Day 4 Thoughts
I am staying in the Akusaka district of Tokyo. It is called the 5th Ave. of Tokyo. Needless to say, I will not be buying souveneirs here. (sorry sisters) Yesterday we took a tour of parts of Tokyo. We visited the Diet (as in Diet Coke)building in which legislative sessions take place. Japan's government has 3 branches like ours. It has the legislative branch made up of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, the members of which are elected by the people. There is also an administrative branch. The legislative branch elects the prime minister, and he chooses his cabinet. The juridicial branch is made up of the supreme court and judges which are appointed by the people and the prime minister. We also went to the Asakusa district of Tokyo which is known as the old downtown. We ate lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant which reminded me of the Japanese house that used to be part of the Boston Children's Museum. We left our shoes on the floor or shelf outside the main room of the restaurant. We also visited a buddhist temple called the Asakusa Temple. Many people both old and young still worship there. First they wave billowing incense smoke over their heads or a body part to gain wisdom or heal an injury or illness. Then they climb the stairs to the temple, throw a few coins in the fountain in front of the alter and bow their heads while holding their hands together. Outside, some worshipers also poured water from a public fountain over body parts or drank it.
Some people left their shoes on this shoe rack. We could enter barefoot or wear provided slippers.
Name:
Anne O'Brien