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04 .08Amanohashidate
Photo Credit: Vera Bomstad @pexels.com
Amanohashidate is located in northern Kyoto, in Miyazu, on the Sea of Japan and is known as one of the Three Famous Views in Japan or Nihon Sankei. It is essentially a land bridge, a sandy strip of pine forest and beach which stretches for 3.5 km across Miyazu Bay, with the sea on either side. Approximately 8,000 pine trees line the white sand beach and there is a lovely walking/bicycle path leading from one end to the other. For those who do not wish to walk, a ferry crosses the bay every 15 minutes offering a view of the pine forest during the 12-minute ride.
At the top of the hills located on either side of the bay are observation decks (accessible on foot or by lifts) that allow one to look down on the entire stretch of the land bridge and the bay for a spectacular view from above. It is recommended to bend over and look at the view from between your legs (as many people do, so you won’t look strange to others around you). From this position, the sea and sky are reversed and the scene resembles a ‘bridge to heaven’, or Amanohashidate.
As well as the sea and beach, there are a number of famous shrines and temples in the area and the small town on the east side of the bay (where the train station is located) has a large number of small cafes and shops, and a natural onsen bathhouse. Most famous of the shrines are Amanohashidate Shrine, where one can pray for luck in romance, and Motoise Kono Shrine, which at one time enshrined the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) now enshrined at Ise Shrine in Mie. Chionji Temple, located near the train station, has one of the oldest pagodas in Japan. And don’t forget to keep an eye on the small bridge crossing from the town to the beach, which sometimes rotates to allow boats to pass through, making for a great picture or video. Amanohashidate is accessible by train from Kyoto city and is a perfect day trip for those wishing to know more about the northern area of Kyoto prefecture while enjoying a day at the beach, or visiting shrines and temples, or eating some seafood dishes, and relaxing at some cafes.
Blog Quiz
Q1. Why is the land bridge called Amanohashidate?
A. Because it is a good place for a date.
B. Because when you bend over and look at the view from between your legs, the sea and sky are reversed and the scene resembles a ‘bridge to heaven’, or Amanohashidate.
C. Because it is where Amaterasu used to be enshrined.
Q2. From where is it best to see the entire land bridge of Amanohashidate?
A. At the top of the hills located on either side of the bay.
B. From the ferry that runs every 15 minutes.
C. From the small bridge that leads to town.
Q3. What is the relationship between Motoise Kono Shrine in Amanohashidate and Ise Shrine in Mie?
A. They are two of the top three shrines in Japan.
B. They are both accessible from Kyoto Station.
C. Motoise Kono Shrine in Amanohashidate at one time enshrined the Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) now enshrined at Ise Shrine in Mie.
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
Q1. B
Q2. A
Q3. C
The BBP Staff -
03 .11Enjoy Aussie Sweets!
Photo Credit: Karen Laark Boshoff @Pexels.com
Have you ever enjoyed Aussie sweets? What comes to mind when you think of Aussie sweets? There are a lot of traditional and popular sweets in Australia. Let’s explore some of them!
First of all, there are Lamingtons. A Lamington is a square-shaped sponge cake covered with chocolate and coconut sprinkles. There are various theories, but it is generally believed that Lamingtons are named after Lord Lamington, who was a governor of the Queensland colony between the end of 18th and the early 19th century (or his wife). Lamingtons are really popular in Australia. Australian people have enjoyed National Lamington Day on the 21st of July since 2006.
Next, there is pavlova. This is a meringue-based dessert. Making pavlova is not that difficult. First, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Then, bake slowly in an oven on low-heat. After the meringue base is cooked, cover it with whipped cream and your favourite fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, mango, kiwi fruit, and passion fruit. A pavlova kit is available at a supermarket, and you can make one very easily with the kit. Pavlova is also quite popular in New Zealand, and the debate about whether pavlova was originally born in Australia or New Zealand is still ongoing.
Another popular sweet is Anzac biscuits. The main ingredients are oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup, and dried coconut (if you want). “Anzac” means the allied forces of Australia and New Zealand that were established during World War Ⅰ. Anzac biscuits were originally made for soldiers by their mothers or wives. That’s why the long-lasting and nutritious ingredients are used for the biscuits. They are sold at supermarkets all year round, but they are particularly popular on the 25th of April, which is the Anzac Day.
