Day 18 | Arriving to Osaka, Zazen meditation and Bon dance

It is about right time to tell you more of how I finally went to Osaka and joined the other campers of the Lions Club. This happened on the 18th July.

The morning after the heavy rain and the typhoon arrived and I woke up around 5 a. m. as we made an agreement yesterday. I was back in the house of Ishikura family and now supposed to go to Osaka to finally join the rest of the campers. The Lions youth camp started the day before but because the roads and all means of transport were closed for two days we were not able to leave Gobo.

After breakfast I still had no idea whether we were going by train or by car. Then mom Mieko told me (and demonstrated) that we were going by car. Great! And who was going to drive? Ishikura-san? No, mom Mieko. Mr Ishikura was not able to drive because of the restaurant but was the first one to say "Osaka campu, Osaka campu, quick, quick! ". I already got all of my stuff ready downstairs and was going towards the car. Our pet Mitsa also came to say bye-bye.

Luckily it was not raining. I got into the car, sat next to mom Mieko to the left side and we drove off.

It took us more than an hour and half to get to Osaka. And this meant about 95 kilometres until reaching the camp. Reaching it through the second biggest city in Japan and one of the largest metropolitan areas of the world. As you can guess it took a little bit more, especially as we got lost just before finding the camp.

During our trip there I was curious to see what the area was going to look like. The typhoon's greatest damage or effect left here was rain and floods. It was not dangerous nor anyone died but the roads and the railway were under water for 2 days and blocked. The water was that morning removed from the most important roads yet still there were signs not to use some parts of the highway. Nevertheless we were running quiet fast and it was fun and pleasure as always to go with mom Mieko. I was not able to understand her sometimes but would just then laugh and everything was okay. We had to use a few time the local roads but then switched back to the highway all the way up to our destination.

I am tired of describing the area of Wakayama prefecture so let's jump to the point. Once we approached the area of town Izumisano which is part of Osaka prefecture and one of the last of southern satellite towns of Osaka's metropolitan area, I saw again the skyscraper that was standing next to the road leading you to Osaka KIX airport and over the Sky Gate bridge. But not this time.

For the first time I went towards Osaka and realised how big the area was. The biggest cities and ports I have been to so far were Vienna with the population less than 2 million and not that developed and longs ports. Barcelona is by population smaller than Vienna but has almost as twice as bigger population within the administrative area. But right now I was getting slowly involved into something much much bigger. Osaka has about 2, 6 million citizens (around one million more than Barcelona) and its metropolitan area is the mind-blowing 19 million people. Mind-blowing at least for me.

What does it look like going through such area where in the circle of 50 km live so many people?

I cannot give the best answer as I have not been everywhere however, I know it took us at least half an hour driving on the highway along the coastline and the ports. The scenery I saw is difficult to forget and was pretty new to me. I glued my face against the window and held the camera the whole time.

There must have been at least 35 kilometres of the industrial zone along the coast that seemed without an end. And that was only what we passed! The coastline with the factories and ports from Osaka KIX airport till Kobe was about 70 kilometres long. I just get a headache when tried to visualise the distance between the towns in Croatia and that all of that is pure industry.

To your right you will notice the satellite areas such as Izumisano (and its neighbourhoods) and Sakai where the residential areas are pretty small, rather family houses and normal size buildings till 4-5 floors. Far behind were the mountains. But you are not going to look this direction, trust me.

To your left is this 35 kilometres long industrial zone with thousands of ships and boats, of construction places, of the cranes... I remember seeing thousands of warehouses and storehouses of the big companies. Some of these were Amazon and FedEx. Then the interesting part was with the factories and seeing how big all this is.

What impressed me most was how all of this existed and how they managed to build it. It surely takes time and money. Just looking at the constructions makes you feel small. And if some explosion occurred I believe half of the city's area would be blown away to hell being caused by the chain reaction. I hope it does not happen of course.

We passed over several bridges and by ca 10 of these enormous platforms and islands connected with the mainland with numerous bridges. The thing is – the highway goes right close to them and when there were curves rotating you to the north you had the opportunity to see the whole area towards the south-eastern end and the KIX airport. The skyscraper there looked now like an ant.

