JAPANTODAY’S PREMIER ENGLISH DIGITAL MAGAZINE VOLUME 01 / NOV 30 2012
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HOTEL BEAT
CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS
Insight’s newest section explores three great hotels and features some of their seasonal offerings.
Japan gets into the festive season with spectacular illumination displays.
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TRAVEL
BUSINESS
FAMILY
ENTERTAINMENT
OPINIONS
The Nakasendo and an old post town
Brain Man: Turning the hiring and training world upside down
Eco Kids: Children from 33 countries share their visions for an eco-future
Idol Worship: The talent business is big business in Japan
12 Tips for raising a bilingual child in Japan / Japanese Universities in Crisis
INSIGHT
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TRAVEL
THE NAKASENDO AND AN OLD POST TOWN BY VICKI L BEYER PHOTOS BY JOHN ADAMS
There is a scene in Eiichi Yoshikawa’s classic novel, “Musashi,” in which Musashi is travelling the Nakasendo with the young woman, Otsu, of whom he is enamored. They pause on the road:
All around the ground was covered with wild flowers, still damp with morning dew. Coming to a deserted hut on a cliff overlooking the falls, they stopped. [A] sign read ‘Meoto no Taki’. The reason for the name, “Male and Female Waterfalls,” was easy to understand, for the rocks split the falls into two sections, the larger one looking very virile, the other one small and gentle. The Nakasendo, literally “road amid the mountains” was, for 2 1/2 centuries, one of two major roads for travelling between Kyoto and Tokyo, and one of the 5 major “highways” (“gokaido”) of the Tokugawa shogunate. Yoshikawa chose the Male and Female Waterfalls for this scene of his novel precisely because it is about the tension between Musashi’s latent sexual desire for Otsu and the need for him to maintain the discipline of his swordsmanship. Musashi winds up taking a cold shower in the falls and goes on to become a legendary swordsman. This section of the historic Nakasendo, between the post towns of Tsumago and Magome in Nagano Prefecture, has been restored and can easily be walked as part of a weekend in the area (cold shower optional). I recommend using Tsumago as your base for exploration. It offers a range of overnight accommodation, often in the traditional style and including dinner and breakfast. There is a helpful online reservation service at the Tsumago Tourist Association website: http://tumago.jp Tsumago of the post town era is remarkably well preserved, and you almost feel as if you have stepped back in time. Apparently the reason for the state of preservation originates with the poverty of the local people, whose primary
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TRAVEL
industry was logging but who were prohibited to cut down trees for their own use. The town was also fortunate not to have suffered any major fires, unlike neighboring Magome, most of which has been rebuilt. Additionally, Tsumago was bypassed by the railroad, leaving it for many years as a forgotten backwater. Since the 1970s, however, Tsumago has turned its isolation and inability to modernize to its advantage, capitalizing on its historic buildings for tourism. Yet it doesn’t feel “touristy.” The main road of historical buildings, actually part of the Nakasendo, is less than two kilometers long, so it’s easy to explore. The historical look has been well preserved, with even power lines kept out of sight (an unusual feat in Japan!). Beginning at the north end, the first thing to watch for is the notice board. During the Edo Period, every post town
had a notice board on which laws and governmental proclamations would be posted for all to see. Nearby, a mosscovered waterwheel is often spinning, operating a mill. As you stroll along examining the houses, you’ll soon come to the first of three buildings of particular interest. These three buildings charge admission. Separate tickets can be purchased for each, but the “kyotsu” ticket, giving you admission to all three for 700 yen, offers the best value. The first is Wakihonjin-Okuya. This was the family home of a well-to-do transportation businessman and served as the overflow when the official inn, known as Tsumagojuku Honjin, was full. The building dates from 1877 and is open for tours, albeit conducted in Japanese only. The tour begins in the main reception room, with its magnificent timbers, high ceiling and central fireplace. During the tour, several of the fine features of the house are explained. When the Emperor
Meiji made his grand tour of Japan in the 1880s, he rested in this house. Several items associated with that visit are on display, including the toilet constructed especially for His Imperial Majesty’s use. Practically next door is the Rekishi Shiryokan, or Historical Museum. The displays include maps, historical drawings, and an extensive display on the early logging industry (including photographs, tools, and even a diorama). Many of the labels include English translation. The local hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood—actually 5 species of hinoki—is an excellent timber and it is easy to understand why the Tokugawa government was so draconian in commandeering its use. Across the road is the third building, the Tsumagojuku Honjin, or official inn. This building was reconstructed in the 1990s based on the plans of its early 19th century iteration. Every post town had an 5
TRAVEL
If you’re up for a long hike, just keep going on the Nakasendo when you reach the edge of Tsumago.
