Welcoming Guests from Washington, D.C. with Kyoto’s Cultural Charm
Today is September 23rd. It is Autumn Equinox and a national holiday! It’s the day when the sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west. The day and night are almost equal in length, making it a special day. In the past, people valued this day and celebrated the autumn harvest while giving thanks to nature. That’s why many people feel the start of a new season or reset their minds at this turning point of the year. Many people visit graves to express gratitude to their ancestors for their daily peace. However, since there is a tea ceremony workshop today, Naoko and I have decided to visit the graves tomorrow.
As I was about to leave the house holding a piece of paper with the American flag printed on it, two women spotted me and approached with big smiles on their faces. They were Hope and Lisa, my guests for today. I bowed deeply in the Japanese style and welcomed them, saying, ‘Welcome to Kyoto!’
‘Where in America are you from?’ I asked. ‘Washington, D.C.’, they replied. While it takes about 10 hours to fly from Seattle to Japan, it took them 16 hours from Washington, D.C. I truly realized how vast the American continent is. ‘Are you both college students?’ I asked. Hope paused for a moment and replied, ‘We are actually lawyers.’ I imagined how busy they must be as lawyers in the heart of America, Washington, D.C.
This was Hope’s first time in Japan, and Lisa had visited Tokyo once but never Kyoto. This trip was solely focused on Kyoto, aside from Tokyo. Feeling grateful that they chose Kyoto, both Naoko and I were determined to make sure they would enjoy their tea ceremony experience to the fullest.
Some foreign guests find Japanese sweets made with red bean paste unusual and may not like the taste. Some people might even say outright, ‘It’s weird,’ while others quietly leave it on the plate. I was a little nervous and asked them, ‘How does it taste?’ They smiled and both said in unison, ‘It’s delicious!’ Naoko and I couldn’t help but clap our hands in joy.
This November, there will be a presidential election in the United States. Naturally, the two of them seem to be very interested in this election. I wonder whether they will vote for Trump or Harris. I, too, am very interested in this presidential election, but I’ll avoid discussing politics in this blog.
Tomorrow, they will return to Tokyo again. After spending some time there, they will head to Seoul, South Korea, before going back home. I truly hope they have a safe trip and make wonderful memories.