Speaking of the highways what I also found amusing was the thing that often more than one highway runs concurrently above or under the one you are currently driving on. A few times we went under the knot of a few directions and it was just crazy.

What else here is worth mentioning before entering the city? There were several huge white bridges above the rivers or the parts where the sea got into the mainland. Again had amazing view over the area. Oh, I also forgot to add that the other side of the shore was not visible.

Entering Osaka

Alright, we approached the city and the skyscrapers too! But first had to go off the main highway and found one of the bigger local roads that went beneath the highway and then towards the city. I got lost a bit here on the map unfortunately but I know we relatively quickly got among the normal streets. There were these local highways too but there was no need to use them. Mom Mieko used the GPS device to get us there and I was wondering even for the locals of Osaka whether it was possible to find the place and orientate yourself in such a city without GPS orientation.

We were supposed to reach our street within maximum of 10-15 minutes. I was now surrounded with the skyscrapers and huge buildings but the experience and impressions are much greater when you are on the local highway 10-20 meters above the ground and have more space to observe the urban landscape.

However, I was able to continue with my favourite hobby there when on the road in the bigger places – observing the streets, taking photographs of it and waving to the pedestrians who would wave with their hands back to me.

The streets were relatively crowded, nothing too much to be honest. There were lots of different kind of people when looking at their outfit. Businessmen, students, ordinary people... Lots of citizens used the bicycles which I found great. I imagine I would have gone crazy had I had to use the car there. I decided to use a bit video documentation and here are some scenes from the city. As you can see lots of cyclists and the paths for them. I noticed some with umbrellas while riding a bike.

While driving through these neighbourhoods you would not feel like being in Osaka or some multi million population city. If I watched the video I would have said as well that it was Wakayama. And as my friends expected to see the Transformers everywhere – no, it is not everything futuristic looking and objects are flying above the cars.

As we were close to our destination I was getting excited. My third Lions camp and the new friends I am going to have a great time with in the next couple of days. However, we could not find the entrance of this parking lot of some hotel though we passed by it. Then we made two-three circles around the streets near by until finally reaching it. Mom Mieko also had to call the camp organizares and it was funny to follow the conversation you could not understand but loved her reactions.

Meeting the other campers and heading go the train station

Alright, we got into the parking lot and there was a man waiting for us. Apparently one of the camp leaders who was the main guy to help us around and he spoke English too. As soon as we met and introduced to each other I noticed a bus coming to the parking lot. He said it was ours and that I should join them now. I said goodbye to mom Mieko and that we see each other soon. She was talking shortly to Mr Toru and then left back to Gobo.

As I was heading to the bus I noticed the other campers started coming holding the different sized packages of food and other equipment and don't wanted help. So I met quickly before entering the bus several people but still was confused and noticed I lack some thing such as my ID for the camp and the programme. Luckily, I brought only one bag into the camp as the rules were only one or two bags from the camp were allowed to bring with us due to relocating frequently.

One person I already knew and that was a friend from Mongolia. But I was not worrying for the rest, it will just take a little bit time to start distinguish them from each other and remember the names. We got into the bus and I had no idea where we were heading to.

I sat in the front right behind the camp counsellors or assistants – the Japanese students of the same age as we were. I think I was even older than every of them and there were in total 17 of them though not travelling at the same time and every day. I found out about it right when asked the couple in front of me who were they and what were they doing here.

I was given the programme of the camp and then checked the other participants. This time there were no guys from the "neighbourhood" (former ex-Yugoslavian countries) so we were not able to cheat with understanding each other without English. But still much diverse team what I found good. I was wondering who was going to become my new best friend or friends from the camp and whether everything was going to be okay. There were no problems in the end.

While sitting there and chatting with guys around me I was asked to introduced myself to the others by using the microphone... so I did.

Back to our story. We were driving for about 15 minutes towards the train station as the programme said we were supposed to have a Zazen meditation and practice at one temple around 10 o'clock. Once we stopped there I took my stuff with me (and the drink we got) and pulled out my analog camera. Always have to be ready.

I do not know the name of the station unfortunately and do not remember much (the influence of being occupied with new people) but this one was looking pretty ordinary. It was not something to be expected from the movies with super high-tech trains. It was rather modest. We had to go down the stairs and a bit around until reaching the platform. And I was just collecting the pamphlets from the walls.

