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Broadcasting to an audience of three (and a goldfish)...
Comment, ramblings and musings... life through the eyes of a Japanologist...
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Thursday, March 21, 2002 |
 So that's it. Another year over- and it ended not with a bang, but a whimper.
In the end, the weather cleared just before my self-imposed deadline of midday, and a series of emails to Iijima (my friend waiting in Iwakuni with his helicopter) confirmed that the fly-past was going ahead, so I biked round to Tsukumo strait to see the ships leave. Tsukumo is the only entrance to Etajima Bay, and is only about 500m wide, so there's an excellent view- especially as the cadets line up along the side of the ship and do bofure- they wave their hats in the air.
The sight is a very moving one, and I'm glad I went, if for not other reason than to see off my friends. I couldn't see their faces (they were one of many cadets) as Kashima passed gracefully by, but I hope they saw me.
All the same, I can't help feeling a sense of anticlimax, or something similar. I think that this is because the culmination of a whole year results not in something, but in nothing: the class of 2001, as it were, have left, and left nothing tangible behind. Where this morning even there was something, now there there's nothing. The centre of Etajima felt very empty on the way home. Indeed, even Etajima Bay feels empty this afternoon; although the six ships of the training cruises were only here for two-and-a-half days, they were in some way a symbol of the presence of the cadets. Now they- and the cadets themselves- have departed, and Etajima feels in some way as if something is missing. It's like this every year- but nevertheless, I feel very privileged to have had friends amongst the midsipmen. I wish them luck, and look forward to their safe return to Japan in the autumn.
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Checking the weather from my balcony (it's still raining, although perahps not quite so heavily as before), I noticed the jieikan (basically a warship, but since Japan doesn't officially have a Navy, but rather a Maritime Self-Defence Force, we'll call it a Self-Defence Ship) 129 Yamayuki anchored in the bay almost outside my window. Yamayuki is leaving on the one-month trainig cruise for the Hiko-kanbu; my friend is one of the officers on board. I got a telephone call from him just after work finished on Tuesday, asking if I was free for a drink. Stupid question!
Anyway, we spent a pleasant couple of hours; it's always pleasant when a midshipman friend comes back to Hiroshima or Etajima and we can meet. It's also a pleasant feeling to get a phone call out of the blue like this- I suppose it's satisfying to know that the midshipmen who became friends while they were in Etajima don't forget me when they leave. Anyway, Yamayuki- and therefore my friend- is based in Kure, so after the training cruise has finished, we'll have to meet again. From mid-April the department-store rooftop beer gardens begin their season, so the timing should be just right.
As the name suggests, Yamayuki is one of the 'Yuki' class; these ships have a special place in my affections. The reason is that a couple of years ago I had lunch on 130 Matsuyuki three or four times, and spent a day as the guest of the Captain 'cruising' around the Inland Sea. It's an experience I shan't forget in a hurry; every time I see Matsuyuki either in Etajima Bay or in Kure I recall the good times I spent on the ship.
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Unfortunately, this morning is not good weather for a graduation. The rain is torrential, and the wind is strong enough to be rearranging the things out on my balcony.
I can only hope that the rain clears in time for the ceremony. The graduation in Etajima marks the end of five years of training; I hope that such a noteworthy day for my friends isn't spoiled by bad weather.
If the weather clears, I'm going to bike round to Tsukumo, and take some photographs of the warships leaving the bay. In addition, my oldest Naval friend is captaining one of the helicopters in the celebratory flypast, so I want to get outside and say ussu to him, albeit from a distance. He knows where to look for me...
In a way, this weather makes me think of Britain. Just like home, the weather here too is remarkably changeable at this time of year. Just yesterday I was admiring the early cherry blossoms in the Naval Base under a cornflower sky and wishing that I could discard my suit jacket. Today, though, I'll probably need a fleece.
In addition, it's somehow comforting to know that even in Japan the 'Bank Holiday Weather Rule' applies. Today is a national holiday- so I suppose it's only natural that the weather should be bad. It's especially ironic, though, that today is the Vernal Equinox- it's difficult to imagine a less spring-like day.
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A busy day yesterday. In the morning there was the first of this season's English conversation classes in the Naval Base. As before, I'm teaching the A-class (the most advanced), and the eight weeks promise to be both interesting and enjoyable.
Leaving the Naval Base after lunch, the preparations for today's graduation were obvious. It's an odd feeling this year; on one hand, the graduation of the midshipmen affects me because my friends are leaving Etajima, but on the other hand, I'm not going to the ceremony or to the mi-okuri- the 'seeing off'- so I'm to an extent removed from the whole thing.
I went into Hiroshima in the afternoon- preparations for the weekend's International Club event- and then, in the evening, there was the Board of Education's sobetsu-kai- farewell party- held at the Prince Hotel in Ujina. This year two people are retiring from the Board of Education; the jinji idois yet to be announced. I have a feeling that there could be quite a few changes in the office from April.
Caught the final ferry back to Etajima; it was full to standing with midshipman coming back to the base after a final evening of drinking. By chance, one of my friends ended up sitting next to me, and we walked back as far as the Town Office together, where we said our goodbyes. Six months away from Japan seems like a long time, but I know from experience that half a year passes atto iu ma ni. I hope that the midshipmen have a safe and worthwhile training cruise, anyway.
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© Copyright 2003 Nathan Duckworth.
Updated: 8/1/03; 7:45:29 pm.
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