8 | Black Gold: A Celebration of Black Artists in Japan 34 | Reflections on Japan’s Welcoming Winter Wonderlands
AJET
82 | Every Move Counts 112 | The Art of Hosting Eikaiwa
Issue No. 127 December 2023
LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR
‘T
is the season, folks.
Turn on your sunlamps, bust out your kotatsu, pop some vitamin D, and get ready for some cool new content from your favorite online magazine. I sincerely hope you will find plenty of ways to stay comfy and cozy during what is in some ways a very wonderful (and in other ways, not so wonderful) winter season. Those of you who have been in Japan for a while know the drill (hopefully), and those of you who are new here: take heart! The days may be shorter, the air drier and colder, but you can and will persevere so long as you give yourself some grace and an extra little bit of self-care this time of year. For the adventurers out there that don’t want to let the cold weather hold them back: learn about the excitingly quirky Kasedori Festival in this issue’s Travel Section, or take a peak at a myriad of other fun events in Culture’s “Reflections on Japan’s Welcoming Winter Wonderlands.” Alternatively, you might feel more inclined to take it easy this winter, which is also a perfectly valid response to the chilly weather. Find ways to keep your body and mind active in Wellness, providing tips for staying physically active in “Every Move Counts” as well as keeping abreast of the winter season’s
Photo by Leo Mendes | Unsplash.com
effects on mental health. Then, cozy up with friends and neighbors during this busy season with Community’s heartwarming tales of friendship and camaraderie. This month’s issue also revisits some past themes and faces. See what Language has to add to the discussion of running an eikawa in “The Art of Hosting Eikaiwa,” which provides some fresh new ideas on the topic that CONNECT had once touched upon back in 2020. Finally, take a look at what our former Community Section editor Cameron Peagler has been up to in the past few months! We are so excited to be able to report on Cameron’s project in our article “Black Gold: A Celebration of Black Artists in Japan.” Take a look at some of the highlights from the event, and read our Art Section editor’s interview with the creator himself! I cannot thank Cameron enough for not only his continued contribution to CONNECT Magazine, but for also giving our team press access to this amazing event. Take care this winter. Stay warm and be merry.
Head Editor of CONNECT Magazine
DECEMBER MEET THE TEAM QUESTION: What is your favorite winter movie, book, or game?
HEAD EDITOR connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com
Kianna Shore connect.generaleditor3@ajet.net
Dianne Yett Hit me with that Muppets Christmas Carol. Every time.
Sophia Maas connect.generaleditor4@ajet.net Seasonality doesn’t affect me much in terms of the media I interact with, but with extra time indoors and a lazy atmosphere I play more Stardew Valley than I probably should.
ASSISTANT HEAD EDITOR connect.ajet.assistantheadeditor@gmail.com Sage Olges The Polar Express (the book, not the movie). For me, it is more Christmas than candy canes or pumpkin pie!
Becca Devoto connect.generaleditor5@ajet.net Can’t seem to get enough of The Grinch.
WEBSITE EDITORS HEAD DESIGNER connect.ajet.headdesigner@gmail.com Kristen Camille Ton I grew up watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas, so that movie is quintessential Christmas for me.
ASSISTANT HEAD DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantvm@gmail.com David Spencer Jingle All the Way. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Hartman, what more could you want from a Christmas movie.
GENERAL SECTION EDITORS Ryon Morrin connect.generaleditor1@ajet.net Every year, I watch an episode of Seinfeld called “The Strike” where George’s father celebrates a holiday he invented as an alternative to Christmas. The name: Festivus. Happy Festivus! Pitta Gay-Powell connect.generaleditor2@ajet.net
Marco Cian connect.ajet.webeditor1@gmail.com Hopefully In the Ocean I Learned to Float once it finally comes out. Abigayle Goldstein connect.ajet.webeditor2@gmail.com My favorite winter movie is Little Women– both the Winona Ryder and Saiorse Ronan versions! Veronica Nielsen connect.ajet.webeditor3@gmail.com I love curling up under my blankets and playing games like Ib on my Nintendo Switch!
SOCIAL MEDIA connect.socialmedia@ajet.net Valerie Mercado
PR connect.ajet.prmanager@gmail.com Jenny Chang Watching Home Alone during the holidays has been a tradition for me since I was in high school.
CREDITS CONTENT HEAD EDITOR Dianne Yett
HEAD OF DESIGN & LAYOUT Kristen Camille Ton
ASSISTANT HEAD EDITOR Sage Olges
ASSISTANT HEAD DESIGNER David Spencer
SECTION EDITORS Jessica Adler Nabeela Basa Thomas Coleman Sierra Block Gorman Kalista Pattison Jon Solmundson Holly Walder Nomfundo Amanda Zondi
ASSISTANT DESIGNERS Aaron Klein Li Chu Chong Quinlan
COPY EDITORS Tori Bender Sofia de Martin Kaitlin Stanton Zoë Vincent
SOCIAL MEDIA Valerie Mercado
GENERAL SECTION EDITORS Becca Devoto Pitta Gay-Powell Sophia Maas Ryon Morrin Kianna Shore
USJETAA Kimberly Matsuno
WEB EDITORS Marco Cian Abigayle Goldstein Veronica Nielsen
&
CONTRIBUTORS Rachel Adams Tiffany Aguilar Vianna Chow Mark Christensen Thomas Coleman Sierra Block Gorman Ryon Morrin Sonia Narang Kalista Pattison Cameron Peagler Cerell Rivera Shanel Taylor Holly Walder Nomfundo Zondi
PR Jenny Chang
COVER PHOTO Leo Mendes
This magazine contains original photos used with permission, as well as free-use images. All included photos are property of the author unless otherwise specified. If you are the owner of an image featured in this publication believed to be used without permission, please contact the Head of Graphic Design and Layout, Kristen Camille Ton, at connect.ajet.headdesigner@gmail.com. This edition, and all past editions of AJET CONNECT, can be found online at http://ajet.net/ajet-connect/magazine-issues/ or on our website. Read CONNECT online and follow us on ISSUU.
Photo by Takemaru Hirai | Unsplash.com
CONNECT | Arts 8
Black Gold: A Celebration of Black Artists in Japan
16
An Interview with Cameron Peagler: Creator of the Black Gold Project
CONNECT | Culture 22
Dragon Quest Nara: Adventures of the Dragon King
34
Reflections on Japan’s Welcoming Winter Wonderlands
CONNECT | Entertainment 50
Scene Report: Digging deep and finding your way into your local underground music community
CONNECT | Fashion 58
What’s new with the King of Kawaii? An Interview with Brand 6%DOKIDOKI
68
Finding Fashion in Japan: Addressing challenges of clothes shopping in Japan
CONNECT | Wellness 76
Spotlight On: Seasonal Affective Disorder with Diya John
82
Every Move Counts
CONNECT | Careers 90
Senpai Spotlight: Exploring the World through Radio Journalism
98
LinkedIn Level-up
CONNECT | Language 106 To VLJ, or not to VLJ? 112 The Art of Hosting Eikaiwa
CONNECT | Travel 120 Rishiri: Climbing the Island in the Sky 138 Kasedori Festival: Warm winter hopes and chilly traditions CONNECT | Community 150 IJUIN: Small Town, Big Hearts 156 What a simple yes has done
ARTS & CULTURE ARTS EDITOR connect.ajet.arts@gmail.com
CULTURE EDITOR connect.ajet.culture@gmail.com
Sierra Block Gorman I usually read aloud ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and get certain lines wrong on purpose.
Thomas Coleman I love a good ol’ classic Christmas film! My favourite is probably White Christmas!
ARTS DESIGNER connect.ajet.headdesigner@gmail.com Kristen Camille Ton I grew up watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas, so that movie is quintessential Christmas for me.
ARTS COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy4@gmail.com Tori Bender A Lord of the Rings marathon has been a staple of my holiday seasons since childhood.
Photo by Weiqi Xiong | Unsplash.com
CULTURE DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantvm@gmail.com David Spencer Jingle All the Way. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Hartman, what more could you want from a Christmas movie.
CULTURE COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy3@gmail.com Kaitlin Stanton Animal Crossing New Horizons has become part of the holiday season for me since it can be played in real time, thus the season changes to winter. With seasonal events, items and dialogue, it’s a joyous game to play when settling into the delights of December.
CONNECT ART
Top: Ebony Bottom: SDJMalik
Cameron
Sierra Block Gorman (Gunma)
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Top: Moe Bottom: French Antonio
tepping into the performance space in the lower level of BUoY, a cafe and art space in Tokyo, one might not realize right away that it is actually a former sento, or bath house. You get distracted by the plywood walls sporting photographs of Black creatives and the stage full of instruments and sound equipment. The rough, unfinished floors and ceilings, the tiled walls and empty baths, and the abandoned mirrors and spigots might not catch your eye until later—because the room is full of life. There are people talking and laughing, an aura of joy and celebration pervading the room. For some, this is their first inperson event since COVID-19 hit. Some have travelled long distances to be here, from Osaka, Boston, and even Gunma. By night bus, shinkansen, or just the subway, people turned out to engage in this event: Black Gold.
What is the Black Gold project? This project was created by Cameron Peagler. Photographer, interviewer, changemaker, and project leader, you can learn more about him in the interview following this article. Black Gold was conceived with the goal of celebrating Black creatives in Japan whose success stories often go unheard, creating a stronger relationship between the Japanese and Black communities, and eventually increasing the amount of Black students who study abroad. Originally a long-term photography project that involved photographing and interviewing Black creatives all around Japan, the project will culminate in this showcase event in Tokyo, as well as three exhibitions in universities in America. The project can be accessed on its creator’s website and his Instagram.Tonight’s Black Gold showcase is described on the website as “a community event in Japan that provides an immersive cultural exchange opportunity with the creatives and entrepreneurs.”
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s the room fills up, the air seems to start to vibrate. People are talking, a constant drumming comes from somewhere behind the plywood walls, and the occasional burst of laughter peals through the space. They compliment each others’ clothes, ask about their work, and really listen to the answers. Everyone seems excited to be here, to be involved in this project and in this moment. Some are participants in the Black Gold project, both here to perform and here to spectate. Some are friends, colleagues, and teachers, here to show support and enjoy the show. Some are people who have heard about the event and are interested in Black culture and the chance for cultural exchange. What they all had in common was a desire to appreciate and connect with these Black artists making their mark in Japan.
Ocean
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Left: French Antonio Right: Street Jizo
The first person to take the stage after Cameron, the creator of the Black Gold project, was our MC, who goes by the pseudonym Street Jizo. He is a fashion designer and event creator. He led a short group meditation before introducing the first act. You can find out more about him here. Before every act, Street Jizo would ask the artist two questions: “What advice would you give to
Black artists in Japan?,” and “How has living in Japan improved your life?”—two questions that Cameron asks in his short interviews for the Black Gold Project. You can find the artists’ answers to these questions on his Instagram. Sharing the stage with our MC was the DJ, Yana. She backed up almost all the artists, acted as a DJ when no one was performing, and kept the show flowing smoothly. You can find out more about her here. The first act was SDJMalik, a snare drummer. He sparked off the event with a bombastic drum display full of tricks, stick flips, and intense percussion. It was like a five minute drum solo that no one wanted to see end. SDJMalik brought the energy of the room up and kept it there. You can find out more about him here. Following up an act that exciting is no easy feat, but French Antonio, a singer-songwriter specializing in R&B and Afro-beats, was more than up to the challenge, in collaboration with another Black Gold participant, Diverse. Singing in a smooth blend of English and Japanese, French Antonio’s braggadocious yet introspective music was a pleasure to listen (and sing along) to. You can find out more about him here.
Imani Street Jizo
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From top left to right: Street Jizo, Fernando, Diverse From bottom left to right: Yana, Baye McNeil
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ext up was Diverse, a percussionist and music creator. Along with his collaborative works with French Antonio, he showed his solo work, several musical pieces focusing on percussion. Heavily influenced by African drumming, his work blends physical and digital percussion to create dynamic music. You can find out more about him here.
Then, Cameron, the creator of the Black Gold project, and a bodypainter who goes by The Jayder came on stage to present a collaboration piece they created with the help of their model, Moe. The Jayder painted Moe with luminescent paint, which Cameron then photographed and turned into prints that were sold at the event. You can find out more about The Jayder here.
In a break from bombastic musical acts came the funny and poignant Baye McNeil, a writer for The Japan Times and author of two books, with a third coming out on Kwanzaa this year. He read a short speech giving encouragement and advice to people living in or thinking about moving to Japan. His words drew heavily on his own experiences coming to Japan and adapting to life here, particularly from his perspective as a Black man. You can find out more about him here.
The next artist was Ocean, a vocal artist who also goes by Dot.Kai. He sang and rapped in Japanese and English with a deep flow. Heavily hip-hop inspired but with plenty of Japanese inspiration, his music reflects his life experiences, having spent much of his adult life in Japan. You can find out more about him here.
We then had a short intermission before being introduced to Cam Waller, a ceramicist currently pursuing a PhD at Tokyo University of the Arts. They presented some of their work for display and talked a bit about their practice as an artist and their experiences living and learning in Japan. You can see photos of them in action and find out more about them here and here.
Following Ocean was another singersongwriter, Imani. She shared three songs that called back to ‘90s R&B and hip-hop, particularly the female artists of the age. The lyrics, however, were fresh and contemporary, including one number themed around Pokémon, the popular video game franchise. Her smooth lounge-singer voice and soulful vibes got the whole room grooving to the beat. You can find out more about her here.
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hen Babs came to the stage. Professional dancer and business owner, Babs showed us a phenomenal dance routine. Her song choice, Angel by Halle, fit the theme of Black excellence and Black female empowerment. Her movements were precise yet full of sentiment, bringing the song and its meaning to life. You can find out more about her here. Next was Gai, also known as Balance-kun. Dancer, rapper, and entrepreneur, this jack-of-all-trades is known for his breakdancing and martial arts stunts. This evening, however, he chose to showcase his rap skills, as well as some of his apparel designs, which were on display throughout the night. You can find out more about him here. The final act of the night was Paranoir, a four-person band. Two of the members were photographed for the Black Gold Project—Fernando and Ebony. You can find out more about them here and here. They played covers of several songs from artists like Paramore—for whom they were named—and Whitney Houston. Though they were the last of the night, they were by no means the least. They got the crowd up on their feet and singing along with enthusiasm, despite the late hour (and complaints from upstairs neighbors).
