New Years Ikebana

Rachel came to visit me in Tokushima this Christmas break and she wanted to learn some Ikebana, so we went to the school Ms. Oka took me to in November. We used flowers used in New Years Ikebana arrangements. The flowers are supposed to welcome good spirits or gods into your home where the arrangements are placed.

So this is my second attempt at Ikebana. The teacher said I did a lot better than my first try. I think he was kinda impressed. I've decided I want to start doing more Ikebana, so I will be going once or twice a month while we're here in Japan.

Some Art

I thought I would go ahead and post some art I've done while being here. I've been doing a lot of concept art, including this one of a Chinese Phoenix.

I also did this series of characters for a personal comic I'm working on.

Kendo

I just started Kendo this Monday. We were asking around for a Kendo studio and the vice principle in one of my schools found one. It is a city sponsored class so I am able to go for free.

The instructor has been doing Kendo for over 40 years and is very skilled at it. I don't have the equipment or outfit yet, as you can see. I am still very bad a remembering Japanese names, so I will post his name as soon as I remember it.




I think I took him off guard by picking some things up so quickly. He was expecting an American who had little experience with such things. Well, I am glad to say that I was able to pick it up faster than I thought. I like Kendo.




At the end of the lesson the instructor gave me a Shinai (the wooden sword.)
I am looking forward to going again.

Too Tall for Japan

When we came to Japan I knew that I was going to be a little big for this country but I had no idea how long it would take me to get used to it.

So far I have hit my head on 6 door frames. Yes 6. I would like to say they were all different door frames but that would not be true.

#5 was such a hard hit it knocked me out for a couple of seconds. It was in the teachers room and every teacher in the school saw it because it was right before school started. Ugh.

#6 was exactly one week later on the same door. I stayed conscious but it still dropped me to the floor. Double Ugh.

The school was so nice that they put up these streamers in front of the doorway so that I remember to duck. They touch my head before I enter and it reminds me I am too tall.