2018/07/16 A&B @ Koyasan

Ben, when are we going to get there? you didn’t tell me we have to take a cable car.

It won't take long.

I’m Akito. Right now, Ben and I are deep in the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture. Ben wanted to come here before we go to Osaka. I wonder where we're going.

This is Koyasan Satation. We're taking a bus from here.

We're in Koyasan? Ben, pople don't come here just for an hour. They stay for days.

But we had to come here. it's a popular Kansai tourist spot.

Ben really likes temples and shrines. I guess that’s why he wanted to come to Koyasan.

I wonder why Kukai, the famous monk, built a temple on a mountain so far from the major cities.

It's a famous story. Kukai studied in China for two years. When it was time to return to Japan, Kukai didn’t know where to built his temple. So before leaving China, he threw a Buddhist tool called sanko across the sea toward Japan. The tool fell on a pine tree on Koyasan. That’s why he decided to build his temple here.

Really? I can't believe he threw something all the way from China. And how did he find it again?

Well, that’s an all old story. Anyway, where are we taking the bus to?

The temple, of course.

Uh… Actually, this is part of the temple.

Huh? What do you mean?

This whole mountain is like a large temple, so were we’re alreadly there.

Are you sure? I can see many different temples on my map.

Those temples were built by Kukai’s students. There are 117 of them.

I see. So, whre should we go?

Well, the main building on this mountain is called the Kondo. And the Konpon Daito next to the Kondo is the symbol of Koyasan.

Sounds great. Let's go there.

We get off the bus near the Kondo.

Look. There's a shopping street, and even a school.

About 2300 people live on Koyasan.

Wow. I thought it was a spiritual place for Buddhist training, but it's also a town. You know, I don't think we can see everything in only an hour.

You were planning on spending more time here, right?

Yeah. I've actually met made a reservation for us at a shukubo lodge. Let's stay here for a few days and enjoy Koyasan.

All right. But we’re going to Osaka next.

I know, I know. Ah, this is so exciting. I read about a night time tour of the Okunoin. It is believe that Kukai is still meditated meditating there.

A night time tour? That’s sounds sacary. And I don't think I can tell you about Buddhism in English.

Don't worry. There are Engligh-speaking monks who are also guides. And I know everything about Buddhism anyway. Hey, maybe I can be a guide here.

2018/07/13 A bunch of grapes Episode two

The school chime rang. Surprised, I stood up. Through the window, I saw my classmates laughing as they went to wash their hands. The inside of my head became as cold as ice. I worked walked over the to Jim’s desk and opened the top. It was like I was in a dream. I looked around to make sure it there was no one nearby. Then I opened the wooden box, quickly took out the blue and red paints, and put them into my pocket.

My classmates returned to the room. I really wanted to see Jim’s space face. But I couldn’t make myself look. Class started. Usually, I liked listening to my young teacher, but that day I couldn’t understand anything she said. I felt like the teacher was looking at me as if she knew something was different.

The chime rang again at the end of class. I was happy it was over. But after the teacher left, the biggest and smallest smartest boy in my class came up to me and grabbed my elbow. He told me to go with him. My heart started to beat quickly. It was the same feeling as when you forget your homework and the teacher calls your name. I was taken to a corner of the school field.

I know you have Jim’s paints. Give them to me.

I became calm when I heard him say that. So I told a lie. I don't have anything like that.

Then, Jim spoke. His voice was shaking. I checked my wooden box before lunch. Everything was there. But after the lunch break, two of my paints were missing. You were the only one in the classroom.

I knew that it was the end for me. Blood rushed to my head, and it felt like my face was burning. Then, someone tried to reach into my pockets. I wanted to stop him, but there were too many of them.

In my pockets, they found glass marbles, a menko card and Jim’s paints. Everyone looked at me with angry eyes that said, I told you so. My body started to shake, and the world around me felt like everything was black. All the other students were enjoying their break time, buti felt I was dying from the inside. I wondered why I had done such a thing. Because I was weak, I started to cry.

You can't scare us by crying, you know. The big, smart boy said strongly to me. it was clear he didn’t like me. My classmates dragged me upstairs. It was where my favorite teacher’s room was.

Jim knocked on the door. I heard my teacher say in a kind voice. Come in. I didn’t want to go in. It would be the first time and would be the last I felt that way.

2018/07/12 Papua New Guinea

Hello. I am called the last paradise in the South Pacific. I am the Independence State of Papua New Guinea. My capital city is Port Moresby, and my official language is English. But there are more than 800 different tribes each with their own languages. Isn't that interesting? I heard some people call me the country with the most languages.

About eight million people live in my country on about 600 islands. One of them is the second largest island in the world. It is called New Guinea, and it is located north of Australia and South of equator.

Do you know what the equator is? It's an imaginary line drawn all the way around the year. It devides the earth into the north part and the south part. Back to my story, I am only the eastern half of New Guinea because Indonesia is ont the western half. In total, I am 1.25 times bigger than Japan.

I am very proud of my beautiful ocean, grand mountains and deep tropical rain forests. And it seems I am especially attractive to bird lovers because there are so many different and interesting birds in my country.

One of the most popular kind of birds is called birds of paradice. There are many different types of birds-of-paradise in my country, you know. They are birds with beautiful, blight feathers. Some tribes wear those feathers when they danced to show happiness. Also, one type of bird-of-paradise is my national bird, and it is used onmy national flag.

