After leaving the point overlooking the valley, my companions and guides and I continued along the ridge towards the mountain's summit. We were well over halfway through our climb, but the last several hundred meters rose rather sharply and an easy hike actually involved some honest climbing. The trail became less of a straightforward path as it began to spiral around the mountaintop.
At this point, we began noticing an abundance of small stone statues, carved vaguely in the shape of humans, many of them with red cloths tied around their waists. Kubota-san explained they were there for spiritual purposes and served as guardians of the mountain spirit who was said to live near Kazekoshi-yama's peak. These tiny peacekeepers guided our way around the mountain, lining the paths and occupying makeshift staircases that had been hewn into the mountainside.
As we came around the bend, our path abruptly came to an end as we were faced with a tangle of tree roots that ran sharply upward interlaced like latticework. The roots provided many hand and footholds, making for an easy climb, but
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Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Kazekoshi-yama Pt. II: Up, Up & Away
I'm going to start off this post with a small disclaimer - I'm not good at approximating distances. Never have been. Unless I know the exact length or height of something, my estimations have been, historically, inaccurate. 30 feet might be 60. A mile might be two. That being said, other than the exact height of the mountain, take my distance estimations with a grain of salt.
After we abandoned the mountain hermit, Yamashida-san's pickup truck, we started off past a faded sign making the trail, up a zigzagging path up the mountainside, with hairpin, near 180-degree turns every 200 meters or so. The degree of ascent was sharp, around 30-35 degrees by our guide's estimate, but the path would somewhat flatten out once the back and forth trail reached its end, he promised. Thankfully, I was in much better shape than I was back then, and the climb, while robust, ended shortly enough.
As the zigzags came to an end, I tried to see back down the mountainside from whence we came, but when I searched for the hermit's truck, it was long lost among the trees. As our guide, Yudai Kubota, promised, the path was a bit more level after that initial climb. As the trail widened,
After we abandoned the mountain hermit, Yamashida-san's pickup truck, we started off past a faded sign making the trail, up a zigzagging path up the mountainside, with hairpin, near 180-degree turns every 200 meters or so. The degree of ascent was sharp, around 30-35 degrees by our guide's estimate, but the path would somewhat flatten out once the back and forth trail reached its end, he promised. Thankfully, I was in much better shape than I was back then, and the climb, while robust, ended shortly enough.
As the zigzags came to an end, I tried to see back down the mountainside from whence we came, but when I searched for the hermit's truck, it was long lost among the trees. As our guide, Yudai Kubota, promised, the path was a bit more level after that initial climb. As the trail widened,
Friday, November 14, 2014
Kazekoshi-yama Pt. I: Meeting the Mountain Hermit
That's it, I'm done! By that I mean I've finally finished submitting my application to the 2015 JET Program that has been the bane of my existence for the better part of the last month. Overnight shipping is significantly more expensive than I had originally thought. Hopefully I'll hear back in December that I landed an interview!
Now, back to tales from my life in Iida. This week's post begins yet another series about climbing mountains. This took place about a week after Joe, Sean and I climbed the Chuo Alps and we were still thirsty for more. Unfortunately, Sean couldn't join us this time. He had planned to leave the program early in order to visit his childhood friend in Germany. In his stead, our friend Kelly would join us.
As I've mentioned before, Iida is a town nestled in valley surrounded by mountains. To the northwest of the city loomed Kazekoshi-yama, whose peak stood over 1,500 meters high. Joe and I had been talking about conquering that summit since we first laid eyes on it when we arrived in the city. Other than the Tenryu River that ran through the city,
Now, back to tales from my life in Iida. This week's post begins yet another series about climbing mountains. This took place about a week after Joe, Sean and I climbed the Chuo Alps and we were still thirsty for more. Unfortunately, Sean couldn't join us this time. He had planned to leave the program early in order to visit his childhood friend in Germany. In his stead, our friend Kelly would join us.
