11th

I've not been able to find the words to express all the different feelings inside since the 11th March. To my dear friends in Ofunato, I can't imagine what you're going through, but I can imagine your strength, kindness and support for each other. I think about you all the time, and if you need a welsh pair of hands, I'll be there. Love Karin xxx

Hello again!

Hello and welcome back!
I'm so sorry it's taken me an age to return to the world of the blogger. I encountered quite a few technical hitches in my last
two weeks in Japan, and then I arrived back in Cardiff with a whole load of work and country adjusting to be done!

My time in Japan has left me overflowing with memories and stories! I had one of the best times of my life. I hope to continue writing this blog until I, or you, run out of steam, but until that moment arrives.....

On one of my last days in Ofunato, I was invited to Akasaki-cho, a dementia specific day centre in Ofunato, to take part in a traditional New Year's ceremony -  Mochitsuki!

Akasaki-cho is one of Ofunato's oldest buildings, dating back about 140 years. Back in 2005, Tenjin-kai renovated this old wooden building into a day care centre. It is very popular with the community who visit on a daily basis. It is a beautiful and traditional renovation, and a wonderful place to spend the day with friends, it really does feel like a family home!

Hanging in vertical rows just outside the entrance to the centre are Japanese persimmon fruits in the process of being dried out. Kaki ( the Japanese word for the fruit ) is very popular in Japan and tastes delicious. The inside of the fruit is sweet like honey and apricots with a hint of perfume, and the texture is a little bit like a fleshy jelly! I loved them, oishii!! Outside nearly every house in Ofunato you can see rows of hanging kaki drying out in the sun.   

The older people who visit the centre contribute a great deal to the daily running of life there, from the shopping to the cooking and the gardening, everyone feels involved, vital and valued.

        

   
""   I believe the moments when the elderly feel that they are ""  alive"  are found in their ordinary, seemingly insignificant daily life. That is why it is important for us to value every opportunity of
creativity that resides in day-to-day living"     Dr Uchide 





Mochitsuki!

Mochi is a traditional Japanese New Year food made from glutinous rice pounded into a paste and moulded into shape.

The rice is pounded with wooden mallets in a traditional mortar. Two people take turns to pound, turn and wet the mochi. I was told that you must keep time with your partner, otherwise your fingers get it!

Here is a short video of what happened on that sunny afternoon in Akasaki-cho! We celebrated, we danced, and we consumed quite a lot of mochi! I hope you enjoy watching a little slice of the celebration!

Love to all, Karin x

 

Kesen Boke Ichiza - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 on Kesen Boke Ichiza

We are in Yamaguchi Prefecture, 1000km from Ofunato. Today is Saturday, and we’re performing in a Dementia Care Conference in Yamaguchi for care workers from all over the prefecture.

Kesen Boke Ichiza are performing at 1pm. The morning is taken up with a welcome ceremony, awards to care staff for outstanding care,and a lecture by Minani Nobutaka.

Backstage Dr Uchide introduces me to Minani Nobutaka. He describes himself as a punk Japanese poet! He is giving a lecture this morning on his experience of caring for his wife who had dementia. He has given over 1,700 lectures!!

Below is a picture of Minani Nobutaka, Komiko San, Mrs Ozawa ( my interpreter ) and me.

I wanted to hear him speak, so Mrs Ozawa and I took our seats in the main hall.

I wasn’t disappointed. Minani has a powerful yet gentle presence , he's a gifted speaker, and has a no nonsense honesty that is rare.

He talked about the early days when his wife was first diagnosed with dementia. He was so depressed he took his wife to a cliff edge with the intention of killing them both. But his wife started singing to him, and smiling at him, and in that moment, on the cliff's edge, he realised he had to find ways of coping.

He started giving lectures to the local community, taking his wife with him. His wife's family were disapproving, ashamed of their mother's illness. But Minami believes there is NOTHING to be ashamed about. His wife was happy to be by Minami's side, and the people attending the lecture's were happy to see his wife too. The meetings would often end up with everyone singing. His wife's family could see the benefits, and they never looked back.

