Samurai and Sushi

Fascinated. Thoughtful. Amused. Surprised. But never bored. That was how twenty-five students, three teachers, and I felt on a rigorous ten day tour of Japan that swept us from the sensory overload of central Tokyo to the serene beauty of Miyajima on a misty morning, from ancient temples and shrines to modern department stores, from the horror of the A-bomb dropped on Hiroshima to the technological frontiers of the resurgent industrial giant.

In a trip packed with experiences from the offset, it’s hard to pick one highlight. The students would no doubt say it came on the very last night when they encountered a swordsman in the hotel lobby. ‘Samurai’ Joe Okada, who bills himself as the only and last samurai in Japan, gave our group an impromptu demonstration that put the final gloss on our adventure.

But I have no doubt other moments will linger in their memories: bargain hunting in the alleys of Ameyoko; discussing Japanese religious practices in a quiet corner of venerable Kiyomizu Temple while watching the sun set over Kyoto; a lively karaoke evening in Hiroshima after a sombre day contemplating the impact of the bomb; first tastes of okonomiyaki, tempura, shabu shabu, tonkatsu and even fugu for a few; and, not least, the many times people stopped to wave or say hello.

They admired Japanese fashion, hankered after the latest gadgets and laughed at Japlish. They learned that there was more to Japan than geisha, samurai, and sushi. A lot more.

Published by Elizabeth Saccente on Monday, Nov 3 2008.

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