2014

My company is closing office since Dec. 22nd for two weeks. Because most of employees are Japanese, this time is for us to go back to Japan to spend time with family and friends although I have been having a lot of fun in the US. New Year has a special meaning in our culture as well as celebrating a new calender. We usually set a new goal, habit, promise in this season by wishing it will be a great one for other people.


In these years, I, too, have been revising my mission and re-setting my goals. This is what I do in my birth month, Jun, so I'm sort of luck because I have an opportunity to objectively see myself once in a half year.  So as I did in 6-month ago, I set some goals and action plans to accomplish them eve though I still need to work on it a little bit more to make it more concrete. Categories are Lighthouse (Current employer), Own future (Focusing on my business in the future), and Private (Including family, study, exercise, and girls;)

Lighthouse

• Become the most profitable sales rep by July: I need more breakdowns to define what the most profitable mean as well as solid action plans.
• Have higher perspectives as a leader/management for more profitable team: "What your action/decision would be if you were a leader?" is going to be a continuous question for myself. Also always try to find how I can contribute/help other reps.

Own future

• Meet a millionaire/month: Meeting new people is how I through myself up to higher level. Be careful if they are real successful guys or just money lovers. I would probably write letters every single weekend to make it happen.
• Attend a green business network event/month: So again, people are the biggest key. I need to think how I can contribute to people there as well as to gain things from them. 

Private

• Family: Talk to them over Skype once a week
• Study: Practice my Chinese at least once a day with my Chinese coworker. 
•           Also, read a book/month. How to books trim and cut your character. I will read more novels, biography, and articles.
• Sub 3.5: I will run LA marathon in this March. Goal for this is sub 3:30 with the best smile in the World. BTW, it would be a first time for me to try 26 miles running.

Let's imagine that Chuji has accomplished all goals above in 2013... Oh it's exciting. I will have more successful career, experiences, money, knowledge, healthier body, more networks... I already can't wait to set my goals for 2014.


What is your goals and action plans for coming year?


I now have to add one more thing in my 2013 here.
"All the best for people around me and very happy new year"


Go for it!! Chuji,

Dream the dream

Meeting people is the most efficient way for me to get close to my ideal future. Although academic/professional careers are very powerful for us to crime up our society, I still believe that networking is the biggest part. Meeting people is not only a functional way, but also chemistry is always between us in both good way and the other. So I think people you meet to get initiated don't have to be in the same field with yours as long as they are outstanding.


The last Friday, I invited a guy to lunch in Orange County, CA. He is the eldest American Mt.Everest climber, Bill Burke. I have visited him twice when I was UC Irvine student, and we finally had a chance to catch up after three years and bit. During the three years, he has tried to reach the summit again every year, and I accomplished the Silk Road journey about which I go different advises from him and I also graduate from my business school.


He started high altitude mountaineering after reaching age 60 and have now climbed the highest mountain on every continent. He summited Mt. Everest on May 23, 2009, becoming the oldest American to reach the summit and return alive. He was 67 at the time. He is the only person to climb the highest mountain on every continent, including the Carstensz Pyramid in West Papua, New Guinea, after reaching age 60.


Speaking with him not only motivates me, but also he initiates me different things. 'I started climbing at 60 years old. There are millions of reason if I want to give it up. Just don't give up' 'Mental strength is more important than physical strength so you can make a right decision at every second.' I also told him how I survived my Silk Road trip, but most of the time my parts was about what I want to do in the future. Although I haven't told many people about the plan yet, I told him a little details of it at the table.


'Dream the dream Chuji. You did what you would accomplish in the Silk Road project. You can do it' This is the words he emailed me today. Dream the dream... I like that.

Life in Transition

I came back from my vacation in Hawaii in the last week. Spending times with my close friends there, relaxing in the tropical island, and surfing at the mecca and origin of surf, I was so refreshed to start moving my dreams ahead!! Also today, I made a monthly goal for December, 2012 by both looking back the past eleven months and looking ahead of coming twelve months in the next yaer.


As I have been having a lot of transitions in my life at this point such as studying over sea, the Silk Road travel, and visiting successful people in the world, I had one of the biggest transitions in my life in this year too. Yes, I finally started working from July in this year, so my career had a first transition. Also, I moved to LA from New Hampshire at the same time for my job. That was a big change for me too. Another transition I have been trying to make is from text book to the real world. I got maybe too much information and knowledge before experiencing the real business world, and it's very challenging for me to implement what I know, so I sometime struggle to offset the gap between the knowledge and my skills. These are the transition I had (am having) in the passed eleven months in this year.


Next year will also have different transitions in my life as long as I would be acting on my plan. In the middle of the year, I will be the top sales rep at my company. I also will have a working visa in the late 2013, this means that I will be able to have a long term plan for my success in the US. I still have so many different kinds of transitions in planning, but I would publish them once I got ready to do so.


Oh yea I have so many plans and dreams for my future, but I think I have been successfully reducing the number of dreams so I can more focus my time and energy on fewer things which maximize my possibility.


Focus, sharpen, and continue...
I think I'm getting close to 'focus' things I do in my life.
I will write more details in the next article!!


Folks, let's shot some tequila so we can start a great week!!


Go for it!! Chuji,

Continue

I haven't uploaded my blog for a while... No big changes, but I was busy to work on my stuff in the past weekends. Oh but I attended a couple of seminars spoken by millionaires, and I got some big learning that seems like changing my life!!


"Take a millionaire to lunch" is the phrase he taught me. What it implies is that lunch is the easiest way to have a table with everyone because everyone takes time to eat, and people are not so conservative to schedule their lunch compared to the other meals. People who you are with strongly influence on yourself in both good and bad way, and so you can expect a lot of strong & positive influence by picking different aspects, such as knowledge, experiences, philosophy, and so on, of successful people called millionaires. "That's what I have been doing." I was kinda disappointed to hear the secret because I'm already doing this since my college life, but I re-thought there are still much more successful people I haven't met yet, and the speaker, a millionaire, is one too. Right after the seminar, I got out of the room as he did so I can catch him. "You said we have to take a millionaire to lunch, and now I would like to have lunch with you tomorrow. Please spare even 15 mins of yours so I can through myself up to your level. Please!!"


"Sure Chuji." So I went to a cafe in the next morning because he already had an appointment for his lunch. There were not only him, but also 8 millionaires were at the same table with him and me. Yes I got 8 millionaires at one stop, and who becomes quiet in such a gifted opportunity? I gave up eating break fast, sweet waffles, and instead I opened my note book to take as much initiations I could acquire from them as I could on it.


"Chuji, things are so complicating, so you have to break them down so that you can only focus on things you can control. Results can not be made only by you because 50% of deal is in your client's hands, but you can focus on your actions rather than result. So make a tough but achievable action plan that overcomes the amount of others and just continue this. Only 5% of people can take an action and continue."


This is a summary of what I got from one millionaire.

Oh what a wonderful world I live in. People always initiate me toward a better way. So it looks like my new action plan is working well, and now I'm waiting for any results come out.

And what do I do next?

Continue!!!


