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Yesterday I wrote about madness. The questions, how to touch madness and jump into the abyss has come to the fore? The key is honesty. Living a life of honesty and truth. Getting one’s own life in order and to live a life of honesty opens the door to truth and madness, fodder for creativity.

I am going to stop using the word madness. It is really just a place of letting go, the abyss of not knowing where the wellspring of words lives. The more honest, the peeling away on the inside the deeper one can go into the abyss with an ever widening pipeline from the depths to the light of day making way for more and more.

I am righting that part of me that is dishonest, cleaning up blind spots and details in my life to live this life. It is time. I have been going the way of dishonesty for too long. It has been a weight keeping me from really opening up and letting it all come forth.

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I chose this title in advance of writing today. This has been on my mind as of late. How does one go about touching madness? Just what is madness? Is it a man-made definition about something that simply does not fit in the constructs of the human mind so it is labeled as madness? When in fact it is simply a letting go completely and allowing that which exists within to come forward to be expressed in some form, whether it be a painting, books, a song, or any other myriad of expressions.

Is there a varying degree of letting go to get to that place of madness? Does one tip-toe bit by bit or is it a full run and a jump into the abyss? I know all of this in and of itself sounds like madness, but really these are questions I have.

I also know that this all resides on the inside and cannot really be actuated internally. Or to put it another way not something that is really tangible other than the expression of it on the other side in the form of creation. And even then there is only so much one can glean by the form of expression because it is only being experienced by individuals. And they only see or hear what they want to and may miss the whole of the meaning.

I have always been fascinated with artists and their willingness to let go. Lately I have watched a number of movies and tv shows having to do with artists, singers, comics and painters. I am drawn to this in a big way. Fascinated by the process and how they got to the place of letting go, and finding their voice at a time when people are willing to listen. Having something to say is one thing and having an audience willing to listen is another.

Then along the way they are given the opportunity for their voice to be heard and expressed, acknowledging to the artist what they are doing is in fact what they are supposed to be doing. This in turn propels them forward to create more.

I like the idea of a comic going on stage and just letting it all go, hanging it out there and taking big risks in the hopes of getting laughs. And while at the same time having something meaningful to say. It is truly brilliant.

I love words and love to write. I don’t know how much I have to say, I feel as though I do, and I do know I have a voice. So I continue to write and put it all down while tip-toeing up to the edge of the cliff and jumping into into the abyss of creativity where it all just comes out.

It is not clear, it is not certain, it just is. Being present in the moment letting the words spring forth on the computer screen without a thought in mind. No censoring just letting it come forth like a well-spring of never-ending water wanting to reach the light of day. No idea, no word, no concept is a bad idea. Judgment is not an option. Ease and commitment is the key.

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One can just go about their day or life for that matter thinking, “I know what I am doing and going to do it because I have it planned out in my mind.” Only to realize that due to unforeseen circumstances the plan is not going to come to fruition and is not as it seems.

It can be on a grand scale like a life plan, or on a day-to-day smaller scale like going to the gym only to find that it is closed. In this case it was the gym and mainly because I misread the kanji (Japanese characters representing a word, meaning or concept).

Now I can be annoyed, angry and/or disappointed, which would be my normal go to reactions, or take a moment, breath, come to the present moment, go to another window, i.e, perspective and allow the answer to the question “What life is asking of me now?” Today, it was immediately, I will go home, have another cuppa and start writing.

I guess in simple terms it is called going with the flow. I do wish I could go with the flow more often. I think that is something to just strive for in life. I know as I get older, and I have said this many times before, I do not want to get so caught up in ruts, whether they be my thoughts and attitudes or to the plans and the way I do things. Rather be present allows things to unfold and not in some controlled habitual manner.

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Am I addicted to insights? Do I always strive to have some insight or epiphany in my life? I am not sure, but they do seem to come to me in a flash in an effortless way. I do not have to work or look for them that much I know. In fact I would say that if you look for or expect them, they do not come.

Is it because of the work and practice I do daily that allows for insights? Or is it just some phase in life in which these ideas and flashes come because I am wider open and more accepting? The answer – all of the above, part of it or I just don’t know.

I do know that when they come I prefer to ask questions and get other people’s take on things now more than ever for clarification. I used to just go about things alone thinking I know what is best when in fact many times I do not and it got me in trouble. I was able to get out of those scrapes relatively unscathed and humbled, and over time lessons learned.

We are social creatures and all about community and we must rely on one another’s experiences and points of view in order to lead a more balanced life.