These are three very popular Aussie sweets, but of course, there are other famous sweets such as Tim Tams, too. By the way, did you know that Australians consume the most ice cream per year all over the world, according to some surveys? New Zealand comes second. As it is said that these two countries have had a very close relationship historically and culturally, it seems to be natural for the countries to have similar taste in desserts. Regarding ice cream, you should try “Hokey Pokey” flavour when you have a chance of travelling in New Zealand or Australia. It was not originally born in Australia but in New Zealand. It is said that Hokey Pokey is a nationally popular flavour there. The flavour is quite similar to caramel, but it is actually made from golden syrup. Golden syrup is boiled down until it becomes crunchy, and it is mixed up with vanilla ice cream. Many people enjoy the rich flavour and crunchy texture. It is also popular in Australia. There are plenty of tasty sweets in Australia. It might be nice to enjoy their taste and also think about their historical and cultural background while you enjoy them.
Questions:
Q1. “Aussie” means _____
a. Australian
b. Austrian
c. Summer
d. Spring
Q2. Which of the following are not Australian sweets?
a. Anzac biscuits
b. Good-day cakes
c. Lamingtons
d. Tim Tams
Q3. Australians consume more ice cream per capita than Japanese. True or false?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers
Answers
A1. a
A2. b
A3. True
BBP Staff -
02 .05The Story of Narcissus and Echo
Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt @Pexels.com
The ancient Greeks told stories about their gods and heroes. These stories, or myths, helped to form western culture. There are many English words that come from Greek mythology. Two such words come from the story of Narcissus and Echo. Below is a retelling of the myth based on the writing of Ovid, a Roman poet.
Once there was a youth named Narcissus, who was 16 years old but appeared to be a man. He was so handsome that others fell in love with him. However, Narcissus cared only about himself and spurned the many youths who sought his attention and love.
Hera, the queen of the gods, was looking for her unfaithful husband, Zeus. She saw the nymph Echo playing in the woods. Hera was envious of Echo’s gaiety, or cheerfulness, and so she cursed her by making it impossible for her to speak except for repeating what others said.
Echo would often see Narcissus walking through the woods alone or with friends and, like all the other maidens, she fell in love with him.
One day, when Narcissus was in the forest alone, he heard Echo step on a branch. “Who is there?” he called out. Echo could only respond by repeating his words, “Who is there?”
Narcissus responded, “Come to me.”
And Echo replied, “Come.”
“Why?” replied Narcissus. “Why are you avoiding me?”
“Avoiding me,” replied Echo.
“Come and introduce yourself,” said Narcissus, “I wish to meet you.”
“Meet you,” replied Echo.
She came out from behind a tree and up to Narcissus. She put her arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes. But Narcissus pushed her away and ran.
Echo disappeared into the forest and found a cave where she hid herself--her heart still loved Narcissus. Eventually, Narcissus’ arrogance angered the gods. One day, he grew thirsty and found a small pond. One of the gods made the pond silvery bright so that, when Narcissus bent over to take a drink, he saw his own reflection, which was so beautiful that it matched that of the god Apollo. Narcissus fell in love with the image of his own face. He stared into the pond and forgot all else, including food. He remained for days until his body grew weak. Narcissus knew he was close to death and called out, “Farewell.”
Echo heard him and responded, “Farewell.” She went back to her cave and lived there all alone. Her body wasted away and shriveled up until it was gone. The only thing that remained was her voice, which still repeats back what is said.
From this story, we get the English words narcissist and echo. What do you think they mean?
Glossary
myth: a traditional story often involving supernatural beings, such as gods, faeries, and nymphs.
spurn: to reject because you think the other person is unworthy
nymph: a nature spirit
arrogance: thinking that you are better and more important than others; overbearing pride
reflection: the image of something in a mirror or clear body of water
Questions:
Q1. After reading the story, what do you think the word narcissist means?
a. a handsome young man
b. someone who thinks about or admires only him or herself
c. someone who enjoys walking in the forest
Q2. What is an echo?
a. someone who lives in a cave
b. a young woman who is in love
c. the sound that repeats back to you when you call out
Q3. Why did Narcissus die?
a. He didn’t eat because he couldn’t stop looking at his own reflection
b. Because Echo no longer loved him
c. He had nothing to drink
Scroll down ↓ for the answers
Answers
A1. b
A2. c
A3. a
Rex Stewart -
11 .20Experience of Japanese Martial Arts in Europe
Photo Credit: Olia Danilevich @Pexels.com
In general, I like playing and/or watching sports such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, baseball, football, and so on. I enjoy playing with teams and it is a lot of fun to communicate with people while playing sports. When playing such sports, I need quick responses and instinctive reactions and I get really excited when I play.