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Throughout the evening, the artists, the guests, everyone was entirely supportive of each other and of the goals of the event—to appreciate Black artists and Black culture in Japan, and to inspire Black youth to embark on their own journeys here. However, though the overall mood was celebratory, no one shied away from difficult truths. The author, Baye McNeil, spoke to some of the struggles that Black people face in Japan, including the “Empty Seat,” that comes from people deciding you are “too Black” to sit next to, and how distressing it can be to face that attitude from so many people around you. At the same time, many artists expressed gratitude for the freedom and safety they felt in Japan, to be themselves and pursue their craft without fear of violence. That blend of physical safety but psychological violence, being unique and appreciated while ever the outsider, was something that came up several times in the more serious moments when artists reflected on their experiences in Japan. However, those moments served as contemplative punctuation to an overall atmosphere of joy, love, and appreciation—for Japan and for each other.
Left: Gai Right: Street Jizo
Ebony Babs
ierra Block Gorman is the Arts Editor of CONNECT Magazine. She is a third-year JET based in Gunma Prefecture. When not visiting museums or practicing calligraphy, she can be found editing articles for the Arts Section and is always looking for new contributors. Back to Contents
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Cameron Peagler (Yamaguchi) interviewed by Sierra Block Gorman (Gunma) Sierra: So—Cameron Peagler: who is he? Cameron: Who am I? I dunno. Former registered nurse, wannabe olympic fencer, photographer, you name it. I’ve done a lot of stuff. I’m just a kid from Ohio, trying to do a little bit of good in the world. Sierra: How long have you lived in Japan? Cameron: About four years at this point. Sierra: So, you’re simultaneously doing your art and your activism work and JET? Cameron: Yeah, and I’m also very active in my local community as well, with my photography. One of my first photography projects was highlighting small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic with the hopes of increasing their customers. ‘Cause you know at the time, a lot of small business owners were losing their businesses. So, I went around and I took portraits of local Japanese business owners and I held a photo exhibition to showcase everyone. Sierra: That’s a very direct form of activism, especially in such a difficult time for everyone. Cameron: Yeah, I did that and then I was a grant recipient back when the pandemic was first introduced to Japan. With that money, we donated masks to all the schools and created educational materials. Like I said earlier, I just want to do some good in the world, you know what I mean? So even this event, with the admission fees and all that—all that stuff goes to the performing artists for donating their time today, so I won’t receive any of that.
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Sierra: So was photography something you studied more by yourself or in school? Cameron: So in high school I did a little bit, stopped it, but I always liked the idea of photography. It wasn’t until I moved to Japan and I really picked up a real camera and started shooting that my ability to take photos started to grow. And actually through this project, I was able to meet Matthew Jordan Smith, who’s a world-famous photographer, and I learned under him, as well as Carmen Cheung, who is a commercial photographer in Canada. Sierra: That must have been really exciting. Was it interesting, photographing another photographer? Cameron: Yeah. It was a little...I don’t want to say daunting, but I wanted to make sure I had my stuff in order because Matthew is a master photographer. He knows how to control every element of a photograph. Just like that—[Cameron snaps his fingers]—he knows what to do. It was a little daunting, but it was a unique collab and we ended up getting some good photos. Actually, with a tripod I took additional photos of him shooting me as well, to get the whole process. It was really cool. The photo that’s in the gallery now, I like it.
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Sierra: Speaking of the gallery, tell me about this event we’re at. Cameron: Our Black Gold Tokyo event is featuring some of our creatives who participated in Black Gold and they’ll be showcasing their respective crafts with the intent of celebrating artists living in Japan, as well as connecting the Japanese and Black communities closer together through a direct cultural exchange opportunity.
Sierra: Awesome. What inspired the Black Gold Project? Where did it get its start? Cameron: Actually it’s interesting—it was over a year ago, and I was applying for this really prestigious grant opportunity and the goal of the grant was to highlight communities of color. And I came up with this idea to highlight the Black community in Japan, because I think that there is an interesting story to be shown and people whose stories often go uncelebrated. And I fought for this grant opportunity, didn’t get it, it was shut down, and I said you know what, I’m still gonna pursue it anyways. So after a year of travelling around Japan, meeting everybody, doing interviews, hearing their stories, here we are now!
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Sierra: That’s really cool, especially that you didn’t let not getting the grant stop you from going forward with this really important idea. Cameron: Yeah, I feel like usually if you hear a ‘no’ it’s probably a good sign that you’re on the right track. So, I look for the ‘no’s. Sierra: That’s great—if you hear a no, it’s a good sign. So tell me a little bit more about the Black Gold Project. What were its goals, what was the process? Cameron: The goals were the first two things I mentioned earlier, as well as using the work to inspire Black youth in America to study abroad. So we have three exhibitions planned in America starting this month, [at] Wright State University, The Ohio State University, and the University of Delaware. The study abroad rate for Black, AfricanAmerican college students is extremely low, it’s about 5.5%. Which is. . . not that many. So I’m hoping that by showing our community actually thriving in Japan, others will be inspired to pursue their own paths in another country.
Sierra: Your photoshoot with him, what was that like as an experience? Cameron: We shot for 10 hours. A 10 hour long shoot. It was the longest shoot I’ve ever done before, but you know, body painting takes a lot of time. So it was really good working with him because as a professional artist he understood the importance of preparing prior to creating this work. So that included concepts—I can’t tell you how many concepts that we went over— that includes [figuring out] what kind of storytelling are we doing, we had to make a vision board before we made the work, and then we had to consider, OK, is this feasible, is this not feasible. So I think in the piece that we’re revealing today, you’ll really see the effort that we put into it.
Sierra: So tell me about some of the artists and creators you’ve worked with. Any particularly interesting to work with? Cameron: Hm. . . Oh! So today I’ll be presenting a very special piece. It’s not part of Black Gold but it will be for sale. [A collaboration] between me and The Jayder. He’s a body painter out here in Tokyo. We did a collab recently and we’ll be showing a special piece soon.
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Cameron Peagler believes art is the flare that illuminates inequality, warms those in need, and challenges the world to view social issues differently. Understanding the delicate nature of storytelling that goes beyond the mechanical mastery of photography, Cameron focuses on nourishing BIPOC and underprivileged communities through genuine human connection and empowerment. With this in mind, Cameron simultaneously strives to strengthen relations between Japan and the communities he works with.
Sierra: So, about the Black Gold Project. You’ve done a lot so far, you’ve posted on Instagram, you’ve had this event—do you feel that you’ve seen the impact of your work yet? Or do you feel that’s still to come? Cameron: I’m not sure. There’s several organizations that I’ve partnered up with to spread the work and the idea about it [including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Tokyo Embassy, and the National Association for Black Engagement with Asia]. You know what, I feel like sometimes you don’t see the direct impact. So today we actually have a questionnaire for people to share their feedback and we can get some data that way. But I feel like the impact of the overall project itself, people seeing the photos, who knows how many people have actually seen the photos, were inspired by it, felt a certain way about it, and didn’t tell me anything about it, right? When I have my exhibitions in America, the ones I was telling you about, who knows how many college students are gonna walk past, look at it, read the interviews, and go “Dang that was fire! I could do this!” And then they kept going about their day. So I dunno how impactful it’s going to be, but what I do know is that I can do only the most that I can do, right? Which is this. And if I do that, then that’s enough. You know, I go downstairs, and I see people connecting, laughing, smiling, then that was enough.
Sierra: Absolutely. OK, last one: Do you have any other projects coming up, besides the exhibitions in America? Cameron: OK, for sure me and Jayder are gonna do future collaborations. The work that we produced was fire, I dunno how else to say it. And then I’m doing a new project I started last month called Ice Candy. It’s something that’s a little less social justice and more just me just tapping into creativity. I’ll be doing fashion photography with Japanese women in the hopes of sharing their personalities through their clothing. That and short interviews, ‘cause I like short interviews. Sierra: Lastly, is there anything in particular you would like to share with CONNECT’s readers? Cameron: Here’s one: Be active in your community with whatever you’re skilled at. I don’t care if you’re good at mowing lawns or taking photos, use what you’re good at doing to connect with your community. ‘Cause I believe that a lot of CONNECT’s readers are from JET and stuff right? So you’re here on these programs, I believe that you’re not only an English teacher but you’re a representative of your own community. So the best way to represent your own community is to go out and be part of the community in Japan. And the best way to do that is through your craft. Sierra: So true. Thank you so much for your time.
Sierra Block Gorman is the Arts Editor of CONNECT Magazine. She is a third-year JET based in Gunma Prefecture. When not visiting museums or practicing calligraphy, she can be found editing articles for the Arts Section and is always looking for new contributors. Back to Contents
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CONNECT CULTURE
The verdant, bushy mountains of Japan differ greatly from the purple mountain majesty I grew up with in Colorado, and even more so from the craggy brown ones I saw during my university days in Utah. But the biggest difference between Uda’s mountains and those in America is that the light fog covering the skyline may not actually be clouds, but instead, the sighs of a local dragon sleeping in the mountains.
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Image Credit: David Spencer (Kyoto)
In many Asian cultures, dragons are associated with water, mountains, and healingーall of which Uda is famous for. The Kojiki (or Records of Ancient Matters, one of Japan’s notable texts about culture and folklore from the seventh century) designates Uda as a medicinal deer hunting ground. Deer antlers were ground into powder and their meat was believed to be used in place of nutritional supplements. This mountain town’s medicinal history continued into the 19th century when the town flourished under a medicine maker who eventually became an honorary samurai.
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Rivers run through all four of the villages that collectively make up Uda City, and each village has its own Shinto shrine dedicated to the dragon of Uda River. At these shrines, locals offer the dragon’s favorite food: beer and eggs. It’s also fitting that the biggest Shinto shrine along Uda River, Sumisaka Shrine, is recorded as the country’s first Shinto shrine consecrated for healing. Small local river dragons aside, the head honcho Dragon King(™) resides on Mount Muro and has several shrines and even a temple dedicated to it.
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Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
The Dragon King didn’t always live on Mount Muro though. According to a collection of legends written during the 12th century called the Kojidan, the Dragon King first lived in Nara City’s Sarusawa Pond. For those who have visited Nara before, it’s the pond right down the hill from Kofuku-ji and is next to the biggest tourist-trap Starbucks in Nara prefecture. After a court maiden, or uneme, yeeted herself into Sarusawa Pond following a one-night stand with the emperor during the eighth century, the Dragon King eventually moved to a different pond on Mount Kasuga, the mountain where Nara City’s Kasuga Taisha Shrine is.
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Ironically, there’s now a festival every September to appease the spirit of this poor uneme maiden, where a performer sings of her tragedy while riding on the back of a dragon boat. Back on Mount Kasuga though, some hooligans started dumping corpses in the Dragon King’s new pond, so it decided to permanently retire to the mountains deep in the province of old Yamato. The Dragon King now resides in the many caves on Mount Muro in Uda City, which is about an hour's train ride away from Nara City. Although the caves are closed off to the public, you can still visit its many sites of worship, including Ryuketsu Shrine, Ryuchin Shrine, and the famous Muro-ji.
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Image Credit: Uda City Tourist Department
Although Ryuketsu Shrine and Ryuchin Shrine are lovely and mystical, the pride of Uda City is Muro-ji, a historically beloved temple. I was fortunate enough to have come to Uda City during the peak of momiji season in 2021, and even more fortunate that my supervisor took me to Muro-ji to see the stunning fall foliage. I was already in quite a haze from my two-week quarantine in Tokyo, but it truly felt like I had entered a fairytale as I wandered through the vermillion and gold grounds of this magical temple.
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Muro-ji was originally established by the founder of Shugendo, En no Gyoja. These may be unfamiliar names to many people outside Nara, but it’s a religion that was very prominent during the Nara period and, at the time, had the same amount of influence on Japanese culture as Shintoism and Buddhism. Many rites at Muro-ji prayed for rain and sought the healing powers of the Dragon King. The temple was later rebuilt as a Buddhist temple between 778 and 793 by Emperor Kanmu as a way to show gratitude for the healing he received at Muro-ji when he was younger.
Image Credit: Uda City Tourist Department
Muro-ji is also known as the “Mount Koya for women.” Mount Koya, the headquarters for Shingon Buddhism, didn’t allow the entry of women until 1872, but Mount Muro has always allowed women to worship on its grounds. It is believed that Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, buried treasures on Mount Muro, and Muro-ji’s treasure hall holds many relics depicting Kukai’s visits to the mountain.
It’s a small collection, but when I visited, I couldn’t believe how cool the Buddha statues were. In particular, I think many enthusiasts and art historians would be interested in the Shaka Nyorai statue, which was carved from a single piece of wood. Its draping cinnabar robes truly showcase the craftsmanship of the early Heian period (794-1185). It was also fun seeing Kukai depicted in scrolls with the famous local dragons of my city.
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Image Credit: Rachel Adams (Nara)
Aside from the treasure hall, Muro-ji is also notable for its Golden Hall and five-storied pagoda. These are the only two buildings in all of Japan that are left standing from the early Heian period. As the only two remaining buildings from the early Heian period, they teach us a lot about shifts in Japanese architecture from when the capital of Japan was transitioning from Nara to Kyoto.
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Much architecture during the Nara period had a flat layout: hills were leveled and land was raised so all buildings were on equal ground. However, Muro-ji reflects a shift where architecture started to merge with nature instead of fighting against it. The layout of the buildings at Muro-ji follows the layout of the mountain, much like earlier Shinto architecture did. Also, the five-storied pagoda is the smallest pagoda in Japan, so I think it’s fair to say that it’s also the cutest pagoda in Japan.
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Image Credit: Rachel Adams (Nara)
No matter what season you decide to visit, Mount Muro and Muro-ji are a side of Japan that’s hard to find in bustling cities like Tokyo and Osaka. The mountain and temple are just as captivating in the winter when the mountain is shrouded in snow and silence. It’s thrilling to be able to experience what Japan may have sounded like over a thousand years ago.
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During the autumn and New Year seasons, they have light-up events where lanterns line the temple grounds and a projection mapping of a dragon slinks up Muro-ji’s five-storied pagoda. However, even if you don’t find a dragon during your visit, I’m sure you’ll be able to still feel its healing power as you watch the misty clouds dance over the mountains deep in the province of old Yamato.
Source list 1. Japanese Culture by Paul Varley 2. In Search of the Dragon: Mt. Muro’s Sacred Topography by Sherry Fowler (for more information specifically about the gender of the dragon please see pp. 155-156) 3. Nara Manyou no Tabi Hyakushu by the Nara Mahoroba Somalier Association and Makoto Ueno 4. Website: Murouji Temple All images in this article by Uda City Tourist Department Rachel Adams is a third-year U.S. JET in Uda City, Nara. By day, she enjoys classical literature and Japanese history rabbit holes. By night, she can be found at karaoke, translating music, or simping at concerts. She is also head editor of the Nara AJET newsletter.
