7th Week - Sunday (240208) Visit to the Kaikan & Recce!

Went to the kaikan at .30am for a YMD meeting. On my way, which takes around 20 minutes by bicycle, there was a sudden snowpour again! Yeah! This time, I came prepared and took out my camera and took some pics so as to compensate for yesterday. =)

All the yamas covered in snow...

Can you see the Genbaku-Dome at the left handside of the background?

Salt placed at the side of bridges/tunnels so as to let people pour on the road to melt the ice. But the disadvantage is that salt will corrode metal in the long run. But reserachers from Hokkaido have came out an alternative using clam shells! Cool!

As I reached the kaikan, I noticed almost all the YMDs are wearing formal wear with coats on. Think I'm one of the 10% that wore jeans that day. Haha... For today's meeting, it was very special, the top YMD leaders of Japan, who are based in Tokyo, came down to Hiroshima to encourage everyone of us prior to 3:16. When I entered the main hall, all the people were sitting in straight columns and I thought I would be sitting alone until Kuroda-san came to me and we sat together. :)

We did a very energetic gongyo and after that, 10 YMDs ran up the stage and performed the fan dance. (I was really touched at that point in time to be able to witness this...) Then the top YMD leader went to the mic and conveyed Sensei's msg and then announced that today's meeting would be published in tomorrow's (Monday's) Seikyo Shinbum! Several YMD leaders took turns to make their speech and each of them were saying in such dynamic tone that one might feel they were shouting with the mic! I could not catch what they are saying but the whole meeting lies on 3:16... And the finale came with Shiota-san (leader in my zone) and 4 other YMD leaders performing another fan dance to end today's meeting.

Carpark near the kaikan especially reserved for Gakkai members...

Seikyo Shimbun located together and just next to the kaikan...

The locals don't call it kaikan. They call it Ikeda Heiwa Hall...

Finally, our magnificant Hiroshima Kaikan...

Gakkai Shop opposite the kaikan...

And with that, I started my recce again and this time using another route to find my new workplace. I took the shortest and easiest path as far as I know and it took me around 20 minutes to reach. I cycled round the whole circumference and to all the gates and the train station. The last time I visited here I thought it was a dream to be able to work here but now the dream came true!!! =) And during this period, there was snow on and off and even with my gloves on, my hands were still numb. At around 2pm, I cycled another route back and on the way, I saw another shopping centre and decided to go in to defrost myself...


The shopping centre is called SATY and the interior looks like our Bugis Junction or Seiyu, with 6 floors. The fifth floor was a cinema, called Warner Brothers MyCal. But the English movies here are a few months behind Singapore, with the Golden Compass slated for release this 1st of March. Haha... But 'L change the world' was being screened for at least 2 weeks already, which I am not interested.


I loitered around and walked all the storeys before heading back to take a good rest and continue learning my jap. I cycled the whole stretch of Peace Bouvlevard and past the Peace Museum which I noticed a new poster showcasing a new photo exhibition named 'Fall of 1945, Summer of 1947'. I will definitely visit there soon and post up the pics for all to see!!! :)


And before I took the lift up my apartment, I went to open my letterbox and in it, I received a postcard from Malcolm in Istanbul! Thanks Mal! :)


I took a nap and ate my dinner before spending the rest of the cosy night studying my japanese and waiting eagerly for my first day in my new office... =)