JQR vol.17 December, 2012 by jqrmag

December 2012 (published on Nov 25, 2012) C OV E R

Photography/Satoru Naito

C O N T E N T S 07 Japan Undercover Hiroyuki Abe 09 Other Eyes and Ears HAMAJI Michio 10

Gifts Made in Japan

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

● LaQ ● Negoro Nichigetsu Tray ● Tea Caddy ● Brazier ● Nambu Cast Iron “Hikifune” ● Teapot ● Kamakura-bori Lacquer ware ● “Robot” by Noriyuki Shimura ● Precision Tops ● Travel Bag ● Kimono Scarf

JQR TOP INTERVIEW

Interview with Rod Lappin, Executive Chairman of Lenovo Japan FASHION

ADJUSTABLE COSTUME

The Luster of Beautifully-Crafted Modernism 38

NEW Leading Doctors Discuss Modern Longevity

Department of Urology, Jikei University School of Medicine Shin Egawa, Professor

Brand Debut!!

Tosayama Ginger Ale

Touring the Festivals of Japan

NEW

Yagorō-don Matsuri in Ōsumi-cho Ichigo-ichie—one word, one picture—a moment with Yasuko Senshu

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Jun Shinozuka Editors

Jun Nakaki Christine Lavoie-Gagnon Dai Furusawa Michael Konin Kato Lyu nari

Designer

Wakako Kawasaki

Translation

Manabiya Inc.

51 The Shirano Theater JQR editorial department

2-1-14 Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-0064 03-3518-2270 JQR advertising department

2-1-14 Sarugakucho, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-0064 03-3518-4488

HIROYUKI ABE

An inside look at what makes Japan tick

Japan Undercover

vol. 1

vol.2

Miraculous Oysters I’m sure you’ve never tasted oysters as

one of their test products—smoked

rich as these before, bursting with a

oysters, olive oil-packed oysters, deep-

rustic flavor that’s hard to forget.

fried scallop patties—has a wonderful

I was in Nishimōne, Karakuwa-cho in

rich taste which instantly convinced me

the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi

that these products have incredible

Prefecture when I tasted these

competitive potential.

miraculous oysters. I had come there to

According to project director Eiichi

hear from Peace Nature Lab, an NPO

Yoshinaga, the food processing

engaged in the restoration of the town’s

workshop will be completed in

marine product industry, which had

December, with manufacturing and sales

taken a devastating blow from the East

due to commence in the new year. In

Japan Disasters.

future they plan to open a direct sales

Oyster and scallop cultivation has been

store as well. Something I found deeply

a flourishing industry in Kesennuma ever

interesting were the plans to conduct

since the Taisho period (1912-1926).

hands-on tours for children. The idea is

The area became famous in the

that children will explore the forest, river

aftermath of the East Japan disaster,

and sea and learn how we humans owe

when the well-known Louis Vuitton

our existence to an abundant ecosystem,

brand threw its support behind two

and be asked to make a picture book

organizations engaged in oyster

about their experiences. Children

cultivation, Kaki no Mori wo Shitau Kai

learning in this way should grow up into

(Rebuilding from Land to Sea) and the

adults who respect the natural

incorporated NPO Mori wa Umi no

environment.

Koibito (Forests are Lovers of the Sea),

The circle of supporters of Peace Nature

led by Shigeatsu Hatakeyama. There’s a

Lab’s activities is steadily growing wider,

story behind Louis Vuitton’s support: fifty

with local financiers, architects and

years ago, when oysters in Brittany were

lawyers at the center of a plan to open a

greatly affected by sickness, seed

restaurant in Nishimōne. When I returned

oysters from Miyagi were sent to France.

to Tokyo I told Peace Nature Lab about

This was a way of returning the favor.

a company with an internet department

Mori wa Umi no Koibito operates by the

store that sells products from disaster

motto that the blessings of a bountiful

hit areas. I hope that this helps to

sea are supported by abundant forests,

quickly increase the availability of

and therefore in order to raise delicious

Sanriku oysters throughout Japan.

oysters they plant trees on Mount

I can tell from the expressions on the

Murone, upstream of the Ōkawa river

faces of those who eat these miracle

that feeds into Kesennuma Bay.

oysters from Nishimōne that it is

Peace Nature Lab is attempting to

possible for ripples from the task of

create employment by processing

reconstruction to spread across the

oysters and scallops raised in the

country and around the world. How

beautiful bay at Karakuwachi-cho and

amazing!

Nishimōne Bay

Washing the oysters

Oil-packed oysters

selling them throughout Japan. Every After graduating from Keio University with an economics degree, earned a Master's degree in international relations from the International University of Japan. Worked in the business section of Fuji Television covering the then Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Finance, responsible for business and economic issues. Following stints heading the station's NY bureau, as a News Japan newscaster, and head of the business and economics section, is now a commentator.

Hiroyuki Abe

s word ars E n o d n m m sa gh co r Eye Othe ight throu ins ural t l u c er ~ Int

Other Eyes and Ears

耳 The Boston 異異目 Green Tea Party >>>

Vol.1

Vol.2

The Boston Green Tea Party

In world history classes Japanese learn

mean ‘to revel’. If you know this then

descriptions of it in the Japanese

about the Boston Chakai Jiken, which

you can understand that calling it a

national history text Nihon Kōki (815).

was an iconic event during the

‘Cha Jiken’, or ‘Tea Incident’, is more

Asia was the ancient cradle of tea, but

American Revolution. It is called this,

appropriate.

now this drink is found all over the

we were taught, because rebels

Hence the Tea Party, the conservative

world. It is known as cha, shai, cay or

boarded British ships anchored in

movement named after the Boston Tea

jha in places where it was disseminated

Boston Harbor and dumped boxes of

Party that was in the news during the

by overland routes—such as China and

the East India Company’s cargo of tea

American presidential elections, would

the Middle East—or te, tea, thé and

into the harbor in protest at the high

be a ‘Tea’ ‘Political Party’.

thee in Western Europe where it arrived

taxes that were part of the British

Given that the Boston ‘Tea Incident’

by sea. The story of tea is indeed a

government’s colonial policies.

resulted from a trade conflict with the

deeply fascinating tale of a product that

Be that as it may, the question arises

British, it is generally assumed that the

has been global since ancient times.

as to why a tea ceremony, or chakai,

tea in question must have been black,

Incidentally, Okakura Tenshin, the

would be held at such a time of crisis.

