We weren’t on the outs or anything, it was just an unexpected visit.
I had just been dropped off at her place by the Kanemaru family on a dull, overcast Saturday morning after spending the night at their place on a home-stay. They did not drive off, however. They were waiting…
Not knowing what to expect—and not one to quibble—I was still surprised when she grabbed me by the shirt and pulled me into her apartment. Before I could stammer that I had nothing to do with this, she planted a really decent kiss on me.
Not able to follow up on that kiss, she told me she knew all about Kanemaru-san’s visit, my visit, too, and that she even knew where we were going… though she continued to revel in my ignorance and discomfort by not telling me where we were going.
No big deal… not knowing what I’m doing or where I’m going is pretty much the norm for me in Japan.
Grabbing a coat and her camera, she got into the backseat of the car—though Tomohiro (the six-year-old Kanemaru son), wiggled around so he could sit on my side – sticking me in the middle seat (and the hump) of the white Toyota Cherry Vanette.
It was Saturday, September 8, and we’d been in Japan for a month… which is probably why Ashley decided to show off her recently learned Japanese language skills by starting a conversation with the Kanemaru’s.
I have no idea what she said, but Kanemaru-sand and his wife both turned to me and stared for a few seconds, before saying in English: “Ash-a ree Japan-eezu berry goo-do. (Ashley Japanese very good.)”
I suppose I deserved that. In the month there, I didn’t really say too much in Japanese – and surely not anything as complex as whatever it was that Ashley said.
By the way… did you notice how Kanemaru-san phonetically said Ashley’s name? It’s important for later.
A short while later, we arrived wherever it is we were supposed to arrive at. No, don’t anyone tell me – I’m only a writer who likes to think he knows everything. Which I don’t… so I suppose the trend continues.
>Anyhow, the here were we were—as opposed to the here where we are—was in the southwest area of Ohtawara, and there was a festival-like atmosphere about the place. Not surprising since it was a festival.
According to Kanemaru-san this was a festival to celebrate Nasu no Yoichi (aka Yoichi Nasu – the name/word Nasu is pronounced nass) who was a famous warrior from the 1100s.
It bothers me that I only had to learn a couple of hundred years worth of Canada/British North America history, while the Japanese learned a millennium’s worth. It bother’s me that I didn’t do it very well.
That brief interlude brought to you by ‘Whining™’, when merely complaining just won’t do.
Short story now merely long, Yoichi Nasu is a hero of Ohtawara – and you can read about him HERE.
Nasu was an archer of great renown (obviously), and not only did he shoot a bow and arrow to smite the enemy, he did so atop a moving horse. I know, I know… what’s the big deal? Native American Indians have been doing it for centuries with a lot of success – just ask General Custer. But the Japanese bow utilized in kyudo (Japanese archery) is a big one. For someone my height – 180cm (I was taller back then), my bow would be 7’-7.5” in height or 223 cm. That unwieldy weapon is a bugger to shoot with—but more on kyudo and Andrew later.
The Nasu Yoichi festival opening ceremonies began with a small, wizened old man shooting an arrow at a far away target – obviously he hit it, and the festival began. Or rather the second part of the opening ceremony began.
Next up was a kyudo warrior dressed in 11th century battle garb showing off his accuracy and long-distance shooting (that’s the photo atop the blog). Impressive as all heck. In fact, when Kanemaru-san asked me if I liked it, I immediately grinned in wide appreciation and said ‘hai!”
In fact, he then turned to Ashley and asked her: “Ash-a-ree play ah-sha-ree, too?”
I thought the old boy was stuttering, but it turns out he was asking Ashley is she wanted to do kyudo
A-sha-ree, he asked Ash-a-ree if she wanted to learn ah-sha-ree. (Actually, he asked Ashley if she wanted to learn archery.)
Man, do I love this place. The stories just kind of write themselves—a bit long-winded, though.
Anyhow, the Kanemaru’s, Ashley and I had a great time at the Yoichi Nasu festival. If you like, you may click HERE to see some photos of the event.
There was some excellent horseback kyudo and then there was a very long archery competition amongst a couple of local clubs—and though Kanemaru-san belonged to the Ohtawara Kyudo Club, and though they were at the event, he did not take part in it for some reason. I guess because he was babysitting us.
Anyways, the whole point of this particular blog was that single sentence wordplay. Okay, it’s also about how cool Kanemaru-san and his family are. And it does set in motion how I spend a lot of Wednesday nights.
Somewhere a-sha-ree wondering how everyone is doing…
Andrew Joseph
Today's title brought to you by ABC
