API.ARY E-Zine; 2023 Winter Issue, Volume 11

api.ary magazine

WINTER 2023 VOLUME 11

about the cover The winter season is significant in the coming-of-age tradition known as "Seijin no Hi" or "Coming of Age Day" because it symbolizes the transition from childhood to adulthood. The cold and harsh winter weather represents the challenges and responsibilities that come with being an adult.

Photographed by Mhikie Manzanares Location: Sensoji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo

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No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

API.ARY ISSUE 11 © 2023, API AJET Published by API AJET

Photography by Mhikie Manzanares

foreword

API.ARY is a lifestyle and art magazine dedicated to showcasing the talent of Asian Pacific Islanders during their time in Japan and on the JET Programme. API.ARY is always looking for contributors. Please email submissions to apiajet@gmail.com with your name and files of your submission.

contents PHOTOS

ARTWORK 19 Still life artwork by Amy

11 A Frozen Moment in Time

by Ara Rivedeneira

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Winter Through The Eyes of API AJETS

17 Hometown by Amy Lagmay

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A Winter Haiku by Anonymous

18 Biking (solo) by Nathan Clemente

18 Home by SDLA

Photography by James 20 Bowen 21

The Thaw by Amy Yuka Vogenthaler

22 People of Kanto by Mhikie Manzanares 3

WORDS

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23 Keeping Tradition by LS

letter from the editor

As I am writing this message, I am on a train somewhere in the heart of Vietnam for my Indochina trip. Throughout this trip, I have been pondering about how life unfolds in different parts of the world—simultaneously and in different ways and different meanings.

I invite every reader of this edition of API.ARY to do the same—contemplate about the serendipity of being in where you are and the opportunity and power of influence that you all have to bring pieces of your unique life experiences and identity as an API to the lives of the peoples around you. May this issue bring you inspiration and help you find meaning on how life unfolds before you wherever you are.

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Photography by Nathan Clemente

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Photography by Ara Rivedeneira

winter through the eyes of

api ajets Tokyo / Second Year ALT

Yuka Vogenthaler

I spent the beginning of my fuyu yasumi in Gunma, mainly Kusatsu Onsen, a beautiful hot springs town. I had a cozy white Christmas that began at a ryokan, in a serene rotenburo (open-air bath) mid-snowfall. Followed by the most amazing kaiseki ryōri, a traditional 9course meal crafted with the most intricate little dishes.

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Hokkaido / Second Year ALT

May Jayme Pho

It was my first time to attend the Sapporo Snow Festival. It got cancelled for the last three years due to the pandemic. But I was glad to have seen it with my 4 kids. There were snow sculptures ranging from life-sized to 3 stories high, and a light show called Projection Mapping, a German Christmas Market and some ice sculptures as well! One of the most photographed sculptures though is that of Spy Family's Anya with her famous smirk. It was strange to see a lot of tourists from all over the world in my city since the pandemic. That was the only time we went out for the winter break, we spent the rest at home because it was freezing out there!

to f ro Wo m Jap nde a r Bl n og

Ibaraki / First Year ALT

Michael Cercado This winter break was my first time away from friends and family, but luckily I made new friends here in Japan. I went sightseeing around Yokohama, and I climbed Mt. Nokogiri, Mt. Otake and Mt. Mitake. It was sweaty and awesome!

Photo fro

m Japan

Guide

Miyazaki / First Year CIR

Yuuki Ito

I am a Nikkei (Japanese Diaspora).

Back in Canada, my grandmother and mother (both Osaka 1st gen immigrants) would cook Osechi style cooking to the best of their ability.

This year, since I visited my Grandfather, we had Osechi on new years. Having Osechi for the first time as an adult in Japan was a familiar, yet shinsen (new) experience.

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Bill Mie / First Year ALT

勝浦

Four-day solo motorcycle adventure around (Katsuura) in Mie/Wakayama Prefecture meeting random strangers at my hostel and going to beaches, visiting seaside onsens, hiking to cliffsides, and visiting temples. I ate some of the best tuna of my life freshly caught from Katsuura and witnessed an amazing scene as I sat in a natural sulfur onsen right next to the ocean! It was relaxing to sit in the hot water while hearing the sounds of the waves crash into the cliffside.

Hokkaido / Second Year ALT

Mary Abcde San Miguel

I went snowboarding with friends and explored different Hokkaido Ski Resorts—Furano, Asahikawa, Otoineppu, Nayoro, Wakkanai. I also went to the Sapporo Snow Festival with other ALTs in my placement.

