Finally my blog post about Japan! I wrote one when I had the Top Team training in Finland, directly when I came from Japan. I wrote and wrote and uploaded lots of photos. Then, when I finally had finished the post, I should just switch between two tabs. But instead for clicking on the tab I clicked the X in the corner – which means close down… :o/ I think I have said it before. My computer isn't always my best friend. it's not just that it's boring to write the blog twice, but we also have a very bad internet at home that makes it almost impossible with all pictures… I just wanted to push REWIND TIME or UNDO button. But there was no such buttons for that action. So I had to calm down, do some other things for a week or two and now I tried again :o) Well, just material things and nothing to get panic about even if it was really annoying! And if you wonder why it took so long time for me to finish the blog spot – now you know why.
Anyway, Japan was fantastic in every way. I just love that very different and special country. People, dogs, culture and food is awesome! It's the third year we have seminars at Nagata Dog School and it has been an adventure to follow all handlers and dogs that have been participating during these three years. Some of them I have also met on other places in the world between the seminars in Japan, like in US and on my own training place. Some of them have been new for every year and each team, old or new, has been great to work with and get to know. Japanese handlers are hard working people and they have many really good dogs but the most amazing thing is that most people have such good physical shape, regardless of age. That's inspiring for my own future, thanks! ;o)
If I remember right I think there are about 3000 handlers competing in Japan, so agility is bigger there than what I first thought. It's a country that has developed rapidly and Japanese handlers have taken medals in all the championships in Europe they have taken part in the last two years. They have many impressive dogs and handlers and they have now had some dogs in Europe for breeding. It will be interesting to see about the offspring! Japanese train with an open mind and they take in all the knowledge they can get. Nagata Dog School is not only good organizers for seminars but they also run an amazing dog training centre and I think they are a big part of Japans success over the past years. I have been thinking about inviting them to hold a seminar in Sweden, it would be so cool and I think we can learn a lot from them too. However, it may be a bit difficult with the language… someone who is good at Japanese and want to be the interpreter?!
This year we planned for a few days without seminars were we had time to see some other parts of Japan. After the seminars Takumi, Atsuko, Zeljko, our perfect translator Shunsuke and me went to Mt Fuji, south from Tokyo. It was a beautiful place to visit! And to stay in a Japanese hotel was a great experience as well as doing the road-trip with funny service stations, cool fast food and public toilets! I will try to tell about the seminars and the whole trip through lots of pictures (Thanks Noriko!!). Enjoy!
You will find Katsuhiko Hitomi's photos from the seminar HERE!
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Nagata Dog school – the perfect hosts and seminar organizers!
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I'm always missing my dogs when I travel. but Atsuko and Takumi were so nice and let me take some of their dogs for a walk every morning! Here's Malu and Aki in the bamboo-woods :o)
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After three years at Nagata dog school, I have explored the sourroundings pretty well. It's fascinating to see all cultural places, like small temples and grave yards in the middle of the woods.
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Dinner at Nagata's! The food is just so different and おいしい!!! Love it! Here we have shabu-shabu
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Shabu-shabu – close up :o)
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Another way of cooking dinner. You get the ingredients in a bowl and then you cook them on the table. Luckily we had some japanese friends that knew the right way of cooking the different dishes :o)
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My favourite "snacks", octupus in wasabi!
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Sushi. Love. But the one in the middle I don't love at all… ;o)
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Sashimi, japanese beer, wasabi and SOYA!
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Atsuko is speechless… Soya bottle is empty after one day when we're in the house. Usually is takes one month!
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Japanese people are really friendly and our bags were filled with presents when we went back home. This one we finished before our trip back…
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As well as this one. Another really tasty (and spicy!!) present, from Arare-mama!
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Mjukon wrapped in paper. A present to Sweden, he's just such a funny dog! ;o) but it wasn't room enough in my bag so he had to stay :o(
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Everything in Japan is small, even cars.
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Seminar introduction, Shunsuke translates
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Participants in the club house
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First seminar
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Second seminar – we were lucky and had sunny weather every day!
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Shisu watching the course
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Nagata dog school owner, Takumi…
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Nagata dog school owner, Atsuko…
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Excited dogs waiting for training!
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Course walk in the sun
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Teacher thinking about how to solve a situation…
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…maybe to run is the solution! :o)
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Training the dog to be independent helps a blind cross further on
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The handler is in a hurry and needs to trust the dog in a discrimination between tunnel and dog-walk. Good hand…
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… and good miro!
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Training S-curve – not always easy. But Viva-mama has a perfect hand, line and eyes!
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Ketcher-training with Soi
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Crazy, talented malinois Café! Me like :o)
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Harumi translates about how to push the dog
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Teacher has something really important to say…
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The interpreter seems to be more involved than the trainer… ;o)
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Perfect ketchker + blind cross!
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Blind cross – late version…
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Blind cross – perfect version!
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Tank on his way to a blind cross
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I love when the seminar dogs want to work with me, thanks Biju! Fun for me and often makes the explanation more clear.
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Funny picture..! (and nerdy trainer…;o)
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Sakura and Sakura-papa lives in the north of Japan. it was -27 degrees Celcius when he left for the seminar!
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Supervised course walk
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Quick and Quick-mama on course
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Zeljko instructing crazy poodle and crazy poodle-mama :o) Love their energy!
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Explaining about lines…
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…and what will happen if line is wrong.
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Instructions for a blind cross
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Photo: Katsuhiko Hitomi
Seminar is over, we might look happy (and nerdy, again ;o) but that was on command. It's always sad when you come to the end… But we got really nice memory-picture with photos and greetings from all people.
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Road trip south to Mt Fuji. Coffee break with Hello Kitty service machine. Very different – as everything else.
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Cool and fancy packed cakes are popular.
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Public toilets are awesome in Japan!
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Instructions for the toilet stool. I think I have 100 of pics of this kind of instruction signs! Read carefully…
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Japanese fast food…
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…wish we had the same in Sweden – packing of wood and delicious food!
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Great view over a lake near Mt. Fuji.
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Cool rainbow!
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Mt. Fuji
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Mt Fuji
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Mt. Fuji
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Woman cleaning the snow outside a museum, something is a bit odd with this picture…
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Hotel – japanese style!
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Green tea, kimmono, tatami floor and Japanese table – staying in a Japanese hotel was a great experience!
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Japanese dinner – 1st dish…
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2nd dish…
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3rd dish…
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4th dish…
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5th dish…
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6th dish…
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7th dish…
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8th dish…
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9th dish…
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10th dish – dessert!
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And a good Japanese wine
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Time to sleep – on the tatami floor. I thought it would be hard but I have never slept so good! Maybe tatami-flooring in my future bedroom..!
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Oyaho! Japanese breakfast – simply different from home!
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Atsuko's cooking course – this part is how to use a rice machine…
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And how to make Mt Fuji rice balls. (I have my own rice machine now! ;o)) I'm not only thinking about a Japanese agility seminar. I'm also thinking about a Japanese cooking course! Tempted?
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Kempei and THANKS everyone for a perfect seminar!
