Things I Wish I Could Do in the Inaka (rural Japan)
Living out in the middle of nowhere deprives one of many things I had previously taken for granted, as well as several things I’d hoped to partake of while in Japan. And to be certain living out here has repaid this deficit tenfold in other areas which I would never have dreamed of, there are still certain things I wish I could have done.
First and foremost is a Japanese martial art, particularly Kyudo, Japanese archery. It always intrigued me and it certainly looked like good fun, but obviously finding even half-English instruction this far out is impossible. Indeed, the sport isn’t even that popular way out here. Kendo is the main thing being taught in my village, and it certainly looks cool what with the armour and bamboo swords and whatnot, but that equipment is expensive, and I’m pretty sure the 1st graders here could kick my ass if I were to even begin learning!
Kyudo, in case you were wondering.
Secondly is Ice Hockey. In Sapporo I know there is a league and active players, and I think even in Asahikawa such a community exists. I’ve played normal field hockey for most of my life, and ice hockey is something I’ve wanted to try for years. It strikes me as the perfect balance between violence and skill, and it’s pretty damned fast to boot. Alas the nearest ice rink is in Nayoro, 2 hours’ drive away, so that’s out as well seeing as I’d probably have to learn to skate before I could play hockey…
… thirdly is Japanese language classes. With virtually every damned JET person in Hokkaido speaking near-fluent Japanese and possessing an impressive command of Kanji and Hiragana, I feel woefully unequipped in my language capability. I’ve certainly learned plenty of Japanese on the job and through simply listening and conversing with the locals, but it would have been great to have been able to attend some proper lessons conducted with English, so that I might understand just why I should append the mo instead of the wa at the end of my subject noun, and so on. Nonetheless, I’m not staying here much longer, so I’m not too fazed about it anymore. I can more or less converse in horrid 3 year old Japanese and it’s enough to get by on, so that’s ok!
Fourth is the access to shops. Even in Wakkanai finding decent non-Japanese food, English books, computer hardware and other assorted things is nigh impossible. I certainly miss having a grocery store at the end of the road. With the local convenience store being the largest thing we have here for food, it’s a bit inadequate! I can go to Hamatonbetsu to get my groceries, but it’s just the more complicated foodstuff and miscellany which I wish I could get. In Sapporo it’s all terribly easy, albeit frighteningly expensive, so perhaps I shouldn’t gripe too much as I can save a considerable amount of money by NOT buying all that stuff at these horrid prices!
And although I regret not being able to do these things, I’m very grateful for where I’ve been put. Out here in the wild, with a car and the freedom to go wherever I want, whenever, I’ve been able to see parts of Hokkaido that I don’t think any city ALT’s would ever see in their first year (and perhaps beyond if they never get a car). The cities are great to visit, but I think I would be missing out on a LOT of really beautiful countryside, weekly snowboarding trips and visiting other towns if I wasn’t placed in a position where a nice comfy public transport system existed. I may not have experienced nearly the traditional Japanese lifestyle I was expecting, but in exchange I have been able to explore Hokkaido and see it on my terms, which is ultimately, I think, pretty damned awesome!