but in fact it was green tea. Black tea

Japanese scholar who asserted that

A little bit of research, however, will

is produced from green tea by oxidizing

“Asia is one” and was head of the

reveal that the phrase ‘chakai jiken’ is

the tealeaves. Experimental production

Asian art division at the Museum of

a mistranslation. If you say the word

of black tea began in 1839 in Assam,

Fine Arts in Boston, wrote a book in

‘party’ to a Japanese it will be

India, so the Boston Tea Party, which

English, published in 1906, called The

interpreted first of all to mean ‘a social

occurred in 1773, couldn’t have

Book of Tea.

gathering’, when in fact ‘party’ can also

involved black tea.

mean a political party, as in the

As for the origins of tea itself, there are

Republican GOP (Grand Old Party) or

records of tea drinking from the

Democratic Party. ‘Party’ can also

mythological ages in China, and

HAMAJI Michio

International business consultant. Part-time lecturer at the Bunkyo University Faculty of International Studies. After graduating with a degree in economics from Keio University in 1965, studied at a foreign trade college before taking up a post in the Middle East in charge of oil for a trading company. At the age of forty-five, launched a new career in the information business and moved to New York. Following jobs at a translation company and Japanese-US communications firm, chose the path of self-employment in 2002. Set up the Saudi Arabian pavilion at the Aichi Expo. Has worked on a series of music videos on renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein. Japanese advisor to firms such as U.S. information systems company Cognizant and U.K. educational publisher Pearson.

2012 Dec

JQR SPECIAL

Gifts Made in Japan

For that Special Someone, on a Special Day On the heels of Christmas comes the New Year-December is an exciting time for everyone. Here we offer a collection of carefully selected, made-in-Japan gifts, sure to please the giver, and delight the recipient. Photos/Satoru Naito

Stylist/Masumi Hiruma

LaQ

● Yoshiritsu Oyodo-cho, Nara

Building blocks to engross children and adults alike. LaQ blocks can be used to create everything from a realistic tyrannosaurus, to chimpanzees and stag beetles. With the popular LaQ blocks, you can have fun making more complex shapes than with traditional stacking blocks, and they also help to enhance brain development in children. The LaQ Basic 2400 Colors set includes 2,400 pieces plus movable parts called “Hamacron,” while the LaQ Imaginal Girls set includes parts for creating headbands and purses. ● Yoshiritsu Tel. 042-382-3955

Text/JQR

★ LaQ Basic 2400 Colors ￥16,800

★ LaQ Imaginal Series Girls set ￥5,040

2012 Dec

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

Negoro Nichigetsu Tray ● Hirosawa Shitsugei, Niigata City, Niigata

Tea Caddy

● Kaikado, Kawaramachi, Kyoto

A compact serving tray of lustrous beauty

Famous yet practical, simple yet beautiful

This beautiful serving tray, burnished to a deep vermillion, is small enough to carry, and the perfect size for a

Kaikado began making tea caddies in 1875, using tin brought over from England.

few drinks between intimate friends.

While the form couldn’t be simpler, the dual-layer structure provides an excellent seal, and requires 130 steps to create.

The base is embellished with images of waxing and waning moon, making it the ideal addition to any interior.

Provides your tea with airtight protection from humidity. Other models available for coffee and pasta.

★ Negoro Nichigetsu Tray D600 × H300mm ¥231,000

★ Tea Caddy Copper 120g D81 × H78mm ¥9,450 Flat Tin 200g D92 × H110mm ¥10,500 Tall Brass 200g D78 × H136mm ¥10,500

● Hirosawa Shitsugei Tel. 025-222-5350

● Kaikado Tel. 075-351-5788

2012 Dec

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

Brazier

● FUJI Kobo, Narusawamura, Yamanashi

A traditional design inheritance

Nambu Cast Iron “Hikifune” Teapot ● Iwachu, Morioka City, Iwate

Modernism from a 400-year-old tradition The “Hikifune” teapot, used in the café of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, basis its design on the image a boat being pulled onto

With its dovetailed corners and handles of black persimmon wood, this brazier inherits many aspects of traditional design.

shore by fishermen. Because of the superior insulating properties of Nambu cast iron, tea is slower to cool, making this teapot ideal

300-year-old ash wood presents an exquisite grain. The joiner carefully finishes this luxurious piece in lacquer

for when you’ve forgotten the time over a lively chat.

★ Brazier W500 × D500 × H400mm ¥520,000

★ Hikifune Teapot W12.5 × D19.5 × H14.5mm 3 colors (Matte black, matte reddish-brown, and matte green) Each ¥9,450

● FUJI Kobo Tel. 0555-85-2491

● Iwachu Tel. 019-635-2501

2012 Dec

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

Kamakura-bori Lacquer ware ● Sunsho Kobo (Napkin holder) Seiya Kobo (Tray, chopsticks) Endo Kobo (Chopstick rest) Hasegawa Kobo (Cup) Hinata Kobo (Sushi plate) Kamakura City, Kanagawa

With this traditional craft, attachment grows with use Kamakura-bori lacquer ware has a nearly 800-year history. Even today, every tray and saucer is made completely by hand. The base wood is carved, then carefully finished in lacquer. Beautiful, but also sturdy and long-lasting. This wonderful addition to the dining table makes a perfect gift. ★ Napkin holder: Old wood is hollowed out, then decorated with carving. Sunsho Kobo, ￥5,500 (with napkin). ★ Tray: One side covered in red fabric, the other in a flowing black “sword-strike” pattern, offering different uses depending on the food being served. Seiya Kobo, ￥23,100. ★ Chopsticks: Designed with flair, in the tradition of the Kamakura warrior. Seiya Kobo, ￥3,800. ★ Chopstick rest: Designed to represent a stone that’s been rounded off as it tumbles downstream. Endo Kobo, ￥11,500 (set of five). ★ Cup: This Zelkova cup features a “sword-strike” pattern on the lower half, above which is a pattern of small circles. Hasegawa Kobo, ￥10,164. ★ Sushi plate: This plate is designed to enhance the beauty of any food presentation. Hinata Kobo, ￥19,635.

2012 Dec

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

“Robot” by Noriyuki Shimura ● Robert Yellin Gallery, Ginkakuji-mae, Kyoto

A treasure to give an adult who’s left treasures behind

Precision Tops ● BRANCH, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Ceramicist Noriyuki Shimura created this robot as a sort of offhand piece of art.

Tiny tops filled with small factory craftsmanship

But the depth of its colors and its sense of solemnity make it something special.

These precisely-balanced tops, tooled on special machines, are so stable as to hardly seem moving, and a flick of the finger will keep them

The playful spirit behind this “robot” reminds one somehow of a long-lost treasure of childhood.

going for three minutes or more. Smaller than a one-yen coin, these little tops will put up a furious fight when set loose atop the “Coma Base.”