The train ride and walking to the temple

We even went to the wrong train station which was funny as had to run back to the other side to catch ours. Speaking of the train station something closest would be the metro I had experienced in Vienna near Schönbrunn. Actually, I even thought a bit that this was their kind of a metro... or rather local train. Still we never went to underground so yes, it was the local train, even the parts on the land where you had to cross it suggested it.

While the train station reminded me a bit of the Viennese metro station (above the ground) the interior was much more similar to the one from the Hungarian metro from Budapest. The seats in the wagon we entered were facing each other on each side of the wagon.

What we had seen from the windows were mostly houses that filled the area. It looked a bit like passing through Gobo, again probably relatively far away from the centre and close to the mountains.

I used the opportunity here to meet the others. The funny thing was while recording the ride they asked me what was the purpose and I replied with "Oh, I have a blog you see.. " and here we are.

After some 10 minutes of the ride we left at the other station, also somewhere in the wild (as it looked at first). What followed next was climbing up the street and the hill to the temple where we were supposed to have the practice of Zazen.

It took us about 10-12 minutes from the train station to get up there. We had first to go through the grass (following the road of course) which was next to the railways. It looked like there was rarely some train going. And one was indeed so we had to be careful when crossing the railway. Once on the other side the road starts going up the hill.

To skip the part with talking to the others we got there and there was a parking lot in front of the temple.

I do not remember everything but the complex looked approximately the same as Dojo-ji. I do not know how big the enclosed area of it is though. We headed to the entrance where we found some sculptures that at first seemed like a graveyard but made no sense. The yard in front of the gates was filled with plenty of greenery; bushes and trees. Following the stone tiles on the floor we reached the temple and the priest who was waiting for us there.

The practice of Zazen

Before entering the temple we were kindly asked to take off our shoes and leave them on the wooden stairs of the temple thus keeping the interior clean. And I find it totally okay.

Once inside you find yourself in the smaller room which is probably something like a lobby. There we got the pamphlet in English with basic instructions how to do the ritual and practice Zazen. Let's go now into the big hall.

This room or a hall was pretty big and spacious. It was intended to practice the Zazen as there were plenty of mattresses waiting for us on the floor along with the black pillows to sit on. The hall had around one wall something like a shrine with dominating golden, red and black colour. There was also a passage or a hallways behind but we were not allowed to go there. To its left was the big black bowl which probably served the same or similar purpose as the one in front of the Dojo-ji temple where one can kindle the sticks.

It was also full of windows from at leas 2 sides thus the sunlight filled the room with brightness. This all looked typically Japanese or some would say Eastern Asian. The traditional interior where the walls were white with wooden planks to hold the construction and for the purpose of architectural style and decoration.

Before everything started we were still walking around the area and talking to each other. I met here lots of people who were curious about me and came to ask the classical "Where are you from? What's your name? How old are you? " and I gave every person different answer to each question, just for fun.

The priest came now with a translator and we were asked to find a spot and sit on the pillows. Each of us held the guide in our hands and the priest started telling us more or less what was inside. The translator had a few times problems explaining the point because even the priest was trying to find the words. The thing is, the concept of Zazen might be a bit confusing and abstract.

Simplified, the point of Zazen meditation is not to think of anything but also not being lost in "nothing" and be left with a dull stare, staring at some point. Zazen is the state of mind and body when you... one with Zen. When you are one with yourself and got rid of all problems and thoughts but still be self aware. Confused? No wonder. I believe half of people there were just having the "what the duck? " facial expression.

Once I get the pamphlet back I will scan it for you. So far you can read a bit about it in my past article.

The whole practice lasted for about 30-40 minutes, or was supposed to at least so.

The first problem everyone had was trying to sit properly. Which proved to be impossible and would need to break the laws of physics. Except for the priest. Then we found an alternative which was acceptable – putting only one leg over another (otherwise the ideal would be putting both legs over each other while sitting. I do not know how though).

The next step is to be in a pretty vertical posture while sitting with your back about 90 degrees up. The priest used to go around and tried to correct the postures of the others by pressing the stick along their back and shoulders. I was lucky to be the normal one this time and avoid the embarrassing moment (not embarrassing but looked pretty funny and everyone else was laughing yet no one want to be the clown).

