7/30/01

So, I have a full fifteen minutes to put down everything I:ve been doing for the past few days. I went to the Ota taiko festival this past weekend. The Taiko fest was brilliant. It was kind of a move back into nativism - a primitive expression of the inner self - raw emotions through the thundering drum - but at the same time mixed with the retraint and percision of Japan...There were children performing, a group from Cali, a group from Hokaido and a bunch of locals. One of the drumers came up to speak - said that through druming she has discovered or created a self that she didn:t know existed. Inspiring - hopefully I will discover or build a self that I didn:t know existed as I continue my journey here in Japan. that would - of course entail a certain amount of devotion - a separation from self. My fellow jetters and I have been getting along well - although I:m sure culture shock and homesickness will begin to set in soon. I think I:ve passed my initial bought. Thanks for all the support from out there. Couldn:t make it through without you.

This is hanako signing out..