★ Robot, ¥100,000

★ KENKA COMA#1 D10 × H15mm ¥1,680 ★ KENKA COMA#2 D10 × H15mm ¥1,680 ★ COMA BASE ¥7,350

● Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery (Kyoto) Tel. 075-708-5581

● BRANCH（http://store.branchproducts.com/）

2012 Dec

For that Special Someone,on a Special Day

Travel Bag

● SONICBANG Co., Ltd., (Tabisuketabizo）Kamakura City, Kanagawa

● Shion, Kita-ku, Tokyo

A reliable bag that will hold just about anything

Beautifully-patterned kimono reborn as scarves

A simple canvas Boston bag without dividers or pockets. You can stuff it with anything, making it perfect for those who like

Vintage kimono are reused to create these Japanese-style scarves. The beautiful prints are cut, then colors, patterns, and

to dig around to find stuff. Light and sturdy, and water-resistant to keep out the rain. Just the thing for your next trip. ★ Otabiyama Tabisuke 1827g W750 × D350 × H360mm Four colors (Red, Black, White, Brown) each ¥50,000. ● SONICBANG Tel. 0467-22-8881

Kimono Scarf

2012 Dec

materials combined in perfect balance, before each is sewn by hand. ★ Kimono scarf: Material: Silk, cotton, polyester. From \3,150 each. ● Recycled Kimono Scarves by Shion Tel. 03-3909-3392

2012 Dec

S P E C I A L

I N T E R V I E W

Diversity and Mutual Respect: Keys to Success

Japanese Major Consumer Electronics Companies have lost Global Reach

Australian Executive Chairman of Lenovo Japan, Rod Lappin, has had an affinity with Japan for a long time. He first came in 1986 then did more than a few stays before he landed in his Roppongi Hills' office in 2008. His sister has also been living here for nine years so the love for Japan is a family thing. He describes himself as "Mr. Fixer." Having worked in the technology field for over 18 years, he has always been the one on call to solve problems around Asia and especially in Japan. One of his biggest achievement was the tie-up with NEC PC a year ago. Lenovo is now number one PC maker in Japan with 26.8% market share, as well as in China with 34%, and in India with 16.3%. Busy with all these results announcements, Rod Lappin still took some time to share with JQR his views on the Japanese PC market along with its challenges.

- I was hired here by Lenovo but for a job in Singapore and I came back in 2008 right after the "Lehmann crisis." It was good to come back with fresh

Japan with 26.8% market share. The main challenge when taking over the Japan business was culture difference. I mean not Japanese to Foreign culture differences, Lenovo here employs mostly Japanese people. Company culture differences are the most difficult challenge to deal with. NEC PC has a very strong data and planning background, as Lenovo is more to execution and speed. NEC PC has a lot of process, as Lenovo is empowering people with decision making. At first working together was not easy, but I think we are complementing each other very well now. They know the Japanese market more than anyone else, they understand the Japanese consumers perfectly. We had launched in the consumer market before the joint-venture, as complete new-comers and it was very difficult to start from scratch. With the long heritage that NEC PC has here and their strong customer relationship, which is extremely important in Japan, the joint-venture was key to develop quickly and steadily. On the other hand, we brought speed and global

Interview with Rod Lappin,

Executive Chairman of Lenovo Japan Photo ďź? Tomoya yakai Text ďź? JQR

eyes to have a look of the business. We were quite successful at that time in Japan.We went from 3% market share to 8.2% three years later. So with this gain and the confidence that the company had with the team here, we went on to a joint-venture with NEC PC. Now we are #1 PC company in

2012 Dec

reach. NEC PC was just in Japan, so now they can make use of our global supply chains and networks. "Difficult" is not the word I'd use to describe working together with a different company culture. I would rather talk about "patience" because you definitely need a lot of it! Our partner is a little bit more conservative

2012 Dec

S P E C I A L and looks at things in a different way than we do. I like to take risks and see what happens, NEC PC is 90% planning and 10% execution, but I am definitely 90% execution and 10% planning! So we are complementing each other quite well. Mutual respect is the most important factor to be able to listen to the other, understand each point of view and come to a right answer. It's good! It has definitely brought a new level of diversity to our original management team. Both our companies are almost 100% made of Japanese employees, so unlike some other foreign firms, all our meetings and communications are conducted in Japanese, so we avoid any language misunderstanding. The differences are more on the approach, the process, the decision making, etc. I personally speak the language too, which certainly facilitates management.

2012 Dec

"Nemawashi" before meetings adds complexity for a Westerner The nuances are very important here. You have a lot of decision making done before you actually get to the meeting. There is a lot of pre-wiring in Japan, where in America or Australia you go to the meeting to make a decision. I don't think it is slowing down the process, but from a westerner's perspective, it adds a lot of complexity. It works totally ok in Japan of course, but when you're looking for the speed I am talking about, you want everybody in the same room, take a decision, then when people leave that room, that's what will be followed. Here I found that often people still want to change that decision afterwards and you have to make sure you manage that. So what we have been doing and works

pretty well is that we've been very open with each other on expectations. As long as everyone knows exactly what is on the agenda and what sort of decision we want to make, no one gets surprised when they arrive at the meeting and we can then be very effective and make commitments that make us move forward. Diversity is important I like a very diverse management team. When I arrived here the demographic of the leadership team was effectively the same: Japanese men, between the age of 35 to 55, all commercial guys of one company background, one mentality in total. At that time, we were going to enter the consumer market with our trendy netbook and the target was women from 16 to 34! So you can imagine what would have happened around a table trying to choose product colors! I changed the management team and put in a lot of diversity, which I think is very important in all cultures. We now have people with consumer background, women managers, a foreigner, people from various backgrounds. NEC PC's team on itself is not very diverse, but blended as a group, it brings a strong traditional Japanese culture into a foreign global company culture, with a mixture of demographics of people, all this is perfect when you want to think differently in a market that has not been doing great. The biggest challenge I have now in Japan is the consumer market. It has not been growing at all. When the government sponsors with "eco-points" incentives on flat screen TVs, people go to the retail stores and while they are there, they buy other things. This helped us to recover quite quickly after the disaster last year. But this year as the program has stopped, people no longer go to the retail stores. When you look at year-on-year data the PC market is nearly down by 14% compared to last year. Smart phones and tablets are not replacing PCs as they come as "extras" to the PC, but their purchase definitely affects the consumer's wallet. Learning from high-level services The service level in Japan is incredible. It has to be the highest in the world. And what is difficult with this is not to have your teams manage it, it's to explain it globally to the rest of the Lenovo Group. For example, when we joined with NEC PC, they told us we needed a free-for-life telephone service. That is if you buy a product from us

