FIRST SNOW, FESTIVALS, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT, PRINCESS DI, JAPANESE TV, GUARDMEN!

23 March 95

Yes, once more there has been an upgrade in the Barlow/Liondis household in the letter writing apparatus department.  Spike was given a computer recently by his boss, so that he would be able to ‘work’ from home when the mood takes him.  Well, if you consider letter-writing, news-reading and game-laying work, well then it’s nonstop work in this household!  Actually, now that Spike is able to do these things at home, his output at work has definitely increased, and so it all works out in the end.

Since the last time I tapped away at a keyboard and tried my best to relate to our loved ones our experience of living in Japan, many things have happened in our lives and a lot of time has also passed.  I can hardly believe we have been here for almost a year!  Shortly after my last letter, Spike and I had a bit of bad luck.  Specifically, I had a miscarriage.  I caught a bad flu as well as having tonsillitis while I was pregnant, which resulted in a fever of over 40 and me being hospitalised for a week.  I recovered eventually, but we lost the baby.  It was a big shock and took a lot out of both of us, as I was at home in bed for about a month.  As always, Spike was a pillar of strength and my wonderful Florence Nightingale! J  This all took place from the beginning of October till the beginning of December, and as you can imagine, our lives at this time were very basic.  At last though, our lives are back on track and we are back to a relatively normal existence, stronger than ever!

So now I guess it’s back to, as my mate Mark calls it, Captain Ahab’s diary!!

My last newsletter was written in the heat of a Tokyo summer.  It’s now February and the coldest month in Tokyo.  We’ve just (two days ago) had our first snow fall in Tokyo and since it has remained cold, there is still snow on the ground in places.

On the way to Kendo in the Snow!

On the morning it snowed, I had loads of fun when I participated in the NTT Company Housing Annual Amateur Snowball Fight!  I really got into the swing of things and was darn good too!  I’m sure this had little to do with the fact that I was 5 times the average age of the participants. J  At one stage though, just as the group like a pack of wild animals, sensed that I was tiring and started to close in, I declared the games closed and suggested we all build a huge snow man (the advantages of being a cunning and manipulative adult! J)  It wasn’t too long before one of the mothers ventured outside and upon seeing me gasped in shock.  She told me how wet and filthy I was but like the child I am, I was determined to finish the snowman and just continued to lead the pack.  Well, eventually the fun was over and I decided to go home and take a good long soak in the bath.  I can’t tell you how embarrassed I was when I walked inside and took a look in the mirror.  It would be a gross understatement to say I was filthy!  Since the fall of snow was only a couple of inches deep, the snowballs we were throwing were a mixture of grass, dirt and then snow, and I was covered in it.  I was a total mess and wondered how many of the parents had peeked outside and shook their heads in disbelief.  All the while Spike was training away at our local kendo dojo oblivious to the mischief I was getting up to.  By the time he returned, I had gotten rid of all the evidence (via the washing machine and bathtub) and played innocent.  My story is that I never know snow as a child and that everyone needs to have at least one snow fight and build one snow man for their life to be complete (and I’m sticking to this one, it’s the best story I could come up with in such a short time! J )

If I had to name one activity that the Japanese excel at, besides overworking themselves and their childrenJ, it would have to be celebrating traditions.  Almost every month there is a major or minor festival of some kind somewhere.  I mentioned a couple last time, and thought I might talk a little about one that we participated in, in September.



Carrying the Omikoshi.

Spike and I were very fortunate to participate in the Kichijoji Autumn Festival, where several miniature portable shrines are carried through the streets of the shopping centre.  The festival is to ensure a safe and prosperous year for the shop owners and locals.  We had been told that it was very tough by several people, but it’s the kind of thing you only get one chance to do, so we did a Nike! J  It used to be that anyone who wanted to, could join in and carry the Shrine for a few paces.  However, this proved dangerous as fights broke out, so these days it’s a well organised activity run by the local store owners which you have to register for weeks beforehand.  You are allotted a team and team ‘uniform’.

With Mari and friends.  We had no idea
what we were getting ouselves into!

