Hiroshima First Impressions, pt. 2: The Big

Walls of vending machines.

Ubiquitous doesn't even begin to describe how universal they are in Japan.

While you wrap your mind around the level of hyperbole exercised in the above statement, let me tell you that these machines don't just feature uniquely flavored soft drinks (cider meets condensed milk?!? WTF?!?). But also other strange goodies such as vitamin drinks in tiny amber glass bottles, every tea Zeus ever created (both hot and cold), and Kit Kats in glass bottles!




What's over 2 inches thick and makes my mouth water?
On an unrelated note, we found these in the bakery section of the grocery store in the megastore SATY. Sweet, rich, buttery goodness!

My Great Gatsby

I noticed this shiny, large silver dome from our dormitory and -- for whatever reason -- had to know what it was. As you'll see, we saw it time and again. As a matter of fact, it's really hard to miss it due to its location as well as the fact that the spire is brightly lit at night!

Unfortunately, as you'll see, everyone we asked knew less about it than us. Not only did they not know what it was, they denied even noticing it!

As for why do I call it my Great Gatsby? If you've read the classic American novel, you may know that the novel serves as a very symbolic meditation on the decline of the American dream. It deals with themes of greed and the pursuit of the great Amercian way of life getting twisted. One of the most powerful symbols in the novel is that of the Green Light. Barely visible from Gatsby's home, the green light represents an idealized future, distant but perhaps attainable. This is summed up beautifully in the last quote from the novel:

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Since coming back from Japan and pondering upon this issue at some length, I have come to a conclusion: The building was not my Great Gatsby. Not entirely. The building was a symbol for the distant but perhaps attainable, just like the green light. Everything from the country of Japan (more importantly some things I experienced in Japan) were singularly captured in this beautiful silver mirage. Just like it, all these things are within my senses but escape my grasp.

Hiroshima Daigaku-Byoin!

Translation: Hiroshima University Hospital

Our friends and graduate pharmacy students

(left to right): Kana, Ryoko, Honami, and Matt
Not pictured are their classmates Hiroshi and Hiroko but you'll meet them soon.
Adam and I are having dinner with Kana and Hiroko at a very interesting restaurant that fuses Italian pasta dishes with a distinctly Japanese flair!

I had Duck Arrabiata which was delicious!
Honami and Hiroko treated us to a Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki meal. Okonomiyaki can be Hiroshima style or Kansai style. Hiroshima style is delicious and consists of layers of noodles (soba or udon), cabbage, egg, meats, cheese, and the special okonomiyaki sauce.

I want to take a second and let you know that the idea of small servings in Japan is B.S. Adam and I couldn't finish our food here while Honami was done with hers in no time.

What a buncha wusses!
-- Gabe

Honami was also nice enough to make origami cranes for us and teach us how to make them as well. It wasn't the last time someone made me a crane though.

"1, 2, 3, . . . _____!"
-- Taylor


(left to right): Ryoko, Honami, and Kana

We just got done chowing down at Mos Burger which is a great fastfood burger and hotdog joint. Adam and I actually ate there in Tokyo with Patrick well before we arrived in Hiroshima. But you know, one good turn deserves another. And another. And another. And another . . .

The Beauty of the Cherry Blossom

We were exceptionally lucky to see Sakura or the Cherry Blossom in full bloom. The Cherry Blossom is supposed to symbolize the impermanence of life since they bloom for a very brief period.

Please take a closer look at some of these pictures to appreciate their transcendent beauty.

The observant ones among you might have noticed a very familiar structure on the hill in the background.

Curse you, Great Gatsby! I WILL solve your mystery!

Crouching City, Hidden Garden

Adam and I met a very nice elderly gentleman by the river (make up your own jokes here, folks) who showed us this wonderful garden.

This is what the garden looked like after the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima . . .

. . . and below is what it looks like now! Truly, Hiroshima is a city of hope. This theme, by the way, is echoed in many places in the city and hope and peace are two of the most appealing qualities of modern Hiroshima. This bamboo forest is straight out of House of Flying Daggers. Haven't seen House of Flying Daggers?!? We're no longer friends.
Just want to take a second and point out that Adam is an excellent teacher. His teaching skills of Japanese are no exception. He was able to teach me in less than 5 minutes how to say, "Will you please take our picture?". I presented this query to a group of elderly women in a manner probably not unlike a tortoise trying his best to speak english. As you can tell, it worked. I just wish I knew how to ask, "Can you make it less blurry?"!
Seriously though, if I was ever going to learn conversational Japanese, I would definitely ask Adam.

We're no longer friends.

-- Gabe

Fun at ROUND 1

A picture is worth a thousand words. That is all.
It's Extracellular Matrix bowling! Way better than that Golgi Body crap we have in the U.S.
The person with the lowest score has to wear the suit.


We had to pick him up! Just couldn't help ourselves.

This ended up being a very fun evening! We really did some quality bonding here.

Enter the UT!

The students from the University of Tennessee arrived in Hiroshima a week after we did. That's Brooke on the left and Clara on the right.

Here we are posing with a member of Kashimura-san's campaign team. Kashimura-san was a mayoral candidate.