I N T E R V I E W

now you can still call us any time even way past warranty and get free advise. You won't see that from most global companies. Another example is when Lenovo sends over a PC, it comes in a box primarily designed to protect the PC itself during freight. But in Japan, the box has to be as immaculate as the product! That's really hard for people outside Japan to understand. We have a re-boxing service here in case a cardboard box has a scuff on it. We will re-box that product to perfection before is goes to the retailer because the Japanese consumer wants that level of perfection. Where in the US that would not be a problem, because people want the PC, they don't care about the box. If you learn from the very demanding Japanese consumer standards and you're a good global company, you can try to drop them into the rest of the world and have a superior level of services. At Lenovo we take a lot of learnings from Japan. For example, we have two product development teams here, Yamato, our partner that engineered the Thinkpad since it's launch in 1992, and the NEC PC development team. We combined them to create our Japan Development Organization and they now design products for the entire world. We also do best practice sharing globally and a lot of ideas from Japan are implemented in other countries. The domestic PC market is crowded with competitors! There is a great retail market here, it's very busy, because there are so many players! This is one thing about Japan that is different to a lot of parts of the world, as the local PC market is shared by a great number of competitors. It's very hard for foreign firms to compete on consumer electronics here. Lenovo on it's own would have had quite a hard time and that is why the jointventure with NEC PC was so good for us. Combined now we are number one! On a personal level I think that living and working here is extremely convenient. People are so polite, I often joke with my friends saying that if you stop your car right in the middle of the road, no one will toot you: they'll rather think "oh the poor guy must have a terrible problem!" If you do that anywhere else in the world, you'll have all the cars behind tooting, some big guy will come out and bang at your window! When I leave this time I will really miss the cultural aspects of Japan.

Japanese PC makers should globalize One think I really want is Japan to get better. My first electronic products were all Japanese! Japan was unbelievably innovative. "Japan = technology" I think is still true. A lot of PC parts still come from Japan. Many car companies or consumer electronics companies still buy a lot of their material from Japan. But for some reasons major players here have been so busy focusing on the domestic market that they've lost their global reach and they've been beaten by competitors from other countries. I personally believe that they need to globalize more, they need to diversify.

PROFILE Roderick Lappin has been Executive Director of Global Sales for Asia Pacific at Dell for several years before joining Lenovo in 2007. After a year in Singapore for the firm, he was appointed President of Lenovo Japan and now acts as Executive Chairman of Lenovo NEC Holdings. He was born in Melbourne and grew up in Sydney, Australia, but has spent most of his career life outside his country and mainly in Japan where he actually resides with his wife and 3 daughters.

2012 Dec

FASHION

The Luster of ADJUSTABLE COSTUME Beautifully-Crafted Modernism Photo ／ Kenzo Miura、Text ／ Shozo Izuishi Model ／ Michiharu Saotome

Designer Kazuki Kodaka’s philosophy is clear-cut: “I only make the clothes I’d want to wear.” Those clothes are an homage to the styles of the 1930s. A fleeting decade of peace caught between two world wars-What one might call “The good old days.” Kazuki Kodama is about to take flight on the wings of that ‘30s look.

Double-breasted eight-button blazer, or perhaps more properly, a reefer jacket. It smells of the sea. AJ-017-B / Royal Navy Marine Jacket #NAVY / ¥75,390 AS-033 / Round Collar Cleric Shirt #CHECK / ¥18,690 ANT-001 / Jacquard Neck Tie #DOT / ¥8,925 AP-007 / 20's Style Trousers #WHITE / ¥28,140 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390 *Pocket square is model’s own*

2012 Dec

A wine-red knit jacket. Three patch pockets give it a sporting air. AK-004 / Knit VITO-Jacket #WINE / ¥41,790 AP-001 / 20's Style Trousers #BLACK / ¥22,890 *Shirt and necktie are model’s own*

A well-fitted jacket paired with loosely draped trousers, gathered in the back for a classic look. AJ-019-B / 3B Pinchback Style Suit #BLACK / ¥120,540 AS-007 / Long Point Collar Classic Shirt #RED / ¥16,590 ANT-003 / Jacquard Neck Tie #CHECK / ¥8,925 APC-002 / Jacquard Pocketchif #PAISLEY / ¥4,410 AHT-000 / Front Pinch Felt Dress Hat #BLACK / ¥14,490 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390

2012 Dec

Leather jacket tailored Kazuki Kodaka style. The look says “biker,” but with elegance. AL-003 / 40's Style Belted Leather Sports Jacket #BLACK / ¥166,740 AS-007 / Long Point Collar Classic Shirt #RED / ¥16,590 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #RED / ¥54,390 *Necktie is model’s own*

2012 Dec

Blouson-style sport jacket. Zipper up, or zipper down for a different look. AJ-018 / Ray Style Sport Jacket #SHARKSKIN / ¥44,940 AS-007 / Long Point Collar Classic Shirt #RED / ¥16,590 AP-007 / 20's Style Trousers #WHITE / ¥28,140 AC-020 / 20's Style Casquette #WHITE / ¥8,190 *Necktie, shoes are model’s own*

2012 Dec

A nostalgic hunting jacket becomes something chic in Kodaka’s hands.

Double-breasted navy waistcoat. A perfect rendering of a classic style.

AJ-010 / 20's French Style Wool Hunting Jacket #BLACK / ¥56,490 AOA-001 / Bib Overall #BLACK / ¥44,940 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #RED / ¥54,390 ANT-004 / Jacquard Bow Tie #CHECK / ¥8,925 *Shirt, corsage are model’s own*

AV-007 / Double Breasted Waistcoat #NAVY / ¥30,240 AS-032 / Long Point Collar Cleric Shirt #STRIPE / ¥18,690 AP-010 / Oxford Buggs #SHARKSKIN / ¥27,090 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390 *Necktie, corsage are model’s own* 2012 Dec

2012 Dec

The marine look is one of this year’s themes. Paired with dazzling white, baggy flannel trousers.

This 1930s-style smoking jacket features a beautiful plaid on the revival collar and cuffs.

