2015-06-28, Music +

I haven't been doing anything very exciting which is why I haven't written lately but I thought I'd fill you in on my last two weekends anyway.  I have been doing Tai Chi on Friday mornings and I really enjoy it (although I can't do it at all).  The first hour involves different exercises that I can (mostly) do.  Then we do some tai chi and the teacher helps people with their moves.  Next is tea time which lasts about 20 or 30 minutes.  We share senbei, tea and talk.  Then we sweep the floor, clean the tea cups, etc. and then we do some more exercises.  So most of the time I can sort of follow along...  It doesn't matter because the people are so nice and it's good Japanese practice. 

On Saturday afternoons I go to Japanese class which I like even more.  It lasts for 2 hours and also includes a tea time.  I don't know that I'm getting any better, in fact I think I get more confused sometimes, but the teachers and other students are very friendly.   I would guess that the majority of students are Chinese but there is a Bangladeshi man and at times someone from Vietnam (I haven't met him yet).  A number of the students attend Shiga Prefectural University (where the classes they attend are taught in English) and others work here.

So I've been doing that.  And I have become friends with a young woman from the Philipines who lived in a different part of Japan and recently moved here.  We have been meeting once or twice a week.  And I've seen my neighbor a couple of times.  She recently went to France and brought back some yummy treats.  She also brought me some homemade yogurt last week.  She said all you need to do is mix some of the yogurt with milk, leave it out overnight and presto - yogurt - without a yogurt machine.  I am almost finished with it so I'll have to get some milk and try it.

Irises in Shosakai koen (near the roses).

Last Saturday I caught the tail end of a dance exhibition called Yosakoi.  This form of dance was developed by university students in Hokkaido about 9 years ago.  It's quite interesing because the music they use if very modern, sort of hip hopish, the costumes are old Japanese style but often use modern materials and patterns.  Some of the groups have multiple tops on and just turn around and peel one off after another.  I saw that with a traditional type of dance and elaborate kimonos once.  In addition to the dancing with is also a mix of traditional and modern, there are men in the back waving gigantic flags.  It's all very energetic.  I would have like to attend the parade and more dancing the next day (Sunday) but unfortunately I had to proctor some tests from 9 - 1...

There was even a superhero - for some reason....

It was a beautiful day so I took a ride.

Where the Seri and Hirata Rivers meet - behind me is Lake Biwa.

Lake Biwa

My favorite road/view.

The white and black swan that live at the castle.

Looks like rain.

Across the little street from the scene above is a long wall with a door that I've never seen open.  But, it was open on this day so.... of course I went in.  It turns out it is the home Ii Naosuke lived in from the age of 3 - 17 while his father was lord of the castle.  It's a museum but it's only open 6 days a year.  Next time will be in the fall - I'm sure it will be pretty since there are maples in the garden.

How could one resist walking through this door into a 'secret garden'?

Beams of the house.

The tea room.  That small square can be removed and there would be coals
underneath to heat the water for the tea ceremony. 

I picked up this interesting cake to try.  They called it a summer tart but it's not what we 

think of as a tart.  It was very pretty, tasted good, but nothing wonderful.

Cindy and I went to a Japanese cafe before work one day.  Unfortunately it wasn't lunch time yet but they were serving sweets and snacks.

I choose mochi with soy sauce foam and olive oil.
You heat the mochi over coals to soften it first.

And today I hung around at home in the morning and then went to see the Hikone symphony.  It was quite a nice performance but for some reason the seat was so uncomfortable that I couldn't fully enjoy it after the first hour.