This is how community is meant to work. And yet in this day and age, people are confined to their own smartphone space and do not participate in life like they used to, resulting in alienation and an unwillingness and lack of skills to participate in community. This becomes very problematic over time and most likely is part of why there are such massive divides in my country of origin the US. People forgot how to be in community with one another.

I am grateful that this was instilled in me early on and now fully integrated in my life. I seek out community. Even in a foreign land like Japan. I have multiple communities in my life and this makes for a balanced full rich life.

I see so many people who limit their worlds by limiting their community. Community is people, relationships, connections and richness. This is where it all happens and if one limits oneself then there is less of a person because they have not activated certain areas of themselves on the inside.

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Walking to the train station I passed a mother pushing a baby in a carriage. Just as they passed the baby made an “ahhhhh” sound. And that right there is exactly the sound I wanted to make and how I felt that day.

A human being letting loose all that is trapped inside. I chuckled to myself after passing them. Ahhhhh! Make that sound out loud. What do you feel afterward?

This is such a primal non-judgmental noise to make allowing release of whatever tension resides inside. After having taught four 100 minute classes to students the nervous tension residing in the room and getting mixed up in mine just needed to be released. I usually ride my bicycle to and from the university with the ride home allowing that tension to release. I took the train, a crowded one at that, which makes it difficult for release. Imagine a crowded train filled with Japanese and some foreigner screams “Ahhhhh!”

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The above funny looking title are Japanese Kanji characters. One of three type of alphabets that are part of language in Japan. Kanji characters originated from China and represent a phrase, word or concept. There are literally 1000s of these characters, of which I know and recognize about 700 at most.

This particular set of Kanji means in Japanese honto ni or the word “really,” and that is what I am writing about today – really followed by a question mark.

Do I really know what I am doing or talking about? How much of what I say do I really know? Is it just hot air or am I being hard on myself? I think it is a combination of both. I do know some things and yet I am still learning. I hope that never stops.

People often talk of knowing the future and really they do not. Otherwise they would be rich. We see this a lot in the crypto world. In any case they are deluding themselves into thinking they know.

What we say and do today has very little bearing on the next day. I think what we do in the moment has more bearing on the next moment if we do not hold on so hard to life. IF we don’t then the next moment may be different than the previous one.

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Tushy Pushers

Ahhh the life of a Tokyo train station master. I remember seeing videos of these working class men wearing white gloves standing in front of train doors during rush hour. The purpose? Shove the bodies hanging outside the doors as fast as possible making room sure the doors close before the next arriving train three minutes later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsLhO8uhEaM&feature=youtu.be

This went on for decades during the latter half of the 20th century. Towards the end of it all these adept masters were crowned the title of “Tushy Pushers.” While the moniker would not fly in this day and age, it does give their original title a whole new meaning.

While I have never witnessed this phenomenon firsthand, much of what I am about to say is based on my own theory and 21st century observations.

My how times have changed. The masters as in train station masters no longer push people's butts into the train. In short they are no longer allowed to touch people. They now stand by watching as commuters negotiate their own ways to get themselves on the train.

The Techniques

With no pushers, this leaves the commuter with very little choice than to have come up with their own techniques for getting oneself into a sardine packed train

For the commuter, there are varying methods to this morning madness. The #1 technique, the back/butt push predicated on timing and strength. Approach the door just as it is about to close, signaled when the music played above stops. Think musical chairs. Just as the music stops the door close in the next few seconds.

Before closing a commuter comes in fast with an arched back, once reaching flesh in the form of a commuter hanging out the door, they push with their butt to make the space needed by standing up straight using their back strength. This is all done in a matter of seconds.

The theory behind this technique is twofold. One the back of one’s body has a far wider surface area thus being able to move more than one person at a time further into the train. Two, by not making eye contact one is free to use whatever body part they need without having to worry about embarrassment.

The only drawback, it requires great strength, something many do not have. If you do, it is by far the best technique to get the job done. Unfortunately, I am unable to track down a photo of this #1 technique. So I do hope you get the idea.

Technique #2 is what I call the front hand push or FHP for short. This technique calls for one to use their hands, palms open. The same thing applies as the butt push and that is timing. Once the music stops, approach the door and before it closes begin to push with palms open. This is pretty much the same technique used during the “Tushy Pusher”era. This technique is a polite approach to getting on the train.

While it does not cover a lot of surface area, you are making eye contact with those you are coming in contact with. This allows you to apologize with a head nod before upsetting the commuter you are about to knock off balance. Accustomed to this sort of thing, the recipient nods back signaling an understanding maintaining a modicum of harmony in a world of chaos.

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Japanese are skinny and they love their food. This can be easily surmised by the sheer number of food-related TV shows, which far outnumber any other type of prime-time shows that appear across all the channels.