AJ-017-B / Royal Navy Marine Jacket #NAVY / ¥75,390 AS-033 / Round Collar Cleric Shirt #CHECK / ¥18,690 ANT-001 / Jacquard Neck Tie #DOT / ¥8,925 AP-007 / 20's Style Trousers #WHITE / ¥28,140 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390 *Pocket square is model’s own*

AJ-011 / 30's Style Wool Smoking Jacket #BLACK / ¥59,640 AS-007 / Long Point Collar Classic Shirt #RED / ¥16,590 ANT-003 / Jacquard Neck Tie #CHECK / ¥8,925 AP-010 / Oxford Buggs #SHARKSKIN / ¥27,090 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390 *Corsage is model’s own* 2012 Dec

Sports jacket in a wine-toned tweed, with finely-tailored shoulders. AJ-003 / Pinchback Style Jacket #WINE / ¥61,740 AP-007 / 20's Style Trousers #WHITE / ¥28,140 AC-020 / 20's Style Casquette #WHITE / ¥8,190 APC-002 / Jacquard Pocketchif #CHECK / ¥4,410 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BLACK / ¥54,390 *Shirt, corsage are model’s own*

This leather jacket, reminiscent of those once favored by aviators, Is crafted of the finest goat skin. AL-002 / 30's Style Goat Skin Aviator Short Jacket #BROWN / ¥145,740 AP-006 / 20's Style Trousers #BROWN ¥27,090 ASH-001 / Chukka Boots #BROWN / ¥54,390 AC-021 / 20's Style Casquette #BROWN / ¥8,190 AG-001 / Leather Gloves #CAMEL / ¥17,640 *Shirt, necktie are model’s own*

KAZUKI KODAKA Born September 8, 1974 in Saitama Prefecture. 1995 graduate of the Apparel Design Department of Bunka Fashion College Established Kodaka Kikaku in April 2011. Brand: ADJUSTABLE COSTUME

2012 Dec

頴 Leading Doctors Discuss Modern Longevity (Part 1)

川

At the Forefront of the Upsurge in Prostate Cancer Shin Egawa, Professor Department of Urology, Jikei University School of Medicine

The prostate gland is unique to men. The number of prostate cancer patients has surged over the past twenty years, and as we face an increasingly aged society, that number is expected to grow further. Dr. Shin Egawa, Senior Professor and Chairman of the Department of Urology at Jikei University School of Medicine, who also serves as chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Urological Association of Asia, is an authority on prostate cancer. JQR spoke with him about the issue. Photos/Satoru Naito Interview/JQR

晋

“Prostate cancer demonstrates no

it also becomes difficult to treat if it has

through the outer membrane of the

symptoms in its early stages. By the

spread to the bones. In such cases, the

prostate, and escape from there. Leaving

time symptoms appear due to pressure

survival rate after five years was once

even one such cell behind will mean a

on the urethra, the disease has already

around 20%, but that has improved, and

recurrence of the cancer, though strictly

advanced. At the same time, it was

has now been extended another two

speaking not in every case. We have

once commonly assumed that urination

years.”

to expect that some cancer cells have

becomes more difficult as one ages,

When asked for the meaning of “radical

gotten away, and if that likelihood is

since over one-third of men 40 and over

treatment,” Dr. Egawa replied, “One that

high, we work around that area with the

suffers from an enlarged prostate. The

will enable the patient to live to 100.

goal of fully excising the cancer.”

urethra runs through the middle of the

The operation is not the last we see of

Incidentally, Dr. Egawa notes that

prostate, so when prostatic enlargement

the patient. It’s the start of a life-long

even after the most thorough testing,

puts pressure on the urethra, this can

relationship, and we are always planning

a different situation may await once

weaken the urine stream. Since this

for the next step. Really, the treatment

the patient is opened up. In the end, it

happened even to the grandpa next

itself is tailored to the patient. In the old

comes down to on-the-spot decisions. “In

door, most people didn’t think anything

days, surgery was surgery, radiation

reality, it is rare that surgery proceeds

of it.”

was radiation, and they were each

according to the original plan. While

Dr. Egawa specializes in cancer of the

handled separately, but today, treatment

ideally we’d certainly like things to go as

prostate. The incidence of prostate

plans are coordinated to include

expected, we also need to be prepared

cancer began to rise over the past 20

everything from hormone treatments to

for the unexpected.”

years, and according to statistics, the

chemotherapy.”

The prostate gland is unique to men.

number of deaths in Japan has gone

PROFILE Shin Egawa. Born 1957 in Shizuoka Prefecture. Professor and Chairman, Department of Urology at Jikei Medical University. After graduating from Iwate Medical University, served as assistant professor in the Department of Urology at the Kitasato University School of Medicine, and as guest professor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the U.S., before assuming his current position in April of 2004. Dr. Egawa specializes in urologic oncology, particularly radical laparoscopic surgery and chemotherapy for prostate cancer.

2012 Dec

Located at the exit from the bladder, it

a formidable disease, and the number of

Cancers Have Distinct Intensities and Growth Rates

those affected will undoubtedly grow as

The actual operation starts with

motility and increasing the chances

our society ages.

projecting where the cancer lies in

of fertilization. The prostate is about

So what kind of treatment should

the prostate and to what stage it has

the size of a walnut, and damage to

be sought when prostate cancer is

progressed.

the muscles at the tip of the prostate

discovered?

“Not all cancers are alike. There are

can result in post-surgical urinary

“If the cancer remains limited to within

differences in strength and in the

incontinence and other problems. The

the prostate, radical treatment will

speed with which they spread, and the

nerves on the outside of the prostate

target that area. If it has spread, it

potential for success varies with each.

also govern erectile function, making

becomes a more protracted battle, and

A strong cancer may make its way

surgery even trickier.

from around 1,000 people per year in the 1970s, to almost 11,000 in 2010. It is

is primarily responsible for producing seminal fluid. This fluid plays an important role in giving sperm greater

2012 Dec

While prostate cancer’s mechanism has gradually been revealed, methods for prevention have yet to be found. “Cutting away the nerves that control

surgery will likely remain an option,

male functioning results in impotence.

great strides will be made by combining

The nerves are located on both sides

surgery with medication. Still, coming up

of the prostate, so we do our best to

with a way to prevent prostate cancer

preserve 100% of one of the two nerves,

remains difficult.

even if it means leaving only one intact. This is because the ability to achieve an

Giving Patients Hope by Shining a Light on What Lies Ahead

erection is so important to men, and a source of confidence.” Actually operating while leaving the nerves in place is not as simple as Dr. Egawa describes. He notes that

“Today, one in three people is affected

the nerves, which are far narrower

by an illness, and as we age, the chances

than a blood vessel, are entangled and

of falling ill increase. It’s like waiting

stretched like an amoeba among the

for your number to be called. I once

surrounding blood vessels.

received some words of appreciation

“Since the nerves are invisible to the

from the family of a patient who had

eye, the surgeon will work to leave

passed away. He was in the Kansai

behind the blood vessels. The problem is

region when his cancer was discovered,

that he doesn’t know how the nerves are

and came to me after being told there

worked into the area, and that is where

was nothing that could be done. I laid

assumptions come into play. He will look

out for him what treatments were

at the cancer’s strength and how it has

possible, explaining everything we could

spread, and estimate the possibility of

do at each step in the progression of his disease. And sure enough, he recovered from his terminal condition and went on to live another three years. It all comes it being found in a particular location.

