The Red Hat Brigade

Thursday, October 19, 2023
Sakaiminato, Tottori, Japan
     Shuttled  into the small town center.  Shigeru Mizuhi spent his childhood here and  the Main Street is festooned with 177 figures of his artwork.  (No, I did not photograph all of them!) Artistic talent combined with an interest in the supernatural. His figures are fascinating, intricate , unusual and at times whimsical.     We enjoyed our time just walking, going into the small shops, taking photos and of course, talking to everyone.  Charles even sampled some street food.
     BUT- the highlight of the day was interacting with some school students. The Japanese children are just adorable and friendly.  This group’s assignment was to write in their notebooks about the statues.  I asked to take a look, we exchanged names and then where was I was from?  New York triggered a celebrity status (they loved Charles’  baseball cap and chanted Yankee…) which then prompted a request for us to write in their notebooks.  One or two escalated into a dozen, all of them laughing and smiling.  A treasured memory captured in a photo! In exchange for some  American script.
     At night we laughed again with the checkerboard guy- so much fun.  We even won at charades.  A respite from yesterday’s serious subject matter.
A:just two months later. September 1945
Q:What street food did Charles try?
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Comments

Paula
2023-10-19

Love all the pictures. You and Charles seem to be having a great time.

pam
2023-10-19

Love this, especially with the children!! What great memories you can look back on. Enjoy

Annie
2023-10-19

Japanese schools are fascinating.... the kids actually clean their classrooms at the end of each day. Imagine telling American children that washing floors and desks was their responsibility. Parents would be up-in-arms! The artwork is great and I love your poses. I am afraid to ask what Charles was eating..... looks like a worm to me!

Anna
2023-10-19

The art is so whimsical! Love it! What fun to have the opportunity to interact with the children.

SUSAN POLLARD
2023-10-19

What an experience…the time you are having with these Japanese people is just great. Continue to enjoy happy to read

Dotti
2023-10-20

The children are beyond precious and I can just imagine what fun you had meeting them. I love the art work. So interesting and fun. Keep enjoying yourselves! I hope the street food is better in Japan than in NYC.

Stephen
2023-10-21

I love the statues, he was a really good artist. That was really cute what happened with the Japanese kids, you were basically celebrities.

Susan
2023-10-22

Looks like you two are having a great time enjoying new places every day.

Anthony
2023-10-25

Cora Rose says she needs to meet those children, and then socially manipulate them.

2025-02-10

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