CONNECT Magazine Japan #120 January 2023

LETTER EDITOR FROM THE

Welcome to the Special Winter Edition of CONNECT!

Every year, due to the team’s travels and a much needed hiatus, we create a shorter version of the magazine for January. This means each section has only one article rather than the usual two to three. While the issue itself may be skinny, the content feels more robust than usual as the team was able to take their timetacklingheftierarticles.

Forexample,toaccompanytheNewYear’s sense of reflection, the Culture Section has an introspective photo essay The Sun Doesn’t Set Like This Back Home. The writer invites you to sit with them and take in the changes and the constants in their surroundings. Though the piece is highly personal, the emotional connections made are those thatanyexpatlivinginJapancanrelateto.

Another deeper look into life abroad comes from the Wellness Section’s long distance relationship piece. Whether or not you too are in a LDR, Love in the Time of Globalization welcomes you to read through the ups, downs, and allarounds of modern love.

And of course, the start to the new year comes with a start to a new series. This year, the Art Section is serializing one writer’s journey into the Setouchi Triennale. With an art festival on such a grand scale (spanning many islands), it clearly deserves more than just a brief note or one-off. So, to start the series off, this month follows the contributor through their first island: Oshima. It is a heavy but honest look at both art and history and how they intermix or clash in Japan’s inland sea air.

Lastly, if you haven’t had the time to meet the 2022-2023 team, you are in luck. The Community Section used their one piece to focus on the CONNECT community. Learn more about the behind-the-scenes team that brings the magazine to life!

No matter what article you find yourself in, we are glad you’ve stopped by. And we cannot wait for the stories that await us in the year ahead.

Cheers to 2023!

Monica Hand

P.S

If you’d like to contribute to the magazine, please get in touch! You can send article pitches directly to me at connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com, or join the CONNECT Magazine Contributor’s Circle on Facebook to get updates from our editors when they’re on the hunt for a story!

Photo by Samuel Berner | Unsplash.com

HEAD EDITOR connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com

Monica Hand

“As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.” — Anthony Bourdain

ASSISTANT HEAD EDITOR connect.ajet.assistantheadeditor@gmail.com

Dianne Yett

“I write any sort of rubbish that will cover the main outlines of the story, then I can begin to see it.” — Frank O’Connor

HEAD DESIGNER connect.ajet.visualmedia@gmail.com

Lloyd Cruickshank

“Nuh bite di han weh feed yu”

Translation: Never bite the hands that feed you. Meaning: Do not be ungrateful to the one who has helped you.

Rachel Fagundes connect.generaleditor2@ajet.net

“Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” ― Edgar Allan Poe

James Ball connect.generaleditor3@ajet.net

“‘Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.” Douglas Adams

Sophia Maas connect.generaleditor4@ajet.net

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” — John Steinbeck

WEBSITE EDITORS

Marco Cian connect.ajet.webeditor1@gmail.com

“I know writers who use subtext and they’re all cowards, every one of them.” — Garth Marenghi

Norris Wang connect.ajet.webeditor2@gmail.com

ASSISTANT HEAD DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantvm@gmail.com

Emily Griffith

“Nothing burns like the cold.” — George R. R.Martin

GENERAL SECTION EDITORS

Ryon Morrin connect.generaleditor1@ajet.net

“One man’s garbage is another man person’s good ungarbage.” — Richard “Ricky” LaFleur, from Trailer Park Boys Season 6, Episode 3

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” — Aristotle

SOCIAL MEDIA connect.socialmedia@ajet.net

Valerie Mercado

“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” — Maya Angelou

CREDITS&

| Unsplash.com

Photo by Sam Lee

CONNECT | Art

Islands of the Setouchi Art Triennale

CONNECT | Entertainment Reviews and Recommendations

CONNECT | Culture

CONNECT | Wellness Love in the Time of Globalization

CONNECT

CONNECT

ARTS AND CULTURE

ART EDITOR

connect.ajet.arts@gmail.com

Sierra Block Gorman

“People who say change is impossible are usually pretty happy with things just as they are.” — N.K. Jemisin, from The City We Became

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR connect.ajet.entertainment@gmail.com

Knox Yoder

“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” — Gerard Way

CULTURE EDITOR connect.ajet.culture@gmail.com

Marco Oliveros

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.” — Maya Angelou

ART & CULTURE DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner1@gmail.com

Kristen Camille Ton

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” — Andy Warhol

ENTERTAINMENT DESIGNER

connect.ajet.assistantdesigner4@gmail.com

Sarah Gyi

“And I can’t forget it, all of the love, all of the love, as we stood tall together.” — Oh Wonder, from My Friends

COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy1@gmail.com

Natalie Andrews

“But Gideon was experiencing one powerful emotion: being sick of everyone’s shit.” — Tamsyn Muir, from Gideon the Ninth

Photo by Samuel Berner | Unsplash.com

fter waiting over an hour I was handed a ticket number for the ferry to Oshima with a long list of rules attached: No eating or drinking on the island. No smoking on the island. The residential areas are strictly off limits. You must follow the guidance of the information centre.

Victoria Clayton (Miyazaki)

When I decided to visit the Setouchi Art Triennale, an art festival in South Western Japan, I had the impression that it was largely embraced by the residents of the islands that take part. The Setouchi Triennale was started in 2010 and is held every three years over a group of twelve islands in the Seto Inland Sea, a small sea between Honshu and Shikoku.

Photo by Ryo Yoshitake on Unsplash

his area of Japan has a temperate climate, calm seas, and narrow streets that meander up steep hills, reminiscent of the Mediterranean in Europe. The festival is both praised for revitalising the islands and attracting new residents to the area, but it is also criticised for its elitist art that sometimes fails to genuinely reflect the cultural roots of the island’s communities. However, as I had yet to have breakfast, I decided not to concern myself with this and instead quickly went to chug another coffee before the boat set off.

After loading up my reserves of caffeine and nicotine, I boarded the boat. Once I settled inside on the lower deck, I started researching about the island. I discovered the rules were not enforced to appease elderly residents upset by the onslaught of cultural tourists descending on their peaceful island. Rather, this particular island, called Oshima, was in fact a former leper colony and is still an active hospital caring for the former patients of Hansen’s disease as they reach old age.

pon disembarking the ferry and stepping foot on Oshima, the light and jubilant atmosphere of Takamatsu’s busy departure port shifted to something more ominous. Throughout the vacant town speakers continuously played an inoffensive jingle, as if attempting to drown out the memory of the island’s sinister past. Oshima was one of 13 national Hansen’s disease sanatoriums set up in Japan, at a time when people had more fear than knowledge of the disease.

Hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, is an infection that has plagued humans throughout history. It is thought to be one of the oldest recorded diseases and due to its physical manifestations of deformity, as a result of nerve damage, has long been feared by humans, causing the patient to suffer stigmatisation and ostracization from their community. Although a cure for the disease was found in the 1940’s, the shame and fear around the disease still prevail. Though western countries had eradicated the disease, Japan was still struggling to control it.

This humiliated Japan’s government, and this embarrassment led the government, in 1953, to incite the 46 prefectures of the country to round up anyone with Hansen’s disease. The infected were then isolated and admitted to one of the sanitoriums set up to stop the disease spreading in the wider community. Although touted as a hospital, patients were not permitted to leave and were subjected to abuse. This poor treatment continued until 1995, when Japan finally repealed the law and returned full rights to the residents of these hospitals.

