Importance of the dates

I arrived in Japan on June 1st.

I was able to officially register my residency in Goto on June 15th.

In many aspects of my life, I seem to be going with the flow without thinking, 

but when it comes to things I find essential (at least in my own view), 

I tend to reflect and ponder.

And yes, I gave proper thought to these "dates" as well.

I left Canada on May 31st and arrived in Japan on June 1st. 

I was even studying the positions of the stars, thinking, "This is it!"

Moreover, the residents of Goto said,
"You will come at a good season."
So I thought, "Great!"
However, when I actually arrived, I realized that it might have been the opposite of what I thought.

Maybe he meant,
"Oh dear, you will come during an awful season..."

I'm not good at reading between the lines...

So, after spending 23 years and my body is fully accustomed to the Canadian climate, 

my body faced the intense Japanese summer. 

The temperature itself is fine, but the combination of heat and humidity is quite intense. And in the battle against bugs and mold, I was feeling quite drained and, at times, even defeated.

The humidity is terrifying enough to fog up my phone's lens, 

and there were spiders in the house as big as the palm of my hand.

I also recently learned that the kitchen exhaust fan is so powerful 

that it changes the pressure inside the house. The moment I turned it off, 

a strong airflow started flowing into the house (which I don't feel it). 

This explained why, after finishing cooking and turning off the fan to eat, 

we would suddenly be attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes. 

It wasn't that the mosquitoes became more active in the evening; 

it was more like the airflow inviting them in.

Every day is a learning experience.

Other residents of Goto says,
"You shouldn't move to Goto during this season! 

You'll end up hating Goto. Mold grows, bugs are abundant, 

and the rain pours. If you plan to move here next time, aim for around October."
(But I'm already here...)

This season is indeed challenging, and not just my personal opinion; even locals agree.

I used to have confidence in my physical strength; 

I graduated from a sports university and participated in windsurfing races. 

I spent summers and winters on the beach, always tanned. So, I thought 

I would be fine, but I've become quite delicate over the years. 

(Well, it has been 25 years.)

Even I have been jogging in the morning in the past three years...

--- Not now, too hot! I'm learning not to push myself to the extream.

I managed to recover by drinking saltwater and receiving distant Reiki. 

I am so thankful for my Jikiden Reiki friends around the world! 

By the way, there was a liquid I saw at "Satou no Shio" in Hantomari village. I asked,
"What is this for?"
She said, "It's good to drink when you are feeling unwell."
It might be helpful for summer fatigue or heatstroke. I'm sure it's rich in minerals and salt components.

(Photo is from last year)

And regarding the date of the 15th, in ancient times, 

it was a day to express gratitude to the moon for 

the harvest and to pray to the moon deity.

So, even though it was frustrating that it took a while to obtain 

my resident registration, I felt happy that the day I officially 

became a resident of Goto was on the 15th.
It was like, "Here is another sign!"

When I was four years old, I lost my father at a young age. 

My mother told me that he became the moon, so I feel 

a strong connection to the moon.

Becoming a resident of Goto on a day to give thanks to the moon (my father) and teaching my first Jikiden Reiki class in Goto on my father's memorial day, July 4th, I can't help but think there was some celestial arrangement behind it.
(I tend to connect things this way.)

So, that's the story of how I value dates and such.

That's all for today. 

By the way, it's not the moon, but since coming to Gotou,

I saw something moving swiftly across the Great Cygnus

in the night sky from the sun deck.

(Photo is from Google)

Many people call it Elon Musk's satellite, but I prefer not to

think of such a boring and realistic explanation.

To me, it's a spaceship!

The end.

work

Facebook post on July 22

My son has started a part-time job at a bakery in Tomie-cho,

"Wondertrunk & co. Travel-bakery"

A very, very delicious bakery that is all handmade. My favorites are cream-pan and melon-pan.

It seems that people who come to buy bread look at his face and think....

In particular, it seems that the elderly are thinking about it.

"I don't see that face around here...."

"I wonder if he speaks Japanese..."

When young people and children feel comfortable talking to him,

the next words that come out are,

"Ikemen! (Handsome)!" lol

He'll be there from the time the store opens on

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays until around 3:00,

so please come and talk to him!

Yes, he can speak Japanese and English.

First guest and mold

 Facebook post on July 16, 2023

After coming to Goto for one month and one week, I am finally starting to settle down. Gradually, I feel capable of having my first dinner guest. I'm delighted to have someone to share my homemade dumplings (even the wrappers are homemade), Hijiki rice, and vinegar-marinated salad. While it's an incredibly casual meal, having guests like this makes me very happy while I'm actively seeking new friends.

It's refreshing to engage in conversations with my Senpai, the experienced Goto locals, and I'm constantly learning from them.

Now, about the mold.

I spent a week at my sister's place in Yokohama and returned home to be greeted by a strong, musty smell the moment I opened the door.

No doubt, it's mold.

Even when I open the windows, the humidity is overwhelming, and I can't quite tell whether it's better to keep them open or closed. With a temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and humidity at 90%, it's the perfect environment for mold to thrive.

Oh no, mold on the walls? And on the back of chairs too? Wait, it's everywhere?

Even the utensils in the kitchen drawers like wooden spoons and bamboo chopsticks are covered in mold. Leather bags and cotton eco-bags are affected too. It's a mold invasion!

What did I do wrong to end up with mold inside my house? Should I have left it ventilated instead of shutting it tight? Perhaps I should have disinfected it before leaving?

Then, during the Gyoza party with my guest, they said,

"Oh, that's quite common during this time of year in Goto."

"Wait, is this normal?"

