Recent visit to Japan

[shurenkan]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write an update on my recent visit to Japan, but I had to get back into the full swing of work and my marathon training sessions. In fact, I ran 15 miles (about 24km) on Wednesday and I had a full workday at the firehouse yesterday. I'm lucky to even be awake right now, let alone coherent.

The trip was great. The first week was spent mostly sightseeing in Kyoto and Nara. I have spent quite a bit of time in Japan, but had never made it to Nara to see the Great Bronze Buddha at Todaiji. The path to the temple was lined with thousands of tourists, school children, and hungry deer. It was quite the sight. This was my first time seeing the Daibutsu. The statue and the temple were both awe-inspiring. My only complaint was that it rained on that day, and rain and deer crap just don't mix well (or maybe they mix too well, as my significant other just stated). I always thought that nothing was more disgusting than the slush you find on a New York City Street, three days after a big snow fall. Boy was I wrong.

Then it was back to Tokyo. Now for the good stuff! One of my reasons for going on this trip was to establish new karate relationships. One of the hardest things about being an independent dojo, especially after having come from a relatively large organization, is the loss of the support structure and activities like tournaments, summer camps, branch chiefs meetings, etc... One relationship I hoped to form was with Jukucho Katsuaki Sato of Sato Juku Karate. For those who don't know Mr. Sato, he won Kyokushin Karate's First World Tournament in 1975. Thanks to Masahiko Honma Sensei of Karatedo Honma Dojo, I was able to meet and speak with Sato Jukucho and create an opportunity for my students--I hope to bring some of them to Japan in the next year or so to compete at their events.

Sato Jukucho was very gracious and even had a gift for me. He invited me to sit at the official table alongside karate greats such as Nobuhiko Kishi Shihan and Toshikazu Sato Shihan, and politicians and heads of state. It was a privilege I certain did not expect nor deserve. Everyone was very kind to me.

I also had the pleasure of speaking with Kancho Ademir da Costa. He is an imposing figure, but he is as gracious as he is fierce. We talked a great deal (in a strange mix of Spanish and Portuguese) about karate. We exchanged info and have since communicated. It is a relationship I hope will grow.

The event itself was very well organized and the level of technique was impressive. Although the rules of the tournament are still a little foreign to me, it is obvious that Sato Jukucho has placed a great deal of emphasis on the technical development of the karateka. The fighters were all technically gifted and used a wide array of technique.

While in Japan, I also had the opportunity to catch up with an old acquiantance from my former organization. Shihan Yoshio Nakagawa, was a former middleweight World Sabaki Challenge Champion. In past All Japan competitions, I had the honor of fighting against several of his students. He was always incredibly gracious and kind, but because of communication difficulties, we never truly conversed. Last year, through a strange series of events, we got back in contact. As coincidence would have it, we both had resigned from our parent organization at about the same time. We kept in touch and I told him I would visit his dojo in Kikugawa on my next trip to Japan. I had heard a rumor about him and wanted confirmation. As luck would have it, all this time we tried to communicate in Japanese to little avail, we should have been speaking in Spanish. Shihan Nakagawa lived in Guatemala for two years and spoke Spanish flawlessly. Between his spanish, my japanese, and some of his student's english we had a blast. We trained and then as customary went to our post-karate "training" session. It was a great time.

There is obviously alot more to tell, but I have been long-winded enough. Suffice it to say that it was a great trip. New friends, old friends, good food, karate, and tons of beer. What more could I ask for. Don't answer that!!!

Osu,
Miguel Rios

[satodojo]

Osu, Shurenkan-san,
Thanks for shering the story. I'm glad to hear that you had a great time there.

[Dent]

Osu! Shurenkan,

Sounds like a wonderful and fulfilling trip. All your goals were met, and you've come back to share with us and your own Dojo members.

Thank you, and well done!

Osu!

[MilkManX]

Sounds like a great experience and one I would love to have soon. OSU!

[supergroup7]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. What made my eyes open wide was the mention of deer at the temple. Deer? Did I read that correctly?

[vapor]

Nara and the temples there are famous for the deer, and these are not the bambi type of deer....

They are not afraid of people and EXPECT that you will feed them!

Don't even ask about the monkeys at the temple in Nagano! Hold on to your hats, and any loose items!!

vapor

[supergroup7]

Oh Vapor.. that would be so wonderful to have deer walk right up to me and expect me to feed them! Have you seen this yourself? Do they bite you, or step on your foot if you don't feed them?

Monkeys!!! Wandering around the temple grounds? Wow! Do we get to feed them too?

Why? Why are these animals doing this?

Oh wow.. So many things to see, and experience, I do so want to see Japan one day!

[Kyokushin_Practioner]

Originally Posted by vapor

Nara and the temples there are famous for the deer, and these are not the bambi type of deer....

They are not afraid of people and EXPECT that you will feed them!

Don't even ask about the monkeys at the temple in Nagano! Hold on to your hats, and any loose items!!

vapor

Osu!
i watched a special on the cultures of China on CTV,they showed Shaolin Temples and everything.it was a great program,but they showed monkeys stealing from people at the temple grounds where the tourist were.it was hilarious.LOL

[vapor]

Originally Posted by supergroup7

Oh Vapor.. that would be so wonderful to have deer walk right up to me and expect me to feed them! Have you seen this yourself? Do they bite you, or step on your foot if you don't feed them?

Monkeys!!! Wandering around the temple grounds? Wow! Do we get to feed them too?

Why? Why are these animals doing this?

Oh wow.. So many things to see, and experience, I do so want to see Japan one day!

The deer have been known to bite...but the monkeys are worse! They will climb right up your leg to grab your purse (well, a female's purse!) They are not circus animals...they are wild!!

Since you often find shrines or temples built in the wilderness, it kind of sits in the animals backyards!!

But, the real reason, is that they know that there is a constant food source!

vapor

[seienchin]

Indeed - in many of the temples in SE Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam), monkeys are also part of the equation, and they are very much known to bite. This has resulted in quite a few tourists having to undergo rabies vaccinations. Not a nice way to spend your holiday.

[FutureProdigy]

Originally Posted by vapor

Don't even ask about the monkeys at the temple in Nagano! Hold on to your hats, and any loose items!!

vapor

Is it as bad as in the simpsons - or was that from india, or another country (wow, my memory has failed me).

[vapor]

Can't say that I have seen that episode of the Simpsons...nor would I relate what I saw in an animation to be an accurate portrayal of real life situations.

I only share that experience based on what I saw with my own two eyes.

vapor

[smoothsake]

The deer outside of the Nara temple are crazy for crackers. Quite fun actually.

I'm still hoping to one day fullfil a childhood dream and bathe with the monkeys in the outdoor onsens. It is supposed to be quite an experience.



Eigo Ninja¡¡ Snow Monkey Onsen

[chonmage_martin]

Osu! I wish my trips to Japan were that good, they just involve tons of beer and food! The monkeys are evil! On my first trip to Japan we went to Nikko, and saw the monkeys commit all types of atrocities. At one scenic overlook they wouldn't let us back in the car! Hissing and swatting at us! A taxi driver had to chase them off with a golf club, a 5 iron I think. I believe that is the preferred method to get rid of pesky monkeys in Japan!

Osu!
Martin