SJMC Japan students stayed busy on the program’s last full day in Kyoto with Fushimi Inari Taisha, the farewell dinner and a healthy amount of free time on the schedule. It has started to sink in that this was the beginning of the end of their amazing journey.
Their day started at Fushimi Inari, a temple known for its thousand torii gates. The shrine, built in A.D. 711, is named after the Japanese “ina,” which means rice. In A.D. 827, the To-ji Temple was built on the sacred land using the trees in the area. Almost 800 years later, the main gates were built, with more torii gates to follow as offerings. The gates represent a wish or prayer seeking acknowledgment of the gods.
As of today, there are roughly 10,000 gates standing at Fushimi Inari.
One of the torii gate paths leads to the top of Mount Inari. The trek, around three miles of steep inclines, stairs and stone pathways, is almost entirely covered by vermilion gates—each with text inscribed on the back identifying each donor.
Professor of Instruction Jon Zmikly not only made it to the top, but reinforced the adage that it’s not the destination, it’s the journey.
“To me, the beauty of the shrine mixed with nature stuck with me the most—seeing how nature blends with the winding paths of the shrine,” Zmikly said.
Among the gift shops, rest stops and small shrines along the way, countless statues of kitsune, fox spirits with shapeshifting abilities said to be the messengers of the gods, accompanied the winding paths.
Stefan Chupp, a digital media innovation senior, was entranced by the details around him.
“Every so often you would see these foxes, sometimes around one of the torii gates, sometimes by themselves,” Chupp said.
Of the few students that made it to the top, Patrick Scoulios, an electronic media senior, felt especially proud of the accomplishment.
“It was an exciting and exhausting experience climbing to the top of [Mount] Inari,” Scoulios said. “I’m glad I was able to get redemption from my last hike at Mount Misen (where) I had only made it halfway!”
After a gratifying day of hiking the mountain and exploring the area, SJMC Japan concluded the trip with a farewell dinner reflecting on their time in Japan. It has settled in that this would be the last time the group would be all together in Japan. After multiple courses, smiles, jokes and happy reflecting on recent experiences, the meal came to an end.
After leaving the restaurant, Cat Chan, a human development and family science junior, lamented the conclusion of the program.
“It was very sad to know this is the last day, as I had so much fun making new friends and experiencing new opportunities,” Chan said.
Trinity Eilert, a digital media innovation senior and one of the students extending their stay in Japan, voiced concern about her journey from here on out.
“I’m super nervous because I’m going to be alone,” Eilert said. “I’ve traveled alone before but never internationally. But I’m still super excited to have the chance to visit Osaka whether solo or not!”
To make the most of their last day, some students went to Nijō Castle, and one went to the International Manga Museum.
Miya Coleman, a journalism junior, was astounded by the rooms of the castle and the historical processes that occurred in each.
“The most memorable part was seeing the multiple rooms that the samurai and imperial messenger had to wait in,” Coleman said. “I can imagine myself as a visitor putting myself in their place before seeing the most powerful man in the country.”
Azuli Rodriguez, a digital media innovation senior, made sure to get one last stop off her bucket list before dinner by visiting the International Manga Museum.
“My favorite part was the interactiveness of it,” Rodriguez said. “You could grab a book off the shelves and read in several sitting areas. There were artists to commission work from and a self-portrait drawing area. It felt like a community.”
With a whole new world of experiences to draw upon and work to be proud of, the SJMC Japan team may be going their separate ways soon but will always have the memories of the past two weeks together.
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