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As the cold days set in, I have always tried to make the most of my free time and nenkyu when going into the holiday period. Japan is filled to the brim with exciting adventures and yet I know what a struggle it can be to decide which ones to embark on. Below, I have written a few accounts of my incredible winter experiences and the profound impressions that they have left on me. I hope the reader may find inspiration in my fond reflections, and seek their own cultural journey this winter time. | 35
Sapporo Snow Festival 4–11 February 2024 Located at the heart of Sapporo in its city parks lies once a year a snowy kingdom enchanted by a winter magic that truly takes your breath away. As you tentatively step through the front gates and walk down the kingdom’s carefully constructed streets alongside travellers from far and wide, you will be greeted by its cute and jolly inhabitants.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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These residents are all cultural icons, ranging from Pikachu to Kirby to Doraemon, or even the Minions, standing marvellous and proud in their glistening snowy forms. But beyond Sapporo Snow Festival’s mighty spectacle, there is also something that, if you are not careful, can be easily overlooked: that is the deep sense of cultural connection at the festival.
The beloved characters not only inspire a giddy excitement, but also act like a charming mirror which reflects “Japan” itself. Walking around you will see not only great pieces dedicated to current popular anime and games, but also fun tributes to things like Cup Noodle. You cannot help but feel its passionate nod to wider Japanese pop culture and society. Past this exterior, foundationally too, with the Japanese Self Defence Forces (SDF) helping out in the labour for some of the more impressive structures, there is a fascinatingly complex cultural layer to the festival.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
These layers also weave across communities with awe-inspiring creations made for the International Snow Sculpture Contest. When visiting, you might even be beholden to unique experiences. In 2019, I was lucky enough to see a magnificent model of Helsinki Cathedral and an ice sculpture made by the U.S. Navy.
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At Sapporo Snow Festival, as you wander around the magnificent sights the kingdom has to offer you, it would be difficult to deny that its regal grounds may be anything but one of Japan’s greatest cultural monuments.
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival 10–17 February 2024 Just outside the bustling city of Sapporo is a smaller, quaint town that deals an equally impressive cultural punch. Every February, the locals of Otaru come out and charm fellow residents and travellers alike with their wonderful lantern displays, which shine like hundreds of twinkling stars lighting up the winter night. As you wander down from Otaru Station to the Otaru Canal, you will be a witness to superb walled grounds and corridors shaped out of the knee-high snowy blanket that canvases Otaru’s streets.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Resting inside these slopes are a bunch of small lamps and cute snow creatures made by residents of Otaru. Residents gather inside the snowy perimeters, chatting with each other, cooking and passing mochi around, and marvelling at their great snowy creations. The locals are more than happy to engage with visitors in their special annual event, making travelling around Otaru at this time of year fill you with a warm sense of the town’s cosiness and community.
Compared to the pop culture commotion of Sapporo Snow Festival, the Otaru Snow Light Path Festival’s features are gentler and more grounded in their locality. But, at the apex of the trip at Otaru Canal, you are left equally as mesmerised by the beautiful patterns of lights that dance delicately on the water’s surface. With the crowds of people also taking in the sight, it’s hard not to feel enveloped in the shared cultural experience. So, if you are looking for a small community-driven immersion this winter, then a trip to Otaru might be an exciting addition to your winter plans.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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The Kobe Luminarie 19–28 January 2024 Gazing up at the great dazzling illuminations gracing the sea of people around you with their warm and welcoming light might knock you right back to your childhood. However, the Christmas decorations around my neighbourhood that left me enchanted as a child pale in comparison to the beauty of the impressive display of lights in Kobe’s city centre.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Just like the cold January winds circling in and out of the streets, a great number of people move huddled together like penguins on migration towards the great illuminated arches of the Kobe Luminarie. When they finally arrive at the great street filled with the astonishing exhibition of lights, they are lost in wonderment.
There are countless tourist hot spots in Japan that attract large masses of people. However, the hubbub of the winter crowds combined with the gentle, romantic atmosphere in the air, and the sense of anticipation for a chance to glimpse the magic feels refreshingly unique. There is also a wider community-driven beauty which complements the aesthetic beauty of illuminated arches, as Luminarie stands in memorial for those affected by the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The meaning permeates through the wonderful display and makes the experience all the more special.
While Kobe Luminarie is quite a modern cultural phenomenon leaning into its inspirations from Christian traditions, it is at the same time authentically Japanese and tied to the collective memories and emotions of the people of Kobe. For people wishing for a more moving winter vacation, Kobe is unmatched.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Hatsumode at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto 31 December – 1 January 2024 Kyoto is Japan’s cultural titan when it comes to its almost endless plethora of historic temples and significant landmarks. However, what is probably less known is the unique gathering at Yasaka Shrine in the dead of night on 31 December. As the clock strikes midnight, you will find crowds upon crowds of people neatly tucked into the streets of Shijo Dori. There, they patiently wait to enter the 1,350 year-old shrine that stands over them like an unwavering Shinto guardian.
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
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Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
Image Credit: Thomas Coleman (Hyogo)
As I steadily ascended the steps to the red front gate of the temple and gazed back over the glimmering of lights of Kyoto, inhabitants amassed in the street, only then was I struck by the scale and importance of Japan’s new year tradition. Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, is both a public and personal affair that can be enjoyed with friends or alone, but it is above all an opportunity to offer appreciation for the year and hopes for the coming year. The huge gathering tied together through thankfulness and aspiration makes hatsumode at Yasaka Shrine a wonderfully unifying moment.
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Once inside the shrine, people converge on the flagstone and gravel to offer their prayers at the offering hall. Once their private ritual is complete, they grab a quick snack from the many yatai selling delicious street food. The steady flow of people into the shrine combined with this homogenous energy and activity really helps you feel one with the tradition. A harmonising experience on New Year’s Eve will definitely start your year off right, so why not also join in the fun of the hatsumode tradition in Kyoto?
These have been a collection of my favourite moments travelling around Japan and why, from a cultural perspective, they are certainly worth your time. But whatever you end up doing over the winter vacation, make sure you have a cultural experience that you will remember.
Thomas is a third-year JET from the U.K. who is currently working as an ALT at two senior high schools in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. As a humanities graduate, he has a keen interest in history and culture, and loves travelling around and exploring Japan’s abundance of historical sites. Alongside these adventures, he also enjoys studying Japanese, playing video games, and has even picked up kendo, too! Back to Contents
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SPORTS &
ENTERTAINM SPORTS EDITOR connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com
ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR connect.ajet.entertainment@gmail.com
Dianne Yett Hit me with that Muppets Christmas Carol. Every time.
Jessica Adler During the winter season I try to set aside time for the classic movie The Santa Claus, it’s a family favorite!
SPORTS DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner3@gmail.com Aaron Klein Patrick Stewart’s performance in the 1999 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, alongside his audio recording of the same work, are a family staple for the winter season.
ENTERTAINMENT DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner2@gmail.com Quinlan
ENTERTAINMENT COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy3@gmail.com Kaitlin Stanton Animal Crossing New Horizons has become part of the holiday season for me since it can be played in real time, thus the season changes to winter. With seasonal events, items and dialogue, it’s a joyous game to play when settling into the delights of December.
Photo by Marek Okon | Unsplash.com
MENT
CONNECT ENTERTAINEMNT
Scene Report
Digging your wayway into into your you Diggingdeep deepand andfinding finding your local music community localunderground underground music community Ryon Morrin (Hokkaido)
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ur
F
rom the very first time I stepped foot into a musty, dimly lit venue, I knew such
places would become my second home. For 15 years and counting, I’ve seen countless bands and artists in a variety of settings. Arenas, festivals, coffee shops, living rooms, amphitheaters, and my personal favorite: basements. Punk, metal, and all subgenres in between belong in a basement. The toilets are barely functioning, stickers and fliers serve as the wallpaper, and nobody there “accidentally” stumbled upon it. It’s dark, loud as shit, and encased in concrete. It is an incubator for alternative music that doesn’t simply aim to appeal to listeners. These artists write and play what they want to, first and foremost. When I first arrived in Hokkaido in August 2019, I was thrilled to discover local music through live shows. However, my plans were immediately halted; I wouldn’t see the inside of a concert venue for years. Slowly, unrestricted live music returned to Japan, and nearly four years later, the scene is back to its pre-pandemic self. | 51
While live music had returned,
make the trip from the countryside.
finding venues was a more difficult
The first thing I noticed is how
task than I had anticipated.
welcoming people are. Hardcore and
Searching Google was mostly
punk scenes often operate like
unfruitful. Arenas, stadiums, and
cliques of elitist gatekeepers.
large-capacity halls quickly popped
Ironically, they simultaneously
up, but the smaller independent
complain about poor attendance
venues I was looking for did not. I
without the self-awareness of how
was disheartened and in disbelief; a
unfriendly and intimidating it is for
city the size of Sapporo has to have
someone new in the atmosphere
an underground music scene.
they’ve created. It’s fair to say this is a
I pressed on, finding a local band’s
way to keep out anybody who isn’t
Instagram account by chance. That
serious about the music, but it’s also
one account led me to discover a
guaranteed to stunt the growth of any
healthy number of active indie and
scene.
punk venues in Sapporo City. From then on, I’ve become a regular at
In Sapporo, people look happy to see
shows, attending whenever I can
a new face at a show. They’re appreciative that you came to watch
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their set, regardless of whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time. I love the sense of community. No bullshit, everybody is just there to have fun and support each other’s bands. The most recent show I attended was at my favorite venue: Pigsty in Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo. And yes, it is in a basement, as it should be. Pigsty looks and feels old and worn down in a comforting and nostalgic way. The lineup was stacked with bands and
“Members frequently jump off the stage with a mic stand in hand” went from 6:30 p.m. until almost 12:00 a.m. In order to fit so many bands into one night, they utilized both the stage and the floor. This way, they could seamlessly go from set to set without waiting for bands to break down and set up. It was a jam-packed mixed bill with a variety of genres. Two of my favorites out of the Sapporo hardcore
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scene, Is Survived By and Viewmore, lit up the main stage with their intense performances. For your consideration: Is Survived By is a two-piece unit out of Sapporo, Hokkaido. While difficult to pin down to one specific genre, the band’s sound blends elements of hardcore, the signature blast beats of grindcore, and the slow, dragging riffs of doom metal. Is Survived By’s songs are spurts of dissonant, unpredictable chaos that spiral out into a devastating, necksnapping breakdown. Despite the lack of a guitar player, they sound massive with their filthily distorted bass and punishingly beaten drums. Is Survived By’s stage presence is violently aggressive and pumping with energy; it’s impossible to ignore, and the band made an instant fan of me the first time I saw their set. Viewmore is a hardcore punk band from Sapporo, Hokkaido, and they are committed to being the funnest band in the whole damn city. Viewmore is
fast, too, and they keep it that way from start to finish. Guitars, bass, 54 |
“Their shows break down the separation between the floor and the stage”
You can stream albums from both Viewmore and Is Survived By on Spotify now. Follow them on Instagram:
@Issurvivedby_hc @viewmorecomm Ryon Morrin is a fourth-year ALT living in Shintotsukawa, Hokkaido. He’s a guitarist, a mountain climber, and a vocaloid fan. He enjoys going to shows and music festivals, learning Japanese through TV and books, and writing creative drums, and vocals are all racing at
nonfiction.
high-speed through each song; it’s a strong cup of joe in audio form. Twosteps are plentiful, and they work hard to get everybody in the building moving. Members frequently jump off the stage with a mic stand in hand, throw it in the middle of the pit, and recruit backing vocals on chant-heavy tracks such as “I don’t mind!” Viewmore never takes things too seriously, keeping the atmosphere positive with jokey banter and lots of smiles. Their shows break down the separation between the floor and the stage, turning it into one big banger of a party with friends. Back to Contents
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FASHION & WELLNESS FASHION EDITOR connect.ajet.fashion@gmail.com
WELLNESS EDITOR connect.ajet.health@gmail.com
Holly Walder I watch Jim Carrey’s Christmas Carol every year! And I love the Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin, for many reasons, one being the wintery setting.
Nomfundo Amanda Zondi I don’t really have a favourite winter movie but in general I love binge watching christmas romantic comedies during this time of year. Nothing like a cheesy feel good movie with a predictable ending to beat the winter blues.
FASHION DESIGNER connect.ajet.headdesigner@gmail.com Kristen Camille Ton I grew up watching It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas, so that movie is quintessentially Christmas for me.
FASHION COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy4@gmail.com Tori Bender A Lord of the Rings marathon has been a staple of my holiday seasons since childhood.
Photo by Jinomono Media | Unsplash.com
WELLNESS DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner1@gmail.com Li Chu Chong
WELLNESS COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy2@gmail.com Sofia de Martin Does The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe count?
CONNECT FASHION
Holly Walder (Gunma) Opened in 1995 by Sebastian Masuda, 6%DOKIDOKI stands at the forefront of kawaii fashion. The brand is characterised by its use of bright colours, intense patterns, and a number of original and existing characters, such as Care Bears. The designer himself, Sebastian Masuda, has been dubbed the “King of Kawaii.” He was the art director for pop artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s famous music videos such as PONPONPON, designed the Kawaii Monster Cafe (that sadly closed its doors during the pandemic), and has been producing art for exhibitions as well. I had the unique opportunity to speak to shop manager YUI-sama and shop girls Pi-chan and Niko about the brand’s concept and what’s next for the store.
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First of all, why is the brand called 6%DOKIDOKI? Doki doki is Japanese onomatopoeia, for the sound your heart makes when you are excited or nervous. So that’s what the “doki doki” part means. 6% means just a little bit. The idea is that when you are wearing something from 6%DOKIDOKI, your heart flutters a little. What is the brand concept for 6%DOKIDOKI? We want to promote kawaii culture. When selling a product, we want our customers to buy them and feel the most cute that they ever have. We want everyone’s future to be more colourful. Who can wear 6%DOKIDOKI clothes? We are happy to see people [like you] dressed to the nines in kawaii clothing. Kawaii-loving girls are our biggest customer base, but anyone who is interested in the artistic aspect of our brand, even elderly folk [can wear them]. We also like people like me—who are maybe a bit shy about wearing such full-on outfits, but still love kawaii—to wear a brooch, or maybe carry a few colourful things in their bags, and enjoy kawaii in that way. We want to make every day a bit cuter for everyone. We want everyone to feel happy when they look at kawaii things, and everyone is welcome. I know this must be a difficult question, but do you have a favourite product? I have been working here for over 20 years—this job is such a big part of my life, it’s impossible to choose, but I’m wearing our new ribbon clip as a brooch right now.
