Saturday, May 22, 2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Kiyosato, Japan
Accompanied by Professor Herbert Donovan
(Rikkyo University College of Business)
Tour Guide: Kyoko Fuji

12:00AM - 7:30AM: Spent the night at KEEP (Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project)


7:30AM - 8:00AM: Enjoyed a breakfast prepared by KEEP

8:00AM - 10:15AM: Traveled by bus to Nagano-Zenkoji

Highlights of the bus ride included:
Catching a glimpse of Mount Fuji: Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan, standing in at 12,388 feet. The mountain's symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and is often depeicted in art and photos.
Nagano, Japan was the host of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games. Sporting venues built for the games include the M-Wave speed-skating arena, Big Hat arena, and the Aqua Wing arena.

10:15AM - 12:30PM : Visit to Zenkoji Temple Nagano

Zenkoji is a place for prayer, light, and enlightenment. Although it is a Buddhist temple, all are welcome regardless of gender, creed or religious belief. Nagano is a famous temple town in the heart of Japan. Outside the temple, people can be found rubbing smoke from large incense burners on their bodies to bring health and good fortune. Similarly, inside the temple, visitors rub a worn statue of Binzuru, a physician and Bhudda's most intelligent follower, hoping to alleviate their own aches and pains. These rituals, of course, must be accompanied by a donation, as there are no free lunches.

In Zenkoji's pitch black tunnel below the Main Hall, all people are considered completely equal. The SMBA group groped the walls in complete darkness, searching for the "key to paradise". In this corridor, worshipers try to touch a metal key hanging on the wall, in order to gain enlightenment. The key represents the Key to the Western Paradise of the Amida Buddha. Lunch at Zenkoji was free time, in which we were able to choose a place to eat, and for many, that choice included Soba Noodles.

12:30PM - 1:00PM : Travel from Zenkoji to the Hachimanbara Kawanakajima battlefield site

1:00PM - 2:00PM: Battles of Kawanakajima

We toured the battlefield site and the statue of Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin near the Nagano Interchange of the Expressway. During the fourth battle, one of the most famous single combats in Japanese history occured. Uesugi Kenshin burst into the headquarters of Takeda Shingen, attacking him. Takeda, who was unprepared for such an event, grabbed his signaling fan and held off Kenshin. Eventually he was able to spear Kenshin's horse, which drove him off.


3:00PM - 5:00PM : Group Visit to Matsumoto Castle in Nagano


We were able to explore one of Japan’s finest historic castles. Matsumoto castle was completed in the late 16th century and maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. One of the most memorable aspects of this castle was the very steep, narrow staircases, where some of us scraped our shins. This design was deliberate, which made it more difficult for someone to quickly ascend the floors, providing security against infiltrators. There are also many spots inside the castle with low ceilings. The samurai must have been generally smaller than the visitor’s to the castle today. Also, we had to take off our shoes in order to enter the castle.

On the top floor of the castle there is a small shrine. In 1618, one of the young guards had a vision of a woman who handed him a bag and said “If the daimyo enshrines me with 600 kilograms of rice on the 26th night of each month, I will protect the castle from fire and enemy”. The narrow wooden windows, once used by archers and gunmen, provide amazing views of the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto City and the surrounding moats. Matsumoto castle is considered one of Japan's National Treasures. When viewing the castle from the outside, it appears to have five stories, however, there are actually six stories within the castle. The hidden floor is where the samurai soldiers rested and kept their food and powder supplies.

6:30PM – 8:30PM : Returned to KEEP & Dinner at KEEP

8:30PM – 9:30PM : Lecture: Environmental Education at KEEP

Instructor: Mr. Masatoshi “Masa” Ishikawa (Park Ranger)

“Masa” provided us with some background information on KEEP and explained the various Environmental Education Programs. The programs tend to target school children and families, although many companies are becoming interested in the programs. The programs include: forestry management, dairy farm experience, dormouse museum, and rice farming. KEEP aims to use their experience to educate others and “Masa” stressed that collaboration is key. They are always searching for the best possible collaboration.

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