Japanese at Work by englishbooks.jp

Japanese at Work contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

PART ONE: NAGASAKI Temple Abbot.......................................................................... 6 Doctor / Researcher............................................................... 8 Fishermen................................................................................. 10 Flight Attendant...................................................................... 12 Girlie Bar Owner/ Manager.................................................. 14 Photographer............................................................................16

PART TWO: KUMAMOTO 7. Kindergarten Teacher..............................................................19 8. Kimono Sensei.........................................................................22 9. Tarot Card Reader................................................................... 24 10. Psychiatrist............................................................................... 26 11. Tofu Maker............................................................................... 28 12. Traditional Sweets Chef......................................................... 30 13. Soybean Farmer....................................................................... 32 14. Beekeeper.................................................................................. 34 15. Taxi Driver................................................................................ 36 16. Reporter.................................................................................... 38 17. Motorcycle Repairman.......................................................... 40 18. Social Worker........................................................................... 42 19. Writer / Filmmaker................................................................. 44 20. Hotel Clerk............................................................................... 48 PART THREE: GIFU PREFECTURE 21. Hariko Craftsman....................................................................52 22. Freeter.........................................................................................54 23. Tapestry Craftswoman........................................................... 57 24. Nursing Mother Specialist.....................................................59 25. Spinach Packager..................................................................... 62 26. Coffeeshop Owners................................................................ 64 27. Telemarketer.............................................................................66 2

7 9 11 13 15 17

21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 37 39 41 43 - 47 - 50 -

53 56 58 61 63 65 68

28. Innkeeper............................................................................... 69 - 71 29. Pyramid Marketing Saleswoman ..................................... 72 - 73 30. Jazz Club Owner................................................................... 74 - 75 31. Hairstylist............................................................................... 76 - 82 32. Early Childhood Education Teacher................................ 83 - 89 33. Antique / Knickknack Shopkeeper.................................. 90 - 100 34. Rescue Worker......................................................................101 - 104 PART FOUR: AKITA 35. Violinist.................................................................................. 106 - 107 36. Veterinarian........................................................................... 108 - 109 37. Restaurant Manager/Chef................................................ 110 - 111 38. Traditional Soy Sauce Manufacturer................................ 112 - 113 39. Environmental Specialist................................................... 114 - 115 40. Japanese Professor............................................................... 116 - 118 41. Labor Union Representative............................................. 119 - 122 PART FIVE: OSAKA & TOKYO 42. Social Worker for Homeless...............................................124 - 125 43. Day Laborer...........................................................................126 - 127 44. Car Counter...........................................................................128 - 129 45. Magazine Vendor..................................................................130 - 131 46. Cardboard Collector............................................................132 - 133 47. Ex-Deli Manager...................................................................134 - 135 48. NGO Consultant................................................................. 136 - 137 PART SIX: OTHER (HOKKAIDO, OVERSEAS) 49. Human Rights Activist in Hokkaido................................ 139 - 141 50. Factory Worker from Brazil................................................142 - 145 51. Restaurant Owner in Thailand.......................................... 146 - 151 52. Tailor in Vientiane, Laos.....................................................152 - 161 53. NGO volunteer in Cambodia............................................162 - 163 note: As of May 2013, ¥100 equaled U.S. 97¢ 3

7. Inada Harumi Kindergarten Teacher Inada-sensei is actually a yochien teacher. Yochien is translated as kindergarten, but the system is a little different from that in the United States, for example. In Japan, the school is usually completely separated from the elementary school, and students generally attend for three years from the age three. Why did you want to become a teacher? My father was an elementary school teacher. Sometimes his students came to play at our home, so I thought teaching was a great job. What are the good points of

teaching kindergarten? Children bow very seriously at the graduation ceremony. It’s exciting to watch. I cry tears of joy every year. I’ve had ex-students come back as mothers–this is exciting. When I was single, it was easy to say good things to mothers about their children, but I couldn’t say anything negative. But after I became a mother, I understood the importance of commenting on a child’s weak points as well. Mothers appreciate that. We can become closer. Any bad points? It’s very easy for me to injure my back or get a sore throat, especially as I get older. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid any significant injuries or illnesses, but by the end of the term I am usually looking forward to a rest. How is the salary? There are big differences between schools and individuals. Many 19

