Okayama Trip '09

This morning I visited the oldest public school in Japan -- 閑谷学校（しずたにがっこう） (Shizutani Gakkou) in Bizen city, which is located about 45 minutes from Okayama by train. This school was founded about 330 years ago and is now a national treasures.

The person who took me there is Ms. Fujiwara who is a member of a well-known Bizen yaki pottery artist family. Her father is the third generation. Check out their website for more information. After leaving the school, I was very lucky to have the chance to meet the famous potter Mr. Fujiwara and visit the family's kilns. Ms. Fujiwara speaks English well, so I was able to receive the first hand introduction about Bizenyaki. It was quite impressive.

In the afternoon, I was taken to the Okayama prefecture library. I have heard of many compliments about this library, finally I got to see it. This library was open in 2004. They have been ranked number 1 in Japan for 3 consecutive years in terms of the number of visitors and the amount of materials being checked out. They use some advanced technology in the library, such as the robot system that we have seen at Santa Clara University library. This library does not allow users to read their own books (study) in the library. They hope the reading area can be used by the users who are using the library's materials. They had sufficient funding in the past years to acquire 70% of the publications on the market; however, this year the budget was cut 20%.

My digital camera is out of battery now, so I am not able to upload more pictures at this time. I will be leaving Okayama tomorrow morning. This blog will not be updated until I return to San Jose.

This morning, I was taken to visit Sogenji Zen temple. There are people from all over the world studying Zen, but only 2 are from Japan. Our "tour guide" is a young man from Belgium　who has been studied in this temple for 4 years. I also talked to the people from Taiwan and the United States there.

In the afternoon, I visited Notre Dame Seishin University. It is a woman's college with about 2,000 enrollment. Now it is their end of school year break, so only very few students are still on campus.

This morning, I visited Okayama Gakugeikan High School whose award winning band just had a performance at Santa Clara University earlier this month. They are interested in sister school relationship with us. It's a co-ed school with approximately 11,00 students. Currently they have about 15 long term exchange students enrolled. Their music, art, and and English programs are well-known. 

My interpreter Ms. Yamauchi told me that I was going to have lunch with someone from San Jose today. When that person showed up, guess what? We recognized each other immediately. That's Addi McClure who graduated from ND in 2006. She didn't think about I am that person from San Jose visiting Okayama. She just knew that she was going to meet someone named Amy. We were so excited to see each other. We talked a lot about ND. She is studying at a university in Tokyo as an exchange student for a year, starting from last September. It is their break now, so she is visiting her parents' friends in Okayama. Her parents know this friend through sister city citizen exchange program, that is how we are connected.

In the afternoon, I visited Okayama's main city library. A librarian told me a lot about how technology is used in the libraries in Japan. However, only a few libraries use it; it is still not widely used yet.

No activities are arranged for the weekend, so I will not update this blog until Monday evening Japan time.

This morning I visited Notre Dame Seishin Junior High and High school (at the same location) in Kurashiki. The principal is in Belgium now. I met the vice principal Ms. Mori and some English teachers. We talked about the exchange student program. They are interested in 1 year exchange (sending their students to our school to study for one year). Regarding the short term exchange, there will be students from other countries visiting their school in June for 10 to 20 days. I was told that June is a preferred time to do this.

Notre Dame Seishin is located on a hill. It has very good view.

This morning, I met the Okayama city mayor, vice mayor, and many officers from the city. I was also interviewed by journists from media. The mayor, Mr. Takaya, has been to San Jose. We talked about the purpose of my visit and his impression of San Jose. The mayor's schedule was very tight, I really appreciate that he welcomed me in person.

After the meeting, Ms. Yamauchi (my interpreter) took me to see the Okayama castle and the famous Korakuen Garden. The welcome lunch was held at a restaurant near the city hall. In the afternoon, I visited the library of Kyoyama junior high school.

Sorry I don't have much time to write more. I will add more details later or when I go back to the U.S.