Go for it!! Chuji,

Surfing and Investing

Surfing is always in center of my mental stableness. When I was in college in Japan, I traveled not only the entire surf spots in Japan, but also I went to Indonesia, Australia, and the US for surfing. Reason that I decided to study in California was because I wanted to surfing while studying. As I was leaving the US in 2009, I also decided to leave all of my surfing tools so that I can motivate myself in Japan to come back to this place. I couldn't even surf in NH during my master program because of location and tight schedule, but now, I surf every single weekend at one of the best surf spots in the world. How cool my life is!!!



At the beginning, surfing is super tough and not even fun, but once you got together with a wave, you will get addicted. It's better than nothing to sport with the nature. Your team mate is the entire nature!! In this great nature, there is no rich and poor, old and young, white and color, but only bravery to face and catch the wave. When you finished surfing with tired arms, you would feel so refresh and calm down and get ready to live in the real world again. Surfing is this much powerful to bring you power and peaceful mind.



But as I run in the real world almost all time and in the ocean only an hour in a week, I can't run away from my life. Work is as important as surfing is. And I am super enthusiastic to be a successful business guy in the near future. So what I have been doing is that I invest a part of my money to a new experience that I can't do in my daily life. I went to an exclusive Thai restaurant in the most high end place in South Bay, CA in the last Friday. This restaurant is right in front of ocean , and a free jazz live was there too. That was a soo good experience to know how success people spend their Friday night, and I believe this sort of investment would bring myself up to a little higher level. So now my mind is just like a successful guy.


Oh I can't wait for start working tomorrow. So enthusiastic my days are.
And I hope my writing is motivating yourself even a little bit.

Go for it!! Chuji,

Are you republican?

"Are you republican?"


A guy at a bar table in a  party hall where I went in the last weekend asked me. I think he was having a badge of Republic on his chest. He is not only the one who publically asked my political view. I think this is good for the US to have opener discussion opportunities about own society. Compared to Japan, I think US has a more advanced democratic culture where people more aggressively speak about tax, education, foreign affair, and all other political stuff. However, what I always reply is "I am a Chujist. I believe what I do, and I would chose whichever it works better in each four years although I have no right to do so.


You can read how I was lucky to travel the Silk Road in my past article especially when I was applying for my visa. Because I have a Japanese passport, that was way easier to pass different boarders compared to other passports. Many people and governments were very respectful for my country and what we are doing. But whenever they started talking and about me, they only said and asked about Japan, Japan, and Japan instead of myself. "Oh you are a Japanese? Then it would be so easy to get a tourist visa in my country!!" I was so happy and proud of my country, but do you know these countries are only a little more than 20 years old, and how I could identify myself is only this small piece of paper? As I get visas from different governments, I started thinking "How come did they give me a visa so soon? Because I am Japanese? What do they know about me? I can't make sushi and nice cars... I'm just Chuji...." Since then, I am really uncomfortable to be with a unclear organization called government.


"What is a country?" This is only a place where people in an old time landed/moved and made lines, and they also painted an original flag and created a song so that they can identify local people as their citizen...


So yea, I still have so much things to write about this topic, but anyway I am a Chujist who believes Chuji. Because politic is still very important in our life and coming generations, I would vote for either of one if I could, but a political party should be something we handle instead devote by being bra bra lican/lian or bra bra ism. Government should be something we use/through away instead give yourself to. And a country should be something you chose for your better life instead sacrifice for.


And I hope, someday even after my death, we can leave a group of people who govern people. This is my hope. I believe we can have individually sustainable small communities instead.


Go for it!! Chuji,

Promises

Three months have passed since I joined my company. That was so fast, tough, fun, exciting, and powerful. I thought that graduate students are the busiest people in the world when I was in my master program, but now I would say it's business people. Since I started my new life in LA, no dramatic changes have happened in this short time, but daily kaizens make me feel that I'm stepping up further successful stages day by day. Although these steps were very small, it's always exciting to notice that I was a little progressed compared to yesterday's Chuji. 

Oh yea, I have couple of promises with myself.

• No negative remarks: Life is too short to change other people who you can't control. I'd rather blame me who is not smart than blaming smart people around me. 
• Kaizen: Planning in ahead is must, but I'm also trying not to forget to review my performance so that I can make at least one thing better than before in next time.
• Play: I want to spend my job time as I'm playing with my friends. As your job too, my job is not always fun, yet I always have fun in my job because I am responsible for my life time.

We only have three more months in this year. Only three months.

I will do my best to be honest and true, positive and optimistic, always have difficult goals, do my best to repay all obligations I have had, forgive people and listen to them, and contribute to the future generations.

Yes, my life is so exciting.

Tomorrow, I will go to the beach to run, surf, and find nice girls under the blight sun line.

Yes, it will be exiting.

Go for it!! Chuji,

Love What You Do

Last weekend, I watched a movie called Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Jiro, 85 years old is the owner of a sushi restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. This restaurant has only 10 seats and located in Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to awarded a prestigious three-star Michelin Guide raring, and sushi lovers from all over the world come to eat the best and the most expensive sushi. You have to make your reservation an year before to eat there!! This documentary movie is about how Jiro made such an accomplishment in his life.


He was adapted when he was 9 years old, and simultaneously had work at a sushi restaurant. Surprisingly, he has been working more than 75 years as a sushi chef, and continuous improvement is still made by this super experienced guy!! I think I don't have to say anything if you had a chance to watch this movie, but his philosophy is basically "Love What You Do". It's very easy to find what you dislike from your job. He didn't chose his job because he automatically had to work rather than studying when he was adapted, but he loves his job which is the biggest part of his life.


I think you too, I sometime tend to complain what I'm not satisfied with at my office, but it creates nothing.. I could study what I wanted to study at my grad school, and I am working where I was always willing to work for. No complain, and love what you do!!


I think I have to stop writing about his story, and I leave the link to the web site of Jiro's movie, so don't miss it if you want to have a nice job and life!!


http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/


Go for it!! Chuji.

Check Chuji out

I've had a nice holiday weekend. Running, surfing, and cleaning my room and car. Now, I'm reading LA times and HBR to read some useful information for local businesses. The biggest event in this weekend was that I attended the alumni association of my undergraduate university because 8 students from Japan are currently visiting LA to have some international internship experiences which program is what the international education department of company that I work for offers. Although part of this program's tuition was supported by their university, they invested their own cash to this three weeks internship program. It's not only the United States, Japanese youths are facing a hard time to get their job. The damage from the Tsunami, unstable economy and politic... a number of reasons that people have no employment opportunity come out, but I liked them because they have been trying to do their best for the coming tough time after their graduation. What they specifically do in this program is so diverse. They visit Japanese people who work in the US, they discuss about many affairs with American students, and they challenge the internship experience at different companies in LA.

At the alumni association, I spoke many topics to the student, but what I most remember is that I told them what they shouldn't do. Unlike passed years, we have too much information and most of the information is negative, so I told them to only work on what they can change, and don't even think about what they can't change. For example, worrying about how this internship experience will work in their career after graduation won't make anything, and what they can do is to make their best on one job to make an even a little positive change at their company.


