine.

The reason the past and the future are flirting to this extend in the land of the rising sun is simply because Japan had to “catch up” with the rest of the western world quite rapidly. Until the Second World War, Japan was a powerful country and that had some delusions of grandeur which were shut down by the Allies and the bombs of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. At that moment, Japanese were stripped down of all their pride since their military was dismantled. In the event that a country would attack the island, the United States promised to defend them…hard pill to swallow for one of the most powerful countries in the 1930s and 40s.

The rest of the story is Japan regaining its status in the international field, which it did to some extend. It would be fair to say that they are indeed a power in East Asia, although it is being challenged by uprising China at this moment. All the changes and the technology happened so fast that “old Japan” did not have the time to disappear or at least be tamed. As a result, Japanese are living in a world where old and new, analogue and digital, tradition and modernization are side by side. On a side note, one should not overlook the geographical isolation of the island.

For a foreigner, this situation is quite unusual and leads to much reflection time. One always feels like walking on a fence: should I look back or forward? Actually I think the Japanese are asking themselves the exact same question everyday.

hip hop and dance scene in Nippon

One friend asked me how is the hip hop\dance scene in Japan as he is a dancer himself...I thought it would be good to share my response on my blog.

I came to Japan only 7 months ago, therefore my knowledge about J-hip hop is still limited. On the other hand, I was able to hang out with several people interested in that field up (or down depending where you are) in Gifu-ken.

Well...i dont know about the ones that paint their face black- i will probably look into it. One thing I can say after dancing with some Japanese for about 5 month: their technic is 95% of the time perfect. Japanese, in general, are amazing at mimicking and learn the perfect technics to learn particular dance move. You want them to break, pop, lock, crunck, do a R&B routine, learn "girls' style"etc they will do it all with assiduity and tons of practice.

The major difference between Japanese hip hop dance and american dance is the amount of moves put into an 8 count. They LOVE to have tons of move. In the States, choreographers believe that a routine does not need a million moves in it to be effective and enjoyable to watch.

Furthermore, when it comes to originality and flavour, this is where you might have a little issue. The thing with the competition, shows or practices I have seen so far is that generally (i emphasize that word) dancers here have a real hard time coming up with their own moves and flavour which make the dancing scene sometimes dull (this is my modest opinion here). And in my experience, as I danced a lot back home, when I tried to show some interesting ways of doing particular moves to spice things up, my counterparts would be polite, tell me thank you and than go on with exactly what they were doing before (after nicelyexplaining to me that this is THE way of doing this sequence according to the videos they have watched). Back home (btw I am canadian but for this matter-only this one!- lets us pretend the states and canada are similarlol), originality AND technic are both important ...numerous times your flavour is what would say if you are good or not. In Japan it is about the technic 150%...even when they try to go outside the box it would still be a perfect copy cat of what we have probably seen before.

I can even go further. Go in a magazine store and pick up any hip hop magazine...they actually have a manual about WHAT to wear AND HOW to wear it. That is the reason why when you get the hang of it, you can tell where some people are from (for example Tokyo or Osaka...) Again to compare to home, it is about being and expressing yourself whereas here it is more about fitting in the group...the concept of individuality by being in this or that particular group.

In my humble opinion, Japanese dancers would gain at look in their inner self to truly get their essence. Especially if they want to be recognize and put on the map ( well they are recognized to be great breakers...but isnt a style that requieres a lot of technic?) On the other hand, western societies could learn from their hard work and application :o).

Have an amazing day!

Ohisashiburi!

Long time, no write....

Things have been hectic since my last entry. I should remedy to the situation now.

Good news. Spring is finally here. It is only a matter weeks before the sakura (cherry blossom). During the time I did not write I traveled to the Philippines and of course learned numerous things. Which I might touch on in a later entry.

Apart from that, I was simply organizing a lot around me as well as religiously following the american political race between Obama and Clinton. Interesting race indeed...Although I cannot help to be cynical with the whole concept. In that regard, I probably reflect most people in developed countries that really does not really believe in the political system since there are not really any stakes (or that politicians pretend they will do something about this or that issue). Hum!....although the war in Irak right now might be one that touches sensitive cords particularly for our neighbors down south.

What is this race really about? I have noticed that the media does not really talk about the candidates' program but instead focus on White versus Black, Man versus Woman, New versus Old, War versus Dialogue. At this point, I really have to sit down and actually read couple of books and get to know each canditate to a certain level because right now I feel like I am left on my appetite when it comes to this 'race', particularly on the Democrate side.

On a side note, I believe that if as a whole the Democrates want to be successful in the big picture, they should stop playing dirthy and backstabbing each other...at the end of the day arent they suppose to be on the same team? Aaaah...the joys of politics!

News from Japan...not much! lol Some criminal stabbed someone in a store. Unfortunately for us, this is almost common news but the the Japanese with their low crime rate (I mean people are ACTUALLY safe in Japan), this is headline and a lot of people's topic conversation-if they follow news. Apparently street violence is on the rise in Nippon...they still have a long way to go before they reach our numbers!

That is it for today!

A little taste of kabuki

Last week I had the chance to go to meet Mr Soga, the leader of a theater troop up in my area.

They are the kabuki conservation group of Hooza which is one of the 2 local theathers. Kabuki is a form a theater that has evolved in Japan. It goes back to the late 15oo and despite several repression from the government, managed to stay alive. Usually, only men can be part of a kabuki troup. What is special about the kabuki conservation group of Hooza is the fact that it has been maintained by the local people, which is fantastic. Hence, women, men and even young people are part of this troup.

The theater I visited has been build long time ago in 1827. When I visited the theater, I was impressed by its antique look and I must admit its rotating stage as well. The whole theater is made out of wood that was carried by the people of the village. This theater can hold up to 800 people. According to a friend of mine, the name of the theater, Hooza means seat of a phoenix. Hoo which means phoenix, imaginary bird in flames, is also the symbol for longevity and Za means seat. I do believe that this theater has the perfect name since it has existed for so long already. They will have performance in the 3rd and 4th of may and I cannot wait to see that!