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Here's the last bit of our 'Japan Endurance' adventure. The whole thing is
at http://www.endurance.net/japan/index.html - one more little section on
our Geisha dinner, and this last section. an amazing trip - the more time I
have to look back and reflect, the more I can appreciate all the details of
our trip. Japan is such an old county- such a rich and long history and such
deep traditions - an island nation, it was very insulated from outside
influence for centuries. It's hard for many of us from the New World to
really understand how significant the history and culture is. Japan is
probably the safest place I've ever been (outside of Oreana Idaho :), almost
no crime, the streets are safe to walk at all hours, people are never rude,
very very civilized. Can't wait to go back!

Steph

--------story - part 6 ----

Japan's Royal Lineage began with Jimmu, who was Japan's first Emperor (660
to 585 BC), and who was (according to Japanese Mythology) a descendant of
the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. The reigning Emperor, Akahito is the 125th
Emperor. Princess Kiko just gave birth to a baby boy and the infant is now
third in line to the Japanese throne after Crown Prince Naruhito and
Princess Kiko's husband, Prince Akishino. This was a widely celebrated event
due to the fact that unless Princess Kiko (age 39) and Prince Akashino
produced a male heir to the thrown, the government would have to revise the
Imperial Laws which state that only a male can inherit the Royal Throne. So
with the birth of the baby boy, the country has quieted down, for now.

How is this related to Endurance? Well Princess Kiko's brother, the tiny
Royal baby's uncle, is an Endurance Vet! Schu Kawashima, DVM, PhD paid a
visit to the Arabian Horse Ranch during the afternoon of our first day of
riding. He is very busy with his job at Tokyo University, but also very
interested in promoting Endurance in Japan, and wanted to come meet the
Americans who came to support Hasumi's efforts. Schu has traveled to several
venues around the world, learning more about the sport, and becoming more
interested. We felt very flattered that he would come all the way out to
Karuisawa just to meet us, and Hasumi was also obviously pleased. A very
nice man, and perhaps we'll see him again in June as a vet for the Shining
Moon 100 Mile Ride!

The ranch had two other important visitors - Tanaka Masafumi- Vice Chair of
the Japan Equestrian Federation (JEF) Endurance Committee, and Toshiaki
Hosono - also with JEF. Tanaka has been very involved in Endurance,
participating locally and Internationally, and a strong promoter and support
of the sport. Toshiaki runs a riding club and is also interested in
promoting FEI Endurance, though his main discipline is Eventing - his son
represented Japan at the Atlanta Olympics in Eventing. Both of these men
also took the long trip into the country to meet us and to see the venue
that Hasumi has built. Much interest in the sport, and in the jump to the
FEI discipline of Endurance.

Schu had to return to Tokyo - a very short visit - but the rest of us spent
the evening together. After hot soaks in the Japanese baths, we met for
traditional Japanese dinner. Course after course of delightful foods. It
seems easy to eat a lot - nothing is heavy or greasy (though sometimes it's
disturbingly unrecognizable) and the flavors are generally light and subtle.

The next morning we were up and at it again, breakfast with Dinah and John
and Yaguchi, and off to the Ranch. I hadn't been feeling well since
yesterday afternoon, maybe a flu or something, so decided not to ride -
though very disappointed since this was to be the day to ride over the
mountain. I didn't feel quite as bad though when I saw how happy Hasumi's
trainer was to be going out on the trail on the 4th horse! I was quite
content to go out with the vehicles - Tanaka and Toshiaki drove their little
truck, and I rode along with Hasumi's employee - the man in charge of
landscaping, developing the trail, etc. A very capable and enthusiastic
man - full of laughter and energy. He drove a little Toyota 4wd van, his
daughter rode shotgun, and I sat in the back jumping out to take pictures
when I could. We followed the riders, led the riders, intersected the
riders, keeping track of their progress and evaluating the trail as well. We
met that at an old crossroad, as they came down off of the mountain, off the
"Thousand Horse Pass" of Nakasendo Road, where many many years ago an Edo
era Shogun brought a thousand horses over the pass from Kyoto to Tokyo.

One more session with maps and papers, drafting the FEI schedule for the
CEI***,one more session walking around the location for the 'Endurance
Village' and we pretty much accomplished the primary goal of our trip. We
grew very fond of these people, so kind and gracious, dedicated and smart!
And a wonderful sense of humor and humility. Every one of Hasumi's staff had
the same quick smile and polite demeanor, between Hasumi and his amazing
wife Harumi I can see how they built such a successful business. We had one
more evening together. This time we went to a local family restaurant in
Kitakaruisawa and several of Hasumi's staff joined us - informal and
friendly, more delicious Japenese food. More beer and sake and sochu
(spirits made from sweet potato), more talk and laughter.

The next morning we said goodbye to Hasumis and headed back to Tokyo. We
were to have a couple days to be tourists, staying at a traditional Riokan
(Japanese Inn) in the heart of Tokyo, near the Asakusa Temple. Tiny little
Inn, totally Japanese with tatami mat floors, rice paper windows, low
ceilings, slippers (no shoes allowed), yukatas (cotton kimono style robes),
traditional breakfast and dinner sitting on cushions at a low table, hot
baths in the steamy bath houses. We spent our first evening touring the
Asakusa Temple (Buddhist) - it was a holiday, lots of worshipers, lots of
tourists, lots and lots of people! A touristy area we spent hours walking
through the temple complex with all of the tourist shops. Fun.

The next day in Tokyo Yaguchi took us to meet with the Japan Equestrian
Federation. Tanaka and Toshiaki were there to greet us, and we also met
Watanabe Hiroshi the JEF Managing Director, and Satomi Asaeda, International
Affairs liason. Yaguchi described the proposed CEI***, the course, the
venue, Hasumi's plans for invitations and entries. He introduced us, we
spoke of our own involvement in the sport. The JEF is very receptive, eager
to take on administration of another FEI discipline. After the meeting we
watched a video that Tanaka had produced on another horse sport popular in
Japan 'Mounted Archery'. Contestants took off galloping on their horses (one
of the native breeds) while shooting arrows at targets as they zoomed by,
quickly drawing an arrow and firing it off. Looked like fun, I think Dinah
is going to practice this winter!

We spent the rest of the day being tourists with Yaguchi, he took us to
dinner at a centuries old 'noodle restuarant' - a tiny place that has been
serving Japanese noodles, probably the same menues, for over 200 years. It
was nice and simple, a bit of a relief from the multi course dinners we'd
been having. Another night on futons over tatami mats, liesurely breakfast,
a chance to spend some time at the Inn's lone computer with Internet (ok,
not entirely traditional), Dinah and I called in to a USEF conference call,
using a semi effetive Internet phone system (we could listen, but not
speak - most frustrating!), and then off to Narita Airport for our return to
the states. John hopped the next plane to Portland for business, Dinah
scurried home to pack and leave for a ride the next day, and I headed back
to Oreana to start pulling ribbons and cleaning up after the 5-day
Canyonlands ride! Never a dull moment.

A fantastic trip. We'll be going back next June to see Hasumi's dream become
reality with his CEI*** Shining Moon 100 Mile Endurance Ride!


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