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

gray monk statue in between plant pots
You can’t worry about that
charming child sweeping concrete pavement with broomstick
Do what needs to be done first
man raising his right arm
What’s good for me

YAMABUSHI BLOG POSTS

african american woman looking at paintings in studio
The more you have to grow
black and red typewriter on white table
How to create a daily writing discipline
man in black and white plaid dress shirt sitting on chair in front of macbook
What do you do when you know you’re in a funk?

RANDOM POSTS

Go as slow as you need to, but never stop
man in brown jacket and brown hat standing on rock near lake
What’s the most important thing we have? How to make the most of a moment
Tim Bunting AKA Kiwi Yamabushi on Zao-san
The Comparison of Normals: The Key to Appreciation
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
%d