Touring Tokyo

On Thursday, Oct. 5 our group departed the hotel for a charted bus trip to Japan’s National Diet of Japan. The National Diet of Japan (国会 kokkai?) is Japan's legislature. It consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. As well as passing laws, the Diet is formally responsible for selecting the Prime Minister. The National Diet Building is located in Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. On the way there, we observed the moat that partially exists around this part of the city to protect them from intruders. Most of the moat, however, was bombed during the attack on Japan during World War II. We climbed a lot of stairs to reach the room where laws are made in Japan. Going down was much easier!

Later that morning, we arrived at Asakusa, a large shrine, located in Taito-ku along the west bank of the Sumida-gawa River, Asakusa once thrived as a temple town for Senso-ji Temple, and now it is a downtown that rivals with the Ginza, Shijuku, Ikebukuro and Shibuya. The history of Senso-ji Temple goes back far into the past. The legend has it that fishermen brothers discovered an image of Kan'non(the goddess of mercy) in the Sumida-gawa River around 1370 years ago and they were inspired to enshrine it. Its symbol is a large red paper lantern that bears the word "Kaminari-mon", or a thunder gate. While visiting, I had my fortune read, and when I return I will share it with you. If the fortune is bad, people wrap it to a special wall. Before entering the shrine, you must wash, so your mind and body are clean.


After our visits, the group enjoyed a traditional lunch of tempura and wonderful tea.

It just started to rain today, and the forecast is for a typhoon to approach our area. Since our group has many southern teachers, especially from Louisiana and Florida, I am concerned they are reminiscing their experience with Hurricane Katrina. I am learning much about Japan, and from teachers and administrators from the United States.