Once a month I have a bible study and meal with the young folks at my Japanese church (age range: 21-45). Usually we meet at the pastor's house and his wife cooks dinner for us, but the other day we tried something new. All I knew about it beforehand was that it was in an obscure place that I'd never be able to find on my own, so one of the other members would pick me up.
When Sunday night came and the car pulled up, I was ushered into a typical white Japanese boxy car. Kuma, a denture-maker and lifetime attender of Bethel Christ, was to drive us. In the back seat sat miss Sega, a kindergarden teacher who matches every stereotype. Cute, young, and sweet. Then there was one more girl who I vaguely remembered seeing once before. I was relieved of the task of remembering her name by someone else's bringing it up in a passing comment. Ms. Koi, that was it!
On the way there I was too engrossed in making conversation to mark any definites about the route, but only have a vague sense of winding through little country roads, across streams, and into the darkening night.
"Here we are!" Mr. Kuma announced as we pulled up to the glowing windows of a building shrouded in trees. To get inside we had to walk along a raised wooden walkway. It was covered with an arched roof and lined with lanterns, illuminating the dark outlines of garden plants down below. It reminded me of many an evening watching people march a similar path on their way to Tribal Council.
We were inside and seated before I could get a good look at the whole place, but it seemed like a traditional Japanese house-turned restaurant. The whole wooded interior was flooded with a warm light, exotic nick-knacks, and almost empty. Our group got a whole room to ourselves, complete with a shoji lantern, plants, and blues music playing from a stereo in the corner. The atmosphere was mysterious and decadent, so much was my surprise to open the menu and find the prices to be reasonable, too.
After ordering, we all sat folding our napkins in origami patterns. There was a fortune teller, a crane, and a man made out of two napkins put together. Conversation was polite and faltering, as it always is between our collection of semi-strangers. Soon Mrs. Tana, the pastor's wife, came in and saved the day with her talk of her exam in Kyoto that day. She's getting a master's in education. It wasn't much longer before Mr. Azu, the last member of our group arrived. He's a tennis instructor and always comes a bit later after his lessons.
When the food came, all our choices displayed the variety of their offerings. I got bacon pizza, there was cheesy toast (I didn't measure, but the bread must have been at least 1.5 inches thick), mountain veggies over soba, a meat platter, chicken nuggets and fries, and omrice (an egg, rice and ketchup omlette), all with salad and tea on the side.
Everything I'd learned about Ms. Koi when we last met was forgotten, so I got to know her as for the first time. She's my age, lives with her mom in Tokushima city, and works as a mortuary assistant. Her manner is the most dreamy, thoughtful, and childlike I've ever seen; almost like a character from a Yoshimoto Banana book. She's the kind of girl that might walk barefoot outside under full moons, build miniature furniture, or talk to cats. (actually, her cat is gorgeous!)
Wow, this is getting long. Can you tell we have no classes today at school?
Anyway, after eating and talking we had our bible study/discussion group. We talked about everyone's emphasis on doing things to please God, when He still delights in our just being. We read the story of the prodigal son. It wasn't until after we began discussing that we realized the people who don't know the bible didn't understand. The father in the story represents God and His acceptance, of course. "Ohhh!!" came the cries of understanding.
All in all, it was a really nice evening. I'd love to introduce it to friends someday ... if I can ever find my way back there.
If you've read all the way to this point, then check out the link with pictures!
http://ameblo.jp/attenborogh/entry-10284532104.html