Including me, I think people are too smart to understand how their world works, and they behave as if they already know what works and what else doesn't. "Such smartness is B.S!! I try as much as I have time to experience if it works or not" this is what I'm always saying in my mind.


"So you guys are still students which is your advantage, and don't be so picky from the beginning of your life stage. Do your best on what you can do, and don't even think about things out of our control such as economy, how your supervisor reacts to your job, and what happens 10 years later in your life. Long-term goal is just an OK item to have, Short-term goal might be a good item to prepare, but the ability to make your best performance today is the must weapon to maximize your success and happiness"


I was surprised how nice advice I could gave them:)


I woke up in this morning, and took a note by remembering what I said yesterday.
I know things are tough, but there should be things I can change to improve my life. Everyone can worry and complain about external situations.


So you don't have to check your Facebook and online news to think about what you can't control. Just check Chuji's blog once a week, and go back to your field to make changes!!!


Go for it!! Chuji,

Yes you will!!

I had a great weekend. I run Saturday, and I softballed, surfed, and run again today. It's always good to have tons of rice after a tough exercise just like a high school kid. I was belonging a baseball club when I was a high school student. Since this baseball club was one of the biggest and best teams in its prefecture, tough memories, such as living in a group at dormitory and crazy competition, always overcome joy moments in my mind, but some stuff from the three years still reminds in myself such as friends and mental toughness.


In addition to the fun exercise, my relocation has been successful in this weekend. I have done 50% of my stuff to move to a new place. Current place is more convenient to commute, it has a pool, and room is bigger than the new room, but I decided to move out. I think the reason is human relation with the owner. Nothing is wrong with the current one, but the new owner is a very nice guy and respectful. This is the only reason to move out from the current place, but I want my place to be more relaxing and enjoyable environment rather than cool and gorgeous once.


Irreplaceable memories with high school friends and friendly environment at the new house...none of them can be bought by money, and I have been feeling these things are as important as financial success. Corporate motto at my company says that we pursue both material and spiritual happiness. I love this sentence, and I hope I can gain both happiness in the near future. Oh but I am already spiritually happy, so, what I'm missing is money!!;)  


I hope the deposit in my bank account will be fulled with dollars as much as my mental deposit is filled out with lots of happiness. My happiness is here in mind as much as all unhappy people in the world can take.


So Monday is almost there. I will work to maximize my employer's profit, and share my happiness with my coworkers and clients!!


You will have nice week!! Yes you will!!


Go for it!! Chuji,

Chuji flies

As I have written in this blog, I am already in LA to work for an wonderful free magazine company as a sales rep. But my final project in my MBA program in New Hampshire was still going until the last Friday. In my last class titled "Professional Sales and Management", my final assignment was individually designed by the professor, and what the professor and I created and committed for the assignment was very practical and helpful. Since I am in a real sales field at this point, I had been theoretically analyzing what I learned and experienced in my job, and I reported for him these learning every single week. Also, I set my original sales goals in addition to my goal that I set with my supervisor...

So, I haven't finished my MBA program at this point, yet I feel so accomplished now because all of my stuff is done!!. This program was designed averagely for 1.5 years with varieties of categories such as real estate, marketing, small business, and so on. But I finished this program within an year. Yes I became the fastest student in this program although I didn't become the best student. I really think the time in New Hampshire flew so fast. That was so fun, tough, and enthusiastic as always in my life. 

"Time flies." this is what people always say. But I think I would like to learn it from my experience in NH. Time Flies means time is passing faster than expectations, or time is passing although not enough things are accomplished. So I decided to achieve what I have to achieve faster than my time. "Oh, Chuji flies..." this is what I want to make my time to say.

My present time, as a new employee, will be done so fast, and I would be writing this moment as a past sometime really soon. I have to be hurry. I have done much less stuff than what I was planning to accomplish.

Again, Chuji flies...this is what I want to make my time to say.

Go for it!! Chuji,

Magic

That was a little bit passed 6pm, last Friday... I was at a starbucks in Hollywood to finish up my tasks in this week with my rap top meanwhile waiting for the highway traffic to Torrance would be melt down. As always, my week was so enthusiastic and gasoline in my body was almost running out. When I finally finished the last email and headed up, "Oh my god!! Chuji!!" a lady walked to me. I was like "I think I know this person...oh Chrissy!!" Yes, she was my immigration adviser when I was at UC Irvine. I hung out with her and other friends just a year ago, so that was an amazing accident. By the way, Irvine and Hollywood are 60 miles away, so neither of us was expecting to meet in such a different world.


Her boyfriend and she said they stopped by at this starbucks before a magic show they were going in Hollywood. But I'm sure the most beautiful magic she experienced in the night was Chuji. That was a so rare accident.


Oh I remembered another magic in California in three years ago. I was at a Halloween party in LA, and a friend of mine introduced a Japanese girl to me. She was in a Yankees uniform.  Asking her hometown, we knew that we grew up in very close each other, so I told my full name to her. "OMG!!" This Americanized Japanese screamed exactly like this and fell on her behind. She was a sister of my old friend, and we have played many times when we were kids.


One more magic I have to tell you in this weekend. HR manager at my employer company is the one I firstly revealed that I want to live in the US, and she has been consulting me how I can minimize my time and cost to do so.


What magical relations we are in in this world.


In my current job, I almost randomly jump in different businesses, and Imeet the owner or manager. Out of my job time too, I meet hundred of people in different places such as gas stations, restaurants, banks, and my neighborhood. I re-decided to treat these encounters as a only one meeting in my life.


And I believe this is the only way to make the magics happen in life.
You don't have to go to magic shows then;)


Go for it!! Chuji,

Monday

So, my days have been totally changed compared to the one in New Hampshire. I used to handle my 24 hours like when to study and when to do other things. My current life in LA is completely opposite. I work for a fixed time in a day, and basically what I do during a week is just this routine work between my house and my office. As I have wrote on this blog before, I am selling ads for local business, and we promote them in our free magazine.


Calling...is a vocabulary I recently remembered. Calling is the job you were given by the god (I don't believe the god though). I think being a sales rep at the current place is absolutely my calling. It's so fun. People are smart, job is tough but fun, and the biggest fact is that if you became a sales rep, every single week you fail more than you have failed in your life. This encourages my motivation very much, and my challenging spirit comes up whenever I failed!! I'm missing New England and people there. I'm missing people and food in Japan. But these are nothing compared to the excitements I have at me company.


Besides my job, I joined a business community called Sustainable Business Council in which I can network with enthusiastic challengers in sustainable business field. By acquiring selling skills at my company, I would like to learn new perspectives from people at SBC. Also, I will join a local farmer's market team as a volunteer stuff sometime soon. I think farmer's markets should be engaged with much more people's lives in local societies, and I would like to contribute to the processes.


Becoming a profitable sales rep, surviving only by myself, and contributing to society are tough, but the word  "go for it!!" is what I'm always saying to me.


Monday is almost there. What a wonderful sound.. I can't wait for you to come Monday!!


Go for it!! Chuji,

SEIKO

My native language, Japanese, many times has more than one meaning in a same pronunciation. For example, "hashi" means bridge, chopsticks, and edge. Situation and accent are resources for us to distinguish from other meanings.