In difficult times Minami would whistle the song of the Japanese Warbler to his wife.The song would bring them close again, and the connection between them would feel strong. His wife would try and catch the bird by touching Minani's lips. Minani feels these moments are as important as medicine in helping people with dementia connect back to loved ones.
His wife passed away 12 years ago, but Minani continues to travel the country, and is still passionate about educating people especially children on dementia care. I loved listening to him speak, sing and whistle. He is an inspiration, has a wealth of first hand knowledge in the field, and is a great support to so many families.

Boke Ichiza’s performance went really well, I played Susan Boyle’s sister again.

Below is a photograph of everyone who played their part in the conference.

We all celebrate with an amazing Japanese meal in Yamaguchi. We’re having puffer fish as promised!

Below are some photographs of our evening meal. We’re eating the liver of an angler fish, raw trout with eggs, crab, sashimi, and puffer fish stew, all washed down with wine, beer and sake.

During the meal we all took it in turns to introduce ourselves, and say a little bit about the work we do.

After a few glasses of wine I introduced myself in Japanese, then Mrs Ozawa skilfully translated my little speech, I am so thankful for a translator, she's an amazing woman.  Dr Uchide started shouting for me to sing a song, then everyone started chanting song! song! Being Susan Boyle's sister comes with a multi-million pound pressure.
The first song that popped into my head was ‘Sospan Fach’ a classic welsh folk song. Everyone joined in with the Oi! Oi! at the end of the verse.  I love those moments in life when everyone feels connected and language is no barrier, a drink helps too!!

Then everyone go up to dance and sing traditional Japanese folk songs. What a night!

I raised my glass and toasted Iechyd Da! everyone repeated Iechyd Da!! then I raised my glass and shouted Chin Chin! Some people started laughing and clinking their glasses, repeating chin chin with a big giggle. Mrs Ozawa leaned in, and trying not to laugh asked me if I knew what chin chin meant in Japanese, I said no, she said it means penis, I'd been toasting a penis. Language holds no barriers....

I've had a wonderful trip to Yamaguchi with Kesen Boke Ichiza. The work they do is intelligent, funny and inspiring. They work so hard!

Before we left the prefecture we spent Sunday morning in Dazaifu, the ancient city of culture. We visited Dazifu Tenmangu Shrine, which is sacred to the memory of Michizane Sugawara, also known as " the god of learning". Many thousands of young people visit this shrine every year to pray to Michizane Sugawara for good exam results.

The main hall was constructed in 1591 A.D and is registered as an important cultural site in Japan. Within the shrine are many plum trees that date back to this period. One of the plum trees is said to hold great significance as the tree that Michizane Sugawara at the tender age of five gazed upon and composed this celebrated Waka ( poem )

"How beautiful the red plum blossom,
I wish to color my cheek with it."


The story goes that he uprooted the plum tree from his family home and brought it with him to Dazifu Tenmangu Shrine. Below is the celebrated plum tree, not red I'm afraid.

But here's some red...

Below is Taca Co San - she plays the mother in Boke Ichiza.





It was a beautiful place, with Cypress trees over 1000 years old....look at the roots of the one below!!

Back on the local train to Yamaguchi and our flight home.

I feel there is a genuine passion for sharing in this country. The conferences, the speakers, even the evenings meals are all about connecting people to each other. The group is bigger than the individual.

People working in this field place a great emphasis on the quality of life for older people, and how to maintain and improve it. They are passionate about providing people with dementia with the kind of support that enables them to live peacefully and in their own subjective worlds.

My next blog will concentrate on how this is achieved.

Chin chin everyone!

Kesen Boke Ichiza - Part 1

Dear all,

So sorry it's taken me more than a week to update this blog. I've been kept very busy! Here is the first part of my report on Kesen Boke Ichiza. I'll be posting more in the coming days. Hope everyone is ok in the wintry conditions.

Dementia has become a far-reaching issue in our rapidly ageing society, and Kesen Boke Ichiza’s aim is to reach out into the community and promote a better understanding of dementia and its related issues through a series of short comedic and poignant plays. The show lasts one hour, and then there is a discussion and a series of workshops that follow.

Boke Ichiza believe that their shows are far more effective than any lecture in helping the community become more aware of dementia related issues.

The theatre company was formed in 1994 under the initiative of Dr Uchide and the staff of the Kesen Day Service Centre, a dementia-specific day care centre in Ofunato. The theatre group is made up of care workers, social workers, group home managers, folk singers and teachers. They have given over 250 performances to over 80,000 people. They are all volunteers.