teachers, the vast majority of whom are female, stay only a few years, then quit. They might get pregnant or just want to move on to a different job. A typical first-year salary is ¥185,000 a month; it’s a little higher for teachers at public schools. Salaries go up a little each year. How have students changed? Personalities are more or less the same. Perhaps today’s kids are more spoiled. Some come in needing their mothers, while some children can’t stop crying. They can’t sit quietly. Also, kids today have more food allergies than before–milk and egg allergies for example. I don’t know why. What do you do with kids? Playing is most important, having fun. Kids love making mud balls; they love playing with clay, playing outside. You know, there is much children can learn from play, much more than doing academic drills, I think. We also exercise, talk about problems, write letters to families, things like that. There’s no formal studying. How many days off do you get during the term? From this year, both Saturday and Sunday are holidays. It used to be only Sundays. This is better, but we lose the chance to meet fathers on Saturdays; they were generally the ones to drop off and pick up their kids. Now we usually only see the fathers on Father’s Day. On that holiday the kids prepare a handmade present and give it to them when they come. Last year we made a tie with a picture on it, like dad’s face. Are the kids busy nowadays? Yes. Many kids attend cram schools: art, dance, English and other subjects. I think these aren’t necessary for kindergartners. There’s no time to make close friends or play outside. It’d be great if fathers could stop work a little earlier, have dinner with kids, bathe together, and just spend time together. 20

21. Hirano Akira Craftsman/Fisherman in Kamioka Could you tell me about your job? I do hariko, which is a Japanese traditional craft. The essential materials include paper such as newspaper, water and glue. It’s similar to paper mache. I make fish shapes–red snapper, carp, and goldfish. This job is very enjoyable. It’s better to have a job that’s fun, I think. Of course sometimes I have to hurry to finish by an exhibition opening, or do some repairs which might be tedious, but in general it’s fun. People buy them to decorate their houses, for celebrations, or for good luck, like a dream catcher. I learned at Osaka Arts University. Why did you choose this job? For starters I really like fish. I like decorations, and festivals and bon odori dancing so that makes the job enjoyable. These are the sort of decorations I like, so it’s enjoyable for me to make them. I have hariko exhibitions every three or six months in Takayama, Toyama, Osaka, and other cities. Sometimes I send them by mail, or drive them there. I work on the hariko eight or ten hours a day, a typical working day for Japanese. You also have a job as a fisherman? That’s right. Fishing is really my hobby. Local innkeepers told me they would like to buy ayu (sweetfish) if I catch enough to sell. I can’t actually say it’s a job. I feel deep gratitude for the abundance that nature provides. It’s like when I go to the temple for New Year. That feeling moves me to fish. I typically catch 30. On a good day I might catch 70 or 80 even. With ayu good days are clear days, not rainy or cloudy days. That’s about the only fish I catch. Once in a 52

while I catch trout. Ayu fishing is rather unique as it doesn’t involve a spoon, or fly, or typical bait. I put an ayu onto a hook and drop it iinto the river. The hooked ayu is actually surrounded by a bunch of hooks which ayu in the water apparently can’t see. Ayu crowd around it and get caught on the hooks, not necessarily in the mouth. It’s a very unusual fishing method. Does it taste good? Ayu is easy to eat; you eat everything including head and tail. The stomach is a bit bitter, but since ayu feeds on moss rather than insects it’s fine to eat. Yes, it’s delicious. Excuse me for asking, but about how much money can you make fishing? If I catch 30 I can make about 10,000 yen. I at least catch 20, normally 30. I get up early, do some work on hariko, then get to the river by 10 a.m. and fish until 5 or 6 p.m. That’s enjoyable as well. Of course, some days I can’t fish because of the water level or weather. I stop entirely in the winter and just do hariko. And drink lots of sake as well!