Could there really be a town with no trash?

The BBC reported on the Japanese town of Kamikatsu which has no trash pickup. Residents have to compost their green waste and recyclables are sorted into 34 different categories at the recycling center. Residents are responsible for disposing of all their trash.

Read: Living in a world without waste - BBC News

Make sure you look to the right of the article for other related articles.

Enjoy!

Other Teacher's Blogs

As part of my follow on plan I will be having my 8th grade students read some of the other blogs that teachers produced during this years trip to Japan. We will be looking for patterns and doing further research on specific topics. We will also be talking about the different perspectives we notice from each of the blogs. To check out other teachers blogs for yourself click on one of the names to the right. Enjoy.

I am home!!!!

My trip to Japan was absolutely awesome! Thank you for following my experience and continuing to check in on my posts periodically. I have finally recovered from my jetlag and I am ready to begin analyzing the experience I had in Japan. I just read an article discussing how Japan is beginning to bring different forms of technology into the classroom to teach English. As I see more articles in the news I will continue to post them to this blog for your reading enjoyment. Again, thank you for participating in my journey and please continue to read my updates.

Nintendo DS teaches English to Japanese Kids

Day 10 in Akasaka: Sayonara Buffet and Karaoke

Unexpectedly, today turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. Each group of teachers had to make a 15-minute presentation regarding information specific to their prefecture experience. We had ten solid and surprisingly unique presentations about each prefecture. It was really exciting and uplifting to watch a group of professionals pull together in a very short time and create wonderful presentations including technology, art, drama, music, and more. This is not always easy with a group of teachers because we are conditioned to lead and it is not always easy giving up that control. Lorraine Romano, one of our group members from Jacksonville, Florida, teaches Film/TV production at the Douglas School of Arts. She took the time to make a terrific iMovie slideshow/video that we used during our presentation. Everyone contributed to the script, but her hard work really allowed us to share our experience in a way that everyone could enjoy it—Thank you Lorraine! After the presentations we took the Tokyo Metro over to Akusaka to visit the small shops there one more time. After several hours of wandering I made it back the hotel for the Sayonara Buffet.

At the Sayonara Buffet we had the opportunity to here closing remarks from David H. Satterwhite. He is the executive director of the Japan-United States Education Commission and is full of important knowledge. We had the chance to thank all of the local organizers while also saying goodbye to all of the American educators. Toasts were made and dinner was enjoyed. We watched an Aikido Demonstration that blew me away. Finally, we sang “Auld Lang Syne” as we celebrated our successful trip to Japan. As the night wrapped up everyone was ready to let loose Japanese style—Karaoke!



We all changed into more casual wear and headed out to a Karaoke lounge. People work extremely long hours in Tokyo during the week and they sometimes take time to enjoy Karaoke during all of the madness. We rented out one of the rooms and twelve of us sang our hearts out. It wasn’t pretty sounding, but it was a blast. This is just one more dimension of Japanese culture that is exciting. I couldn’t have imagined ending this trip on a better note. It is now morning and I have to finish packing and get to the airport. I now have a follow-on plan to complete. Hopefully, I can bring more of Japan to the community of Rockford. I plan on updating my blog with a final analysis of my trip so please check it again over the next few weeks. I will also be sharing some of my projects and activities as I create and implement them throughout the year. Hopefully, my trip will have opened you up to a very unique and exciting culture while creating excitement for travel and understanding. Again, please check back every week or so to see updates of my follow-on plan.



Sayonara!

Day 9 back in Akasaka: Education for Sustainable Development?

Today, we listened to Hari Srinivas, Ph. D., from the United Nations Environment Program talk about Education for Sustainable Development. As I have encountered, discussed, and listened to many people in Japan I feel like there is an increasing drive for sustainable development. Japan wants to reach out to many countries to establish networks so they can collaborate to limit the ecological footprint of people. They are not perfect, but there seems to be the general attitude that there is a problem and it needs to be addressed. The Kyoto Protocol is one example of the leadership that Japan has shown to increase environmental education.

Many of the Japanese people have questioned the United States commitment to environmental education for sustainable development. I am curious, what do you think?
What are your perceptions regarding the environment and the United States?
Are we doing our part to limit waste?
Do we focus on sustainability?
Are we trying limit our ecological footprint?
Any comments?

Day 8 back in Akasaka: M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

After getting checked in to hour hotel in Akasaka we decided to go to Tokyo Disney Sea Resort to see how it compared to Disney World in Orlando. We purchased the 6 to 10 p.m. pass because it was cheaper. It was rainy and a Monday so it was very quiet. We were able to get on many rides and saw a big band swing show. The Indiana Jones ride was entertaining, especially hearing Indiana Jones speak in Japanese. Everyone had a great time, but the food shops closed by 8 p.m. and we were quite hungry. It was a good experience, but of course, I love Disney World so it is not a surprise. Tomorrow we are back to business and I cannot wait to share more of my experience. Here is a few photos.

Day 7 and 8 in Ome-shi, Tokyo: Welcome to Nature Heaven

After visiting my home-stay family we headed to Ome-shi, Tokyo. We stayed in a ryokan that was simply beautiful. I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves on this one. Although, to get the full effect you will have to visit! Enjoy the pictures!!!

Day 6 and 7 in Tama: Meet the Parents (and kids)

I have Internet again!!!!

Today, I woke up and really didn’t have any idea what was ahead for me. The only thing I was picked up by my host family at 10:00 a.m. and my adventure began. They promptly picked me up at 10:00 a.m. and we drove towards their house. My host family has a total of 5 members. I did not write down their names in English so I am waiting confirmation via email. I want to keep the blog updated so I have decided to send it out without their names for now:

The father is a veteran teacher at a middle school near his house.
The mother takes care of the family, is an awesome cook, and travels.
Daughter #1 is 26 years old and a pediatric nurse that works the night shift.
The son is 23 years old and a “freshman” elementary education teacher that loves basketball.
Daughter #2 is 21 years old and a university student that will be taking courses and living in France for a year.