Afterwards you need to put the hands in a proper way. The right palm below the left one. And while sitting so you need to look with your eyes about 45 degrees further towards some spot on the floor but be careful not to get lost in your thoughts, fall asleep, lose concentration and start staring for nothing. Seems complicated. And it is.

The priest wanted us now to stay in this condition for about 10 minutes and then explained he was going to go to each of us and hit us with the stick. He demonstrated it on the translators which looked pretty funny (though we all understand it is a serious part of the ritual) especially because he hit hard and you could clearly hear the sound. We all also got scared (not to use the more popular phrase with sh... ) if it was going to hurt and all the heads in the hall started turning to each other not being sure what to think.

The priest started with the upper left row and went zig-zag around. He still needed to correct the posture of some and it looked funny when the stick was behind someone like a huge ruler. Sometimes it was difficult to keep the laughter for yourself.

Though I tried to stay focused at this one point and not to think of something else it was impossible not to hear the sound of hitting someone's shoulder and the other guys around laughing as silent as possible. This was especially difficult (and makes me even now laugh) when he hit someone so hard we thought the persons was going to break into two halves. And some hits were pretty gentle.

When he finally reached me I was just awaiting the hit and was wondering whether he was going to do. Luckily I got the "soft hit" on my right shoulder which was not so bad after all. My colleague next to me was the same but the second person next to her was hit he or she had to pay for all his/her sins from life.

When he hit everyone we still had to wait for a few minutes and then he said the practice was over and we all passed it. I believe it took less than the regular training but it was a fun experience.

We form then several rows around the priest (and me sitting next to him) in front of the shrine as it was time for the group photo.

We thanked Mr Priest and the translators for the event and then went out to pick up our shoes and back to train station.

It was already about 11. 30 a. m. when we were walking down the street towards the station and the weather was already hot and humid. We were also hungry so the plan was to go for lunch now.

Bus ride to the hotel and the lunch time

Once back on some other station we left out on the surface and found ourselves on some square going now to find our bus. I still had no idea for almost the whole day where we were.

The bus ride was again about 10 minutes and we arrived to some new place. The building looked like a big complex consisting of more halls. Actually, it was the Yao Gymnasium and a high school.

We entered this pretty modern looking building and it was indeed huge. The entrance had a big movable doors and then the lobby of this was just enormous. We were climbing up the stairs to reach the second floor and our place to have lunch at.

We got through a few hallways into a room that looked like from dreams. There were several big tables for up to 6 people each of it and with lots of space for everybody on the table. Behind the tables next to the windows was the buffet with different kinds of food and superb sauce. I felt so hungry and started picking up food on my plates. I took tons of rice, shrimps and some other meat, potatoes and salad... I felt so full at the end and maybe put more than I was able to eat. Nevertheless it was fantastic. I sat with my Mongolian friend and the Japanese camp counsellors joined us so I had a better chance to get to know each other.

Jump rope tournament

What followed next was going for to the sports hall of the high school and play the games. From my perspective this was a bad idea as I felt like I was going to explode after eating so much. The same opinion shared more of us. Thus I had the opportunity to explore the Japanese restrooms there which all looked pretty modern and did not bother me at all with the buttons around the toilet.

We came now downstairs to this enormous lobby and walked further more to the central part. There we found the wooden racks, a lot of them to supply at least a hundred students, and left our shoes there. Walking again in the socks on the clean floor and we got into the hall.

The hall looked pretty much like any high school hall, maybe a bit bigger or broad. Or it's just that I have not been to any sports hall before it for quiet a long time and forgot. And we were not alone. There were already some Japanese students training. We sat on the chairs next to the walls and watched them jumping around.

Since the main equipment here was the jumping rope each of us was given one red (and also kept it later as a present which I had to leave in Japan unfortunately not having enough space in my luggage). We occupied the second half of the hall and started doing.. something. Since I did all of that in school it was just repeating some thing such as jumping with one jump or two in the air before touching the floor, then the rope goes in opposite direction... and the last one was crossing the rope in X. The harder level was swinging the rope twice while jumping only once and crossing the hands. I had to be careful not to hit myself in the face and glasses with the rope. But you can guess most of us got hit in our own buttocks many times.