As I've mentioned before, Iida is a town nestled in valley surrounded by mountains. To the northwest of the city loomed Kazekoshi-yama, whose peak stood over 1,500 meters high. Joe and I had been talking about conquering that summit since we first laid eyes on it when we arrived in the city. Other than the Tenryu River that ran through the city,
Friday, October 17, 2014
A Look into the Future: Becoming a Hikonebito
This week's post will be yet another suspended of my tales from Iida to talk about another of my favorite cities in Japan - Hikone, located along the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. My time there began Sept. 3, 2012. It was a rainy Monday and a long drive with my koto instructor, Genda-sensei, who graciously offered to drive me to Hikone as it was on the way to Kyoto where she and her daughter were heading for a trip.
I would be spending the next academic year on the northern edge of the city, doing intensive Japanese language study at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities. In their website's own words, JCMU is "a study abroad program, a product of the strong sister-state relationship between the State of Michigan and Shiga Prefecture." Life at JCMU did nothing but further prove that my time in Japan was the best of my life. That being said, the word "intensive" is a bit of an understatement. The study demands of the JCMU regimen made it seem as if my summer studies in Iida were a walk in the park. OK, maybe at times they were a literal walk through the park, but the studies at JCMU were rigorous, but rewarding in that you really learn the language.
This post was actually inspired by a recent video that came across my Facebook newsfeed. It's a promotional video created by students and staff at JCMU featuring current Resident Director Ben McCracken, who was also director during my time. If the video below doesn't play, it can also be found here.
I would be spending the next academic year on the northern edge of the city, doing intensive Japanese language study at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities. In their website's own words, JCMU is "a study abroad program, a product of the strong sister-state relationship between the State of Michigan and Shiga Prefecture." Life at JCMU did nothing but further prove that my time in Japan was the best of my life. That being said, the word "intensive" is a bit of an understatement. The study demands of the JCMU regimen made it seem as if my summer studies in Iida were a walk in the park. OK, maybe at times they were a literal walk through the park, but the studies at JCMU were rigorous, but rewarding in that you really learn the language.
This post was actually inspired by a recent video that came across my Facebook newsfeed. It's a promotional video created by students and staff at JCMU featuring current Resident Director Ben McCracken, who was also director during my time. If the video below doesn't play, it can also be found here.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
The JET Program: Teaching English in Japan
I'll be taking a break in my narrative this week to talk about an important bit of information for recent college graduates interested in traveling to Japan and working there as an English teacher. My first thoughts when I got back home after spending nearly a year in Japan were immediately of ways that I could get back. I enjoyed my first experience so much and met so many incredible people that I could not imagine a future where I didn't get to visit such a great country ever again. One of the first methods I am planning on pursuing is rather common and that is to return to the country to teach English in Japanese public schools.
One of the more well-known programs which facilitates such opportunities is the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, better known as JET. The JET program seeks to foster better international relations with Japan through foreign language and culture education and establishing relationships between Japanese youths and foreign teachers in the same generation. People who are interested may apply to be either Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) or Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs). Most people are more familiar with the ALT aspect of JET, that is, the actual classroom teaching part of the program.
My goal is to become an ALT. I had several opportunities to work with Japanese students in a volunteer capacity, most often participating as part of
One of the more well-known programs which facilitates such opportunities is the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, better known as JET. The JET program seeks to foster better international relations with Japan through foreign language and culture education and establishing relationships between Japanese youths and foreign teachers in the same generation. People who are interested may apply to be either Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) or Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs). Most people are more familiar with the ALT aspect of JET, that is, the actual classroom teaching part of the program.
My goal is to become an ALT. I had several opportunities to work with Japanese students in a volunteer capacity, most often participating as part of
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
We Went Chasing Waterfalls
I'll be jumping a little ahead into my summer in Iida for this week's post. We're moving forward to some of the waning days of our 10-week summer program. By this time, most of the ongoing activities I've discussed in earlier posts had come to a close and all we had left was a few practices with the good people of the Imada Puppet Fest to fine-tune our puppetry before our debut on the international performing scene. As such, we went from days being as packed as a Calvin and Hobbes comic book to only one or two scheduled activities a week.