While information regarding this time is now freely available, the Setouchi Art Festival brings the stories of the patients’ lives to a wider audience through both facts and artworks. The artworks and galleries exist simultaneously with the island’s own museum. They tell the story of Japan’s history with the disease alongside the personal stories of patients about the abuse and discrimination they experienced in the hospitals such as forced abortions, hard labour, and isolation.

t’s hard to capture in words the horrors that the patients experienced on Oshima, but one of the works by artist Fuyuki Yamakawa, Straight Songs, attempts to bridge the divide both physically and mentally.

The work is a video of the artist swimming across a small straight from the island to the mainland, the same route that many patients attempted to try and escape the seemingly idyllic, postcard-ready island. However, turning back around to face the sea after viewing the artwork takes away the tranquillity of the landscape. What at first may seem like paradise was in fact a prison. Seeing this work in the context of the island was a weighty reminder: Outer appearances do not accurately reflect the inner landscape.

Another work that perhaps most potently reveals the island’s dark history is an installation by Seizo Tashima, Life of N: 70 years on Oshima—A room with a wooden pot. The multi-room work focuses on one resident’s story, “Mr. N” also known as Mr. Nambu.

Photo by Mak on Unsplash

r.N was taken to Oshima when he was a teenager and although he was cured of the disease quickly, Japan’s strict isolation law prevented him from leaving. The installation is visually loaded in both colour and somewhat aggressive sculptures that chronicle Mr. N’s life on Oshima. Amongst the violent sculptures are small place cards quoting Mr. N on his experiences from marriage, to being locked in rooms, even burying his own child.

Walking through the rooms filled me with a disturbing mix of despair, disgust, and sympathy. On exiting the work, my heavy heart was lifted. Not because I could forget or distance myself from the tragedy, but because the final part of the work leads you to Mr. N’s bountiful vegetable garden which he tends to every day.

he rest of the exhibits on the island continue juxtaposing deep despair and inextinguishable hope. Walking around you see churches and shrines in eyesight of the hospital’s now disused dissection table, or you’ll read stories of patients’ abhorrent treatment alongside their delicate haiku poetry. The contrasting beauty of the landscape and art combined with the past ugliness of the environment still carried in the memories of the island’s residents, created an uneasy feeling within me. Either that, or it’s because I remembered the last boat back to the mainland is departing soon and after all of that, I needed a cigarette.

As the boat departed, I found myself not willing to look out the window, my holiday spirits dampened by Oshima’s dark history. My original desire to visit two islands that day had diminished, and I instead decided to find a comforting bowl of the region’s famous Sanuki udon. After dinner, I spent the evening tossing and turning, unable to sleep, kept awake thinking about all the people struggling to have their voices heard, especially over the relentless roar of motorbike engines.

ictoria spends her time writing, surfing and exploring all the wonder the world has to offer.

Photo by Artem Zhukov on Unsplash

hat was the first anime you watched or video game you played as a kid? Many of us had earlier exposure to Japanese popular culture than we may realize. My older brother and I shared our love for the Pokémon franchise, which would forever change how Japanese popular culture demonstrated its heavy influence in the United States and other Western countries. Others may mention additional popular anime titles like Dragon Ball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Naruto, to name a few.

But what makes all of these series so influential to the development and pervasiveness of Japanese popular culture? What cultural, economic, and historical factors contributed to the rise and fall of various entertainment franchises in and outside Japan? While these are difficult questions to answer, Matt Alt, an author residing in Tokyo, attempts to tackle these by exploring overlooked parts of Japanese history that inspired the trends we can observe in Japanese popular culture.

Veronica Nielsen (Hiroshima)

Published by Penguin Random House in 2020, Matt Alt’s Pure Invention: How Japan Invented the Modern World explores some lesserknown aspects of Japanese culture that are essential for understanding how Japanese popular culture developed into what we can see today. Although some non-academic books cover Japanese popular culture for a Western audience, Matt Alt takes a different approach to discussing this topic that is neither academic nor monotonous. It is an easygoing yet educational and valuable resource that is jampacked with exciting

details about Japanese culture and history, all of which will captivate readers from page one and leave them wanting more.

As its title suggests, Pure Invention examines some pivotal creations produced in Japan by innovative entrepreneurs that many, including their creators, did not expect would spark much demand and satisfaction among Japanese consumers. For example, Hello Kitty attracted immense success among young Japanese women for being an easy-to-identify character that heavily inspired and defined what makes something kawaii , or cute. With a face that is simple in design and a mysterious background that would over time shock many fans, Hello Kitty garnished attention and love from Japanese consumers, which would inspire Sanrio to introduce the charming character overseas for others to also enjoy. With Sanrio stores in and outside Japan, Pure Invention describes Hello Kitty’s journey from her original development to the present to demonstrate the influential power Hello Kitty has had and continues to have over Japanese popular culture today.

With Pure Invention, readers can also learn more about recent controversies involving influences from Japanese popular culture, such as Gamergate, which occurred in the 2010s. Although there is still controversy regarding who initially inspired the breakout of Gamergate, Matt Alt leaves an impactful message in the mind of readers to warn that cancel culture impedes having civilized discussions about what direction video games should take with their messages.

Even though I enjoyed his thorough coverage of more obscure parts of Japanese popular culture and history in this book, I wished I could read more about his analysis of recent

trends within Japanese entertainment. For instance, Alt briefly refers to the immense popularity that Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 anime film Your Name experienced. However, the short section dedicated to this movie does not quite do the film justice when persuading readers of why this anime was so impactful among teenagers and adults in and outside Japan. While I understand his reasons for dedicating more attention and research to events like the rise of manga artist Osamu Tezuka or Hello Kitty’s popularity boom, Matt Alt’s latest title could have attracted more readers had he written more about series and titles that more readers may have heard of before.

While Japanese popular culture is a broad topic that is difficult to explore in-depth with one book, Matt Alt successfully demonstrates his credibility in discussing this theme with Pure Invention. By introducing his readers to more obscure parts of post-World War II Japanese history,he explains what events and trends led to Japanese popular culture’s current status in the entertainment realm.

After reading Pure Invention, I strongly recommend readers listen to the Japan Station podcast episode 44, which features Matt Alt. Even though he does not discuss every element in his book, the author mentions some additional trivia about Japanese popular culture that is sure to fascinate those who are excited to learn about this topic. His exposure to Japanese popular culture and inspiration to study Japanese may inspire others to learn more about this complex but intriguing language.

Matt Alt has also written extensively about other fascinating aspects of Japanese culture, such as ninja, yokai, and yurei. Given the excellent research and writing in his latest work, I look forward to reading his future titles and following his activity to learn more about the increasingly prevalent topic of Japanese popular culture.

Veronica Nielsen is a first-year Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) living in Hiroshima Prefecture. She enjoys reading, writing, drawing,playingvideogames,andtravelingaroundJapan.Shehopes to go on a road trip this year to explore prefectures in Shikoku and Kyushu, where she has not visited yet.

James Hunter (Tokushima)

he sun doesn’t set like this back home. It’s technically the same one, but the one back in Gatlinburg, Tennessee never seemed so red, never shined quite so intensely. I couldn't even see it most days, with all of the mountains in the way. All I knew is that there were some rays popping over the ridges to warm me up just a bit. Even if I couldn't see it, I knew it was there.

The skies here seem so much more brilliant. Maybe it’s the ocean’s reflection, the cloud’s particles, or a foreigner’s starry eyes, but I constantly find myself in awe of Japan’s heavens. The sky’s warmth draws me in when everything else here can be so cold. While there are plenty of mountains here in Japan, they're much less overbearing. I've got a clear view of the sun, and it's got a clear view of me. Unlike the sun from back home, it always makes sure to let me know it's watching.

It's a spotlight, honing in on me and illuminating my every move. I feel every action I take is magnified several times over, every blunder a public display. And, when the sun sets and everything goes dark, the lack of light can be much more intense. That is, it can be particularly lonely when you're out of the spotlight.