Shows with titles such as “Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman,” about a salaryman, with of course, a sweet tooth who has given up his day job to follow his desires of eating sweets and blogging about what he has discovered in the world of desserts.

There’s Shinya Shokudo,“Midnight Diner,” about a local Tokyo diner only open from midnight to 7:00 am serving up any Japanese food its patrons request. It weaves in stories between the patrons and their love of specifically requested foods. One such episode was about an aging comic and his obsession with American Doggu, Corn dogs and the size of one’s phallus.

And the “Samurai Gourmet,” about a retired salaryman and his life after a long, dedicated career at the “company,” and the transition to retired life. Having found food as an obsession his make-believe counterpart, a samurai, go about the town in search of food adventures.

I enjoy watching these types of shows because I get to learn about Japanese food I have yet to discover.

While Japanese food has become popular worldwide, I am sure many of you have not yet tried some of the food I am about to reveal in the following paragraphs.

In the above picture can you name everyone of these Japanese delicacies?

In my neighborhood alone there are restaurants that serve just about every one of the above dishes.

Sushi!

What more can be said about this culinary delight. While many around around the world pay premium prices for sushi, here in my neighborhood and all over Tokyo you can find what are called “Kaiten Zushi,” or Belt Conveyor Sushi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=nkLT7kz7sqg&feature=emb_logo

Notice in this short video the plates of sushi moving along the conveyor belt. This is kaiten zushi. And guess what? You get two pieces of sushi on a plate for the price of $1.00 (about 4 XRP at today's rate).

Dining in one of these establishments is quite the experience as you can see from the video.

Strange Foods

Japan is known for having strange food. Come to think of it I would say most countries have their own representation of strange food. For some reason many think Japan has the strangest. Let me tell you about few.

Unagi in English is eel a very tasty dish served on a bed of rice.

It's hard to believe that before it is prepared it looks like this.

And now it is ready to eat.

Don't let the before picture fool you it tastes excellent. Kind of like chicken. No actually not at all like that. In fact it has a slight sweet chewy taste to it.

Natto is one of my favorite additions besides a cup of coffee in the morning.

Natto is fermented soybeans and is incredibly healthy, but for many is an acquired taste. It has an odd texture along with a somewhat sour taste. I can say after many years I have acquired the taste for it and have it a few times per week.

Less strange foods

There are some less strange looking and tasting food such as curry, which is nothing like Indian curry.

I eat curry every Thursday night after a long day of teaching at a curry restaurant that plays nothing but Beatles songs over the loudspeaker while you are eating. It is an odd concept, but somehow it works.

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Sports in Japan are a big deal. What I mean by that statement is that when one decides on doing a sport, they do it with effort and focus from the moment they decide on which sport, until they no longer are able to do it, whether due to a full-time job, family obligations or age.

For example, my son is nine years old. From the age of four he chose soccer as the sport he wanted to do. He has been part of the elementary soccer school club from first grade. Initially they met once a week for practice and one game a week. That’s twice a week.

Now as a forth grader he practices four days a week and at least one game on the weekend, but more often two. That’s four to five days a week year round with occasional time off for good behavior :–) (Vacations)

Contrast that with my life at the same age I was doing at least three sports a year depending upon the season. Actually, more than that. I am not quite sure why the difference between the two countries. I can only surmise that focus on one sport is what is expected in the culture. And if one were to do more then one you lose focus.

Sports in Japan have no age limit. There are people I know in their 70s and 80s still playing tennis. Of course golf is a big deal here, albeit an expensive hobby due to the fact that there is limited space to have golf courses.

Sports are in life with a healthy lifestyle. It is not uncommon to see groups of retired people on the train with their backpacks on the way out for a day of hiking in the mountains.

This all helps in aiding a healthy lifestyle and why the country boasts the longest average life span, more than most countries in the world. (83.98) That and of course food (See the next blog post Japan Life #6).

In my neighborhood there are a number of gyms. My favorite is located in Koganei park. For only $2.00 an hour (about 8 XRP at today’s rate) you can workout. I frequent this gym 1-3 times a week depending upon my teaching schedule. This community center gym is home to a weight lifting center, pool, indoor courts for basketball and futsal and archery.

What I like best about this are the people. I have been going here for nearly ten years and have become friends with many of the long time gym rats. I kid you not I am the youngest by 20 years. I would say the average age is 70 with the oldest being 91 These men and women are inspirational and an example of how to live a life of retirement.

Besides exercise many travel and have a myriad of hobbies including hiking and English language clubs. I also think this aids in longevity, keeping an active body and mind.

My gym friends in their 70s.

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