Hobbies... Japan style

One of the good conversation openers in Japan is: "Shomi-wa, nan des ka?". Roughly translated this means: "How about your hobbies?"

This last weekend I had the opportunity to experience first hand and submerse myself in the unique world of Japanese hobbies during a two day bicycle tour I did of the Chiba peninsula.

I took the ferry at Kurihama, crossing Tokyo Bay to explore the coastline along the tip of Chiba Peninsula. Beautiful little bays, broad long beaches, many places to take secondary routes to avoid the main traffic, it would have been an ideal trip in the sun.

But, just after these photos were taken, it began pouring in the Tokyo way of pouring rain; sheets of steady, unrelenting, warm and soaking rain! I tried to extend my lunch at a cafe as long as possible but no luck. It was pouring for the afternoon!

I was thrilled to finally get to my Airbnb host's house and drip dry under one of the many shelters while I waited for my host to arrive. 

My host... and his home were a first-hand glimpse of the fascinating world of hobbies in Japan. My host had quite a varied professional background having worked in import/exports, as a principal at a private school among other things. He has traveled all over the world. His family currently lives in Hokkaido while he has an apartment in Tokyo and the home where I was staying (his "cat/hobby house") and the home he actually slept in.

We talked about many different things and interests but this video gives you a sense of one room. If you look carefully up towards the ceiling you will see a collection of drones as well as a variety of security cameras and radio equipment:

Some of interests/ collections included a large collection of manga videos that he views on a huge screen TV:

A Shinto shrine with a collection of pint-sized functioning robots as well as framed calligraphy that he studies and writes regularly:

Lots of toy cars and car parts including a functioning plastic piston engine above the toilet paper dispenser:

And on the wall behind the toilet: 

He has a wide interest in digital technology doing his own programming as well as lots of radios and variety of electronic gadgets all over the house:

Other interests that you can maybe pick out in the corners of these photos including playing and repairing guitars (he had at 10 around the house), outdoor gear and hiking (he was climbing Fuji this weekend), carpentry (a full shop set-up in a shed), cars (he has a fleet of 10 different cars that he has rebuilt including old Land Rovers, Jeeps etc.), car and motorcycle racing, and machining the parts necessary for his cars and motorbikes (in another shed) He showed me his race car and his motorcycle.

Though the house was quite crammed I was inspired by someone who has so many interests. In Japan we often run into people with their real passions and interests in their hobbies. I look forward to branching out some of my hobbies when I retire as inspired by our experiences here in Japan. 

The rest of the trip was the coast of Japan at its' best'

Lighthouses...

Rocks and waves...

Bike lanes along the tsunami walls...

Pounding waves excellent for surfing...

And not to be missed; mega-public works projects with fancy railings...

And well-endowed mermaids to inspire...

And the tunnels built especially for bikes (lights and safety exits and all)...

All too soon the trip ended with the blessing of the Tory gates...

The sign showing where I had been (for those can read this)..

And a beer and snack looking out over the surfers in the bay.

I folded my bike into its snazzy little carrying bag, hopped on the train (one every 5 minutes of course) then dove back into this metropolis of 36 million for another week of work.