Friends of Japan Series: One of a Kind - La Juan Gill
2021/5/10
Friends of Japan Series: One of a Kind - La Juan Gill
It’s impossible to not notice the deep reverence that the Japanese people hold for their environment. The first thing that struck me when I hopped off of the plane was how aesthetically pleasing everything was. It seemed pretty clear to me that rather than compete with nature, the japanese society decided to collaborate with it to create a unique blend of modern, traditional and natural beauty. In the photo below you’ll see Fujisan Sengen Shrine (富士山本宮浅間大社), one of the main attractions of my then hometown. It was originally built over 1000 years ago for the protection from volcanic eruptions, but the one I had the fortune of experiencing was constructed by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early 1600’s. In the shrine’s compound you’re surrounded by looming trees and pebble gardens, which brings a deep sense of reverence and respect, yet footsteps away was the main street of Fujinomiya City. The contrast felt like two different time periods, yet they were merged beautifully.
My placement in Fujinomiya City was incredibly lucky. I was a neighbor to the most culturally iconic landscape in Japan, Mount Fuji. The volcano stands 3,776.24 m (12,389.2 ft). As a ritual, every morning when I woke up, I would walk onto my balcony to appreciate this behemoth. You’d have to drive 3 hours away to escape its gaze and knowing it was still active and overdue for an eruption made it even more exciting to me. My then students and co-workers would often joke about the potential impending disaster whenever I expressed concern to it, a testament to their happy go lucky personality in stark contrast to the near deadly diligence they practiced in their work and studies. Most of my experiences with people in Japan were similar to that. They almost mirrored the contrast that the Temple in a city center did. Extremely hard working, diligent and disciplined, yet always playful in the off times. A true juxtaposition this country was.
My main reason for going to Japan was because of a novel I read in my teenage years called “Musashi” by Yoshikawa Eiji. It is the story of Miyamoto Musashi, one of Japan’s legendary samurai who’d go on to become a great author and philosopher. I had the privilege of visiting his hometown of Mimasaka province, now located within Northern Okayama. The town seemed almost untouched by time. The streets were extremely narrow and the houses extremely close to each other, the way you’d see it in an old samurai movie. Yet the townspeople were very charming and forthcoming with hospitality when they saw an obvious outsider in a town that clearly had not been visited by many.
My 3 years in Japan were life changing in many ways. Challenging and fulfilling. Upon completion of my time in Japan in 2019 I returned home to Trinidad because of a family related matter, however, if not for that I easily would have extended my contract with my school for another year. The JET program is a great opportunity for the adventurous and adaptable. I returned home with a much greater appreciation for the Japanese culture than I left with, and a much greater appreciation for my home than I left with.
Friends of Japan Series: One of a Kind (Japanese Embassy Facebook)
Friends of Japan Series Archives
My placement in Fujinomiya City was incredibly lucky. I was a neighbor to the most culturally iconic landscape in Japan, Mount Fuji. The volcano stands 3,776.24 m (12,389.2 ft). As a ritual, every morning when I woke up, I would walk onto my balcony to appreciate this behemoth. You’d have to drive 3 hours away to escape its gaze and knowing it was still active and overdue for an eruption made it even more exciting to me. My then students and co-workers would often joke about the potential impending disaster whenever I expressed concern to it, a testament to their happy go lucky personality in stark contrast to the near deadly diligence they practiced in their work and studies. Most of my experiences with people in Japan were similar to that. They almost mirrored the contrast that the Temple in a city center did. Extremely hard working, diligent and disciplined, yet always playful in the off times. A true juxtaposition this country was.
My main reason for going to Japan was because of a novel I read in my teenage years called “Musashi” by Yoshikawa Eiji. It is the story of Miyamoto Musashi, one of Japan’s legendary samurai who’d go on to become a great author and philosopher. I had the privilege of visiting his hometown of Mimasaka province, now located within Northern Okayama. The town seemed almost untouched by time. The streets were extremely narrow and the houses extremely close to each other, the way you’d see it in an old samurai movie. Yet the townspeople were very charming and forthcoming with hospitality when they saw an obvious outsider in a town that clearly had not been visited by many.
My 3 years in Japan were life changing in many ways. Challenging and fulfilling. Upon completion of my time in Japan in 2019 I returned home to Trinidad because of a family related matter, however, if not for that I easily would have extended my contract with my school for another year. The JET program is a great opportunity for the adventurous and adaptable. I returned home with a much greater appreciation for the Japanese culture than I left with, and a much greater appreciation for my home than I left with.
Friends of Japan Series: One of a Kind (Japanese Embassy Facebook)
Friends of Japan Series Archives