Interview with: IUCHI ERI

So, again it has been a little while since I have done the last installment of the interviews that I was going on about. Funny thing, the plans of mice and men. They seem to always change on you when least expected. An example would be this interview. I was planning on doing a shoot outside with Eri, but it actually ended up raining. Therefore, I had to find somewhere we can shoot inside, and I was lacking equipment.


Luckily, this cafeteria was pretty empty. [with the exception of some kids who were just chilling in the cafe area.] I am pretty satisfied with the photos that came out. It ended up being a great place to shoot. I didn't even use a flash! All I did was white balance the light, to get ride of the green that was coming from the neon lights, and used the table as a bounce of the light.




I mean it could have been better, but I am not going to complain with what I got. It is nice enough, and awesome that I was able to just use what I had on hand to accomplish the shoot. This was probably the most under equipped time that I was going out. I just had the Canon 1Ds, 3 batteries, and the gray card. Not bad, eh? Oh well, on with the interview!




Interview Sheet:


What is your name: Iuchi Eri


What is your Nationality: Japanese




How old are you: 19


Are you single: No


What is your Major/Faculty: Linguistics


What year are you: Sophomore




Are you in any clubs: Yes
Which one(s): English Speaking Society (E.S.S.)




What is your position in the club(s)? What do you do?


In this club we have no specific positions, but we all try to learn and speak in English. I particularly have interest in speaking English.




What is interesting about your club(s)?


Ah…. I uh… I dunno…. If I really want to improve my English skills, then I should join. So, I joined it. It is an official club, so we can meet other members around Japan. Sometimes we go to Fukuoka to meet people, and sometimes my friends can go to Hokkaido to make speeches in English.




Do you have a job(s): Yup
What do you do?


I work for an udon restaurant.




What are your hobbies?


I like to listen to music, reading books, chatting and hanging out with friends, and most of all unlimited drinking sprees. Sometimes, I like outdoor hobbies like camping, hiking, and climbing.




What music/movies/books/TV shows do you like?
Um.. I like jazz, rock, R and B. I especially like American music. I like Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, and Owl City. Oh, and Lady Gaga. About Japanese music, I like: Exile, Ayaka, Kimura Kaera.


Movies… I like: A Moment to Remember and Lovely Bones, there is a good memory to go with the movie though, it was my first date with my current boyfriend. I also like Mononoke Hime, that is the best Ghibli movie.


Ah… books… which books…. I don’t usually read fictional books, I enjoy reading business oriented stories. I also like Norway no Mori.


I don’t really watch TV, but sometimes I like to watch baseball, the news and Ame Talk (a Comedy show).




Do you have any special skills/abilities?


I don’t really have any special skills, but I did practice Kyudo in high school. I had to quit because of the time issue. I would really like to start again though.




What do you like about Japan? Why?


I like the Japanese language, and our four seasons. About the Japanese language, we have so many words to express our minds and sometimes the words try to take care others. I believe that the Japanese are full of kindness.


It probably doesn’t hurt that Japanese is my first language.




Do you like to travel: Yes
Where have you been, outside of Japan:


Actually, I have never been out of Japan.


Where have you traveled in Japan?


Tokyo, Osaka, Aichi, Kyoto, Nara, Hyougo, Tottori, Shimane, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Shizouka, Nagasaki, Kouchi, Fukushima, Kagawa, and Hiroshima.




Please, explain what you saw/experienced in these places:


I have relatives in Tokyo, and I went there with my friends as a school trip and a graduation trip. Especially Disneyland. I have been there four times.


I went to Osaka with my family, and we drove there on the way to visit my grandmother in Kyoto.


I guess, Aichi was just a vacation where I went to a international exhibition. It was about the world.


Shimane was just a trip with my family to eat izumosoba. It was good.


Yamaguchi was about my grandmother telling me that she really wanted to go there, and visit Kintaikyo and her friends.


Nagasaki and Fukuouka were school trips.




Are there any places that you would recommend a traveler to visit?


Eh… if you are a girl, I would recommend Kobe for shopping. There are a lot of cute shops.




What do you wish to do in the future?


Maybe, I will work for a mass media company. At least I hope so, I mean I really want to work there. It would also be great to meet new people.




Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?


I guess, I will be struggling to find my husband (giggles). I hope that I will be able to work hard, and get uh… get smart, and be intelligent… I really don’t know. I really hope that I will be independent from my parents.




