Old and New Japan

It's wonderful that Japan has preserved so much of it's "old" past.  Makes you realize just how new America is when you look at buildings constructed in the 14th century which still stand proud.  I would love to be able to time travel and actually see the incredible humanity which lived around these shrines and fought to protect the feudal Lords that constructed them and lived on the compounds.

Tokyo Meji Shrine

 The following are from Kyoto, the ancient capitol of Japan . . . 

Even though all bodies are cremated in Japan, this Kyoto cemetery marks the honor
with which the Japanese revere their ancestors

Contrast these ancient sites with the new Kyoto train station.  A building so creative, unique, functional, aesthetic, and gigantic that it defies imagination.  Just can't capture it in pictures but here's a few shots anyway:

That's a stairway from the 3rd to 6th floor.  The stair edges change
lighting to depict scenes and sayings

Yep - those are people down there, and they are not even on the ground
floor, let alone the many floors below that which house much of the
rail track system

The lighted blue section with Geisha woman are those stairs again

But how can the beautiful present match the loveliness of the old and contemplative, especially when it comes to kimonos . . .

A Zen garden of thoughtfully set stones and gravel - a meditative creation

A walk through the Bamboo forrest

We discovered that if you climbed a mountain, you could also mingle with some of "the brothers"

At least Luke still has his "fur"

Every day our food choices have been great, but oh - this Kobe beef bowl !

Back in town, the occasionally hilarious tourist sign leaves you wondering - does anyone check this reading against real English?

Tried our best but not sure it would have qualified for "finely"

In Tokyo during our first days, we took a ride down a river into Tokyo Bay on this amazing creation:

Went to church at the complex in Tokyo with temple, housing center,
church, and Area Office

When we entered one shrine area in Kyoto, we were approached by some school kids who had an assignment of speaking with a foreigner ("gaijin").  They did so well and couldn't wait to cap off the visit with a picture

But the highlight in Kyoto may just have been this fabulous dinner of "Okonomiyaki" - Kyoto style.  Better than the food, was Mizuki, our waitress who had such a terrific spirit about her that we had a brief visit about the Church and exchanged contact information so the missionaries can visit with her.

 Had a great two days in Kyoto, now we're off to Kobe and Hiroshima.  Wishing you all the best from the Kyoto tower . . .

Back in Japan after 45 Years!

Japan – October 10-20, 2014
On my return from the Japan-Okinawa mission in 1971, I had a brief stop over in Tokyo. Didn’t see much of it then but since coming to Tokyo last week to join Luke for 10 days he has arranged for us to see much of this massive and sprawling town of 12 million. The sights and sounds of a place I loved so much in my missionary years has been a welcomed renewal.

In Tokyo at Meiji Shrine.  The Tori gate wood is over a 1000 years old

On the first full day here, we had the sheer delight of visiting a Japanese missionary with whom I served in Hiroshima when first arriving in Japan – Yosohachi Honda. Fortunately, he married one of the strongest converts I ever met – Sister Ito. They have since had 6 children (a very large family in Japan), and we spent a wonderful evening together. Sister Honda (Ito) made a delicious meal and we remembered our years together with great fondness. In addition to meeting many of Luke's friends and mentors in Japan (of which he has many!) and enjoying meals with them, we have visited a clothing exhibition with photos of Luke modeling for a company; seen many of his modeling shots in local high-class magazines; and biked and walked through some of the richest shopping areas in the world.  We also attended church at the Tokyo ward where the complex takes in the temple, Presiding Bishopric and Area Presidency offices.  We had dinner with several of the senior couples who serve in the area and noted again how many senior couples are blessing the church around the world.

Luke and I also took time to be tourists, going to shrines and the “old city”. Luckily at one shrine we encountered a Shinto wedding ceremony.

In honor of a great woman known for her
humanitarian aid work in early Japan

Now we are on the “bullet train” headed south to places I served while a missionary: Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, and perhaps the island of Kyushu. The bullet train, is also called “Hikari” – both indicating traveling at the speed of a bullet, or speed of light. It does move right along at up to 190mph, and is a great way to see Japan -- quickly!  I'll close the day with a few more shots from Nihon to each of you -- all my love, Tom/Dad