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Sebastian is currently living in New York— between New York and Japan. He’s had a lot of work in the US, like his new Sushi restaurant “Sushidelic.” It’s based on the same concept that “Kawaii Monster Cafe” was—it’s super cute. Just like the Kawaii Monster Cafe, the door staff are dressed very cute. I visited in July. It was very fun, and the sushi was delicious. If you’re ever in New York, you should definitely visit. Sebastian feels that a restaurant like this makes kawaii experiences more accessible to ordinary people than a clothing store like this one, and also helps to spread Japanese food culture. He also designed the look for the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory musical. It was in Tokyo in October, and it will be in Fukuoka and Osaka in January. How does the brand tackle the dichotomy between uniqueness and commercial appeal? It’s a difficult balance to strike. Since being unique and commercially appealing are not the same thing, we are always thinking of different ways to navigate it, so we do lots of different projects, like the 2011 debut music video for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. For lots of people who saw that music video, it was their first exposure to this aspect of Japanese culture, and we love anything that spreads kawaii like that, so that when people think of Japan, they say anime, ramen, sushi—but they also think of that Kyary Pamyu Pamyu video and say kawaii as well.
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The brand has collaborated with foreign artists, and Sebastian Masuda is doing a lot of work in America at the moment. Is there any foreign inf uence on the brand? We have been interacting with people overseas since 2009. Through MySpace, then Facebook and messages, we saw many people asking us to visit their countries, so we went and did fashion shows, pop-up shows. At the time, we didn’t do a lot of conventions, but we do now. We’re still doing a lot of activities abroad, so it’s possible that it has influenced us in some way. I think it would be a good thing, if it has. We also have people from overseas working for us, and I think they are a good influence on the brand. The brand is called kawaii fashion—but what does kawaii mean to you?
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Kawaii has a different meaning to different people, but Sebastian often says that kawaii is a kind of universe. A microcosm. Sometimes we see something that we love and say “kawaii,” but what we think is “kawaii” might not be “kawaii” to the next person. For example, these colourful, pink brands like 6%DOKIDOKI are kawaii, but people also say that kids are “kawaii,” or even aeroplanes, trucks, and cars, this is the kind of philosophy that Sebastian has. In English, you say cute, but I think kawaii has more meanings than that. It has more of a fashion around it. For example, kawaii only has a positive meaning, while cute can be used negatively. During lockdown, Sebastian Masuda ran the “Digital Tribe” project—contacting various fans of kawaii fashion, the kawaii tribe, to discuss their connection with kawaii. I, myself, was part of this project, but how do you see the kawaii community?
Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash
I think it’s important to create a space where kawaii lovers feel like they belong; a place of acceptance. It would be great for people to share experiences there as well. I think that’s what the kawaii community is. It’s a festival to accept what others like, for people to gather and create. Whether in a physical place like this or online, I hope that the brand 6%DOKIDOKI will be an opportunity for all kinds of people in the kawaii community to interact. Many shops in Harajuku suffered as a result of the pandemic. What was that like for you? Yes, 2020 was a particularly difficult year. There was nobody in Harajuku at all, and we had to close the shop, but we still had rent to pay, so we turned to crowdfunding. Support came flooding in from everyone with happy memories of 6%DOKIDOKI. We received lots of messages, and I think we have made a very strong impression on people. We could really see the drive of the
kawaii community at that time. There are still not as many overseas tourists coming to Harajuku as there were pre-COVID, but we hope there will be more soon. Sebastian Masuda, and the brand as a whole, advocates for the globalisation of kawaii. Please expand on that. Sebastian Masuda is a cultural envoy for the Agency of Cultural Affairs, and uses that role to spread his kawaii philosophy. So he made the sushi restaurant in New York, and there are even more people gathering in Tokyo. So with Tokyo at the heart of our activities, a lot of people come and participate and learn more about our culture. We’d also like to go to London again—Sebastian went to London in 2017 or 2018 to plant a Time Capsule. We’d like to come again. Next year we’re not just going to America, but Europe as well, and we’re also thinking of going to the Middle East. | 63
Have you noticed any recent changes or trends in the Harajuku fashion scene? I feel like we are looking after the new generation. The decora fashion that was so popular 20 years ago is coming back around, as you can see from the shop girls. It’s experiencing a rebirth. You can see these kinds of things when you’ve been in the same shop for so long. It’s been here for 28 years now—longer than you have! And like before, we want as many people as possible to know about kawaii, and [for it to] bring positive influence on them. What are your upcoming plans? The first is our collaborations with GHOST GiRL GOODS from Canada. She’s setting up a pop-up shop here. The second is that we will be at a convention in Portland, Oregon, for a fashion show, and Sebastian is also running a workshop. The third is that Sebastian will have an art exhibition in Los Angeles for 6 months starting next year, including elements of the Digital Tribe work. There are other things I can’t talk about at the moment, but we are going to have a collaboration with an American artist in the near future. We met in 2013 and we are very excited to finally be working together. YUI-sama has been the store manager for 6%DOKIDOKI since 2001. She has attended many events at home and abroad with Sebastian Masuda, and will travel to the USA again next year. She likes wearing classic outfits with a kawaii twist.
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What is your favourite product? Pi-chan: Charmy! He comes in lots of different colours, with lots of decorations. He can fit in your hand or look nice hanging off your outfit like this. He’s so fluffy, with these funny little cheeks! And this one is a bag. You can fit a lot in it. Niko: The skirt belt. Just having one of these can really elevate your look. What is your favourite new release product? Pi-chan: The unicorn scarf. It’s really popular this season. Niko: I like the new ribbon clips. You can put them in your hair, or on the outfits. I really love them. What is your favourite season? Pi-chan: Winter! I can wear a lot of kawaii things, and my makeup doesn’t slide off. I like big fluffy clothes in winter; I feel like a bear! Niko: Also winter! Since I wear decora, in the summer you can’t really do anything, but in the winter you can wear a colourful coat over colourful bottoms and colourful leggings, and my fringe doesn’t get too hot. Would you call your style “decora?” Pi-chan: I would say that it’s not really decora as much as pastel colours. Niko: Yes, it’s decora. Before I got into decora in university, I knew I liked colourful things, so I started wearing a lot of cute things, and it slowly became a decora look. What I like about decora is that you can start a decora-style coordinate look even if you only own a few pink or blue t-shirts.
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Decora fashion is easy to do, because it is what you make it, and everyone can have fun and look cute in their own way. What does kawaii mean to you? Pi-chan: Kawaii is whatever you like. Since everyone has their own ideas of what they think is kawaii, I don’t think that there is one perfect answer to this question. Niko: It’s an easy word to use when you are with your friends, it can make your friends happy, and you feel happy when you see kawaii things. I think if everyone was more kawaii, they would be happier.
Pi-chan has worked as a shop girl at 6%DOKIDOKI for about 3 months. She likes the colour pink, and looking like an alien. Niko has also worked as a shop girl at 6%DOKIDOKI for about 3 months. She found a love for decora fashion after watching PONPONPON for the first time and exploring Harajuku fashion subculture. Holly Walder is a second-year ALT in Gunma Prefecture, and the Fashion Editor of CONNECT. She is on the hunt for a good pair of casual shoes.
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Photo by Joshua Chun on Unsplash
Finding Fashion in Japan Holly Walder (Gunma)
Key Findings • • •
78.3% say they experience sizing issues in Japan because the clothes are “too small” Half of respondents say it is difficult to find clothing in their preferred style Many respondents highlighted thrift stores such as Hard-Off and 2nd Street as their go-to, with Shimamura shining through a great budget-friendly plus-size option
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When creating this survey, I set out to pool together the knowledge and experience of the international community to help each other find clothes we want to wear. There were 26 respondents. There were 19 women, five men, and two non-binary people, 24 of whom were between 20 and 39 years old. The overwhelming majority of respondents were white—80%, and do not have any religious considerations when shopping for clothes. In addition, though this was not asked in the demographic portion of the survey, I observed in many of the answers that affordability was a priority when shopping for clothes, so most of the following brands mentioned have been chosen with that in mind. Almost 70% of respondents found it was not too difficult to find clothing in their size. While one respondent expressed that it is easier to find affordable clothing in their size and style in Japan compared to the U.S., it was clear that many respondents have experienced sizing issues in Japan. Over 88% of respondents found that clothing runs too small and too short. In particular, respondents found that trousers present a particular issue. They found that Japanese trousers are unsuitable for curvy figures, especially if there is a large difference between the measurement of the waist and hips. There were various suggestions about what to do to solve this problem; primarily
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buying in your home country or ordering online, but tailoring menswear, choosing to wear more dresses, and learning to sew your own clothes were also given as other options. Bras also presented a significant problem for anyone with a large bust size. Moreover, despite the majority of respondents saying that they wear mainly casual or classic clothing—styles that should be very easy to find—respondents found that the clothing they like is not in their size, not affordable, or too difficult to find. The average height of people in Japan is generally a few inches shorter than the average in countries with a majority white population, and the average weight is also significantly lower (1), so these results won’t come as a surprise to many people. Having said that, everyone needs clothes that fit them, and everyone deserves clothes that they like to wear. So below I have listed some suggestions and tips for finding fashion in Japan!
Note about the two bar graphs above: On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 means very easy to find and 5 means very difficult to find
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Where to Find that Fashion! •
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•
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Hard-Off, 2nd Street, and other thrift stores. Foreigners going home often donate their unwanted clothing to second hand stores when they leave, so it is easier to find things in your size there. Plus, it’s sustainable and affordable! Mercari also offers second-hand options online Shimamura is a good budget-friendly option of plus-sized clothing PUNYUS is a more streetwear style option Uniqlo offers a wide range of affordable basics in a wide range of sizes and offers some tailoring online (although the tailoring is still unsuitable for a curvier body type in my experience) Alinoma.jp and Smileland also offer affordable online clothing options Isetan offers mid to high-end clothing, an online ‘tall size’ for women up to 175 cm tall, and plus size shops International brands like H&M Japan, Amazon Japan, Gap, M&S Online, Next, Costco, Big and Tall, and Old Navy tend to have larger sizes. Zara is also good if you size up J. Crew is another international brand with a Japanese store and shipping to Japan, with both tall and plus size options for men and women, and shoes up to 28 cm, but the import fees can be expensive on some shoes Rui Glamorous offers larger bra sizes than most Japanese stores ACDC Rag uses mainly free-size, but the oversized shirts are a decent option if you’d like a more alternative style. 6%DOKIDOKI also offers a few colourful, plus-size options
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Eur3 offers casual and office wear in sizes up to 6L and shoes up to 25 cm at an affordable price Nissen offers the widest range I have seen so far with affordable prices. Nissen offers sizes up to 10L, some special sizes for women taller than 170 cm or shorter than 150 cm, and shoes up from 19 cm to 29 cm. However, the website is only in Japanese LLQueen is also in Japanese and a bit difficult to order from, but they focus specifically on plus-size clothing Sakazen offer plus-size menswear online, and in stores up to size 10L q’s plus is the women’s range offered by Sakazen for women LL to 6L with 90 cm waists and shoes above 25 cm Aoki offers both tall and plus-size suits for men’s formal wear, and a more limited selection for women up to size 3L You can also find a wide range of sizes in Aeon MIDInternational offers menswear up to 8L Isetan’s “Super men’s” department store has mid to high-end clothing for men over 190 cm with waists above 90 cm If you’re in Tokyo, Comme ca Shinjuku offers European sizing for curvier figures, but runs a bit pricey Ito Yokado’s online store offers many plus size fashion options Plus-sized Japanese models are also a great source for information on where to buy clothing. Personally, I like Ai Momoka’s colourful style, but there are quite a few models and Instagram stars you can check out!
Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash
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I will take this moment to acknowledge that there are a number of gaps in this article. This is not an exhaustive nor perfect list. We have yet to touch upon the issue of activewear, and though many of these brands are affordable, there is a paucity in good quality, comfortable, sustainable materials. Furthermore, the sample size for the survey was small and limited in demographic. There is no assumption that this represents the experience of fashion in the international community as a whole. It is most likely that it simply demonstrates who is most active in the places the survey was advertised (mainly through Facebook groups for foreigners in Japan and similarly focused Discord channels), and perhaps who is most frustrated about the struggles of finding clothes in Japan. However, I hope that this article might be of some assistance, and spur readers to come forward with more ideas, suggestions, and struggles that they have faced in Japan and keep this conversation going. Sources • World Data Holly Walder is a second-year ALT in Gunma Prefecture, and the Fashion Editor of CONNECT. She is on the hunt for a good pair of casual shoes.
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Photo LE by Manh LE on Unsplash Photo by Manh on Unsplash | 75
CONNECT WELLNESS
(BA., MS. PSYCH) DIYA JOHN (TOKYO) INTERVIEWED BY NOMFUNDO ZONDI (HOKKAIDO)
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his month we sat with Diya John, a therapist based in Japan and we spoke a little about mental health and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Diya runs her own mental health practice, called Therapy Garden, which she started to make evidence-based counselling more accessible to expats, nomads, and the international community. Her approach to mental health is using here-andnow methods which are based on
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her training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) from the Beck Institute, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy with a commitment to clientcentred counselling. She mainly deals with clients on issues like anxiety, depression, stress management, low motivation, loss of meaning, coping with life changes, expat transitions, cultural integration, loneliness, grief and loss, as well as relationship difficulties. Our conversation with Diya was informative and insightful, and we hope it will be of assistance to you as the reader.
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Hi Diya, thank you so much for your time. Let’s get right into it, shall we? Could you tell our readers a little about yourself? Hi Nomfundo, I’m Diya and I’m from India. I moved to Japan in 2019, so I have been here for four years as an expat. I moved here with my job as a researcher in the corporate world, which I had been doing for ten years. I recently started my own business in mental health. How did you become interested in becoming a psychologist and in mental health? I have always been interested in human psychology. I did both my undergraduate degree, as well as my Master’s, in psychology. Initially, my career was more on the research side of it, so I worked as a researcher in the corporate world. I was quite interested in understanding behaviour and I got to work with understanding different cultures. I really liked working with international projects so I actively sought them out, which resulted in my work taking me around Asia Pacific like the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, and then to Japan. That is where I started my career. What led you to practising specifically in Japan? During the pandemic in Japan, I really reflected on what I wanted to do with my life and career. I felt like it was time for
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me to make a switch. Personally, living alone in Japan during the pandemic was a very challenging time, which led to me beginning my own journey with therapy during that time. That is where I realised there were not many mental health options for English speakers in Japan that were super accessible. So I decided to start my initiative, Therapy Garden, with the goal of making therapy more accessible for expats. What led you to design your services to be directed at expats? I started off catering to English speakers in Japan, but then I realised, while building my Instagram page, that I started getting inquiries from people not just in Japan but also expats living in other countries. Then I realised that within the expat population itself there were people really struggling with a lot of different mental health issues. So I felt like there was a real need for a service like this. Going into the winter months it is common that our moods take a dip. This is commonly known as seasonal affective disorder or SAD. What is SAD and could you tell us more about it? Interestingly, this phenomenon was first described by an expat. His name is Norman E. Rosenthal and he is an author, psychiatrist, and scientist who was born and raised in South Africa. He spent most of his life in South Africa, but then he moved to the United States to complete his medical training.