As we drove I noticed their automobile and the never-ending city of Tama. Their automobile was a hybrid similar to the Toyota Prius. Many, if not all, of the cars have similar features, but different names. The interesting features I enjoyed were the built-in television that picked up 6 channels via satellite. The video for the television only worked when the car was stopped. It was still possible to listen, but for safety reasons we could not watch. In addition to the great mileage, the car had a rear camera and used a program that made it really easy to back in your car. The drive took about 30 to 40 minutes and it was interesting to see how far the city extended.

We arrived and I was very impressed by the entrance to the house. The beautiful stone wall you will see in the pictures was made from father’s father. He has now passed on, but his hard-working spirit is reflected in the beauty of the wall. The house was very nice with plenty of garage and storage space. Their home was an old farmhouse that was passed down from father's parents. They renovated the inside and built an additional space for their son to live in. They owned a descent amount of land because father’s father needed land to farm (e.g. cattle, chickens, hogs, and rice) when he was alive. The land they have can only be used for farming so the parents cannot build for their family to live there. My home stay family no longer farms, but they did keep their old house and used it as a rental property.

I entered the house and was immediately greeted by mother. I took off my shoes and put on my slippers as I stepped up to the hallway. There were many beautiful puzzles that had been completed and put into frames and used as artwork throughout the entry hallway. The house was very nice sized with three bedrooms, two toilets, one bathing room, one kitchen with a built-in dining room, a living room, and then a room with tatami mats used for entertaining and also as a sleeping room for the parents. The thin doors could be removed or slid open to change the room configurations. Whenever we entered this room we removed our slippers, sat on the ground, had tea and a snack, and had a chance to get to know each other. As I looked around and continued to talk with them I began to realize that this family was very special. They had welcomed many people from around the world into their house and they had traveled to many places. This is not your typical family that joins a tour bus so they can get off the bus to snap a few photos, but rather they look to make connections with people. If they are traveling to a different country and meet someone interesting they have no problem taking time to eat with them and exchange emails so they can continue to communicate. By do this they have brought many people into their home to experience Japan. As a result they have many destinations they have traveled to and are planning to travel to in the future. I am convinced that my family will be traveling to Japan in the next few years to visit them and then returning the favor by having them come to Minnesota. I admire them for what they have done and believe that they really want these relationships to bring peace and understanding to the world.

Upon finishing our introduction, we drove about 45 minutes and dropped of their daughter at her apartment that was next to the hospital. Before we arrived at her apartment we went to a 100 Yen sushi restaurant that I loved! Small plates of food would continually move past us on a conveyor belt. We would take food off the conveyor belt, eat it, and then slide the plate into a slot where it would be counted towards your bill. IF YOU TRAVEL TO JAPAN FIND THIS TYPE OF PLACE AND TRY DIFFERENT FOOD FOR CHEAP!!!!

Next, we visited the Edo-Tokyo Open-air Architectural Museum. The museum has relocated, reconstructed, preserved, and exhibited historical buildings of great cultural value. These were definitely rich housed during the periods they were built. Maid quarters, size of house, and western influence were hints of modern houses in a time period when resources were scarce for most people. The most interesting building was the House of the Leader of the Hachioji Guards because I enjoyed the story behind it. A Thousand Samurai Warriors were deployed here during the Edo period (1603-1867) to defend Tokugawa Shogunate Family. My host regarded the Samurai of this period as the equivalent of Superman. The Samurai lived in farmhouses and farmed the land, but as trouble would appear they transform into the mighty Samurai to defend the country. The other place I enjoyed was the public bathhouse “kodakara-yu.” Men, women, and children used to take baths 3-4 days a week in the public bathhouse. Originally, they would bath together, but eventually Western influence convinced them that this was wrong and that they should put a wall between males and females. As you entered the bathhouse you paid and then would use soap and water to clean yourself before entering the actually bath. You would rinse yourself clean and then enter the hot bathwater. This tradition continues today in many homes and is quite refreshing. Again, remember to wear the bathing slippers!

After the museum we headed home and had a wonderful dinner prepared by mother. There was plenty of variety and everything was very tasty. After dinner we took some time to speak the universal language of Wii. I thought this was fitting considering this is the official home place of the game system. We played Wii Fit and then Wii Sports. After playing Wii we headed to the restaurant daugher #2 works at. We had several beverages and a plate of peas in the pod that were very tasty. The restaurant is not too far away so daughter #2 rides her bike home. If you look closely at some of the bikes in Japan you will notice that they have small battery packs that help assist the biker so they can ride up hills easier and ride for longer. We returned home, looked at a few more photos, and I went to bed.

I woke up and had another great meal for breakfast and then we walked to the track and field to watch some of father's students compete. There was a really nice track and field, baseball fields, tennis courts, and more. It was a very active place with many hills and green space. After watching for a while we walked home and went to visit mother’s mother. If the day is right you can actually see Mt. Fuji from her patio. Their grandmother lives above her two sons workplace and does the accounting for them. She is a very vibrant woman that has many artistic talents that she loves to share with people. We went to lunch and had many wonderful things to eat. Throughout these times we had plenty of time discuss various topics regarding our cultures. It was very nice to have the opportunity to meet them so we could share our experiences and exchange emails to keep in touch. I couldn’t have imagined a better 29 hours than the ones that were shared with my host family—If you are reading this I would like to say “doomo arigatoo.” Enjoy the photos!