The problem with this training and game is that it makes you tired pretty fast. And the only thing we got there (or I was stupid at first to take) was the bottled green tea. I decided to wait until reaching water.

While we were jumping here the best of the Japanese high school students (and some were already college students), a squad of 4-5 boys and girls, were doing some pretty crazy acrobatics. If I only tried one of them I believe I would end up in the hospital.

Then they started pulling out the longest rope that existed there and made a 10-14 meters long jumping rope where you would have jump over it at least 6 times till reaching the other end. And all of that while running. Not everyone wanted to go to them but rather practice alone or in a group of two or three (and the problem was always what was the right time to enter or leave the group).

At first those Japanese students were demonstrating their skills and jumped around. I just knew one of them who also coloured his hair was hidden Son-Goku. I told him that. He was happy. Then the rest of us made two groups at each end of the rope and started jumping both solo and in pairs.

Here I remembered better some campers such as Roberto, the Mexican guy who did not take off his socks then slipped and fall on his buttocks while trying to jump over the long rope. I went a few times solo and in pairs including ones with Son-Goku. But while I tried to do the tricks during my solo tour I also fell on my ass just as I was about to reach the end.. and then rolled myself away.

Soon we stopped the fun and gathered around as there was going to be another more official part with Lions members talking about something. We again had the show with the Japanese students and then introduced each of us in front of the camp, our name and country.

After sitting now down on the ground being tired of everything we soon decided to go back to the (new) hotel. We spent about 2 and half hours in this hall having plenty of fun.

The Grand Yao Hotel and preparing for the Bon dance

The new hotel was looking pretty okay. While waiting in the lobby we got the keys of our rooms and also the names of the people we were going to spend the night with. We were on the 4th floor and had the opportunity to use both the elevator and the stairs. Since in our room there were only males we decided to use the stairs. And got lost on the wrong floor of course.

First time in the Japanese hotel and about our room

This was also my fist hotel so I was curious about the rooms. Since i did not know the others (and here I also mean the camp staff) I was a bit more careful with my behaviour. Later on we all relaxed more than intended.

Now, the rooms... Our room was pretty big and this was another example of what should be closer to the definition of the traditional hotel. The room or rather the space was divided into a few parts. The two largest, maybe of the same size, were with a small table and pillows you would sit around and the other one with the sleeping bags and the exit to the balcony.

There was about 4 boys there and two sleeping bags facing each other. Each of the rooms also had the air conditioner.

What I would comment here are the restroom and the bathroom. Both of them were very small whereas especially the toilet room was pretty narrow. I had difficulties with my legs as while sitting on the toilet I got glued to the wall. I bet the taller guys had even more problems. Another problem, though temporary, was when the flush did not want to react and you start to panic a bit.

The bathroom had the sink and a bath with the long curtain to protect the other half of the space from the shower. We also did not have to worry about the towels since each of the guests of the room got one on the sleeping mattresses.

After our bags aside we made a deal about the order for the shower and then started roaming around the hallways. Still had about half an hour before the ceremony and the Bon dance festival started.

Dinner before the Bon Dance

While walking around the hallways you can find the sofas and again the vending machines with one hundred sorts of drinks in cans. When we had about 5 minutes before gathering in front of the hall we ran down the stairs to come first. Being back at the first floor we found some store selling some modest clothes and shoes plus cakes. It seems that in Japan it is popular to have stores within the hotel. Some of them (and even this one) looked like someone took part of the market place and put it into the hotel.

As we were discovering the offers the rest of the campers along with the youth counsellors arrived. But once they saw we were in ordinary clothes with sandals and flip flops we had to run upstairs to use the white polo shirts and put on some more "official" or "ceremonial" clothes. I took the shoes and hoped for the best. First to come down and the last to actually enter the hall.

We went on the 2nd floor next to the kitchen and waited until getting into this big hall. I still had no clue what was going to happen there actually and what were we supposed to do. This was my first evening with the campers and the camp leaders and I still had to get to know each other and what the atmosphere there was like. Time to get in!

