Activities in Oita and surroundings - Sumo, monkey mountain, Buddha statues and Christmas Party ✩

So what have I been up to during the last 4 weekends:

1. Sumo is Japan's national sport

Our university gave us some tickets for free to watch a Sumo wrestling competition (worth 10.000 Yen so approx. 70 €). This was a unique possibility to experience the fascinating "sport" of Japan. The festivities started early in the morning with a practice session and lasted until late afternoon, but we came late and left early because you couldn't possibly sit on the floor for such a long time. It was cold, our legs fell asleep and the fights were honestly not that exciting as they last only for a few seconds each. In the beginning the nakedness of the Sumos was really awkward and disturbing but we got used to it after a while ;) It was interesting to see how such a competition takes place and what the rules are (for example that the fighters had to stick to a certain procedure how to raise their legs and clap into their hands and bow each time before the fight starts). People have seat reservations in a masked square on the tatami mattress on the ground and bring or buy their lunch there to eat during the competition. On the "stage" there is always a man wearing the Kimono who introduces the competitors in a singing manner. Here you can see a part of a fight. An other surprising fact for me was, that there were not only Japanese Sumos but also men from Bulgaria, Egypt or Brazil. It seemed that they fought in different weight categories starting with the lighter ones and ending with the most corpulent. I have to admid that it was all in all a really unique and special experience!


2. Takasakiyama is a mountain near Beppu (close to Oita) which is inhabited by wild monkeys

The approximately 1500 monkeys stay in the area because there are regular feedings which is quite a spectacle. Watch a video of the feeding procedure.


3. In Usuki you can find very old and well preserved Buddha statues carved in hardened volcanic ash

4. German Christmas Party in our student dormitory KAIKAN

We organized a little Christmas party to celebrate 3rd Advent together and also to thank our Japanese tutors for all their efforts. So we invited a small group of Japanese people for German lunch where we made potato salad (Kartoffelsalat), pasta salad (Nudelsalat), meatballs (Frikadellen) and sausages (Würstchen). Later on many other international students joined and we offered some mulled wine (Glühwein) as well as some typical German sweets like Spekulatius, Lebkuchen and Gummibärchen (sent by relatives and friends from Germany).

In this sense I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! All the best for you and your families! May the new year bring joy, peace, health, success and happiness for all of you!

I will be sending you my warmest thoughts from the beach - as I am spending my winter vacation in Thailand lying on the warm sand, enjoying the heat and maybe snorkeling to see the coral reefs ;)

See you next year!