When it comes to sports like Japanese martial arts, they are too sophisticated for me to enjoy. They seem to require the student to follow a detailed process as well as practice and effort to even understand the logic of what you are doing. They also include a lot of mental preparation that occurs through the movement and process. Therefore, I did not practice arts like kendo or kyudo while in Japan. Despite that, I was interested in the deeper meaning of such activities.
I wrote in a previous blog that I lived in Belgium for nearly 12 years. During that period, I tried kyudo for some time. My sensei and almost all the students at the dojo were Belgian. I had a chance to learn and practice all the procedures, movements and techniques in French. It was a very good experience as I needed to understand not only the process of kyudo but also some of the philosophy of Kyudo using a language other than Japanese in a different cultural situation. I remember I was often told by the senior students at the dojo that “Mato (的) is not the target/goal but the result of all the process of our movement”. This kind of idea is different from other sports that require competition with others as I mentioned at the beginning of this essay. Since I was curious how people in Europe perceive martial arts from Japan, I asked one of my friends who was from France and had practiced Aikido and Karate. It seems that at the beginning, it was the esthetic interest in things such as costumes and kata that attracted him. However, later he started to understand and focus on mastering himself in terms of training his own mental and physical balance through the martial arts.
Through these experiences across sports, culture and language, I could understand some of the deeper meaning of Japanese culture and sports. I really appreciate these experiences. I stopped doing kyudo for many years after I returned to Japan. However, I am thinking to restart by trying to remember the instructions I received in French in Belgium.
Questions:
Q1. According to the author, what did she feel about Japanese martial arts before starting?
Q2. Where did the author learn and practice kyudo?
.
Q3. What did she find good about the experience doing Japanese martial arts abroad?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers
A1. She thought that they were difficult to understand (they require following a detailed process as well as practice and effort to even understand the logic of what you are doing) and needed mental preparation through the movement and process.
A2. She learned in Belgium
A3. It was a very positive experience as she needed to understand not only the process of kyudo but also some of its philosophy using a language other than Japanese in a different cultural situation.
Emi Shibuya -
09 .11: The Best Part of Classical BalletPhoto Credit: Hudson Hintze @ Unsplash.comHave you ever seen classical ballet? What kind of image comes to mind when you hear classical ballet? Some might imagine the unique costumes that the dancers wear on stage, a pair of toe shoes, or the scene of dancers are spinning several times. Some might remember pieces such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, or The Nutcracker. It is said that the origin of classical ballet goes back to the 16th century in Italy. Then it was introduced into France and Russia between the 17th and 19th centuries. It is also said that classical ballet started to become known around the world thanks to the great Russian composer Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky, who wrote not only symphonies but also classical ballet music. Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker were all composed by him. Classical ballet came to Japan in the Taisho era and Japanese people started to enjoy seeing the performances of classical ballet after World War II.According to a survey conducted in 2016 by the Showa University of Music, and Toyo University, approximately 360,000 people are learning classical ballet in Japan. They explain that there are some advantages to learning classical ballet both for younger and older people. If we look at classical ballet as children’s accomplishments, it can include both physical and cultural elements. This means that practicing at the bar or dancing for a few hours on stage can build physical strength, and understanding the story behind the scenes can teach dancers about the foreign culture. In addition, dancing in front of many people on stage can give the feeling of self-approval. Some older people may learn classical ballet since it can help them keep fit and improve their memory because classical ballet dancers need to remember so many steps and the choreography with the music.As a person who has experienced learning classical ballet, here are some tips to enjoy watching your next performance of classical ballet. First, simply enjoy the dance and music in your own way. Music can often be played by a professional orchestra and the sound of toe shoes touching the ground can be quite fantastic. Second, enjoy guessing the story by looking at the dancers carefully, because they do not speak but use mime to tell the story and express their feelings. For example, pointing to the third finger on the left hand with the right hand means to get married. This mime originates in European culture, where people wear a wedding ring on their ring finger. Finally, imagine how the dancers spent many long hours and endured hardships while preparing for just this one performance so that you can be more impressed by their beautiful dance on stage.Questions:Q1. Who composed the music of Swan Lake?A. Pyotr llyich TchaikovskyB. MozartC. BachQ2. How many people are learning classical ballet in Japan?A. 3,600,000B. 720,000C. 360,000Q3. What sound can be fantastic when you see a performance of classical ballet?A. dancers singingB. Toe shoesC. piano soloScroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:Q1. AQ2. CQ3. BRyoko Ozaki
