Okayama playground

Excellent piece of equipment

Dog Poo Sign

Clean up your dog poo

Danger Signs

Decided to post useful Japanese signs

Dreams of Zazen

Saturday morning zazen

Asahi Shimamura Sensei

Last Friday I had the pleasure of wording with a gentlemen who is at the top of his game. He utilised a methodology that is at the cutting edge of theoretical development. It was the first time I have been inspired by a Japanese teacher of English. He focused on deconstructing sentences with the use of the clause as the focus of explanation.

Chalk and Talk

Japan Ichinensei Kanji

These are the Japanese kanji Hana will learn in primary school

Earthquake

We are all ok. Some damage on Awajishima. The epicenter of this earthquake was very similar to the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. This earthquake was magnitude 6.0 at the epicentre which is six weak on the Japanese scale and ten Km below the surface of the earth (the shallower the more dangerous because they are strong at the surface). It lasted about ten seconds where we live and was dangerous because we experienced the vertical shaking as we were so close to the epicenter. The vertical shaking as the energy waves are close together still have the most power as the energy wave travels they slow down and you experience a rolling feeling like being in a boat on the ocean. This was more like being bounced up and down like living in a salt shaker.
Wikipedia Great Hanshin Earthquake

Shinto Parade

Sunday April 7th we went to see a shinto parade at Korakuen.
There were a thousand marchers from all over Japan.
They were carrying various symbols of the Japanese Shinto religion.

Sogenji Zazen Practice

On Sunday 7th April I attended Zazen practice at Sogenji in Okayama City.
The practice consisted of 25 minutes of sitting meditation followed by five minutes of chi gong like training and then another 25 minutes of sitting meditation. At Sogenji the teachers will whack you with a Japanese wooden sword to awaken your spirit if you choose this experience.
I was too busy with my meditation to notice the monks walking around with the sword, but I heard some people getting a good whack.

Sozan Highschool Entrance Ceremony

Sozan Highschool had their entrance ceremony on Monday. Here are some photos and links to some video. They really do an excellent entrance ceremony in Japan.
Here is a link to some video: Sozan High Entrance Ceremony Video 1

Wattle and Olives in Okayama

View from Starbucks in Okayama

Radio Momo

I was on this radio station last Monday night, but forgot to listen to myself.