The replica shrine is approx 2 tonnes in weight and elaborately decorated in gold and the colour purple and usually has a phoenix sitting on the roof. At the beginning of the festival the ‘priest’ places a few sacred items into it and proceeds to entice, with much ceremony, the spirit from the major Shrine into the portable one.   The shrine looks something like this.

Although one of them is carried by around 50 people, it is still amazingly heavy. Also, when it’s carried through the streets you don’t just walk along with it but do a weird kind of jog!  (Trust the Japanese to make it as difficult as they could! J  Therefore, if everyone is not exactly in step, it writhes and bounces around on your shoulder like a wild animal thrashing around in pain and then, you get to feel the full 2 tonnes thump down on your shoulder. 

Being interviewed for TV!

Spike and I carried the shrine on the first day of the festival for about 20 mins and in the end our ‘uniforms’ were soaked through, our legs were sore and shoulders were red raw.  The next day we got totally caught up in the spirit of things and carried it off and on all day!  By the end of the festival we were totally wrecked.  For part of the 2^nd day I put a folded hand towel on my shoulder to absorb some of the bumps, but Spike didn’t give in and basically ended up having 2^nd degree burns on his shoulder from the friction and bruised bones!  ‘What a Guy!’  (for all you Dwarfies out there!)  The end of the ceremony culminated in a free meal at a local ‘Yakiniku’ restaurant and a strip show by one of the local businessmen in drag!! Definitely the climax of the weekend!

Clowning Around!

The next major activity in our lives was a juggling performance.  Our friend Mari’s little boy goes to a local crèche and Mari ‘volunteered’ us to perform for the kids at their celebration day!  We hadn’t practiced juggling for many months and suddenly we had 2 weeks to prepare.  Mari said the performance was ‘only’ to be for children between 2-5 years old....but we all know that’s the age when children are the most critical and honest!  So we were both as nervous as if we were to perform before the Emperor.  On the night there were to be several other acts and the finale was to be the professional Ninja act.  As the night progressed we started to relax a little, after seeing the acts preceding ours.  We had to be more interesting, to the kids, than the recorder player and the African Drum performance (which was very good, but unappreciated by the kids). 

Our time came and went and as predicted we were somewhat of a hit.  However, the most entertaining part of the evening was when Spike was called up with two other ‘children’, to take part in the Ninja act.  He was asked several questions, none of which he could understand (at the time), looked helplessly at me in the audience and just kept repeating ‘sorry, I don’t understand’.  This brought laughter from the parents and the kids.  Later during the Ninja show the head Ninja started teaching a little swordplay to the volunteers with plastic swords.  This was where spike was in his element.  Of course the Ninja had no idea that Spike practiced Kendo and when it was his turn to attack the Ninja, he did so suddenly and screaming loudly.  He did a perfect sword cut to the head (stopping just before contact of course!).  The Ninja almost needed a change of pants, the kids were rolling on the ground laughing and the parents almost we themselves too!  All in all, it was a fun night and they actually wanted to pay us for performing, would you believe.  Of course we refused but gracefully accepted a couple of beers for our trouble.  If  we ever wanted a change in profession....



Santa Spike!

In December, Spike and I once again were volunteered to ‘perform’ for the kids.  This time however, it was not juggling, but fancy dress.  Spike had a chance to fulfil his lifelong ambition to be Santa!  My job consisted of behind the scenes work such as make-up and wardrobe, as well as setting the scene for Santa to arrive.  The kids thought it was great to have a real life foreign santa who couldn’t speak any Japanese (Spike was forbidden to use any).  Lucky I just happened to be there to translate, nudge nudge, wink wink! J  Santa is a fairly new phenomenon in Japan and the kids didn’t really know what to do, but they enjoyed getting lollies, prezzies and their photo taken with him.  Mari’s little boy Ryu (3yrs old) said he recognised Spike though and was not impressed.  Later on in the night we went to Mari’s place.  Spike had returned to normal (help!),but Ryu said he was sure that Spike was Santa.  We both did a great acting job and convinced him he was wrong and that I hadn’t seen that fat old git before in my life!  I told him Spike had been at work all day and he eventually believed us.  Spike remarked that Ryu was still at an age where he believed what he was told by adults and later on in the night I felt guilt stricken to think that in years to come he will remember this incident and his naive, trusting outlook on the world will be shattered and he’ll be just like on of us! J

Well, it’s now quite a while since I started to write this and once again it’s snowing.  We have had snow three weekends in a row now.  It wouldn’t be so bad if it snowed during the week, at least we could go outdoors on the weekends.  However, since our transport consists of bicycles or buses, leaving our flat is only attempted in case of emergencies, ie: when the sushi and sake runs out!!