Day 5 in Tama: Hijirigaoka Senior High School

Today we visited Hijirigaoka Senior High School attached to Tama University. This is a private school that costs around 800,000 Yen ($8,000) per year compared 8,000 Yen ($800) per year. We asked the teachers if they noticed any differences between the private school they currently teach in and the former publics schools they have taught at. They made it very clear that the government limits the amount of freedom in teaching as it pertains to public schools. There strict regulations that must be followed in public schools. The climate was very similar to the previous schools. Again, during recess, the students were given an amazing amount of freedom. The teachers were not in the hallways and students were doing many different things. They were inside talking in the classrooms, running around the hallways, and playing outside. Culturally this is accepted because they do not look at it as an issue of liability towards the teachers or administrators. If there are behavior problems in the lower grades teachers will monitor to insist on good interpersonal skills. If something does happen the focus turns to the students it happened with, but the blame is not passed onto teachers or administrators. In the United States this would never work considering the liability issue. I do like the freedom given to the students to be together in groups without teachers constantly supervising, but this would not be acceptable in the United States. After school we had an opportunity to watch basketball practice. There were about 25 girls and 25-30 boys on each side of the small gym. The grades ranged from 7th to 9th grades and no coaches were available for practice. The practice was like watching a piece of art being created right in front of your eyes. They all worked together in a cohesive group as they warmed up, stretched, and ran specific drills. I thought they were high school students until the very end when I asked the interpreter. There was not one student that was slacking for even a moment during this practice. If they were late or running some of the plays they would make up for it. When I think of collaboration for change this is exactly what is needed.

The other thing I specifically looked at was technology use. Very low in school. One computer lab for the entire Junior and Senior High School. Teachers use it mostly for emailing. With the right steps and financial backing Rockford could be leading the way in the global digital world. I hope you believe me when I say this, because we are at a crucial point in deciding where our students will be going and what they will be doing. I think we are the verge of breaking through, but we need consistent funding for a good 5 to 10 years. Everything is influenced by gas prices and the slowing of the economy, but reducing the budget by not passing referendum/levees will only prolong the problem. If we stay strong during these times students will be confident and prepared to lead the country in the areas that will be essential to success. Please, think about it. We cannot raise money like a business can, we have to depend on the community. Okay, sorry for the lecture--back to Japan. Enjoy the pictures.

Day 4 in Tama: Higashiterakata

Today we visited Tama City Higashiterakata Elementary School. We had the opportunity to observe the students arriving at school. Interestingly, almost all of the students walk to school. There are community volunteers that are at the busy streets each day that act as crossing guards. It appeared as thought the students travel in groups, but it is still incredible to see because some of them are so young. As they arrived they met each other and went to the playground. I wanted to make a connection with the students so we played tag with them. The school was big into giving the students many different outside activities during recess. In addition to the normal sporting and playground equipment, they also had a little area where the students could fish, ride unicycles, plant rice plugs, walk or run a path in the woods, and even tend to a garden. After working up a sweat in my nice clothes we headed inside for school orientation--don't forget to take off your shoes and put on your slippers!

At the orientation we met with the principal and vice principal to discuss issues the school is facing. The Japanese government is focusing on bringing world language to each public school in Japan. In this case the Elementary School will have English in three years time. This will not be a part of the curriculum, but instead it will be integrated throughout each trimester. The requirement will be 35 hours per trimester with the government providing guides and materials. They do not want students to focus on memorization, but instead increase exposure of a world language to the younger students. The principal stated, "We want to nurture the students ability to live in a global world." This really was music to my ears.

After orientation we were given a school tour and then set free to observe any class or grade level we wanted to. I was able to observe a number of classes and was impressed. I thought they were all very comparable to the United States. Again, it was very impressive how the students set up lunch in their classroom, cleaned, and then went to recess with very little help from their teachers.

After lunch and some more observation of the classes we visited with three parents that are part of Japan's equivalent to the PTA. Overall, the parents made good comments about the school. They would like to see higher expectations during the day so students wouldn't feel the need to attend cram schools at night. About 50% of the public school attendees of the elementary school participate in a cram school. It consists of four days a week around 3 to 4 hours a night. Parents would like to see them participating in more things that activate their right brain.

Finally, after causing more commotion in the school were able to conclude by meeting with the teachers. The discussion regarding standardized tests was a common thread. None of the teachers felt that it was a good representation of what a student really knows and can do. Other questions regarded special education, expectations, rules. I think we could have talked all night and it would have been. Most of the Japanese teachers have to teach, eat and clean up with their students, hold an after-school activity. Then, because the teachers do not have a preparation time, the teachers work well into the night with the addition of driving or riding the train. It is a very long day for them and the superintendent made the comment of trying to change this so teachers stay healthy. Enjoy the photos.

Day 3 in Tama: Tea Ceremony and More

After a busy and tiring day yesterday at the Junior High School, today we had a very balanced schedule. We started by walking through Parthenon Tama, a cultural center at the top of a hill named after the Parthenon in Greece. We made a brief visit showing the history of Tama and then were treated to some music played by old "magic" instruments. There were various instruments that were built to play without people. We started by listening to a Large-size Disc Music Box, then a Small-size Automatic Orchestra, and finally an Automatic Piano. Tama city purchased these instruments and more from the United States and other countries. It was a treat to watch and listen to them work. Eventually, all of these automatic instruments of the 19th and 20th century would be replaced by gramophone records or radio broadcasting.

We also walked to the Tomizawa House. This house was owned by a noble family and used by the Meiji Emperor and Imperial family members to take a break when visiting this region for hunting. The house was eventually donated to Tama City, moved the current location, and then restored for use. The house is a great tool for learning about Japanese culture. We were able to experience a Japanese Tea ceremony. Some small sweets were passed around to begin with and we enjoyed them while the tea was being made. Once the tea was made we received a small cup of it. The bowl was to be partially turned two to three times. We were to put our left hand under it and bring the bowl to our mouth with the help of our right hand. Then the tea was to be drank in three-and-a-half sips. Upon completion, we were to take the napkin and wipe the very edge of the cup. The making of the tea was done with very precise movements and specific tools. The powder from the Green Tea was very dark and it is the not the same as the green tea purchased in tea bags. It was very earthy tasting, some made the comment that it tasted like grass. I enjoyed it though and wouldn't have minded some more.

