Ghost Candy Shop!?

So, when I came to Japan, I was very adamant about finding "scary things".
Mostly because, it's true, Japan has some of the scariest stuff out there--also, I like to scare myself.

So, before I arrived to Kyoto, I started looking up places to visit with a "ghostly" feel to it.

The first thing that popped up was the Ghost Candy Shop.

Now, this location is slightly difficult to find--BUT it can be done.

Here is the general address: address: Kyoto-shi, Higashiyama-ku, Matsubara-dori, Yamato-oji Higashi-iru, 2-chome, Rokurocho (京都市東山区松原通大和大路東入る二丁目轆轤町)

Get lost in this general area...

Then you must find this: 

And, that's where the ghost candy is!

So, the story?

Allegedly, many years ago, this candy shop had an unusual visitor.

Late one night, the shop-keeper heard a knock on his door. When he answered it, there stood a frail looking young woman.

"Excuse me, I know that it is very late, but could you give me some candy?" asked the woman.

The shop-keeper thought this was strange, but was happy to make a sale. When he gave her the candy she turned away and walked into the darkness.

The next night, the shop-keeper heard a knock on his door. It was even later than the night before, but when he answered, it was the same young woman.

"Excuse me, I know that it is very late, but could you give me some candy?" again, asked the woman. 

The shop-keeper was a little annoyed, but relented and sold the young woman some candy.

This ritual continued for another five days, but, on the sixth day, the shop-keeper's patience was worn. After the woman had requested her candy and walked away, the shop-keeper followed her into the darkness. They walked for a long time as she led him down several streets and through the woods. When they came upon a clearing, the woman then led the shop-keeper through the gates of a cemetery. 

She stopped at one headstone, turned to the shop-keeper, then vanished.

The shop-keeper, both frightened and perplexed, investigated the grave.

Low and behold, it was open. Inside was the corpse of what looked like the young woman. However, nestled in her arms was a sleeping baby. 

The man took the baby, realizing that it had been mistakenly buried with his mother. As a result, the baby was saved from death.

And, the shop-keeper never saw the young woman again.

***

This story probably sounds familiar, because it is a common urban legend in North America as well. Though it is unlikely that the story is true, it is interesting no less. The candy shop's telling of the story is magnificent and the look of the old shop really makes the story feel real. Also, the shop sells delicious "ghost candy" that appears to almost glow. Overall, this particular candy shop is definitely worth a visit for those who love candy and/or the spooky side of Japan. 

The candy!

The Weird Things You Miss About Your Dog...

When you live far from home, you tend to miss your friends and family.

I miss my family... But, I miss my dog the most. 

Her name is "Boots", as in; "Today, I bought a beautiful pair of boots."

This is an artistic depiction of her.

She's so majestic. She likes milk bones and chasing squirrels...

...Like a BAWSE!

Yeah, Boots is the best.

Jishu Jinja Shrine's Scorned Lovers

Are you travelling to Japan anytime soon?

Are you a paranormal enthusiast?

Well then, you should definitely visit the Jishu Jinjia Shrine. It is a Shinto Shrine, next to the Buddhist Kiyomizudera in Kyoto City, Kyoto.

This shrine is protected by a god who is concerned with the love affairs of women. Originally, the shrine was meant for people praying for love, but eventually it was used for devious means of cursing those who have romantically wronged others.

There is an ancient ritual that essentially requires that the scorned lover make a visit during "Ushi no toki mairi " translated as "ox-hour shrine-visit"--but commonly referred to as the "2 A.M. visit". This is the Japanese version of the "Witching Hour"--a time between 1 A.M. and 3 A.M. Once the lover arrives at the shrine during this time, they are supposed to nail an effigy of the person they intend to curse into the shrine's central tree. It is said that in order for the curse to work, then the effigy must contain the hair, fingernails, or blood of the chosen person.

What happens to the cursed person is mostly hearsay. However, some say that nailing the effigy through the head will cause the chosen person to become sick and die. It is also said that depending on where the nail is driven, the chosen person will feel pain in the corresponding body part.

The tree contains many holes from centuries of angry and heartbroken women.

Apparently, though this is considered an old ritual, there are newer holes in the tree.  This indicates that the practice has followed Japan into the modern age. Allegedly, the local priest who takes care of the temple, has had to remove nailed effigies in recent years.

If you see the tree up-close, you can see how there have been attempts to preserve its original purpose--love. However, the stripped bark, various holes, and contusions does not feel right when viewed in-person. The tree seems sick and cursed itself. However, it is no-less interesting. 