Lady Di arriving at the Centre.

About a month ago a strange thing happened.  Princess Di came to Japan and visited the Senior Citizens Centre where I do volunteer work at.  I guess it’s not that amazing an occurrence, but of all the people I might have expected to see visiting the centre, I wouldn’t have guessed it would be her.  It was all hush hush and the workers were only officially informed two days before she was to visit, but as usual news leaked out before this and most people had planned to be there when she arrived.  Only the volunteers on duty that day were invited to actually meet her, the rest of us waited outside with the throngs of neighbourhood housewives, local school lads and lasses, security men and world press, to catch a glimpse.  The volunteers not on duty that day were assigned a special ‘viewing area’ and I was able to get Mari and my host-sister Keiko in as well.

Lady Di!

When she actually arrived she moved without fuss and so quickly into the building that the crowds waiting eagerly behind the barriers almost booed in unison at being deprived of a chance to photograph or touch her.  After waiting 40mins though, she emerged from the building and was either asked or decided to go meet the public.  She came first to our area and shook hands with most of us and then moved on for a quick hand shaking session with the general public.  In the frenzied excitement of the moment I also found myself sticking my hand in her face waiting for it to be shaken, as it was.  Looking back I wonder what she thought seeing a foreigner in a sea of Japanese, but now that I remember what I said to her, she probably thought, ‘oh no not another bloody Australian’.  It’s funny what comes out of your mouth when you’re unprepared.  I can’t exactly remember what I said, but it went something like this:  ‘G’day, how’s it going?’ and then mumbled something like ‘welcome to Japan’.  She just said ‘Hello’ and gave me a strange look as she moved on.  Well....I’ve never met a Princess before, how am I supposed to know what to say!  I couldn’t sleep for nights worrying about whether this was going to turn into an international incident like the Paul Keating faux par with the Queen!  To make things worse when I called Mum, she asked whether I’d curtsied!! There went another week of sleepless nights...thanks Mum!! J

The Japanese women think Di is gorgeous, everything they wish they were’ tall, blonde, and long –legged.  Apart from that I don’t think they have any thoughts on her.  Of course her reputation isn’t what it used to be, but the Japanese are quick to forgive especially when a beautiful woman is involved and there are mega-bucks to be made on magazine sales!  Not too different to anywhere in the world really!

I’m unsure if I’ve mentioned the topic of Japanese TV before, but it certainly deserves to be mentioned again even if I did.  We’re constantly amazed at what is actually broadcast and have a special video tape in the recorder at all times to tape the most weird moments.  Unfortunately, the most bizarre program was broadcast on New Year’s Eve when we were at Mari’s country home and unfortunately had no access to a video.  The program was a special New year’s Eve ‘variety show’ which consisted of every TV personality (or ‘talent’ as they are called) coming on and playing a game of strip Paper, Scissors, Rock (male against female).  The two hosts who are famous comedians were the only people not to bare themselves before the nation.  Of course they stopped at undies (and bras for women), but if they lost at that stage they were sent into a little change booth (you could still see their legs and heads) to strip totally and then put on a bathrobe.  Strange end to the game, but there you have it.  This may not sound too ridiculous in itself, however ....a), it went from around 8pm until midnight (possibly longer, we didn’t keep watching), b), that is ALL that happened on the show, c), some of the more conservative ‘talents’ were also getting into the swing of things (with the help of a bit of ‘Dutch courage) and d), they kept crossing live to another studio where the general public (usually young attractive university girls hungry for discovery) were at it too!  We were totally blown away!  All this from a country that sensors pubic hair in photography journals!  When we woke on New Years day, we thought it had all been a bizarre dream attributable to the consumption the night before of large amounts of Seafood Pilaf and that bad old man, Sake!  Since we were sans our video, alas we may never know for sure!! J

