Game Face Time

I was completely lost. I had no idea where building ‘Zeta’ was; it seemed as though nobody did. Stumbling into the campus shop was my slice of luck as Shiori, a PhD student in the same lab as me just so happened to be there getting some printing sorted and overheard my situation as I described it to the clerk. It was just as well she was there as building ‘Zeta’ was unknown to everyone I had asked, even the staff in the shop! Indeed it was a little out of the way and surrounded by woodland in the otherwise open, green and modern Shonan Fujisawa Campus of Keio University. We had left our blanket of safety at the Shonandai University for Graduate Studies and headed out for our individual host institutions that morning. Once on campus and heading to the right building with the lovely Shiori leading the way, I was relieved that I would be making the time I had set for meeting my host Supervisor. More advice my sister had given me was to never, ever, be late.

I was greeted in the Lab by Professor Mitsugi and after I embarked on another dismal attempt at an introduction in Japanese, Sensei began speaking perfect American, finely polished during his time as a post doc in Colorado. He got me settled in then took me to lunch with some of the other lab members. The Keio University Café was much like a school canteen with canteen prices and canteen style dinner ladies to complete the set. The food was the usual Japanese fair, I selected the mackerel, pickled spinach and rice then got down to showing how inept I was with chopsticks. Although we were talking throughout the meal, I was concerned how fast my fellow diners were literally sucking up their food. I am a slow eater at best, especially when the food is delicious. I was some way behind and decided to make it part of the conversation. “Do I eat slow, or do Japanese people eat really fast?” to which Sensei replied sternly “in our lab, we eat only for nutrition” but then gave a grin much to the amusement of the other students. My previous experiences of eating Japanese food had been slow, enjoyable, taking moments to note the presentation and filled with conversation. It didn’t seem that was the way at Keio University. Eat and get back to work, quick. I tried as best I could to eat quicker but the walk back from the café to the lab proved I had eaten too fast; with my stomach fighting to digest the food and the midday sun beating down on my back, I didn’t feel too clever. However, I had to keep face and began discussing the project I will be undertaking here in Japan with Sensei. First day over. Time to see my place of residence for the next few months.

 A Small corner of Keio University SFC 

When I was in Japan for a snowboard trip in January, I had stayed at lodge Tabi Tabi in Hakuba and befriended Yasu, the owner. It just so happened that he works as a carpenter on beach houses very close to where I would be studying in the summer months. He helped arrange lodging in a house that his landlord also owned and as the price was almost three times less than the price of official student accommodation, I was very happy to be living in a Japanese house with other Japanese people, much like we rent private houses as students in England. There were obvious issues, such as: would I get on with my housemates? would I be able to adapt to proper Japanese house living? how will I get the washing machine to work? will I be able to understand the recycling system? And then there is sitting down to take a shower, as civilized as it is, will I yearn to stand? I trusted in time I would be able to adapt and that I should just get on with it. Many of my adventures have been exactly that and usually in the relative familiarity of a ski resort. Functioning as a working, normal, everyday human in a new country was actually very new for me. Here goes. I decided to go ahead with the Japanese house and not pay the frankly ridiculous £1000 per month for short term University accommodation. On the first day, after my stomach had settled, a thunderstorm hit Japan hard but thankfully Yasu came to campus to pick me up and take me to the house. He helped me settle in and left me to it. A good thing too, as I was knackered. The house was large by Japanese standards and comfortable enough.

Time to introduce some new players.

Yasu: Japanese, Snowboarder, Surfer, Longboarder, Snow Surf designer, Lodge owner, Carpenter. All round top bloke living the dream of nipple deep powder riding in the winter and perfect cutbacks in the Japanese surf during the summer. He was the host for my 10 days in Hakuba and has helped me during my time here as a researcher. Without him, the adventure could have taken difficult paths at many moments. Thanks Yasu! Can’t wait to learn to surf in IZU with you!

Shiori: Japanese, Trained Nurse, PhD student investigating home healthcare using RFID. Active, fun loving, cute, adventurous and as smart as they come. The quintessential Japanese girl.

Mitsugi Sensei: Japanese, academic, associate director of Auto Id Labs Japan, often does collaborative work with the other Auto Id Labs in Cambridge and MIT, guitarist and tomato cultivator. My supervisor for the two month placement in Japan. So far, really supportive, humble even though it is clear he is the man and forever encouraging. Mitsugi sensei fosters a work ethic in his students through leading by example, being always available to help and making a point of the importance of the all round development of his students.

Dokan: Japanese, 2^nd year MSc Student (Networking), Apple nut and a senior student at the lab. Dokan helped me with everything as well as banking; his English is excellent and his patience is immense! He helps everyone with his or her work in the lab and is widely respected.

