Mike Gerhardt

By Yukiko Kojima :: July 12, 2003

Via e-mail, I interviewed Mike Gerhardt, a blogger and visitor of Tawawa. He lived in Japan for a year and he is back in the United States now. The questions I asked him were rather general, but he was kind enough to spare some time and answer them. Reading his answers, I feel envious of his boyhood because he lived in many places in the United States. He must have had many interesting experiences in each place.

A. About Japan and your life in Japan

1. Why did you come to Japan?

I've wanted to live in Japan for many, many years. Since both my grandparents were born in Japan (their parents – my great-grandparents – were Christian missionaries), I grew up hearing many stories about Japan. I first visited with my family, including my grandparents, in 1981 when I was 13 years old. I've wanted to return ever since.

2. What is the first impression of Japan? And why did you get that impression?

It's difficult to say what my first impression of Japan was because I had heard so much about the country when I was growing up. I had many impressions even before I visited Japan. As I think back to my first trip to Japan, I'd have to say my first impression was just one of comfort – I felt like it was a place I belonged. Also, since I grew up in a very rural part of Alaska, coming to Japan for the first time when I was a child was very exciting; it seemed very crowded and energetic and stimulating. And yet I can also remember the very quiet, peaceful parts of Japan during that first visit.

3. What part of Japanese culture/custom surprised you?

I was surprised that there is still so much paperwork in Japanese life. So much is computerized here in the States now, and I'd just imagined that Japan would be the same. I was also surprised at how amazing the convenience stores are – I'm going to miss them so much.

4. You have done some traveling in Japan. Did you have any particular purpose in these trips?

I just wanted to see as much of Japan as possible. However, I did take one trip up to Hirosaki because that's where my great-grandfather lived from about 1891 – 1900. There is a museum there that has a lot of my family's belongings in it, including many photos, some writings by my great-grandfather and my grandmother's wedding dress. I've been meaning to write something about this trip on my web site, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

5. You are traveling in Korea now, aren't you? What differences do you find striking between Korea and Japan from your point of view (as a foreigner to both of these two countries)?

My short trip to Korea was very interesting. After living in Japan for a year, I wanted to see another Asian culture. It seemed much more casual and relaxed than Japan. People dress more casually, and it also seemed like there was more physical contact between people – more couples holding hands and kissing in public. Seoul was definitely not as clean as Tokyo. I was only there for five days, so it's difficult to say much more about the differences between the two countries.

B. About your country

1. Where are you from?

I'm from the United States. I was born in Colorado state, but moved around to many different places when I was young because my father worked for the National Park Service. When I was seven years old, my family moved to Alaska, where I spent most of my life. Eight years ago, I moved to Seattle. That's where I am now.

2. How was your life in your hometown? What did you do before you came to Japan?

My hometown was very unusual. It was a National Park Service community with only a few dozen families in a fairly isolated part of Alaska – Denali National Park. It was a great place to grow up, a very close community of good people. In the summer, many tourists visited the park, but in the winter, no one came to visit, so it became very quiet. I went to school in a town of 500 people about 24 km north of where I lived. In my community, there was a dog kennel that included about 50 dogs that were used for dog sled patrols of the park in the winter. I can very clearly remember the first time I rode in a dog sled.

3. Did you have any interesting experiences in Denali National Park?

My father was the mountaineering ranger at Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska for most of my childhood. Denali, also called Mt. McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America (6184 meters). In his position, he worked with climbers who climbed the mountain, and was often involved in rescues when something went wrong. One of the more famous rescue attempts my father was involved in was in 1984, when the famous Japanese climber Uemura Naomi disappeared after becoming the first person to reach the top of Denali in a solo winter climb.

3. What aspects of your hometown/country are you proud of?

Well, this is very difficult as the current atmosphere in the United States is very troubling to me. But I'm proud of the ideals that America represents in theory, even though I'm worried that those ideals are being lost.

I think America has always been a land of opportunity, and has been strengthened by the truly diverse mix of people who call themselves Americans.

C. About weblogs

1. In your first post to your weblog, you wrote: "The main inspiration for doing this has been to share my adventures in Japan with family and friends back home." What do they say about your weblog?

The weblog was a terrific way to share my time in Japan with family and friends. Since I've been back in the States, many of my friends have commented on one thing or another that I posted on the weblog during the past year.

2. What do you think of our group weblog, Tawawa?

It's a great endeavor. I'm constantly amazed at the diversity of information and personal experiences that are now available via weblogs. Tawawa is just one of many sites that I'll be able to follow to stay in touch with Japan.

You all are on the leading edge of blogs in Japan. I hope many other Japanese will start to communicate and share their experiences via weblogs.

3. Are there any points to be improved in it?

I can't think of any improvements or suggestions at this time. The design is great and the content you all are producing is terrific.

D. I asked these questions because I'm interested in how you, as an expatriate in Japan, feel and think about Japan, the Japanese and Japanese culture.

I wish I could offer you more here, but I'm still trying to figure out myself just what I think of my year in Japan and of Japanese culture. I think I'm going to have to come back one day to learn more.