Umeda Underground City

Happy Birthday to Zander! We kept up our tradition and traveled on his birthday....Nolan traveled 14 hours on his birthday....Zander only traveled about six. 

The day BEGAN with us finding THIS one on the floor...and she had a perfectly good bed. It turns out she had some nasty dreams all night. We visited Hiroshima yesterday. I'll write more about the past two days when I have time to ponder what I want to say and to get the details correct. 

Blogging about a travel day is easy - not much processing. Michael was a champ - poring over online maps, atlas', brochures  - to chart our way from Iwakuni to Osaka...

Today's travel game was to count tunnels. I stopped at 63...I'll check with Michael in the a.m. but I know there were a LOT of tunnels in a few short hours. 

Eventually we arrived downtown Osaka. 

We checked in to our very tiny room. It turns out I booked a double online...but we needed a twin room.....because we had "one small bed," as the desk clear told us,  and that wasn't going to work at all.....now we have two small rooms...but each room has two small beds....and a bit of floor space.  This is our entire room - except for the bathroom. It will be home for a couple of nights. I couldn't find the spot online to register kids so had just put in a random number. They were very gracious and said they just wouldn't charge us for the kids - this isn't common in Japan. 

This is 1/2 the room.....

This sign alarmed me until I figured out what a Shower Toilet was. ::snort:: 

Tiny but contains all the essentials...the whole tub...but it's deep. It's fairly typical - those onsens for serious soaking. 

The front desk was very helpful. Armed with a subway map and assurances it was REALLY safe at night in Osaka - regardless of the tales of the Yakuza - we headed out. This fenced in area under the train overpass is a parking lot for bikes.

Michael attracts the J.W. witnesses' everywhere  we go...here he is at Umeda station - the UNDERGROUND CITY....a big subway station in Osaka. The man asked if he was a Christian. Michael said yes. He asked, "What kind of Christian?" Michael was pondering how to answer, be gracious, but end the conversation. I popped out with, "We're followers of Jesus." That seemed to stump them and ended the conversation. I hope they think about it. Because they do not follow Jesus and that is the key to me. He is the WAY, the Truth and Life...no one comes to the Father except through Him.

This boy got to ride subways, travel in a car, eat out 3x and explore an underground city on his birthday...not bad for a travel day! 

These photos are ALL underground in the Umeda subway station until I tell you differently. ::snort::

Arielle knew Emily and Alicia would love this place. 

Can you fathom this underground? 

We went on the hunt for dinner.....I thought Olive House in honor of the boys at Olive Garden....

Check out the fish' head and tail....the meat was on the chopstick...and I didn't knock it over...

Wide array of sushi

Pasta

The restaurants go in both directions....

There are floors and sections for EVERYTHING...clothes, department stores....We had a bit of a wait for the restaurant. WOW - we saw something we've not seen in 3.5 years. A man getting quite vocal and aggressive with the host of the restaurant...the manager even came out. I duly checked to see if I could see tattoos or missing fingers...this IS the Yakuza center of Japan. It appears he was not mafia - just grumpy. ::snort::

Pat and Lyla are missionaries here in Osaka (2nd/3rd from left). We met on FB and met today in real life.....fun perk. They teach English in Ibarki.

Michael chose Chinese for dinner. I showed the waitress my  allergy card...and she was confused. Then I was confused...and commented, "Isn't this in Japanese?"

 She affirmed the card is in Japanese. She still didn't grasp what it said. We managed to get it explained....please make sure I don't have shell fish of any sort...they use a lot of shell fish and oyster sauce here!  It turns out she's Chinese and my card was in Japanese...and I was trying to translate it for the Chinese waitress. ::snort:: (Have I shared lately how much I love life over here?) I settled for  getting plain steamed veggies and rice. We've noted there is MUCH less English translation signs and such down in this part of Japan - even though Osaka is a huge city.

Still in the Umeda Underground City

We went to this little cafe & cake house, which we'd scouted out, for a birthday treat. 

They had lap robes! Cozy as it was getting chilly in the subway station. LOL 

Zander chose cheesecake

Love this sign - note the English....

I'm not sure about Beard Papa for the name of a doughnut shop....

We hopped a subway back to our station and then enjoyed the brisk walk back to the hotel. We arrived back at 10 p.m.  Here are a couple of shots from the walk home....

We had thought we'd take the train to Kyoto tomorrow...but we've decided -  armed with an ENGLISH subway map - to explore Osaka a bit more tomorrow.  I'm hoping there will be an ITT Kyoto tour some part of the family can participate in before we leave in July. 

I'll blog about Miyajima, Hiroshima and Kintai-kyo when we get home. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Kintai-kyo

We got back on the train for our trip back to Iwakuni in a somber mood. We planned to leave the next morning to drive to Osaka. I  really wanted to see the Kintai -kyo while in Iwakuni.....and we decided we'd chance it....we had just enough time to see it before the sun began to go down. 