While the end of the summer was only the start of a new beginning in Japan for me, Aug. 8, 2012, meant for all but one of my fellow students the end of this particular stint in the country. Although I was going to be staying on during the coming academic year, I still more than wanted to make the most of the time I had left with people who had become some of my closest friends. To that end, many of us made it our goal to explore as much of Iida and the surrounding countryside to the fullest we could with our remaining time together.
Our professor, Martin Holman, had teased us all summer with his knowledge of several supposedly "off-the-beaten-path" waterfalls that made for both excellent scenery and an excellent hike along the way. In the final weeks of our stay, we made sure to finally call him on his claim. Despite several warnings from TLC, we were set to chase those waterfalls. On a rainy, overcast Friday, Holman-sensei was finally worn down and he rented a car for us to make a trip.
Despite all Holman-sensei's assurances that the mountains surrounding Iida had plenty of those beautiful natural wonders, we actually
While the end of the summer was only the start of a new beginning in Japan for me, Aug. 8, 2012, meant for all but one of my fellow students the end of this particular stint in the country. Although I was going to be staying on during the coming academic year, I still more than wanted to make the most of the time I had left with people who had become some of my closest friends. To that end, many of us made it our goal to explore as much of Iida and the surrounding countryside to the fullest we could with our remaining time together.
Our professor, Martin Holman, had teased us all summer with his knowledge of several supposedly "off-the-beaten-path" waterfalls that made for both excellent scenery and an excellent hike along the way. In the final weeks of our stay, we made sure to finally call him on his claim. Despite several warnings from TLC, we were set to chase those waterfalls. On a rainy, overcast Friday, Holman-sensei was finally worn down and he rented a car for us to make a trip.
Despite all Holman-sensei's assurances that the mountains surrounding Iida had plenty of those beautiful natural wonders, we actually
Friday, September 26, 2014
The Chuo Alps Pt. II: The Summit
When we last left our three intrepid mountain-climbers, myself, Shawn and Joe had just taken a respite after climbing a set of mountainside stairs rivaling those Frodo climbed to Cirith Ungol in the Two Towers. We were rather close to the summit and so the surrounding pass was wreathed in a blanket comprised of fog and clouds alike. It reminded me of a scene from 2005's "The Fog," but I don't think there were any ghost pirates/lepers hidden in the mist. (A reference to both the greatest fantasy movie series of all time and one of the worst b-movie horror films in one paragraph? Check.)
After a few hundred yards, we came upon a small hot spring resort of sorts. Naturally occurring hot springs were fairly common in Japan, however I'm not sure if this one was man-made or not, but it offered hikers and climbers a chance to soak in a warm tub as well as food and drinks. Unfortunately all this cost money, of which we had little. So we decided to continue on.
Shortly after passing the hot spring, the path leading along the mountain ridge diverged, one way leading north, further along the ridge, and the other with a sign directing us to the summit. Time being short we opted for the summit path over exploration, though not for lack of interest. After turning south, some of the fog cleared and we got a better idea of where we were to go to finish our climb.
The southern ridge leading to the summit was significantly narrower
After a few hundred yards, we came upon a small hot spring resort of sorts. Naturally occurring hot springs were fairly common in Japan, however I'm not sure if this one was man-made or not, but it offered hikers and climbers a chance to soak in a warm tub as well as food and drinks. Unfortunately all this cost money, of which we had little. So we decided to continue on.
Shortly after passing the hot spring, the path leading along the mountain ridge diverged, one way leading north, further along the ridge, and the other with a sign directing us to the summit. Time being short we opted for the summit path over exploration, though not for lack of interest. After turning south, some of the fog cleared and we got a better idea of where we were to go to finish our climb.
The southern ridge leading to the summit was significantly narrower
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