Tokyo is a huge city with a lot of
opportunities to experience Japanese culture. During the past ten months, I
have had a lot of opportunity to try various Japanese arts both here at
Fujimura and in the city. One of my favorite experiences has been joining the
Ikebana Club. The art of flower arranging is so interesting! I am constantly
impressed by how talented the students are with the flowers. Taking a bunch of
beautiful flowers and placing them on a kenzan to highlight their natural
beauty is very satisfying.
I have also been practicing traditional
Ohara Bushi dance. Me and some other JETs have been practicing every weekend
and will be performing this Sunday in Shibuya. It is super exciting! We learned
three full length routines and then made our own Ohara dance that was inspired
by American culture. We will be the first international team to ever compete in
the festival. I cannot wait! I love Japanese culture and have really enjoyed
experiencing more of it.
