Last day of my Japan visit

Today, Wednesday 29 July 2015 was my last day in Tokyo. I had an appointment at the Youwa psychiatric hospital for a visit and a tour, together with Ryugan and Miwa, and also 2 interpreters. I will write the report tomorrow in the airplane during my 11,5 hour flight, so I don’t have to sacrifice my night of sleep now. So I will just give a short update on my experiences of today.

The hospital visit this afternoon appeared to be very heavy. They didn’t keep the practices hidden, and I was allowed to see basically everything (I even spoke to a lady who was in solitary confinement - it was terrible). I saw many things that hurt me: The seclusion cells (old cells, new cells), the restraint belts (with butterflies on the storage bag), the repressive atmosphere of clinical psychiatry, the neglect of the persons detained and their powerlessness, the suffocating smell of locked wards….
And it was painful that during the talks with the doctor there was no real room for discussion. The doctor and nurses thought they were doing a good job, and I felt like I couldn’t reach him with my words. And eventually, when I left, I cried. I just couldn’t bear it any more. I have seen so much hurt in so many places over the world, and this one tipped me off. I tried to fight my tears, but didn’t really succeed. Then suddenly the doctor changed his attitude and said “Yes, we know we have some shameful practices here”. I was glad that he acknowledged that.

I was still a bit in shock when I left, and then Ryugan and I went to a restaurant nearby to eat a very nice Japanese raw fish dish. I also ate the raw egg (it was actually nice, especially with rice). I just had to do something special to get myself to another vibe, and slowly I became more calm and I could smile again. It is terrible that even only just visiting such a mental hospital is harmful to my mental health. However, it was positive that the guy finally understood that it was not okay what they showed to me, and that their practices do not meet the international standards.

Afterwards, we went to Nakano district because I wanted to buy a certain gift for someone, and then to Ueno, where there was a music festival. I already knew it was an unknown festival for the inhabitants of Tokyo, but I like watching people, so I thought it would be nice to go there. It appeared to be very traditional Japanese music (I can only compare it to the Dutch “Frans Bauer and friends”), and there were mostly elderly people as audience, and they were all sitting. It was a kind of open air theatre. There was no dancing area or whatsoever. I found it quite hilarious to sit at this 50+ festival. What a day. My life is so unconventional.
Then Yoshi also came to the “festival”, which had just ended, and together we went to another nice place to have some Japanese food. A bit later Reiko also joined. We had a great time, with great laughter. I found out that the sake at this place was soft and okay (I had tried several other brands before, but didn’t like them, but this one was okay). And then we also had a plum which had been soaked in sake, and which was 16 years old! It was very tasteful and special to eat a fruit that is 16 years old. We really had fun together.

I have decided after today’s hospital visit, that I need to go to Trieste in Italy, to see a more positive mental health care system for a change, because it is really heavy to see bad practices all over the world. And Yoshi wanted to join with a Japanese delegation. We are now considering to make a study field-trip to Italy and Finland next year together. To see the Italian model of mental health care and the Open Dialogue in Finland. I really want this to happen. I need to see something positive, so I will try to do my best to fundraise for that.

I was very happy to have a positive ending of my stay in Japan. The good feelings had come back. I am so grateful for the great times I have had with my Japanese friends and allies. And I know my departure is not really a goodbye, but we will meet again for sure, somewhere on the globe.

And now I will go to bed, and have some rest before my long journey starts.
It had been 2 impressive weeks, and I felt like a star. I will treasure these great memories forever.