Day Five - Yoyogi

On Monday, September 10, we took the local train to Sangubashi Station - Lesley's old stomping ground when she lived in Tokyo from 1982 till 1986. (After that she lived on the island of Kyushu). It was a trip down memory lane to see the Hatsudai Catholic Church in Yoyogi where she had taken her final vows as a religious sister way back in 1983. It was also a sad return as the two-storey student hostel, Seiwa Ryoo (Peace Student Hostel) and convent where she lived has been demolished, and it has become a parking lot for the church and kindergarten next door. Very sad to see, but it was certainly an old building which shook like crazy during any earth

tremors of which there were a good number. At these times dust would spew out of the cracks in the walls, and as well as a dull roar from under the earth, all the windows would rattle in their sockets.
The Australian Embassy at the time had issued a long list of supplies to be stocked at all times in case of earthquake. Lesley always had several bottles of water, a torch, batteries, dry food jars (often forgot these) under her desk in her second storey bedroom - just in case. Some people in Australia would laugh when she ever recounted this fact, but in the suburbs of Tokyo it was a serious issue. Children were taught to never place an item near the edge of a table or bench top. On retreat for a week at Susono, at the base of Mt Fuji, about 1984, everyone discovered a hard helmet, torch and bucket (??#) in their room cupboard, in case the mountain erupted. Not sure if that would have helped. (I guess the bucket was for water supplies.)
Lesley remembered two French-Canadian priests very well, from her days in Tokyo. Fr Rume and Fr Gerard, Redemptorist priests, were tireless in their work. Of course they both spoke English, French and Japanese. They were much loved by the parishoners. We found their photos on the church wall in the foyer. They have both returned to Canada now. The Redemptorists owned the building that was leased to the Good Samaritan Sisters for a decade or two. This was the one that was pulled down.

Lesley remembered a little Shinto shrine down the road so we went to find it. Tony is seen performing the water purification ritual before we entered the shrine precinct. There we bowed twice, clapped our hands twice, then bowed again, according to custom. Clapping is meant to ward off evil spirits and some have told us, to alert the gods to the fact you are there!
Nearby was the old toilet block which Lesley remembered from the 1980's - or perhaps it is a renovation. She would pass this small washroom, built in Japanese style architecture, to and from the subway station every morning on her way to university or language school. There was a homeless man who lived under the stairs of the overpass, using cardboard sheets as walls for his tiny box dwelling, and he would use this toilet block as his own personal ensuite. In the mornings, he would look out at the business men in their suits and ties walking swiftly past, while cleaning his teeth at the entrance of the washroom. The homeless are very tidy in Japan and often he would have his socks pegged on a makeshift clothes line beside his possessions. This is the reason for this photo. Brings back memories. We passed a homeless man encamped in a busy pedestrian tunnel closer to our hotel. He was using a small broom to sweep around his area. Authentic Japanese style.
We walked around the Hachiman shopping street and Lesley recognized the French bakery - Boulangerie called Donky. Same name decades ago. Always seemed like a strange name for a bakery. Yummy, sweet (like the Japanese like them) buns and breads back then. Now she's a coeliac!! Ah!!##
We also saw two uniformed cyclists on their rounds - parking attendants. No Tony, not Mormons on their rounds, as he thought.
Another photo is the frontage of a small restaurant with the usual plastic foods on plates, plus prices. A handy way to know exactly (well, not quite) what you are going to get.