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08 .14Black FridayPhoto Credit: Tamanna Rumee @ PixabayDo you know what day is the busiest shopping day in America? You may think that many holidays and special events in America are busy shopping days, but there is one special event in America that is the busiest, and that is “Black Friday.”Maybe you have heard about “Black Friday” before. There are three unique facts that you should know about “Black Friday” in the United States. First, Black Friday is a busy shopping day because it is considered to be the start of the Christmas shopping season. Unlike in Japan, many people buy Christmas presents for many friends and family in the US. Second, Black Friday is always on the same Friday every year – the fourth Friday of November, on the day after Thanksgiving. Third, Black Friday gets its name from the shorthand phrase “in the black” which refers to “profits” and a successful business period.One interesting thing about Black Friday is how the day has recently become popularized in Japan in the past few years. It’s common now in Japan to see many shopping centers promote Black Friday sales heavily during the month of November. However, while Black Friday has become familiar to many Japanese people in recent years, Black Friday in America is very different from Japan.First, unlike Japan, where Black Friday signs are now seemingly everywhere all throughout November, In America, Black Friday is only during one single day – the fourth Friday in November. As Black Friday in the U.S. is only during one day, many stores compete with each other to begin their Black Friday sales earlier than other rival stores. For example, many stores will advertise special Black Friday sales and promotions that begin at midnight or very early in the morning on Friday. It’s very common to see people in the U.S. line up very early in the morning and stand in line for hours in front of their favorite stores so they can be among the first people to enter the store and get the best Black Friday deals. Sometimes, you can see people bring tents and even camp out in front of their favorite stores at very early times in the morning so they can secure their place in line and be among the first to rush into the store. The competition to get the best Black Friday deals is very intense!Another interesting thing about Black Friday is how it has begun to change in recent years. While Black Friday used to be just a one day event, many Black Friday shopping deals now start earlier on the day before, on Thursdays, and end later, on the following Monday. Black Friday is proof that many special events can gradually change over time!Questions:Q1. What is the busiest shopping event in America?Q2. Why is Black Friday a busy shopping day?Q3. How has Black Friday changed in recent years?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. Black Friday2. It is considered to be the start of the Christmas shopping season. It is also an event with many special sales and promotions3. Many Black Friday deals now start earlier on Thursdays and end later on MondaysAlexander Sheffrin
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08 .07Discover the Best Fireworks Festivals in Shiga: A Local's GuidePhoto Credit: designecologist @ unsplash.comAre you ready to enjoy your summer vacation after spring semester? I would like to introduce you to local information about fireworks near BKC, Ritsumeikan University. In Shiga, Japan, firework displays are a popular summertime tradition. These displays are usually held from July to September throughout the country, including Shiga. One notable event is the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival, where 10,000 fireworks are launched into the air over Lake Biwa. This stunning display of light is accompanied by jets of fountain water, creating a harmonious spectacle. The festival takes place on August 8th, 2023. The launch time is from 19:30 to 20:30. The festival is held in Otsu city, which has convenient access by train from Kyoto and Osaka. You can take the JR Tokaido Line to Otsu Station and then transfer to the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line to Hamaotsu Station, which is a 10-minute walk from the festival venue.Another fireworks event in Shiga is the Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks, which will be held on September 5th to 8th, 2023. The launch time is from 20:30 to 20:50 each day. The venue for this event is Nagahama Port in Nagahama City, and it can be accessed by an 8-minute walk from JR Nagahama. For more information, please visit the link: https://hanabi.