Tokyo is a huge city with a lot of opportunities to experience Japanese culture. During the past ten months, I have had a lot of opportunity to try various Japanese arts both here at Fujimura and in the city. One of my favorite experiences has been joining the Ikebana Club. The art of flower arranging is so interesting! I am constantly impressed by how talented the students are with the flowers. Taking a bunch of beautiful flowers and placing them on a kenzan to highlight their natural beauty is very satisfying.
I have also been practicing traditional Ohara Bushi dance. Me and some other JETs have been practicing every weekend and will be performing this Sunday in Shibuya. It is super exciting! We learned three full length routines and then made our own Ohara dance that was inspired by American culture. We will be the first international team to ever compete in the festival. I cannot wait! I love Japanese culture and have really enjoyed experiencing more of it.