Misadventures in Translation

Oshogatsuomedetougozaimasu. Happy New Year! Over the past week, I stayed with my host family down in Gamagori, Aichi. I arrived there on the 30th and celebrated New Years with my family. Also during my stay, I did some sightseeing in Nagoya and in Kyoto.

Since I was staying for a week, I needed to get my host family some gifts in return for feeding me and giving me a place to stay. I brought the some of the famous snacks from Yamanashi (Shinjin Mochi) and got the kids some Christmas gifts. I bought the Japanese version of Monopoly and I kind of regret it. I had to play it a bajillion times.

New Years in Japan is is a lot like Christmas. Families travel across the county to see each other, gifts are given (typically money in a sealed envelope or food), and a lot of food. Since I was staying, I got to go to New Year dinners on both sides of the family. I kinda felt like I was intruding, but everyone was welcoming.

Why do people want me to write things? Don’t they know I’m going to be a doctor? Doctors over here can’t write worth crap either. This was part of a family shodou contest that I didn’t know about. If I had known, I wouldn’t have accepted such crappy work.

Some of the family from my host father’s side. I hung out at his brother’s house (the older man squatting in the photo) for a while. He was a little tipsy when I got there. I got a lot of, “Handsome boy,” compliments from him… The funniest thing was when I was taking a photo with his wife and she grabbed my butt. Twice.

Everyone makes me look bad.

The ryokan (Japanese hotel) that my host mother’s parents own. I’ve had many excellent dinners here.

From left-to-right: Some cousin, Ryo, Tsubasa, some cousin.

A typical Japanese New Years decoration

For more pictures from my stay with my host family, click here.

On the 3rd, I headed over to Nagoya for some light sightseeing. Nagoya is a nice, well-planned city. Whoever was in charge of development post-WWII did a great job. The city is well layed out. However, there isn’t that much in Nagoya in terms of great sightseeing places. What Nagoya does have, is still nice though. The major attractions are Nagoya Castle, Osukannon, the Robot Museum, Toyota Museum, and several small temples.

Something about Japan forces me to do the stupid peace sign and look like a tool.

If Atsuta Jinja didn’t cost 1000 yen to go inside, I could have had more pictures. These are all the people pissed off about the outrageous entrance fee.

Buy 1, get 7 free. I love the faux fur and kimono style in winter.

A picture from Toganji Temple in Nagoya.

The entrance to Koshoji Temple in Nagoya

If you you seen one five-storied pagoda, you’ve seen them all.

A picture of the Higashiyama Skytower behind the the Nagoya Zoo.

Nagoya at night. Japan’s fourth largest city.

A nice sculpture just outside Nagoya Station.

The twin towers of the Nagoya train station.

On the 5th, I took a bus over to Kyoto for some historic sightseeing. Kyoto is the old capital of Japan and is rich in history (and tourists). It’s easy and cheap to get around Kyoto. However, there is just too much to be experienced in one day. I will have to make another trip to Kyoto in the future. The big places that I went in Kyoto were the famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) and Kiyomizutera.

Kyoto Station has a nice open air design. Too bad its freezing cold in the winter.

A picture from Ryozen Kannon in Kyoto. This is a site for the unknown soldiers who died in WWII.

These are omikuji (fortunes). People get their fortunes and then tie them to trees in the hope that it will come true.

In front of the entrance to Kiyomizutera.

Kiyomizutera is under consideration for becoming one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. http://www.new7wonders.com It’s a great place, but I don’t believe it will make the new list.

The water is supposed to bring you good health/luck. Only if the person drinking before you doesn’t have bird flu.

A crappy photo of the entire Kiyomizutera area.

For other photos from Kiyomizutera, click here.

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) in Kyoto. Of the places I went, this was my favorite.

For other Golden Pavilion pictures, click here.

I love Japan. Since about a month after arriving, I’d actually strongly considered re-contracting and applying to medical school again later. I probably should have waited to apply to medical school till after this program. However, I researched options that will allow to pursue both medicine and my interests in Japan. Fortunately I was able to find out about the Japanese Family Health Program at the University of Michigan (http://www.med.umich.edu/jfhp/index.html) . The program at Michigan is dedicated to serving the large Japanese community living in Michigan. Japanese companies send their executives to America for long stints of service and their family comes along. When medical issues arise, it can be difficult to get effective treatment due to communication and cultural differences. The head of the program, Dr. Fetters, is fluent in Japanese due to studying in Japan for 3 years. I’ve been communicating with him and have found research options that would allow me to pursue medicine and continue my Japanese studies. The Japanese Family Health Program at Michigan is interesting since the concept of family medicine is actually a relatively new and developing concept in the Japanese medical system. The plan would be to come back to Japan for research during the summer vacation after first year, possibly take a year off between 3rd and 4th years for a year of research, and some more work in Japan during my residency period. I have an interesting and difficult road ahead of me.

Today, I turned in my form stating that I would not be re-contracting. It was kinda sad since I’ve become good friends with my supervisor. But he understands what my career path requires. At least we have 7 more months to hang out. Hopefully, we’ll have chances to meet again after I return to America. With my busy medical school schedule it’ll be difficult to stay in touch, but I will make the effort.

And in other news, the inventor of instant ramen, Momofuku Ando, died January 5th at the age of 96.

This weekend, I’m going snowboarding again with some friends at Hakuba in the Nagano Prefecture. Nagano has some great slopes. The Winter Olympics were once held in Nagano.

And in other news, the inventor of instant ramen, Momofuku Ando, died January 5th at the age of 96.

Now for you moment of Japanese Zen:

Move over Christina and Britney. Koda Kumi rules. Koda is a huge pop star in Japan. Geeky Americans will know her from her song in the game, Final Fantasy X-2. Actually, geeky Americans obsessed with Japan would know her. The following music videos are singles from her latest CD, Black Cherry. The first video is Cherry Girl and the second one is for Juicy. Both feature effective uses for liquor bottles. If you can’t stand suggestive pelvic thrusts and dry humping, don’t watch.

If you can’t see the video, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Equiso95Vfg

If you can’t see the video, click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOGB2C84w8I

P.S.