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0725e00792/data.htmlIn addition to these specific events, there are likely other firework displays and festivals that take place in Shiga during the summer season. These events provide an impressive show and are a fantastic way to enjoy the summer in Shiga. Please check official websites or local sources for the most up-to-date information on firework events in Shiga. Enjoy!Questions:1: What is the Nagahama Kita-Biwako Great Firework Festival known for?2: How many fireworks are launched during the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival?3: When does the Lake Biwa Great Firework Festival take place?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:Answer 1: It is known for launching more than 10,000 fireworks, focused in the always impressive star mines, beautifully illuminating both the summer sky and the stunning Lake Biwa.Answer 2: 10,000 fireworks are launched into the air over Lake Biwa during the Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival.Answer 3: It will be held on August 8th, 2023.Akiko Watanabe
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07 .17Kyoto's Five Geisha DistrictsPhoto Credit: Satoshi Hirayama @ PexelsEvery visitor to Kyoto has heard of geiko (the term for geisha in Kyoto) and maiko, but many don’t know where they live. Geiko and maiko live in hanamachi (Flower Towns or geisha districts), and there are five hanamachi in Kyoto. Four are located around the Shijo Kawaramachi intersection in central Kyoto, and the fifth is located about a twenty-minute walk from Ritsumeikan’s Kinugasa campus.The biggest and most famous geisha district is Gion Kobu, which is located very near Yasaka Shrine, mostly to the south of Shijo Dori. Gion Kobu had just under 100 geiko and maiko before the pandemic started, and the numbers have decreased a bit since then. Gion Kobu is well-known throughout Japan and beyond because of Miyako Odori, the Cherry Blossom Dance, held every April 1 – 30. If you have a chance, you should definitely try to see it at least once while you are in Kyoto.The second largest hanamachi is Miyagawa-cho, which is a little west of Gion Kobu, south of the Minamiza-theater, east of the Kamogawa. Miyagawa-cho had about sixty geiko and maiko in 2019. Miyagawa-cho also holds a popular dance in April, Kyo Odori. It usually runs for two weeks. Since the Miyagawa-cho Kaburenjo is smaller than Gion Kobu’s, Kyo Odori is a bit more intimate than Miyako Odori although it as not as famous. Ponto-cho, the third largest district with fifty geiko and maiko, is named after the famous narrow street that is jammed with restaurants and tourists just west of the Kamogawa River. Ponto-cho’s annual dance, the Kamogawa Odori, is named after the river.The final two geisha districts are much smaller than the first three but no less interesting. Gion Higashi, like Gion Kobu, is located very close to Yasaka Shrine, but whereas Gion Kobu is mostly south of Shijo Dori, Gion Higashi is mostly to the north. Gion Higashi is the only one of the five hanamachi that has its main dance in the fall. Gion Odori is held from November 1 – 10 every year at Gion Kaikan, which has operated as a movie theater at other times of the year. If you are on Instagram and are interested in the culture of geiko and maiko, you might want to follow @tomikiku_gionhigashi. Tomikiku is an ochaya (tea house) in Gion Higashi, and the proprietress speaks English. All the posts are in Japanese and English and feature behind-the-scenes photos that you won’t see in many other places.Kamishichiken is the oldest hanamachi in Kyoto and the closest to Ritsumeikan. It is located next to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Both Gion Higashi and Kamishiciken have less than thirty geiko and maiko in their districts. Kamishichiken’s main dance is Kitano Odori, which begins at the end of March. Because Kamishichiken is located quite far from central Kyoto, it is the quietest. There are not as many tourists roaming the streets, which makes for a very pleasant experience.Questions:1. Miyako Odori is the first major dance held every year. True False2. Gion Higashi is bigger than Gion Kobu. True False3. Both Miyagawa-cho and Ponto-cho are located adjacent to the Kamogawa. True FalseScroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. False (Kitano Odori begins at the end of March)2. False (Gion Kobu is the largest)3. TrueFoster John Paul
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07 .10Superhero MoviesPhoto Credit: Andrew Martin @ PixabayI grew up reading American comic books. I remember going to weekend swap meets and buying them for 10 cents each. My brother and I had stacks and stacks of comics in our room. Although I had a lot of funny comics such as Richie Rich and Archie, superhero comics were my favorite. That is why I am so happy with the world-wide popularity of superhero movies now. I can see the characters I loved in my youth come alive on the big screen. In addition, while comic books were something of a nerds’ hobby when I was young, modern superhero movies are mainstream and have become the most popular movies. In America there are two major superhero comic book publishers; DC Comics and Marvel Comics. DC superheroes include Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the Justice League. Marvel superheroes include Iron Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Avengers. Although there have been some crossovers of these characters in comic books, they don’t exist in the same fictional worlds and don’t appear in movies together.DC superheroes were the first to have successful