With SAD in the winter months, people often want to excessively eat, especially foods high in carbohydrates, and they tend to sleep a lot. And if you think about it from an evolutionary aspect, it is almost like going into hibernation. | 79
And he noticed he was a lot less productive in the winter months than he was in the summer months. Since he was a psychiatrist himself, he decided to study this, which resulted in him coming up with the description of SAD. This was around the ‘80s but, of course, it existed long before that. Currently, in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM5), which is kind of like the bible of mental health conditions, SAD is described as a major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern. It is a subset of major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern, and it’s specifically described as if one shows major depressive disorder which is linked to a particular time of year for two years or more. Usually, it is the winter months. People can have variations of this even if not clinically diagnosed. Many people experience low moods during the winter. In your professional opinion, what makes us more susceptible to SAD? First, let’s describe some of the signs of SAD in the winter months. They include: loss of energy, loss of interest in daily activities, as well as a general feeling of hopelessness as characterised in depression. With SAD in the winter months, people often want to excessively eat, especially foods high in carbohydrates, and they tend to sleep a lot. And if you think about it from an evolutionary aspect, it is almost like going into hibernation. You are going 80 |
into a shell and wanting to stock up by excessively eating and sleeping. So those are the signs. In terms of susceptibility, genetics is a big factor which we cannot control. There hasn’t been any conclusive findings on what causes SAD. But a general contributor is reduced sunlight. That is the main factor. So, if you are stuck in the house for long
periods of time, especially in a lot of traditional Japanese housing, there is not much sunlight. Or if you work from home, or don’t spend much time outside. That can definitely increase susceptibility. The statistics show that the onset is higher among younger people, especially in people in their 20s, and is more diagnosed in women than in men. However, this may be because women are seeking out help more than men because it has been found that when men are diagnosed with SAD, they often have more severe symptoms. What are some ways we can deal with SAD? Along with his findings, Norman E. Rosenthal also came up with light therapy. So you can get a light box which is supposed to mimic natural light. This is especially for people who spend a lot of time indoors and you need to make sure you are getting light. So light therapy involves getting exposure to that light for a set amount of time, especially in the morning. Many people purchase these on Amazon. The other way is making sure you are getting enough sunlight. Changing simple things like changing your times for grocery shopping to the morning instead of the evening, so you can get that sunlight. And trying to do it as regularly as possible.
What would you say to expats who may feel like mental health-wise they are struggling but are hesitant to seek mental health services? One thing specifically for expats is that people have different ideas of what it is to be an expat, and especially people back home like our families. People often have this rose-tinted idea of what it is to be an expat. More so in a country that seems exciting for tourists, like Japan. One thing I would say is that there are definitely struggles that come with being an expat and it is OK to accept that there are struggles. And also, there is no harm in trying something new and seeing how it works for you. You don’t have to commit to anything major or long term. You can give it a try and see if therapy works for you. Alright, that is all. Thank you so much, Diya! This has been really insightful and I hope that people who have similar struggles will feel less alone this winter with the knowledge you’ve shared with us. Thank you!
yourself and those around you, we are all in this together. Should you be interested in seeking mental health services from Diya, the links to her website and Instagram page, which have helpful mental health tips, are listed below. She also offers virtual consultations so no matter where you are in Japan you can book with her. Get in touch with Diya via: 1. Instagram 2. Therapy Garden Website Nomfundo is a second-year ALT from South Africa based in Hokkaido. She studied Dietetics and Human Nutrition in university. Her approach to health and wellness is multifaceted as she believes it comprises more than the food we eat. She enjoys writing poetry, going to art galleries, going to live concerts, and being in nature. In her spare time she produces a podcast “The Sun in Japan” to help uplift others through storytelling. Connecting with people is her passion and learning more about the world and what brings us together as a human race. Illustrations in this article by Canva.
Whether you’re in the snowiest parts of Japan or not this winter, SAD can impact us as the days are shorter. Take care of
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Every Move Counts Nomfundo Zondi (Hokkaido)
inter is here and so is the end of the year. By this time of year, we are all using the very last bit of strength we have to get up and go to work. The days are shorter, which tends to make us feel more sluggish than normal. You might find yourself in the habit of rolling into bed as soon as you get home and struggling to get out in the mornings. And, exercise? Well, we’ll see her in the new year quite frankly, is what most of us tell ourselves. Whilst humans can survive with little to no vigorous activity, moving one’s body is essential for our survival as human beings. One could say it is as essential as food, water, shelter, and rest. (1)
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any of us know the benefits of exercise, which include improved heart health and physical strength. (1) Yet many of us do not know the benefits of just moving your body on a day to day basis, outside of vigorous exercise. Having been associated with many benefits, it has been shown that movement is beneficial for both physical and mental health. (1) Incorporating more movement throughout the day has shown to positively impact blood circulation, digestion, metabolism, weight, and skin health. (1) Often during the winter months, many want to keep up with moving their body regularly but with the cold weather and fatigue, it is easier to put it off until the spring. Or, you may want to tone down to doing more meditative movements such as yoga, pilates, taichi, and the like. Meditative movements include our mind-body connection along with deep breathing and thoughtfulness. (2) This form of movement has also been found to have a range of benefits which encompass physical and mental wellness. (2) Such movements are also easy to do indoors, if you are trying to escape the winter chill, and are at a much slower pace than conventional exercise.
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So, what are some practical ways that we can incorporate more movement into our day-to-day to get us through the winter? Here are some tips to get you started.
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Let go of the summer—as hard as it is to accept the winter if you prefer the warmer months, realise that it is OK to welcome the winter. A lot of times, the battle is in the mind, so if we tell ourselves that we can’t possibly keep up with incorporating more movement in our lives, then that is what we will see happening. So, as hard as it may be, try to keep a positive mindset and do your best.
Go outside—it may be cold but nothing will warm you up like a brisk walk. Also, this is a great way to get sunlight during the winter months. Maybe after having your lunch, give yourself some time to walk outside while the sun is still up.
Give virtual workouts a try—in this day and age, we have an endless amount of online content to consume that can give us ideas or routines to help us with our movement.
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Figure out what works for you—we all have different capabilities and motivations when it comes to moving our bodies. So, figure out why you want to incorporate more movement in your life. Maybe it’s to improve your sleep or mood, or just for the fun of it. Once you know what motivates you to move, it makes it easier to get something done.
Make it fun—moving your body does not have to be a chore. In fact, it can be a fun part of your day. Some people enjoy having a solo dance party in their apartment, and that really gets the heart pumping. Doing movement you enjoy makes it less of a chore to do.
Baby steps—take it one day at a time. Realise that some days you will be feeling more motivated than other days, that is normal and it is OK!
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Don’t let the winter stop you from moving that body, be it a dance party in your apartment, or if you choose to brave it outside. Do what you can, when you can, and I assure you, your future-self will thank you.
Source List: 1. Frontiers 2. Pubmed Central
Nomfundo is a second-year ALT from South Africa based in Hokkaido. She studied Dietetics and Human Nutrition in university. Her approach to health and wellness is multifaceted as she believes it comprises more than the food we eat. She enjoys writing poetry, going to art galleries, going to live concerts, and being in nature. In her spare time she produces her podcast “The Sun in Japan” to help uplift others through storytelling. Connecting with people is her passion and learning more about the world and what brings us together as a human race. Illustrations in this article by Drawkit.
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CAREERS & LANGUAGE LANGUAGE EDITOR connect.ajet.language@gmail.com
CAREERS EDITOR & DESIGNER kimberly@usjetaa.org
Kalista Pattison Winter means bundling up with my switch and playing Hollow Knight for an ungodly amount of time. It’s always a lie when I say “I’ll fight this boss one more time, then I’ll get off for the night.”
Kimberly Matsuno
LANGUAGE DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner1@gmail. com Li Chu Chong
LANGUAGE COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy2@gmail.com Sofia de Martin Does The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe count?
Photo by Gero Camp | Unsplash.com
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CONNECT CAREERS
SENPAI SPOTLIGHT
Sonia Narang (Gifu 2003-2004) Sonia Narang (Gifu 2003-2004) Interview Interview by:by: Kimberly Matsuno (Niigata 2019-2022) Kimberly Matsuno (Niigata 2019-2022)
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As is tradition with every JET Program participant, we must ask the questions: Why JET? Why Japan? My story goes all the way back to the fourth grade. In elementary school, I heard about a program that sent students on a field trip to Japan. Even though I didn't go, I became fascinated with Japanese culture and history. Despite my interest in Japan, I didn’t hear about the JET Program until after I graduated from college. My dad found a JET Program brochure and showed it to me thinking it might be something I would be interested in. I ended up applying for the program soon thereafter, and ultimately got accepted and placed in the small town of Hida-Furukawa in Gifu prefecture. An interesting fact about my JET Program application is that I was visiting India for a cousin’s wedding during the application period, and had to express-mail my application all the way from India. Luckily, it arrived right on time!
What is your average workday like? In my line of work, no days are the same. It’s actually one of the things that initially attracted me to the field of journalism. Generally speaking, I would say that travel accounts for about 50-60% of my job. Another big chunk of my time is spent transcribing interviews and putting the whole story together. After traveling to a destination and interviewing people, I write around the interviews and add in my own narration.
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Then I do what we call in radio a “read through.” Most radio stories are about five to eight minutes (which is the sweet spot for American public radio).
And while a structured program worked for me, I truly believe that work experience is the best teacher.
So I have to ensure my story fits within that time frame. Then I upload the audio, including interview soundbites and ambient audio I recorded in the field. Most of the time the radio program edits and mixes the audio, but sometimes I edit it myself into a radio story.
I truly believe that work experience is the best teacher.
Another thing I fit into my schedule is time to apply for travel funds and journalism grants. Besides that, I’ve really been making it a priority to spend time training and mentoring young journalists. I want to ensure that we have diverse voices in radio discussing a variety of topics. So, I want to do whatever I can to support aspiring journalists.
It’s safe to say that your job is a dream job for many JETs who started writing while in Japan. But it’s not easy to transition from blogging about what was served for kyushoku on a WordPress blog to getting someone to pay you to write about. . . well, anything. . . . Do you think that a degree in journalism is necessary in order to get your foot in the door? In my case, I felt like a structured program was the best for me to learn the necessary skills and jumpstart my career in multimedia journalism. But these days, you can get a lot of that information from videos and tutorials online—often for free—from websites such as Transom and the Association of Independents in Radio.
But there are so many ways to get started in journalism—particularly in radio. Many radio stations offer internships (especially smaller ones like local NPR stations). These internships are such a great way to learn important skills that can really set you apart—like how to package a story, edit audio, and even narrate your story. I truly believe that local radio is great because they really seem to care about and take care of their people. So I definitely want to give a shout-out to KALW in San Francisco. KALW Public Radio airs on NPR and BBC, and has a unique nine-month radio journalism training program for adults called the KALW Audio Academy. The Audio Academy is completely free and teaches you how to make a radio story from scratch. Participants are given a mentor and learn everything from pitching stories to story structure and editing in ProTools, and by the end, they have a whole portfolio of radio stories they produced from start to finish. During the pandemic, I had the opportunity to mentor and guide the Audio Academy fellows as they created radio stories for an award-winning podcast we produced together.
Image by SplitShire from pixabay
What tools and resources do you find yourself using as a journalist and would recommend aspiring journalists to familiarize themselves with? It is essential to learn how to craft a pitch to convince editors to publish a story.
You can write an amazing story, but if you can’t get anyone to publish it, then no one will see it (besides maybe your parents)! When it comes to radio pitches, Transom has entire lessons on how to write a pitch, as well as a great podcast for beginners. I also find myself using Adobe Premiere a lot, and most people use Pro Tools for sound editing. So, it would be good to familiarize yourself with those. When it comes to networking and mentorship, The Association for Independents in Radio is a great organization to join, as it offers not only resources and classes but also one-on-one mentorship. There are a lot of other listservs and Google Groups out there such as “LADIO”—a group for women in radio, “Gaydio”—a group for LGBTQ radio producers and audio creatives, and “Podcaster@s” —for Spanish-speaking podcasters. Additionally, there are several great regional-radio groups for support within their community. (Please note that some groups require private invites to join.)
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How did your experience in Japan on the JET Program contribute to your success as a journalist? In Japan, you have to learn everything from scratch. And that’s very similar to what a journalist does when reporting. When I first came to Japan, the only Japanese word I knew was “kanpai.”
I had to learn how to communicate with people and I had to learn how to do it fast. As a journalist, I find myself in that position often. Today, I feel confident that you can drop me anywhere in the world, and I will be able to get a conversation going because I know how to talk to people and how to make them laugh. This is key to being a good journalist.
Conveying information isn’t effective if you can’t get people to relate to you. I can say without a doubt, that the reason for that is because of the JET Program. Before moving to Japan, I was very shy and was not confident being part of a conversation—let alone starting one. My time in Japan turned me into someone who could effectively communicate with people of all backgrounds and cultures without feeling shy. My time on the JET Program also made me more interested in Japan and Asia-related topics—which I’ve since focused on as an international journalist.
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How has being a part of the JET alumni community helped you? When I first returned to the U.S. after my experience as a JET, I was very plugged into the JET alumni community. I would often attend events and luncheons sponsored by my local JETAA chapter in Colorado. I made a lot of efforts to join Japan-related groups upon returning to Colorado, since it was difficult for me to leave Japan. Initially, I felt out of place. I remember thinking back then that I made the wrong decision. However, the JETAA community really comforted me and helped me overcome those initial feelings. Through the new friends I made, I realized I was not alone in feeling like that either. Also, I was able to meet Japanese people and mingle with people who understood my experiences. Do you have any words of advice for JETs past or present who wish to become journalists someday? Find some niche topics that you are interested in, and listen and read to what others are publishing in those fields. For me, that included stories about women’s rights, health, climate change, and music. Don’t be afraid to get started. And don’t feel like you aren’t good enough yet. Join a group such as Association of Independents in Radio or Society of Environmental Journalists or one of many affinity groups such as the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) or National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) for support or mentorship from experienced journalists. Start small. Contribute to podcasts, community newspapers, local radio stations, or even your own social media platforms. And pay attention to what gets the most engagement. Always remember that media is a two-way street. Find out what your contacts want to know and engage with your audience.