official inn, designated as the place where daimyo lords and their retinue would stay when travelling between Edo and their homes. Displays here explain the nature of their travels as well as the facilities made available when travelers stayed. A little further on, to the left above and behind Tsumago’s helpful Tourist Information Center, atop a huge stone wall sits Kotokuji, a Zen temple more than 500 years old. The 18th century main temple building has Nightingale floors, similar to those found at Nijo Castle in Kyoto, an ancient system of intruder alert. The fortress-like situation of the temple can be attributed to its original construction during the Warring States period, when Tsumago was a castle town. The castle was demolished in the early 17th century, although its site, about a kilometer north of the town on the walking trail to Nagiso, is now a park. Also on display here is a wheeled palanquin designed and used by one of the senior priests of the temple in the late Edo Period. The part of the town below the temple is called “terashita no machi-nami,” or row houses below the temple. These are now mostly shops and restaurants but were once the inns frequented by ordinary travelers. Some enterprising merchants offer demonstrations of traditional
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crafts, such as washi paper-making. You might even get to try your hand at it! When you have finished exploring Tsumago, to walk a bit more of the old Nakasendo, and to see the Male and Female Waterfalls, I have two suggestions. If you’re up for a long hike, just keep going on the Nakasendo when you reach the edge of Tsumago. It’s about 8 kilometers to Magome, with a fairly steep ascent just before crossing at Magome Pass (elevation 801 meters). For a shorter, less strenuous, alternative that brings you back to Tsumago at the end of your walk, catch a bus at the end of Tsumago heading in the direction of Magome. Get off at the Ichikoku bus stop, shortly before reaching the pass, and walk back to Tsumago on the old Nakasendo. The walk is less than 5 kilometers and should take about an hour and a half. As the road descends through the woods, you can appreciate why hinoki is so valued as a timber. You will see wild flowers and resting huts as described by Yoshikawa. You’ll also find the Male and
TRAVEL
Female Waterfalls, stone mile markers, and, as you emerge from the forest, small old farmhouses and rice paddies, giving you ample opportunity to imagine yourself back in time, traveling alongside Musashi or even a great daimyo. Getting there From Tokyo:Take the JR Chuo Line Super Azusa (limited express) from Shinjuku to Shiojiri (2 1/2 hours) and then take the JR Chuo Line Shinano (limited express) from Shiojiri to Nagiso (1 hour). From Nagiso Station to Tsumago is 10 minutes by bus or one hour on foot. From Nagoya: Take the JR Chuo Line Shinano (limited express) to Nagiso (1 hour) and then catch the bus or walk to Tsumago.
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BUSINESS
BRAIN MAN
CHARLES PRIBYL CEO of J-PMC Consulting www.j-pmc.com
We have turned the hiring and training world upside down. When Charles Pribyl was an economics student at the University of Colorado, he wondered why people buy Ferraris instead of cheaper cars. In economic terms, it made no sense. All economic theories failed to explain why a $100,000 car sells, and without a discount. A psychology professor told him that when you buy a Ferrari, you’re paying for ego, and you can tell how big a person’s ego is by the price of their car. That’s when Pribyl decided to switch to psychology. Today, Pribyl leads J-PMC and the PMI Consulting Group with a background in communibiology and psychology from the University of Colorado. He is a permanent board member of the Japan Society for the Research on Emotions, and was the 2010 Japan Representative for the International Applied Psychology Association. Before founding J-PMC in 2003, he was Managing Consultant at the Gallup Organization, specializing in HR and employee development. He received the highest client feedback scores of all consultants in Asia and was in ranked in the top 5% worldwide. Pribyl led the first research team to ever map the brain of highly engaged consumers with an fMRI machine in a groundbreaking research project called “The Neuroanatomy of Brand Addiction.” He used the insights gained from that 8
research to develop a profiling system that can choose high performers based on Emotional Intelligence (EQ). Pribyl’s research has been featured on the front page of the New York Times, and in the bestselling book “Human Sigma: Managing the Employee-Customer Encounter.” He has written two books in Japanese and authored more than 25 published research papers in the areas of communication and psychology, including EQ, emotion and motivation, communication competence, email and sms communication strategies, and psychometric employee hiring system effectiveness. J-PMC’s clients include Fortune 500 clients in the areas of finance/insurance, airlines, heavy machinery, high tech manufacturing, multinational communication firms, pharmaceuticals, call centers and the food and beverage industry.
When you mention “brain research” to people for the first time, what sort of reaction do you get? We don’t use that term a lot with clients, but in general, the first two questions I get are usually: “Are you going to look at my brain?” and “Can I see what my brain looks like?”
We help clients find the right place and right job for each employee. We take a look at the top performers and find out psychologically what they are doing and how they think. We talk to the top salespeople who are already there and we interview or do a test on the low performers to compare the differences.
the middle or at the high end. So the answer to this question will tell you -- the employer – nothing, and you’re going to have to try and dig out the candidate’s real attitude during the interview, which is basically wasting time.
We have worked with some of the biggest American, Japanese and worldwide conglomerates to develop custom hiring and training programs based on the results of our tests. So instead of forcing companies to use a pre-made training program (how to be more empathetic, for example), we use the results of each organization, determine the traits of success in that organization/division or team, and then use those traits to develop the structure and programs to recruit, develop and reward high potential employees.
We ask candidates to respond to statements like “Every day is a new day” and “Practice makes perfect.” Applicants can only choose one of the two and rate the strength they think that question applies to them, thus the results are high in predictive ability. Because we have already asked all the high performers how they think, we already know what answer is a high performer’s answer. Applicants don’t. This is useful because sometimes companies will have low productivity and they don’t know why. So we’ll find the high and low performers in each organization. For example, someone might be in accounting but that person might really be better in sales.
