NWK's 2015 Trip to Japan by Mari Shirai
This past September, some of our NWK members traveled to Wakayama-ken to attend the opening ceremony of the annual National Sports Festival (Kokutai) held in Wakayama. We were just amazed at the pageantry and the number of high school athletes that gathered to compete in various sports. The opening ceremony was very much like the Summer Olympic’s opening ceremony with entertainment, and they even had the “March of the Champions,” where the athletes marched into the stadium representing their city from throughout Japan. What a spectacle to behold!! The Emperor and the Empress were also present, sitting about 100 yards from us. It was very exciting.
We next traveled to Koyasan, the most sacred site for Shingon Buddhists in Japan. The mountainous atmosphere and the morning fog added to the mystique and holiness of Koyasan. Staying overnight at a temple lodging, dining on vegetarian meals, and even participating in their morning meditation added to the monk-like experience of this holy site.
Even though our trip was short, we had a wonderful time, traveling together, sharing stories about our furusato in Wakayama-ken, and building friendships along the way. 
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