The gods here aren’t the same ones I knew back home, either. Or maybe they are, just with a different coat of paint. I’ve never really considered myself a religious individual, but I find myself drawn to the natural serenity of Shinto and Buddhism. Both require a simple connection to the world and the people around it. Really, the lack of obligation is what grips me. I don't mind sending a prayer of thanks to the trees that let me take a rest at their roots, and they won't mind if I miss a few.

Still, there are a million little intricacies and etiquettes that I don't know. I'll impress a few pilgrims with my ability to properly pray after tossing a 5 yen coin into the box at a Shinto shrine, but they'd neglect to tell me that there's a different prayer for Buddhist temples, or the several dozen different rituals that I simply don't have the context for.

Japan seems so much more peaceful than things were back home, all things considered. The scenery seems more peaceful, the animals less wild, the people more polite, the noise of society less inundating. And to a degree, they are. To a degree, everything I’ve said is true.

The people here are a mixed bag, as they are everywhere. For every unnecessarily rude ojii-san telling me to go home, there are three more who’ll hit me with the nihongo jouzu. For the most part, people are content to just ignore and be ignored. This, I think, was the hardest thing for me to adjust to, coming from the generally overlyfriendly southern USA.

It’s taken a lot for me to grapple with the fact that not everyone here is able to, or wants to, have a conversation—even if it’s in their native language—with a foreigner out of fear or anxiety, but, again, even though the lady who works at one of my Lawsons visibly shudders in relief every time I walk away from the counter, the guy who works the ramen shop kitchen by my high school always gives me a big irashaiamase and a smile when I walk through the door.

I think the main thing that I’ve learned here is that people are people, the world is the world. No matter where I go, I’m going to discover stunning scenery, encounter spiritually invigorating sites, and find folks, both unfriendly and very kind.

A large part of my experience thus far has come down to demystifying the world and seeing it through a more realistic, worldly place, while also trying to maintain a positive outlook on my experiences here. After all, the skies and scenery are still stunning here, the temples are always incredible, and the people can be incredibly warm.

The sun may not set like it does back home, and that's okay. It's still the same sky.

James is a second-year ALT in the JET Program from the United States placed in Tokushima Prefecture, teaching senior high school and special needs students. He has an interest in reading manga, hiking, and gaming. You can ind him on Instagram at @Highluckstat

LIFESTYLE

WELLNESS EDITOR

connect.ajet.health@gmail.com

Alexandra Crombie

“He folded his fear into a perfect rose. He held it out in the palm of his hand. She took it from him and put it in her hair.’’ — Arundhati Roy, from The God of Small Things

SPORT EDITOR

connect.ajet.sports@gmail.com

Andy Hanson

“That’s how oppression works. Thousands of otherwise decent people are persuaded to go along with an unfair system because changing it seems like too much bother.”

— Laurie Penny

by Lan Pham | Unsplash.com

WELLNESS DESIGNER

connect.ajet.visualmedia@gmail.com

Lloyd Cruickshank

“Nuh bite di han weh feed yu”

Translation: Never bite the hands that feed you.

Meaning: Do not be ungrateful to the one who has helped you.

SPORT DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner2@gmail.com

Amy Ratcliffe

“Don’t get cocky, it’s gonna get rocky . . .” — Tamanegi Sensei

COPY EDITOR

connect.ajet.copy3@gmail.com

Ashley Leung

“What is bad for the heart is good for art. The terrible irony of our lives as artists.” — Jandy Nelson, from I’ll Give You the Sun

Photo

Football through different lenses

Thabiso Molapisi (Kumamoto)

by Jake Nackos on Unsplash

Photo

Football Is Life

It’s the sound of the vuvuzelas, the hooting of cars, the loud music, the excitement that hits the streets on game day that set the tone of the weekend alongside the colourful expressions of football lovers and supporters in their gear. Whether packed in taxis and cars making your way to the stadium, making your way to the nearest pub or tavern, or even staying in the comfort of your own home to enjoy the game with your friends and family, there is something about the celebration of soccer that commonwealth countries have that others don’t.

(Image from; News24.com)

As a South African, I am probably biased in concluding that there will never be another FIFA World Cup like the one South Africa hosted in 2010. Albeit that’s not just my opinion; speaking to people who travelled from far to come watch the game in my country, I have heard similar feelings echoed. Soccer is part of who we are in South Africa, even if it’s not your sport of choice. When fxtures are set, the schedules are out, and new jerseys have been bought, one has no choice but to bear with the mood of the season.

You either brace yourself for a boring match you care nothing about, or you look forward to the next two hours of your life with eager anticipation and excitement. From watching analysts and retired soccer players predict who will win or lose, to watching the game all the way to the post-game shows, for the highlights and assessment of the game, from those who know it best. South Africa breathed soccer in me, which has made watching the World Cup in Japan an underwhelming experience to say the least.

Photo by Fauzan Saari on Unsplash

Football-Lite

Watching the World Cup in Japan has been something I can never get used to. The mood is different, the celebrations different, and there isn’t much of a football culture, as opposed to baseball. I tried watching it at home, but it felt lonely. I went to a couple of izakayas, and it was as though someone had passed. The TV was either very blurry and made it hard to want to watch, or a game was just background noise while people drank the day's exhaustion away. No one cared nor showed any emotion of excitement or disappointment.

Everything about this experience has made me a little homesick. The tradition is diferent to what I am used to; the energy is diferent. I miss the noise that vibrates from your feet all the way to your ears when a team wins, the beer cans and bottles, the roar of the crowd at the stadium and in pubs and taverns that are flled to the brim. I miss the laughter and songs sung by the gleeful supporters witnessing a win and the tears and cussing of the ones witnessing a loss. I miss the game-day food that is greasy, spicy, and has the ability to slouch you into a cholesterol high. I miss the jokes, the sarcastic jargon, and play on words used in the football community by the commentators, relaying the sport in the manner only they can.

(Image from; PioneerNews.com)

(Image from; gettyimages.com)

The initial mood of this World Cup has been rather sombre; however, I know if I were in a commonwealth country, the experience of watching it would have been quite diferent. There is nothing wrong with the manner in which Japanese people choose to celebrate and express themselves regarding this lovely sport or any sport of that matter; it’s just that the indiference in the culture and tradition of how we South Africans and other commonwealth countries carry football was more than just something new, it was a major culture shock to a football lover. It was a disappointment to see that the football movement isn’t the same everywhere. Not every country lives and breathes this sport. Football lives in some—not all—of us.

Thabiso ``Debbie Bloodmoon`` Molapisi, is from South Africa and was a journalist, radio broadcaster, and DJ back home before coming to Japan. Obsessions include reading, writing, travelling, sports, fnding wine, coffee, and making people laugh when she can.

Travelinglongdistancesforwork, school,orpleasureissocommonnow thatourrelationshipsmustmoldto accommodatethis.Formostofmyadult lifeIhaveeitherknownafriendinalong distancerelationshiporbeeninone myself.Ittakesauniquetoll,butalso showsacorrespondingstrengthinthe waythatpeopleovercomethebarriers presentedbyphysicaldistance.Distance doesn’thavetomeandivision,andcan actuallyencourageamoreintimate emotionalconnection.Whenpeopleare givenspacetogrowthemselves,andare readytoembracegrowthintheirpartner, communicationcanallowadeeper understandingofoneanother.

Itiscommontomovearoundmultiple timesinyourlife.Manymoveoutoftheir familyhometoliveinadifferentcityto attenduniversity,andagainfor employmentpurposeswhenthey graduate.Theformerlandedmeinalong distancerelationship.AlthoughIamno longerwiththatperson,thetwoyearswe spentlivingaparttaughtmelotsabout myself.