Since being here, there has hardly been a chance for any concentrated exercise. I found out that the Keio University Football team train three times a week on the campus I would be working on. After some emails with the team secretary I managed to get an invite to train with the squad. I turned up without football boots, in surfing shorts, a baggy university snow club t-shirt and black office socks, not exactly looking the part, you might say. I was introduced to Kazu, a senior player who had spent his high school years in America. His English was excellent, was a little shorter than me but well built; athletic and lean. He noticed I didn’t have any ‘cleats’ and invitingly mentioned team pairs are available in the storage room. He walked me over and I picked out a set that fit. To much of the other players interest, I was introduced to a handful and they all asked where I came from and if I had played football before. It was 4.30 pm but the heat was still intense and the humidity was stifling. I thought there maybe two perhaps three hours of practice with a warm up and a cool down. No chance of a mellow session, not here. Straight into an intense small sided game of keep ball where there is a 20x20 meter square and seven versus seven attempting to 'keep the ball' as long as possible. The most passes strung together indicates the winner. This carried on for about an hour or so and needless to say, I was red in the face. My touch wasn’t bad but my stamina was letting me down. Then bigger versions of this game were organised with even more running around. Perfect. During the small breaks for water, provided by a hoard of Japanese girls, I got chatting with Hiro as he had good English too. His touch was good and could pick out passes accurately seemingly  over any distance. I was made to feel very welcome with everyone wanting to meet me. I had really enjoyed the session so far as it was clear to see the love for the game from these very technical, fit, enthusiastic players. I later found out that the lads I had been playing with were mostly the Keio first team. No wonder, as they ran me into the ground and were far superior from a technical and tactical sense. The final session was an 11-a-side game for which I was placed in my favored position of left wing. By this point I was sweating more than I have ever sweated outside of Army training and hardly had any energy left. I gave it my best and even though I was struggling I not once let the left back down by being lazy and not covering him and always tried to be an option when it was our time to attack. I was happy with my performance; putting in some protective work for the left back and providing two crosses for our main striker to head into the net.

I spoke to the manager afterwards. He made a little comment about how my fitness would need to be improved but invited me back for the remaining sessions of the season. I took the advice about my fitness on the chin and decided to work on that aspect in my own time. Once I am used to the heat and put a bit of cadio work in at the gym, I will no doubt perform better on that front. Kazu and Hiro were glad I would be coming back and much banter was had after the session. They are, as expected, good football players but as humble as can be. I have been invited to the end of season nights out and will look forward to more sessions with the lads.

It took me a few nights to recover from football and I had complained, in jest, to Yasu about how the Japanese footballers had broken me. He suggested we go to a Sento; a public bath not too dissimilar to an Onsen except the water was not natural due the usual city locations.  I was up for it and glad I said yes as the experience was lush. Before you get into the Jacuzzi type bath, you need to take a sit down shower and ensure every part of you is scrubbed with a lathered hand towel so you are completely clean when you get in. Since this is my third trip to Japan, I am getting used to being naked in public but my natural reserve still requires the use of a small modesty towel. Yasu took me to a local Izakiya afterwards, the Japanese version of an easy going pub and we enjoyed some great food and refreshing home made lemonade. The feeling of my muscles being totally relaxed and my stomach being full of hearty, healthy, nutritious food was so good that I almost fell asleep on the bike ride home. Almost.

Me taking a pic of Yasu taking a pic of the entrance to the Sento

Leave you bags in a basket, no need for lockers here!

Cool surfer types in the Izakya

Yum

The evening came where I was to give my presentation to the rest of my lab mates about my research, my life in England and my previous travels in Japan. I tried to keep the research bit serious but made the other parts as enjoyable and fun as possible as my presentation was at 7pm and everyone was itching to get some food. I bought a cricket ball to show around and we played some videos from Youtube of great cricket shots (much to my joy) and bowlers destroying batsmen’s stumps (much to my dismay) on the big screen. During the serious part of the presentation there was a very vigorous open question session about the healthcare system in England. To those who had no experience of the NHS, it seemed incredible that no insurance was proven or money was paid at the point of care. Healthcare is such a huge cause for distress around the world and for all the ways it doesn’t work and the inefficiencies, we are very lucky to have a system that does not discriminate on grounds of affluence. Keep your dirty little fingers out of it please, Mr Cameron.

After my two hour presentation, we went for all you can eat style Japanese sea food. The fish in particular was incredible. Check out the photos for all you need to know. Everyone enjoyed the meal and it was a good chance to get to know my lab mates in an informal setting.

?! Bus Stop Blues

From Left: Mickey, Spike, Shiori, Racoonie

From Left: Delicious, Delicious, Delicious, Delicious, Delicious...

Check out Mitsugi Sensie on the left in the glasses. 

Yummy, it really was. Especially the eye.

More players for you make an acquaintance with:

Kazu: Japanese, learned his football skills in the USA, studying Spanish, couldn’t help me enough and a striker as good as any I have played with.

Hiro: Japanese, tall, strongly built, looks like he would be a samurai if it was 400 years ago. Great left foot, big mouth.

Kiora: Japanese, my housemate, finger painter, dreadlocks. Kiora has cool friends and very good English. She is forever helping me around the house and I am grateful for her patience.

So far, I have settled in well, the mosquitos seem to have had their fill and I will be embarking on more adventures over the coming weeks. Look out for a mad weekend in Tokyo and Longboard Surf lessons. Jaa mata.