“Stomach cancers and other cancers tha

Since the individual cells are invisible,

are discovered upon autopsy of someone

it becomes a matter of probability. An

who has died of another disease are

MRI will only reveal objects at the five-

called ‘latent cancers,’ of which prostate

millimeter level. Cells are mere microns

cancer represents a high proportion.

in size, so there’s no way to see them.

Latent cancers are said to occur in 30

Surgery proceeds on such assumptions.

percent of both Japanese and Americans

I suppose you could call it instinct, but

50 and older, and today that proportion

this is an area that requires repeated

hasn’t changed. However, at Jikei

experience.”

University, when we examined latent

Westernized Diets Bring Western-sized Cancers

2012 Dec

cancers from 20 years ago and today, we found that they have doubled in size. While the reasons for this are not clear, it is said that perhaps the Westernization

Westernized diets are behind the

of our diets, with improved nutrition,

increase in prostate cancer in Japan. Dr.

have helped cancers to grow as well.

Egawa also points out that as the use of

This means that going forward, there is

PSA (prostate-specific antigen, a tumor

little doubt that the incidence of cancer

marker) has made testing easier, cancer

will continue to grow in Southeast Asia

has become easier to detect.

and China.”

So does this mean we can expect

prostate cancer?

down to milestones. Having been shown

dramatic changes in the treatment of

“Research has gradually shed light on

what lay ahead, I think perhaps a light

prostate cancer going forward?

how prostate cancer forms. It occurs not

came on in his heart, even if only for a

“Robots have recently been used in some

through spontaneous genetic mutation,

short time. And I think that, as medical

surgery, but for the prostate, there is

but when genes combine, a process

professionals, it is very important

still very little that only robotic surgery

called fusion. The problem is that we

that we do not close off any possible

is able to do. That said, I think we

don’t know why this fusion occurs.

pathways, that even faced with ultimate

will probably see more and more new

Genes, however, generate proteins,

limitations, we let patients know that

robotic surgery procedures come to the

which have a variety of functions. Then

certain methods are available, that if

fore in the future. For example, if robots

one gene fuses with another. In other

we try one thing it can lead to other

become able to identify nerves that

words, when two genes get together

possibilities.”

are invisible to the naked eye, we will

that aren’t supposed to, they create all

be able to more accurately target and

kinds of weird proteins that go on to

excise the affected area. This involves

wreak a variety of mischief in the body.

working at the micron level, and more

I think in the future, we’ll see a variety

specifically, we may see surgery in

of antibodies against these proteins,

which we identify nerves not by looking

as well as drugs to neutralize them; in

with a microscope, but by lighting up

fact, we see them already in the field

each individual nerve.”

of leukemia. Once that happens, I think

Are there any effective ways to avoid

medical care itself will change. While

2012 Dec

JQR Approved!

Brand Debut!!

vol.2

Soda made with Organic JAS Certified ginger packs a punch

Enjoy the true power of ginger in a richly flavored ginger ale

Tosayama Ginger Ale Ginger, with its sharp yet refreshing flavor, is a key ingredient in cooking. Now ginger takes center stage in a new ginger ale acclaimed for having flavor with a kick. Photography: Satoru Naito

Text/JQR Editorial Staff

Name

Tosayama Ginger Ale

Description Non-alcoholic soda

Data

Origin

Tosayama, Kochi Prefecture

Features

Made with Organic JAS Certified ginger

IngredientsPremium: Tosayama organic ginger, sugar, yuzu citrus juice, red peppers Mild: Tosayama organic ginger, sugar, yuzu citrus juice, honey On Sale

2010 ĺš´

Price

01 Premium (350ml) 500 yen 01 Premium (200ml) 350 yen 02 Mild (200ml) 300 yen

Ginger is a key ingredient in cooking. Grated, it is an essential condiment for seared bonito or horse mackerel. Mix it with soy sauce and make a delicious ginger stir-fried pork. Many people are surprised that adding thinly sliced ginger to stews, stir fries, and soups masks the smell of meat or fish. Ginger's sharp spiciness and its distinctive aroma bring out the flavors of other ingredients, making dishes more delicious. Cooking is not the only use for ginger; it also has health benefits. Its spicy compound improves blood circulation and metabolism, and has bacteria killing properties, while its aromatic compound has antiinflammatory and detoxifying properties that relieve fatigue and stomach problems. Together, these compounds act as antioxidants, slow aging and have the potential to help prevent the onset and progression of cancer. Ginger is a perennial plant beneficial to humans, and it has been used in India and China since ancient times as both a food and a medicine.

Ginger grown in rich soil untainted by pesticides and chemical fertilizers

Promoting itself as an "organic village," the mountain settlement of Tosayama stopped using pesticides and chemical fertilizers on its farmland 20 years ago. The area is still rich in nature and is surrounded by mountains, with pure streams flowing through its valleys, so the locals have a high level of environmental awareness. They purify waste water from the local households using BMW technology, which uses a natural purification system, and ensure the soil is always in good condition. It almost goes without saying that the ginger they cultivate under these conditions is aromatic and spicy. Tosayama Ginger Ale is produced using this robust ginger as well as water from the source of the Kagami River, which is certified by the government as one of the "Selected 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters." The moment you take a sip of either variety--Premium (spicy) or Mild--the spicy ginger flavor fills your mouth. The rich aftertaste lingers. Shake the bottle and see the ginger powder--the essence of this drink-dancing in the ginger ale.

Kochi Prefecture is the leading ginger producer in Japan, with the Tosayama area being famous for producing high quality ginger.

(top) Pure streams surrounded by thickly forested mountains flow through Tosayama. Thriving in the fresh air, the ginger field is fertilized and irrigated with clear water, with no added chemicals. (center) Freshly harvested Tosayama organic ginger is juicy and brilliantly colored. (bottom) Tosayama organic ginger is matured in special pots before it is used to make Tosayama Ginger Ale.

Manufacturer: Yumesanchi Tosayama Development Authority

â&#x2014;? Enquiries: Yumesanchi Tosayama Development Authority ă&#x20AC;&#x20AC;088-895-2301 http:// yumesanchi.jp/

2012 Dec

Vol.17 Touring the Festivals of Japan

Annual Parade of the Giant (November 3) Yagorō-don Matsuri in sumi-cho

Yagorō-don rises up in the middle of the night. The giant doll, accompanied by young people wearing happi coats, parades through the town with

Illustrations and Text/

Kagoshima

Hamakudari

Ōsumi town, Yagorō-don is followed by a procession of the shrine gods with banners and mikoshi (portable shrines).