Therearealsolotsofpeoplethatliveapart fromtheirpartnersduetofinancial necessity.Acostoflivingcrisiscoupled withextortionaterentpricesintheU.K. meansthatmanyhavebeenforcedto movebackinwiththeirparents.I’msure theseissuesaremirroredinmany countriesacrosstheglobeasfuelprices soarandeconomiesstruggletorecover fromthepandemic.Somemayhaveno choicebuttoaccommodatedistancedue totheirlivingsituation.

Photo:JacobKiesow|Unsplash.com

AlexandraCrombie(Gunma)

Wearealsoexpectedtobeflexibleinthe careersthatwepursue—youmustoften bewillingandabletotakeopportunities whentheyarise,despitetheirlocation. COVID-19hassomewhatmitigatedthis buttheoptiontoworkfromhomeisoften stilllimited,especiallyforentry-level roles.Formany,movingabroadtostudy ataparticularuniversityistheirbest chanceatbuildingalifeforthemselves andpursuingacareertheytrulycare about.Nottomentionthepopularityofa travelingstintinSouthEastAsiaorSouth America.

Alltheseforcesareatplay...andyetso manyofuschoosetomaintainour relationships.Ithinkthisislargely possiblebecausewhenyoulove somebody,whatmakesthemhappyalso sustainsyou.Iftheyhavetoleaveyour physicalcompany,yourtown,your country,orevenyourcontinent,itis enoughtoknowthattheyremainyours.

Inmycasewelivedindifferentcities withintheU.K.andthendifferent countrieswhenImovedtoStockholmto study.Althoughitwaseasiertojumpon atrainthanaplane,thefacttheywere notinmyimmediatevicinitywasthe pressingissue.InbothsituationsIwas missingoutonthesmall,intimate momentsthatonlycomeaboutwhen sharingthesamephysicalspace.

Simplycoexistingwithsomeoneyoulove wastoponthelistofthingsmissedwhen Iaskedothersinthesamesituation.Ifind thiscomforting.Oftentimesinour society,performativeromanticgestures areadmiredandmonetaryvalue suggestsloveandcommitment.Yetall wereallywantisaspecificpairoffeeton ourlaps.

Itcanalsobebeneficialinsurprising waystospendtimeawayfromyour partner.Ourhabitsnaturallyshift dependingonourlifestyle.Thishappens forsomemorethanothers,andtime spentaloneisagoodexample.Some peoplewillalwaysseekoutsome solitudenomatterhowbusytheyare. Othersenjoytheconstantstimulationof thecompanyofothers.Thiscanintensify inarelationship,andeasilyturninto spendingeverywakingsecondineach other’spresence.Lifecanalsobe overwhelmingattimes,andalongside workingorstudying,spendingquality timewithapartneroftentakes precedence.

Theseaspectsofarelationshiparegreat intheirownway,buttheycanalsobea barriertoactivitiesthatrequireundivided attentionandconcentration.Creative outletsareoftenmostrelieduponwhen wearealone,andpursuingourown hobbiesandtalentsbringssatisfaction. Thissatisfactionisneithersuperioror inferiortotimespentwithapartner,just different.

So...whatallowsyoutofeelcloseto somebodythatisphysicallydistant? Communicationisdefinitely,absolutely, undoubtedly,themostimportantaspect ofarelationship.Thisistrueregardless ofthedistancebetweenthetwo(or more)parties.Itonlybecomesmore importantwhenthosepartiesareliving completelyseparatelives.

Photo:MayurGala|Unsplash.com

Communicationallowsforspaceto overcomeissuestogether.Thisincludes thedifficultandperhapsmostimportant question:“Isthisrelationshipworking?” Italsoincludesthelittlethings:sending picturesofarecenttrip,introducing themtonewfriendsovervideocall,or simplysettingasidetimetochat. Keepingthemintheloopwiththegood andthebad,andnotputtingpressureon yourrelationshiptofitapreconceived ideaofperfection,seemstobethe smoothestroutetoreunion.

AlexandraCrombieisafirst-yearJET livinginGunmaprefecture.Herfavourite colourisadark,mutedblue,andshe likestospendherfreetimecampingor exploringwithfriends.Shealsoenjoys watchingcopiousnumbersoffilms.

LANGUAGE

Sage Olges

Photo by Fabian Mardi | Unsplash.com

Using Newspapers/Magazines as an Authentic Resource in the ESL Classroom

Pitta-Gay Powell (Ehime)

The cliche “no news is good news” can easily be proven wrong in the English as a second language (ESL) classroom. Specifically, let’s explore the usefulness of newspapers or magazines in a regular ESL lesson. It’s great for vocabulary building, practicing English expression, stimulating multiple levels of comprehension in the target language, and so on. I’m especially particular towards it because it can be used to stimulate students’ creativity through team-work and competition.

Many believe the advent of technology and its subsequent growth in accessibility has rendered the traditional print dépassées, but has it really? I still like reading the physical paper but I also enjoy siphoning news from the virtual realm. Consider me a hybridized entity; originally from an older generation happily bumbling through the newness of our super-technologized, modern world. It may be difficult to find fans of newspapers or magazines in the younger generation, but we can still build pretty interesting activities using the printed news as a resource.

Vector by OpenClipart-Vectors | pixabay.com

Image by Mahesh Patel | pixabay.com

STORYBOARDS

Think storyboard. To have students engaged in this activity, I suggest using smallcorkboards.Whileyou’reatit,prepare safety scissors, tape/glue, pushpins—and of course—your choice of newspapers, magazines, or both. At this point, you may think this is art class prep, but you’ll be amazed at how the English language develops with this activity. I prefer to separatemyclassesintoteams—sixteams for big classes and four teams for smaller classes.Theywillallworkcollaborativelyto complete the task and compete for points. But, what are they to do?

They will make small storyboards. You may provide options for themes to choose from: friendship, summer memories, and dreams are some examples. Instruct the student to search through the newspaper/magazine for words, sentences, and pictures to attach to their storyboard using the aforementioned tools.

Ultimately the student-made storyboard should be used as a part of a final group presentation—inEnglish,ofcourse—where theyexplainortellastoryaccordingtotheir theme. You may assign points according to your own parameters. Consider the use of superior vocabulary, creativity, and oral expression. These sample parameters may seem highly subjective but the point of the activity is not the grade scheme, but to achieve the primary goal of oral expression practice. Written, or in this case, amalgamated written expression is a secondary objective.

This lesson may seem a little sophisticated for lesser-motivated students but it can be dressed down. Dress it down by having students search for pictures only and giving them model sentences where they can substitute words to construct their own presentation. Here you’ll get plenty of opportunities to help students model and correct English grammar without explicitly teaching a grammar lesson.

Vectorby djvstock| vecteezy.com

Vector by napong rattanaraktiya | vecteezy.com

Vector by stockgiu | vecteezy.com

PLOTS FOR DISCUSSION

Encourage comprehension within the English language through discussions of sequence of events. This approach is a lot more textual unless you facilitate students lifting the events from the text.

Present students with an expository or narrative newspaper or magazine article. Choose these articles carefully, not solely based on personal preference but with consideration for each class’ ESL level and interests.

Consider creating a concept map for students to explore and determine sequential or cause-and-effect relationships among events within an article. You could even have the events scrambled and instruct students to work together to recreate the correct order. This task is even more fun and accessible if the students are given pictures to arrange according to information they read from the text or to draw the pictures themselves. These ideas

are more suitable for elementary to senior high school students rather than smaller children.

