The Garlic Capital! Takko!

This past weekend we had the priviledge of being visitors of Takko Machi, population 7,000. On the plane ride to Japan, nine months ago (WOW), I sat next to the new Takko ALT. We had a great conversation despite both of us needing sleep and we've kept in contact since. We decided to make a weekend out of it and traveled the 100 kilometers north to Aomori prefecture.

This quaint town has one main shopping area that is the length of our grocery store, one school of each: elementary, middle, and high, and the same number of restaurants as there are fingers on a hand. However, what this town lacks in variety, it is easily overridden with the people and spirit. In just 24 hours, we fell in love.


Lindsey took us around her little town and showed us the sights. Takko is known as the Garlic and Beef Capital of Japan and everywhere you look, the Takko pride is evident. Everything around you including lamps and street signs have their town's mascot, GARLIC! Supposedly an overhead shot of Takko will look like a single Garlic Bulb.



That night we went to the local restaurant where The Senryu Club was taking place and we would dive in and try it. Senryu is basically the Haiku format, but deals with Satirical poems rather than about nature. This night the people would write their poems in hopes of being selected and put in the town's Senryu pamplet. We wrote our poems (in Japanese) and one of mine were chosen!

Koibito no ude ni, watashiwa yarumimasu. (In the arms of my lover, I am relaxed.)

I know it's cheezy, but that's what I was going for. Apparently it worked.




After the club, one of Lindsey's students invited us over to his house and we drank and ate snacks with his family. I don't think my Morioka kids would ever ask me to their house, so this was a great experience. We had a wonderful time and insisted they visit us in Morioka.



The next day, Lindsey took us to the Garlic Center where our bodies were fully flushed with Garlic infused goodies: Garlic ramen, roasted garlic, Garlic curry, Garlic gyoza. After we stank pretty bad, but our mouths were dancing for joy. Soon after, we had to say our goodbyes.




This was a really treasured trip. It was really nice to see the life of someone in the most country of country places. Ron and I were contemplating on moving to this small town. It was too addicting. However, it was Lindsey's attitude that I thought the most amazing. I could see how many JETs could come to this town, miles and miles from any big city and want to come home as soon as possible. They isolate themselves at home, they never get to know the local people and they don't appreciate what their town has. I've seen JETs like this who live in places five times the size of Takko. But Lindsey really put herself in the daily life of her community and found the same pride of her town that the rest of her neighbors have. She has experiences that I will never have in my big city. I've learned to always keep a positive attitude and appreciate everything around me. If she can be happy in Takko, I can be happy with anything.