After lunch, we visited with the Superintendent of Tama City Board of Education. Yesterday we had the opportunity to talk with some of the teachers from the Junior High School. We asked what some of the biggest challenges were in their school. Low pay, long hours (eat lunch with students, no prep time, and have to run an after school activity. I had this confirmed by several different sources and it sounds like they work very late everyday. The superintendent addressed this issue and said it is a very big problem and he is concerned for the teachers health. They would like more funding for more teachers so there could be some relief. The teachers also brought up the term "Monster" Parent as one of their challenge. They mentioned how these parents will bring up irrational comments and unrealistic expectations for the school. This was also confirmed by the superintendent as a major problem that has formed. He added that these "Monster" Parents are also called "Helicopter" Parents. They tend to hover over the school and as soon as something (anything) happens they quickly land and confront the teacher or administrator. It doesn't matter really what the issue is, but the parent feels they need to be heard and no matter what it is, the school needs to fix it. Many of the times the parents comments are irrational and they do not fit with what the school is and should be responsible. I have never heard the comment "Monster" Parent, but the "Helicopter" Parent has become quite common in the United States. The superintendent says that expectations at home have decreased and the parents want the school to make up for it. The parents put an incredible amount of pressure on the teachers to fix the problem when it is not something they have complete control over.

Other issues that were brought up dealt with budgeting. Schools do not go to the community to pass a referendum when they need money. The Mayor elects school board members and the superintendent and then sets the amount of the budget that the schools will get. The superintendent would like to see more technology brought to the teachers and is going to try to build this into budget in the next few years. I thought they would be years ahead of us in technology. One computer lab in the entire school. If we had consistent funding we would be light years ahead of Japan.

The superintendent asked what challenges we currently face in education. We all seemed to share the same feeling towards increased testing and political pressure to raise test scores. Not one person in our group of sixteen from around the United States thought that the current plan of the No Child Left Behind Act was positive for schools.

Finally, today we officially learned how to use chopsticks and then made our own. Eighty percent of the chopsticks are made in a company located in Obhama, Japan. Thirty percent of the world eats with chopsticks, while 40% eats with only their hands. We measured our hand, cut the chopstick to the correct length, sanded them, and then decorated them with paint markers. The company that helped us will lacquer (sap from a special tree) them and send them to our address in the U.S. Lacquer-ware used to be created in Japan and many westerners came to refer to the lacquer-ware as "Japan." This would be similar to porcelain referred to as "China." It was really fun. I didn't realize this, but the chopsticks we made were from baseball bats that had been broken in games and recycled. Eating with chopsticks is really growing on me. Enjoy the pictures.

Day 2 in Tama: Visiting a Junior High School

After breakfast we visited the Tama City Education Center. It is here where we received an interview regarding the process of education in Tama City. This building is used for professional development and special education diagnosing and services. It was a good start, but the highlight of the day, and possibly the trip, was a visit to Tama City Higashiatago Junior High School. After we put our slippers on we had a short debriefing on the day. Then we were lead into the gymnasium to be formally welcomed by the entire school, including administrators, staff, and students. We felt like royalty during this entire process. The students sang us a song and then we introduced ourselves. I gave my speech and then they performed for us again, along with a speech from one of the students. We were lead out of the gymnasium and gathered back to meet. After the school assembly we were allowed to walk around the school and observe any classroom we liked. It was fascinating. I thought the students would all be quiet, sitting straight up at attention, and intently listening. This was definitely not the case. The students were just like students in the United States. Some were very interested, while others were trying to talk to there friends or staring off into space. The teachers each had a distinct style of teaching and none of them matched up with any of the stereotypes I have heard.

Here are the differences I observed throughout the day. Students have responsibilities beyond academics. For example, the teachers have a schedule set up for the students each trimester. The responsibilities include sweeping, mopping, wiping the sink, giving announcements, serving lunch, cleaning up after lunch, and more. Their custodians do not do the clean up as we are used to in U.S. schools. Lunch is wheeled into to each classroom and students run the show. They move the desks together, get their food, say a short speech, and eat. If students eat their food and are still hungry they play rock, paper, scissors to see who gets more. This is ingrained in them from day one in school. It is absolutely amazing. For teachers that have read Harry Wong's book: "The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher," this is the best example I have ever seen of it in actual action. The one thing that I really appreciated about this system is the students did not wait to be told to get to work, but instead they knew the expectations and just performed. This was also reflected in the after school activities. The students took out all of the equipment, set it up, began drills, and then started practice. All of them lined up, took care of each other, and appeared to be having fun. The teacher wasn't there until later and then was able to give them some help. We asked the teachers if the after school activities ever conflict with academics and it was answered with a clear no. I think all of the students were expected to be part of an after school activity. Basketball, sign language, tennis, and track were some of the options.

In between all of the activities we had another school assembly and listened to a professional opera singer. Wow! She was amazing. The interesting part of this was how the students set up their chairs in the gymnasium. They have three levels in the school. Each of the students took their chairs out of the room they were in and set them up in a very long train on both sides of the hallway. They released the students by level and the students had to stay in the line and take their chairs all the way to the gymnasium. Some of the students had to go down three levels. They then quickly lined up their chairs in the auditorium and were ready for the performance. I watched in awe.

We also had the opportunity to visit with the teachers from the school. This was very interesting and I am going to write about it in my next blog because it relates to our visit with the Superintendent of Tama Public Schools. Enjoy the pictures. Oh, this is a public school and they wear uniforms. Notice the colored stripes on their shoes, this represents their grade level.

Day 1 in Tama, Tokyo

Before I go onto my adventure on Monday, I wanted to let you know that I experienced a slight tremor on Sunday night in my hotel room. I was laying in my bed working on my computer and it felt like my room moved about a foot forward and then back to normal. In all of the hotels we have been in they have a flashlight and sometimes a helmet just in case an earthquake occurs. The hotels are built to sway and actually roll with the movement from the tremors and earthquakes. All is good.

Today, we were on the bus early in the morning to make our way to Tama City, Tokyo. On our way we made a scheduled visit to the University of Tokyo. The University of Tokyo is the most prestigious university in Japan and it leads the way in research among all other Japanese universities. After a presentation from the dean, we received a brief tour of the campus. It looked like a typical university campus. It had very nice facilities and a great outside area.

