The New Interpreter !

After her unexpected reprieve and the equally unexpected but well deserved comeuppance for Keiko, Debbi had ten days left of her sojourn in Japan. The end could not come soon enough, she could not say she had enjoyed any of the experience, which was a shame since the country and culture were so fascinating in many ways. But Keiko had succeeded in souring everything. Debbi was trying to avoid having to run into the naked Keiko but she did glimpse her standing on a table with her hands on her head and also noticed her being dragged into the men's toilets on one occasion. Debbi shuddered to recall what Keiko had told her went on in there under shaming circumstances !

Debbi had been assigned a new male interpreter, Ken. He tried to make these final days as pleasant as possible, wanting to repair the image Debbi had of Japan. He had been drafted in from another office and so had not been witness to the scandalous shaming of the gaijin but he had heard all about it and also saw what was now being endured by Keiko. Before Debbi's final weekend he asked "Debbi-san, have you been able to see the countryside while you have been here ?" "No, only Tokyo" Debbi replied. "That is a great shame. Will you let me show you a hot spring spa resort this weekend ?" Debbi had flinched at his use of the word shame but otherwise was inclined to accept. The alternative was being stuck in her hotel with CNN or her laptop. "OK Ken, that would be nice" she agreed.

Debbi's spirits lifted as the train began to clear the suburbs and the verdant mountainous landscape evolved before her. Ken seemed genuinely concerned that she take some positive impression of Japan back with her. He had arranged for them to stay in an old fashioned guest house run by a charming elderly couple who were distant relatives. Ken talked Debbi through the ceremony of the delicious evening meal. Her room was furnished in a minimalist style with a futon to sleep on. "Tomorrow, we can hike in the morning to the temple shrine and then try the hot springs." "Sounds great" said Debbi.

The following morning, Debbi loved the fresh fragrant walk along the ascending mountainous path to the Shinto shrine. She did not understand the theology despite Ken's explanations but still found it fascinating. What she most enjoyed were the troop of monkeys that had come down from the forested hills to bath in the hot spring adjacent to the temple. They looked like little old men indulging in a luxurious bath as, she remarked to Ken. "We must go and enjoy onsen too" Ken insisted. "What is onsen ?" asked Debbi. "It's a public bath in the hot spring. There's a spectacular outdoor one just outside town with a wonderful view of the mountain and the waters are great for relaxing and for health." Debbi had been envying the monkeys. "That sounds marvellous" she agreed. "You'll have to fill me in on the etiquette" she told Ken, aware of how ritualised so much of Japanese society was. "Oh, I'll make sure that I do that on the way there !" laughed Ken.