Japan 25

Members of the Isle of Wight Friendship Force have just returned from Japan.

It was a three club event. Spending time in Western Tokyo, Ota Gunma, and Nagoya.

Some later went on to Kyoto where they met members from Nara FF.

There were so many highlights. It was the season of the cherry blossom so the gardens were exceptional.

They enjoyed traditional tea ceremonies dressed in Kimonos, harp recitals by the high girls school and Taiko drummers, followed by a short lesson which they found very energetic and challenging.

Of course you don’t visit Japan without visiting shrines; the favourite being the Todaiji temple in Nara, which has one of the largest Buddha in the world.

Japan is famous for car manufacturing. Ota Gunma is known as Subaru City with three factories and Nagoya has Toyota factories so visits to the museums were in the programme.

Eating was interesting, managing the chop sticks became second nature when trying so many different dishes. The black eggs cooked in the hot springs were offered as they are ‘life prolonging’

A final treat on the return to Haneda airport was a magnificent view of Mount Fuji from the train. What a way to end a wonderful visit.