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.