They tour to schools, community venues, theatres, and have recently returned from Australia where they took part in an Aged Care conference in Adelaide.

The short plays in their show are based on materials collected in what they call ‘the good stuff notebook’. This is a record they keep of older people’s real speech and any interesting stories they’ve heard from them, their care workers or their families. Every play is based on a real person’s story.

There are four plays in the show. Below is a brief outline of each one.

The differences in forgetfulness
Dementia begins with forgetfulness, but there are huge differences between forgetfulness due to advancing age and that of dementia. The company demonstrate the difference between the two by doing the same play twice. The first time the older woman is frustrated she’s lost her purse, but is able to joke with her family about it. In the second version she has become withdrawn and frustrated, and eventually starts to panic because she can’t find her purse. Her family become very worried about her, and don’t know how to support her.

Battle over meals
In this play the company show how a family responds to repeated requests for meals by their grandmother who has dementia. The play gives the audience ideas on how to get the grandmother involved in meaningful activities in the home, and ways of providing structure for her. This play aims to reassure people that dementia doesn’t mean the end of your life or the end of your families life, but that it can have a positive effect on everyone.

Support in the community
This play involves a business woman who is not coping with her mother who has dementia. She feels ashamed of her mother’s illness, and finds it difficult to talk about to her family and friends. The play raises awareness around community responsibility and compassion for people with dementia, and their families. With support from the local community the daughter is able to be more open about her mother, and this support helps her deal with her mother illness.

Mental Longevity – the time that you can still be yourself.
If you are diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, what would happen to your job, your family and your mind? This play follows a man in his fifties who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimers, and the effect this has on him and his family. It ends with a strong, poignant message which makes you think about your own life, and what would happen if you were diagnosed with Alzheimers.


“The general perception that “dementia is a real tribulation” will be completely dispelled if people have a good understanding of the characteristics of dementia and ways to deal with them. If you accept slightly unusual speech and behaviour of people with dementia as part of their personalities, you will realise what pure, gentle and lovable individuals they are. You will also see, through our plays, that the elderly with dementia are able to live and lead an ordinary life with us in the community" Dr Yukimi Uchide.


I’ve been invited to a rehearsal of their show in preparation for their journey to Yamaguchi Prefecture in a couple of days. I’m travelling with them, and have even got a small part in the show as Susan Boyle’s sister, need I say anymore?

We are travelling over 1000km to give two performances. The first performance is on Friday night to an audience of care workers, and the second performance is on Saturday afternoon as part of a dementia care conference for healthcare professionals from all over Yamaguchi prefecture.

Here is a flyer for the conference.

Here are some photos of the rehearsal in the Tenjin Kai facility in Ofunato a few days before we travel. The first image is from the play ' The differences in forgetfulness'.

The image below is taken from the play ' Battle over meals'

Below is Dr Uchide watching rehearsals.

Boke Ichiza love to have fun, they love to laugh, and often rehearsals stop because someone has started giggling!!

The journey to Yamaguchi started on Friday morning at 5am.We travelled to the station and caught the Shinkansen train to Sendai, then a 2 hour flight to Fukuoka, then another Shinkansen to Yamaguchi.

We arrived in Yamaguchi, and were greeted by the organisers of our trip.
Yamaguchi is famous for Fugu. Fugu is the Japanese word for puffer fish and the dish can be lethally poisonous. The fish has to be carefully prepared to remove toxic parts and to avoid contaminating the meat. Fugu has become one of the most celebrated and notorious dishes in Japanese cuisine. I’ve been told we’re having it on Saturday night!

Below is a photograph of the theatre company and Karin Boyle on arrival at Yamaguchi station with the poisonous puffer.

We travel to the community venue deep in the mountains and start to set up for the show tonight. Everyone is making props, rehearsing lines, and getting ready for a dress rehearsal.

Below is a picture of Kamiko San - she plays the grandmother in the first play. She is writing the theatre company's name in beautiful calligraphy. The sign will be displayed on stage.

Below is a view from the window of the community venue we're performing in tonight. We are surrounded by rice fields and mountains.

Dr Uchide makes sure local people are involved in every performance, so there are three local care workers in the show tonight. She believes that involving local people in the show helps the audience feel closer to the story.

Here are some photos of the dress rehearsal.

