Honesty Is The Best Policy

A friend of mine in Hanoi who used to teach in Japan told me that, "The Japanese are the most honest people you will ever meet." He said that if you left your wallet at a restaurant you could come back ten hours later and it would still be in the exact spot you left it with everything inside. I thought this was hyperbole but have already had three experiences that lead me to believe this is true.

On my second day I was in Koryama I went to eat with Katie. Katie and I had come from the government offices which meant I had my passport and a bunch of other documents on me. After lunch I left my folder holding these documents on the floor of the restaurant. Yes, a bonehead move. I blame it on the red-eye the day before. Well, sure enough I went back to the restaurant about five hours later and my folder was waiting there for me with everything inside.

My second boneheaded move was dropping my bicycle lock key at the gym. Luckily I had a spare key at home and could open my bike. However, whoever found my key could have gone to the parking lot and tried the key on the dozen or so bikes that were outside. Instead the person returned the key to the gym workers.

My third reason to believe that the Japanese are extremely honest is because of this:

This box was at the beginning of a hiking trail. The purpose of the box is to put lost things in it that you might find in the forrest. If someone happens to drop their keys or even their wallet, they can find it in this box or at the police station (the police collect items from the box). What's amazing to me is that: a) There is such a box b) Thieves don't just come to the box, open it up and see what goodies are inside.

Having come from Vietnam where I was robbed my first week and am constantly ripped-off by vendors, my guard has definitely been up. However, it is a breath of fresh air living in a place that really values honesty.

Cleanse

After you walk through a torii at a Shinto shrine, you may encounter something like this:

This sink-of-sorts is for people to wash their hands and their mouths before going to the shrine.

If you're a germ freak, you might want to just wash your hands since a lot of strangers' mouths have touched the cups. Personally I just poured water into my mouth without touching lips to tin. I then -- per Paula's instructions -- did a little rinse and spit.

I think the tradition and symbolism of this act is pretty cool. I can't tell you how many churches in Europe and temples in Southeast Asia I've gone to, dripping with sweating from walking around and probably breath reeking of lunch. To me, this simple cleanse is a nice way to show you're entering somewhere special.

Torii

(PICTURE: A torii gate in Fukushima.)

All over Japan you will see torii gates. The gates are usually an entrance way to a Shinto shrine. Symbolically the gates are a border between the normal world and the sacred world. Basically this means one should let out all their sbds* before they walk through the gate.

* Mom, to save you the email an sbd is an acronym for "Silent But Deadly" farts.

Japanese Tourists

The stereotype about Japanese tourists is that they each have a big fancy camera. Well, I hate to reinforce stereotypes but this one is completely true. Even in Japan the Japanese seem to go everywhere with gigantic cameras:

Samurai Jews

There was a very interesting grave at the second waterfall we went to. All around the grave were samurai swords.

(PICTURE: I want a sword by my grave one day!)

On top of the tombstone was this image.

Yuya told me it was a god. Apparently they have a bunch of gods.


One thing I found really interesting though was that on top of a tree stump next to the grave was a pile of rocks.

This reminded me of Jewish cemeteries. For those of who you don't know the tradition, Jews place rocks on the top of headstones to show that they had been there and were thinking of the deceased. I'm pretty sure that is why we do it...and because rocks are cheaper than flowers.

I asked Yuya why people placed rocks on the tree and he said it was a way to make a wish. I thought that was pretty cool. Who would have thought Jews and Samurais have similar traditions?

Bears, Bears, Bears

(PICTURE: This picture would be really ironic if I get mauled by a bear.)

One of the first things Yuya ever told me was to wear a bell when I go hiking. He said that almost every day someone gets mauled by a bear. Frankly, I don't like those numbers and I'd be pretty bummed out if a bear ripped my limbs off. I think that would put a damper on my Japan experience.

Yuya also told me recently that, "This is the most dangerous time for bears because they are hunting before they start hibernating." Okay, I know I'm no zoologist but if I was a bear I would keep my ear out for bells to help fill up before winter.

Waterfalls

(PICTURE: Yes, Yuya is wearing full cameo as he points to where we are gonna hike.)

Koryama isn't exactly Tokyo but it has a ton of gorgeous nature right outside the city. Recently Paula and Yuya took me on hikes to two different waterfalls:


(PICTURE: The first waterfall. Man, my hair looks good.)

Just to reconfirm how beautiful Fukushima is, the authorities posted this sign by the first waterfall:

The sign says that this waterfall made the "Top 30 Waterfall List of Fukushima." Really? Top 30? That's a lot of waterfalls in a small area.