Lift Up Your Hearts!

There was no view of Fuji today, which goes along with the weather change from yesterday's cold to much warmer today. We walked to Ryuo eki, and on our way stopped at Big Boy for lunch. Yes, that's Big Boy, as in the U. S. chain, but with a definite Japanese flavor. We had to try "hamburg," which is popular in modern Japan, a large ground beef patty with onions and other flavorings, somewhat like an individual meatloaf but tasting like no other meatloaf in my experience. I've never been a fan of corn chowder, but the corn soup from the soup bar here was fantastic.

We took the train one stop to Kofu. Our objective was the HIPPO Family Club meeting, but we went early so we could enjoy some more time at Kofu Castle. We were able to see parts of the castle that had been closed on our previous visit, and the sakura trees were in still more glorious blossom. While we were there, Janet and one of the other HIPPO Club members recognized each other. (I'm always amazed at her memory for faces; she'd only met him once.)

The HIPPO Club meeting was just a short walk from the castle. We had attended a HIPPO meeting once when we were in Boston, though we didn't get further involved before moving away. :( This meeting was run along similar lines, but was more fun because of all the children. We began in a circle, and a microphone was passed around to anyone who wanted to use it, which, I believe, was everyone. Each person introduced himself, usually according to some set format involving name, family members, where they lived, and interests, in any of some 16 languages, from English to Hindi, although the most common was Spanish. Even the tiniest children were encouraged to participate in one way or another, but there was no pressure applied. Janet, Porter, and I could not follow the normal format, but we each managed something; I chose broken Japanese, and Porter, Dutch. We played games involving several different languages. Everyone was so friendly! One little girl, in particular, took me under her wing and explained as best she could what was going on, though I think she wondered at times why I was so slow and stupid. :) Later we all spoke one of the HIPPO stories along with the CD, and each person had another turn with the microphone to recite any part of any of the stories, in any language. Although it has been a long time since I've listened to the HIPPO CD's, I was pleased to be able to remember and speak a few phrases.

Throughout the meeting, the children were free to participate or play in the room, as they wished. Mostly they participated, with enthusiasm. HIPPO is not a "children's activity," but a family activity in which the adults are just as interested in learning as the children. As would be expected, people were at different levels, but adults and children alike received general acclaim for whatever they could do, and were not shy about trying and experimenting. I was particularly impressed by a couple of the children, including one boy who did a great job with the difficult English "r" sound. He wasn't "speaking English," just parroting the CD, but the ability to make that sound is a huge issue for the Japanese, even those who've had many years of English language instruction. How much of a language can one learn by memorizing and reciting stories and getting together with other enthusiasts once a week? I don't know. But I do know that these folks are training their ears to distinguish words and phrases, and their mouths to make the sounds, of the foreign languages. They may know only the phrases from the stories, but their English sounds like English, their Spanish like Spanish, their Korean like Korean. They are learning through experience that they can communicate in something other than their native tongue, and have a great enthusiasm for other languages. If they ever have the opportunity to study one of their languages more closely, whether through classes or foreign travel, they will have a firm foundation on which to build.

After the meeting, we walked along a sakura-line street to Kofu's Takeda Shrine. It's hard to get a feel for just what their religion means to most Japanese. We saw many people praying at the shrine, and the offering box was full. But I get the impression that most people in Japan are no more Shinto or Buddhist than most Americans are Christian. That is, they go through the motions, take their children to the shrine for traditional ceremonies, pray and make offerings when they have particular requests, and make pilgrimages on special days. Does it have meaning beyond custom and tradition? I don't know.

Takeda does have one thing you won't find at most shrines: a "Hello Kitty" statue. Did you know that the Hello Kitty phenomenon originated in Kofu? I didn't even know it was Japanese. Hello Kitty is huge here, and not just among children.

Knowing that dinner wouldn't be until after church, we indulged in some soft cream. There was not much choice of flavors, so I had mixed grape and vanilla this time. The grape part was very good, more "really grape" than I'm used to in grape-flavored items. I really don't understand why you can't get grape jelly here if you can get grape ice cream. We also ate a sample of shingen mochi, a Yamanashi specialty. Although Janet loves mochi, especially the kind with red bean paste inside, this particular variety she called "dragon mucus" when she first encountered it. Of course she didn't tell us that until after we'd eaten…. It wasn't bad, and Janet, who loved it, was amazed at how much her tastes have changed.

Next we went back to Kofu eki, took the train one stop, and caught the ride to church. It was pleasant to be more awake this time, though I still had a little trouble during the sermon, despite the fact that I found it quite interesting and really wanted to stay awake. (I've heard some sermons for which sleeping would have been more edifying than listening, but this wasn't one of them.) We had Communion, and that inspired some thought. Here we were, in a church halfway around the world, a church to which, had it been back home, I would certainly have avoided. No liturgy, no hymns. Contemporary Christian "praise songs" accompanied by electronically amplified instruments. Long sermons. Children sent elsewhere during most of the service. A general approach I would in my ignorance have called Southern Baptist, though that's not the pastor's background so that's probably the wrong label. In any case, not what I would chose for our church home. Except. Except that in a country where less than one percent of the population claims to be Christian, one can't afford to be choosy, and that can be a very good thing. As I partook of the Sacrament, I realized that we are forever united to this eclectic group on the other side of the world, no matter how far individuals may disperse. This little group of believers and seekers, the most diverse collection of origins, languages, cultures, ideas, experiences, and opinions with which I have been privileged to worship, is united by what C. S. Lewis called Mere Christianity, and all other considerations—as important as they may be under other circumstances—must be laid aside. That they have welcomed, supported, and encouraged Janet, and been so kind and friendly to us, also endears them to me, of course! Even people whose personalities rubbed me the wrong way at first are becoming people I will miss when we leave.

(It was interesting to note that some, though not all, of the songs we sang tonight were ones we had been exposed to—against our will—in churches back home. I have to admit it was good to be able to sing along with everyone. I also look forward, next time I'm forced to sing Here I Am to Worship, Better is One Day, or Open the Eyes of My Heart in our own church, to being able to make the comment that they sound a lot better in Japanese….)

After church many of us went out to dinner at Bamyan, the first restaurant we've been to here that I've found less than inspiring (mediocre Chinese food). But the company and conversations made it worthwhile. Once again, Bonnie and Atley spoiled the old folks and drove us all the way home.