My mom sent me a watch in the last week. The brand is SEIKO which I was always willing to have. I wonder if you know about them, but they are regarded as one of the most reliable watch/clock makers in the world. You see their name at Olympic games. The pronunciation SEIKO means "accurate" in Japanese. As Japanese production is usually outstanding in terms of reliability and durability, yes their products last so long.


My watch is a solar watch, and I wanted to have only SEIKO's solar watch because I was looking one which lasts longer than my life. Since SEIKO is super reliable and high tech, my watch keeps ticking the as long as sun rises up!! I would like to work and live for even something I can't see in the future. When I purchased this watch online, I believed that this watch would remind me to work for not only myself and family, but also people in the future. "Did you know, this watch is used to be own by Chuji?" I hope someone in the future will say like this just as now we say the same thing like when we talk about an antique guitar used to be own by John Lennon or a baseball bat used to be used by Babe Roth.


So, now I need to let you know another meaning of SEIKO in Japanese. The word "seiko" has "accurate", and the other one is "success". Actually success is used in our conversation more often than accurate as we do in English too. By the way, Seiko is also name of my high school. So, the story I thought about when I ordered this one online was like this..."Chuji ,who graduated Seiko high school in more than 100 years ago, made huge huge seikos (success) with the SEIKO watch, which still ticks now, for people in our generation." Don't you think it would be so cool if it happened!?


Since my success is already guaranteed, I have to be careful so this watch wouldn't be broken:)


As more than 100 years are composed many days, my seiko (success) is also composed of daily seicos. I will have to seico tomorrow at the first. Otherwise, my great picture in the future will be ended just as a picture.


Oh I can't wait to work with this watch. So nice.

Go for it!! Chuji,

Go for it!!

So, I'm back to California now. I graduated with my master's in NH, and got a job in LA. I'm selling advertisement to encourage local businesses and hopefully make this world better in anyway. I've been working only for 2 weeks now, but I'm already sure I will be the legendary employee at my company in a couple of years.



I traveled the Silk Road, I finished my master's degree. What I'm trying to achieve now is to be the legendary employee who brings incredible profits at the company, who incredibly manage the entire company as well as own sales team, and who makes incredible efforts to strengthen the teamwork in the company. I think I will establish my own business, but I haven't seen nothing about it yet. "Leverage our society through business and leave a better world for the future generations" is my motto.



I always say that I'm the luckiest boy in the world. I have traveled where I wanted to go, and I have studied what I wanted to study. Now, I'm living in where I want to live, and I'm doing what I want to do with people who I want to be with. I can't complain anything about my life. From this stage of my life, the value of Chuji should be measured by what I have overcome and gave others rather than what I have gained.



Keep your eyes on Chuji.



The entire space encourages Chuji to go for it.



Go for it!! Chuji,

1014

31. Dec. 2010


Now, I'm waiting for my plane to Dubai at an airport in Istanbul. I will finally go back to my home through Dubai. My project took approximately three months. During this travel, I always made 100% effort to see locals' views so that I can expand my perspective. That was the biggest event in my life as a kid. I now feel both accomplishment to achieve a huge personal goal and sadness that I finished one dream in my life.


 The number of origami? OF COURSE I made it. That was a kind of miracle right before the end of my leaving Istanbul. Many people showed up to help me out, and when I gathered more than a thousand dreams, I accomplished my dream. Oh life is so wonderful. The number is 1014.


 So, now I saw the world. What I say whenever I was asked what I learned from this experience is "I understood that I haven't understood anything about this world yet."


 "What is the principle of the world?" this is what I have been asking all days in my trip, but no clear answer has come up yet. I really want to travel back to Japan in the same way where I came. I wanted to see more and absorb more.


Answers I got from this experience are much less than I expected when I was leaving Japan. Maybe I was too optimistic to get such universal ideas.


Anyway, I can't think so well now. My backs are dying because of the heavy backpack.


Thank you folks who supported me in this travel.


I love you all!!

Go for it!! Chuji,

I am Chuji

27.Dec.2010


 So, I finally arrived in Istanbul, Turkey two days ago. I stayed my friend's friend's friend's family's house in the first night in this city. By the way, how I knew about the first "friend" is that I emailed her because I found her speech about the Silk Road on i-Tune. How nice to be connected to people all over the world!!


 Where am I staying now then? The friend's family introduced a new friend, and this friend's friend is a marketing manager at a four-star hotel in the central part of Istanbul. Yes, I'm staying at the expensive hotel with a too nice price;) I didn't expect that I will finish my challenge like this way, but now I think something rewarded me because I couldn't sleep on this much comfortable bed in my travel and sometime my bed was asphalt.


 Just physically moving to the West from the East is not my purpose. Yes, I'm gathering a thousand of origami to have opportunities to communicate with locals in the world and see their perspectives. But, the current number of origami is around 850, and I have to make the other 150 in this couple of days. It's a super tough goal....but there is no excuse in my life. I achieve whatever I said I would do!! Many many people are watching and supporting me in this project. It's of course that I make my best to achieve the goal as long as I have a time.


Today I visited an elementary school, and made origami with kids together. When I told them that they can write more than one dream on a crane origami, they reded their cheeks and high-fived each other. Who can give up!! I have to make their dreams come true!! I can knock and wake people up in this hotel to make origami, I can ask people at the airport right before my plane leaves...there is always a way to go.

A Chinese teacher pushed his school and allowed me to visit classes at an University in Xian although the time is politically difficult for both of our countries. Folks in Kyrgyzstan took care of my project and all I needed. I would have been kicked out from Uzbekistan if I didn't have the help by a Madam I met there. My Kazakh dad in Aktau, Kazakhstan, extremely beautiful girls I met in Azerbaijan, a beautiful Dutch woman I met in Istanbul.


This selfish project is not only mine anymore.


 I will beat any difficulty in this project.


 I can Do it.


 I am Chuji.


 Go for it!! Chuji,

Oh Dean,

Dec.24.2010


Spending one night on a ferry to Azerbaijan from Aktau, Kazakhstan, I arrived the capital city Baku. My schedule in this country was super tight, but some origami appointments were waiting for me. Since one of my appointments was at the international journalism at Western University, I was so exited to communicate about international affairs with students there. However, I couldn't even make even an origami with them because the Dean of the department kicked me out.


"We've never done such a thing" this is what she kept saying. "I will teach them my own culture, and we will discuss about journalism. This is the international journalism, isn't it!!" I explained the purpose of this attempt, result we would be able to get, and what's in it for them, but what she replied to my argument was only some Russian phrases and NO. Yet giving up what I decided to do shouldn't happen in my life. I re-visited her office and showed a proposal paper of my travel in Russian writing. How she reacted to this approach was that she called two guard men, and I was literally thrown away from the school.


So, I waited for the class's ending, and asked some students who had a time to make origami and some discussions with me. It's really sad that adults take an opportunity for kids because of adults' comfortableness. Kids should be given whatever opportunity that might stimulate their future. What the students said later was that the lady is always like that. I still regret that I didn't go back again and punch her so we didn't have to miss the great opportunity..."It's cool!! Let's do that!!" This answer was what I was waiting for from her. In the next and my last destination, Istanbul, so many friends and colleagues are waiting for my arrival and origamis to be finished.


