A traditional Japanese Ryokan - tatami mats, robes, futons, onsen and yummy food!

I wonder if we can arrange our house like this, soft filtered light,

Slippers, neatly stacked futons and blankets to roll out at nighttime.

Hot tea and enameled tea cups beckon at the low table, the chairs 

On the ground are supportive and comfortable, elegantly designed.

Before a midday rest, we ease ourselves into the hot pools (onsen)

Punctuated with a brisk rinse with cold water and a re-immersion.  

The nervous system relaxes.

Careful to place the left side of the robe over right (we are not dead yet),

We shuffle in our house slippers down to a sumptuous dinner, almost

Too beautifully arranged to eat, yet we do, consuming all of it,

The sashimi, broiled fish, rice, and yes, the octopus, which I abhor killing,

Has already given its life...and so I savor its flesh, thanking it for its sacrifice.

Elegant in its simplicity, a delightful reminder of the ease of being close

To the ground.  

 

Bridges, boats and biking in Japan

 

The mountains rise directly from

A crystal clear sea, a small fishing boat bobs nearby,

Statuesque cranes tower on the adjacent shore.

Suspension bridges rivaling the Golden Gate connect

Small towns on opposite shores, our electric bikes 

Whisk us up from the shore, climbing ever higher to join 

The crossing traffic, then dropping us back down on 

Sinuous paths covered in cherry blossoms,

I send a prayer to the skies as I speed past a shrine, 

To honor those who are no longer with us, 

In gratitude for this beautiful day, this beautiful life. 

 

Observations - small and large

 Despite the long line to board the train, the many departing the train, the Westerners lugging large suitcases, the train will depart in 2 minutes.

How clever for the top of the toilet tank to double as a hand washing station during flushing.

The granola chunks tantalizing me in the shop were nut covered fried chicken chunks and the donut was filled with noodles.

The flooded fields abut the tended flower gardens of the immaculate homes.

The fog rests on the landscape like a soft white blanket. 

The eye’s desire vastly overestimates the stomach’s capacity. 

Sure, we'll have that, too ....not!

We perused the menu, reading down through the 14 choices of grilling meats

And settled on three, bypassing the opportunity for grilling pig womb, or tracheal rings,

And passing on the delicacy of rumen (look it up) or large intestine.

Flashbacks to childhood of staring down a cows tongue, taste buds included (!)

On our dinner table, the stern look of my father demanding that we place tongue

Against tongue, served cold, yet more daunting.

Sure, we'll have that, too, has its limits at fish eyes and pigs feet,

While heartily applauding the Japanese!

 

No escape from Trump in Kanazawa, Japan

I heard his voice in the restaurant, berating the Japanese

For their lack of participation in his war of death and destruction.  

The two elderly Japanese seated adjacent to us

Were watching him, listening to him berate them,

The serious looks on their faces revealed nothing

But distress surely showed on my face.

I saw his face in the Japanese newspaper, on the front page,

Criticizing the Japanese people for their lack of

Participation in his illegal and unethical war,

The newspaper was on the table next to 

Our beautifully arranged plates of sashimi 

Prepared with care and attention by the Japanese

Chef behind the counter.  

We were the only Americans in these two small

Restaurants, and we feel deep shame at the 

Actions of our government, the words of 

Our President, who damages everything

His words and actions touch.

In these times, I am not proud to be an

American.

 

Finding poetry in Kanawaza, Japan

Of note

That some of them write clearly, so Google Translate can reveal their poetry

And others, a cursive not unlike my own that will never reveal to a Westerner

Their hidden wisdom, 

Of note 

That several poets wrote this one trove of sage advice

How many Americans poets can share their moment in the limelight

Even when the light is so dim as to be non-existent

Of note

Is that saying "All of you are true in your heart" but 

Followed by "the truth of the matter is that the work is not done

In the name of wisdom, goodness and diligence"

Two different opinions adjacent to one another

Peacefully.

Yesterday,

I learned eight reasons why Japan is so peaceful, clean

And the trains run on time.

Kaizen, Ikigai, Hara Hachi Bu and the others

But let us start with every day with the intent to 

Make the world 1% better, finding a reason for living,

Forest bathing and endure with dignity.  

What happened to our country

In its quest for power and money?

We have no trains, litter is everywhere,

We are rude and barbaric, 

We have lost our souls

In America. 

 

Sumo wrestler turned restauranteur in Kanazawa, Japan

Wait, wait a minute, that face in front of me, the guy, the cook,

That's his face up on the TV, sumo wrestling, yep, that's him, check, double check.

Ahah, that's him on the posters on the wall in his ...what do they call that

Skimpy little outfit that barely covers their enormous bulk.

The outfit whose sole purpose is to hold the jewels and provide a grabbing 

Strap for their opponent, so we can watch, in fascination, the ripple of their bare 

Flesh as they barrel into each other, one heaving the other off the small platform

Onto the laps of the adoring crowd.

Wait, wait a minute, I would not want to be sitting right next to the ring

Where it's possible that a 300 pound man, skimpily clad, likely slippery,

Might fall on top of me.  I place myself back in my seat at the restaurant counter,

The restaurant that has room for eight, maybe ten.  

While slurping sumptuous ramen noodles in a fish broth, I could not stop

Moving my gaze from the screen, to the man in front of me, the cook and owner,

In a back and forth, kind of a disbelief, but why not, after all.

This is Japan, the land of the sumo wrestler, the land of Ramen.