But for the students who can handle a little more challenge in the ESL classroom, bring the story to life. Let them choose scenes to reenact and improvise where no dialogue is present. For the narrative articles, play hot seat(s) where student(s) can assume the role of characters (major and/or minor). They may sit in the center of a class arranged in the circular storytelling format and work together to answer questions the other students created from the printed media.

We must never forget that English is not simply a subject. It is a language. As such, students’ best chance of getting better at it in the ESL environment is through social interaction, and it is the teachers job to make these interactions as authentic and entertaining as possible.

NARRATIVE COMPOSITIONS

What’s more entertaining than a good story? Stories exist as tradition, exposition, narration, manga, animation, movies, and many other forms. Well, how about having the students make some?

Creating stories from scratch in a second language can be frustrating, but what if we provided some material as inspiration? Students would have fun producing new stories together from print that already exists.

The art supplies from earlier will be needed here as well. In place of the cork board, use cartridge paper. Let students work in groups to cut out pictures and arrange them to tell a story. It will be challenging and fun for them to present their creation to the class in English. Or switch it up: Let them exchange their creations and have a rival group tell the story that the picture implies. They will have to practice speaking English within their groups and ask their teachers and each other for help. This is

a fantastic learning environment which appeals to tactile, interpersonal, and visual learners all at the same time.

I must warn, though, that the success of this activity is highly dependent on the Japanese Teacher of English’s (JTE’s) or the Assistant Language Teacher’s (ALT’s) understanding of the students’ actual language skill level; not to mention an ability to build rapport and excite students into action.

Another idea is to have students draw manga from information they read. Imitation is a great place from which to spark creative expression. Let them use newspaper and magazine articles as inspiration. Here the artists in the groups get to shine, the linguists get to show off, the orator gets an opportunity to develop his craft, and the actors—if you choose to let them act out the manga—have the best time entertaining their classmates in a fun ESL setting.

IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE NEWS OR THE PAPER?

Really, there are so many ways to use print media as an education resource. But, by now you would have realized that using the newspaper or magazine as a resource is not simply about the news but more about the appropriation of words, engaging with an authentic resource, learning grammar implicitly, and providing inspiration for students to use as a springboard into interacting meaningfully through the use of the English language. I hope I have managed to provide some inspiration for the JTEs as well as ALTs.

Finally, don’t forget that encouragement sweetens labor, so if it is possible, arrange for students to be rewarded during or after in-lesson competitions. Think Daiso or Haruya merch.

Ganbare!

Pitta is an English teacher who has rediscovered her passion for teaching. She loves the creativity of the profession and enjoys sharing ideas to get students pumped to learn.

TRAVEL AND COMMUNITY

TRAVEL EDITOR

connect.ajet.travel@gmail.com

Chloe Holm

“Hygge is about having less, enjoying more; the pleasure of simply being. It is generous and celebratory, a way to remember the importance of the simple act of living itself.” — Louisa Thomsen Brits

COMMUNITY EDITOR connect.ajet.community@gmail.com

Ian Layugan

“When you can’t find someone to follow, you have to find a way to lead by example.” — Roxane Gay, from Bad Feminist

TRAVEL DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantvm@gmail.com

Emily Griffith

“Nothing burns like the cold.” — George R. R. Martin

COMMUNITY DESIGNER connect.ajet.assistantdesigner2@gmail.com

Amy Ratcliffe

“Don’t get cocky, it’s gonna get rocky . . .” Tamanegi Sensei

COPY EDITOR connect.ajet.copy4@gmail.com

Jon Solmundson

“It was a fair question, although the problem with fair questions is that they are asked about an unfair world ” — Joseph Fink, from Welcome to Nightvale

Photo by Michael Sum | Unsplash.com

COMMUNITY

Okinawa’s Secret Treasure Trove

Martina Comorkova (Okinawa)

“That place is a tourist trap!” is a phrase you might have heard once, or, potentially, once too much. The phrase “tourist trap” has become somewhat of an unjust title for places that see many foreign eyes, whether from outside the city or outside the country. Ironically, a tourist trap tends to be a place of some cultural, historical significance, or adversely, for its notoriety. It is only the most logical phrase for important places that attract the most eyes and faces. So, why is there a need to scoff at the familiar?

Perhaps there’s some underlying hokeyness around paths so often traveled. Most people have a mental image of what Japan looks like even if they’re never been before. For some, it’s sitting underneath a tree and observing the nearby cherry blossoms. For others, it’s a modern sprawling urban landscape with state of the art technology. And for many others, it’s something far less grand in scale, but just as important: kimonos, samurai, sushi, hot springs, tea ceremonies and everything in between. I consider myself a fan of such cliches. As such, a place that’s as iconic as it is cliche is Kokusai-Dori in Okinawa.

Kokusai-Dori translates to International Road, and it is, as the name suggests,justthat.Withitsmanyappealing,polished,andaccommodating services and stores, this long street is lined with dozens of shops with glowing neon signs akin to the Vegas strip, albeit much smaller in scale and less glitzy. You’ll find everything between ukulele-selling gift shops, international food chains, and huge specialty stores for local staples. My favorite Okinawan specialty is a beni-imo tart: an oblong-shaped tart filled with vibrant purple sweet potato filling. This quintessential pastry gets its name and color from the beni-imo sweet potato grown in Okinawa. The stores that sell them are impossible to miss, since they have gigantic versions on sign displays of the stores, purple filling and all.

A walk down Kokusai-Dori street is a must for any Okinawa-bound travelers,nomatteryourstanceontouristtraps.Despitebeingatextbook exampleofone,thereisactuallyanotherreasontovisitKokusai-Dori,even forthemostjadedoftravelerswhoavoidtouristareasatallcosts.Turning off Kokusai-Dori, you’ll find the First Makishi Public Market. This covered shopping center is a market-turned-labyrinth that oozes with the culture of a tight knit community.

I found myself on Kokusai-Dori one lazy afternoon when I saw an entrance to an alley I had never acknowledged before. My itching curiosity got the best of me, and before long, I headed inside. The blinding midnoon daylight was, thankfully, mostly drowned out by the thin awning that covered the street. It grew darker, and the heat became much less oppressive. I felt a great sense of comfort in that never-beforeseen-yet-somehow-familiar half-lit market. I was surrounded by small stores, only a few meters wide, selling all sorts of goods and commodities: fruit, fish, meat, painted clay shisa dogs, children’s toys, porcelain cups and plates, kariyushi-wear, and various kinds of alcohol in even more various sizes. I was surrounded by colors on every side: colored signs, lights, and advertisements, stained glass, wall art, hallways, and all of the cozy shadows that naturally came in between. As I walked through this maze of wonders, I smelled charcoal from the izakaya cooking yakitori, the unmistakable twang of durian from the colorful fruit stands, and the winding damp concrete floor. The sound of nearby footsteps, clerks giving store greetings, and the droning of the overhead fans filled my ears. It felt like I had stumbled into another world.

First Makishi Public Market, given its placement, naturally has stores aimed at all manners of tourists nestled in between the grocery stands. These stores are stripped of the bells and whistles, fresh paint, fancy polish, and blinding lights of the ones just a dozen meters outside. I was overwhelmed by the sheer contrast of the duality unfolding in front of me. Between the new, ever evolving Kokusai-Dori with newer shops popping up the moment older shops fail, and the ever reliable unchanging First Makishi Public Market. Between the openness and order outside and the closed in chaos under the awning. This cathartic feeling washed over me like a storm and made me really appreciate Japan much more.

The market has a long running history and an incredible amount of local importance. Before being initially established as a proper market, First Makishi Public Market began as a post-war black market for residents to exchange goods. Despite the commercialization around it, local residents still go to purchase fish, meat, and all manner of local produce today. It’s no wonder people still call it the “Kitchen of Okinawa.” Shoppers can even purchase goods on the first floor and have them cooked on the second floor for a charge.