live action TV shows and movies. Superman movie serials were produced in the 1940’s and 1950’s, and the first big budget superhero movie was ‘Superman’, which debuted in 1978. It was so successful that it spawned three sequels. Similarly, Batman featured in a popular TV series in the 1960’s that had its own movie spinoff. The first megahit Batman movie opened in 1989. It led to three sequels with different directors and different actors playing Batman. Batman was also the star of a trilogy of smash hit movies that started with ‘Batman Begins’ in 2005. Likewise, ‘Wonder Woman’ was a hit TV show for four years in the late 1970’s.Marvel was quite late to the game compared to DC. Spider-Man’s live action debut didn’t happen until late 1978 and the show was cancelled after only 2 seasons. ‘The Incredible Hulk’ fared much better, as it was broadcast on TV from 1978 to 1982 and led to three TV movies in the late 1980’s. Marvel’s movie success didn’t come until the X-Men series (which had 10 movies) started in 2000 and a Spider-Man trilogy which began in 2002. However, even though Marvel had a slow start, they would greatly outdo DC in the modern era of superhero movies.The modern DCEU (DC Extended Universe) began with 2013’s ‘Man of Steel’. Since then, 9 other DC movies have appeared with heroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam and the Suicide Squad. The movies have had varying degrees of success. On the other hand, the modern MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) started with 2008’s ‘Iron Man’. Currently, there are 30 movies (which have almost all been major hits) with more coming seemingly every month. The MCU features superheroes such as Captain America, Ant-Man, Black Widow, Captain Marvel and Black Panther. Marvel superheroes have become unstoppable juggernauts at the movie theater and their DC counterparts are definitely playing catchup. However, superhero fans such as myself are the real winners because there is no end in sight to more of these amazing, action-packed films.Questions:1. Who is a DC superhero?A. SupermanB. SpidermanC. Archie2. How many movies were there in the X-men movie series?A. 3B. 10C. 303. When was the first movie of the modern DC universe (DCEU) shown in theaters?A. 1978B. 2005C. 2013Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. A2. B3. CJason Henwood
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06 .26Let it BePhoto Credit: John Hain @ PixabayEvery evening at 17:45, the temple bell rings at centuries old Daitokuji Temple near my house. When I take a walk, I listen to the great bell and feel a sense of inner peace. As the bell rings and vibrates like a rising and falling ocean wave, I cannot help but soften my cadence. In my steps, I find myself meditating almost like the monk in a blue robe who I met one day in front of a Kyoto Tofu store.It was a rainy afternoon. I went for my usual walk and got caught in the passing drizzle. I did not have an umbrella. I hastened my steps and with a crinkly nose and uplifted tense shoulders, I was almost in a small jog. I hated getting wet and I irritably looked ahead as my hair slowly plastered onto my forehead. In front of me I saw a figure. A straight back. Shoulders wide. Long legs stretching out of a blue robe of linen. Bare feet wearing zori Japanese sandals. The monks head was clean shaven. Disregarding the sudden drizzle, he walked ahead as if there was no hurry or rush, never changing his steps to the happening of the moment – a drizzle slowly turning into a generous pour. He was carrying a blue shopping bag made out of the same material as his dress. He stooped low and entered the Tofu store. “Momen icho onegaishimasu,” said the monk in a calm tone. Rain water was dripping from his shaved head, his robe heavily clung onto his body. “Hai yo.” The elderly tofu-maker responded. Exchanging money for product, the monk gently put the tofu into his blue bag and walked on. I raced quickly to be at his side.Surprisingly the monk was a Westerner from Iowa. He had been living in Japan for more than 10 years and was training at Daitokuji temple. “How can you walk so calmly, never changing your cadence in the rain?” I asked as I peered sideways as the rain was rolling into my eyes and fogging my glasses. “Let the rain do its thing.” The monk asked where I was from and what I was doing in Kyoto. As we continued our small-talk, getting to know more of each other, the rain turned into a slow drizzle once again. We parted ways, he, back to his temple and I on to my house. “Let the rain do its thing…” “Let it…” I thought to myself “What a funny answer this was…”. When I got home, I dried myself off and quickly filled my bathtub with hot water. I gladly peeled off my wet clothes and welcomed the warm soothing water. I worked up the shampoo bubbles into my scalp. The unpleasant unexpected rain, the comforting soothing water, and the fresh lemony scent of my surroundings. “Let it…” I smiled.Questions:1) Who did the main character meet and how?2) Where did the monk come from?3) What did the monk mean by "Let the rain do its thing"?4) Why did the main character smile?Scroll down ↓ for the answersAnswers:1. The main character met a monk in the rain.2. The monk came from Iowa in the United States of America.3. There is a reason for everything.4. The rain did its thing and made the main character enjoy the comfort of a bath.Jackie Kim-Wachutka