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Diary: October 1st - 15th

October 1st, 2002
The 12xHolland participators for October are on their way to Japan: Ralph van Raat (piano) and Nikkie van de Ven (architecture) accompanied by Junko Ueda and Wil Offermans (initiators / organisation) challenge the most heavy typhoon in Japan since 60 years when they are approaching Tokyo Narita airport. At nigh, after a really wild flight they are with a 3 hours delay in Fukuoka, where Aki Oseki (organisation) is waiting to guide them to a downtown hotel in Fukuoka. From here they will leave tomorrow morning by car to their final destination: Hirado.

October 2nd, 2002
After a 3-hours drive the new group arrives in Tabira. There they jump on a small fishermans boat. About 15 minutes later they arrive in the harbour of Hirado, where organisers and various citizens are giving them a warm welcome. Nikkie and Ralph are being introduced to their host: for Nikkie this is ms. Junko Hirayama and for Ralph mr. Keisuke Kurose and ms. Yoriko Machida. Next they give a first interview to the press. After they have moved their luggage to their apartments there is an official welcome party at Cafe Carillon with speeches, food and drinks and an unexpected heavy thundering. The day ends in the 'onsen' (hot-spring) of the Kaijou hotel, outside, with view on the ocean.

October 3rd, 2002
This morning, Ralph and Nikkie have an official meeting with the major of Hirado, mr. Shirahama. Hereafter they have several preparing meetings concerning their schedule this month. At night Ralph joins a music rehearsal at Machida-san, where he enjoys the traditional instruments koto, shakuhachi and shamisen.

October 4th, 2002
Besides a busy schedule in Hirado, Ralph wants study the piano every day for several hours. This morning he is studying at the Nagata private music school. Next, together with Nikkie he enjoys an excursion by Mori-san to the Hirado castle and the Matsura Historical Museum. Later Nikkie is working in her atelier in the harbour and at night she meets several teachers of the Nakatsura elementary school for preparing her workshop.

October 5th, 2002
Nikkie goes shopping for materials, which she needs for her atelier with her host Hirayama Junko-san. Later Yamada Yukari-san is showing her around the most important historical points in Hirado. In her atelier she develops a plan to make a maquette of the centre of Hirado. In the evening Nikkie enjoys her first sashimi (raw fish) ever. Ralph is studying the piano both at Nagata and Machida-san and has a preparing meeting concerning his piano teaching in Hirado.

October 6th, 2002
Today Nikkie and Ralph are participating the annual Hirado Marathon event by walking 10 kilometers on this most heavy rainy day. In the afternoon they both enjoy a traditional concert of koto and shakuhachi at the Matsura Historical Museum. At night Ralph joins the rehearsal of the wind ensemble Wind-Ago and together they start discussing about some combined performances.

October 7th, 2002
Today both for Nikkie and Ralph there is no fixed schedule. Nikkie works in her atelier on the maquette of Hirado. Ralph studies the piano in the Nagata music school.

October 8th, 2002
This morning Ralph has his first school activity at the Hirado elementary school (2nd grade). He demonstrates the prepared piano (John Cage) and the children enjoy playing themselves. Later he does an extensive piano class with a several pianists in the Culture Centre Hirado. Nikkie as well does her first school activity. Today and tomorrow she visits the Nakatsura elementary school in southern Hirado, where she works with all students together (37) on a colourful 'Nakatsura Tower'.

October 9th, 2002
Ralph presents his second (prepared) piano workshop at the Hirado elementary school, where also the children enjoy the unexpected sound transformations. In the afternoon Ralph does a similar workshop at the Houki elementary school. Nikkie finished the 'Nakatsura Tower' at the Nakatsura elementary school which she started yesterday. In the evening both Ralph and Nikkie have their first shodo (calligraphy) lesson with Tateishi-sensei (translation Rinako-san).

October 10th, 2002
Nikkie conducts this morning a workshop with the (young!) children and mothers of the Waku-Waku network (translation by Akira Tanzawa). Ralph presents another piano workshop at the Hirado elementary school (again translation by Miyuki Tamura). At night he teaches several childens (10-16 years) at the Nagata music school (translation Rinako Kuwahara).

October 11th, 2002
Ralph presents this morning his piano workshop at the Hirado elementary school. At night Nikkie has a lecture about reorganisation and renovation in Holland for a group of architects in the neighbouring Matsuura. Ralph visits a night concert by Junko Ueda and Wil Offermans at the Fumon-ji temple in Kigatsu on Hirado island.

October 12th, 2002
Nikkie travels to Nagasaki (about 3-hours) with architect Yamada Yukari-san, where they visit the former Dejima island. After his daily piano exercises Ralph enjoys a performance of Chinese opera Hirado.

October 13th, 2002
Nikkie returns from Nagasaki in the morning to rush to her meeting and lecture for the Tabira Historical Building Research Group, with whom she visits some temples and houses under construction. Ralph plays the piano and works in the evening with the Wind Ago ensemble on some Japanese songs. In the afternoon, both Nikkie and Ralph make a short trip to the Shiratake mountain with Junko and Wil.

October 14th, 2002
Today is a free day for both Nikkie and Ralph. The make a long walk over the Kawachi Pass and its surrounding mountains.

October 15th, 2002
Ralph teaches piano to two students (Motoko-san and Yoriko-san). At night he is again teaching the piano, now to some younger kids. Nikkie is working today in her atelier.