What are a few things about yourself, and your country, that you would like the world to know about, that can help describe your character and understand who you are, or where your from?


I want you to know that um… many Japanese will be struggling, by themselves I guess. This means, I guess, when Japanese people try to get together with different people, who speak a different languages, or have a different opinions, they try to avoid confusion.


It means that good points are: to be kind, to be cordial, to be happy with other people. Of course, I guess, to point out we don’t have individual characteristics. Maybe you would think that Japanese people are all the same and in the same group, but I guess it would be that Japanese people don’t really have unique individual characteristics. I believe this comes from Japanese people trying to avoid conflict and confusion.




Interviewee’s Space; Final Thoughts?


I’m so sorry to have kept being shy. I guess you would have troubled to make interview so that I have made off the cuff, my opinion have not made sense and not been logical. But I had a great experience! I’m really glad that you gave me such a chance. Thanks. If I would be able to have a chance again, I want to try again.


Thanks for taking a peek; more photos HERE!














Want to see more of Eri's photos? Click HERE!

Charlee's Travels in Japan: Kyoto Part 3

March 21, 2010


10th Day of Travel – KYOTO


So, waking up at 07:00 hours we got ready to leave. From the discussion last night, my relatives decided to stick with me today and go off on their own tomorrow. I really had no qualms with that. We were ready and out of the door by 08:00.




The first stop today was the INARI Shrine. We walked to the station nearest the hostel and made our way to the shrine in the southern part of KYOTO. Arriving at the station, we walked out and were greeted by security guards of the shrine. They lead us into the shrine.




Getting lead into the shrine was a little different. I have never been here before, so for me this was a little extra special. It was beyond my imagination. We spent two hours here walking up and down the mountain. There were so many gates, it really was impressive and there were also a lot of different paths to take.


I was happy that nobody got lost, and everyone met at the entrance of the shrine after the two hour mark. Although, it rained for a short while as we were walking around the shrine. From there we decided to go to the farthest thing first. That was the KINGAKUJI. That was the golden pagoda that we failed to see yesterday.








Taking the same route as we did yesterday, we made our way to the shrine. This time it was open and we were allowed in. It was just as I remembered it, except there were a few more things that allowed the shrine to make more money. (IE: you can ring a temple bell for ￥200, which I would never pay for since I have a friend that would let me do it for free…)




It was beautiful, just as I remembered. I really enjoy coming here. I have to say that the souvenir shops had less items that when I last remembered. It was somewhat of a disappointment in that sense. But everything else was great!




After finishing up at the shrine, we went to NIJO Castle. This is one of the most famous castles in JAPAN. It is known for the special way that the wooden floor creaks. It sounds like a nightingale bird singing. The palace was huge! It really was amazing. Really different from the way other palaces around the world are built.




The thing is, as we were walking around the castle, the temperature started to take a sudden dip. It was really getting cold! My mom was complaining and wanted to leave. I was OK with that. We then prepared to go to the last place for the night. The HEIEN Shrine.




Arriving there at about 17:00 hours, it was really cold. We walked in and looked around really quickly. Here is where my relatives started to really get cold. They were complaining and just waited for us at the gate. Ben and I went and quickly looked around. We were starting to get cold too.




Finishing up here, we decided to go home. It was quite the trek. We went first to the bus stop that was across the way from the one that we got off at. There we realized that the bus that stopped there was finished for the day. Luckily, there was a map that had a listed area of other bus stops.




Moving to the next bus stop, we noticed that the bus that we needed was just leaving. By this time, it was getting dark and very cold. There was a plan for me to go home today and drop some things off at my dorm room. It wasn’t going to happen. It was just getting too late.




Here is where things get a little dicey. Being cold, I wanted something hot to drink. Therefore, I went to a convenience store near by. My relatives and Ben waited at the stop. A bus came as I was buying the coffee, and I told them to just leave without me.




I caught the next bus and went to the station. Wondering where they were as I went through the station, I ran into them in front of a bathroom area. Surprised, we all went to go get dinner. We had Curry at a little place underneath the stairs/escalators at the KYOTO station. I don’t recommend this place to anyone, the curry was watery and lacked anything in it. CoCo Curry is a much better restaurant to eat at!


From there we went home, and called it a night. Tomorrow would be NARA!


More Photos can be found HERE!






























































The rest of the photos can be found HERE!