I am debating how to translate that title, but it is something akin to “It’s been awhile, Honorable-Mt. Fuji,” (Japanese use the suffix -san for mountains that have important religious relevance, it is sort of like mr. That is what my host mom said when she saw Mt. Fuji when we went out to go the the 5 lakes that surround it. It was an amazing day and there were no clouds surrounding the mountain. My host parents said it was the best view they ever had of Mt. fuji. I was very skeptical of it being worth the 2 hour drive, but in actuality the mountain is something to experience and was incredibly beautiful! I am going to miss my host mom very much I think.

I other news, I have ten days left in Japan! CRAZY! that means at most you will get only one more post of me being here, but mostly i will be too busy to post getting ready to go home. Today I have to write a six page paper. I came to the computer lab with the best of intentions but I found myself changing my facebook profile into ironic interests, movies, hobbies, etc. Poops. I also have to be done with my paper soon because there is a party tonight that I am planning on attending. Boop Boop! I really feel like there was a bunch of stuff I wanted to share with the shambodiance, but now I have forgotten it all. I haven’t even left Japan and already things that I felt like I would remember are forgotten! eek!

OH YEAH! Kabuki-za! I went to the most famous kabuki theater in all of japan and bought a standing room ticket for 1 act, a steal at under 8 dollars! Plus usually all kabuki acts are self-contained stories, and while sometimes they seperate acts might add up into some greater understanding how the world works, they are their own hourish long stories and you really miss very little by not going to the 4 hour long 3 story deal. Plus, that cost like 120 dollars for seats, and 40 dollars for standing room only!

I am guessing most of you know very little about kabuki, but if you do know a lot skip this paragraph, as I am sure it is filled with errors as I know absolutely nothing about the Japanese art except originally it was all female actors and very erotic. When the government found out they banned women from performing on the stage. To this day, all Kabuki acting troupes are all-male with female impersonators. There is dialogue but it is a weird singsong candance with a chorus of men in the background who I assume narrate (i couldn’t understand any words) and play traditional japanese instruments. The paticular play we saw was relatively new and known for having some of the best dance numbers in all of Kabuki. It is opening in Paris in 2007, and the female was a famous japanese actor who also does commericals for tea and is very good looking in an alien sort of way. He has the most intense stare of anyone I have ever seen, like ben kingsley times 20!

So yeah, super cool, and super incomprehensible. I ended up sitting next to an old japanese lady who would confer with her friend then try to explain the play to me in broken english. Of course her english was so bad that it was no help, as it was all understandable from watching play. For instance, she once spent like 20 seconds talking to her friend then turned to me and said, “Now…. Sleeping…” To which I was like, I understand we sleep that way in America too! After the play was over I talked to her in Japanese and figured out a lot of it. Crazy cool and highly suggest that anyone go to kabuki if you have the chance and the patience, as it was very very challenging.