Flickr Photo Set
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PLAN FOR TODAY:
- Ginza
- Sony Building
- Galleries
- Kabuki-za
- Hamarikyu-teien – River Cruise
- Asakusa
NEW PLAN!!!
- I am buggered…
- Bum around the house
- Pedal around the neighbourhood
- Find Dai Rakudakan…
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Today, I must be brave. Helen can’t come to the workshop because she slept in… I’m going to ride her bike around Kunitachi, then head over and explore Kichioji before the class starts at 8. Ahhh…
Ok, so I successfully made it back to the rail station. Helen lent me her bike, which turned out to be disastrous at the outset (I haven’t ridden a bike in almost 3 years), and I immediately too a wrong turn, which left me rolling through the quiet suburban streets of Kunitachi, looking for the house, so I could start again. This was compounded by the fact that I am almost totally ignorant of Japanese bike etiquette…
It was quite a surreal experience, rolling down the street – it took me about 5 minutes to realise why I felt like I was the star of some form of art-house film – all of the street lamps were quietly exuding suspenseful, uplifting music, reminiscent of the film score of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’… most entertaining.
I am moving – I have heard the pedestrian crossing theme tune at least 18 times now!
Lesson #3 in Japanese – DON’T TRUST THE TOWN CLOCK!!!
After lazily rolling through the beautiful tree-lined streets of Kunitachi, I was surprised to read that the town clock said that it was 5.35 pm. Naturally, as I left my watch at home, and the class is at 7, I panicked, I raced home to deposit the bike and pick up my training clothes to discover hat it was exactly 3.00. CAN YOU IMAGINE???
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SUN ROAD
2 x Singlets JPY1360
Now I need to eat – here goes…
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I sat down and pointed o whatever looked good on the menu, JPY730 later, and I am about to eat my first real Japanese meal. And, like ay true Korean, I chose something with rice.
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I think that my plan of attack for this evening is to stake out the venue (I think that I have found the correct basement entrance, as heralded by an oversized Heineken Beer Bottle).
On arrival, I will keep my eyes out for the standard fringe-theatrical types, and muster up my courage to follow them into the sanctuary – eek!
So now, I wait. How tedious. The entrance to the studio looks so ominous, especially with the sign:
“No Admittance, except for business”.
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From tomorrow, I should actually take note of how much I spend each day.
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And now, after the introductions and personal warm up time… the class.
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I just drank from someone’s green tea without knowing… I doubt that anyone saw me.
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AHHHHHHHH (9.45)
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The cherries just came out.
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American girls name is Andrea.
The Mexican boy is funny, and cute.
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Done and Done!!
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Lesson #9: Don’t mention the Japanese invasion and occupation of Korea in conversation! I ended up with a girl trying to convince me that the Japanese forced Koreans to use Hangeul (invented by Japanese), which is obviously a variation of Chinese, cause they look the same… Sigh… The sad thing is, she probably doesn’t know any better.
We met these bvoys in the resturaunt after the class. And then, we walk into the station, and they are there, being attractive and dancing. I think Capoeira may be my calling…
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THE DANCE OF JESUS
String through the top of head, gaze unfocussed. Hands out,. Crucified. Feet together, knees slightly bent, pointing right.
Knees slowly rotate to left, to right, to centre. String is cut, centre snaps lower. Slow, slow advance forward, four steps.
A hit to the chest, flowers out of centre of back. Forced back onto cross.
Pulling out through chest, slowly straining to release. Peeling off the cross, the beast enters through the arsehole. Transformation into the beast.
The Beast: Uncentred gait, low centre, a large ball in the small of the back. Hooves digging the earth, claws in front after a rabbit or small animal, head lowered, but gaze almost front. Horns. Teeth. Four stomps forward. The beast takes action for a spell, as a crazed horse and then melts to the earth, an empty shell. The crawling beast then enters through the arsehole and crawls forward, energy moving in waves from the arsehole, to head. Elbows straight.
The beast leaves again; the empty shell is left, crouching in a ball. Five breaths awaken the cocoon, the space near the navel becomes rich, a ball. The pelvis separates and on breaths 6 and 7, the legs join, and breaths crescendo to the final, standing form.
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You are not here, your muscles do not move, only the space around you moves.
The space needs to be rich with an image.
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It was a good first day
Let’s see how it all pans out…
