Imperial Visit in the Pouring Rain

Sunday (29th) I got up relatively early because I needed to get ready for the visit to the palace. I got up and showered and had just gotten my skirt when Michael knocked on my door. He said that we should probably leave together and I agreed. We tried knocking on Casey’s door but got no response. I didn’t know if she was even awake yet but I was getting tired of trying to be the girl’s keeper. So we both went back to our rooms to get ready.

I was just putting on my stockings when he knocked again. We both headed out in the pouring rain to go to the train station. Casey wasn’t there so we didn’t know if she had somehow left early or what was going on. As planned we got to the meeting place 10 minutes early and we met Terumi-san there. There were some other people waiting there and I had a feeling they were going to be part of our group but I didn’t say anything.

Shortly after that Todd showed up and then Casey showed up thankfully. After that Komoda-sensei and her Lithuanian composer student also showed up. She also introduced us to the other students who were waiting. We waited a little longer because one more of Komoda-sensei’s students was coming and then we headed off.

While we were walking over Terumi-san and I chatted and I told her about having dinner with Yuka. Then we somehow got on the topic of Hana Yori Dango and I suggested that for the next time we hung out that we should go see it. I think she was amused by that and so we made tentative plans to go see the movie. After we went through a security check we took some pictures of all of us at the gate we went in and then we went over to the music building where we were going to meet Togi-sensei, an important person among the Imperial Court Musicians.

We got to the building and there were these cute cats that were hanging out in front of the building. We all remarked how cute they were and then we met Togi-sensei. We put all our bags and things in another room and Togi-sensei led us on a tour of the building. First we got to see one of the practice rooms with an instrument from the 19 th century. Then we went upstairs and we got to see not only instruments used in Gagaku but also masks and a dance costume as well.

After that we came back downstairs and he took us over to the two o-daiko (large taiko) drums that they use. I even got to try hitting one. It was so loud and so cool. We also got to see the practice swords and spears that are used in the dances. After that we went into another practice room, this time on the first floor, where they practice the samai or dances. Also, there were kotos and wagons (no not the things on wheels) there. He took out one of the wagons and showed it to us and let us hear what it sounded like.

After that we were pretty much done. He took us to the room with our bags and we gave him the box of chocolate and our meishi (though Casey forgot hers--*cough*flaky*cough*). After that he took some pictures with us and then we left. I got to pet one of the cats outside. Then we had to decide if we wanted to go for a walk in the gardens or leave. The four of us and the Lithuanian opted to leave. I wasn’t about to see a garden in the pouring rain in a skirt.

I left the others at the subway because I was going to Akihabara to cash in a traveler’s check so that I would have money for my private lesson fee on Monday. I really should just learn to pay more attention. I walked right by the Travelex office again just like I did in Shinjuku. I walked around the whole block and then I finally asked in the big electronics store where it was because it listed it. The girl at the information desk directed me to it and I cashed my check.

I then hopped on a train and came back here to the center. I didn’t do much else for the rest of the night except that on Friday my computer wasn’t registering the power cord again. Apparently this one is either going bad too or there is something wrong with the connection on the back of the machine. Either way I spent quite a bit of time trying to fix that. I also spent a lot of time updating my blog. And that was pretty much the day.