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Kimberly Matsuno is a JET alum (Niigata 20192022) currently serving as USJETAA‘s Programs & Communications Coordinator. She was an ALT in Niigata from 2019-2022, during which time she contributed to CONNECT Magazine as both a writer and a section editor. She is excited to continue contributing to CONNECT and to assist in fostering relations between current JETs and the JET alumni community.
Sonia Narang is a JET alum (Gifu 2003-2004) and multimedia journalist who covers climate change and the environment, women’s rights, global health, and music and culture. Sonia’s journalism work has taken her across Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and North America—from Indigenous fashion in Canada to women farmers affected by cyclones in Fiji to the lives of rural women after the Nepal earthquake. Sonia has produced and reported stories for Public Radio International’s The World, the BBC, The New York Times, NPR News, PBS NewsHour, FRONTLINE/World, Time.com, and NBC News. Sonia has a Master’s degree in journalism from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She posts her photography from around the world @sonianarang on Instagram. To see Sonia’s stories for The World, click here.
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LinkedIn Level-up Recruiter statistics show that anywhere from 70 to 87% of employers use LinkedIn in vetting job candidates. With your LinkedIn profile virtually acting as a second resume, it is an excellent platform for leveraging your knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to growth—essentially a billboard for your career. And just like any billboard, it needs to be eyecatching, informative, and feel like you. This is easier said than done. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to improve your profile and increase your chance of landing that dream job.
Cerell Rivera (Hokkaido, 1998 - 2001)
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Photograph & Background Selecting the right picture and background image for your profile is crucial. While professional headshots are nice, they’re not a necessity. You can use portrait settings on your smartphone for impressive selfies. Focus on a friendly and approachable smile, a simple background, and attire that suits your desired profession. No need to overspend on professional photos or designer backgrounds; it’s about you, not the bells and whistles.
About
About Crafting the “About” section can be challenging, particularly when it comes to showcasing your accomplishments with humility. It’s like delivering an elevator pitch in written form, and you have limited time to capture someone’s attention and convey who you are, what drives you, and what you’ve achieved.
Experiences
To make it easier, consider using a structured approach. Start with one-to-two sentences introducing yourself, followed by three-to-five sentences highlighting your experiences, top skills, and key passions. Share what motivates you and sets you apart. Then, conclude with one-to-two sentences about your future goals and how other members can connect with you. Keep in mind that the “About” section is also an opportunity to incorporate relevant keywords to make your profile more discoverable, aligning your personal brand with your professional identity.
Education
Headline
Kariare C. Kerr
Your future colleague Tokyo, Japan
Headlines on LinkedIn are crucial for getting noticed, as they are often among the first things people see during a search. Your headline should be designed to grab attention, communicating your industry, what you do, and a unique skill or quality that sets you apart. It’s a chance to shine and make a lasting impression. Let’s consider a scenario: picture a potential employer scrolling through countless profiles, searching for that perfect candidate. Does your headline capture what matters most to them? Is it engaging and distinctive enough to make them click on your name instead of someone else’s? These few words you choose hold the power to set you apart and create a lasting impression. When I crafted my own headline, “Chief Dot Connector | Equitycentered Changemaker | Strategic Thought Partner at LinkedIn,” I aimed to convey that I specialize in connecting dots, fostering positive change equitably, and offering strategic insight. Your headline should resonate with your target audience and align with your personal brand.
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Final Thoughts The beauty of a LinkedIn profile is its dynamic nature, allowing you to iterate and evolve your profile over time. There’s no right or wrong way to present yourself, and you can experiment with wording, making it an ongoing process to reflect your evolving skills and objectives. If crafting a personal brand on LinkedIn feels daunting, don’t worry. You can draw insights from those who know you best, such as former colleagues, managers, family, and friends. Engaging in conversations with them can provide valuable perspectives on the traits, skills, and values that make you uniquely “you.” Their perceptions of you might even surprise and inspire you, boosting your confidence and uncovering strengths and qualities that you might not have recognized within yourself.
About the Author Cerell Rivera has had a remarkable career spanning diverse sectors, from Fortune 100 companies to nimble startups and impactful nonprofits. She has consistently leveraged innovative thinking to develop successful business models and lead global teams to achieve exceptional results. Currently serving as the Chief of Staff for Growth, Performance, and Operations (GPO) at LinkedIn, Cerell serves as a trusted advisor and is responsible for driving strategic objectives, establishing operational rhythms, and leading the Business Partnership & Operations team. During her time as a JET in Hokkaido, she crafted bicultural curricula and facilitated international exchanges, leaving a positive impact on language learners in various settings. Her dedication continued post-return as she actively engaged with JETAA of Northern California and the Consulate General of Japan, where she assumed roles of JET Interviewer, JETAANC President, and JETAANC Board Member.
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The Career Section was created through a partnership between CONNECT and USJETAA. The United States Japan Exchange & Teaching Program Alumni Association (USJETAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that furthers US-Japan understanding through the network of 35,000+ alumni of the JET Program and the 19 JET alumni associations across the United States. USJETAA promotes cross-cultural understanding at the grassroots level through support and resources for JET participants, alumni, and alumni associations throughout the United States. Thereby strengthening the capacity of the JET alumni network, enabling alumni to contribute to the greater US-Japan relationship, and fostering education and understanding of Japanese culture in the United States.
JETAA Chapter Nations
USJETAA encourages all JET Program participants to join their local JETAA chapters across the U.S. or around the world for access to resources and support.
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@usjetaa
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CONNECT LANGUAGE Kalista Pattison (Oita)
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t’s up to the majority of ALTs to facilitate their own Japanese language learning, which can seem rather daunting for folks who have never self-studied before. That’s why JET Program ALTs are offered an optional online language course called VLJ (Visual Learning Japanese). In addition to a very lengthy placement test, it offers beginner (N5), intermediate (N4), and advanced (N3) levels.
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It does the work for you, from choosing a textbook to providing mobile apps for on-the-go practice. While this may sound great on paper, what happens if the textbook isn’t right for you, the program is too outdated, or the apps aren’t easy to use? There isn’t much information on the web about this program, so I’m here to give you the in-depth scoop so you can start your VLJ journey (or not) a little more informed.
THE EZOE METHOD A key feature of this program is the Ezoe Method. This is a Japanese language learning method developed by the Shinjuku Japanese Institute (SNG) that uses cards and gestures to help students learn grammar. Cards used in the Ezoe Method represent different parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, and particles. Students can then rearrange these cards to form natural sounding sentences.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The Learning Management System (LMS) is the website through which most of the content is accessed. This system was originally developed by SNG to be used as supplemental material for the in-person beginner-level students. | 107
GRAMMAR AND WORD APPS In addition to the LMS content, you can follow along with a pair of mobile apps. The grammar app tests you with the Ezoe Method cards and provides comprehension check questions as you go through the textbook. The words app is essentially a dictionary and an incredibly picky handwriting test.
THE INNER WORKINGS OF A UNIT One course consists of six units and each unit takes one month to complete. Here, I will dive into the components of a unit, keeping in mind that each level differs slightly in how much information is presented and in what format. The textbook is available to you in PDF format on the LMS website. Depending on your level, chapters may include conversation scripts, open-ended questions, vocabulary lists, grammar explanations and examples, and reading comprehension lessons. The textbook includes directions for how to use the grammar and words apps in tandem with the lessons. Grammar introduction videos are accessible through the beginner and intermediate courses. They can be anywhere from one to six minutes long and use the Ezoe Method to rehash the textbook grammar. Conversation scene videos follow a conversation script found at the beginning of most lessons. These scripts are based on real life examples of the grammar you will be learning in that lesson. The videos have both Japanese 108 |
and English subtitles, as well as time at the end to answer the textbook’s openended questions. Reading comprehension videos are just a wall of text and audio of someone reading it. At the end of the video you can also answer the open-ended questions from the textbook. Listening comprehension videos present you with a few sentences, one-by-one you will listen to them being said; then you must write them down, paying attention to writing the correct kanji. Quizzes and tests are found after every lesson, chapter, and unit. They are multiple choice questions and you have as many attempts as you need to get a passing score.
CONS OF VLJ There are better ways to learn grammar. Watching the grammar videos might be helpful if you’re committed to the Ezoe Method. That being said, in case that teaching style doesn’t work for you, skipping the videos and just reading the textbook is a road many people have taken, putting VLJ on the same level as any other Japanese textbook. This becomes even more apparent once you reach the advanced level and these grammar videos disappear. The grammar videos are also outdated and don’t come close to any of the free videos you can easily find elsewhere online. Starting with the advanced level is not recommended. You may be ready to begin N3 content, but starting the program from the advanced level will hinder you. At that point you will have missed out on a year’s worth of time spent learning grammar with the Ezoe Method. This will turn the Ezoe Method based chapter summaries into superfluous information and the grammar app will be confusing to use.
This program is not ideal for developing conversational skills. VLJ leans towards being a JLPT prep course rather than the end goal being able to converse with your coworkers, students, neighbors, etc. That being said, it’s understandable how a JLPT prep course would be easier to produce and distribute than a conversational skills class. Feedback is slow in case you have questions. Responses to questions are expected to take about five days or more, leaving the user to look up additional explanations elsewhere or wait out those five days.
Confusing terminology. A complaint I have received from users is about the terminology used to explain the grammar. For example, the program uses the term keiyou meishi instead of the more widely used keiyou doushi. This is a minor problem, but when you inevitably switch materials or ask your JTE to explain a grammar point to you, inconsistencies can occur and answers to your questions are made just a bit more difficult to come by.
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PROS OF VLJ You can jump right in. There is no need to come up with your own curriculum or search for the right materials. Even if the textbook isn’t ideal or the apps are confusing to use, you can make them work if you supplement your studies with other resources. Learning Japanese in Japanese. In addition to the videos being in Japanese with English and Japanese subtitles, all of the terminology used to explain the grammar is in Japanese. In books such as Genki, they use terminology such as “counters” and “verbs” whereas VLJ will use the equivalent terms of jisuushi and doushi. This increased language exposure is beneficial. Supplement self-studying. Many self-studiers will go through a period of planning out their goals and deadlines but they lack the ability to stick with them for the long term. Leaning on VLJ for their monthly deadlines and general accountability is a recommended method for self-studiers who need that extra support.
Wide level range. You can go from JLPT N5 to N3 in about one-and-a-half years with consistent use of this program. You also have the option to sign up for any level regardless of your placement test score. The guide book on the JET website also recaps all of the course content, so you can pick and choose what unit to take next based on what you want to learn. Emphasis on honorific language. SNG has tailored their courses to pay special attention to polite language from the very beginning, something many ALTs will want to have under their belt when conversing with bosses and coworkers. It is also beneficial for folks looking to stay in Japan and work at a Japanese company or attend a Japanese school post-JET.
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It’s FREE. This might be the biggest pro of them all. For one-and-a-half years worth of lessons, videos, practice exercises, and tests, the fact that it’s free is one of the few reasons people continue to use it despite the previously listed cons.
WRAP-UP To VLJ, or not to VLJ? That is the question I hope I could answer for you. If you’re still on the fence, try it out regardless. The consequences of dropping out halfway through are non-existent and if you end up sticking with it, you get a shiny certificate by the end. If you’re interested in signing up, you can find more information on the JET Program website. Below are some personal statements I’ve gathered from anonymous ALTs who have experience with this program, perhaps they will sway you one way or another. I also want to thank everyone who has given me their thoughts and opinions. It has helped me greatly in determining what aspects of the program were most important for me to dissect.
REVIEWS “The VLJ course offered by the JET Programme has its issues, but I feel it is worth trying. I found that it was useful for reviewing content that I already knew, and it was good for holding me accountable. However, it did not suit my learning style very well, which is more of a personal issue. Although there is room for improvement, I like the fact that there is a free Japanese learning tool available to all JETs.” (Third-year ALT)
“The online system seems incomplete and neglected. The written material is decent for explaining grammar points, but beyond that there is little to appreciate. The videos are poor quality and often add little, or nothing, to the pre-existing material. The quizzes have occasional glitches that make them difficult to understand (e.g., The default language switches from English to Spanish, the question does match the answers, etc.). While I do understand this is free for JET participants, I can’t help but think that this is a poor showing of what could have been a great learning opportunity.” (First-year ALT)
“CLAIR’s VLJ program offers a nice starting point for new Japanese language learners; however, in an ever-evolving world of technology, there are numerous free resources that offer higher quality studying materials compared to VLJ. Therefore, VLJ isn’t an appealing option for new Japanese language learners.” (First-year ALT)
Kalista is a second-year JET in Oita Prefecture. She is currently trying to finish her Animal Crossing island and can be found in an onsen or hunched over a pottery wheel in her free time.
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Illustrations in this article by Drawkit.
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Kalista Pattison (Oita)
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n 2020, CONNECT published an article all about eikaiwa, as it pertains to ALTs who are asked by their Board of Education or Contracting Organization to host them. That was just an intro into the world of volunteer eikaiwa. In this article, I will dive into the art of hosting one so you can walk into your first class (or 10th) feeling confident. As mentioned in the 2020 publication, beginner level classes are more likely to follow a curriculum, so this will focus mostly on activities better suited for curriculum-less intermediate and advanced classes. This list will go from least amount of prep time to most.
“Who, What, Where, Why, When, How” Warm-up Materials: dice Assign each question word (who, what, when, where, why, how) a number from one to six. Students roll a die to choose a random question word. They must ask one person in the group a question that begins with that question word. This activity works well for lower level classes or to be used as a warm-up.
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List Maker Materials: writing utensils and paper/ individual whiteboards Split the class into teams. Decide on a topic and ask each team to create a list of 10 words within the bounds of that topic. For example, a topic could be “things you can wear” and the students can write down objects (such as watch, hat, shoes, etc). The catch is that they are trying to come up with answers that don’t match any of the other group’s answers. If two or more groups have matching answers, they must cross those out. Whichever group has the most words remaining by the end wins. This activity encourages students to think outside the box and use words they wouldn’t usually, or learn new words.
