The Spirit of Japan
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On Friday, July 29, my third day at school, Y-sensei takes me to the real estate office to sign some paperwork. The A/C is still broken so it’s hot as hell, but people are smiling and serve us iced tea again. I sign where they tell me to and the agent photocopies a map of the city and where my apartment is, which turns out to be a lifesaver in helping me find my way around town.

We go back to school, and Y-sensei does yet again his favorite activity—showing me off to the students. Among other groups of students, I get to meet the Ju-do club, the ken-do (sword dance) club, and the dance club. I’d never seen ken-do, and I guess students have to practice moving with the sword for years before they begin actual sparring practice. They look very professional in their robes. The dance club is by far the most intimidating, and Y-sensei asks me if I’d like to see them perform. I can’t say, “no,” but I’m not quite comfortable getting a private performance. “Yes, of course! I love dance!” They do their routine and we move on.

We pick up H-sensei and T-sensei at the office, and go out for food. We go to a noodle place, and Y-sensei recommends a dish of cold Udon noodles of some kind. I can’t read the menus yet, so I go with it, even though it doesn’t sound to appealing. He gets me the hugest size possible—everyone thinks I can eat like half my weight at meals, but he gets the same size too. I ask Y-sensei about the martial arts, and he launches into his explanation about them and what they mean to him. They also talk about flower arrangement and the tea ceremony, both being clubs at the high school. He asks me if I understand flower arrangement. I don’t really know what he’s asking, so I say no. He says T-sensei is an expert and tells her to explain it. She smiles, mumbles, and puts her had on her forehead.

“I think if you have interest in one of these,” Y-sensei says, “you should study it, and you will discover the spirit of Japan. I started Karate-do with my son eight years ago, and I have liked it very much. I will probably do it until I die. You see, most people, ah, foreigners think it is just an activity, just a sport. But it is…ah…”

I interject, “There’s a philosophy?”

“Yes, yes. A philosophy. Each do (study) has it’s own philosophy or idea, and if you study it, you will understand.”

Everyone finishes their meal before me. I don’t know how—I was slurping as fast as I could.

On the way back, I saw my first Japanese car accident. As we’re approaching the cars, Y-sensei grabs at his seat-belt, for fear that the cops will see him. The roads are so freaking narrow, it’s no wonder they don’t have more accidents. Maybe if I study philosophy of Japanese driving, I will understand.