"Oh, he was such a super student? I didn't know that..." I will make the dean say like this!!

Go for it!! Chuji,

Yamada

Dec.25.2010


"Are you from Yapon (Japan)? Do you know Honda?" I can't remember how many times I have been asked this question by local kids. "I know Mr.Soichiro Honda. He is my hiro." Although I knew the one they are asking was not this Honda, but I say like that way.


"No, the one plays soccer in Russia!!" And I say "Oh maybe, I think I remember him. Did Japanese national soccer team go to the World cup last time?" I even went to a public view during the last world cup to support my team, but I somehow lie when conversations went to about him. Yes, the soccer player, Honda, is from the same country and prefecture, and same age with me...


Today, I arrived in my final destination, Istanbul. When I was in the deserts in the Central Asian, I thought maybe my world map is fake, and I wouldn't be able to arrive there. Yet I'm finally in this city now!! Compared to passed cities in this travel, Istanbul looks much comfortable to stay and walk around, but I will try not to forget seeing the local society and people. I'm not here to have a relaxing moment as others do. And what I have to do is not make myself satisfied with efforts I have made, but make other people satisfied with results I have made.


"Do you know Yamada from Japan?" 10 years from now, people in the world would say Yamada instead of Honda...Tonight is Christmas. I will introduce my name, Yamada, to as many girls as possible. Yamada, Yamada, Yamada. Not Honda.

Go for it!! Chuji,

My home town in Kazakhstan,

Dec. 19. 2010


As I wrote before, I've been staying with a family at a travel agency where I accidentally jumped in to get a ferry ticket. Employees here are so nicely treating me. Thank you!! My bed is much more gorgeous than mine in Japan. Thanks!!


Since this is my home in Aktau, Kazakhstan, I have made lots of friends such as a lady selling snacks on the street, a guy at a Turkish restaurant, folks at a mobile phone store, and kids at a local school. They say "Hey Chu, kahk dyeh-LAH?? (How are you in Russian)" so friendly. I, of course, smile back to them, and I even showed my moon-walk today. Whenever I greeted and talk with them, the time to say good by gets closer. Tonight, a ferry to Azerbaijan decided to leave, I was in a very hurry to pack my stuff... "Chu, don't be so hurry. I still haven't introduced good foods to you yet." My Kazakh dad said. This is the only moment I hate in this travel.


I could only look up a five-star hotel in this time here, but I will invite this family to here when I came back with more successes. I will feed you guys expensive sushi, and I will present women at my Kazakh house Shiseido's cosmetics.

I wrote before that I would make Aktau the most memorable city in my travel when I had no information about this town. Now, I want to call it as my home town in Kazakhstan.


Good bye Aktau.


Go for it!! Chuji,

Over the Caspian sea,

Dec. 18. 2010


I arrived in Aktau in Kazakhstan. This town faces to the Caspian sea. I finally feel that my final destination, Istanbul, is getting close because of this ocean. Folks who can't imagine how far from Xian to Istanbul, just Google map the way, and you will see even Google can't find a way. My origami project looks good too. I didn't have any connection in this town, but already two schools are getting ready to welcome me.


I have been staying at a hotel since I arrived here two days ago, and today, I was offered a place to sleep by a local family. I was at a travel agency to purchase a ferry ticket, and the owner of this store offered the deal me. "We have a place to sleep and foods for you."　His wife said that I am the very picture of her second sun who is studying in Beijing, and his bed will be mine. Good job, second boy. Aktau was the most unclear town because of limited information, but it doesn't even matter to the lucky boy.


But I had terrible experiences to here from the last departure, Bukhara. I didn't understand why people's characteristic change that much in different locations. First of all right before my departure at Bukhara, my stupid bank in the US closed my checking account because they found my money had been withdrawn in so many countries. "Isn't what you always annoyingly saying INTERNATIONAL means? Open my account right now. This is all my money!!" Taxi driver said "Are you passing the board between here (Uzbekistan) and Kazakhstan? Sure thing, I'm an international taxi driver!!" He kicked me out from his car right in front of the boarder.　Since I was 100% right, I quarreled with the driver, but I certainly became quiet and decided to find another driver over the boarder because I noticed muzzles of huge guns handed by soldiers were pointing at my head. I hate to lie for even a penny, but I shouldn't die in such a middle of desert. I hitchhiked in Kazakhstan, and the driver left me in front of only one small restaurant in a village ...I think we miss-communicated... The lady at the restaurant was such a unfriendly!! "Do you want me to write a map to a closest station? **Tenge (Local currency)." "Do you want to make a call from here? **Tenge." "Do you want this piece of bred? **Tenge" She asks me to pay money even for a piece of bred...(But I stole some pieces of bred and cheese to survive!!! BTW, they were not their business. They are their snack.) "Can I use your bathroom?" I asked, and the toilet tissue was somehow free, so I used it much much more than I needed. Time was almost 5pm, and it meant that it had passed 24h since I left Bukhara. "I gave up. I will wait for a car by sleeping here." At the moment when I was about to be ready to sleep on the road, I found a local guy. He looked busy but I could resolve all problems I had such as ATM, foods, and transportation to Aktau because of his help.


"All about money." This is what I learned from today. That was sad to have such experiences, but this is true, and even I was sticking with some small money. So, this is my fault.


"You have to be cooler guy." I've kept saying this to me in these days.


Over the Caspian Sea, Istanbul is almost there.


Gor for it!! Chuji,

Wonderful time of life,

Dec. 17. 2010


In Bukhara, Uzbekistan, I'm visiting a junior high school today. I don't understand their Russian, but looks like they are studying science. It's always fun and tiring to see kids. Some kids are carefully listening to their teacher, some are rising their hands a lot, some are textinn under tables, some are playing with chess (They are inviting me to play together.)... Diverse characteristics entertain me!! 



And now, I'm remembering when I was like them. I was only exited by PE and music classes. Other than that, school was where I create something funny. Oh I think I had a girlfriend. Friends in this time of my life are still best friends, and we gather to laugh forever whenever I got back to Japan. And also, I now know that the teacher in front of this class room has a lot of wonder and harshness in her life even now. Adults are not so mature and stable as much as kids think.



"Aging doesn't mean you understand everything. We struggle forever, and even adults don't know what happens in the next second. But there are more fun than tough things if you tried to see so. Dreams and happiness are in your charge. What you have to do now is study a little, play with your friends a lot, have a nice girl friend or boyfriend, listen to your parents and teachers, and ignore them. I envy your age guys!!"

I hope they will remember me and my saying at some points in their lives...



 Go for it!! Chuji,

History,

Dec. 14. 2010



 I arrived in Tashkent in the last night, and met a French girl. She and I've met twice before in Urumqi and Kashgar in China. Passing through Kyrgyzstan, we finally met again. What a wonderful experiences we had!! This beautiful woman is also traveling the Silk Road to west from east. I will take a north Silk Road, and she will take a south Silk Road from where we are now, Uzbekistan. Moreover, we were talking that we might be able to see each other again in Istanbul. She worked in China for a couple of years, and how she gets back to her country is where people used to took long time ago. I hope she enjoys her travel back to her home and we will cross each other soon. 

