Higashikorien-cho

Ballet studio on the second floor

The neighborhood between my homestay home and the train station is not one to be overlooked. Though only a fifteen minute walk, there is always something to view and investigate. One curious aspect is a ballet studio on the second floor of one of the business buildings. It may not seem like much, but from a dancer's perspective it shows that the residents in the neighborhood have an interest in western styles of dance. Of course ballet has been around in Japan for many years already, though a studio in this small area is unique.

Ojizo Building

 A major landmark through this fifteen minute walk is the ojizo area. At first I had no idea what this building could possibly be, but with some research it has turned out to be one of the most interesting aspects of the area. In between small business buildings and residential homes is this strong reminder of the religious emphasis in Japanese life. The building is architecturally a mix of old and new; a recurring theme in modern Japan which is seen almost everywhere. Down the road is a small business which never seems to lock its door. Very peculiar. The businesses, as in most of the Kansai area, do not have front yard space between the front door and the road and pedestrians, yet the shop is always wide open with the owners yet to be seen. A sample of the trust my area seems to have with each other.
 Due to a busy schedule, I have no been able to fully explore the other places of my area, but this small sample is enough to keep any traveler occupied for a while. A small business by the name of F Sharp and F Bass is near the ballet studio. The first floor is an antique and flower shop, with a coffee house upstairs. One might argue a ballet studio and European style antique store are not what a Japanese neighborhood should be like, but what then should it be? Through experiences around the region, this mix of east and west has nothing to do with changing of Japan to be like the west, more of Japan changing as it desires.