Ria Gifu / Second Year ALT There’s no winter in the Philippines but we have epic Christmas parties in our two-week Christmas break (for schools, at least). That’s two weeks spent in parties and family reunions with a major feast and singing and gossip and exchanging gifts. At work, there’s a Secret Santa and more Christmas parties and White Elephant games. I miss that. Christmas is HUGE in my country, and I’m sad that it’s a non event here in Japan.

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Still winter morning The heavy, quiet snow sings before the blossom -Anon

Photography by Amy Yuka Voganthaler 10

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Photography by Ara Rivadeneira

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Home Words by SDLA

“How long are you staying here?”

“When are you coming back to your country?”

“Do you have any plan on going home yet?”

I flinch subconsciously when people ask me questions like these.

The feeling of emotional isolation, this subconscious feeling of anxiety, of frustration, of uncertainty. This is how I felt several years ago when I moved here to Japan.

With nothing else to respond, I just find myself replying back something along the lines of this phrase, shrugging off the emotion, and staying as polite and as stiff as possible.

“I don’t know. It depends on many things. Thanks for asking, but we’ll find out this summer.”

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For me, it’s not easy to define what “home” truly means - especially if you’re transplanted thousands of kilometers away from a place that is considered “home” by citizenship.

It has always been a challenge for me.

I have struggled defining it after moving from place to place. From city to city. From country to country. Due to family reasons, movement has been the foundation of my childhood, and movement has since been at the center of my life.

Having people you grow up with is something I have always yearned for, but never had. Having best friends you’ve been with since kindergarten is a rare privilege I wish I have had but never did. Just like in those random slice-of-life anime or TV dramas.

However, I had to endure the feelings, and accept the fact that for me, there was no such thing as permanent, there was only change.

And yet, I found myself unsatisfied even long after my post-secondary years. In search of that feeling of belonging, I had to get out and transplant myself. That was when I moved to Japan to work and live here to teach.

When I moved to this historical port city at the heart of Tohoku, I did feel very lonely, I had very little Japanese to start off with, and I had very little experience teaching. All I had in my arsenal is the willpower to bite the bullet, take whatever comes my way, and learn how to survive even in the worst situation possible. It wasn’t easy, especially when you’re meeting a variety of people with a variety of personalities in such a fast-paced working environment day in and day out five days a week.

When I had been asked to decide whether to renew my stay, I had to decide - whether to leave because I struggled to get along with my fellow peers my age, or give myself another chance to stay and focus my entire energy on teaching and supporting fellow teachers - and then hope for the best. I opted for the latter. And at that time, I had decided to rekindle my passion for drawing - a hobby I had long abandoned.

I started to write on the blackboard to help my fellow teachers in class writing letters of the alphabet, then putting out cute sketches to make my students happy and delighted. I soon found myself making original illustrations on my handouts I use for my classes, or even drawing cute little characters on students’ notebooks whenever I got asked to check their writing. Hungry to connect with other people through art, I began volunteering for the local city museum on weekends, I tried to reach out to other friends who liked art, and even tried to participate in art and cultural events.

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Subconsciously, art became the catalyst for me to connect with people. Soon, my colleagues, students, and friends took notice. They had begun noticing my work.

Soon, I had eventually found myself spending time reaching out to people in the community who liked my work more than struggling to please those whom I thought I should be close with.

Then came the next round of renewals, people asked me whether I could stay. For a moment, I had to stop and ask myself, “Could this be my home? I’m just a foreigner, right?” What defines a home can vary from person to person. For some people, some people define home as a place which brings a sense of comfort after a long and busy day. Others may define it as a physical property they invest in. For me home is difficult to define, but then I try to look back and see what made me want to stay here after all these years.

With the conversations with the people I have met here, the students I have met and seen them grow, the teachers whom I still continue to encounter from school to school, the one thing that continues to stay constant is that Home is a place, and a feeling that brings joy, a place that brings a sense of belonging.

A place where if you devote as much time as you can helping and supporting the people around you, the kindness will truly return tenfold. I found myself creating art with students, doing collaborative work with other artists, and even holding a few art exhibitions, all thanks to everyone’s kindness and eagerness for them to me to be a part of their so-called homes.

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In the reality of things, my home may not be a permanent physical document printed on paper, but home can be defined in the kindness of the people who have welcomed me. And for that this makes me extremely grateful for them to have me make Japan, at the very least, my current home.