Uzbekistan is the third country in this travel. In the passed countries and culture, I prepared some small conversations in local languages such as thank you, I'm from Japan, and you are beautiful. Recently my note was finished, and got a new one. Not so much time has passed, but reviewing the previous note is very fun and nostalgic. Writing conversation with a Chinese lady in Beijing when I got lost on my way to my friend's house. (I thought conversation in our common character would be very easy, but not at all!!) Chinese phrases I learned from a guy at a restaurant in Xian. (He was almost upset because of my bad learning.) Tibetan I learned from a student in Lhasa, Tibet. (She actually was Chinese, and most of her Tibetan was wrong... Also, I hope someday Tibetan people can govern their own country and culture by themselves.) I listed visa information of countries I plan to go when I was staying in Kashgar. (I've already noticed that these info on Google is not useful at all.) Kyrgyz and Russian filled out my note recently. (Kyrgyzstan was incredible cool country.) There is a lot of history. I can't wait what words will show up on my note.


History is not only on my note, but also in my relationship like the French girl.


I will move to a city called Bukhara. I heard this city is the most historical city in this country. 


History. What wonderful to see it, and what wonderful to make it.


I will make a new history of Chuji with local people.


Go for it!! Chuji,

Invisible things,

Dec. 11. 2010


I finally got Kazakh and Uzubek visas!! That was ver struggling experience to get them, but I got them!! Here in Kyrgyzstan, I have learned a lot of things. I think I have learned more than I notice now.


Okay, now, the number of origami is almost 700. This number was stuck when I was in China because of some political problems that I couldn't even resolve. "It might be tough..." I thought, but my goal, 1000, became became very realistic!! I think Kyrgyzstan will be the country where I gained the most origamis. Staff at CACSA, JICA, teachers at elementary schools, and a beautiful lady sat next to me at a ballet concert...I want thank all of them for their support. It should be fun in Uzbekistan too!!

Once I took an action, local people response ten times bigger enthusiasm. Who told me this country is dangerous?


But I have been thinking that I'm focusing on the number of origami and arriving Istanbul too much in these days. This is how I shouldn't be. Of course, this go-getter-Chuji always achieves own goals, but the most important stuff is not to gather origami. It's to know dreams, ideas, and values of local people through the origami activity. It's not to arrive in Istanbul. It's to see as many countries, ethical groups, and societies as possible.


 "Bags filled out with full of origami and passport filled out with many stamps don't make anything" this is what I say to me before going be in this travel.


I have to be aware of more things that can't be seen. These are much more important than things I can see and count.


I will enter Uzbekistan tomorrow.
I want to absorb more.
I want to improve myself more.


Invisible things are important!!

Go for it!! Chuji,

Chuji capital, Aktau

Dec. 7. 2010


As I wrote before, my travel is supported by many locals. These people are not only in my current location, Bishkek, but also in Osh, Rishton, and Tashkent. Those who sympathized with my project offer me places to seep, transportation, and their culture. Because of them, many cities are already "ready". What I have to do in this tough travel is just to visit there. This is it. For example, I already have a place to sleep in my final destination, Istanbul, Turkey.


However, there are still places about which I haven't gotten an enough information especially in Central Asia. Sometime even my best partner Google doesn't know anything about these rural regions. In these cities, what I can do is only to visit and see what's going on there. Aktau in Kazakhstan is one of the mystery cities. This city faces the Caspian sea. I only know about this city that the Kazakh government recently appointed as a special economic zone probably because of oil from the sea. Other than that, I have no idea about this unknown city. I have been asking people in Kyrgyzstan information about Aktau. but no one has any exiting relation over there.


So,,, I decided that I make legendary meetings in Aktau, and make this city the most memorable location in my travel. I am making a thousand origamis with a thousand people I meet in the Silk Road. Why can't I do it. People. This is the ultimate purpose of my Silk Road travel, and this is also asset in my life.


Make people love me.
Draw them with my centripetal force.

"Wow, you survived even in such a middle of nowhere!!!" I have to make people like this after leaving Aktau.


>I will stay at someone's place in Aktau not at hotel.
>Visit at least one public institution to make origami.
 I will commit myself to achieve these two goals in the hardest town, Aktau. At this moment (I am in Kyrgyzstan right now), I know no body in Aktau, and no clew how to make the goals.

Middle of nowhere, Aktau will be called the Chuji capital, Aktau.


 Go for it!! Chuji,

A boy got a new dream.

Dec. 7. 2010



The last weekend in Bishkek, I visited a primary school to work on my Origami project.



I created this project because origami is internationally famous, and so I can easily offer Japanese cultural experiences to local people. I would be sightseeing in the Silk Road if I didn't have this project. Because of this papers, I have been achieving the purpose of travel "Communicating with locals and see the world from their perspectives". Whenever I achieve the goal, I appreciate my creativity!!



But I can't proceed the project only by myself. I need to have at least 1000 origami makers, organizer, and translator to explain about origami and Chuji in a local language such as Chinese and Russian. In this weekend, one boy thankfully helped me out. His name is Gregory age 11 from the US. He came to Bishkek because of his dad's job. He worked for my activity at four classes in two days. I could communicate with teachers and students without any problem because of him.

He is very cool guy. He always puts his hands in pockets and speaks American English. He explained who I am, what the project is, and he even remembered the story about Origami like the atomic bombs in Hiroshima... The smart guy even adviced me how to conduct a class, and he even managed time scheduling in classes. "Chuji, I think we'd better go to the next step" stuff like this...



This 11 years old boy was very smart.



"Thank you very much Greg!! Let me have your drink, snack, or even stationary is fine. I owe  you a lot!!" But he said "I think I would like to make another origami. I wrote that I want to have video games and email address, but I think I would like to write the peace of the world as my dream. My dream has changed while I was explaining about origami's story."



"OMG, Greg!! That's what I wanted to hear from kids in the world!!" I was almost crying.
"But, I can't allow you to do that because I made a rule that a person makes only one... So, I will make one for you now, and you can bring it back to your home. Is this fair?" I was very sorry for him but I wanted to go straight with the rule I made before leaving Japan.



"That's cool. And talk to me when you come to the US. You can go to museums and concert in Manhattan." I've never met a kid like him before... He is still 11 years old.



"See you Chuji!!"



He was very cool even at the very end, but I'm sure he will be looking at the origami I gave him with his cute smiling face.



Because I wrote "I wish Greg's dream "The peace of the world" will come true."



Greg, I wasn't as cool as you are when I was a kid like you. But now, I'm slightly cooler than you. I hope our future cross each other in someday!!



Go for it!! Chuji,

Confusing

Dec.6. 2010




"See and understand how the world works, and find what to do for it." That was my expectation before leaving my country. But actual fact is that the mystery of world got much more complicated than before.



The tangled thread of the world, which many of us are trying to untie, is actually wanted by other people, and an individual thread in the tangled thread needs to be untied first... I can't write a concrete explanation, but things in the world are complicated anyway. Only a thing I understood is that guys, who selfimportantly explain how the world goes on the TV, in article and class room, are the ones who understand nothing.