It’s no wonder people still call it the “Kitchen of Okinawa.”

Now you might be thinking, “Gee, I don’t know how I feel about wandering into a somewhat grungy, dark labyrinth where most of the writing is in a language I can’t read and all of the service is in a language I can’t understand,” and I can relate and empathize with these feelings. However, I think the First Makishi Public Market is the best fit for every tourist that goes to Okinawa. Odds are, you’ll probably end up going to Kokusai-Dori in the first place. If you find yourself falling uncomfortably into the routine of exclusively frequenting well known beaches, shopping malls and highly trafficked restaurants, and you want a change of pace, just turn the corner and you will find exactly that. The difference is bright to dark, polished to rough, and pristine to rugged. It’s the familiar, cliche, and typical—transformed to none of the above.

The incredibly bizarre layout inarguably feels like a maze, and, as someone who gets lost easily, this place was particularly labyrinthine. That being said, it’s incredibly easy to find your way back out to the main street as the foot traffic creates easy exits so you’ll never feel hopelessly and helplessly lost. There’s an incredible sense of whimsy that comes with pure directionless wandering when the anxiety of danger is stripped away. I do recommend bringing a smartphone, however. There’s countless tools that will supplement any gaps in communication or language barriers that come up. Google has a spoken translation tool that will take words you say and play the translation in Japanese and vice versa. It also has a feature that will parse written Japanese into English text with your camera, although it’s not foolproof given the variety of fonts that make words harder to identify.

At this market, you can experience anything you want, however you want, at any pace you want. Okinawa is no stranger to foreigners, so there will be plenty of people who can help you even if you don’t know Japanese. Paired with other tools and the Okinawan people’s friendliness, you will almost certainly have a worry-free experience. There’s very little to lose and everything to gain with this detour that most people might, unfortunately, miss. I implore you, if you ever find yourself on Okinawa, to dive down the rabbit hole that is First Makishi Public Market and see what it’s like for yourself.

Martina Comorkova is a first- year ALT located in Okinawa Prefecture. She enjoys reading,writing,history,andallkinds of nerd culture. She’s on a mission to absorb and deliver as much information about Japan while on the JET program, and potentially pen a novel or two.

Vector by catalyststuff | freepik.com

Editor’s Note:

At CONNECT, every contributor is asked to use the English spelling of their native country (i.e. favorite versus favourite), so you will see various spellings for various words throughout this piece. It is a deliberate choiceandagreatexampleofthediversebackgrounds of the team! Enjoy!

There is no “I” in “teamwork.” Most definitely not in “CONNECT.”

At CONNECT, the stories span narratives, experiences, and sightings in all 47 prefectures of Japan. Sometimes unprecedented, sometimes overlapping, the pages of the magazine feature fresh perspectives and insights and a wealth of stories from the mesmerizing to the mundane.

As more foreigners visit Japan for various purposes— for soul-searching or healing, as post-college experience or a mid-life breather—the stories will always come around rare and renewed, as it is seen through new eyes and written by eager hands.

The writers and artists who form the CONNECT family are the intersections of all these stories. Coming from various countries and cultures, the common denominator among these creatives is the urge to turn every situation into a story. Drawing from personal experiences—a trip, encounter, or even a meal—to document a world of narratives, they turn these pages into a Japan diary if you will: something intimate yet universal, individually felt but commonly shared.

Let’s get to know these writers and artists, up close and personal.

Cheers, Ian Layugan

Monica hand

Head Editor

Instagram | Website

Hello! I’m Monica and I’m working as the Head Editor this year! I am originally from Texas but now live and teach in Shikoku’s Ehime Prefecture. This will be my second year both in Japan and at CONNECT Magazine. I have worked on several magazines in the past but I am most excited to work with this team and see all that we can create together. I love rocky shorelines, spooky themes, and popcorn. Cheers to the year ahead!

How would you describe the team at CONNECT? Big, beautiful, and talented!

WhatdoyoumissmostaboutTexasbesidesfamily? Breakfasttacos,hotsauce,andthewideopenskies.

Dianne Yett

Assistant Head Editor Instagram | Website

The name’s Dianne, and this year I get to put on the big-boy pants as your new Assistant Head Editor! Currently a fourth-year ALT in Gunma Prefecture, I hail from a part of Southern California where you can count on one hand how many times it rains in a year, but you don’t have enough ingers and toes to count all the wildires. I am obsessed with birds, particularly owls, and I’m a frequent patron of the owl cafe down the street. My favorite pastimes include spend-ing hours hashing out very intricate (and very gay) fantasy romance plots, drawing animal people, sewing, and long-distance cycling in the misty mountains of Gunma Prefecture. Let’s tear it up!

What is your go-to trick for writer’s block? If I get stuck while writing a section in one of my stories, I’ll make a new section dedicated to “brainstorm writing” and literally have a conversation with myself. I talk myself through all kinds of problems, big or small, from world building to character development to plot-holes, etc.

What has been your favorite piece in CONNECT over the years, either that you have worked on or read?

I will say that the most useful piece (that I happened to contribute to) was the 2021 Halloween Lesson Plans article. I frequently share a link to that article with my friends whenever they are looking for lesson plan ideas around Halloween time.

Sierra Block Gorman

Arts

Hi! I’m Sierra Block Gorman, a second-year JET in Gunma Prefecture. I’m the new Arts Section Editor for CONNECT. I have an undergraduate degree in Studio Art with a minor in East Asian Languages and Literature from Smith College. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and thus have strong opinions about bagels and a deep love of robust public transit systems. I love art, traveling, musicals, reading sci-fi and fantasy, and playing tabletop RPGs. I’m really excitedtobeworkingonthe CONNECT team!

What has been your favorite exhibition or gallery in Japan so far?

The Tokyo National Museum 150th Anniversary Exhibition

Do you make art yourself? If so, what mediums do you prefer?

Yes! I like painting, embroidery, digital art, and drawing.

Ian Layugan

Community Instagram | Website

Hello! You can call me Ian, and I am a second-year JET from Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture. I enjoy reading essay collections, visiting museums, hiking, and dabbling in cooking fried chicken. Before joining JET and CONNECT, I was a researcher and instructor in the Philippines. I taught art appreciation and linguistics. This year, I wish to explore personal narratives, adventures, and relationships formed in our newfound home, Japan, for the Community Section. Let’s start the conversation, and I look forward to your contributions!

How do you define a Community?

For me, communities are formed by people who find common practices, traditions, and habits, regardless of space or region. I believe that our interests and choices are what makes us a part of a community, and I believe every community is equally unique and special.

What communities do you feel most at home in?

As a sucker for stories, I am most at home where stories are abundant, and this is why I love being in academic settings: classrooms, conferences, field works, museums, and elsewhere where stories are essential.

Marco Oliveros

Culture Website

Hello! I’m Marco Oliveros, fourth-year JET in Tokushima Prefecture and this year’s Culture Section Editor for CONNECT Magazine. I’ve had several years of experience writing freelance for different online publication sites on Japanese culture, history, and especially anime. This year will be my second as an editor, but all the same, I look forward to driving conversations and sharing stories about culture in Japan with everyone’s help here at CONNECT

How would you describe Japanese culture in one sentence?

For me, Japanese culture is the meeting, clash, and synthesis of the traditional and the new.

What has been your favorite surprise about the culture in Japan?

My favorite surprise is how broad and fexible Japanese culture really is, stereotypes to the contrary.