The surrounding scenery is truly beautiful. Next doors is Kiyomizudera, which not only is beautiful within itself, but sports a spectacular view of downtown Kyoto City. 

Things That Happen to Me #1

 I have it really good in Japan, so there's not much that I can be "grumbly" about. That said, this happens to me way too much.

For those that don't understand, two things are wrong with this statement.
1) The assumption that all Americans are fat (with a negative connotation)
2) That every English speaking person is American.

Needless to say, I get a variation of this statement about once a month. It's supposed to be a compliment, so I'm usually very "smiley" and I thank the person.

Commenting on someone`s weight is not as taboo in Japan as it is in North America. The previous statement is not necessarily a good or a bad thing; It's a cultural difference. I am slightly uncomfortable when this happens to me, but it doesn't ruin my day.

So, My Life Away From Home So Far...

              I want to start this blog post by getting straight to the point:

             

              I`m happier in Japan than I was in Canada.

              Don`t get me wrong, it sucks that I`m no longer living with my boyfriend (and most people here don`t recognize our relationship as legitimate due to our lack of marital licensing). It also sucks that I haven’t made that many friends as I would have liked to up to this point or that my mother`s birthday was on Friday and all I can think about is how much I miss my mommy. It sucks even more that I do not speak Japanese fluently and few people speak English or French fluently so I`m limited to phrases such as "My name is Natasha" and "I like the colour Orange".

However, I am still happier in Japan than I was in Canada

I don`t think that it`s due to anything intrinsically Japanese. I mean, Japan is beautiful, the people are nice, the food is delicious, and alcohol is very inexpensive—but no, it`s not specifically Japan.

It`s being able to chase my dreams; it`s being able to do the things that I`ve always wanted to do.

I was a miserable university student.

I was originally going to be a medical doctor, then a clinical psychologist, then a researcher… When I was in university, I took all of the advanced courses, did the student union thing, was a teaching assistant etc… but I was never really happy.

I had a full scholarship to university and then additional scholarships that followed and, despite all that, I sadly took very few classes that I was passionate about.

     

        I had a free pass and I took the easy route by taking the hard route.

       

        I wasn`t concentrating on what makes me happy; I concentrated on the easiest way to make money in the future.

In Japan, I work 35 hours a week, not counting coming in early, or leaving late after art club, or eating lunch with my students. I am at my assigned junior high school more than when I`m at home. But, somehow, I find time to do the things I love and I don`t feel tired every day.

Since living in Japan, I`ve been drawing and writing for pleasure. I started knitting again. I do exercises in the morning and eat healthy well balanced meals. I don`t have to do a million things at once, because everything is very "take it as it comes".

And, for those of you who think that I`m "wasting" time while I "figure out" what I want, I`ll tell you exactly what I want.

I want to be a writer.

I want to write short stories, novels, maybe even a comic book someday.

These are the dreams that I`ve figured out after having been away from home for two and a half months. And those dreams are reflected in my early childhood interests, before the public school system decided that I was "too smart" for art—of course implying that if you get good grades then you`re bound for academia and if that arbitrary number is too low then you have permission to "waste" your life on creative endeavors.

Though, there are some benefits for my dreams via the academic route. 

I`ve decided that I might go back to school.

I was thinking of a masters program in the UK.

I have a passion for ghost stories and there is a group of researchers that I would like to work with. They study the psychology behind paranormal experiences.

With a masters degree, I could do so much more. I could teach English in a university setting as opposed to public school. I could teach psych part time. I could learn what scares people, which could help better my writing. However, these are ends to a means.

If I go back to school, it will be a way for me to achieve the things that I want. And, I want three things:

1)    to travel

2)    to write

3)    to live

 　　　　　But, before I commit, lets see where life takes me.

Perhaps this is a privileged and entitled ``millennial`` mindset. Perhaps I am living in a dream world. Maybe my dreams do not reflect the greater good… Maybe I should get a Ph.D. and teach the next generation…

Or maybe we need to change.

I know that I needed to change.

I`ll do my thing, you`ll do yours.

We`ll support each other and see where it takes us.

This blog will update my friends back home on the recent chapter in my life. I will show you the things I see and observations that I make. I will update you on recent writing projects; my failures and my achievements. I want to share my life with others.
              My only request is that when you`re reading this blog, reflect on your own life while I reflect on mine. Are you experiencing life the way you want to experience it? If not, look into your heart and see where you want to go. My new path is not for everyone, so feel free to dream of anything and everything. Maybe academia is your thing. Maybe teaching, languages, religion, science, public relations, music, math, the army etc… is your thing. Whatever it is, we`ll do this together. 

Till next time,

Natty