Does any other company do this?
Why is EQ important to a company?
Not in Japan. We are unique. We have turned the hiring and training world upside down. Instead of relying on guessing what makes a great employee (10 years experience, cooperation, outside-the-box thinking for example), we have a team of dedicated Ivy League statisticians to analyze what is the best combination of traits for each division for success. In comparison to using a resume, interview and looking at experience which only predicts superior performance at 33%, our system can predict between 78% and 96% of the time. This makes our system a little bit scary for some, but companies who have used it rarely, if ever, quit using our systems. Our EQS is the only EQ test is the in the world to have been approved by an independent accrediting body. In our case, we applied and were approved by the Japanese Association of Psychological Testing.
Can you give us an example of how you rate applicants?
Our EQ test is designed so that each item has two questions selected randomly for each item, and the applicant can choose only one of the two. For example, a traditional test might ask you to rate the sentence “I enjoy working with others” on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “Strongly Disagree” and 5 being “Strongly Agree.” Now if you are applying for a job, you’re going to answer in
EQ is your ability to feel, manage and read others’ emotions. Up to 96% of the time, we can predict your EQ from the results of the questionnaire. The reason why EQ is of critical importance in business is that when employees are faced with situations ranging from the basic to the complex, EQ is how employees make sense of situations. EQ as a basic emotional response system leads employees to respond in predictable ways. These “predictable” responses can be helpful to the situation if they are appropriate and improve the business, and detrimental if not.
How is the test actually administered?
The test is an online test that can be taken on any computer with an Internet connection, and even works on an iPad tablet as well. Each client has a login page, so after an applicant takes the test, the client can log in and see the answers in real time. In comparison with other companies that take 2 to 3 days to return results on a candidate, we can provide results immediately, helping the client make faster decisions, and also helps candidates who don’t have to wait to find out if they will get the job.
after six months. As companies hire fewer numbers, our service becomes more important because if they hire the wrong person, they’ll blow it. So they need to know which applicants will do better. But one thing we don’t do – and clients understand this -- is to recommend that anyone gets fired. That is not what we are about. Ours is a productive tool.
BUSINESS
What are your main services?
How do you market your services?
I’ve never had to advertise. It’s mainly word of mouth. I’ve gotten calls from people who have heard what we have done, some from as far away as Malaysia.
Are you techniques successful in different cultures? I think so. We have used our methods with great success in South Korea and Singapore, for example. The key feelings and emotions don’t change among cultures. How a person displays them may be different.
Tell us about your team
We are 16 in total worldwide. We have seven consultants in Japan and four in America. They all have PhDs in psychology. I use my own tests to hire people. When we were opening an office in Los Angeles, I tested 180 and three passed.
How do you keep up with the latest developments in your field?
I belong to nine professional associations and subscribe to all their magazines and related books. I also attend conferences.
How do you spend your time?
I am on site about 70% of my time, talking with CEOs or with the operations department. I work 7 days a week, but when I have spare time, I love to drive and travel. I used to practice Nihon-den Kenpo and earned a black belt. I started psychology as a hobby and then it became my profession. That’s why I enjoy my job so much.
Are top management receptive to your techniques?
Yes they are. After all, they don’t want to get average performers who might quit
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
LIGHT
UP
10
Japan really gets into the festive season each year with spectacular Christmas illumination displays. Some run from early November to December 25, while others sparkle until February. Fortunately, most displays are eco-friendly, using LED lights, which is a good thing because some of them use millions of the bulbs. Two of the most beautiful and biggest spectacles can be seen at Nabana no Sato theme park in Mie Prefecture, with 7 million LEDs covering 26,400 square meters, and Kobe Illuminage, which is designed like a huge medieval European castle with plenty of space for children to run about and play in. In Tokyo, check out Tokyo Midtown, Roppongi Hills, Odaiba, Caretta Shiodome, Shinjuku Terrace, Tokyo Dome City, Marunouchi, Ebisu Garden Place’s Baccarat Eternal Lights display, Akasaka Sacas and Omotesando Hills, among many colorful sights.
CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
CARETTA AND TOKYO DOME, TOKYO 11
CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
ILLUMINAGE, KOBE
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
TOKYO MIDTOWN, TOKYO
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
ROPPONGI HILLS, TOKYO
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
ODAIBA, TOKYO
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
NABANA NO SATO, MIE PREFECTURE
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CHRISTMAS ILLUMINATIONS 2012
BACCARAT ETERNAL LIGHTS, EBISU GARDEN PLACE, TOKYO 17
FAMILY
ECO-KIDS Children from 33 countries visited Japan earlier this month, sharing their vision of an eco-friendly future lifestyle. The children were winners of 33 Panasonic Corp’s Eco Picture Diary Global Contest held in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. They were honored at an event at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nijo Castle in Kyoto. Many dignitaries attended the event, including Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa, UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova and UNESCO Artist for Peace ambassador and world famous soprano singer Sarah Brightman. In her speech, Bokova said that the bright future lies in the hands of the children and encouraged them to spread eco activities among family and friends. The Eco Picture Diary Global Contest is a program that gives children the opportunity to learn about environment issues while keeping track of their eco activities in a diary format. Approximately 300,000 children from 51 countries and regions participated in the contest.