"It's not entirely normal, but Goto during the rainy season can be tough."

Others suggested using a "circulator." When I asked what it was, they laughed and said it's not just a regular fan but a more powerful device to move air effectively.

They also mentioned the importance of creating a "discard room," where you don't place any belongings in an unused room, to prevent mold growth.

And finally, during the rainy season, it's best not to leave the house for extended periods.

I also came to realize that Japan has many fermented foods, and the line between spoilage and fermentation is quite thin. Decay is a failure, while fermentation is a success.

Even though I have experienced many challenges in life and am quite capable of handling challenges, I'm a complete beginner as a Gotoresident. Living in a 60 to 70-year-old traditional Japanese house is entirely foreign to me, and I'm still learning the basic norms from my more experienced Senpai, who are well accustomed to this lifestyle.

Instinctively, it seems like:

• Leaving the cupboard doors open might be better.
• The drawers in the wardrobe might be better left open too (or perhaps not using the wardrobe at all).
• It's best to stay relatively still during the summer so I don't experience a pouring sweat just by walking three steps.

So, this was a story about the joy of having a guest and the importance of mold prevention.

Little by Little

Facebook post on July 16, 2023

Since moving to the deep, deep mountains of Yamashita District in Fukue Island, Gotō Islands, on June 12th, it has been just over a month.

Oh, my official residency registration was on the 15th, so exactly one month! I've heard that the 15th is a significant day or something.

Congratulations

to Mari-chan on her one-month anniversary!

There's a lush forest behind my place, and when I listen carefully,

I can hear the sound of the sea - a soft whooshing sound.

And then, there are unfamiliar sounds like the songs of birds,

such as nightingales and the buzzing of cicadas,

the chirping of birds, and the rustling sound of crabs walking.

It's a struggle with unfamiliar humidity and temperature, and the battle against mold.

Living in an old traditional house is a daily learning experience.

I realized this house is filled with so many dishes and things.

It must have been a house where people gathered.

It reminds me of the house I grew up in on Kamishima, Nagasaki.

It would be fun to make it a place where people gather again

I am truly grateful for the connection to this house.

Little by little, it's becoming my space, gradually getting comfortable.

When I wake up in the morning, I see the wide-open tatami room right in front of me, and it feels so Japanese. When I wake up alone in the morning apart from my husband, I feel like showing this tatami room to him.

I gaze the room for a while, I get up whenever I want, go for a morning run, and work on cultivating the backyard garden a little bit every day.

Create a life that I want for myself - I might have never done that before. Such a huge change. It seems the human brain perceives change as pain, so feeling anxious is natural as I realize now that this change is quite significant.

However, I still feel that I was born as a Reiki practitioner whever I go! To be able to assist anyone at any time, I've set up a room dedicated to giving treatments!

If any of the neighbors around here have back pain or shoulder stiffness, chronic illness, I can help them feel better!

I wonder how I should let them know about it.

That's all for today

Everywhere We Go

Facebook post on July 13, 2023

In ancient times in Japan, the only medicine for humans was great nature.

People would quietly sit in places where they believed pure nature energy flowed, seeking to balance their well-being. They were taught to mark these sacred places with shimenawa, ropes, to show respect for nature.

The Torii gate serves as a marker when entering these pure realms.

While the sight of torii gates in Japan seemed all too ordinary, I grew up in a society where such profound and beautiful teachings were never properly taught.

It wasn't until I left Japan 23 years ago and discovered Jikiden Reiki, a Japanese old healing practice dating back to the Taisho era, in Canada, that I was able to learn about the beauty and depth of Japanese culture. It was through this experience that I realized how special Japan's culture truly is and I came to take pride in being Japanese.

However, something feels off while living here.

The strange notion in Japan nowadays says,

"If you're feeling unwell, don't come to the hospital." The reality of child suicide reaching an all-time high in today's Japan. The fact that suicide has become the second leading cause of death among young Japanese.

What is pushing people to such extremes?

I urge you to research the term "Wa-byo"

Excessive compassion and a sense of justice can cross the threshold into the realm of mental illness. If adults don't recognize it, how can children realize it themselves?

By engaging with nature, we gain the ability to step back and observe what is right and what is wrong, allowing us to act accordingly. I hope the Japanese will never forget this power.

that's all for today's message.

The 23rd day in Goto

Facebook post on July 4th, 2023

Through a fortunate encounter, there was someone who expressed a strong desire to learn Jikiden Reiki, and today was the first day of the Jikiden Reiki class.

When I left Canada, I thought I might be away from Reiki for a while. Amidst the chaos of relocating, the conversation flowed smoothly, and today, on July 4th, the 47th anniversary of my father's passing due to a medical mistake, I was able to hold the first class here in Goto Island.

It's truly a deeply moving experience. I'm grateful to the dog that connected us.

"Western medicine is certainly important, but it's also important not to rely solely on it. Keep spreading what can be done at home". It felt like my father was cheering me on from the other side, saying those words.

When things can be unavailable or sold out, Reiki therapy is always available, useful, wouldn't sell out, anytime, anywhere.

During the Edo period in Japan, traditional medicine mainly revolved

around herbal medicine and medicinal plants. It was common for doctors

to make house calls, and the concept of hospitals did not exist.

Taking care of patients at home until the end was the norm back then.

It may have been difficult, but I think it embodies humanity.

Jikiden Reiki is an old family therapy passed down since the Taisho period.

It is one of the things that can be done at home.

It's truly gentle just by placing hands. Touching, being touched,

looking into each other's eyes, reading expressions—these are

important things that we must not lose as human beings.

That's all for today.