Of Books, Paintings and Mononoke.((open RP, library))

[edomedpeddler]

Having received directions to the library, Kusuriyuri found himself a little baffled by the sheer number of books availible. He glanced around himself, relieved the walls were covered in bookcases. The moving pictures were too close to mononoke, and though he appeared unruffled, that all his instincts and tools told him there were no mononoke

Comments

[gourmetchairman]

The Chairman was interested in books on history, and he didn't have anything to do, really, so he decided to lurk in the library a bit.

"Good evening," he said to Kusuriyuri.

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri looks up. "Ah, good evening."

[gourmetchairman]

He pulled down a book that caught his eye.

"And what brings you to the library?"

[edomedpeddler]

"It seemed wise to learn of instruction methods," Kusuriyuri replied. "And you, sir?" He almost winces at the directness of the question. "If I may ask," he adds to soothe himself.

[gourmetchairman]

"Just a fondness for history in my case. I don't read for fun as much as I used to, I thought it nice to be able to again."

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri smiled. History he understood. He'd lived through a lot of it. "It is good to find pleasure where one can." He tilted his head a little. "You are Japanese?" Maybe a countryman would be able to help him understand the culture, help him know where and how to adapt.

[gourmetchairman]

Kaga blinked. "Yes, yes I am. Takeshi Kaga." He bowed at Kusuriyuri. "Not many immediately pick up on that."

[edomedpeddler]

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kaga-san. I am Kusuriyuri. I am from Japan, though I was told it was almost seventy years since I left it."

[gourmetchairman]

"Seventy years? That would be 1938, then, when you came here?"

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri frowns slightly. He is unfamiliar with this particular dating system. "It was the second year of the Shouwa period when I last remember." Had things changed that much?

[gourmetchairman]

Oh, damn, now he has to pull out pen and paper. He always does when converting period years to Anno Domini years. "1927, then?"

[edomedpeddler]

"That may be so," he allowed. He would ask the proper year, but the answer would make little sense to him, as little sense as the numbers did. But, it did give him a basis to work from. He could covert, now.

"If I may be so bold, the people here seem..." He trailed off, not wanting to give offense. Another Japanese person would understand his discomfiture with how direct and open and rude the people were, he was sure. He did not believe culture would change that much in such a short amount of time. It was too deeply ingrained in the Japanese to be Japanese, after all.

[gourmetchairman]

"Foreign?" That was the best word he would use.

And as much as he'd hate to promote a stereotype, it did seem to him that the Japanese challengers were more reserved (Toshiro Kandagawa a glaring exception) while the foreign challengers (namely the Americans) were more assertive.

When the hell did this become social commentary?

[edomedpeddler]

"I have not met many foreigners. My travels kept me from them. It is disconcerting," he murmurs, his eyes on the book. "If I may be so presumptuous, how did you adjust?" Assuming that Kaga has. Kusuriyuri is in need of information in order to prepare himself for his class, and learning to approach those foreign to him was a wise place to begin.

[gourmetchairman]

"I don't...I haven't completely adjusted to it, myself. Back in Japan I didn't deal with as many foreigners as domestic chefs. And it would only be for a few days, at most. Being around them for an extended period of time is a new experience for me as well. Sometimes...I don't like it."

[edomedpeddler]

"That is so," Kusuriyuri agrees. It is a relief to have someone to talk to that will not overtax him by trying to figure out just how and what to say. "Then, together, we shall work hard." He nods. This is the best. "Perhaps, we may drink together some time, then?" Sake, tea, it didn't matter, just the company of a countryman and the ritual of togetherness would be soothing.