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At the Kyoto event, each of the children gave a presentation of their unique ecoactivity in their respective countries. They visited Ryogaoka Elementary School in Kyoto to meet and interact with their Japanese counterparts. They enjoyed cultural exchange and challenged together to make a Japanese traditional “uchiwa,” a fan made of wood and paper. Also on the itinerary was a visit to Kiyomizu Temple, another UNESCO World Heritage site in the ancient capital of Japan, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Eco Learning Program.
FAMILY
In this program, students can visit and participate in an interactive environment for learning about World Heritage conservation activities in cooperation with UNESCO and World Heritage Sites. Since its launch in 2011, the program has been held in 10 countries with approximately 4,000 children participated. During the Kiyomizu Temple tour, the children took part in a special light bulb changing event. Each of the children took turns changing the temple’s light bulbs to LED bulbs and learned how energy-efficient LED technology contributes to environmental protection. A Panasonic spokesperson said that the company aims to provide its environmental education programs to 2 million children. The total number of participating students in Panasonic’s eco educational program since its inception in 2009 surpassed 1 million children.
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ENTERTAINMENT
IDOL WORSHIP The talent business is big business in Japan – no product launch is complete without one. They are everywhere – on TV variety programs, on billboards, endorsing products at press conferences and attending glittery events. No matter what TV channel you watch, which magazine you read or which product you buy, you’ll see a “talent” hawking it, whether it is Aya Ueto, SMAP, Becky, AKB48, Mari Yamaguchi, Ko Shibasaki, Moe Oshikiri, Yukie Nakama, Yu Yamada and countless more. The talent business is big business in Japan – no product launch is complete without one. The production companies recruit hopefuls at a young age, train them and then supply them to the media, movie-makers and event organizers. When a new TV show or product endorsement is announced, the media receive invitations to the press conference which they dutifully attend, providing fodder for the pages of tabloids and TV variety programs. Aya Ueto, 27, was Japan’s TV commercial queen for 2011, according to Video Research Co. The actress appeared in ads for more than 10 companies, most prominently for Softbank. AKB48 singers took the next three places. However, the business is very different from the West. In Japan, the stars are employees of the big agencies such as Hori Pro, Oscar Promotions and Johnny’s Jumusho, and as such, get paid a salary – the opposite of the U.S. where the celebrities get the lion’s share and pay a percentage to their agent. The big agencies in Japan have tremendous power when it comes to how their talents are used and reported on – so much so that very few newspapers, magazines and TV stations dare carry negative stories. The agencies are moneymaking machines that work painstakingly to create an image that sells, but also work very hard to protect that image.
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But how talented are the talents or “tarento,” as they known in Japanese? Although many receive singing and dancing lessons, these skills are seldom developed. But it doesn’t matter; the freshness of greenhorns is appealing in Japan, whereas in the West, there is little patience for unpolished apples. Once groomed, the budding celebrities are farmed out to variety shows (there is an A list, B list and C list). With TV dramas, the starlets usually do one
Aya Ueto is Japan’s TV commercial queen.
ENTERTAINMENT
12-episode series and then move on to the next series. In a year, a young actress may star as a flight attendant, a teacher and a detective in three different series, as well as being the image girl for half a dozen different products. A star’s “shelf life” may depend on how scandal-free they remain. Agencies like Oscar Promotions teach their young talents to be careful how they act in public since they never know when a photographer is lurking. But sometimes a scandal erupts – such as when actress-singer Noriko Sakai was busted for drug possession. Here, too, it is interesting to see the difference between Japan and the U.S. Japan has a culture of shame, so that when a star misbehaves in public, they have to practice “jishuku” (selfrestraint), which starts with the public apology and continues with a break from public appearances. The U.S. practice is to deny, spin and when all else fails, try rehab, go to prison and then come out and get religious. Then they publish a tell-all book and reap the rewards of being a repented sinner. Japanese talents can’t do that – you get no points for finding Jesus here. But if a talent is beyond salvage, it doesn’t matter. There is always a fresh new face. Much like a revolving sushi restaurant or a UFO Catcher at a game center, there is a never-ending selection to pick from.
Above Right Model Moe Oshikiri tries Samsung’s Galaxy Note II smartphone. Right Former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi and her husband, actor Masaya Nakamura promote NESCAFE’s coffee cream powder brand Nestle Brite.
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HOTEL BEAT
THE PENINSULA HOTEL TOKYO
Address 1-8-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100-0006 Contact Tel: +81 03-6270-2888 Fax: +81 03-6270-2000 Email: ptk@peninsula.com Web http://www.peninsula.com/tokyo
Location
The Peninsula Tokyo is located at the crossroads of Harumi Dori and Naka Dori, opposite the Imperial Palace and Hibiya Park. Directly connected to Hibiya subway station with four train lines, it is easily the most accessible luxury hotel in Tokyo. Close to the Otemachi financial and theatre districts, and Aoyama fashion district, business executives can rely on more time with clients and customers and less time commuting.