I was amazed at the kindness of people who come up to me and say “Hi!”, the words of support from folks who say “Hey, when are you drawing again?”, the smiles and enthusiasm from students and even their parents long graduated for years through every encounter on the street.

In my six and a half years finding and figuring out what home is, I discovered that it doesn’t take much effort. All you gotta do is to be who you are. Be nice to others. Help those who need that help. Say thanks. Focus your energy on those who are willing to make you grow.

For how long, we don’t know.

But the next time someone asks me when I am going home, all I can answer is…

“Well, I am here, for now. I’ll figure out the rest tomorrow.

As long as everyone welcomes me here, I’ll continue to make this place my home.”

Home is a place, and a feeling that brings joy, a place that brings a sense of belonging

At the end of the day, it’s all about the people. And it is the people here in my community who welcomed me into their homes, even after all these years.

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Photography by Savannah Lagmay

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Photography by Nathan Clemente 4

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Artwork by Amy Nguyen

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Photography by James Bowen

Photography by James Bowen

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Photography by Amy Yuka Vogenthaler

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People of Kanto

Photography by Mhikie Manzanares

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Keeping Tradition WRITTEN BY LS In late January, my friend and I visited the charming city of Hachinohe, Japan, for a tour showcasing a remarkable festival known as Enburi that takes place each year, captivating locals and visitors alike. Enburi is a celebration deeply rooted in tradition, dating back centuries, and serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of cultural heritage. This article delves into the essence of the Enburi Festival and highlights the importance of preserving and cherishing such traditions.

Enburi, meaning "Festival of Rice Planting," is a vibrant and lively event that pays homage to the agricultural heritage of Hachinohe. Held annually in early February, the festival is a captivating display of music, dance, and community spirit.

Its origins can be traced back to the Edo period when farmers would pray for a bountiful harvest by offering dances to the gods of agriculture.

During the tour, we were taught the history of Hachinohe, how sake is produced, and its connection to spirituality and tradition. First, we visited the Hachinohe Sake Brewery in the middle of town. After a tour of the brewery, we had a tasting of some delicious local sake as well. Purchasing our favourite bottle from the tasting, we headed to Ogami Jinja next, the oldest shrine in Hachinohe, dating back to the Heian Era. While there, we listened to the head priest recounts the shrine's history and bless our bottles of sake.

However, our favourite part of the tour was when we arrived at a small, sort of shabby-looking building, where when entering inside we were greeted by a warm sight of a community coming together to prepare for the upcoming Enburi Festival.

Offerings at Ogami Jinja

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Here, in this tiny room, over 30 people gathered, young and old, to practice traditional dances, such as the Naga-enburi and the Daikoku-mai (see bottom left picture), that will be performed in just a few weeks' time to thousands of tourists and locals alike. We also had the chance to meet a young boy named Ryuji, who was performing at this year's Enburi for the first time.

Keeping traditions alive requires the active participation and dedication of both the older and younger generations. In Hachinohe, the Enburi Festival is a collective effort that brings together people of all ages.

Experienced dancers and musicians pass down their knowledge and skills to the younger members of the community, ensuring the continuity of the festival for generations to come. This transfer of cultural heritage instills a sense of responsibility and belonging among the youth, inspiring them to carry forward their traditions.

While the Enburi Festival remains deeply rooted in tradition, it has also evolved over time to reflect the changing dynamics of society.

New elements have been incorporated, ensuring its relevance and appeal to younger audiences. This balance between preserving tradition and embracing innovation is crucial for the continued success and longevity of cultural festivals.

The Enburi Festival of Hachinohe serves as a shining example of how ancient traditions can be kept alive while remaining vibrant and engaging.

The Enburi Festival of Hachinohe stands as a testament to the resilience and perseverance of cultural traditions. It serves as a vibrant tapestry woven with the threads of history, community, and artistic expression. By cherishing and actively participating in such festivals, communities ensure that their heritage remains alive and vibrant for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. The Enburi Festival's continued existence is a testament to the enduring power of tradition and its ability to bridge the gap between the past and the present.

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Ryuji Practing the Daikoku-mai

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Photography by Ara Rivadeneira

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Photography by Nathan Clemente

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS API.ARY is continuously accepting submissions from the Asian Pacific Islander community in Japan. Please send in your submissions or any suggestions to apiajet@gmail.com