Life Outside of Tokyo

So, today I thought I'd write about something a bit different from the usual "HOLY SHIT!  Will you look at those maid girls!??!?!?!?" posts or "ooooh...robots..." posts and instead show you what life is like outside of the insanity that is Tokyo.

On Sunday, 5/14/2006, I got up early (not a problem due to the 'ol jetlag) and around 9:30, headed out to meet my mom and my aunt outside of Tokyo.  She's staying with my aunt in the Chiba prefecture just east of Tokyo.  It's about 50 minutes away by train to the main station in Funabashi and another 15 minutes or so by a local train to Yachiodai and either a 15 minute walk or a quick bus ride to the apartment.  

She lives in the apartment complex that I used to live in back when I was in Japan during first grade.  Called a "danchi", this is not what you would think of in terms of an American apartment complex.  This is huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge.  This particular one, called Hanamigawa Danchi, got so big, it is now a city in itself.  I have no idea exactly how many buildings make up this complex but there are, I believe 7 sections with up to 30 buildings in each section.  Each building, depending on when it was built, contains anywhere from 30 to well over 100+ units.

My aunt lives in the newer ones that are 8 stories tall with 100+ units.  I used to live in the old ones that are only 5 stories.  Brought back memories :)

Here's two views of the apartments that I used to live in.  Well, not the exact apartment building but the same type.





It's pretty old as you can see.  It wasn't this shabby looking back in 1980 but...well...then again, I was only 5 then too.  These are the older ones though.  Here's a shot from a distance of the type my aunt lives in.



To give you an idea of the size of this complex, there really isn't any other residence than the apartments.  Maybe some houses in the main street section and such but the apartments vastly outnumber any other residences.  With that there are at least 4 or more elementary schools.  Each school is only like a 15 minute walk from eachother.  I went to the #3 school back in the day.  My aunt lives near #1.

I should have taken a shot of the inside of her apartment.  It's nice though.  A small bedroom that has tatami mats, and a hardwood kitchen/dining/living room combo.  A typical Japanese tub/shower room and a separate bathroom and a small balcony.  Only about $800+ US per month too.  Parking is extra though.

Anyway, we decided, after eating lunch, to go check out a street fair outside of the station.  They call it a "hokousha tengoku" which literally means "walker's heaven".  They just block off the street and they have vendors out there along with a bouncy inflatable castle thingy for kids.  I mean...there really isn't much.  Some food stands selling roast corn, mochi, yakitori (chicken on a stick), and such.  Also some shops selling clothes and even vegetables.  

They don't do this often so I guess around here it's a pretty big deal.



Of course, no little festival anywhere in the world is complete without some sort of singing/dancing/performing arts exhibition by some local group!  I, unfortunately did NOT take a picture of the "Karaoke competition" as I walked quickly away from the drunk middle aged guy at 1pm singing some Japanese song utterly out of tune....  But there was a pretty impressive group demonstrating traditional Japanese dancing.

When I say traditional, I don't mean like the ones with the fans and the fancy kimono.  These are harvest dances and such rooted in rural Japan.  Of course, the music has been modernized, but the dances itself are pretty authentic.

There were kids as young as 4 and women as old as in their 60's or older.  







I also have a movie that you can see here.  It's only 2MB or so at 18 seconds.  Take a look!

Oh..and near the end, they are NOT doing the "lawnmower" dance move...  They are planting rice in the fields.  Remember...think rural farm life harvest festival...

The kids were cute too :)

There was one little game there that you don't see much in the US though.  "Kingyosukui" which literally means "Goldfish Scoop".  You hold a bowl in one hand and you try to scoop up the goldfish into the bowl using a wire loop with very thin rice paper stretched across it.  It's trickier than you think!  As soon as the rice paper gets wet, it rips waaay too easily.  Scoop up a flopping goldfish and it'll tear straight through.

Of course there is a trick to this. Of course I have no idea what it is.  But I have seen someone scoop a good number before the paper broke.





I saw a few kids walking around with a little baggie of fish so I guess some of the kids got lucky :)

Anyway, it was a pretty relaxing and lazy weeked.  Lots of walking but...eh...that's normal here.  I also went to the old shopping center in the middle of the apartment complex too.  Back 25 years ago, it seemed like such a cool place and also seemed like a bigger place!  But now, with adult eyes, it looked a bit worn out in need of fresh paint and not as big as I remembered.

Ah well....you really can't go back again.  Reality just never lives up to your memories.

Anyway, I will try to post more of these as well.  Of course, this trip, I haven't had much time to do any shopping at all let alone leave Kawasaki so I don't know how much gifts I can pick up this time.  But we will have to see.  Hope you enjoyed it.  Mostly it was more enjoyable for me as it was a trip down memory lane.  But hey, maybe some of you found this interesting (^_^)

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