Blogs from Japan, Asia - page 930

It seems a bit bizarre to be writing about endings in March, but I am in Japan and that is when they happen here. Perhaps it is their hyperawareness of the seasons that inspires them to place the most auspicious of events just prior to the coming of spring and the cherry blossoms. From nursery schools to university, March is the universal month for valedictories and teary-eyed moms lugging around boxes of Kleenex, disbelieving the fact that time has passed so quickly. As for me, having been thrust into the middle of the Japanese school year in September, I didn’t have quite the level of attachment to my students. Still, the leaving of the students that I have taught twice weekly for the last eight months left me with a tear or two as well. ... read more

I write this at the beginning of March with the harshest of the winter season come and gone. Here in the southern part of Japan, with a latitude roughly equivalent to Atlanta, Georgia, temperatures rarely dip below freezing and snow tends to melt long before it hits the ground. If that is the case, what is the cause for complaint? The climate here is certainly milder than anything I have experienced in Boston or New York, but as it turns out, only on the outside. There is an interesting paradox at work here. In Tamagawa, it tends to be colder indoors than outdoors. It is possible that there is a wrinkle in the space-time continuum turning reality on its head and confusing Mother Nature to no end, but that is still a working theory. Here ... read more

You've seen it in the movies, you've read it in books, you heard about it from your friends... everyone ought to visit Tokyo at least once in their lifetime. Why? Because its cool thats why! A few things I distinctively remember regarding to Tokyo was how traditional it was during new years. Everyone is out wearing their Kimonos and we went to the Emperial Palace to see the Emperor and fought the crowd there. Just the fact that it is one of the most modern places in the world, yet they've manage to maintain much of their tradition and values is quite an amazing feat. ... read more

Another day usually brings with it another adventure; this time it was a trip into the magical, mysterious world of sumo wrestling, or sumo, as it is known in Japan. I went with several of my fellow (Japanese) teachers by bullet train to Fukuoka’s International Center, the site of a professional sumo tournament. However, before we went to the main event, there was a surprise in store for us. At the junior high school we work at, one of the graduates from last year turned into a sumo wrestler, destined for stardom. At sixteen years of age, he figured it was high time to quit school and pursue a more promising career. The position of sumo wrestler is held in such high regard in Japan, that the all-consuming pursuit of sumo is considered a noble path ... read more

Today was yet another special day in the town of Tamagawa. This time it was a celebration of Japanese culture. The Japanese are extremely committed to maintaining a strong cultural identity and this was one of its manifestations. Another one is granting the title of “National Treasure” to Japanese citizens who are master craftsmen or connoisseurs of an element of Japanese culture like kabuki or flower arrangement. Like Sports Day before it, Culture Day required weeks of preparation and planning. Classes were knocked off and the school day casually extended in order to make the event as perfect as possible. Culture Day entailed dramas, songs, traditional Japanese dance, and a recitation of English speeches originally spoken at a speech contest. I could not quite figure out what role they play in culture day, other than as ... read more