Accommodation
Among the most spacious in Tokyo, all guestrooms and suites are furnished to the very highest standards of luxury. Rooms are designed for business travellers’ maximum convenience, with separate work desk, multi-functional fax machine and multi-socket adaptor power sockets with complimentary wired and wireless broadband internet access. Standard amenities and services such as an espresso machine, local newspaper and a complimentary shoe shining service will make your room a home-away-from-home.
Wellness
Understanding the effects of demanding routines on business executives, the hotel provides a sanctuary for deep relaxation or re-energizing your body and mind at The Peninsula Spa. To enhance the benefit of treatments, a luxurious range of heating and cooling experiences, such as crystal steam rooms, lifestyle showers, ice fountains, saunas, and relaxation rooms are available.
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HOTEL BEAT
THE PENINSULA TOKYO
CHRISTMAS DINNER & NEW YEARS
Dining and Entertaining
The hotel’s five restaurants and bar will provide the most fitting setting for every business occasion. To impress your most important clients, Hei Fung Terrace offers traditional Cantonese cuisine with four private dining rooms, while Peter’s stunning views and French cuisine will ensure an nforgettable evening. Kyoto Tsuruya offers a contemporary setting that serves Japanese kaiseki and tempura, while The Lobby and The Peninsula Boutique & Café are ideal places for casual dining or coffee meetings throughout the day.
Family and friends will love the chance to experience the legendary Peninsula service when you let them organise your holiday gathering. Grand or intimate, relaxed or formal, festive banquets and special events for all occasions are their speciality.
Restaurants Peter Hei Fung Terrace The Lobby The Peninsula Boutique & Café Kyoto Tsuruya
New Year countdown party at Peter!
Reservations Tel: +81 03-6270-2888 http://www.peninsula.com/tokyodining
Wine and dine into 2013 with Peter’s New year countdown party! Fantastic five course meal, free flowing Champagne with Moët & Chandon a live band to dance away 2012!
Year End parties at The Peninsula
There is no better way to show your appreciation to colleagues than to host your Christmas or end-ofyear parties in one of our state-ofthe art function facilities, private dining rooms or restaurants. 23
HOTEL BEAT
THE GATE HOTEL KAMINARIMON, TOKYO
Location
Dining & Entertainment
Accommodation
The B Bar adjoining the restaurant (as well as outside terrace) offers an extensive variety of premium wines and whiskies as well as original and seasonal cocktails. Live music is regularly featured with intimate Jazz as well as terrace Bossa nova, perfectly complimenting the evening menu’s French inspired dishes and sublime skyline views. On the upper level a private residents bar offers an exclusive terrace with opulent surroundings and private bar to entertain and enjoy the views while enjoying an original cocktail.
Only a 15 minute walk from the world-famous Tokyo SkyTree ® THE GATE HOTEL KAMINARIMON by HULIC was designed and built to perfectly accommodate foreign visitors, allowing them to experience the new and the old Tokyo while enjoying the latest amenities and highest level of Japanese hospitality.
The Gate Hotel offers 137 guest rooms in a variety of sizes, spacious with tastefully warm and modern design. The largest of which is the 58 square meter suite simply entitled ‘The Gate’ which features classic William Morris wallpaper paired with contrasting modern and chic furnishings. The hotel exudes intimacy and relaxation, featuring the award winning Slumberland beds.
Address 2-16-11 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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One of the most appealing features of the Hotel is the 13th floor restaurant with outdoor terrace all overlooking Asakusa symbol of traditional Japan Senso-ji temple and surrounding market streets as well as the newer but equally iconic Tokyo SkyTree. The breakfast buffet features a wide variety of western dishes such as Eggs Benedict, omelet station, salad and fruit bar, freshly baked bread and pastries.
Contact Tel: +81 3 5826-3877 Fax: +81 3 5826-3871
Web http://www.gate-hotel.jp
HOTEL BEAT
THE GATE HOTEL KAMINARIMON, TOKYO
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL & SKYTREE VIEWING
Nov 15th- Dec 25th 2012
The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon is perfectly positioned to view the Tokyo SKYTREE’s Christmas illumination spectacular: ‘TOKYO SKYTREE ® Dream Christmas’. At just 1.2km from the Tokyo SKYTREE, the view is outstanding. For this special season there will be a limited promotion offer incorporating a stay in one of our King rooms which overlook the Tokyo SKYTREE, added to this the B Bar will be holding an original cocktail event on Friday evenings where you can enjoy a delicious original creations while ‘drinking in’ the light and magic display from the Tokyo SKYTREE.
Details of the plan: “Christmas Stay in the ‘Classy King’ room overlooking the Tokyo SKYTREE. + Inclusive in the Christmas set: Breakfast selections, Champagne + orange peel chocolate for two.
※ Rooms feature a king size bed. (Classy twin rooms are not available). ※ Reservation- is strictly first-come-firstserved basis, limited to 6 suites per day.
Booking:
+81 3 5826-3877
￥29,148 (including tax and service charges) ※ Prices may vary depending on the day of your stay. Contact The Hotel for details.