And here are a few video clips from rehearsals through to dress rehearsal and performance. You can see Dr Uchide directing a local care worker in how to wave his sign!

The show was a success. People laughed and cried. The company is relieved it’s gone well after such a long day travelling. My little part as Boyle's sis went well, thank you.

It’s 11pm and everyone is shattered. We check into our hotel room and sleep until 7. Then we’re up and out again to perform at a conference on dementia care in the next city.

The end of part 1. I’ll leave you with a quote from Dr Uchide.

“I have people who are important to me, people I rely on, people I want to support, people I want to see, places I want to go, and places I feel a strong attachment to. I am sure you do too. People with dementia are no exception. We should always be aware that they have wishes and dreams like everyone else. And when their wishes and dreams are shared with their families, care staff and the community, then they are achievable. I think their dreams can become a source of power for them to live happier lives.
I believe elderly people with dementia can continue to take the lead and live their own lives when we learn their life histories, actively engage with them, and value their brilliance as individuals. I also believe, that despite their condition, they can reaffirm who they are when we value and respect the things that they regard as important in their lives”

Part 2 will follow soon. Love to all.

Tokyo to Ofunato

Hello everyone!
I've arrived in Ofunato and all is well.
Before I launch into Ofunato life, I'd like to take you back to my Tokyo departure, the bullet train, and my journey here.
Like any major city, the Tokyo morning rush hour was intense. Here is a little taster, look out for the Jewish couple in the mix.

I then got on the wrong Shinkansen!! classic. The adrenalin surged through my body when I realised my big mistake.Luckily the train stopped in a station just outside Tokyo, so I jumped off there, and caught the right one. Below is a little video of the Shinkansen I boarded by mistake...

 

Robert ( my interpreter) and I were greeted by Dr Uchide at the station. What a lovely woman! We then travelled by car for an hour and a half through the mountains to Ofunato.Incredible scenery, red autumn leaves on jagged mountains. Bliss.

We headed straight for a restaurant by the sea to meet the President of the Japan Association of Group Homes for People with Dementia - Dr Noriya Kikawada.We had an incredible meal of onion and cheese soup, steak and carrots, and pumpkin pie with pumpkin sauce.

A few brief facts on Ofunato.
Ofunato is a coastal fishing city in the north east of Japan, in Iwate Prefecture.

After our meal Dr Uchide drove us to the town hall to meet the newly elected mayor.He'd won the mayoral election the day before, and everyone was so happy about it. There hasn't been a new mayor in 12 years! I felt like Prince Charles meeting Obama.

And then we headed for a welcome reception feast. I was so touched by their generous welcome.Sushi, sashimi ( thin slices of raw fish ) noodles of all kinds,oysters in breadcrumbs, fish stew, and sandwiches. You can see the sandwiches behind the noodles in the picture below.

The seafood was delicious, fresh from the sea that day. There were these long white tendrils in the fish stew which I thought were octopus tendrils, but in fact they were cod's testicles. Ah!

The people of Ofunato are warm, friendly and generous, I've learnt so much over the last few days. Will update you all when I get a spare moment, but my schedule is packed. There is so much to share with you. I'm definitely in the right place to learn new ideas on how to care for older people with and without dementia in care homes and in the community. Jeez they do it so differently here. Nos da from Ofunato x

Day 6

Hello everyone,

It's my last day in Tokyo before I travel on the bullet train to Ofunato to meet Dr Yukimi Uchide, Robert ( my interpreter ) and the Kesen Boche Ichiza theatre company tomorrow.

So in a fitting farewell to Tokyo I went to Harajuku to see if I could find myself a bunch of cosplayers! Cosplayers are youths with a fondness for Japanese bands or anime and manga characters, and on a Sunday they dress up and hang out in Harajuku.

I was told by a lad near Harajuku metro that there were not many youths on show today. I was a little bit gutted. But I waited around, and then lo and behold....

It was incredible to see older people playing! I love Mr Red.

I then found myself following a few cosplayers down the road and into one of the busiest streets I've ever come across!! Takeshita street!

 

A great day.

I'm looking forward to meeting Dr Uchide tomorrow, and very excited about the bullet train. For all you train buffs, I'll take some pictures!

Hope you've enjoyed the Tokyo leg of my journey, I feel like I've only skimmed the surface of this bubbling metropolis, but I've loved it.