"I got confused again..."



That's what I have been continuously saying in this travel.



I went to an orphanage in Bishkek, and this place was where I got "I got confused again" too. As I wrote, my experience to visit an orphanage in Tibet was wonderful. Yet, kids in Bishkek were a little bit different. "I wanna see my mom", "I wanna be run away from here", "I want violence to go away from my life",,,they wrote things we don't want to listen to but we should listen to on their origami as their dreams. By the way, kids at primary schools in Bishkek, their dreams were "Mercedes", "Supernatural power", "Computer".

It's always easy to be sorry for such unlucky people like the kids at orphanage, but I would like to resolve such issues as a player rather than as a watcher. I still haven't figured out why kids in Tibet and Bishkek are so different, what I can do for the fact, whether they are really happy with my help, whether things they feel happy are real happiness for them, maybe they are already happier than me...



It's not only about the kids at orphanage, but 100 "I got confused" comes up whenever I got a fact.


I got confused, and I don't know...


I don't know how to conclude my writing today too...


I hope I will find something initiate me.


Go for it!! Chuji,

CACSA

1. Dec. 2010


During my stay in Kyrgyzstan, an NPO CACSA takes care of this Japanese boy. They offer me the internet at their office, introducing people and institution to visit for my Origami project. They help local craft industry through fair trade business. Many Kyrgyz, especially those who are out of city, are given revenue resources because of CACSA. The crafts are mainly exported in the US and Europe.


Before leaving Japan, I had a list of hostels and coach surfings in cities where I was going to visit. These institutions are incredibly helpful for backpackers. But now, a local woman shares a room of her apartment for free. It looks like I don't need these hostel stuff anymore.


As long as I'm enthusiasm and not self center, many local people help me out. Whenever I get such helps, my enthusiasm burn more and more. I have to increase the number of such supporters of mine in this travel.


Start with nothing, and achieve a goal no matter how the goal is far away...this travel is like a my life in miniature. If I can do this now, I can do same challenges in my life too. This is why I must achieve the impossible goal gathering 1000 origamis with local's dreams in my travel.


I think I'm successfully picturizing and actuarizing such image in my travel.


Any difficulty and danger are so welcome!!
Please beat me so I can beat you!!

I will stay in Kyrgyzstan few more days. I can't wait to see how many helps will show up for Chuji.


Go for it!! Chuji,

Ustatshakirt

29.Nov.2010 In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, there is a NPO called Center Ustatshakirt. Kyrgyzstan lost its own national music instruments since they became a part of USSR. Ustatshakirt works to keep and take over the historical music and musicians for coming generations. Very talented students, age from 13-20's, gathered to take practices with no tuition. Most of them usually go to school, and practice at Ustatshakirt after school and weekend.


These geniuses intend to active even oversea to tell the wonderful culture other countries. Therefore, Ustatshakirt even provides some PCs and English class for the international purpose.


Chuji's definition of music is Karaoke, and music ability is extremely poor. But they thankfully showed their performance only for me. "I envy you that you can live in Japan" They said like that, but sorry, I envy your talent!!! I never experienced to express my feeling or idea with music as I have to type my words right now.


The traditional music instruments are made of local materials such as woods, horse's hair. I was just like in a great field of grass in Kyrgyzstan when I was listening to them.


 "How come,,,,how come I can't play any music..." It was so sad that I couldn't join them... I actually had done previewing the Central Asian Music before visiting them, but now, I'm one of big fans of Kyrgyz music!! It's also so wonderful that talented students (kids) can learn whatever they are good at without external interrupts such as money.


 Now, I'm arrived where I'm staying Bishkek, but their great music doesn't leave my brain. And I just decided. I will ask them to play behind me when I debut as a singer!!

Go for it!! Chuji,

Smile

Nov. 29. 2010



I applied for the Uzbekistan visa today, and I'm going to get the one in next week. The Uzbekistan Embassy in Kyrgyzstan is generally told as the most unfriendly embassy in Central Asia between back packers. Someone online said "I think they do smile,,, once a year."


"Okay, I don't know who they are yet, but I will make them smile  no matter who they are!!" I was so exited to bring my smile in front of the people at the embassy.


Put a piece of paper and a pen in my left pocket to write name of people,
Put my iPod to show them pictures I have taken in this travel,
Put a Silk Road map in my backpack to explain the rout I have passed.
And I bought a porn card to catch their heart on my way to the embassy.


After waiting in line for a while, finally my turn came, and I had to open two doors to get in the building. A guy, who is like super Mario, was sitting just the end of the floor over a heavy glazed wall.


"Hi!!"

...


"How are you?"


so so...


"Are you a Kyrgyz?"


Uzbek...


"What is your name?"


"Muzaffar"


He still has no smile.




I showed the porn card, the map, and the pictures to get close to him.


He smiled a little bit.


I showed my passport then.


I had put a crane origami between this passport as a surprise present for him.




"Did you like this? I made this for you because I thought you would like this Muzaffar!! haha... And... I would be so happy if you discounted my visa fee my friend..."


I didn't lose the moment when he showed me his front teeth, and I was very sure he would discount me only at that moment when he smiled.


"Chuji, you are a good boy. Your visa is only $15 and just 3 days from today."


Good job Muzaffar!!


I would hug him if there was no glazed wall between us.





Stamps I can get on my passport are only one in a country. Sightseeing spots and famous buildings don't change their shape. But I learned that even a person I meet in the travel shows me a number of expressions if I tried to make the one smile.



People, who I could meet in this travel in the other side of the world, and I met almost by a stroke of fate. I just decided to face these folks with as much effort as I can make.



"Chuji....I will practice your name's pronunciation by the time you come here next" Muzaffar said with his smile.



Who said people here smile only once a year?


He gave me his wonderful smile twice today.




Go for it!! Chuji,

Japanese societies in Kyrgyzstan and the world,

Nov. 26. 2010



I finally began my activity in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan yesterday. I was invited to a jazz concert by a Japanese guy. More than thirty Japanese in Bishkek gathered at the concert, and even a Japanese ambassador and the chief of JICA(Japanese International Corporation Agency) were there. Also, a Kyrgyz industrialist and a powerful Kyrgyz politician were there. I was just there to grab some free foods, but it was a big event for the Japanese society in Bishkek.


Here in Kyrgyzstan, contribution of Japanese people in local to Kyrgyzstan's development is huge. I heard a nationally recognized company Kyrgyzstan  became its current size because of enormous supports by Japanese people, and an academic course, in which Kyrgyz business people learn from Japanese entrepreneurs, is very popular. JICA also does contribute to the local society in terms of education and welfare. These reasons were why such important people gathered at the concert yesterday.



"I thank all Japanese people as a representation of citizen of Kyrgyzstan" the business guy said his Japanese at the end of party.




It's obvious that each nation has own history, and my country is related to the history in a different shape with another.



The history with China & Japan and Kyrgyzstan & Japan are different. Also Kyrgyzstan & China have a history.



I saw the international topic in China was almost always political something that I hate. But the thing exist in Kyrgyzstan as an international cooperation or support. This is so nice.