The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon A brand new Hotel on Kaminarimon Street in Asakusa, which connects the new Tokyo Sky Tree with the good old Edo Tokyo.
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HOTEL BEAT
MURASAKIZUKA GC HOTEL TOCHIGI
Address 2068, Saotome, Sakura-shi, Tochigi-Ken 329-1414 Contact Tel: 028-686-3011 (Japanese & English) Email: uchiyama@murasakigc.com Web http://www.murasakigc.com
Location
Murasakizuka Golf Club and resort is located in the picturesque area of sakura in Tochigi prefecture, not far from the famed forests and temples of Nikko. The resort can be reached via shinkansen (Utsunomiya station) in 1.5 hours or car in 2 hours.
Course information
Each hole, flat and flanked by magnificent forests aged over 38 years, together with skillfully arranged water hazards and sand traps makes for an exciting and beautiful challenge. Designed by John Benzene and Bob Wolf (USA), this magnificent 27 hole championship course consists of three courses: Ujiie, Katsuragi and Saotome. Total yardage is 10,396 yards, par 108. The courses are laid out over rolling hills with a maximum of 10-meter height differential, with the fairways an average width of 70 meters. Contrasting and Unique landscaping can be found throughout, with ponds and waterfalls making not only beautiful and relaxing scenery but also challenging obstacles. The driving range is also worthy of note, with a well equipped 17 bay 250 yards (all weather) training center.
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HOTEL BEAT
MURASAKIZUKA GOLF CLUB & RESORT HOTEL
CHRISTMAS PLAY AND STAY
Dining and Entertaining
This is a golf resort for the Golfer who likes to combine good food, relaxing and luxurious facilities with fantastic golf. Mind and body relax after a fun day on the course at the Hotel Green Hill, which boasts an outdoor swimming pool, volcanic rock hot springs as well as private villas. The restaurant “Creek” features Japanese and international cuisine. Also a ‘Tepanyaki’ style steak corner offers the finest Japanese beef.
Year end play and stay
Winter Golf in Tochigi is without doubt one of the most enjoyable in japan, with the average mid day temperature in the mid teens.
From December through February Murasakizuka Golf Club & Resort are offering a fantastic overnight pack including: 18 holes of Golf, lunch, dinner, hotel, onsen and breakfast, all inclusive.
Special price
Weekday: 11,340 (Includes tax) Weekend: 20,340 (Includes tax) -Prices based on per person sharing - Minimum two person booking - Discounts available for groups - Return bus from Tokyo available for groups of 20+ golfers.
Features 27 Hole Championship course Hotel and Pool Onsen Creek Restaurant Private Villas Practice Facilities/Range English Speaking Service Reservations http://www.murasakigc.com
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OPINIONS
OPINIONS 12 more tips for raising a bilingual child in Japan BY ADAM BECK Adam Beck is the blogger of Bilingual Monkeys, a site of “ideas and inspiration for raising bilingual kids (without going bananas).” A former teacher at Hiroshima International School, and now a writer for the Hiroshima Peace Media Center, Adam is the father of two bilingual children. URL: bilingualmonkeys.com
Like my earlier article 16 Tips for Raising a Bilingual Child in Japan, these thoughts are suggestions for supporting the English side of a child attending a Japanese school— they’re not prescriptions. Because every family’s make-up, and circumstances, are naturally different, what works for one family may not work as well for another. The strategies that have proven effective for my family, and for other families I have known, might be useful for you, too— or not. The point is: What would be effective for you, for your unique situation, at this particular time? If raising a bilingual child with good English ability is important to you, then this is the question that should remain uppermost in your mind throughout the journey.
1. Don’t leave it to chance
Don’t let the whims of circumstance determine the outcome. You have to actively shape the situation,
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on an ongoing basis, so your child will receive sufficient English input to counterbalance the weight of Japanese exposure. Some take a more laissez-faire approach, saying that English can be picked up later, when the child is older. That may be true, of course, but this disregards the natural desire of many parents to interact with their children in their mother tongue throughout the childhood years. For me, it’s about both the present and the future.
2. Ignore the naysayers Some people, even those who are otherwise well-educated, may warn that your child will
heart of this challenge. Strive to be mindful of your longrange goal and commit to doing your honest best, each day, to move forward another few small steps. Remember that Japanese will continue its relentless progress, so you must be as consistent as you can, as persistent as possible, when it comes to providing English support.
4. Make it fun
There’s no getting around the fact that raising a bilingual child is a lot of hard work for everyone involved, so it’s vital to make the experience enjoyable, too—to whatever degree you can. It’s an odd balance, but I think it’s important to be both very serious and very playful at the same time: serious about the process and yet playful when
“Make an effort to fuel your child’s passions via English resources and opportunities.” become “confused” or suffer other hardships trying to learn two languages at once. Don’t let such comments deter you. At the same time, take people’s prescriptions with a grain of salt. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to families raising bilingual children. In my case, I’m eager to hear about others’ successful experiences—because maybe I can adopt or adapt those strategies for my own family—but only I can really decide what’s appropriate for my particular situation.
