During the Japanese Culture class, we were given the opportunity to visit different places and see some pretty amazing sights. While living mostly in Kumamoto, it was great to get out, and see the places around us. Although some of these places and events seemed simple, they actually proved to be really fun.

One of the first events we did was Japanese Classical Dance, or 日舞.

We were taught 2 simple dances during our time there. Each of us were given fans to practice with. Even though the dances consisted mostly of slow and steady movements, requiring a lot of patience and memorization, we still had fun.

 Next, we had the chance to experience Japanese pottery making, or 陶芸. This did get a bit messy, and started getting a bit difficult after the clay started drying. It was also difficult to make the objects into perfect shapes, especially for those who were trying to make cups or bowls. The clay itself was tough, and took some time to mold. And there was also the worry of not having enough clay on certain parts of the object, or having too much clay in one area which would prevent the item from hardening properly.

Here we all are walking back to our bus after this trip was over. The walk back to the bus seemed the most relaxing since we had to take a long trail through the trees and bushes to get there. The sights we passed along the was were breathtaking. I really enjoyed the walk both to and from the pottery makers house.

Lastly, one of my most favorite trips thus far has been to the Japanese Theater, or 山鹿.

Though it seemed quite old, the building had history behind it. We were even told about the times the wood needed to be renovated, and were shown different parts where you could see where it had been in need of repairs. It was clear this building had been around for some time, yet did not show any signs of stopping business just yet.

Above all, I was very amazed with the architecture of the building itself. Looking up at the ceiling, we were met with this sight: 

　

The artwork on the ceiling itself was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen. The detail, the pictures, the artistry, it was all so overwhelming! 

Seeing the theater was a great experience. I really hope to one day see a live performance.