Hiroshima - a meeting with friends

(wir haben diesen Text in Englisch verfasst, weil er als kleines Dankeschön für unsere Freunde in Hiroshima gedacht ist)

Thursday, 31.3.2005

On the 31st of March we left Hannover for Osaka via Paris. We, that are four Kyudo beginners from Hannover. Bettina and Joerg have already been to Hiroshima in 2002. For Rosy and Heiko it is the first time in Japan.

Friday, 1.4.2005

We arrived at Hiroshima. Mito-sensei and Eiko-san picked us up from the railwaystation. We left our baggage at the Aster Plaza. Walking around Eiko-san showed us the Peace Park.

Saturday, 2.4.2005

We drove with Mito-sensei, Eiko-san, Haruko-san and Masaharu-san to Tokuyama. We meet up with Takeshi-sensei, who showed us the way to a sportscenter with Kyudo-Dojo.

A lorry full of Kyudo-articles came to the sportscenter. In Germany we have no lorry or shop to buy our Kyudo-articles. All we have is someone who deals with by telephon or buy things directly in Japan.

We found a lot of things to buy, bows, arrows, Gi, Hakama, Obi and all sorts of things. It was overwhelming.

Of course we brought to much. The weight of our cases will succeed the margin, when we fly back to Germany.

At least we coul try Enteki in the Dojo. Because we have no practise, Takeshi-sensei and Youichiro-sensei told us the basics in Enteki. Bettina hit with the first arrow. The others first had problems shooting 60 meters. After a few trys and a few tips from our japanese friends, the others hit at least one time. Each time someone hit our friends clappt their hands and were glad with us.

In the evening we went to a typical japanese restaurant and had specialities like warm Tempura and Sukiyaki- delicious.

It has been Heikos birthday and he had a nice cake given to him and we all sang the Happy Birthday song together.

After that we all make together the special targets for the Sakura Shakai for the next day.

After that nice evening we went to the Kameys Ryokan. That was a special experience for all of us. Against all fear our backs were fine the next morning.

Sunday, 3.4.2005

Next on our program was Kasado Island. Fog layed over the bay but we still had a good view. Walking around we could see the herbes and the beginning of the cherry blossom. A special japanes meal made us feel very well.

In the afternoon Takeshi-sensei organized a Sakura Shakai for us. That was fun. With some lude we won 3 Sakura-Matos. Heiko hit the golden Mato, Takeshi-sensei won the silver Mato.

We would have liked to stay longer but it was getting late. So we had to leave to get the bus back to Hiroshima.

That weekend we learnt a lot about Kyudo, like the basics of Enteki and could study the way our friends practised Kyudo.

To end the day we went to diner in an nice chinese restaurant with Abe-sensei, Yayoi-san, Eiko-san and Masaharu-san. It was a nice evening and the time just flu by.

We had very little problems with the language-barrier. Missing words were found through the language-computer and jesturs. Many comicle situations happend while trying to explain things. More than once we laughed untill we had tears in our eyes.

Monday, 4.4.2005

We visited the Shukkeien Garden and the Hiroshima Castle. After that we went shopping and found a lot of nice things to take back with us.

Tuesday, 5.4.2005

The days plan was very full. In the morning we visited the Shinkansen areal and we could see the different types of the Shinkansen. Even "Dr. Yellow" the testengine colored yellow came in while we are staying there. Masunari-san and the vicepresident of Shinkansen areal even let us have a look in der drivers room and Heiko was allowed to try the signalhorn.

We know that has been something special and thank everbody for it.

In the afternoon we went Abe-sensei and Eiko-san to Miyajima Island. While having lovely sunny weather we look at the wonderfull temples on the island. We were lucky to be able to walk to the Torii because the water was at low stand. Now we know why Miyajima belongs to the world heritages.

When we got back we had a look at Iai-Do and could pracitse a little bit. Fujioka-sensei, vicepresident Komatsu-sensei (and a third sensei we lost his name) and the others showed us the first steps and movements in Iai-Do. Everything looks so easy when the senseis do it. But it was hard for us to do the same. We were surprised how heary the Iai-Do sword is and Bettina and Rosy thought their arms were too short. To top it all Komatsu-sensei showed us his 300 years old sword and we were allowed to hold it in our hands.