Kintai-kyo - or brocade sash bridge - earns its name from the rippling effect created by the five linked arches. The original structure was built in 1673 and destroyed in a typhoon in 1953. They rebuilt a nearly exact replica - invisibly reinforced with steel. Kintai-kyo connects Iwakuni with Kikko Park.  Kikko Park is home to several Samurai houses as well as a rope line to Iwakuni Castle. Unfortunately,  we simply didn't have time to explore this area. 

The light up on the hill is Iwakuni Castle

This was a sight to see. I'm so glad we took the time to try to get there before the sun set. If we ever are back in that area, we'll spend a full day exploring Iwakuni. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Couple of Shots

This hotel's name made us smile on a very somber day in Hiroshima. And the museum, as well as our guidebook, points out that Hiroshima has the best laid out grid and streets in Japan. When they rebuilt they built on a GRID...and went WIDE.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Hiroshima

My (De'Etta) heart broke at Hiroshima for the nation of Japan - again. Even now, sorting through the pictures and trying to corral thoughts to share - I'm in tears. I've really thought, "I can't write this post," but the purpose of this blog is to capture a slice of our life and what is meaningful to us as a family. 

If Dec 7, 1941 is a date which will live in infamy....certainly August 6, 1945 will also live in infamy. We had been told that the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum told the story from the "Japanese perspective."  Michael is the son of a WW2 Vet who fought in the Okinawa battles and had his orders to invade the mainland. Michael is a WW2 history buff - focusing on the Pacific Theater. We figured if we needed to add details - we could. We debated if we should take Stacia (7) and Zander (11). In the end we did. I watched carefully and when the younger ones were ready to move on - we did. I sheltered them from some of the more graphic stories on the audio player. They handled it better than us older ones. 

Right at the very beginning of the museum there is an excerpt from a woman who writes it was a bright, clear day. All was peaceful as she watched a dragonfly at 8:14 and at 8:15 the world changed.  Reading stories of mothers trying to find their children....I was there - March 11, 2001 at 2:46 p.m. separated from my family trying to hear anything from them....My heart raced, I was nauseated and fighting back tears as I read and listened to the stories - I was  back in the dark spot in heart, memory, physical response and emotions. 

I've wondered...some have said they felt the "same way" when visiting the Holocaust museum.....consider: 

• I'm an American - a citizen of the nation which caused this devastation
• I'm a Military Spouse
• I'm a Christian - praying to see the gospel flourish in Japan witnessing evidence of what a Christian nation rained on Japan
• I have lived through a life-changed-in-a-moment  experience- separated from my family and wondering if they survived. 

I think to have felt the same way at the Holocaust museum you may have to be a German Christian, married to a German Military man with a heart to bring the gospel to the Jewish nation, who had lived through a major disaster separated from family. I'm not discounting the impact of the Holocaust museum - and it has a new level of horror - I know that.  Just trying to process why this impacted me so deeply.  Yes, it impacted Arielle deeply too. Nolan and Michael are still processing and we've not had long talks about this - but Arielle was in my room and I lived through her dreams and we had time to talk.   

We felt Japan did an INCREDIBLE job of telling this story. We felt they were even-handed with the facts. 

• They admit they attacked several nations unprovoked - America included
• They admit they were not planning on surrendering if the mainland was invaded
• They admit there were "forced laborers" from Korea, China and the Philippines in Japan
• They admit (which I didn't know) Hiroshima was a military town - a major hub for transport of troops and supplies 
• Thousands of children were evacuated due to expected bombing raids and became orphans in a moment
• The effects on this nation go far beyond 1941 - the average survivor is now 78. There were babies born with disabilities due to their mothers being exposed to radiation. These adults are now taken care of by the nation. 
• They make good points about the Postdam agreement (though Michael is checking a few facts)
• They make the point they were given no warning about this new type of warfare or a bomb about to be dropped on citizens...they are right. 
• I read pages from the Secretary of Defense's dairy and see him raising the same points - and ultimately being ignored.
• Japan must be assured they can keep their Emperor
• Japan must be warned before an atomic bomb is dropped

My conclusions...yes, I know...good things came from the war....and I know that God brings good from all things....but: 

• Even justifiable war stinks -nations better make sure they have the heart to FINISH a war they begin - because it's awful! 
• America should have warned Japan....it wouldn't have  dampened the affect of the bomb...or we could have dropped it in the ocean and said, "We'll drop the next one on a city." 
• If only aid had flown in from Christians after this, if only Christians had responded to the call for missionaries...but we didn't...and Japan rebuilt...and now we fault them for their "pride and self-determination"....but a Christian nation....
• Every American I saw go through was impacted....I saw no tears or stark emotions from Japanese....how do they control their emotions so well? 
• If onlys are pointless - what would God have us do about any of this NOW - still processing. 
• There were some facts wrong about the current nuclear situation (outdated info) and the current role of Misawa Air Base (enough said). 
• It is stunning to stand on a spot you've read about in history books for years....
• Hiroshima is a city devoted to peace - apart from Christ there is no lasting peace

I found myself singing a song which became a prayer the very first week I was walking the rice fields around our home. From this song stemmed my heartfelt prayer, "Father, give me your heart for Japan." This is not a prayer to pray lightly.  