Once the tour concluded it was on to Tama City, Tokyo. There are 10 groups of 16 for a total of 160 teachers. We have all been traveling together, but now I will be with my group of 16 in Tama. Upon arriving we were brought to the city hall to meet the Mayor, Sachiko Watanabe. She was extremely warm and professional in her address to us. One of the big problems that Tama City, and Japan as a whole, is facing deals with the decline population. A large percentage of their population is elderly and the younger population is having less children. Thus the population will be declining in the very near future. The mayor is trying to make sure she can continue to adequately provide for the elderly, while also planning for the future reduction in population. One way to keep the elderly community involved with the community is to have them working with the clay in the area to create pottery. As a gift, we were presented with small piece of pottery meant to hold a plant. The clay is approximately 1.5 million years old and the piece of pottery was created by the elderly with the help of younger kids. It was an honor to meet the mayor and hear about the city of Tama.

After discussion with the mayor, we were onto the cities cultural center. It is here where we learned about the history behind the clay. They have discovered many artifacts revealing that Tama used to have a pottery business from 14000 B.C. to 400 B.C. It was here until the the end of the 10th century and then disappeared because trade became popular. More recently, as Tama was working on construction it had mountains of clay that was going to go to waste. Now, with the help of the city, Tama-yaki is being revived and the elderly are being greatly utilized in Japanese society. The cultural center also gave us a good picture of the people that used to live in the region. We were able to look at their housing, use their technique to build a fire, and eat authentic soup. It was a really fun time and the cultural center was well put together.

Then, we visited a very special Shinto shrine at the heart of the city. We had been to other shrines, but never received a good explanation of the rituals. Shinto literally means the way of the gods and focuses on nature and ancestor worship. Shinto shrines are buildings where Shinto deities are enshrined. Shinto priests take care of the shrine perform special ceremonies such as weddings. Offerings of money are usually made at an offertory box priory to praying or as a thanks for prayers that have been answered. The thick rope in the middle of the entrance is pulled down to ring the bell. The sound is meant to get the spirits attention so the prayer will be answered.

Finally, we checked into our hotel in Tama City and went out to eat. This is not like downtown Tokyo. Can you say suburb? Wendy's, McDonalds, Subway, Sports Authority, and more. They still have Japanese food and culture, but it definitely has the feel of a suburb. After wandering for a while and trying to find a good place to eat we asked some students in uniform where we should go. They kindly walked us to the place and spoke to us in English. It was a really nice place. We followed the waiter back to the seating area that was in a pit and blocked off from other people. On the way we had to take our shoes off and put our slippers on. I got it right this time by making sure I didn't put my foot down on the "dirty" floor, but rather I stepped up as I took my shoe off. It is really easy to forget because we were hungry and felt rushed, but it is important to try to remember. Today, was the official Sushi binge. Before today I had only a sample of Sushi. We all ordered Sushi, but I ordered the platter. This was definitely raw fish and I had a hard time swallowing it. I ate about half of the platter and felt a little green so I left the rest on my plate. It was the caviar (or what I think was caviar) that put me over the edge. Chewy and mushy with a texture that didn't slide down smoothly. Immediately after leaving we went to McDonalds and I had a McFlurry to get the taste out of my mouth. The McFlurry tasted much different than in the United States. It had a very orange taste to along with the chocolate, but it didn't matter because I needed something else other than the taste of sushi. We then went home and I finished the speech I would be giving for the school visit on Tuesday. If you would like to read the speech you may by clicking here. Upon finishing the speech it was off to bed where I hoped I would dream of anything besides raw fish. Enjoy the pictures.

Akasaka to Asakusa

On Sunday we traveled from Akasaka to Asakusa. Before we left there was a ceremony to bring good luck to the hotel. I caught the end of it and took a few pictures. It seemed like everyone was having a great time. We had visited Asakusa earlier in the week so I didn't take a great amount of pictures. Once we arrived in Asakusa, five of us decided to take the subway to the Tokyo National Museum to further our understanding of Japanese history. The exhibition of Japanese art was really easy to follow because it was placed in chronological order. You can get a good overview of what I saw by clicking here. During our visit to the museum an a capella group from Harvard sang in the entry way. They are performing and traveling around the world during the summer. It was fun to watch and listen to them perform they did a great job. Outside of the museum was a really nice area to walk and enjoy the beautiful weather. There were some people performing in the area and trying to sell some interesting gadgets.

I took the remainder of the day and night and wandered around the streets of Asakusa. I did a little shopping, but mostly people watching. The streets were quite busy considering this is still part of Tokyo and it was the weekend. Enjoy the pictures from the day. You will see the high amount of bikes used to get around the city. Many of them have baskets to carry things home. There are plenty parking areas set up both above and underground.

Day 5: Earthquake??????????

I am guessing most of you may have heard about the earthquake that rippled through northeastern Japan. After the fish market there were around 15 of us that took a trip to Mt. Fuji. We were on the bus driving by our hotel when the earthquake hit. We didn't have an idea that it happened until we returned and saw it on the news. The other JMFers that were around felt the hotel shake, but that was it. It made some of them nervous, but there was no damage to this area and everyone on the program is fine. Thank goodness we were not heading in this direction, but instead we were heading to Mt. Fuji. We were in the bus for quite a long day, but our adventure was well worth it. We took a motor coach drive along the Chuo Expressway. We were able see the views (when the clouds weren't covering it) of the sacred Mt. Fuju, the highest mountain in Japan at over 12,000 feet above sea level. We drove to the fifth station which is halfway up Mt. Fuji and were able to take pictures of the scenic area. After a short visit, we continued on our journey to Hakone. Here, we took a cruise on Lake Ashi and then rode an aerial cableway up and down Mt. Komagatake for a view of Hakone National Park. It was gorgeous and we loved it. We then rode the bus to a train station where we bordered the Shinkansen (Japanese Bullet Train). The bullet train was extremely fast (180 mph), but you couldn't tell because it was so smooth. The guide told us that the next train they are working on they are saying it may travel at around 360 miles per hour. 142,000 Japanese people have already volunteered and signed up for the test drives. The train, along with the expressway, were all created the same year of the 1964 Olympics held in Tokyo.

