[Date and Time] Saturday, February 6, at 11:10 ~ 16:30
[Spots] Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha), and Hasedera Temple
[Visitors] 2 male visitors from Benin
[Attendants] 2 KSGG members
[Language] French
The visitors came from Benin to Japan for the training of stockbreeding technologies. Soon after they came to Japan, they were hard hit by snow, which must have been a good training for them, as they will stay in 10 days near the pasture called “Hanabatake” in Obihiro, Hokkaido where it is cold in winter, for one year.
When I explained in front of Gempei Pond at Hachimangu Shrine that the Japanese people like asymmetry and odd numbers, they said even numbers are the very symbol of happiness. Then I realized the difference in culture between us. When they asked me if it is a national policy to be on time, I replied that we are strongly aware of shame and hate to bother other people. It is the national character based on the samurai spirit that we are apt to follow the rules. They were very much impressed with our high morality. Also, they were surprised at our sophisticated skills that completed the two Great Buddhas, one in Nara and the other in Kamakura. Fortunately, we met and talked on the way with JICA participants led by other KSGG members. As they will go to Hokkaido for their training, we gave them pocket warmers as souvenirs. We saw them off, giving them our promise to meet again.
Au revoir! Vive l’ Afrique!
[Spots] Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Kotokuin Temple (Great Buddha), and Hasedera Temple
[Visitors] 2 male visitors from Benin
[Attendants] 2 KSGG members
[Language] French
The visitors came from Benin to Japan for the training of stockbreeding technologies. Soon after they came to Japan, they were hard hit by snow, which must have been a good training for them, as they will stay in 10 days near the pasture called “Hanabatake” in Obihiro, Hokkaido where it is cold in winter, for one year.
When I explained in front of Gempei Pond at Hachimangu Shrine that the Japanese people like asymmetry and odd numbers, they said even numbers are the very symbol of happiness. Then I realized the difference in culture between us. When they asked me if it is a national policy to be on time, I replied that we are strongly aware of shame and hate to bother other people. It is the national character based on the samurai spirit that we are apt to follow the rules. They were very much impressed with our high morality. Also, they were surprised at our sophisticated skills that completed the two Great Buddhas, one in Nara and the other in Kamakura. Fortunately, we met and talked on the way with JICA participants led by other KSGG members. As they will go to Hokkaido for their training, we gave them pocket warmers as souvenirs. We saw them off, giving them our promise to meet again.
Au revoir! Vive l’ Afrique!