The Powells, Exploring Ome, and Eikaiwa

Elder and Sister Powell served as a senior couple here in Fussa about three years ago, in both the Fussa and Yokota Wards (Elder Powell had served in Japan as a young missionary, so he speaks the language). They had been home in Idaho Falls from their 18-month mission for about a year when they got a call from President Wada (Tokyo South mission president) asking if they'd be willing to come back and serve as the mission office couple. So they returned to Japan last October and are continuing to bless everyone they come in contact with here (including Elder Adamson and me!). Sister Powell is famous in some parts as the founder of "Mrs. Powell's Cinnamon Rolls" -- at one time they had over 50 franchises across the country. The business got bigger than what they wanted to manage, and they sold them all many years ago, except the shops in Idaho Falls and Boise. Those last two stores have now been sold as well, when they decided to retire. (Sister Powell laments that the quality of the products has really suffered since, and she sort of cringes that they still carry her name!)

The Powells visited us in Fussa last Wednesday, asking if we could sponsor them on base so Sister Powell could get her hair done at the beauty shop there. We were delighted to see them! We had lunch at the YCC (Yokota Community Center, which takes in the commissary, BX, beauty salon, a bunch of other little shops and a food court), did a little shopping at the commissary, and then drove to Ome, another community north of Fussa, to check out the progress of the azalea blossoms. There is an Azalea Garden in Ome we want to visit with the Powells and other senior couples when the blooms are at their peak! So with Bruce driving and Elder Powell navigating, we set off. http://tokyorailwaylabyrinth.blogspot.jp/2013/05/azalea-garden-and-preserved-shinkansen.html)

There's no distinction between Ome and Fussa (nor between any other of dozens of communities that make up the Tokyo metropolis). We just enjoyed the drive and after many exploratory side roads and stopping to ask directions a few times (we're trying not to covet Elder Powell's ability to speak Japanese, knowing he paid a price for that skill that we have not), we found the park and determined to wait another week or so to visit -- specific time and date to be determined. We sure enjoyed our surroundings along the way.

We're intrigued with the tree pruning and trimming that is done with meticulous care in so many gardens.

And we love architecture like this:

My 7-year-old grandson observed that the rooftops are similar to Chinese buildings, and one of the reasons the rooftops curved up at the bottom was because they believed evil spirits could only travel in straight lines, so the curved part kept evil spirits out. So he concluded that the Japanese copied the same style for the same purpose.

This comment prompted me to do a little research, and I found: "There are many curved lines in the design of the Japanese roof, and the most remarkable are the curves of the eaves and the slope of the roof. The application of curved lines in Japanese architecture is based on a style imported from the Asiatic Continent, and dates from about the middle of the 6th century."
http://online.jtbusa.com/Historical/Japanese-Architecture.aspx

No mention of evil spirits here, but consistent with Logan's theory of Chinese influence. Also consistent with our observations of Japanese thought and practices would be the idea that even the evil spirits here follow the rules!

We got back to Fussa in time for Eikaiwa (English class), and the Powells were able to greet the missionaries and a few ward members who they served with (the military families have moved, but some Department of Defense employees are still here), so that was a sweet reunion for them.

And I have to conclude with a picture from Eikaiwa. The theme was body parts, and here's Sister Sorensen's illustration:

I'm just sorry I didn't get video footage of all of us doing "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"!