Knox Yoder

Entertainment Instagram | Twitter

Hello! My name is Knox (they/them) and I am the Entertainment Editor for CONNECT this year. I am a first-year JET living in Ureshino, Saga, and am a huge fan of horror films, punk/heavy metal music, video games, manga, and alternative fashion. Happy to be on the team!

Who is your go-to punk/heavy metal artist?

I listen to a ton of bands, but if I had to recommend just a few who people might not know, they would have to be Pup, GRLwood, Poppy, and Wormrot.

If you could only read one manga for the rest of your life, what would it be? Tough question, but I’ve been on the Chainsaw Man hype for a number of years now, so it would have to be that one.

Pitta Gay-Powell

Language

Hello! I am a frst-year ALT based in Ehime. I studied English language education and now create kids’ books in my spare time. I enjoy learning new things and sharing experiences with good friends from all over the world.

What is your go-to warm-up activity?

I fnd sharing a simple choreographed dance to popular music helps to set the tone for the competition-type tasks which characterize my lessons. These dances are typically from my home country, Jamaica.

What is the hardest part about writing children’s books?

I’d say the concept design part. I’m creative, so in my head I know exactly what I want something to look like at all times, but what my hands create usually looks nothing like the original concept.

Andy Hanson

Sports Twitter | Website

I spend most of my time worried about the future of the New York Jets football team, and I can often be found hunched over, painting small plastic fgures. Iced cofee is my favourite thing about Japan.

What is one word you would use to describe the New York Jets previous and current seasons?

Previous season: Exhausting

Current season: Resurgent

What is a sport you only watch, never play? Ice Hockey (I can’t skate and I’d get killed)

Chloe Holm

Travel

Hello! I’m Chloe, this year’s Travel Section Editor! I’m a frstyear ALT living in Ehime. My background includes being a literary arts magazine editor, adventure enthusiast, occasional actor, exasperated DM, and seasoned movie goer. I like to write, read, and create, and I fnd Japan to be the perfect easel for it all! I’m excited to curate travel pieces from the international community in Japan and discover some unknown, ofbeat places in the process!

Most memorable travel moment?

My favorite travel moment was seeing Kiyomizu-dera for the frst time; one of the most famous temples in Japan, it was my frst experience of a “temple in the sky” and it made me feel closer to the Earth and Japan’s history. And, we topped it of with black sesame ice cream, always a classic.

If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

It would have to be the classic epitome of feminist workplace comedy 9 to 5, because watching three women get high and try to murder their sexist boss is always a good time.

Alexandra Crombie Wellness

Hello! My name is Alexandra and I am currently a frstyear JET living in Takasaki. I’m from Manchester in the U.K. and I have previously worked with Big Issue North magazine. My favourite book is Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, and I enjoy teaching, writing, and eating a ridiculous amount of sashimi.

What is your favorite self-care activity? Taking myself out for dinner Sometimes I need nice food and no company.

What do you think is the most important part of wellness while living in Japan?

Finding ways to communicate other than conversation; giving omiyage is a great example.

Ryon Morrin

General Section Editor

My name is Ryon Morrin and I’m a General Section Editor at CONNECT Previously, I was writing album reviews forthe Entertainment Section. Now, as an editor, I’m excited for many new opportunities and experiences. I’ve been living in central Hokkaido for just over two years as a JET Program ALT and I love it. I’m a big music nerd and I enjoy artists across all genres. Live music venues are my second home. Hokkaido is a very wide space to explore, and I’m always ready to hit the road and go somewhere new. Although the season here in the north is short, I’ve grown to love climbing mountains, too. I’ve also discovered a love of rhythm games andarcades.

Favorite Japan-based musical artist?

My favorite Japanese artist is a band called toe. They’re from Tokyo Stylized as “toe.” with the period and lowercase t

What is your go-to game at the Japanese arcade?

My favorite arcade game is called O.N.G.E.K.I. It’s a rhythm game.

James Ball

General Section Editor

Hello, I’m James, one of the General Section Editors here at CONNECT. Having grown up in the chilly, open plains of Minnesota, the mountainous coastlines of Japan have been a welcome change. I live in Shikoku’s Ehime Prefecture, and I enjoy tasty food and long walks in my small town.

Favorite part of living in the inaka?

I absolutely love how quiet the inaka is, it’s so nice to be away from the sounds of the city and experience nature!

If you could only eat one Japanese food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I would have to choose sushi, it’s simply too difcult to go without.

Sophia Maas

General Section Editor

Hello! I’m Sophia Maas and I’m a frst-year ALT. I am stationed in Saga Prefecture. My hometown is Nashville, Tennessee, and I got my undergrad degrees at Middle Tennessee State University in English and Global Studies. I like reading books, playing video games, and traveling. I love talking about writing, culture, and unique experiences, which are all things we do here! I am very excited to be working with the CONNECT team and can’t wait to see what we produce this and next year!

What do you miss most from Tennessee? I miss the friends I made. It can sometimes be lonely to live in a new place, but thankfully I can still talk to them when I need to!

What are you most looking forward to this year? Maybe this will sound boring, but I’m actually most excited about all the books I’ll be able to read this coming year

Marco CIan

Website Editor

Website

My name is Marco Cian, and I don’t actually look like this. It’s a clever disguise. This year I’ll be the Web Editor for CONNECT Magazine, and I’ll also be on my second year here in Hyogo. Right now, I’m trying to obtain full fluency in Japanese and to achieve my final form at the gym. I hope I can make CONNECT’s web articles as engaging as its PDFs and that I can gain some new readers of my Substack novel by the end of the year

What is your go-to study hack? I would say the best hack is to consume Japanese media while practicing rote memorization of vocabulary. Doing both simultaneously will help make the other easier

What is one word you would use to describe your Substack novel? Pratchett-esque.

Norris wang

Website Editor

Website

Hi! I’m Norris, a JET-alumnus who’s been living and working in Osaka for ten years. I’m new to the team this year and joining as an Assistant Web Editor. I’m originally from Minnesota and hope I can be of help to the community here, learn more information, and perhaps even connect with others! My passion is aikido, and my dream one day is to be able to spend more time practicing than working a job. I also like to play PC games and listen to the radio (music and news).

What is your favorite move in aikido? Kokyunage, I guess.

If you could only play one PC game for the rest of your life, what would you choose? Minecraft if only because people seem to keep playing it.

VALERIE MERCADO

Social Media Manager

Hey y’all! I’m Valerie, a frst-year ALT in the beautiful Mie Prefecture. When I’m not missing Tex-Mex food or home-cooked Filipino meals, you can fnd me taking photos, practicing my fute, or making videos! My current hobby, besides cafe hopping, is collecting mascots from all over Japan.

What is your favorite social media platform? What is your least favorite?

Favorite social media platform currently is TikTok! My least favorite would have to be a tie between Facebook and Instagram.

What are your top three Japanese mascots?

My number one favorite Japanese mascot is Kiho-Cho’s Kame Ranger. Number two is Hita City’s Nashiro. Number three is Kyoto Tower’s Tawawa-chan.

LLOYD CRUICKSHANK

Head of Design & Layout

Wah gwaan deh! Ow oonu do? My name is Lloyd Cruickshank, a ffth-year JET living in Okayama. I hail from a wee little island just 90 miles south of Cuba called Jamaica. I’ve been tasked with the honor of being this year’s Head of Design for CONNECT Magazine. I have a deep passion for art, appreciate good conversation, love a good book, and enjoy playing basketball. I believe that we are all born with a paintbrush and the world is our canvas; I’m just trying to paint the world with a coat of happiness. I’m looking forward to creating positive memories and hopefully leave a positive impact through my tenure with this magazine. Bless up oonu self an waak gud!

How would I describe my favorite design style?