After the long day some of us still felt like going out and seeing the night life in Shibuya. This area is similar to Times Square in New York. It is very lively with people from around the world playing music, huddled in groups, walking around, shopping, singing Karaoke, and more. We walked the area and mostly people watched. It was really fun to see everyone out and enjoying Tokyo. I felt safe for the most part, but there was a lot going on and it was incredibly over-stimulating. We ate at a small dive in which you ordered at a vending machine, picked up your ticket, and then brought it to the front to the cooks. I had chicken and rice with egg poured over it. I also had a bowl of noodles. It was very filling, but I was craving ice cream so I splurged and found a banana and chocolate parfait in a small grocery store. We headed back after all of the excitement and I crashed. It is now morning and I am getting ready for my trip to Tama, Tokyo. If you haven't noticed, you can get a lot of beverages and food (hot or cold) from vending machines--pretty amazing. Oh, no we didn't get to ride the roller coaster close to Mt. Fuji--it would have been a two hour wait. Hopefully, I will have continued access to the Internet so I can keep you updated. Enjoy the pictures.

Day 5: Finding Nemo or Early Bird Get's the Fish

Four of us woke up this morning at 5 a.m. and hailed a cab for the Tsukiji Fish Market in central Tokyo. It is the largest seafood market in the world and is a quite a spectacle. We were dropped off in front of the building and were unsure of where to go because this is not an official tourist location. Many people come here to see it, but they have to be careful not to get into the way of the workers or get ran over by the small flatbed carts. We started walking when a worker noticed us and waved us over. We were reluctant because we did not want to be a bother, but he was insisting we come closer. He spoke to us in Japanese and kept signaling for us to jump up on the flatbed of his cart. Eventually, we jumped up on it and he drove us right up to the market. He was extremely nice and it was a great start to the awesome sight. I took as many pictures as possible so you could see for yourself. We walked around and took pictures of all of the fresh fish being prepared for today's market. In addition to the preparation of the fish for buyers, there was an auction. It is hard to believe that all of the fish will be gone by the afternoon and then the process starts over the next morning. The pictures will speak for themselves regarding this morning. One thing I would have to say is it is hard to imagine how large of an operation it is. It was huge. After the market we walked around the area and noticed some Japanese people lining up at a small dive close to the market. We are convinced that they were using the fresh fish on this morning's menu and people were looking for a very fresh meal. This trip has been my first exposure to sushi and I have been enjoying most of it. It is interesting to go see it at the market and then hours later being eating it on my plate uncooked. Yummy? Enjoy the photos.

Day 4: Kabuki, festivals, food, and more...

After our session on Peace Education, we had the opportunity to learn about traditional Japanese theater. Kabuki theater began as the popular theater of the commoner class in the Edo Period and presently is being performed commercially. It is full of fascinating movements and sounds that many of us are not familiar with.

Later we found one of the more popular shrines in Tokyo. It is carefully tucked away and surrounded by trees to give the a area a very tranquil quality. We found out that there was a festival that night so we ended up seeing part of it that night. We arrived late to the festival because we were trying to eat. We found a place to go into and tried to order off the Japanese menu. It took us a while because we had to do a lot of pointing and hand gestures. We ended up spending a good deal of money for a small amount of food. They were very nice and helpful, but it was tough to figure out what to order. We ended up eating some noodles, interesting kabobs, and a spring roll. I am sure we had appetizers instead of a meal, but it was still really fun to try to figure it out. We ate and left for the festival where we saw people dancing and eating. The dance was very similar to line dancing with very careful and deliberate movements. I enjoyed some more noodles while watching the dancing until we eventually left for the hotel. It was a really fun night, but I needed to get some sleep for tomorrow's long day. Enjoy the pictures.

Day 4: Peace Education

Presenter:
Keijiro Matsushima
Tomoko Yanagi
Teacher, Hiroshima Misuzugaoka High School


Today (Friday), I was humbled as I listened to a survivor of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Unfortunately, many of the survivors feel extremely guilty for surviving and have a hard time speaking about it. They watched many people suffer and die after the bomb was dropped. They then experienced the after effects of the radioactivity from the bomb. The Japanese survivors experienced the loss of hair, diarrhea, sores on the body, and bleeding from their gums for days after the bomb. It was hard to get help because many doctors and nurses had also been hurt or killed by the atomic bomb. In addition to the physical and psychological problems, survivors were also ostracized by society. Many people were convinced that they could contract a disease from the survivors. So, many survivors had to internalize their experience to make sure they, or their family, were not discriminated against. Today, after many years of difficulty and silence, survivors are speaking out to preserve this unfortunate memory and to promote peace. Should the bombs have been dropped? It is arguable, but that is not the focus of the survivors. The atomic bombs were dropped and this cannot be undone. Instead of arguing this point, it is time to promote peace for now and the future. How do we do this? We have to build positive relations with the world. JFMF is one of the programs meant to change the world. In fact, weeks after the dropping of the a-bomb on Hiroshima the Fulbright Program was created by Senator Fulbright. He had a vision to build a peaceful world by reallocating money used for the war to build a program that helps improve relations between groups of people around the world. There will be obstacles, but we must strive forward. Senator Fulbright was not always supported. In fact, at one point, president Lyndon Johnson called the Senator “Halfbright” for speaking out against the war. He kept going and I can tell you that he created something very special. I leave you with one last thought that was conveyed to us, “If we don’t teach peace who will? If we don’t teach peace it won’t happen.”

Day 3 Continued: Take me out to the Ball Game!

Last night was awesome! A group of over 60 teachers went to the Goodwill Dome to watch the Seibu Lions defeat the Tigers 6-3. The journey on the subway was interesting because it was rush hour and we were all traveling together. The Japanese are known to be VERY helpful and accomodating--we asked a lot of questions. I have a tip for you--don't travel in big groups. It makes it much more difficult to stay together and you don't learn how to use the subway system. On the way back we traveled in smaller groups so we figured out how to maneuver everything. The baseball game rocked. It was right off the subway, there were baseball shops on the outside of it. The baseball stadium was built as an outside one, but they later put a dome over it. So you are sitting in your seat and you are covered by the dome, but can see still see outside. It was a beautiful night and the fans were crazy. Many people equated it to a college football game. I had rice with fish and a few other delicacies. I also tried some fried squid (calamari) and I had some dippin' dots and a coke zero. Everything was yummy. It was loud, there were instruments, and lots of singing. The seventh inning stretch is called the lucky seven. It is crazy. The sing a song and let these balloons go into the air upon the end of the song. We were cheering, laughing, and having the best time so far. Japanese baseball is awesome. Take a look at this article for more information on Japanese baseball and how it compares to the United States. Go Lions!

