Inside Outsider

As the token white guy around in many situations, I often notice things that no one else does. One of those things? Where I live in Shonai is extremely insular, that people from the town over are seen as different, most often in a good way though.

There is still infighting between Sakata and Tsuruoka, which actually are so close they touch each other, and these days really aren’t that different (sorry not sorry if I offend anyone by saying that). Infighting in the sense that people say things like ‘Tsuruoka has better restaurants’ or ‘Sakata has more going for it’. But they’re really very similar (amazingly, there is even infighting within Sakata).

In a way, because they’re so insular, the outsiders kind of cancel each other out and that can make it easier to become an insider (if you find that desirable of course).

ENJOYED THIS? HAVE MORE.

MOUNTAINS OF WISDOM

Subscribe to my yamabushi newsletter

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Have your own ideas
What I’ve learned from a year of blogging
Being rejected builds character

YAMABUSHI BLOG POSTS

No hesitation
Prepare as best you can
Languages aren’t just words strung together

RANDOM POSTS

person holding world globe facing mountain
Searching for your Ikigai? Read this first.
photo of an athlete swimming underwater
The distance goes a long way
adult man in brown and white striped button up shirt raising his hand
What can you do about it?
Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Get In Touch

Sakata City, Yamagata, Japan 

tim@timbunting.com

Share this:

Like this:

Like Loading...
Scroll to Top