Mini castle

When people think of Japan, this is usually one of the images they have in mind, besides geishas and cherry blossoms. This is a Japanese castle. It stands in the city of Takamatsu, in the prefecture of Kagawa on the island of Shikoku. We visited there in 2001. It's not a very big structure; in fact it probably takes up about as much space as your average McDonald's, although the building is taller (and better looking) than a McDonald's. I was very surprised to find it where it is--which is right on the edge of the city next to the harbor. The city surrouds it on three sides--the third side (to the left of the castle in this picture) faces the harbor.

The day we saw it, we had gone down to the harbor area to meet several students from Okayama, which is across from Takamatsu on the main island of Honshu. These kids were from the very first group of students that I had responsibility for, in 2000. I coordinated their stay here in the Pacific NW--decided what teachers they would have, where they would go for their half-day activities, what kind of volunteer work they would do, where they would go on their full-day trip to Seattle. They were a great group of kids and I really enjoyed their stay. The student we had from that group was Shiori, who I will probably blog about here at another time. Anyway, the Kubos, who we were staying with in Takamatsu, took us down to the harbor to meet the ferry boat that the students were coming across in. While we waited for the ferry, we visited the grounds this castle sits on. It's not a large park; just big enough for some twisted pine trees and the castle. But it was my first exposure to Japanese feudal structures, and I was enchanted. It reminded me of pictures I'd seen of Himeji castle, which we later visited in 2003.

The thing that stays with me still, though, is the surprise of finding this piece of Japanese history sitting so close to the hustle and bustle of the city. The serenity of it and the reminder of a slower time evoked quite a contrast.

Thoughts on being a psuedo America-jin grandma

This is the latest picture I've gotten from Sachie (the very first student we've hosted, and whose wedding we attended in October 2001) of her firstborn, Reiji. I like to say he's my Japanese grandson, and I'm his American grandma. I have met him; he is as cute as a button and very charming. I got the news today that Sachie is pregnant again; she is in her second month and is suffering from morning sickness, poor kid. If she's in her second month, that means...let's see...the baby should be born the same month as Reiji--in November. I hope it's a girl. I mean, Reiji's adorable, and that shirt he's wearing in the picture is the one we sent him at Christmas, but I would love a little girl to lavish. Here's why:


This is Hiroko's little boy, Haruta. Hiroko is the student whose wedding we went to in October of 2003, and just last year she produced this little wonder (in October 2006). So I already have two grandsons; it's time for a granddaughter, f'goodness sakes! (BTW, the outfit he's wearing is, yes, one we sent him for Christmas. It's a tradition. ^_^)

Besides, then I can send Sachie all sorts of pretty girlie pink stuff...I have long wanted to buy the prettiest, frilliest things I can get my hands on to dress a little girl in. This would give me the perfect excuse.

Yeah, yeah, I know we aren't offically grandparents, but hey, this is as close as I'll ever get, so I'm enjoying it as much as I can. Hey again--someday these kids may be coming to homestay with us like their mothers did! I can dream, can't I??

(Now I know how weird my mom must've felt when she found herself to be a grandmother at 46. I'm too young to be a grandmother, f'goodness sake!!! Most of my hair is still its original color!)

Oh, one more thing that I just noticed. I can see both Sachie and her husband, Takao, in Reiji's face. It makes for a very darling little boy. I wonder if someday he'll be breaking little hearts when he goes to school?