Day 3 in Japan: Teach me about the Economy

After blogging and skyping with Kim, Taylor, Tam, and Maya, I had breakfast at the top of the hotel (40th floor). I had a breakfast that was a mix between Japanese and American. Really good french toast, bacon, cereal, eggs, tea, rice, soup, and various things on the rice such as seaweed and pickled apricots. Note, make sure you eat pickled apricots with the rice because they are extremely salty and do not taste good alone.

After helping several of my friends set up and use their blog we were off to learn about Japan’s economy in the banquet building. Manabu Fukada, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of Secured Capital Japan Co., Ltd., gave an interesting lecture on Japan’s economy along with some other tidbits of information. Here are some of the things that I would like to share with you.

Japan was a very secluded country prior to 1858. In fact, Japan had the National Seclusion Act specifically disallowing outsiders to come into the country from 1639-1858. Eventually, Commodore Matthew Perry came from the United States to Japan to secure a base for waling. The Japanese quickly learned that they would have to open up their borders to foreigners and begin to develop their infrastructure and industry to avoid colonization. Prior to this, the Japanese were purposefully isolated and very connected to each other through their traditions and were not looking to “progress” as Westerners. They now had to push forward while trying to maintain their important and intricate traditions. I would have to say they have been quite successful in holding onto their traditions.

What does Japan’s economy look like now? How has it changed?
*Japan’s economy was growing steadily until the 1990s, then their “bubble” burst. Their economy was growing by a rate of 10% in the 1960s, but it sunk to a meager 1-2% by the 1990s. *The unemployment rate was about 1-2% during the 1990s, but now resides around 5%.
*There is not a large area for agriculture due to the fact that 70% of Japan is covered by mountains.
*They have grown rice for the last 4,000 years and this, along with seafood, is there mainstay.
*Forestry has been untouched.
*Electricity production has moved away from coal due to pollution.
Hydroelectric 10%
Oil 64%
Nuclear 24%
*Japan must scope with scarce resources by focusing on recycling.
90% of aluminum is recycled.
60% of paper is recycled (U.S. 40%)
*Population has grown rapidly. It went from 58 million in 1923 to 127 million today. It is now decreasing due to lack of reproduction and little immigration. 70-80% of the population is currently over 65 years of age. By 2050, it is projected that 35% will be over 65 years of age. The population will drop from 127 million to 100 million by 2050.
*There are 51,000 Americans living in Japan, while 370,000 Japanese living in the United States. There are around 1 million Japanese living abroad with the majority living in the U.S. The number living in China is growing and coming very close to U.S. numbers.
*Most of Japan’s immigrants (2.1%) are from Korea and China.
*Defense is key to countries survival. The U.S. Spends 495 billion dollars on defense and Japan spends 43.9 billion.
*Japan has 1,800 colleges compared the United States having 4,200.
*A round of golf in Japan is approximately $350. A hamburger is under a dollar. In fact, there is a 100 yen (1 dollar) menu at McDonalds. It is interesting that it is still so cheap here.
*In 1985, 18 million television sets were built and sold by companies in Japan. The number is now 6 million due to competition.
*In 1990, 28 million VCRs were built and sold by companies in Japan. This dropped to 1.1 million by 2002 due to new technology.
*Landline phones
In 1960, 3.6 million people in Japan had landline phones. As of 2002, 51 million had landlines. *Cell phone are increasing dramatically. In 1990, 900,000 people had them. In 2002, 81 million had them.
*Internet usage is at 50% in Japan. 90% of cell phone users have Internet access through cell phone.
*54% of Internet users get Internet through actual PC.

More from Day 2 in Tokyo

Tonight we saw a Kyogen play titled "The Inherited Cramp." This is a 600 year old play that was performed by an American name Don Kelly in english. This is very special because all of the traditional plays are done in Japanese and very difficult to translate. Plus, you have to be trained for many years and have permission from your teacher to perform it for money. As long as he does not perform it in Japanese he is allowed to charge money. He has done this all over the world and it is really special to get the opportunity to take part in it.

A Kyogen play deals with human situations that are very down to earth and universal. It is typically comedic and nobody ever dies. Kyogen can have a demon, human, and animal, but it does not have to have these. There are only about 12 masks that go along with this type of play so it is mostly done without them. Interestingly, the one mask of the women has very high eyebrows. Women used to shave there eyebrows and paint them VERY high up on their forhead because this was considered beautiful at the time. It is interesting to see how the idea of "beauty" can be so different according to place and time. The movements are very specific and the way they talk is very slow and deliberate. He even told us that he has performed this while having laryngitus because of the way he talks during the performance. Most Kyogen actors study it for 30 years and then start to become famous around there 50s. They usually stick with it and sometimes even perform into there 90s. Some have died after right after there performance, but never on stage. They are very committed. If this was not translated into english we would not appreciated it and learned about this part of their culture.

The other types of plays consist of Noh, Unaka, and Kabuki.

The Noh plays consist of about 20 people, unlike the Kyogen that has only a few in each performance. There is usually a chorus, characters, and a main character that wears a mask. He is a ghost that that is stuck on earth because it is has unfinished business that has not been resolved. The ghost must find a way to detach himself so he can go to paradise (Buddhist influence). This is closely related to Kyogen and is also 600 years old.

Unaka is about 400 years old and deals with intricate puppets. It takes about 30 years to train to be the puppet master. Kabuki is exactly like Unaka except that the puppets are living people.

Enjoy the pictures and I will try to bring videos home of the performance.