Not having direct influence on the world with a military power. This is a must for Japan. I think things I saw yesterday such as Inter-social support, educational, and welfare support are the way my country should go. This should be how we show our smartness as well as reliable cars and IT something.

　

It's easy that Anime goes over the sea, but I also want Japanese people to go over the sea with justice and mission. This is what Japan should accelerate as a country.



Oh I got to many things I want to do in my future. My to-do list is full of my dreams.


I hope I can find much more dreams in this country during my staying.


Looking at beautiful Kyrgyz women,,,, this is secondly.





Go for it!! Chuji,

Arrived in Bishkek,

Nov.25.2010

Arrived in Bishkek finally!! My healthy stomach is finally back!!

A professor, who teaches at Kyrgyz National University, offers me a place to sleep. I can't ignore local people help the crazy Japanese boy. It's not my intention, but someone feeds me at lest one meal in a day in this travel. I owe them so much!!

The atmosphere of myself has been totally changed since I got in Kyrgyzstan from China, The color is totally Soviet now. People's cloth, liquor they drink, faces and building construction. But the eastern culture still remains in Kyrgyzstan too. (e.g: They shake hands and kiss, but take off shoes in room. )

Since they became an independent country from USSR in 1991, police and other public systems are totally corrupted. "Run away if you saw police in Kyrgyzstan" That's what I heard from a visitor. I also heard that many people were killed during the revolution in April, 2010. 

Anyway, my travel in the second country got started. Do my best to learn the local society, and make origami as many as possible. 




All shoot guns and bombs, come to hit me, I won't die. hahaha---

Women are sooo beautiful here!!!!! hahaha----

спасибо, Chuji

Seirogan

Nov.24.2010

I safely passed the border of Kyrgyzstan from China. Staying in a town called Narin which is in between the border and the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. I want to make my plan in this country during my stay in this town, but a present from China doesn't allow me to do so. Diarrhea!!! I can't eat anything today... I woke up and took a medicine out from my backpack. Seirogan is a popular medicine for diarrhea in Japan. My grandma let me have it when I left Japan. I hope this will help me to recover from the disaster by tomorrow morning.

At this point, I haven't seen anything about Kyrgyzstan except mountains with snow, horses, and cows. But I think I'm glad that I'm traveling in the harsh winter season because I have already seeing how people are surviving with local custom and wisdom in the hard natural environment. This feeling is something Google doesn't tell us. There are too many things I don't know yet in this world.

Tomorrow, I'm leaving for the capital city, Bishkek in where many supportive friends' friends of Chuji are waiting for me. I have to recover for the supporters too. 

Madam at the place where I stay recommend me to have local hot tea and some dry fruits, but they don't know how this Seirogan from my grandma is effective...

Gor for it!! Chuji,　　

Just do it,

I am writing about a story from my Silk Road journey. Today's story is about my understanding of Chinese society in the end of Nov, 2010... Kyrgyzstan is almost there...



Tomorrow, I finally leave for Kyrgyzstan from Kashgar, China. I will drive a car for a whole day to cross the board, and I also need to a half more day to reach the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek from the board. As you already know, China lies on almost 50% of the Silk Road, I have been seriously keep opening my eyes to see people's lives rather than super boring sightseeing which many visitors love to do. Since I'm finally leaving this country after spending more than a month, I would like to write about my understanding of China although I haven't understood this country even 1% yet.


I titled this country as "a country without adverb".


Chinese people's ability to achieve a goal is really outstanding at least compared to Japanese people. We, in Japan, tend to focus on how you do a thing like "friendly do", "beautifully do", or "politely do", but how Chinese people is "just do it". We, Japanese, might not achieve a goal because of the second reason such as how nicely do this or how friendly behave that... but again, Chinese just do it no matter how it looks like.


For example at bath room, there is less concern about how they nicely leave the public space. Just do it and leave here. Baby's pants are split so that they can just do it whenever it came.


At public transportation... I thought people, who were getting off from the bus or whatever, were priority rather than the one getting on, but the just do it spirit didn't allow my expectation to happen. Just get a seat or at least get on the bus. Actually you won't be able to get your home in China if you behaved as nice as other countries because of the number of people.  "Guys... If you politely follow the line, you would be able to get your home 30mins earlier..." that's what I was thinking whenever I got in the bus-war.


But, this culture is not always bad. Their decision making was incredibly fast, and this culture helped my origami project a lot. I could make appointments to visit schools in China right after introducing my self to people in front of me. "This is good! Okay, come in and do it!!" They were super nice.


I think Chinese people are sometime regarded as a trouble maker in the world, but I have never met such powerful and nice people. They are very strong folks once both parties understood each other, and they understand you as long as you express what you like and dislike. They are so open mind.


I would like to say thanks China for treating me so nicely, and now I'm so happy to know how Chinese people are cool.


"Just do it"


This is my definition of Chinese society.

Next one is Kyrgyzstan. I can't wait to see the new world!!




Go for it!! Chuji,

I am a Japanese.

HOSTEL...This is a relatively new accommodation system for youths who travel the world with huge backpacks. There is no services as much as hotels do, but all information for backpackers are set, the Internet connection many times help the youths, and the best deal is the price. Since I have been traveling a long time, I have met someone who I had already met in another city, and these experiences strengthen our relationships...


The Silk Road... this is not where only Chuji is traveling, but also many youths try to see the world through the historical road. And I think I'm getting famous between these exiting people in the spread communities on the Silk Road. When I arrived my hostel in Kashgar today, I had already met some of them, and they have explained about myself, origami, and my project to other residences. In my next destination Kyrgyzstan too, I already have many "friends' friends". Many of them are Western people, but I have met some Japanese, Korean, and East Asians.


Between the well experienced survivors, what we always talk about is next destinations, past routes, and the visa issues. Especially visa issues are always headache for us, and the visa stories differs depending on the nationality. I proudly keep speaking about my visa stories because I think the Japanese passport is the most reliable one in the world as far as I know. Chinese, Europeans, USA... no passport is comparable with mine!!


For example in Kyrgyzstan which is a post USSR country, it's understandable that Cuba, Russia and some other socialism nations are visa wavers, but somehow my country Japan doesn't need a passport. Taiwanese, Chinese, and Europeans, they die before get visas. Actually, a Taiwanese guy were waiting for his visa from Kyrgyzstan for more than two weeks!! In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan too usually travelers visas are issued around a week, but Japan and some others are issued in a couple of days.


Instead of saying "Oh thankfully my Japanese passport is convenient to travel with", I say "Well, my country is international trusted. It's totally different from others"　I boast of my passport.


Since Japanese politicians are as funny as kindergarten kinds, and Japanese media creates news to gain money from their advertisements, we sometime feel our country is ending. But looks like our country is very trusted and has big influences on the all over the world. That's why I just decided to travel by representing my country.


When I lost a bus because of rode people in China, I say "F**k!! Get out of my way!!" But When I helped an elder woman to bring heavy stuff, left a chair on the train for a pregnant lady, did something good for others, I say like this with lots of smiles...

Yea, I am a Japanese!!






Go for it!! Chuji,