If you want to see a tree little lit up like a Christmas tree by insects, you are in the right place. Tens of thousands of fireflies gather in one tree and start shining at the same time. The fireflies are all boys, and they are lighting up to show the girl fireflies that they are best. It's so pretty.

Oh, and if you have ever dreamed about living in a tree house, I have the perfect place for you. There are tree house hotels in my country. One trice in my country lives in tree houses, you see. They are high up in the trees for many reasons.

Can you guess why? It's to protect themselves from other tribes and also for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes bites can make you sick.

Until recently, this tribe was unknown to the world, so they did not have modern medicine to fight against such diseases. If you want to try living in a real tree house like these people, I hope you like high places. They build their homes about 30 meters above the ground. That’s as tall as eight-story-high buildings.

Come and discover the beautiful nature and lives of my people sometime. I know it will be something you will not forget.

2018/07/11 Where are my glasses?

You lost your glasses?

Yes. I got out of the onsen and put on my yukata robe. When I was going to dry my hair, I noticed my glasses were gone.

Are you sure that they're not in your room?

I already checked, and there they are not there. I looked in my bag, too. I never go anywhere without my glasses. I only take them off when I take a bath and when I go to bed.

I see. I’m afraid I have not heard about anyone finding glasses today.

Oh… That’s too bad.

So.. what do your galasses look like?

They are very normal-looking. They have black frames. Don't you think it's strange that only my glasses are gone? My galasses are very strong. Or maybe the person who took them has bad eyes, too.

Well, we are a ryokan. Many strange things happen in a places with so many people.

Strange things? Like what?

Someone might put on another person’s underwear by mistake.

Underwear? That happens?

Yes. It has happened if you a few times.

So maybe someone took my glasses by mistake.

One of our staff will look for them in the changing room. Glasses are small, so they maybe may be under a towel or behind a basket.

That’s possible.

Hello? Could you look for a pair of glasses with black frames in the men’s changing room?

Thank you. please wait while they search for your glasses, sir.

Okay.

Excuse me.

Hello, young man. May I help you?

My dad’s yukata is gone. He has no clothes. He can't go back to our room.

His yukata is gone?

His underwere underwear is gone, too. So he told me to come here and tell you.

Oh, no. Don't worry. We’ll find them.

Something else is missing? This is a big problem. First, my glasses, then, his father’s clothes? Someone is taking things and having fun watching people get angry.

I don't think so, sir.

What are you talking about? We have to solve this mystery. I’m sure someone is playing a trick on us.

Sir, could you check your underwear?

Huh? My underwear? Are you saying that I made a mistake? I can't believe… Hey. You know, this underwear is a little small.

Front desk. Yes? You found a pair of black-framed glasses? They were in a basket with a yukata and some underwear?

Glasses? Yukata?

Ah, I think I know what happened.

What? My clothes are still in the changing room?

Did you make a mistake and wear my dad’s clothes?

Yes. It looks like it.

You should be more careful.

I didn’t have my glasses on, so I couldn’t see.

Oh, umm. I’m sorry.

2018/07/10 The fox and the otter

Once upon a time, a fox lived on a mountain near a river.

One day, the fox went to the river to visit a kawauso otter.

Mr. Otter, do you have anything good to eat? The otter kindly cooked several fish and gave them to the fox. The fox ate all the fish and then said, Next time you come to the mountains, I'll make you a fine dinner.

The following day, the otter visited the fox’s home. Hello, Mr. Fox. I’m here to eat that dinner you promised me. The fox was so surprised. He hadn’t thought the otter would really come. He didn’t know what to do. So the fox just looked up at the ceiling and said nothing. The otter became angry and went home.

The next day, the fox visited the otter again. Hello, Mr. Otter. I’m sorry about yesterday. The gods of my home ordered me to watch the ceiling quietly, so I couldn’t talk with you.

I see. Thank you for coming to tell me. would you like some fish?

The fox ate until he was full, and then said, I want to make lunch for you. Please come to my home sometime.

So the otter went to the fox’s home the next morning. But this time, the fox was looking down at the ground quietly. The otter was angry and went home.

The fox visited the otter again. Sorry about yesterday. The gods of the earth ordered me to watch the ground quietly.

Now the otter understood the fox was playing a trick on him. But the fox did not know the otter knew his trick.

So he asked, Do you have any fish today?  The otter said, I’m sorry, I don't. But I can teach you how to catch fish. On a very cold day, go to the river and put your tail in the water. Then, don't move for a long time. You will have many fish on your tail when you take it out of the water.

The fox chose a very cold day and put his tail in the river.

The sun set, and the river water became very cold. Suddenly, the fox felt something touch his tail.

Good. I think I've caught a fish. The fox wanted a lot more fish, so he left his tail in the river.

He waited for a hours. His tail became very heavy. This is going to be a big catch. The fox tried to pull his tail out of the water, but it would not move. He turned around and had a big surprise. The river had frozen. His tail was in the ice. He couldn not move all through the night.

The next morning, some men discovered the fox and said, Look! That fox always eats our chickens. Catch him.

The fox tried to run away and pulled his tail really hard. Then, his tail came off. The fox ran all the way back to his home crying.