While I kept thinking I recognized where I was, truthfully, I did not. I just didn't want to admit to myself that I was lost. It's a childish part of me to be sure.
I was on a bicycle path, when I spied to the left of me, a temple - but what set it apart from all of the other ones I had seen these past four months, was the fact that there were a lot of people wandering about in what I could only assume were full traditional Japanese costumes. Young women in exotic-looking kimono, with a winter wrap, and young men in black suits.
I had absolutely no idea what everyone was doing here, so I did what any normal person would do - I asked someone.
I had previously placed my bicycle into a rack and was standing timidly at the entrance to the temple - unsure if it was a place I was allowed to enter--maybe it was something sacred and profane.
So... turning to the first man I saw, I said: "Konichi-wa (hello)".
"Ah! An-do-ryu-sensei! Konichi-wa! O-genki desu ka (Ah, Andrew-teacher! Hello! How are you?)"
"Genki desu. (I'm well). So.... (in English), what is going on here?"
(In English the man replies) "Ah! Eigo-ga wakirimasen! (I don't speak in English)"... (and then to emphasize the point he adds) "I donto speaku Engarish."
My response of "You just did." fell on deaf ears as the guy had already run away from me. Un-discouraged, I hid in the bushes near the entrance to pounce on my next victim.
I saw a pretty young woman who would make an interesting person to pounce on, but remembered I needed information and not a prison sentence, I decided to wait for another guy... better safe than sorry.
As I settled back into a spot near the bushes (not in it), I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the first guy I met here... he was back with a priest. Both bowed to me - though the man again quickly ran off.
The priest--in halting English--explained to me what the heck was going on.
It was Adult Day (though I have since learned a more proper name for it is Coming of Age Day aka 成人の日 Seijin no Hi.) My host (see photo above of him blessing a red car in the hopes of turning it into a white car) said explained that this is a National Holiday (which explains why I had the day off, what with it being Monday and all) held on the second Monday of January.
Despite my weary protestations of how cold and wet it was - today, it was a nice day - almost Spring-like. In fact, the whole year (a week or so) had been warm enough to almost not need a coat.
Anyhow... Adult Day is held to essentially congratulate everyone who has reached the age of 20 - the age of majority in Japan - over the past year. Congratulations! You are now an adult!
While the ceremonies are usually held in city offices, afterward, many visit temples like this one in Ohtawara-shi, and offer up prayer: "Thanks for helping me make it this far" or "Please oh kami (god), let me make it a bit further".
So, I guess this was kind of the tail end of the ceremony that I saw - though that priest opening up the car doors and the hood to pray over it - that was the best.
I shouldn't laugh - and I'm not - but the Japanese do have hundreds of good luck charms that they hang from their rear view mirror to protect them. I suppose it's no different from the Christians who hang a rosary about them or car mirror. It is different from those of you who have placed a Native American Dream Catcher around their rear view mirror - people, are you nuts? Dream catchers are meant to capture your dreams! You aren't sleeping while you are driving are you? And that's why I dislike trampling over other people's religious beliefs without knowing what it is I am talking about.
Somewhere it's 20 years since I first got to Japan - though I'm still considered immature,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is brought to you by Toronto's The Pursuit Of Happiness: Awesome song! IHAVETOWRITESONGSABOUTWOMEN.
PS: You'll notice that the first person I talked to knew who I was - that was true. I don't believe there was a person in Ohtawara-shi who didn't know their local gaijin. I'm unsure if it was the same for Matthew - who lived IN Ohtawara, but taught in the villages outside of it. It's funny - I have no idea where that boy taught!
