Trip to Japan part 1

Overlooking Osaka-- Namba area
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Greetings all---   Quick update from a new country!  Yesterday I traveled to Osaka, Japan.  I am here for a quick visit in order to take care of renewing my visa.  I was able to negocitate another day off so that I can do some siteseeing.   Osaka has been the cultural and politcal capital of Japan for centries.  Many ancient relics still remain from the high days of the Nara Kingdoms and Kyoto Kingdoms when both those cities were Japans offical capital.  For Japan, Oaksa has always been the gateway to the rest of the world via trade routes with China and later direct routes with European traders.  In the 17th century the capital was moved to Toyko, but Osaka remainded the known finacial bread basket of the country or "the nations kitchen" as it is refered to. With both world wars Osaka transformed from a mainly food, trade and textile town to a heavy industrious town.  It began to get the reputation of "capital of smog" or the "Manchester of Orient".  WWII was a fatal blow to the city, but after the war played a huge role in the economic recovery of the whole country.  The oil crisis of the 70s hit the city and country hard and from that point forward there was a huge effort to think of more environmenatlly friendly (and independent) ways to use energy.   Kyoto, city just north of Osaka, is now well known for the "Kyoto Tready" drawn up in 1997. The Kyoto Treaty commits industrialised nations to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (Co2) significantly over the next 10 years.  The deal was left with much skepicism over the reality of this actually happening because the agreement needed to be ratified by countries who were responsible for at least 55% of the world's carbon emissions in 1990 (read: US of A, baby!--- oh yeah, thats us).  The US stalled for years during the Clinton Administration and it was rumored that even Clinton wouldnt pass it.  The agreement was finally up for debate in March 2001 and was dealt a severe blow Bush said he would NEVER sign it.  Sweet!  Since then the language has been downgraded in hopes that more of the larger industrial countries would sign it--- so far Bush has made it clear that he will crap on anything that even comes close of sounding like Kyoto.    Friday I spent the day tracking down my visa and spent some lovely hours in the Korean Embassy waiting to get called up.  There I met some other cool teachers living and working in Korea.  To my surprise I was the only American.  Many Canadians and New Zealanders.  After becoming quite close in line one girl, Odette, and myself decided to wonder the streets together.  The Korean Embassy is in the shopping district of Osaka called Namba.  With a cheap tourist map we tried to find two museums and an old theater that was recommended as a cool spot to see.  One museum was closed, the other we couldnt find and the theater wasnt anything special.    That said I really enjoyed walking around.  Scattered in this area are all sorts of closed markets and malls with a variety of themes.  My favorite was the wholesale market selling common goods and food stuff.  There were several ceramic stores selling cups, bowls, dishes etc... in the traditional Japanese style--- everything was SO beautiful.  In one store a couple was registering for their wedding--- I was so jealous, how could they possible pick just one pattern!  Anyway, the food was cool too--- seeing all the fish and seafood and asking a lot of questions--- what on earth is THAT!  We also got to wonder around the traditional markets that were selling cloth for making traditional clothing and Japanese style wooden slippers.  So great!   Some impressions of Japan: 1. Being "in style" is the IN thing to be!  Lables are important! Dress to impress. 2. That said there is more acceptance of the alternative styles--- punk looks, goth looks, hippy looks are see a lot more than in the more traditional Korea--- BUT if you look closely those folks that are going for the alternative style are REALLY trying to look different...basically if you are wearing boots you are A-OK and everyone is wearing boots. 3. The boots--- I have never seen so many women wearing the same kinds of shoes!  Here all the rage are shin or knee high pointed toe, high, high heels!  It is painful to watch some of these women walk!  The snow boots are in here too.  4. I have defintally been spoiled in Korea because Japan seems mad expensive--- especially the food, which is too bad because I love Japanese food. 5. Everything is art--- or so it seems.  Even the simple plates, bowls etc...are georgeous ceramics and hand carved wooden things.  Decorations are elaborate and paper is layered and wonderful! Even the cheap touristy things to buy are beautiful. 6.  Everything is a lot more like the US here--- you see a lot more people with attitudes or "things they have to prove" and yet most of the time people are super nice and courteous in the traditional Asian manner.  7. Japan air is cleaner.  Maybe it is being right on the water or more Hondas or something, but even the cloudy day was clearer and cleaner that the sunniest day in Seoul where the haze is always noticable. 8. Everyone knows a little English.  Everyone assumes that you know a little Japanese. 9. You see fat people here.  In Korea it is a rare moment when you see ANYONE that is overweight...here it is much more common. 10.  At the Dahn yoga center there are more men than women. 

Woman feeding the seagulls in Namba area outside of the traditional markets.
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11. The most dangerous thing about Japan-- the BIKES!

Yesterday I traveled to Osaka, Japan. I am here for a quick visit in order to take care of renewing my visa.....basically if you are wearing boots you are A-OK and everyone is wearing boots.

  궇궋궢궲궋귏궥   Ai-shit-day-emas (I love you!!)   Whiii-TOE!   Rose