Giving and listening to presentations Materials: none It’s important for many students to spend eikaiwa time introducing themselves, their hobbies, hometown, and what interests them. If you’re running low on prep time or you feel like your students would benefit from speaking practice, you can ask them to create presentations. This way, they will have ample time to plan out what they want to say, come up with visual aids if needed, and practice presenting it. For students that are observing the presentation, this is good listening practice. For the students who are presenting, this is good speaking practice. This works for all levels as well, since the topics can be presented as simply or in as complex a manner as their current skill allows.
Taboo Materials: none For those unfamiliar with taboo, it is a card game where you try to guess a word based on the hints your teammate gives. All cards have a target word (the word you’re trying to guess) and a few taboo words that your partner is not allowed to say when they are giving hints. The goal is to guess as many target words as possible within a time limit. The no-prep eikaiwa version of this game has no taboo words, instead you can choose a more difficult target word to account for that. There are also taboo card decks that you can print out and use in place of a real deck, but this can be challenging even for advanced classes if the time limit is too stressful. Taboo is especially good for practicing how to explain English words they have forgotten or don’t know yet. | 113
Make stories
Articles
Materials: deck of cards or dice
Materials: articles from the internet
An activity best suited for advanced classes with an itch for creativity is to make stories. You can have them roll a die or draw from a deck of cards to determine the amount of words they will add to a story. Writing the story down is encouraged. To make this activity friendlier for intermediate students, you can allow them to use less words than the number they drew. To make it tougher for the advanced students, you can make them tell the story verbally instead of writing any of it down. You can even require the story to follow a theme if you want to use this activity around the holidays.
Breaking News English is a website that posts short form articles about current events at seven different English levels. Each article has a myriad of options to test your student’s comprehension from listening questions, synonym matching activities, roleplay, discussion questions, and more. All of this material is already prepared for you. A word of warning, some of the questions may not be that high level or some of the suggested activities not challenging enough for your students, so you may need to do some editing before you print out and distribute. Another good site to use is One Stop English, where they generate English lessons based on articles published by The Guardian. Depending on your eikaiwa’s style, your students may prefer a less structured version of reading articles and discussing them, but these lessons work well in the event you need something last minute. In addition to having your students read and discuss articles, you can put them in the “hot seat” where they must read an article and then answer questions asked by the class, this gets them thinking quickly and on their feet. The answers don’t have to be true, but they must be reasonable enough that someone out there could believe them.
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Listening practice with music Materials: song printout
Candy Land Materials: game board (can be made online or drawn out), small objects to use as player pieces, dice, list of questions
Choose a song that plays at a speed your students can follow along to. Print out the lyrics and remove some of the words. The words you remove depends on your students’ level. Play the song in class a couple of times and ask them to fill in the blanks.
Teaching English expressions
This game can be tailored to any level of students. Brainstorm a list of around 30 questions, these questions can range from “What did you do yesterday?” to “Name 10 things that can fly.” Make a game board based on a Candy Land board. You can make a reusable board by labeling the spaces with numbers and printing out a numbered questions list, or you can write the questions directly onto the board. On the board, you can include free spaces where your students don’t have to answer questions, or spaces that send them forwards or backwards. Pass out small objects to use as player pieces as well as a die. Rules can also be tailored to your students’ level, such as setting a time limit for them to answer questions. If they are unable to answer the question under the time limit, they must go back to their previous space and roll again on their next turn.
Materials: printout For a more advanced class, you can print out a document with a list of phrases and expressions that are commonly used in English. Then, you can leave your students to work in groups and deduce what each expression means. You can, and probably should, use the expression in context if your students seem stuck. After you’ve allowed them to work on it for a while, you can go through the list and explain what each means and when they can use them.
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Mad Libs Materials: Mad Libs worksheet (either make your own, which could mean a lot of prep-time, or find one online) Finding or making the right Mad Libs for your class might take a bit of time, but it can be a great way for them to take a break and just have fun with English. You can purchase a Mad Libs book or you can write your own story.
Mario point game Materials: point cards, list of questions Much like the aforementioned Candy Land game, this game is also based on a long list of questions. This is a version of the popular game called Typhoon but you can theme your cards after anything. This version is themed around Mario with the points being coins, and the special cards being red shells and Bowser. Points range from one to five, red shell cards will reset all teams points to zero, and Bowser will allow the team to steal a set number of points. You can decide how many of these special cards to include. Randomly hang the cards up on the board, labeling each column with a number and each row with a letter. Ask the first group a question from your list, then allow them to choose a random card. Play until time runs out or all of the cards are flipped over.
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Jeopardy Materials: list of categories and questions that fit into each category with varying difficulties, interactive Jeopardy presentation (optional) This is the most involved activity on the list since it may require a lot of time to come up with categories and questions that fit well with your students’ level and interests. This can be played with or without a computer. Without a computer, write categories and points on the board and erase them after you ask the question. With a computer, you can find online Jeopardy templates or easily make one yourself with PowerPoint. Beforehand, you can ask your students what categories they’re interested in setting. For example, some students might want to practice a certain grammar point or some might be interested in learning slang.
Hosting eikaiwa takes a bit of trial and error, but there is a huge community of ALTs who are constantly thinking about how to improve the way they teach English. If none of the activities on this list seem like they’ll work for you, don’t hesitate to ask around. Thank you to all of the ALTs who have shared their go-to activities with me.
Kalista is a second-year JET in Oita Prefecture. She is currently trying to finish her Animal Crossing island and can be found in an onsen or hunched over a pottery wheel in her free time. Candy Land photo by Kalista. Illustrations in this article by Canva & Freepik.
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TRAVEL & COMMUNIT TRAVEL EDITOR connect.ajet.travel@gmail.com
COMMUNITY EDITOR connect.ajet.community@gmail.com
Jon Solmundson Whether you’re two turtledoves or a lone partridge on Christmas eve, nothing quite rings in the season like the beautiful bird bachelors of Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star.
Nabeela Basa
TRAVEL DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantvm@gmail.com David Spencer Jingle All the Way. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Hartman, what more could you want from a Christmas movie.
COMMUNITY DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner3@gmail.com Aaron Klein Patrick Stewart’s performance in the 1999 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, alongside his audio recording of the same work, are a family staple for the winter season.
TRAVEL & COMMUNITY COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy1@gmail.com Zoë Vincent There’s nothing like snuggling down with cats and warm blankets to watch a threehour Akira Kurosawa movie.
Photo by Laura Thonne | Unsplash.com
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CONNECT TRAVEL
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As my plane circled the island on final approach, I noted the small towns, harbors, forests, and the distinct reddish green spires of the island’s sole volcano. A few moments later the plane landed with a lurch, sending my camera flying off the seat as passengers screamed. And with that, I found myself propelled into an unusual adventure. My journey to this strange place started from somewhere unexpected: Wikipedia. For a long time now, I’ve been interested in Japan’s diverse array of forests, islands, and mountains, particularly those in Japan’s northern reaches. Perusing various parks and natural sites, I stumbled on something unexpected: a remote mountain island on Hokkaido’s northwestern periphery. More interestingly, I realized this island was formed around an eye-catching peak resembling Oregon’s Mount Hood. The island’s unique biome was also intriguing, featuring extremely rare flowers and special fisheries. Figuring it was a chance to explore Hokkaido in a completely unique way, I decided to give it a go.
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Getting to the island, however, proved to be a lot more complex than I originally anticipated. I knew there wasn’t much time left in the year to make this trip; Rishiri’s climbing season is short, with unpredictable weather making it hard to calculate when it will be safe to climb. Lining up the transfers was a challenge. Coming from Kyushu, where I live, it is possible to fly into Sapporo, train up to Wakkanai and then take the ferry across to the island; but getting to Wakkanai before the last ferry is near impossible. Flying direct to the island from Sapporo is another option, but most flights only arrive after the last plane to Rishiri has left for the day. Finding lodging on short notice also proved to be quite difficult, but with a careful search I was able to piece the puzzle together.
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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While one might expect a pristine island to be crowded with tourists during the balmy summer months, it was oddly quiet, to the point of feeling almost spooky. The feeling of the town was eerily familiar, reminding me of old seaside towns in the U.S. that my grandparents used to take me to, like Ocean Shores and Grays Harbor. The view from the port was picturesque. Cape Peshi’s peak, a small grassy hill, provided a verdant contrast to the white of the harbor’s boats and buildings. Tucked away at the foot of the hill, the rugged old shrine of Itsukushima could be seen, bordered on the side by the large, toy-like concrete blocks that made up the port’s breakwater.
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After a bit of wandering, I found my destination, the quaint little hotel of Hanarishiri. The small lodge had a very rustic feel and was coated with posters of the island’s beautiful peak and ocean views. I ran into some fellow hikers, and was welcomed by friendly staff with accents I’d never heard before; though the discovery of Ainu-style patterns on the clothing in my room was a big hint. After settling into my cozy little room, I began to explore the town.
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A short walk to the southeast of Hanarishi led to the port of Oshidomari. Featuring a modern ferry terminal and carport for visitors, it also serves as a fishing port and hotel area. As I walked among the boats, byproducts of the catch could be seen in small piles. Cracked shells of the island’s famous urchins littered the docks, while elegant abalone shells glinted rainbow sheens. Here and there, gulls picked among the detritus. The view from the port was picturesque. Cape Peshi’s peak, a small grassy hill, provided a verdant contrast to the white of the harbor’s boats and buildings. Tucked away at the foot of the hill, the rugged old shrine of Itsukushima could be seen, bordered on the side by the large, toy-like concrete blocks that made up the port’s breakwater.
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
With the approach of sunset, Cape Peshi provided an excellent place to watch from. The path was rugged, filled with tall grass and flowers. Near the top, I spotted a small lighthouse, which an anime-esque plaque assured was “certified as a lighthouse for lovers.” Peshi offered an incredible view of the surrounding ocean.
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Some distance to the north, the island of Rebun could be seen. Rishiri’s sister, it’s much flatter and closer to sea level. What it doesn’t have in peaks, though, it makes up for with an incredible diversity of flora. The conditions are just right for a number of rare alpine plants to grow at sea level, with some of them only being found on Rebun. The sun’s fading light illuminated the waves and tall grass with a golden hue. Instead of seagulls, the air was filled with butterflies and packs of energetic swallows. As the sun vanished behind Rebun, the full moon rose, illuminating the harbor in silver twilight. | 129
As we made our way to the Rishiri Hokuroku trailhead, we were met with a pleasant surprise. The forests of Rishiri, it turned out, resembled those of the Pacific Northwest. Unlike the deciduous trees, bamboo groves, mosquitos and overwhelming drone of cicadas I’d come to expect in Kyushu, Rishiri’s forests were largely pine, marked by their cool atmosphere and silence.
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
The path to the summit was quite pretty, starting first with the groves of pine trees before breaking out into low trees and bushes. We passed various silver markers that designated our progress, and eventually broke out of the trees, where we could see the northern half of the island. The path to the summit was rugged, but there were a number of convenient spots to stop, including a small hiker cabin, where we later stopped to enjoy sweet oshiruko soup.
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
As the tree cover thinned and turned into a mixture of bushes and meadows, the mountain’s flowers became exceptionally prominent, with orange tiger lilies, blue harebells, frilly purple nadeshiko, bright yellow St. John’s wort, and countless other alpine flowers. We could also enjoy a spectacular view of Rebun and the surrounding ocean. It was promising to be an amazing summit. Over our heads, though, a dense lenticular cloud began to form, putting a damper on our hopes. Mountains are well known for generating their own weather even on clear days, and there was a very real risk we were walking into the start of some very bad weather. Near the summit, the trail became a lot more fragmented, with crumbling redstone paths and old wooden paths, and—like a sinister glove—the wispy fingers of the cloud reached lower and lower until it closed in all around us, veiling what was supposed to be an incredible view with walls of white. 132 |
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
It’s a common experience for mountain climbers and it often can’t be helped, but it’s also quite frustrating. Knowing my chance to do this again was very small, I decided to take lunch, hoping the clouds would soon clear. As we waited, the wind blasted us, pouring over the peak and dropping the temperature. But we endured, and we were well rewarded. The strong winds temporarily dispersed some of the clouds, and we gained an incredible 360-degree view of the ocean. A job well done. 134 |
That evening, my hiking partners invited me to join them for dinner. As we waited, the hotel’s staff laid out a rich array of the island’s specialty delicacies. The first, konbu, is a type of kelp that grows in the seas surrounding Japan. Due to the cold water, the kelp here is known to be of especially high quality. The second item, known as hokke, also goes by the name of Okhotsk Atka Mackerel. While a small fish, it has a rich and distinct flavor. But it was the last dish that was the most surprising of all. While uni is very common in Japan, Rishiri’s uni is known for having some unique traits. As I tasted a spoonful of the ominous orange urchin eggs, I was blown away; not with the expected salty or fishy flavors, but with elegant sweetness.
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
These unique foods piqued my interest, and on the final day, I decided to do a more thorough investigation of the shops in the harbor, which turned up a number of interesting local finds. At the Porto Coffee shop, I discovered beautiful painted prints of the islands flowers and sunsets. In neighboring stores, various omiyage, dried foods, and alcohols specific to the island were available, and I ended up snagging some seaweed whiskey, konbu products, and beautiful omiyage. | 135
Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
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Image Credit: Mark Christensen (Fukuoka)
Mark Christensen is a fifth-year ALT from Snohomish, Washington in the United States. An avid photographer, he has a passion for mountaineering and capturing the beauty of Japan. He currently resides in Omuta, Fukuoka. You can follow his photography at his Instagram.
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Winter in Japan comes in all degrees of severity. Just a three-hour bullet train north from Tokyo, there is a snow globe of a city named Kaminoyama in Yamagata Prefecture. Tucked away in a valley of the Ou Mountain Range, Kaminoyama has a picture-perfect winter from late December to early March. Skiing, snowy river cruises, snow monsters, and the like are very much worth experiencing. With a heavy coat, snow boots, and a convenient little heat pack, you should be good to go for a wonderful time in Kaminoyama.
Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
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Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
In the sparkling morning snow, Kaminoyama welcomes everyone to an eccentric festival. While most winter festivals embrace the snow and make use of it as sculptures or lanterns, the Kasedori Festival centers its meaning on the expectant hope of the incoming season. In the early 1600s, the Kaminoyama area was consumed by fire. Folklore states that the gods sent “reinforcement birds,” kasedori, to extinguish the fire. These birds brought pails of water and cleared the way for the start of a revitalized harvest season. It is believed that community members mimicked the birds’ flight in a dance performed before Kaminoyama’s noblemen and provincial officers. As they danced, they sang for protection from future fires and an abundant harvest season. Other community members paraded around the town and shared the message. | 141
The tradition remains alive today as a cherished annual event, the Kasedori Festival. The festival has been held on and off since the 1800s, but with the work of the Kasedori Preservation Society (created in 1986), the tradition perseveres—held every year on February 11. For the past 60 years, the Kasedori Festival has been a highly anticipated event that echoes the town’s legendary story. People will pray for prosperity in the next harvest season and pay respect to the helpful Kasedori.