While I’m on the subject of TV, I’d like to write about a new phenomenon in Japan called the ‘New Half’.  Once again, a trendy English word that the Japanese have made up and adopted as their own.  It means a transvestite.  Japan has for centuries had a tradition of men posing as women for their Kabuki theatre (which to these days still have no female actors.  All female parts are played by men acting as women).  So, this is not such a new thing to the Japanese but these days the TV channels are chock-a-block with programs showcasing the youngest, most talented and most beautiful of them in game shows.  However, you never see women who are newly men.  Whether this is because there aren’t any, or because the TV stations are only interested in showing beautiful and glamorous guy girls, prancing around in bikini’s on stage, is hard to know.   I suspect it’s the flesh factor myself!  J  Just yesterday they were advertising a new TV drama starting soon about a single Dad having to work and look after the kids, who turns into a single Mum (and not a pretty one either!).  I’ll let you know how that one goes! J



Spike Sparing!

Spike and I are both now doing Karate.  Spike started some six months ago, and I’ve only just got up the courage to go along (and the strength! J )  I ride in to his office three lunchtimes a week and train with the NTT club.  I’m usually the only female there (there’s two of us) and am the newest member, so I get special treatment (taken aside and taught by the head of the club).  I think it also helps Spike that I’m there since I can translate anything he doesn’t understand.  The other day one of the head instructors left the club and we had a farewell party for him at a local’pub’.  The most embarrassing moment took place when instead of toasting him and saying ‘Hip-ray’, three times we had to stand in a circle in the middle of the restaurant and do ten continuous punches with kiai (shouting)!  I don’t know what the rest of the patrons thought, but hearing a group of 15 drunken karate-ka all screaming madly at the top of their lungs, but I said to Spike that if I have to do this kind of crazy at all the time, I’m quitting Karate!! J

Which brings me to my next point, guard-man.  Another Japanese made English word which just means as security guard.  They are everywhere....at any public office, hall, carpark or building.  Considering the Japanese publics record for almost nil criminal activities of any kind, once again a little excessive.  Well, there are guards on the gates of Spike’s company and anyone going in has to have a pass or fill in a detailed slip on who they are, what company they are from, who they have come to see, what department they are in and for what reason, etc, etc.  Then they give you a little badge to wear and let you on through, albeit 15 mins later!!  Can you imagine how pissed off I get having to do this every time I go in to see Spike or go to karate training.  At first when I told them that I had just come in to visit my hubby, they couldn’t quite come to terms with this.  I wasn’t quite sure why, but now I know it’s because NO Japanese wives ever come in to visit their husbands at work!  It’s just not done.  Japanese office life is very sterile and very boring!  Well, these days they see me ride up, smile and just wave me on through.  I’m sure I’m the only person to enter the gates that doesn’t have to wear a badge or spend 15 mins filling in forms!  Hallelujah!! J

On a very sad note, recently the unthinkable happened.  We received a phone call from a friend in Brisbane telling us that one of our closest friends, Andrew Parr, had just died in a bushwalking accident in NSW.  We were devastated.  Although we only met Andrew four years ago he became such a big part of our lives; one of the handful of friends you make that you know you will always be close to no matter what.  He was always so enthusiastic and energetic, one of the most truly ‘alive’ people we have ever met, and someone who deserved to live to be 100.  He was one of the warmest and truest friends anyone could ever have.  Those of you who knew him, know how much we love him and that we will miss him dearly.

Well, the next major event in our lives will be our holiday back in OZ from 22 April – 14 May, which can’t come soon enough for us.  We NEED to breathe Aussie air again and feel the warmth of the Aussie sunshine.  We’re sick of winter!! We will be coming home with some extra baggage though, Mari and her son.  We’ve spoken to her so often about what a wonderful country Australia is and she just couldn’t help herself.  We’re actually really excited about her coming with us and are looking forward to introducing her to OZ and our friends and family there.  She is such a big part in our lives here, and we couldn’t have made it this far without her.

Well, it’s that time once again...I hope I haven’t bored you!  Ogenki-de!  In other words, take care and ‘we loves yas all!!’.

Love Maria and Spike