Sachiko From Osaka

Sachiko From Osaka
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

In Kyoto, a mingling evening with japanese university students was organized by some of us. Everybody had a partner from the other side, whom he/she had to exchange presents with, have dinner, talk, etc. in japanese.

I was lucky enough to have this nice girl as my partner. As a short description, her name is Sachiko, lives in Osaka and plays baseball!!Since she studies in Kyoto and I'll work there, we'll hopefully meet again.

Sachiko, matane!

Kyoto´s Workshop

Kyoto´s Workshop
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

After a day full of presentations and a visit to Panasonic center in Osaka, the dinner ended with a very funny and interesting performance of japanese 'taiko' drums. If you like percussion instruments, you would have loved it.

After the professionals did their work, everybody was invited to play a little bit and, of course, I was there trying to beat the stress out!

My own meishi

Meishi
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

'Meishi' is the japanese name for name cards, where all the contact information of a person is contained. These cards are very important in Japan, and virtually any relationship starts with a 'meishi' exchange.

The rules for this exchange are very important, for example, they have to be given and taken with both hands with your name facing the receptor, after receiving one, some comments on it are a must and, during the whole meeting, the card must be kept in a visible position.

Usually, japanese customs are very complex...

BBQ in Tokyo Bay

BBQ in Tokyo Bay
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

One of the activities organized by our japanese teachers was a barbecue where we could meet japanese people and talk to them (nihongode dake...).

For the occasion, Matsui-san, I, Jaakko, Rebeca and Guillaume had the opportunity to prepare 'yakitori' sticks (chiken, paprika and leek with a mirin and soy sauce), grilled steaks and bananas with chocolate (swedish recipe). Wonderful!

Tokyo Dome Fun-Fair

Tokyo Dome Fun-Fair
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

After a week of japanese lessons for five hours a day, what's better to release all the stress than riding a rollercoaster?

There's one in the center of Tokyo where you can just go and pay for a single ride. The funniest part of it is that it's built on top and THROUGH a shopping mall, so that it actually gets inside part of the building. Notice also that the wonder wheel spins around it...

Tsunami Danger

Tsunami Danger
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Who hasn't heard about the word 'tsunami'? It's of japanese origin, and it means tidal wave due to an earthquake.

Tokyo is very well protected against them, both naturally and artificially, but if you go to places that face the open sea in Japan, like the island of Enoshima, you might see signs like this. Scary, right?

Raw Fish

Raw Fish
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

One day, the japanese teachers took us to the 'Tsukiji' early in the morning, the biggest fish market in Tokyo. It was amazing how feverish the activity was in this place!

There we were able to try ultra fresh 'sashimi'(raw fish with soy sauce and wasabi) and saw how a big tuna fish is cut to pieces by skillful japanese hands.

In the picture, there are four big pieces of raw 'maguro' (tuna fish) and some dry ice to keep it cold.

Juane Japanese Style

Juane Japanese Style
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

I'm becoming more and more japanese every day that passes by... XD

Nowadays, japanese houses aren't usually this way (although I have tatami mats in my room...). This traditional japanese house was inside Edo-Tokyo museum, visitors could enter and admire sliding paper doors, tatami mats, low tables, etc. One could also wear a 'yukata', the japanese name for this piece of cloth similar to 'kimono', made of cotton and more informal than its famous relative.

Ryuuzu Falls

Ryuuzu Falls
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This picture was taken during a hiking trip in the surroundings of Nikko. The sight of the waterfall is specially nice in the autumn, when the trees' leaves are red, green and yellow.

In Japan, many people do sightseeing trips in the forest in the autumn, for the coloured leaves, and in the spring, for the 'sakura' or cherry blossom. I promise that, at least in the autumn, japanese forests are really wonderful.

Tea Ceremony

Tea Ceremony
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

The woman in the picture is the coordinator of the Vulcanus in Japan program, her name is Sato-san and she's dressed in traditional japanese 'kimono'.

She invited us to the 'ochakai' or tea ceremony. It consists on the gathering of some people, usually friends of colleagues, eating some traditional japanese sweets and drinking very bitter and dense green tea.

Daibutsu in Kamakura

Daibutsu in Kamakura
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This was one of the best day trips I've done so far, incredible sights and the best company.

During the day we visited Kamakura, old town that was for a short time capital of Japan, and after sunset we went to Enoshima, an very nice island with great views of Mt. Fuji.

In the picture, I am with Rasa in front of the Daibutsu (Big Buddha), the second biggest Buddha in Japan. Originally, there was a temple over and around it, but it was destroyed by a flood.

Home Stay Family

Home Stay Family
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

These people are the family who kindly invited me to their home in Hiyoshi surroundings, not far from Yokohama.

The family name is Yumoto, and the young 4-year old kid is Ken-chan or Kento-kun. We had very interesting conversations (I tried japanese, but it worked better in english...) and I really felt at home with them.

Arigatou Gozaimasu!

Japanese Trains

Japanese Trains
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

You could think that I'm a master with Adobe Photoshop but that's not true, I was really there!

Not surprisingly, that is the usual crowded state of japanese trains at rush hour, where I have to stay for 3 hours a day... don't worry, sometimes I find a place to sit down :)

Scary

Scary
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Another stupid picture taken at Tokyo Game Show... the guy on the left is Sonic The Hedgehog, famous for his appearance in Sega videogames.

Cool, right?

Chanko Lunch

Chanko Lunch
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

Do you know why Sumo Wrestlers are so strong and fat? Because they eat chanko three times a day!

Chanko consists of thick noodles called Udon in combination with boiled chicken and vegetables, that you boil yourself at the table... the amount is really huge.

After the lunch, Piet and I became like these wrestlers, just prepared for the upcoming sumo fights!

Vulcanus Family

Vulcanus Family
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

This is a nice picture that Asaumi-san took for a workshop that's going to be held in Kyoto in middle november.

Approximately, from left to right: Slavek, Pierre, I, Linnards, Jaizki, Dariusz, Guillaume, Frederik, Adolfo, Laurent, Hannu, Enrico, Jaakko, Koen, Dani, Pietr, Tommy, Nik, Rasa, Piet, Rebeca, John, Christian, Attila, Cris, Jan, David, Fer, Juan and Ina.

Pikachu Plane

Pikachu Plane
Originally uploaded by juanerubio.

We were quite nervous in Paris airport, waiting for our plane to approach the gate and... what do we see? Pikachu plane!
Seriously, this is the plane that brought me to Japan, it was a special All Nippon Airways plane with Pikachus all around it... no comment XD