3. Seize each day
A child’s bilingual development is a long-term process, but it’s a process that can only be advanced bit by bit, day by day, through regular habits and routines. Thus, the idea of “seizing each day”—taking action day in and day out—is at the very
it comes to carrying that process out. Half of this is simply attitude, but the other half involves implementing activities (books, stories, riddles, games, etc.) that can nurture language development in a lighthearted way.
5. Clone yourself
When your children are small, and are especially in need of English exposure, it can be frustrating when you work long hours and are unable to spend as much time with them as you’d like. One way to address this lack of exposure to some degree—and, again, have fun in the process—is to create videos of yourself reading picture books, telling stories, singing songs, and talking to your children. I did this when my kids were younger and asked my wife to play these videos every day for about 30 minutes. The videos
captivated them (and amazed them when I happened to be in the same room!), while adding many hours of English exposure over those years.
6. Give books as gifts
By making a practice of giving English books as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and other special occasions— and encouraging family and friends to do the same for your kids—you achieve three important things: 1) You help foster their love of books and literacy; 2) You convey the idea that books are special and valued by their loved ones (including Santa); and 3) You continue growing your home library, which should be an ongoing effort.
7. Turn to chapter books
As soon as your children reach a suitable age and language level, I highly recommend reading aloud chapter books that come in a series to help get them hooked on books. Do this daily, for at least 15 minutes, and chapter books will quickly cast a spell and whet their appetite for literacy. (And if reading regularly in person is difficult, try “cloning yourself” on video and have your spouse play a chapter or two each day.) You can find a list of some good series for young children in the post How to Get Your Child Hooked on Books at the Bilingual Monkeys blog.
8. Find a pen-pal
For a child, there may be no better way to promote the written word than through a pen-pal relationship. My daughter has been exchanging letters with a girl in the United States for almost three years. They write to each other (with some support from the parents) about every other month and send presents for birthdays and for Christmas. Hopefully, we can maintain this connection for
9. Fuel natural passions
Make an effort to fuel your child’s passions via English resources and opportunities. For example, my son currently loves Lego and super heroes so I plan to give him books on these subjects for Christmas. In this way, his natural passions and his English ability are being nurtured at the same time. As with books, you can probably find a good DVD on most any topic. If your child likes dinosaurs, for instance, the BBC has a marvelous series called “Walking with Dinosaurs,” including our personal favorite “Chased by Dinosaurs.” Depending on where you live, you might also have access to opportunities in English— like classes, clubs, or other activities—that connect to a child’s special interests.
10. Write a story serial
Last time I mentioned the idea of “captive reading,” in which suitable material for children with basic reading ability is posted in “captive locations,” particularly the bathroom, in order to promote reading practice. Toward this end, I’m now making use of “serial stories.” I write one page every other day or so (with a cliffhanger ending) for a running storyline that features us as the main characters. The roughly ten-part stories are very silly—I’m basically just typing out what pops into my head—but my kids find them funny and are continually pestering me to produce the next installment.
11. Use “carrots” and “sticks”
There are various views when it comes to giving rewards, but I’ve found that a
reasonable use of “carrots” has provided an effective framework for nudging my children to read books and do daily homework. In our case, when they finish reading a book, they earn a little prize— something that genuinely excites them. My son, for instance, likes plastic Pokemon characters and this small reward has heightened his enthusiasm for reading. As for daily homework, it may sound funny, but they’re quite content with a piece of (sugarless) gum after their tasks are complete. And the only “stick” I seem to need (at least so far) is the reminder that they can watch no TV until all their work is finished.
12. Give time and attention
Our children will be little only once, and even then, for barely a blink. Whatever your circumstance, do all that you can to give time and attention to your kids while they’re small. Not only do they need the English exposure that you offer, they need, more than anything, your love. It isn’t always easy to stop in the middle of something when your child interrupts, or answer yet another curious question without irritation, but it’s worth making the effort—every time— in order to promote your child’s English ability and deepen the bond between you as parent and child.
Japanese universities in crisis BY YONE SUGITA Yone Sugita is associate professor of American history at Osaka University. Are Japanese universities internationalized? My short answer is NO. What do we need to do to rectify this sit-
uation? Three things are essential. First, foreign languages are a means to advance and we should give incentives to students to learn foreign languages instead of forcing them to do so. Second, English must be a common working language. Third, foreign students and scholars should study and work together with Japanese students and scholars. The University of Tokyo, the most prestigious university in Japan, has been trying to shift to a fall enrolment system from the current April enrolment system so that it will be easier for Japanese students/scholars to study/work abroad and for foreign students/scholars to come and study/work at Japanese universities. This is a wonderful idea, but it would require tremendous changes to Japanese society: changing school enrolments at all levels from kindergarten to high schools, altering the examination dates for public servants, physicians, lawyers, and many other professions. Rather than trying to change the whole system, we can do many things within our own university to carry out internationalization in a more practical way. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Center for East and South-East Asian Studies at Lund University and the American Studies Section of the English and American Institute at Technical University Dortmund (Germany). Both organizations constitute excellent role models for Japanese universities that aspire to become more internationalized.
has made a bold decision NOT to employ the language requirement as most other departments and institutions where area studies are offered. At Lund, master-course students who study Chinese economics or Japanese politics do not have to learn the Chinese or Japanese languages. There may be pros and cons about eliminating the language requirement, but this certainly makes the center a unique entity. I have been teaching at the School of Foreign Studies at former Osaka University of Foreign Studies and currently Osaka University for over 20 years. This school currently offers 25 languages as majors. Because our students have to spend a substantial amount of time on acquiring language proficiency, they do not have enough time and energy to learn subject matter. They might read and speak Swedish without much knowledge of Swedish politics or history.