This person is skilled at shaking Yagorō-don’s shoulder to make it seem as if he is moving.

Literally means to ‘walk down to the sea’ and derives from custom of purifying the body in seawater. The parade symbolizes this.

A stick for pushing power lines out of the way.

Yagorō-don is 4.85 meters in height, but the old people of the town say he was much bigger in the past. It is said that YagorōThe float is made from a car body, complete with brakes for safely going down slopes.

Shimenawa (sacred straw ropes) strung throughout the town.

Fifth grade elementary school boys from Ōsumicho do the pulling. It’s not clear why it’s only the fifth

If so, then this festival would be to console the spirit of

Gripping the

A Giant Doll Parades Through the Town It’s the Yagorō-don festival, and a giant

and in the middle of a dream, when I was

along the way.

asleep.

suddenly awoken at just after one in the

When I arrived, a crowd of young people

At four a.m. Yagorō-don was carried outside

opposite and identifies him as Takenouchi

morning by the sound of a drum beating

wearing happi coats were in the main shrine,

and placed on a float to be pulled up for the

in the midst of a struggle to get Yagorō-don

start of the waking up ritual. A popular belief

doll over four meters tall lumbers through

solemn dignity. I’ve been wanting to see it

no Sukune, a member of the Imperial Court.

on the road outside and a voice calling

the streets of Ōsumi-cho in the city of Sō,

with my own eyes at least once ever since,

I suppose interpretations tend to differ

“Yagorō-don will awake.” It was the

into his kimono. Apparently this is also an

is that participating in this ritual confers good

Kagoshima Prefecture. The sight has been

and now at last the time has come for my

according to the different sides – the side in

ceremonial drum signaling that the “waking

important ritual. As work progressed, a giant

health and increases good fortune, which is

imprinted in my mind ever since I saw a

dream to be realized.

control, or the side under control. All you can

ritual”, in which Yagorō-don is assembled,

cylinder-like object woven from bamboo

probably why a crowd of men and women of

say is that it’s a common story.

was about to begin at the shrine. Rubbing the

gradually took on a human form. The

all ages had gathered in the shrine grounds

moment the face was attached, the goggle

before I knew it. At a signal the crowd pulled

photograph of the event in a travel magazine

oversized figure as it travelled along with

據說是與大和朝廷對抗奮戰的隼人族首領（眾說紛紜）

So who, or what, was the original Yagorō-

over a decade ago. I was captivated by the

don? A number of theories exist. One is that

I was in my room at the inn where I was

sleep from my eyes, I set out for the shrine.

fierce yet winsome face, with its goggle

he was a chief of the Hayato clan who led a

staying, sleeping peacefully under the

This town may be down south, but midnight

eyes appeared to move slightly and it really

on the rope and Yagorō-don rose to stand

eyes under thick eyebrows, and the air of

failed resistance against the Imperial Court in

influence of the imo jōchū (sweet potato

in late autumn was still cold, so I bought a

did seem as if something was in there. But

straight up against the background of an

melancholy that seemed to hang around the

the ancient Yamato period, another does the

liquor) I’d drunk the previous evening

can of hot coffee from a vending machine

that might have been because I was still half

ultramarine blue night sky. Cries went up

2012 Dec

“Yagorō-don is waking

Yagorō-don starts to take its form around 2:00 a.m. at the Iwagawa Hachiman Shrine.

A kimono is put over the bamboo

Getting the footholds in place after standing him up.

The long and short swords are wrapped

At 4:00 a.m. he is attached to the float and everyone helps to pull him up.

Pheasant feathers (the national

Look up and you will see

Yagorō-don Team of 6 adults.

lamps!

4.2m Three-pronged halberd.

The kimono is made from 310 meters of cloth dyed with Japanese apricots, a fruit believed to have the power of regeneration (nowadays a chemical dye is used).

The work is completed by 6:00 a.m. A Yagorō-don festival is also held in

Here we go!

The bottom half,

Yagorō-don is made from bamboo.

But if you say this you’ll get a stomach ache – or so it’s believed – so children never speak these words.

Yamanokuchi town, Miyakonojō City, Miyazaki Prefecture (November 3)

sumi town, Sō City, Kagoshima prefecture (November 3)

They are called the three brothers, although they have the same name…

Hyugo, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture (November 23)

Yagarō-don in Yamanokuchi-cho

from the crowd: “Ooh,” “He’s awake,”

After a brief stop, as if to take a look down at

Irrespective of who Yagorō-don originally

【Yagorō-don Matsuri】

【How to get there】

and “Huge!” I was a bit taken aback –

the crowds, the children pulled on the rope

was, this event has definitely grown bigger

Held every year on November 3, and with a tradition

● By public transport

wasn’t this supposed to be the most

and Yagorō-don moved off. One man rode

and bigger, becoming something that

stretching back 900 years, this is one of three major

Take the Miyazaki Kūkōsen bus

important part? But it had only taken one or

on Yagorō-don’s shoulder, holding a stick

encompasses reverence for the souls of

festivals in Kagoshima prefecture. The over five meter tall

from Miyazaki Airport and get off at

two seconds to pull up Yagorō-don. I wish it

to push away the power lines. Apparently in

various people and all kinds of beliefs.

giant doll known as Yagorō-don parades through the city

Miyakonojō Station bus stop.

could have taken a bit longer.

the past they used to actually cut the power

The sound of the drum leading the way

with two swords, 4.2 and 2.85 meters long respectively,

Change to a bus bound for Shibushishi and get off at the Iwagawa bus

Everything up to this point could be called

lines. Those Hayatos of Satsuma are really

hanging from his waist. One theory is that the original

grew fainter and fainter as the somehow

Yagorō-don was chief of the Hayato clan, another is that

stop. Walk about 15 minutes from

the first act, in which case the second act is

something! Every time the man moved, the

melancholy sight of Yagorō-don’s swaying

he was Takenouchi no Sukune, who served the sixth

there.

the Hamakudari parade, when Yagorō-don

giant doll swayed to and fro so that it looked

back grew smaller in the distance as it made

Emperor. These days people pray to him for good harvests

● By car

ambles through town. Accordingly, at one in

as if it were really walking. The road was

its dignified way through town.

and venerate him as a guardian protector deity. Assembly

Exit the Miyazaki Expressway at the

the afternoon he descended the slope from

thronging with people, all excited about this

of Yagorō-don starts at one in the morning at the

Miyakonojō interchange, and drive

the shrine and passed through the torii gate.

once a year event – the parade of the giant.

Iwagawa Hachiman Shrine on the day of the festival, and

about twenty minutes on route 10.