I don’t have a preferred design style tbh; I’m an eclectic person that fnds inspiration in the most uncanny of places. Most I can say is that the canvas always starts out white and I’m seldomly 98% satisfed with my designs . but deadlines must be met.

What food do you miss most from Jamaica?

This one is tough! . . . It changes both daily and based on the emotion I’m feeling at that particular time.

Emily griffth

Assistant Head Designer

Hello everyone! I’m Emily, a frst-year ALT originally from Birmingham, England. This will be my second year as part of the CONNECT team, continuing my role as Assistant Head Designer. I studied Graphic Communication at university and gained experience researching and designing editorial layouts. In my spare time I enjoy many aspects of art and I’m particularly interested in fashion. I also enjoy hiking, skiing, and attempting to learn Japanese!

What is the best hike you’ve done in Japan? The Kibune to Kurama hike in Kyoto.

What is one word you would use to describe your personal fashion style? Eclectic.

kristen camille

Assistant Designer

Hi, I’m Kristen! I’m a second-year JET from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Before moving to Fukuoka on the JET Program in 2021, I earned a living as a graphic designer who dreamed of one day working on a magazine. Needless to say, I now find myself living the dream as a part of CONNECT Magazine! Outside of graphic design and teaching, I enjoy tending to my balcony garden, painting in oils, and traveling around the lush southern island of Kyushu.

What is your favorite plant in your balcony garden?

My favorite plant is rosemary. I love the scent.

What is the best spot you have visited so far in your prefecture?

My favorite spot in Fukuoka is definitely Dazaifu. There’s Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and the Kyushu National Museum there, both of which are jaw-dropping, must-see places in Fukuoka.

Amy ratcliffe

Assistant Designer

Hello everyone! I’m Amy, originally from London, England and a frst-year JET located in Uwajima, Ehime. I’m joining the team as an Assistant Designer and am excited to work on many great articles! Before JET, I worked as a designer/video editor for large skincare and makeup brands. It was a lot of fun and incredibly fast paced, but I was able to work on a lot of really fun projects. I love all things art and design (and I’m a bit of a video editing nerd), so in my spare time you can fnd me either drawing or maybe I’ll be exploring rural Japan!

What is the most interesting thing you learned while working with skincare companies?

I learnt so much about skincare in general and how to fnd products to suit certain skin types. This is something I never thought would be the case because my job was in the creative department.

Do you have any art styles you wish you knew more about? So very many, more so in animation. I really wish I had learnt more about 3d design and rendering. My knowledge is very limited but I fnd it so interesting. I also just wish I had more time to practice drawing certain things I’ve always struggled with (perspective/hands/noses. . . ).

natalie andrews

Copy Editor

Hey there! I’m Natalie, a JET alumna who lived in Tokyo and who’s now back in Australia. This is my fourth year as part of the CONNECT team, and I’m so happy to be back! I’m looking forward to polishing up all kinds of articles this year and am super excited to see all of your submissions. I’m a huge fan of reading, writing, gaming (handheld console loyalist, sorry), and hiking! I am currently mourning the lack of mountains my home town has to ofer. . . hiking on gently rolling hills just isn’t the same. Maybe it’s time to move back to Japan.

What do you miss most about Tokyo? What are you most glad to have escaped? I miss the ease of public transport and how simple it is to take day trips out for hiking, sightseeing, and all of that! Very occasionally, I also miss the bustling atmosphere of the city—it always feels very alive. I am most glad to have escaped tripping over countless tiny primary school kids on the walk up to work.

What was the best hike you did in Japan? Mt Nabewari in Kanagawa! After a long and grueling hike up to the mountaintop, you’ll be rewarded with a steaming hot nabe-udon served from a tiny shop on the peak. The views of Mt Fuji and the occasional hang glider made it an even better experience!

Sage Olges

Copy Editor

Hey, hey! I’m Sage, a frst-year JET in Gunma Prefecture. I’m thrilled to fnally be in Japan again after a brief stint in Tokyo right before the pandemic. In my free time, I can usually be found checking out the latest indie video games, watching flms, or sharing cat pictures. I’m super excited to see what stories we are able to share with you this year!

What is one word you would use to describe your frst year in Japan? Sitcom.

What is one grammar point that you obsess over? Efect vs. afect. This drives me crazy. Efect is typically a noun referring to the result of something, while afect is typically a verb referring to something’s infuence. The effect of the improper use of these words negatively afects your writing!

ashley leung

Copy Editor

Hi everyone! My name is Ashley Leung, and I’m a frst-year JET ALT in Uwajima, Ehime (where we endearingly have pearls, and oranges, and nothing else. Woo!). I come from sunny and green-juiceobsessed Los Angeles, California. I recently graduated with an English degree (Education Studies minor) and hope to work in the education feld as either a professor or a teacher. In addition to writing, I love reading other people’s works, so rest assured that aside from nitpicking over grammar and style, I am most importantly appreciating the content you’ve written!

What is your favorite author (or current favorite)? My current favorite author is Mo Xiang Tong Xiu.

If you could only bring one book with you on a deserted island, what would you choose?

If I could only bring one book with me on a deserted island, I’d bring Ling Ma’s Severance

Jon solmundson

Copy Editor

G’day! I’m Jon; Canadian born, Australian raised, and slowly morphing into a frost giant as I settle in for my third Hokkaido winter. Most of the year you’ll fnd me camping, fddling with my camera, or playing far too many board games. I’m now going into my second year of copy-editing with the CONNECT team, and so continues my ever-twisting journey of learning exactly when a comma is and is not required. Will I ever truly learn this largely arbitrary grammatical art? You’ll just have to keep reading the magazine to fnd out!

What is the most underrated piece of camping equipment?

Bring one more pair of thick socks than you think you need. Thermal socks are a godsend on a cold night, and if you ever get wet feet, or sufer the deep misfortune of having your foot sliced open somehow, you’ll be direly in need of that spare.

If you could only play one board game for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Carcassonne: There are deeper games, funner games, more beautiful or innovative games—to be sure—but Carcassonne combines the universal joy of assembling jigsaw puzzles with a delicious morsel of “I’’mma steal your points” meanness, all while staying simple enough to play with kids and impatient adults.

CONTRIBUTINGTO

CONNECTisamagazineforthe communityinJapan,bythe communityinJapan.Everyone iswelcometowrite,nomatter yourexperienceorstyle!Ifyou haveanideayouwanttoseein thesepages,reachouttoour HeadEditor,oranyofour awesomesectioneditors.We’ll workwithyoutomakeitthe bestitcanbeandshareitwith ouraudienceofthousands.Not everyarticleneedstobean essay!Wefeatureinterviews, infographics,top-tenlists, recipes,photospreads, travelogues,andmore.

ContacttheHeadEditorof CONNECT,MonicaHand,at connect.ajet.editor@gmail.com withyoursubmissions, comments,andquestions.

ARTICLES

Writeaboutsomethingyou’re doing.Writeaboutsomething youlove.Tellusastory.

SPOTLIGHT

Tellus about someone inyour communitywho’sdoing somethingneatandnoteworthy. Cooks,collectors,calligraphers— wewanttohearaboutthe inspiringpeoplearoundyou.

PHOTOS

Members oftheJETcommunity contributedtothephotosyou seeinthisissue.Ifyou’rean aspiringphotographerandwant yourworkpublished,pleaseget incontactwiththelead designer, LloydCruickshank,at connect.ajet.visualmedia@g mail.com.

COMMENTS

Letusknowwhatyouthink. InteractwithusonFacebook, Twitter,andissuu.com.

CONTRIBUTORSPAGE

Haveanarticleyouwantto share?JoinourContributorsPage onFacebooktostayconnected withourteamsoyoucanshare youradventureswheneverstory strikes!