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Enough words - still processing. 

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park from inside the museum.  This area was demolished...scorched. The trees were donated from around the world to plant. 

The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall (160 meters from the hypocenter) is the first memorial we reached as we walked from our train stop.  This building was completed in April 1915 and captured the fancy of the citizens of Hiroshima with it's green copper dome. The atomic bomb exploded at an altitude of 580 meters 160 meters SE of the hall. All inside were instantly killed. In December 1996 this structure was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list as a reminder of the horrors  of the atomic bomb and as a symbol of peace. Some have said the building keeps the wound alive and it should have been removed....I think it is good to remember.

Taken right before I lost it and thus the strange expression

Chinese Parasol Tree - This tree was exposed to the radiation of the atomic bomb at a distance of about 1,300 meters away from the hypocenter. Half of the trunk on the hypocenter side was burnt to a hollow by heat rays and the explosion's blast. The tree sill grows as if protecting the burn on the trunk. It was transplanted here in May of 1973. 

 Cenotaph - Under the arch, beneath the monument are the names of all the known victims. The above plaque is in a fountain to the left of the photo. 

This flame is to burn as long as there are nuclear weapons

 Read this for full details on the Children's Monument

Children's Peace Monument: Many children died in the bomb. 12 year olds were released from schools to help with demolishing homes in this area to create a fire break. Most were outside when the bomb hit.  Many young kids had been evacuated.  Older teens were in the military. Many middle school children died this day or in the days to come. This is a memorial to them. Sadako was a young girl who survived the bomb but later developed  Leukemia. She believed if she could make 1,000 paper cranes she would live. She died before she finished. This is a statue of her. School children from around the world make paper cranes each year and send them to Hiroshima where they are housed in cases around this monument.

Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound: The park lies along the river. Many came here to try to find relief - their skin was on fire. This was near the hypocenter and so in the days after the bomb many corpses were collected here and cremated.  Under this is a cinerarium. The ashes of victims around town have been excavated and buried here. 

Peace Bell - This bell is rung by visitors to the park as a way of committing to world peace. It was loud. I was torn as my politics haven't changed...I hate nuclear weapons but I see no purpose in getting rid of them and leaving Pakistan and India with them (and North Korea and Iran racing to own some as well).

Zander and Stacia were unaware of this dilemma and rang it loud

As they rang the bell my thoughts crystallized. There is no peace apart from Christ. I cannot commit to no nukes....I can commit to being willing to do whatever God wants me to do to bring true peace to Japan...and I smashed that puppy - hard.  It's my commitment.  Japan will live in my heart long after we move...because I prayed for God's heart for Japan in 2009...I can't tell much of the future, but I know Japan will remain in my heart, I will be praying for Japan daily.  BTW when everyone around here makes those cheesy peace signs for photos - I will too - with gusto - because I AM committed to the peace of Japan. 

Note - we may edit this later with thoughts from Michael and the kids....but I needed to get this "done."  My part is finished. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

ENVY.....Military Branches

Alright folks! I've lived it for over 17 years. I've heard the comments (some of them quite snide, some of them joking). The Air Force is soft. The Air Force has the cushy facilities. 

I'm here to tell you - it's all SILLY. Iwakuni (Marine/Army) had the worst lodging we've stayed in. Camp Zama (Army) best lodging to date - they even serve a free breakfast in the breakfast lounge! I've never seen such treatment at Air Force lodging. ::wink:: And....New Sanno is NAVY and it's GORGEOUS - though not really in the lodging class in my opinion. 

This MPX is bigger and nicer than anything we have in Misawa or had at Goodfellow (our last assignment) - and our base population is at least double of that on Iwakuni.  After a long day of playing tourist, we stopped in to pick up some shower gel. ::snort:: 

Escalators - big selection (at least by our measure)

English bookstore - lots of books - good selection

All that to say - really - it just depends on what money the installation has managed to snag...and which repairs they snagged said funding for. LOL  The envy is silliness. 

And this is another site from the Iwakuni MAB.....which doesn't fit elsewhere....a training site. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Texas - Everywhere You Want To Be!

Obviously - we did NOT make this up - right there on the side of the building as we were looking for Iwakuni Marine Air Base....we found TEXAS.....we were either far more lost than we realized, or....

1) Texas really IS a state of mind or 2) Texas really IS everywhere you want to be! 

It was a sweet, unexpected moment to think of dear friends and sons in Texas. LOL  (It was a pachinko parlor). 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...