Pan Asian Goes Global

The Great Mosque of X'ian is one of the most beautiful Mosques - as well as the largest and one of the oldest Mosques in China.  This Mosque also holds a rich history in the development of Islam in China.  Here is a summary of its history, location, and architecture. Scroll to the bottom to read about my personal experience in Xi'an! You can also watch my youtube video below! The Great Mosque of Xi'an - The prayer hall History It is said that Islam first came to China in the 7th century when Muslim merchants first arrived. Sometime later, the Great Xi'an Mosque was built, in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty. Xi'an was the capital of the Tang Dynasty and was a very populous city in the world during its time.  The Great Xi'an Mosque is also one of the first Mosques in China.  However, the current layout was developed towards the end of the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. Great Mosque of Xi'an - Arabic Calligraphy Location - within the Muslim Quarter  The...

てがみ 作詞：TUN 作曲：TUN Lyrics: TUN Composition: TUN Video is "5 centimeters per second", a Japanese film, with "Tegami" as the audio. 見慣れた文字で君から手紙が届いた いつもの真っ白でキレイなシンプルな封筒 何度も何度もその手紙を読み返すよ 読めば読むほどに君のキモチがほら伝わるよ In familiar characters, your letter arrived Always in a blank, pretty, simple envelope I keep re-reading that letter over and over again The more I read it, the more your feelings are - look! - conveyed あの日ふたりは出会い同じ季節を歩く 春夏秋冬 どれも思い出すたびに思う ふたりで歩いた坂道や やたら狭い道 どれもこれも思い出は濃ゆすぎてならない On that day, the two of us met, and walked through the same season Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, whichever, every time I recall The hill road we walked on, the overly narrow road Each and every memory are all too deep 今なら君は振り向いてくれるかな あれから長い月日が経ったけど やっぱり恋には時効などないのかな 今日も君を後悔と共に思いながら I wonder if you're looking back right now Even though it's been so long since then I guess for love, there aren't things like time limitations ...

I can't find a video with the original audio file, so here's a cover version: 君の前から姿を消すって言ったのに きちんと姿を消せない僕はきっと半透明 他の誰かのとなりに居場所を見つければ ちゃんと消えられるはずなんだよ Although I said I'll vanish before you (*lit. = in front of you) I can't properly vanish, I'm definitely semi-transparent If you search for this belonging place beside a different person I was supposed to properly be able to erase you 君はきっと優しすぎて 僕はきっとそれを望みすぎて もう顔も見たくないと思うから 形も残らぬように You are definitely too kind I am definitely wanting this too much I already don't want to see your face anymore so I'll make it so that not even your figure is left 君の前から姿を消すって言ったのに 君の番号消せない僕はきっと半透明 他の誰かのとなりに居場所を見つければ ちゃんと消えられるはずなんだよ Although I said I'll vanish before you (*lit. = in front of you) I can't delete your number, I'm definitely semi-transparent If you search for this belonging place beside a different person I was supposed to properly be able to erase you 今も目を凝らせば 笑ってた君も泣いてた君も ...

*I will make another post regarding specific/objective information regarding Kumamoto Mosque, so stay tuned ^^ Kumamoto Mosque (Kumamoto Masjid) was a very special place for me while I lived in Kumamoto prefecture and still is. As soon as I got that email notifying me of my placement in Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture, one of the very first things I did was google if there was a Mosque nearby. Fortunately, there was a Mosque in the capital, about 1.5 hours away from where I lived. I emailed the contact number given on the website, and received a reply from one of the *brothers that there was a *sisters' yahoo group (sisters and brothers is how we refer to our fellow Muslims ^^).  I was put in contact with an Indonesian sister.  She told me that there were a number of sisters at the Mosque, including a  Malaysian sister, and that they were looking forward to meeting me.  All of them lived close to the Masjid and Kumamoto University, where many of them went to...

This is the first time I'm spending Ramadan, and insyallah, Eid, in South East Asia/ a place where there are lots of other Muslims too ^^ I remember being the only Muslim kid in my class at elementary school, fasting, or the one whose mom made her a halal hot dog for hot dog day. So far, I've spent previous Ramadans and Eid in Vancouver, Korea, and Japan, alhamdulillah. Although it was sometimes difficult to find comfortable places to do my daily prayers in those locations , as Muslims are a minority there, there was usually a very strong bond among fellow Muslims. Mosques became like second-homes to me in all of those places - a place to comfortably do my prayers, meet fellow Muslims, find friends, and be a part of the local community. Especially during Ramadan, I would go to just one Mosque (more so in the case of Korea and Japan.. as the Mosque I went to was the only Mosque in the area), finding friendship and connection there. I miss the times I spent at Seoul Mosque and K...

Yatsushiro, Japan.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't remember Yatsushiro.  With Kumamon paraphernalia, school posters, and letters decorating my room, songs on my phone/laptop that have already become associated with my time there, and the memories that I carry with me wherever I go, how can I ever forget? It's March 9th today.  The name of one of the songs from Remioromen. It's a graduation song. Soon, my 3rd year Junior High School students will be graduating.  I remember. When I first taught them when they were in grade 6, three and a half years ago.  I saw these children grow into the teenagers they are today.  I loved the energy and joy that these students had.  They'll soon enter high school, beyond the realm of whatever influence I may have had. Soon, my grade sixes will graduate.  I remember.  When I told a particular class that I would be leaving them for good that summer.  How some of the students cried, h...