Whoa, it was a pretty big room with several tables offering plenty of food that just made us drool. Next to the doors the organisers prepared the table with drink including both the soda drinks and something more Japanese such as.. the green tea.

Before we even started sat in the groups around 3-4 round tables. The Lions Club of Osaka and other clubs were sitting behind and at the end of the large table and this hall had a stage with the band equipment. But for the Bon Festival music with traditional drums.

While sitting there we had a few people talking on the stage in both Japanese and English. I cannot remember much but it was probably welcoming us to Osaka, hoping to have a good time and that we had had enjoyed Japan so far. Of course I did! Before the bon dance started we also got some kind of a map, a large thin paper that at first looked like a napkin but proved to be a big paper almost fully filled with the text in Japanese. I was wondering what was the point and what did it say. Apparently it had something to do with the sumo wrestlers?! But they did not get deeper into explanation. Another thing that waited each guest was the hand fan with some signs printed on it. It helped a lot not just this evening (when you are sweating after dancing) but the other days too. I have to say those made in Japan are pretty big and produce rather wind when using them. The bad thing is unfortunately when you stop waving it and all the magic disappears and you feel again as hot as in hell.

What we might have cared more was to start eating. Once the permission was given we occupied the central table and started putting all those warm looking dishes on our plates. Potatoes, chicken, fried crabs, salad, rice, cookies and cakes, drinks for everyone... it was a nice evening indeed. After Japan I became crazy for the Japanese soy sauce and other spices that one mixes with rice, meat and salad. While eating sushi menu in Vienna and tasting this.. taste... it just turned me in my head back to Japan. Though I found the book of Marcel Proust, Combray, to be boring there might be some truth with the Madelaine cookies (or in my case – maguro/gohan/ebi-tempora cookies) with awakening the memories of the place and time while eating it.

Alright, time for the main thing.

The Bon-odori and a lovely evening

Shortly after being satisfied with dinner we were told that the festival or rather a show for us was about to start. I prepared my camera (and you will get to see the video, you're welcome). Then the music started.

The band was already on the stage – about five guys wearing white kimono and playing the drums. Three or four of them held the drums around their neck and chest hitting with two sticks on each side and one guy playing one put on the wooden stage which reminded me of djembe drums I used to attend. What was noticeable was almost all of them were wearing the white bandannas with a knot on the forehead. Behind the stage was a red-white long silk though I do not know the meaning behind it. The music, the beats made everyone move and tap with out fingers on the table. Since I indeed played djembe drums I just got a sudden wish to jump on the stage with one more drum they got and join them.

The men were playing for about a minute when the women in kimono and a large yellow triangle-like hats started entering the room by dancing already and walking one behind each other. The things just got more interesting. So this was the start of this bon dance and what it looked like. Or at least in one of its forms. The characteristic movement was waving with both hands into left and right direction up and down, watching your footsteps and move the head too. The bon dance... wait, you do not know what the bon dance is actually, right?

Bon dance (or "Bon-odori" as our Japanese would say) and its festival are one of the most popular and widely spread customs in Japan. They told us it has been traditionally celebrated for the last couple of centuries. Though we have not visited any festival outside in the city we did learn some steps and enjoyed the show of Bon-odori. The festival itself refers to the Buddhist custom (but in Japan) in honor of the spirits of our ancestors. I might compare it with the holiday of All Saints Day (or Halloween) on the 1st of November. Families gather and visit the graves of their ancestors. Though in Japan it also has something with the spirits of ancestors who would then visit the altars in the house. I wrote in other articles that I saw altars in many houses I have visited, mostly in the more traditional families or homes of the elderly. Speaking of duration, the festival lasts for three days and since we were in Kansai region that meant we were enjoying the last day (from 15th till 18th) of it.

The women were wearing some pink-white-blue kimono and the "squad" consisted of both younger and older ladies (seniors). I have to admit that the hats were pretty strange looking, at least for me. I had never seen those somewhere before and unfortunately one of the first associations was the Pyramid Head. The hats were probably a circle in their basis but got folded in two halves in the middle and then put on the head making it look like a strange triangle or even a melon (but yellow one you are not going to eat).

I recorded them dancing for a minute or two and you can watch the video (and maybe learn the moves? ) here.