To end the day we went to diner in another nice japapanese restaurant with Akikazu-sensei, Yayoi-san, Eiko-san and Masunari-san. It was a nice evening and the time just flu by.

Wednesday, 6.4.2005

We visited Misao-sensei in Kure. We trained Kyudo in the Dojo. Again they told us a lot things about Torikake. We had to work hard being back in Hannover. We like to be better next time coming to Japan.

The athmosphere in the Dojo was very kind and friendly. We were sad to leave. But we have had another nice surprise awaiting us. We drove with name ? up into the mountains to the hot spring bath in Onsen. We followed all the instructions from our friends and realy relaxed in the hot water with herbs. On the way back to Hiroshima nearly everybody was asleep (except the driver). Back in Hiroshima he drove us up a hill for a fantastic view all over Hiroshima by night before having a quick snack to end the day.

Thursday, 7.4.2005

Eiko-san and Masunari-san invited us to go to the Himije Castle. We started on a sunny day with the Shinkansen to the castle. It was very interesting to see a bit of Japans history and the amazing way the castle was built. After we looked at the castle we sat down under the cherryblossom trees to a traditional japanese picknick. Eiko-san and Masunari-san had everything packed up for all of us. We had a lovely and relaxing time.

After getting back to Hiroshima we went to the Dojo to see Yayoi-san and Jun-san training for their 5. Dan examination on saturday. After watching the Tachis we were allowed to practise by ourselfs.

From the vicepresident Yokoyama-sensei we got a lot of tips in aid to complete our picture of Kyudo. We thank him very much.

To end the evening Abe-sensei invited us to a Sushi-Bar near the Dojo. Eiko-san and Masunari-san came with us as well.

Friday, 8.4.2005

We did a shopping tour in Hiroshima. Brought a few more things to take back with us. Our cases getting heavier and heavier.

Rosy and Heiko went to the Atomicbomb Museum, Bettina and Joerg to the new built Memoiral House in the Peace Park. We were reminded again how terrible war is.

It just should never happen again!

In the evening we went together from the Dojo to have a supper together with Kyudo and Iaido people and Sera-san. It also has been a nice evening and time to talk to each other. We have had some good byes and gave each other presents. Yokoyama-sensei invited us to an extra coffeetime before going home.

Saturday, 9.4.2005

At 8 am we arrived at the Dojo. The 5. Dan examination started at 9 am.. We atched the opening ceremonial and the first three tachis. Then Masaharu-san took us into the town were we met Kuwabara-sensei and she took us to diner at Andersen. We there could talk to the conditormaster who had learnt two years in Austria, Heiko(master for bakery) praised the work.

After diner we met with Mito-sensei, Akikazu-sensei, Yayoi-san and Yun-san and drove to the station. We would shown the old shopping area to find kimonos second hand.

Later on we bought some for Sushi party at Mito-senseis house where we went by train.

While the ladies prepared the Sushi, Mito-sensei spoke about Kyudo showed us his bows and arrows and all he has for Shodo.

It was a lovely evening in a familier atmosphere. We realy felt at home. Many thanks to Mito-sensei and his wife. It was getting hard to say good bye. That evening we saw Eiko-san the last time.

Sunday, 10.4.2005

Our train left Hiroshima station at 10.28 am. At 9.30 am Mito-sensei , Yayoi-san and Jun-san came to the Aster Plaza and pickes us up. At the station Kuwabara-sensei, Oishi-san (has been in Hannover 2001) and Masaharu-san came to say goodbye. It was a sad situation. Whe the train came into the station we pushed our cases in and left many good japanese friends standing at the platform and back in our minds.

It was a meeting with friends!

And it was a meeting with new friends!

A special thanks to all of the many friends old and new who made our stay with all the lovely experinces possible. All of them spend their own time and knowledge to help us make a step forward in Kyudo- and for that we cannot thank you enough.

The excursions and evenings together with you all were very relaxing and full of fun. This enabled the friendship to occur and the old ones to get deeper.

Through you we learnt a lot about the japanese culture and the way of japanese life. This will help us to understand the spirit of Kyudo much better.

Kyudo will change our way of life, which will help us every day.In Kyoto we saw a sentence on a banner at the walls of a temple we want to repeat at least 

Living together in diversity - learning to accept our differences.

Sayonara!

Rosy, Bettina, Heiko, Joerg