On The Road Again

This was originally entitled: Plan Nine From Outer Tochigi...
This adventure takes place in March 1992 - I'm on my second year in Japan.

I had been on vacation for the past two-and-a-half-weeks courtesy of my supervisors Hanazaki-san and Kanemaru-san. It was the end of the current Japanese school year, and there were a lot of exams going on at the seven junior high schools I teach at in Ohtawara-shi (city of Ohtawara). Hanazaki-san didn't even make me take any of my built-up holiday time: "Just go and have fun and come back on April 1st to meet the new staff." How could I refuse?
Although the first half of my vacation was spent nursing a cold, I still managed to get in a lot of drinking. Money (or the lack there of) and a no-longer current passport conspired to limit my travel plans (I had no plans).
By this time, I had traveled virtually everywhere in Japan, with the exceptions of Hokkaido to the north and the islet of Okinawa to the far south and west... and both are expensive ventures. As well, I suppose, I've never seen Mt. Fuji, and still am not convinced it exists.
So... I spent part of my first week off actually volunteering to go to schools in nearby towns that did not have an Assistant English Teacher (AET). And, while my offer was appreciated, the fact remains those schools were also in exam lock-down. However, I did get to go visit some more primary schools, which garnered me lots of omiyage (presents), and got me driven around by Hanazaki-san to various local points of interest: the oldest tree in town; a place where they make hats; and a woman's prison - which I liked the best, as it was nice to be treated like a sex object for a while.
That little bit of down home comfort convinced me to look at my own prefecture (province) of Tochigi-ken a little closer. It was road trip time.
I went on a mission as a G.O.D. (gaijin on display - gaijin means outsider/foreigner). Setting out armed only with a pair of sunglasses and a simple phrase book that contained a very important bit of information: "Hello. My name is An-do-ryu-sensei (teacher), and I am lost. Please return me to the Ohtawara Board of Education. A reward of excessive bowing awaits you."
I spent the day in Yaita where I thought I saw Elvis - it's such a quiet little town, who would ever think to look for him there?  I spent another day in Karasuyama where I learned all about one of Japan's most spectacular festivals. One day was spent in the neither regions of Nishinasuno to study the remnants of some early settlers. A day was spent in Nikko to purchase original Japanese block prints (ukiyo-e). I spent another in Takanezawa where I co-hosted a rock concert - all you have to do to be famous in Japan is be a foreigner and wear sunglasses - and not the cheap ones, either!
I spent a day riding on the train loop from Imaichi to Aizu (in Fukushima-ken) to Kuroiso, and then a final day to travel to Ibaraki to see Fukuroda Falls - one of Japan's three most beautiful waterfalls. Kegon Falls in Nikko is one, too.
All of the traveling on the train inspired me to write a wordless play (do you actually 'write' a wordless play?) about how the Japanese react to foreigners on the train (which I had performed in Nikko in November of 1992). It was well-received, but as an AET on the JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme, I avoided all monies from this no-charge event.
Oh... I also spent a day in Tokyo getting my passport renewed to ensure I'd never have to travel in Tochigi-ken again... not that there's anything wrong with that.
I woke up early on April 1 - it was raining - called my friend Rob Jones back in Toronto to wish him a happy birthday (it was still March 31 there thanks to the 15 hour time difference). It was raining. I rode my bicycle to the OBOE office. I sat at my desk. I looked over at my supervisor's desk... it was devoid of life and paper! Somebody had stolen Hanazaki-san! Is that what he meant when he said to come back and met the new staff? Cripes.
Now nobody in my office understands me! Yeesh... it sounds a lot like a lot of the women I've met here in Japan.... if I could just meet someone who could "get" me.

Somewhere looking for the guy that is scripting my life,
Andrew Joseph
Todays title is by Canned Heat: FIRSTTIMEITRAVELED
PS: Hanazaki-san was indeed done as my supervisor! Kanemaru-san, too, though Kanemaru-san was still in my particular OBOE office, Hanazaki-san was elsewhere.
PPS: My new supervisor (who shall remain nameless at this time - seeing as how I can't remember his name) afforded me a lot of leeway. His English was as good as my Japanese - which had at least improved to a Grade 1 level... so we could at least communicate. Fret not, he was a real nice guy! More on him much later, though.