When the ladies finished their dance they stepped slowly aside and let the new squad enter it. We applauded them watching now several guys in the blue kimono, white shorts and the white bandanna over their head. At first they looked like ready to party in Hawaiian clothes just missing the flowers around their necks. This guys were even more "gangsta" with the movements going down with their bodies sometimes almost doing the crouch and dance at the same time. This also lasted for about few minutes and then they retired behind the doors.

The ladies came forth again and started slowly moving around the table while dancing and inviting us to join them. Sure we do!

The Lions Club members brought us the boxes with white kimono to put on if we wanted. I decided to take one immediately because why not?

The big line of people filled the room and we started moving around the hall slowly trying to learn the steps at the same time. The whole group was now consisting of the Japanese ladies, the Lions Club camp leaders and counsellors and us – the campers. Some of us were a bit shy or had problems to get the steps. I find myself often in this group when trying to think a lot and analysing what and how to do it rather than just try doing it. Actually, in both cases I fail and keep repeating the wrong steps for at least half an hour.

I have to say I really enjoyed the dance and listening to the music. At first I found myself between those old ladies who were just smiling every time I or any other camper was rotating our head for 360 degrees to catch the moves desperately. In the end I succeeded it. You have to be careful only not to lose yourself and "fall out from the system" by having your own patterns or rhythm in the head. Happened to me of course when I used to clap several seconds before the others and felt like an idiot.

Do you want to learn the steps? It's difficult to describe and of course makes no sense except for watching someone doing it. I recommend watching this one. What we have done was trying to move with the hands waving to the upper right then upper left size making two circles while moving the hands. Then you switch in two circle to the lower right side and make a circle towards the lower left side. I am still not sure about one part (and did it wrong there many times) when you enter finale and are supposed to clap. Once did four times switching go now with both hands to both right and left side but without doing any circle. Then both hands wave to each other, make a circle and end up on the ride side a bit above your head. Tiny break and twice clap-clap! That is it. Does not sound bad, does it? Yeah, go watch the video, I am bad at explaining.

The problem with this dance is that you will become soon pretty tired and start not feeling your legs after few circles. As the dance requires from you to do the small steps with both of your feet, lower your body a bit whereas this posture tires you a lot... and walk now like that for 15-20 minutes. Sounds funny but it really does make you feel a bit like someone hit you with the baseball bat.

In the end everybody learned how to dance it and we also wanted a break which happened. After grand applause we hurried to drink something and then the photo-time occurred. There was even a mascot of Lions Club (or just someone wearing a lion costume) dressed in the kimono so we all took a group photo together.

The finale of the evening were the nominations at the end of the programme. We all sat back to our tables now dead tired and listened to the Lions Club staff speaking on the stage. They wanted to thank us for participating in and learning a bit more of their customs. And now they wanted to say there were several people they observed who did the best job while immersing into the dance. The winners were going to be given a special kimono as a prize and a memory of this evening. The best dancer of the night was Gregoire from Belgium and the rest of the diplomas went to Beatrice from Spain and Gabrielle from the United States.

The party was now over and we left the hall. Since it was pity to leave all the juice bottles on the table we took a few with us into the rooms.

Plans for the other day

(The view from our balcony over the southern side of Osaka... or rather satellite towns)

We got back to our rooms and spent at least an hour before actually falling asleep. I was still having problems with my nose and tried to avoid the air conditioner but without it we all almost died. I slept now for the first time on the mattresses on the floor in a hotel and it was actually pretty comfortable. We got lots of blankets and pillows. The problem was with the windows of the balcony. Actually, they are special story.

The windows or rather movable walls were pretty transparent when it comes to stopping the sunlight. Even when we turned off the lights you could really see the light from the streets. Since I am this kind of a person which needs darkness and dark to fall asleep I was not looking forward much to it. Though now after 5 months in Austria I got used to it. But wake up early with the sunset. Almost the same happened there, I was among the first in the morning to open my eyes.

And what were we going to do the next morning? We were going on a 6 hours long trip to... Hiroshima! (read more our trip to Hiroshima and the Peace Memorial Center here) I was so excited. And fell asleep. Good night!

Thanks for reading.

Photo credits to Lions Clubs Osaka and the Lions Club counsellors.

Photo gallery