FUSHIMI-MOMOYAMA STATION

I always get on Keihan Line from Yodoyabashi station to Hirakatashi station to commute.   I know much about between these two stations, so, this time, I hoped to choose station behind Hirakatashi station.   I, then, decided to visit Fushimi-Momoyama station first time.   I rode semi-express from Hirakatashi station and get off at Fushimi-Momoyama station taking 22 minutes.   When I arrived at the station, I realized that Fushimi-Momoyama station is really community-based one, because that seemed small and empty plat home with only a few passengers waiting for a train.

I talked to station staff about important things around station and who use this station and he said “there are some famous historic buildings about Ryoma Sakamoto, who is extraordinary popular person for his work in Edo era, but no one gets off here , since Chushozima station, rather big station, locates just next to this station”, he kept talking disappointedly,  “although the closest station to these famous landmark is here,   people who aim to these building mostly get off Chushozima station, because only local and semi express stops here.   For these reasons, Fushimi-Momoyama station is just for local people and students around there.  

And I moved out from the station.  

“Entrance gate”

My eyes caught a big surprise on the immediate right from an exit.  

A big Torii, a Shinto gate, stand proudly there.   I walked through the torii and entered into Gokonomiya shrine. 

"Gokonomiya"

There, also, is nice “shotengai” near the station.

"Ote shotengai"

Inside the shotengai, there are various shops.

Surprisingly, another station locates very close to Fushimi-momoyama station.

My Korean Friend

Before I met her, I regarded my foreign friends as FOREIGN friends, not as just friends, in any aspect.   One experience, however, taught me that no matter where they from and were born, friends are friends with no difference.

I got to know her just a half year ago as one new class mate.   We have taken several classes and spent some time outside the classes.   One day I saw that she spoke Korean language fluently and was impressed by great efforts made by her to learn Korean language.   I asked her how long she has studied it and she said, surprisingly, “never”.   I didn’t understand her saying first, but she continuingly added, more surprisingly, she is Korean.   Not until she said it for me, I never thought she is not Japanese because she perfectly looks like Japanese and speak Japanese like her own language.  

this is current Korean pose, she said

It was actually a big surprise for me (may be, for other class mate either), but this changed nothing at all.   She is just my friend, not foreign friend anytime from the beginning.  

Now, I can say that I don’t need the term “foreign” when I make relationship with anyone, just talk and feel them, then, find how important for me.