I arrived in Okayama, Japan safely, after more than 11 hours of flight. Ms. Yamauchi met me in the Kansai airport. We took Shinkansen to Okayama. Mr. Yasuda and Mr. Yamamoto welcomed me at the exit of the train station, then Mr. Yasuda drove me to the host family's house. The host family (Monobe family) is extremely nice. I really appreciate their hospitality. I had dinner with them, it was really delicious. We used simple English and Japanese to communicate. Tomorrow morning, I will be meeting Okayama mayor and vice mayor. Hope I have a good night sleep tonight with no jet lag.

I was invited to the "Thank you" dinner for Japanese Consulate Mr. Okuda. Originally it was planned to be a home potluck, but now it will be at an Indian restaurant (buffet style). The replacement of Mr. Okuda will arrive in the US on the same day. He will be at the dinner as well. His name is Mr. Nagaoka.

The news about my travel is in the letter to the parents that will be mailed with the 4th quarter progress report. It says

"Amy Huang, Librarian will be traveling to Okayama, Japan as part of the San jose sister ity Citizen Exchange Program on March 23. Along with visiting local schools and libraries, Amy will visit Notr Dame Seishin Junior and Senior High school, founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1886, to investigate possibilities of developing a student exchange program. Sayonara Amy!"

After realizing that I am going to visit Okayama this month, Ms. Debi Davis invited me to the pre-concert reception. I will be able to meet some people from Okayama Gakugeikan High School.
In the picture, from left to right: Mrs. Nagamine, Ms. Debi Davis, Mr. Nagamine (Consul General of Japan in San Francisco), and ...

Ms. Yamauchi wondered if the Notre-Dame Seishin University will not have the answers to my interests. She asked me if this visit is necessary.

I told her that although the university libraries might not directly relate to my proposal, I would like to visit different types of libraries. I also would like to visit Notre-Dame Seishin University which was founded by Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, just as our school was. We are in the same ND family; I believe it's worth a visit. I hope they can keep it in my itinerary.

Mr. Green introduced Ms. Kunitomi to me by email. She was an exchange student from Okayama a long time ago. She graduated from Notre Dame Seishin High and College.

Click poster to enlarge.

An Okayama high school symphony band will be performing in Santa Clara University (3/14) and at Harker High School (3/16).

Mayor: Shigeo Takaya

Vice Mayors: Shinichi Sako & Satoshi Murate

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/attractions/facilities/img/traditional_handicrafts/j33211be2230120274.jpg

Mr. Yasuda asked me if my schedule on weekend during the stay in Okayama has been confirmed. A well-known potter would like to introduce one of the Japanese traditional ceramics, Bizen wear, to me. The following paragraph is quoted from Mr. Yasuda's email about Bizen ware.

"Bizen-yaki is a type of Japanese pottery most identifiable by its ironlike hardness, reddish brown color, absence of glaze, and markings resulting from wood-burning kiln firing. Bizen is named after the village of Imbe in Okayama prefecture, formerly known as Bizen province. This artwork is Japan's oldest pottery making technique, introduced in the Heian period. Bizen is one of the six remaining kilns of medieval Japan. Bizen clay bodies have a high iron content, and traditionally, much organic matter that is unreceptive to glazing. The clay can take many forms. The surface treatments of Bizen wares are entirely dependent on yohen, or "kiln accidents." Pine ash produces goma, or 'sesame seed' glaze spotting. Rice straw wrapped around pieces creates red and brown scorch marks. The placement of pieces in a kiln causes them to be fired under different conditions, with a variety of different results. Considering that one clay body and type of firing is used, the variety of results is remarkable. Because of the clay composition, Bizen wares are fired slowly over a long period of time. Firings take place only one or two times a year. "

This field trip will be on Tuesday March 31 morning. (confirmed on 3/3)

ND's ceramics teacher, Mr. Key, told me that he and his friends do traditional Japanese wood firing similar to Bizen ware. He is acquainted with the technique. I believe the Japanese potters will be impressed if I tell them that I know someone who does firing and both in an Anagama and Noborigama kilns in Californa. According to Mr. Key, there are only 6 in all of California and only 30 nationwide.