I just want to take a minute and say I was very happy to meet and get to know Brooke and Clara. They really made our trip even better because we all had such a great time. Even the Japanese students and our preceptor commented on how well our two groups worked together as one and seemed to have a lot of fun.

Miyajima, pt. 1

Miyajima or the Shrine Island is located in the Inland sea of Japan. This statue points the way to the island.
We took a ferry to the island. I remember it being a little cold that day but the ride was pleasant. I do remember realizing that I can't swim about half way into the ride. Although -- for some reason -- a strange calm had overtaken me and I patiently waited my watery demise that surprisingly never came. I guess swimming is overrated.
A torii (a traditional Japanese gate) marks the entrance to a Shinto shrine.

This may be the most famous of all the gates in Japan. As you'll see in the next part, this gate gives the impression that it is floating when the tide is high.

The shrine is called Itsukushima.

Miyajima, pt. 2

According to the religion of Shinto, deer are messengers of the gods. So, the deer are sacred and roam freely on the island. As you can see, they are very comfortable around people since they are not harmed.

Sorry, Taylor. This must be torturous for you.

This picture gives a good indication of how the gate would appear to be floating in the sea when the tide is high.

The people gathered at the beach collect shells etc. Miyajima is also famous for its oysters. Adam took off to wander the beach and inspect the gate.
Always representing the ATL!

Actually, I am just happy to finally be on solid ground.

Miyajima, pt. 3

Ceremonial washing of the hands before entering the shrine proper.

I hope you didn't drink any. Dysentery is a harsh mistress.
-- Gabe
More evidence of the role the tide plays.

Interesting point to note is that this shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage site. This means that the international community works to help preserve and maintain this site. As of this year, there are about 850 World Heritage sites across the globe.

Miyajima, pt. 4

A Miyajima monk invented a wooden spoon to cook rice without impairing its taste. This rice paddle is not only a tribute to the monk but also the largest rice paddle in the world.
I really like this picture because I think it's sweet. All the lovely ladies look to be in a delightful mood.
Adam and I take a gander at the Miyajima specialty, oysters! Delicious!

Miyajima is also famous for its version of manju, a traditional Japanese confection that can best be described as a fried rice cake filled with sweet red bean (azuki) paste. The Miyajima version is called Momiji Manju since it's shaped like a Maple leaf and the Japanese Maple (Momiji) is very common in Miyajima.

Fanta Melon ! ! !

Fanta Melon!

Best. Drink. Ever.

By far the best carbonated beverage I have ever imbibed in my otherwise drab life.

It's even better when topped with some vanilla ice cream.

I can't even get my self to look at the camera. Either I am in a state of rapture or -- more likely -- I am hatching a plan to quickly attempt at sipping from Adam's glass before he gets done taking the picture.

The real tragedy is that you can't buy it in the U.S. due to some distribution law.

It was Patrick who introduced me to Melon Soda in Tokyo when we first arrived in Japan. Thanks Patrick!

Trip to Indian Restuarant (1 of 4)

Food from the Indian subcontinent is the most delicious in the world.
The end.
Seriously though -- even in Japan -- Adam and I ended up eating Indian food 4 times!

The waitress (Yes, Gabe she was Japanese AND she was wearing traditional Indian clothes! Please try to contain yourself.) told us we had ordered too much food! I have never heard that one before. Of course, we had no problem finishing all of it (and getting dessert).

Click this picture to appreciate the food!

Reasons this dinner totally rocked our faces:

1. All the students came including Yuka.

2. The four of us gave the students the gifts we brought them.

3. I am wearing a Kazushi Sakuraba shirt.

(Better get to googlin' if you don't know who that is!)

4. The food . . . mmm.

5. Dessert . . . mmmmm.

BBQ, Hanami-Style!

Hanami (flower viewing) is the Japanese custom of getting together to appreciate the beauty of the cherry blossoms. Everyone in the pharmacy department at the university enjoyed a wonderful BBQ at the mountain under cherry blossoms. We all had a blast!


Here I am with some beautiful flowers.
The cherry blossoms aren't bad either :)
Four brothers!
Adam, how you like me now?
Our preceptor, Dr. Kenji Kihira

Baseball ! ! !

Hiroshima Carp vs. Yokohama Baystars!

Dude . . . "vs."? This isn't the UFC!
-- Gabe

Kyobashi River

A nice view of the river from either our dormitory or the Toyoko Inn. I can't seem to recall.

We walked that bridge nearly every day on our way to the station and back.
The tide is high. The bank of the river is actually where you see the boats tied.

This particular mayoral candidate took his campaign by river!

We cheerfully waved back at the campaign personnel until a choice word from their megaphone struck our ears, gaijin. We were told that nowadays this word is considered a slur for foreigners and has negative connotations. The more appropriate gaikokujin should be used. Since being informed of this, we found our selves more attuned to picking up on times when people dropped the "G-word". Also, Adam started singularly supporting Kashimura-san whose campaign personnel we had posed with earlier.

Only in Japan . . .

I don't know what's the best part of this picture -- (a) this is as big as trucks get here or (b) why are raccoons sweeping the street?
I am sorry about this. I understand if you never forgive me.