The other pictures are miscellaneous from walking around town and going to the evening dinner. The sushi, soup, dessert, green tea, beef, shrimp were all delicious (some of the sushi was a little chewy, but it was fine). The arcades were pretty amazing, pachinko and slots were very busy and loud, and a lot of people like to smoke in public places (yuck). It is VERY fun to walk around and people watch.

Day 2: Let's go to Tokyo!

After getting settled in yesterday and finishing blogging, I crashed and slept from around 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. We had a great breakfast, I will take photos and share them with you tomorrow. We then had orientation to help us have a good time and keep us safe during our visit to Tokyo. Tokyo is one of the safest large cities in the world. So far, the Japanese people I have encountered have been extremely polite and more than willing to help. I am very safe and this program is very well organized. I am going to encourage more teachers to apply for it next year.

During orientation I learned something very interesting--70% of people in the United States do not have passports. I realize travel can be expensive and it is not everyone's interest or passion, but it can have a very important influence on world perspective. Travel not only helps us see the world, but it helps us see how the world sees us. Hopefully grassroots programs such as JFMF can help educate and continue to build important relations with other places such as Japan.

After orientation we went to the Diet. Huh? You mean you went on a diet don't you? Nope, we went to the National Diet of Japan--also known as the Japanese legislature. This is the sole law-making branch of the Japanese government. Japan used to be run by an emperor, but that changed as of May 3, 1947. Why? This was the end of World War II and the United States stopped Japans aggression by dropping 2 atomic bombs. The first one was dropped on Hiroshima, while the second one on Nagasaki. This lead to Japan's surrender and the creation of the National Diet (democracy). I am glad Japan is a democratic nation, but it is sad that the atomic bombs had to be dropped. This is exactly why we need to continue fostering positive relations with more countries. We want to build understanding and work together to avoid conflict.

The other pictures you see are from Asakusa. Please read about it to see all of the details. At the shops leading up to the shrine, I tried Tofu flavored ice cream and some type of warm fig newton type of food on a stick. Both were very delicious after our really good lunch consisting of cold fried fish, rice, soup, and green tea. Of course, we walked into the restaurant and went upstairs to eat. We were all going quite fast and forgot to take off our shoes. We were stopped very quickly and brought back to where we needed to take off our shoes. We then proceeded to eat. When I got to the shrine I received my fortune. It was 100 yen (1 dollar) to purchase it. I put the money in, shook a metal box, looked at the symbol on the stick that fell out, matched it up with a symbol on a drawer, and then found my fortune. It was "regular." Everything was good to go--I should make it back safely. One of the ladies bought three fortunes, all progressively worse. I won't be staying by her for the remainder of the trip. He he he. Enjoy the pictures below.

Where in the world is Mr. Andres?

Can you say "Tokyo." I am officially here. I knew it was a huge city, in fact larger than Los Angeles, but it seems never ending. After a very long plane ride we had an hour-and-a-half bus ride to the Prince Akasaka Hotel. It is very nice and they are extremely well organized for this large of a group. I am now resting for about an hour before I go to dinner with some of the volunteers from Japan. It will be a nice chance to get to know people here in Japan while getting a chance to go to out to eat at one of the local places. I didn't sleep much on the plane so I am beginning to tire, but I will be going out and I will tell you more. It looks like I will have a solid Internet connection for the next few days so I will blog as I get time. Enjoy a few of the photos of Tokyo from my bus ride to the hotel.



P.S. Regarding the previous pictures: Yes, that is my suit jacket and tie. Quit laughing. Okay, you can laugh a little. It is like you have never seen me in a suit and tie before. :-)

True Professional Development!

I know what you are thinking, "How can I travel on one of these great programs?" There are options similar to the Japan Memorial Fund Program. Always check to see what qualifications it will take to travel on the trip. Sometimes it is very specific to your teaching assignment and sometimes they are looking for K-12 teachers. I will give you one link that is a good starting point. Upon my return, I will take some time to put together resources for more opportunities. Once you find the one that you qualify for you have to go for it. You have to open yourself up and take some chances to really learn on the program. If you do, it is an experience that you will never forget. If needed, I will help you with the application because I want to see Rockford Teachers travel the world and bring it back to Rockford. By the way, Japan is open to K-12 teachers of all subjects. Next year, this could be you blogging.

Click here to see if you qualify for some of the programs. You may want to check in often to keep up with newly offered programs.

California Here I Come!

My journey has begun and I am super excited. I was feeling a bit worn down towards the end of this year, but my energy level has risen due to the great people I have already met on this trip. Kim and I woke up this morning at 2:45 and left at 3:30 for the MSP International Airport. We arrived at around 4:45 and I waited in a long line to get checked in. I made it on my plane to Chicago O'Hare, but we were delayed by a medical situation on the plane. It was really fun to see a group of 7-12 grade students on a travel program to Washington D.C. They were very excited and I really want to experience this with the students of Rockford sometime in the near future. Hmmmmm..... Maybe next year? The plane ride went smoothly and we arrived in Chicago and caught the next connection heading to San Francisco, California. There were about 30 other JMFers (Japan Memorial Fund) on the plane so I had an opportunity to meet some and enjoy their company. We arrived in California and headed to the Sheraton Gateway Hotel for our orientation.

After eating lunch orientation began around 2 p.m. David H. Statterwhite, Executive Director of Japan-United States Educational Committee, gave us an overview of the program and expectations. He has lived in Japan for over 36 years and was a Fulbright student at the age of 19. I didn't realize this, but this is the oldest and largest exchange program in the world. Over 6,500 teachers have been on this program and they have shared their experiences in Japan with over 1 million people. Today, I feel honored to represent Rockford School District on my journey.

After a long day of getting ourselves orientated, we were off to the house of the Consulate General of Japan. It was a beautiful house with a grand view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. We were welcomed with speeches and dinner. I have never had sushi before, but most of it was superb. Hopefully, as we slow down in Japan I can ask what I am actually eating so I can share specifics.



I hope I am able to share my experience with you (Internet Connection?). You are welcome to ask questions, please be patient as I try to collect answers and post it to my blog.

See you in Japan.