2012 Dec

the Hamakudari parade through town starts from one in the afternoon.

Four meters tall. Wears a simple hemp kimono because he squandered his fortune on drink and gambling.

Sō-shi, Ōsumi-cho

2012 Dec

Japan and the world as seen and heard by a globetrotting illustrator Ichigo-ichie—one word, one picture—a moment with Yasuko Senshu

千秋育子の「一語一絵」 Vol.1 A health drink Japan can take pride in

The biannual global Yakult conference

one child after another to infectious

as part of a Korean beauty treatment

was recently held in Kobe, bringing

diseases such as dysentery and Ekiri

and found bottles of Yakult placed on a

together 3,000 outstanding “Yakult

(a virulent form of childhood bacterial

table used for business discussions at

Ladies” from Japan and across the

dysentery).

a high-end jewelry store in Taiwan's

globe. Yakult is sold in thirty-two

Having witnessed this stark reality first

super high-rise Taipei 101. I've also

countries and regions worldwide, with

hand, Dr. Shirota wanted to improve

spotted and promptly consumed Yakult

global sales now surpassing domestic.

preventive medicine and help as many

at the breakfast buffet of a Singapore

In some countries “Yakult lady” is a

people as possible to live healthy lives.

hotel, with flavors such as grape and

highly ambitious occupation, with

In 1930, at the microbiology lab of the

orange served in large-size bottles

starting salaries that can exceed those

Kyoto Imperial University School of

unavailable in Japan.

of new university graduates. Some say

Medicine, he discovered a lactobacillus

The shape of the Yakult bottle is

that the Japanese owe their longevity

that reached the intestines alive, and

distinctive, and though it was not

to drinking Yakult.

once there eradicated harmful bacteria.

initially recognized as a “three-

What we know as Yakult is, strictly

He succeeded in culturing this

dimensional trademark”, following

speaking, the bacterium Lactobacillus

bacterium, which in its commercial form

further deliberation, the Japanese

casei Shirota, discovered by Dr. Minoru

became “Yakult”.

patent office certified the bottle shape

Shirota. The doctor grew up in the city

The Yakult 400 product sold in Japan

itself as a trademark in 2010.

of Iida in Nagano Prefecture. The city

contains four billion of these L. casei

The bacterium L. casei Shirota

was a place of poverty surrounded by

Shirota bacteria per 80ml bottle,

discovered by Dr. Shirota was a gift

high mountains, and in those days most

making it the strongest lactobacillus

from his heart, and Yakult is a health

families lived hand to mouth and lacked

drink on the market. I have had Yakult

drink Japan can be rightly proud of.

access to proper nutrition, often losing

poured all over my body after exfoliation

Yasuko Senshu

Illustrator

A leading creator of adorable healing art. Senshu's work, which includes calligraphy pieces that make use of her Level 7 calligraphic skills, as well as illustrations and essays, is suffused with a universally soothing warmth and humanity. Senshu's career spans Asia, from the Japan Trump set of playing cards covering famous Japanese sightseeing spots (supported by the Japan National Tourism Organization), to a sub-brand logo for the Singapore national tourist bureau, and Indonesian playing cards.

er Theat s * o n Shira

場劇乃志ら

er headlin o t n o i t .6 mo last pro how No d S n a t s r My fi

hiran awa S k e t a T probably agree with me on this point. The zenza

of shinuchi, or headline act. I started my rakugo

period is, after all, one of training, and promotion

journey on March 10, 1998, so it has taken me the

to futatsume means liberation from various

best part of fifteen years to reach this milestone.

restrictions. In particular, at closing night parties

In the rakugo world, this is fairly typical. Those

and so on, it would be unthinkable for a zenza to sit

wanting to become a rakugoka (rakugo storyteller)

next to the master and join in on his conversation.

basically choose a teacher or“master”to learn

Or when going on stage, while previously you

from. In some cases people elect to study under

dressed casually, now you can wear a haori jacket,

someone to whom they've been recommended by

or a kimono with a crest; and there are many other

an acquaintance, without ever properly seeing the

welcome changes.

teacher in question perform, but generally the idea

So what changes on advancing to shinuchi status?

is to choose a rakugoka you like and find especially

As I mentioned, you can take on pupils; you can

charismatic.

also appear as the final turn on the rakugo program,

In addition, the rakugoka you choose to study under

or tori. However, shinuchi status also calls for

must have shinuchi status. In other words, once

a great deal of responsibility on the part of the

you've earned headliner status, you can take on

rakugoka, and as such attaining it is hardly cause

pupils. If your request to study under said rakugoka

for unalloyed joy.

is accepted, you become an“apprentice”. After a

Rakugoka do not embark on their apprenticeship

while, you may be deemed capable of succeeding

simply to become a headline act: they do so out

as a rakugoka and achieve the status of zenza, or

of a desire to perform as much of their beloved

warm-up act. This is the moment your training,

rakugo as they can. At the zenza stage they lack

such as backstage work, actually begins. After you

the freedom to do this, and need to advance to

spend some time in this role, and are recognized

futatsume. And so they aim for promotion, and

as a fully-fledged rakugoka--tentatively at least-

their delight when they reach their goal is almost

-you advance to futatsume (junior performer)

palpable.

and eventually shinuchi (headliner). I've used the

However, among the general public, the idea that

phrases“after a while”and“eventually”, but the

fully-fledged rakugoka equals shinuchi persists, so

amounts of time involved vary slightly between

when we do advance to shinuchi those around us

rakugo groups and schools. For instance, at Shiraku,

tend to be happier for us than we are for ourselves.

which is my school, since our founder's death there

Promotion to futatsume brings personal happiness,

have been growing signs that these timeframes are

while promotion to shinuchi pleases those around

becoming more rigid, rather than loosening up in

you. Both are undeniably a cause for celebration.

any way.

Personally, I plan to take the time to fully savor

In terms of the actual joy of promotion, advancing

my promotion to headliner, something I'll only

from zenza to futatsume is actually the most

experience once in my lifetime as a rakugoka.

第六席

最初で最後の真打ち昇進

On December 1, 2012, I'll be promoted to the status

exhilarating achievement. Most rakugoka would

● Shirano Tatekawa Second-generation apprentice of Danshi Tatekawa. Joined the Tatekawa Shiraku rakugo stable in 1998 and advanced to futatsume status in July 2003. Is determined to win promotion to star performer this spring! Don’t miss his Shirano Daisakusen solo shows, held regularly every month. Also a subculture aficionado with a regular radio program that allows him to expound exhaustively on the subject. http://ameblo.jp/st-blog/

2012July

The next issue will be released on Tuesday December 25, 2012.