OPINIONS
some time to come, but even so, the experience has already benefited her growing writing ability and her grasp of the value of English.
Often, students regard acquiring foreign language skills as their goal at university. They tend to forget that language is just a means to pursue something else. I would not advocate eliminating the entire language requirement, but students should not be forced to learn foreign languages. Instead, give them incentives to learn foreign languages for themselves. Learning about culture, society, politics, economics, history and other subjects with regard to specific countries or regions would provide students with excellent incentives to learn languages.
The director of the Center at Lund University, Professor Roger Greatrex, has organized the center in such a way as to foster internationalization. Professor Greatrex
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“Japanese universities are far behind the international standard in terms of internationalization.”
The American Studies Section of the English and American Institute at Technical University Dortmund led by Professor Walter Grünzweig, director of the Institute, provides a wonderful model for Japanese university departments that major in Englishrelated subjects like the English Department of the School of Foreign Studies of Osaka University. I had the privilege of attending several undergraduate classes during my visit: Classes on Mark Twain, American movies, Puritanism, street arts, memories of the Holocaust, images of 2012 election, etc. Because classes in the American Studies Section are taught in English, the undergraduate students learn the subjects and many aspects of American studies in English. Classes consist of people of various nationalities such as Poles, Hungarians, British, and Americans as well as Germans. Not only students but also faculty members are heterogeneous. The center consists of faculty members, researchers, and longterm and short-term visiting scholars with many different ethnic, cultural, and language backgrounds such as Austrian, American, Japanese and Turkish besides German. It offers such a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It was inevitable that English had to be a common working language in this community. I also had a chance of attending a staff meeting held once a week that was conducted again solely in English. Thinking about the academic community back in the
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English Department of Osaka University, the only classes taught in English are those taught by native speakers of English to improve students’ English language skills. We have one British, one Irish, and one American colleague in our department. We have had very few long-term and short-term non-Japanese visiting scholars/researchers, say a couple of times, in the last 20 years or so. However, these native English-speaking faculty members and visitors are considered to be temporary outsiders, and they are not invited to our staff meetings. Consequently, I have never experienced a staff meeting conducted in English. We just take it for granted that classes and meetings are conducted in Japanese only. Students in the English Department spend a tremendous amount of time learning how to use English, but once they come to seminars and lectures that deal with America studies, they suddenly encounter classes conducted solely in Japanese. Most, if not all, of the students in classrooms are Japanese. All of them, including Japanese instructors, speak Japanese; they look alike, and think alike. This is a closed, isolated, solitary community. We wrongly believe that we offer one of the best educations in Japan. We would say, “Don’t you know that the English Department is ranked first or second among foreign studies departments among Japanese universities?” Ah, we are a BIG fish in a little barrel. It is high time to look outside, think globally, and do something at home.
I am particularly impressed with the high-standard of the course contents at Dortmund. Students there do many reading assignments in English, they conduct group work in English, make logical and informative presentations in English, participate in heated class discussion in English, and American scholars teach not language skills but literature and cultural study in English. I felt like I was in a classroom in a major research university in the United States. Faculty members carry out extensive preparation to promote students’ interest in American studies for 90 minutes: employing group work, students’ presentations, showing movies and slides, etc. In one class, students have to watch American vampire movies before the class session and conduct lively class discussions based on these movies. In another undergraduate class, several instructors besides the main instructor who was responsible for the class participated in the class and had a lively class discussion on street arts and graffiti in English. Have you ever seen a class like this in Japan? Japanese universities are far behind the international standard in terms of internationalization. Can we change? Yes, we can …. I hope.
A Christmas to Remember Ticket to the Annual Holiday Ball in Minamisanrikucho.
Presented by: O.G.A. FOR AID Registered charity No. 112572
復興クリスマス パーテイー
Support the Christmas to Remember in Minamisanricucho by:
Purchasing a raffle ticket!! OR Purchase a package ticket for a sure thing!
Raffle Ticket: ¥3,000
Package Ticket: ¥50,000
December 16th 2012: The Ticket allows you the following journey: 13:30 Shuttle bus from Sendai station 15:30 arrives at Hotel Kanyo December 16th 2012: 15:30-18:15 check in, onsen etc. • 7:30-8:30 breakfast buffet 18:00 Party doors open • 8:30-9:30 bus tour of Shizugawa 18:20- 21:00 holiday buffet + open bar 18:30–21:15 live bands + performances + santa 21:30 closing speech, presents and goodbyes All proceeds go to sponsoring the event and any remaining funds will be put towards community rehabilitation efforts in Tohoku.
http://www.ogaforaid.org