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The festival is an active event for both spectators and participants. Initially, only men from the community could volunteer to participate in the festival. Now, any adult who is up for the challenge can volunteer. First, the participants are asked to dress down to a loincloth—the women wear a similar wrapped garment—and don a triangle-shaped straw suit named kendai. Resembling bristles at the end of a broom, the suit exposes their arms, legs, and just enough space for the face. It is a show of strength to wear it in subzero weather, with the kendai offering participants little protection from the cold, and only straw sandals between their feet and the frosty ground. Once suited up, these imitation kasedori are ready to begin singing, dancing, and crying out for the gods’ blessings.
Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
The festival begins at a castle on a hill, Kaminoyama Castle. Its white walls are illuminated by the morning sun. A large bonfire is lit in the center of the main courtyard and everyone gathers for the opening prayer ceremony. In 2023, a crowd of about 30 kasedori stood proudly at the elevated steps of the castle as spectators prepared pails of water to splash them with. Being splashed with this water is considered an extended blessing to the participants, and despite how freezing it is, the reward is deemed to be worth it.
Once the prayer ceremony finishes, the kasedori will begin their first dance performance. The dance starts around the lit bonfire, the pace determined by a beating drum and whimsical flute. The kasedori cry out, “Ka-ka-kaahh!” while they stretch their arms out horizontally and hop on one leg around the bonfire. As they circle the fire, they grow in morale and are strengthened by the blessed showers of water.
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After their first performance, the kasedori depart from the castle and begin their captivating march around the city. Pails of water are placed throughout the route, with both active spectators and innocent passersby encouraged to interact with the dancing strawbirds. Shop owners will temporarily step outside and get in on the fun, too. Eventually, the kasedori will make it to their final destination, out front of the train station. By this point, the strawbirds are completely soaked, but they continue to hop back and forth on one leg. Their waterlogged straw suits and sandals are proof of their determination. Many people are quick to pick up any stray pieces of straw that fall to the ground. These strands are considered to be lucky charms, residue of the gods. These are tied into the hair of young girls, with the hope it will bless them with healthy, black hair for life.
Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
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Those who follow the parade or simply go to the train station and wait for the kasedori’s arrival will be met with dozens of food stalls. Indulging in local amazake and cups of warm soba is a delicious reward after celebrating in the cold all morning. The participating kasedori don’t get the chance to eat just yet—later in the day they will be rewarded plentifully with a congratulatory dinner and drinks. For now, they must gather in front of the train station and perform their final dance and song.
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Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
Certainly, by the end of the festival, the song is stuck in everyone’s head and can be easily sung along to. There is laughter in the air, smiles bright as snow, amazake sweetened to perfection, and strawbirds embracing the chilly shower of blessings. There are also many, many pictures to be taken. The kasedori become available for a photo-op at the end of their performance. Children will nervously go forward, but inevitably relax once they look up to see the accomplished and radiant smile of a kasedori. Family members will swarm their beloved strawbird. There is a clear sense of camaraderie formed among the kasedori, as they can finally congratulate one another for finishing the route. In their joy, and the feeling of community built through the day’s festivities, the mood surfaces a shared sentiment: Surely, this is the way to ensure a successful harvest season.
The festival lasts until mid-afternoon, allowing locals to go home and enjoy the rest of their day off. Visitors can continue to explore Kaminoyama by touring the historical samurai village, the Kaminoyama Castle museum, and onsen, or—for a modern indulgence—enjoy a slice of pizza at Costco. Regardless of what is done after the festival, there is bound to be a warm feeling nestled in everyone’s chest. And of course, “Ka-kakaahh!” playing in everyone’s minds all night.
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Kaminoyama is a place that has many quirks, so it only feels right that this festival takes place there. Japan’s gradual transition to a post-pandemic lifestyle has invited a new sense of gratitude for these events where everyone can gather to laugh, dance, or just smile, despite being freezing. Even if it is, admittedly, a little strange, everyone is encouraged to participate in some way. Together, they can all celebrate their hopes for the next harvest season. The Kasedori Festival truly reflects the shared heart of the Kaminoyama community: a desire to be hopeful and a passion to exclaim it.
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Image Credit: Tiffany Aguilar (Yamagata)
Tiffany Aguilar is a third-year ALT located in Yamagata Prefecture. Her dream is to find the best sunset spot in Japan. In the meantime, she lives day to day simply in awe that she can live in Japan! Back to Contents
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bout 20 km to the west of Kagoshima City is Ijuin, a town home to 25,000 people— well, now 25,000, plus one more person. I have lived in Ijuin for approximately three months and, needless to say, I am beyond grateful for my placement. Looking back, I was a bit hesitant about moving to Ijuin because of the population size, since I was coming from the sixth largest city in Canada. There was also my inability to drive; I often wondered if things were easily accessible. However, since I’ve arrived, Ijuin has definitely exceeded my expectations, not just in its structural landscape but also in its people. As a
new ALT with minimal communicative Japanese abilities, integrating into Japanese culture and communities seemed intimidating, especially since it was my first time living in a different country, and I was living alone. I have since met many people who have shown an immense amount of generosity and warmth. They, without hesitation, have brought me into their communities and shown me so much kindness even with our language barrier and cultural differences. Through these acts, they have not simply made me a part of their community but also have given me a home here.
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eing a fresh university graduate, I had little working experience or understanding about work culture. So I was a bit nervous and would often question and second guess myself. However, teachers from both schools where I work have been very friendly and welcoming, often attempting to converse with me in English, or with me speaking to them in my broken Japanese. Though communication is not always easy, they consistently make an effort to include me in things at school and outside of school. For instance, at my agricultural school, I often walk around the fields and stables to see the plants and animals. Sometimes, the animal husbandry teachers would let me feed the cows and their calves, and the agricultural teachers would occasionally show me around the field and give me some vegetables to take home. At my base school, they have also displayed the same amount of generosity and inclusion, inviting me to dinners and mountain hikes. Though it took some warming up and a few months of me being here, the teachers have continuously made efforts to integrate me not only in Japanese culture but also in the Japanese working environment, making me feel a part of the school community.
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side from my community at school, I also have my English community in Ijuin. It currently consists of two groups, my Tuesday 英会話 (eikaiwa) group and the community of ALTs living in Kagoshima. Prior to arriving in Japan, I was asked by an ALT senpai if I was interested in joining the local eikaiwa. I agreed, thinking it would be a cool experience and a great opportunity to meet new people. Though it was all of those things, it gradually became more. The class is made up of the four sweetest ladies; they have invited me to sports events, made me food, and took the initiative to remember and celebrate birthdays together. Though we were all strangers, it didn’t feel like that; instead their kindness and generosity has provided me with comfort. Coming from a different country and living alone, you lose a sense of familiarity. However, being of East Asian descent, these ladies have provided a feeling of familiarity through their home cooking and generosity, often reminding me of my mom, and my grandma’s home, but with better English—kidding. Though living in Japan has been great so far, it isn’t
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without its difficulties, communication being a With my limited Japanese, it often feels overw being surrounded by a language you are not fa and having to constantly pull out Google Trans understand. This made me appreciate the ALT community here more, as I could relate to and communicate with them more easily. Though situation is different,’’ as they like to say, as for you can share similar struggles and perspecti feel understood. This creates a safe communi to ask questions and voice concerns.
a big one. whelming, familiar with slate to T d “every reigners ives and ity for you
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n Canada, I was reading a book titled Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. The book discussed ways in which Japanese people have managed to live a long and happy life while also fulfilling their ikigai among other things. In one section, the authors talk about traditions and proverbs for happiness and longevity, in which one interviewee responded to the prompt by saying hello to children on their way to school and saying “drive safely” to the cars passing by every morning. The reading of this passage has propelled me to do the same, to greet strangers throughout the day. In response to my simple act, many smile back and start a conversation. My Japanese is not that advanced yet, and my greetings are often followed by awkward nodding and smiling. But regardless of the language barrier, people continue to show an endless amount of generosity. A couple of weeks ago, I went on a bike ride to my favorite mujihabai (nobody shop) to pick up some flowers. On the way home, I decided to go to a local cafe to unwind and enjoy some tea. While I was there I conversed a little with the owner, who knew very little English, using my limited Japanese and Google Translate. As I was ready to leave, she invited me to the beach since we had been talking about nice places in Ijuin to watch the sunset and sunrise. I agreed and we went to the beach shortly after. I found it quite interesting that even though we had only known each other for a short amount of time she had still offered to drive me to the beach. She even treated me to ramen for dinner that evening at a place that had been recommended by one of her customers, her reasoning being that she wanted to treat me to something nice. After exchanging contact details, she asked me if I wanted to go see cosmos at sunrise and of course I agreed—you only live once, right?
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verall, Ijuin has exceeded my expectations in more ways than I could imagine and continues to surprise me every day. So I hope to continue discovering new communities and maintain and strengthen the ones I am already part of. I will forever be grateful for the generosity and kindness everyone has shared, as well as for their endless efforts and initiatives to interact and participate in cultural exchange with me. Moving so far from home seemed scary before, but now I am not so scared anymore. Ijuin will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Vianna is a first-year Asian-Canadian ALT from Kagoshima. She enjoys sunsets at the beach, bike rides, and taking pictures.
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s I was walking out of my one-on-one Sakura Japanese lesson at the Kagoshima Friendship Center one evening in September 2022, I ran into this cool-looking Japanese woman. She exclaimed over my hair, the thing which brings me the most attention in Japan. We exchanged the usual pleasantries when meeting someone new. Upon hearing that I was Jamaican, Jasmine (her chosen English name) asked me to lead a cooking class for her in the new year. Though hesitant, and without any details as to what that would even entail, I said yes.
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ast-forward to January 2023 and I was once again at the Friendship Center, but this time in the kitchen. I was there to practise making the recipe of Jerk Chicken and Festival, one of the most popular Jamaican street food duos. She had sourced all the ingredients and before the actual presentation at the end of February, we did the run through to ensure we could get everything done within the time slot that the kitchen was booked for. As Jasmine wanted an almost authentic vibe, we would be making the jerk sauce from scratch, and so we needed help with all the prep work. She had a friend with her as well as her younger cousin Marino. They are all part of the Hippo Family Club (“Hippo”), which is an organisation that facilitates language learning through immersion.
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arino and I struck up a conversation and I learned that she had recently moved back to Japan after having lived in Barcelona for almost a year. She wanted to be able to help her mom with her ailing grandmother and very energetic dog. It came up that I had visited Barcelona nine years ago and that I too could speak Spanish. And so, we chatted in Spanish until Jasmine reminded us that we had to start working.
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t the end of the practice session, and after sharing a very delightful meal that was a nice taste of home, we parted ways—now as good friends, with plans to meet up soon. It is without a doubt that good company over good food makes for good times. So, we hit it off royally. I think this was due to Marino and I being closer in age, but maybe the fact that we had been to some of the same places contributed to it, too. We were definitely fated to be friends as we were both open to exploring.
As a result, we’ve been discovering new places in and around Kagoshima and passing through neighbouring prefectures on our journey to knowing new things and ourselves better.
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he current community that I share with some of the ALTs is great. Though we are from distinct countries with varying backgrounds, we have the commonality of language and, in some cases, upbringing and
struggles. But, despite our differences, it was also very interesting and rewarding to be part of a community with a local person. On our trips, Marino and I chat about our past exploits, present situations, and future plans. We don’t have a moment of awkwardness between us. To me, Marino feels like she’s my sister born of different parents on another island, but of an almost identical mindset and sense of adventure.
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t’s only September as I write this article, but we’ve been to many places, explored, and seen so much. So far we’ve admired a lake and interacted with Hippo members in Miyazaki, picked strawberries, visited shrines, discovered a roadside waterfall, driven by steaming onsens and eaten washoku with her family in Kirishima, made ceramics, visited a glasswork as well as a kimono shop, eaten egg sandwiches in Miyama, explored an old gold mine that now produces shochu, cooked and ate a meal in an old samurai house in Kushikino with Hippo members, attended the Fukiage Sand Festival, eaten ramen, and walked her dog on the beach in Fukiagehama. We have made croissants, hung out with older Japanese people who love speaking English, and shared a massive roasted fish in Kagoshima City, as well as enjoyed fireworks over the river. We’ve tolerated a night in a rundown hotel (a story for another time) and viewed history at the Kacchu-Koubo Marutake (Samurai Armor Studio) in Satsumasendai.
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ne of our favourite things to do, though, is to visit the fish market in Fukiagehama to get fresh whole fish and then walk on the nearby beach. When we get home, we send each other pictures of how we prepared them. We’ve done this—what can only be called our routine—over five times now. As simple as it sounds, it’s something that keeps me grounded, happy, and appreciative of the smallest things in life, helping me feel connected to my island life back home.
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arino has met some of my friends and I have met one of hers, as well as her mom, grandma, and beloved dog Kaito. As she has a warm, affable, and open personality, it’s easy for her to hold her own with new people. We practise the languages we know and the ones we are learning during our car journeys. Her English ability by far outshines my Japanese one, but we still communicate easily. I’m learning about many customs and the culture of Japan and I teach her just as many things about Jamaica and the places I’ve travelled to. It’s a place of sharing, no judgement or resentment.
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eing in Japan has become so much nicer due to the shared community I have found with my friend Marino. She often doesn’t answer my text messages till days later and some of our plans are last minute, but I resolve to say yes to exploring Kagoshima and its environs with her. And to think it happened because I hadn’t been afraid to say yes to putting myself out there in order to share my knowledge. Now, we continue to be intentional in our friendship, mindful of one another, and encouraged to keep our community going. Try saying yes to new opportunities because look what a simple yes has done for me so far, with the possibility of so much more to come.
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Shanel is a trained teache teaching foreign language
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er from Jamaica, with over ten years of experience in es. She enjoys reading, playing games, and now writing!
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CONTRIBUTING TO CONNECT is a magazine for the community in Japan, by the community in Japan. Everyone is welcome to write, no matter your experience or style! If you have an idea you want to see in these pages, reach out to our Head Editor, or any of our awesome section editors. We’ll work with you to make it the best it can be and share it with our audience of thousands. Not every article needs to be an essay! We feature interviews, infographics, top-ten lists, recipes, photo spreads, travelogues, and more. Contact the Head Editor of CONNECT, Dianne Yett, at connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com with your submissions, comments, and questions.
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