November 11-15 - Japan

Admittedly. it was a work trip.  But since it was my first time in Japan, let me post some impressions!

TOKYO

Tokyo is a huge (13.5 million), modern city, bustling with activity and style.  The wealth here in the city is apparent in its skyscrapers, very fashionable population, and sticker shock!  Who can afford to live here??  Surely Japan has many poor, but in Tokyo, it's the wealthy that walk the streets.

downtown building

the one with the gold flame? foam? is the Asahi beer headquarters

We were in Tokyo for 2 days visiting our good friend, Katsuki Hirano.  Katsuki lived with us in Durham, NC for 3 months last fall while on sabbatical at Duke.  Katsuki is a mega-chuch pastor in Japan - a country where the Christian population is less than 1%.  So his 250 member church qualifies as MEGA!  He is also the principal of his church's elementary school, chair of a preaching school, editor of a Christian magazine, frequent speaker, writer and translator - and all-around good (very busy) guy.  He is also the lead organizer for the Duke/MCC Forum for Reconciliation meeting being held in Nagasaki next April.

Katsuki met us the first morning and informed us that we would be lunching with VIPs, but that in spite of all the business suits in Tokyo, we could wear jeans...

 Our VIP lunch was with the children in his kindergarten where, as visiting "dignitaries" and after eating lunch at pint-sized chairs and tables, we answered lots of important questions such as "what's your favorite color?" and "what's your favorite animal?" - delightful!!

We also did the requisite touring, complete with traditional (?) Japanese boat and Ninja warrior. Yikes.

TEMPLES

Japan is a primarily Buddhist and Shinto country.  It is often at great cost that a person becomes a Christian, as Buddhism and Shintoism are deeply ingrained in the family relationships (Buddhism) and societal structure (Shintoism).  Every community has its Shinto shrine.  People make frequent, quick, stops at the shrine as they pass by on their daily errands.

small neighborhood Buddhist temple

oft photo-ed entrance gate to the famous Senso-Ji Buddhist temple

Fujin, Shinto god of the wind - the stuff of nightmares
(nice abs, though)

 TWINKLE LIGHTS

Japan apparently loves twinkle lights (and neon).  The streets are beautiful at night!

Christmas appeared while we were here!
And it disappears on Dec. 26, when Japan begins preps
for New Year, the really BIG celebration.

TASTES

Oh the food of Japan!  It's beautiful as well as nutritious.  I'm not a huge fan of raw fish - which there is lots of here - but even that tastes better when it is so artfully presented!  And there were so many good foods to choose from.  Allow me...

Sushi - wrapped in wood and settled on ice chips

cooked fish and veggies

the sushi chef - many restaurants let you watch the preparation

Preparing our ramen....

the finished product - steamy hot and delicious!

another sushi restaurant with a moving conveyor belt of delicacies

still sushi, but no raw fish - this California girl's fav

dessert - choc mousse, coffee ice cream, raspberry, mint and pear slice
wow!

That's a quick overview of some of the delights of Japan and our first 2 days in Tokyo.  Next entry will be about Nagasaki and MCC's work in Japan.  We really were working!